There is a phrase in scripture that has been running around inside my head over the last days…The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away…BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD. Having had three months of sabbatical and come back together to discern the Lord’s direction we have come to the decision to close Bay Vineyard.  It is not without sadness of course, however since coming to the decision we have been carrying the Lord’s peace in this decision which has been such a blessing.  The Lord  is so good.  Of course we never set out 6 plus years ago for this outcome, but as we have looked at ourselves as a group and attempted to discern His leading, this is where we believe He has led. At times it is easy to get into all the why questions, but we unanimously feel this is the Lord’s way which has brought the peace and stopped the questions.  It is almost like the Lord had us plant a church for a season, filled with people in transistion.  That now seems to have come to an end. Of course this is not the end of our journey with Jesus, or our connection to church or our serving of Jesus; simply a redirecting, a changing ,a new beginning. Thanks to those who have read our blog, visited our church, prayed for us.  May the Lord bless you as you follow Him. Personally I intend to continue to blog…so watch out you may find me again in cyberspace..Blessings

As a church we are having a change of pace over the summer months.  See our calendar page for details.  We decided that we needed to change what we were doing, and many of us needed a slower pace over the time.  I am going to be having a break from writing and other ministry tasks over summer and taking some time to rest, pray, play and pull back.  Sabath rest is something that even the Lord practiced and advocated.May your Christmas be refreshing and may you see Jesus afresh…the reason for the Season.

Church will be different this Sunday.  We are closing up shop at the primary school this Sunday and traveling to another part of Melbourne, to Boronia to join another church, another Vineyard community to join them for the morning.  Mountain District Vineyard.  They have been in rough spot and it will be great to join them, to stand with them.  The Bible is clear when one part suffers we all suffer and when one part celebrates we all celebrate.  As we follow Jesus, we just want them to know they are not alone.  We will be back at the school the following Sunday.

Off to this years Vineyard pastors and leaders conference in sunny Queensland.  Joking with people about suffering for Jesus on the Sunshine Coast.  The wild thing is, it is another year gone…since the last gathering of this kind.  Time sure fly’s by. Looking forward to the theme, God’s presence.  Boy do we do that.  And as Moses said in the old testament of the Bible in Exodus 33:15, “Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”"  As God’s people we are people of the Presence of the Lord.  As Moses says following this…”How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?  What else will distinguish me and your people form all the other people on the face of the earth?”  (Exodus 33:16) A few things should mark the people of God, the church, His body: His presence and His love the foremost of these.  Look forward to sharing things that come from this time.  

Hi.  Last week I wrote that we were having a church camp and so therefore would not be at the school on Sunday.  We had a great weekend; having fun, talking, playing, worshiping, thinking about where we had come as a church and where we were going, and of course eating. It is so good to stop and rest even though in some ways we went back to work Monday tired. We will be back at the school this Sunday.  See you then.  

Hi.  Just letting you know that we are not meeting this Sunday September 06, 2009  at the school as we are having a church camp at Philip Island.  Hope this is no inconvenience for you and that if you would like to visit us, you might be able to join us the next Sunday.  God bless you and feel free to get in touch with us through info@bayvineyard.org. au or 040 227 2088 if we can be of any assistance.  Blessings. 

Coaching in its various forms has grown as big industry in the last years.  I was reminded again the other day of the power of conversation and the power of coaching, of asking the right question or making the right comment.  In conversation with a friend, a comment was made…and clarity came to a “dilemma” I had.  All of a sudden the clouds parted and I saw life(at least an aspect) clearer again.  So simple but so profound.  

Have begun a discussion on the Book of James last Sunday as a church family.  The first section was a reminder about the trials we face and how we respond to them.  Amongst other things that section of scripture encourages us to endure.  The call is to “joyfully approach these trials, because they teach us to endure…which builds maturity in us.”   But with joy…now that is hard.  Yet have a look back a couple pages in your Bible from James to Hebrews 12:1-3 and see how Jesus chose to suffer.  The same adjective…with joy. We talked about that a bit. Jesus loved to obey His Father, he knew the benefit for us.  These aspects helped build the joy in the journey. So here is a question?  Someone answer…do you think we can choose joy when we face trials as believers, and if so how?  I await you the readers response? 

On Sunday we had a retreat sunday like we have 4 times a year…a chance to stop and as church encourage each other in a different way.  We met in groups of three or so and used the below questions to answer and therefore use to share our lives.  Perhaps they can be a challenge/encouragement for you.  Find a couple of friends and share your thoughts on what is below…

Scripture thoughts

Romans 12;1 ,2 (The Message)

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.  Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God.  You’ll be changed from the inside out.

Psalm 86:11 (NIV)

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Hebrews 10:24,25 (NIV)

…And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Questions for sharing and reflection

1. Above are scriptures we have reflected on in the last few weeks; share aspects that grab you from the Word of God.
2. We read from Phil 3 today about the heart to know Jesus, share on your inner relationship and journey with Jesus.  How is it going?
3. On the recent DVD Peter Fitch said the journey is, from the image of God to the likeness of Christ. What area of character growth is God stirring right now in you?
4. How would your spouse/children say you are doing in the home?
5. Why has God placed you in the work you are in? 
6. Where could you connect in more than you are now within the church?  Where could the church support you more?
7. Did you have a Sabbath in the last week to play and rest?  When did you last spend time in nature?
8. Where can you see God at work that you are involved in or could be involved in?

Prayer in groups

On Sunday I shared with our church family some thoughts on Psalm 86:11. That scripture says; “Teach me your way, O Lord and I will walk in your truth, give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.” Phrase one reminds us that if we want to walk Gods way we need Gods help to do it. Phrase two reminds us that at times our hearts get divided and when they do we are not respecting God as He deserves.  The meaning of the word undivided is the idea of being joined.  In other words your heart is not splintered between things but joined together-all towards God. We reflected on how easy it is for the heart to become divided and what areas of life God calls us to be undivided in or using a different word with slightly different meaning being wholehearted in. What a great prayer Psalm 86:11 is.  I want to walk your way Lord, so please help me.  Help my heart be undivided towards you so I give you all the respect you deserve.  There is a prayer the Lord will answer.