May was the birthday month!

Last month there were several family birthdays, with my sister Margaret, then my daughter Bec, then my Mum on her 99th, and James and Eve on their first. My sister Margaret organised a Party for Mum's 99th. A number of family members were able to come, including my brother's two daughters Anathea and Brione. Some other family members were away in Sydney or Perth and sent their greetings.

Anathea with Bec

Brione with Lily

Wally French from Ashburton Pres Church

Marg and daughter Michelle with Mum

It's my birthday soon. May I have this badge?

I would like this badge too for my birthday!

Eve on her bike. Where's that horn?

James is off. See you later!

Mum enjoyed her box of chocolates and they kept her bright and alert for the two hours of party. She enjoyed greetings from various members of her extended family, and also from Elizabeth Cutler from Brighton, an elder in the Presbyterian Church there. Her friends from Ashburton Presbyterian Church also sent their greetings.

We thank God for each one of our family, and our interactions with them. We don't know if Mum will reach her hundredth birthday or not, but she is looking forward to moving on to her real home in heaven.

Baptism of James

We were pleased to go to Bendigo for the baptism of James. Joy and I were able to spend several days there, and spend time with James and Bec and Alistair. The sermon, one of a series from the book of Joshua, was on chapter 9, where the deception of the Gibeonites saved them from destruction. They were willing to be "hewers of wood and drawers of water". They acknowledged that God was all-powerful, and because of their faith they survived, even to the time of King David. We were also reminded of Rahab the prostitute who, because of her faith in God, was saved with her family when all of Jericho was destroyed. We were encouraged to realise that, because of God's mercy, salvation is offered to all who will receive it.

With Rev Rob Imberger, at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Bendigo on Sunday 20 March 2011

Uncle Paul helps Bec and Alistair get James ready

James looked pretty cool in Grandpa's hat

James with his Granny

Hope and encouragement

The sermon today was from Paul Ridgewell and based on Romans 5:1-2: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God thorough our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”

The sermon with reading of Romans 5:1-11 can be downloaded at http://www.surreyhillspresbyterian.org.au/sermons/2011-01-23%20Morning.mp3

Paul had us look at Hymn 139 in the Rejoice Hymnbook of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. Horatius Bonar (1808-89) wrote:
I bless the Christ of God, I rest on love divine,
and with unfalt’ring voice and heart, I call this Saviour mine.
For nothing I have done, can save my guilty soul;
no burden that my flesh has borne can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do: no toil, nor pain nor blood,
not all my prayers and sighs and tears can give me peace within.
Your work alone, O Christ, can ease this weight of sin;
Your blood alone, O Lamb of God, can give me peace within.
Not love for You, O Lord, but Your great love for me
can rid me of this dark unrest and set my spirit free.
Your voice alone, O God, can speak the word of grace
to calm the tempest in my heart and make its raging cease.
And so I bless Your Name, I trust Your love divine;
by grace, for all eternity, I dare to call you mine.

The hope we rejoice in is fact, and not wishful thinking and wishing. As we look back to what God has done we are better prepared to live out each day. As we look forward to what God is doing and will do, we are encouraged.

We did not get into verse three which states: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings …” Suffering for our faith is something we in the West rarely experience. Why are we missing out, when our brothers and sisters in so many countries experience this?

In verse 5 we read: “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

These are encouraging and challenging words to live by, and to keep coming back to frequently.

Noel Johnston
23 January, 2011

Miriam and Neville's Wedding in Sydney on 11 December 2010

In the emotion of the moment, I forgot to remove my hat on entering the church.

The register was signed in the Transept of the church.

Joy and me with my cousin Merv.

Some of our extended family.

Being a grandpa

Story time

                 

Being a grandpa is both challenging and wonderful. Challenging in that one needs to focus on the immediate needs of the little one you are with, in their world and in a way that they can understand. (This reminds me of our Heavenly Father and His love expressed to us in a way that we can understand.) Then, being a Grandpa is rewarding in that over time the little one becomes comfortable in our presence and can more easily accept the love we offer.

Being a Grandpa also means working with the parents of our grandchild for their good as well. Offering love which can be accepted is less easy for the life-partners of our children, than for our own children.


I look forward to each opportunity to show love and live a true life before each grandchild. I look forward to new grandchildren being added as God supplies.

Noel

continuing ...

Continuing from previous blog