And just like that…

04 Feb And just like that…

…it’s February!!!

Is it just me…or does it seem like Christmas was about a week ago…and NOW it’s February?!?!? Where’d the last month go?

Schools are doing the “staggered start”…teachers last week…a couple of private schools are already in class & public schools kick-off this week.

Life has its cycles & seasons & there’s no let up really. Speaking of “no let up”…our ministry also has its own flow…here’s what that looks like…

1. Zoom Bible Study Catch-up
   Friday 7th February 2025 @ 1:00p.m.
   Join Zoom Meeting — https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81166125179 — Meeting ID: 811 6612 5179
   We’ll be re-examining Luke 5:1-11…Jesus calling the first disciples & us to share in his saving mission. Our worship & teaching series for the next few weeks is a deep dive into the vision God has for Living Water & what that’s going to involve in the year ahead of us. We’re going to be diligent this year in reorientating our lives around the life of Jesus & how living in relationship to him transforms all we are & offers that same transformation to those around us.
2. This Sunday, 9^th February, we’ll be picking up the second part of our vision, “Come to Jesus” from a slightly different perspective. Our series is called, “Answering the ‘Why?’” and as Living Water turns 12 this year, it’s a good time to recommit ourselves & our future toward those things God has entrusted into our hands for the advancing of his Kingdom here. This week we’ll discover in a new way that what the world around us is hungry for is a glimpse of Jesus…not the newest coolest “religious gimmick” but a living encounter with his powerful love & restoring grace. That love & grace in the power of Christ’s resurrection is ours…to be shared in vibrant honest ways. We’ll explore that together this week.
3. THANK YOU! to everyone who has taken MORE flyers to share with family & friends for UnEarthed: Uncovering stories of Faith in Australia – Thursday 27^thFebruary 2025…This is a great event for us to bring those whom we know & care deeply for if they don’t yet have a resounding faith in Jesus. This citywide multi-church event will be a FREE event held at the Range Function Centre. Please note that location & date! It’s going to include Karl Faase, Colin Buchanan (and his adult country repertoire), Peter Gibbs & (Wagga’s own) Jade Stegg from the Faith Runs Deep documentary interview series. We get to be part of all-Australian stories of faith in Christ from the length & breadth of this sunburnt country…the Great Southland of the Holy Spirit. We have a great sign-up sheet ready for folks to RSVP if you don’t have access to the QR Code registration option.
4. TRAFFIC REDIRECTION COMING to Red Hill Road! The Southern Conference Junior Touch Competition is upon us again in a few weeks’ time. 14^th – 16^th February, Red Hill Road between Glenfield Road & Bourke Street will be blocked off. The whole of Jubilee Park will be engaged by the annual Touch Competition & any of us travelling from the farther Western edges of Wagga will need to allow for the redirected traffic flow. Plan accordingly.
5. Living Water Prayer Mornings are on the calendar. (Subject to changes for emergencies or other sorts of scheduling mishaps)

Claim the dates:

1^st March – 85 Red Hill Rd

5^th April – 7 Gidgee Place

24^th May – 85 Red Hill Rd

21^st June – 7 Gidgee Place

16^th August – 85 Red Hill Rd

20^th September – 7 Gidgee Place

8^th November – 85 Red Hill Rd

I was reading Mark 5 the other morning…in quick succession there are 3 encounters between Jesus & people in desperate need: (a) The Gerasene demoniac (b) The woman with a 12-year bleeding disorder (c) Jairus’ daughter who dies while Jesus is en route to heal her. It struck me as I read the following verses…When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. ³ This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. ⁴ Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him…A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. ²⁶ She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse…While Jesus was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

In each of those circumstances, humans have tried to control the situation…whether it’s with chains & shackles, medicines, potions or prayers. More than anything else humans strive to control our world that is so beyond our control as to be frightening. But in every case, Jesus works to transform the moment into an opportunity to glimpse God’s glory & praise God for his power at work in even the most out of control situations. And when all else fails…sometimes we even pray! Here’s how Mark finishes this part of the narrative:

A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid…Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. ³⁴ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”… Holding her hand, Jesus said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” ⁴² And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. ⁴³ Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat.

There is it…transformation not control…authority to restore life in its fullest…not making the most of a bad situation, but reclaiming the situation for God’s purpose & glory. I’ve been grasped by what Jesus said in Luke 10:19-20…and you’re likely to hear me reference it more than a few times in the next few weeks:

“I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will harm you. ²⁰ But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” I can’t control the forces of evil, but I have authority to take moments where evil might triumph & reclaim them for Jesus. You have a secure home in God’s presence forever that nothing can take from you. Our weaknesses are transformed by Christ’s resurrection strength. Our failings made whole by his Spirit. Our fears turned into boldness by his word spoken to then through us.

And just like that…we’re more powerful than we could ever imagine in the name of Jesus…just like he promised!

See you Sunday…or Friday @ 1:00 p.m. for the Zoom Bible Study!

Peace

John