From Pastor Julie

Pastor Julie Shannon

Our family has recently been blessed with the birth of little Jazmine Anne, she is beautiful, cuddly and having to put up with my smoochy kisses.  New Life has visited our home and our church here in Melton.  Our Highway churches in Africa are all celebrating this new life also and some have already printed off her photo to show people.  Nickie has been showered with flowers and gifts that just keep coming and coming, and although there is some loss of sleep I am enjoying Jazmines’ presence in our home immensely.  It’s interesting how we human beings celebrate new life, we are amazed at the innocence of babies and many a big grown hardened adult’s heart has melted while holding a new born.

The term “New Life” is used in scripture quite a few times and a Christian is often referred to as being “Born again”. The word “life” refers to a “characteristic of organisms that exhibit certain biological processes such as chemical reactions or other events that result in a transformation”. Something is required to be able to change or be transformed to be classed as alive; little Jazmine has already changed, filling out her wrinkles and growth suits.  The Apostle Paul in his writings to the Roman Churches brings an explanation to the term New Life. Romans 6: 1-4,  Jesus Christ had to die and then come alive again to have new life, because He did this for us, when we believe in him and accept Him into our whole being, we die to sin and are born again into new life with Him.  It’s only through this life changing transformation that we can have new life, without it we are only trying to follow rules on our own; without supernatural help.  Without it, we can have all the best intentions; we can try to please others and have a sort of appearance of new life but have no fruit.  Our helper; The Holy Spirit was sent to Christians by Christ himself after he ascended into heaven,

Read 2 Corinthians 3:4-6.

When we become born again, we are seen as new believers and referred to as Christians… we receive the Holy Spirit as our helper; we are dead to sin and alive in Christ.  Just as we are amazed at the innocence of a new born baby, we too are seen as innocent by our father in heaven because of what Jesus did for us. Remember to celebrate the new life that you have in Jesus Christ, you know just as we have celebrated baby Jazmines’ birth; there were angels in heaven celebrating with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit when you were born again.  Just as Nickie and Jazmine received many gifts, you too have received wonderful gifts from God.  Remember who you are,

you are loved, Julie

Have you ever said to anyone ” now you know how I feel ” or had someone parrot that statement back to you when you mention something that has been difficult. Whether pain or inconvenience us Aussies are really good at trying to let the other know that we “know how they feel”.  Recently I have been suffering from an ingrown wart like growth that was under the sole of my foot, there have been times I was almost in tears with the pain and many times I felt so frustrated because it slowed me down so much (if you know me I like to be on the move a lot). Anyhow I decided to pay a second visit to the doctors after 6 weeks or so and it was decided it needed to be cut out there and then!  I had no time to prepare myself, I had no time to pray hard and fast for a pain free surgery etc.  God knew though that I also had no time to worry!

Just before I was to have my local injection into the side of the sole of my foot the doctor preceded to explain that it would be a painful injection because of the amount of nerves in feet.  I semi listened telling myself that Id been through childbirth and some other minor things that I had managed quite well with.  OH how wrong I was; without going into the gruesome details, I felt every second of those two injections and found myself screaming uncontrollably. It is the first time I can remember, as an adult at least, that I have been unable to control my mouth!  It took quite a while for me to stop shaking after this experience and when I was home ; very glad that it was over with and that the growth was gone at least; it was then that I prayed and asked God “why was that so painful?” His answer was one I will never forget: “Because; now you know” Those words hit my spirit like a brick, now I know, now I know what? It didn’t take long for me to understand what the Lord was showing me, as we draw closer to remembering what Jesus went through for us over the Easter period…It’s very easy to forget the intense pain He would have endured for our sakes, I cried out in uncontrollable screams and sobs for around 2 minutes of my life as a needle went into the inflamed nerves of my foot.  What did Jesus go through?

Remember Him and all that He has done and is continuing to do for you every day…One week after my painful experience, I can safely say that while I wouldn’t choose to go through that again, I’m glad I experienced what I did because it has given me a deeper appreciation of the love Christ has for me and YOU.

God bless,

Pastor Julie xx