Living Faith Lutheran Church Murrumba Downs in Murrumba Downs, Queensland, Australia | Lutheran Church

Living Faith Lutheran Church Murrumba Downs

Locality: Murrumba Downs, Queensland, Australia

Phone: +61 7 3886 5497

Address: 50-60 Brays Rd 4503 Murrumba Downs, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.livingfaith.org.au

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25.01.2022 We know that God’s Word is like a two-edged sword, and that sometimes His instructions for us cut so deep that it’s easier for us to put a bandaid over them than deal with what God is trying to say. We do a Jonah. But the thing is, God’s Word and will is still going to be there when we pull off the bandaid. When God spoke to Jonah a second time, His Word was unchanged. God set out to give the people of Nineveh a second chance, but ended up giving Jonah one as well. I can t...ell you from personal experience that running from God is futile and, is a bit like running away from someone on a treadmill. I was unhappy where I was serving in a ministry context so I ran away, went back to my previous occupation, and it nearly bankrupted us. God will NEVER EVER lead us somewhere that He isn’t. When He makes it very clear where He wants you to be, even if it seems untenable and frightening, He promises that He will be right there with you. Our human nature doesn’t align with this whole surrendering to another action. But Christian surrender means becoming a part of something amazing. This surrendering brings us INTO His will, and into His plan for the whole of creation. When we change our perspective, we move from fear of the unknown into excitement and anticipation. We don’t need to have all the answers because God does and we are in Christ and Christ is in us. Surrendering to God isn’t weakness, it means beginning the greatest adventure of our lives! Shalom Danielle

25.01.2022 This passage in Galatians 1:15-16 challenges me quite a lot, as I’m one who often doubts and deliberates over whose voice I hear. Do I hear God or do I hear the enemy trying to trick me? Paul had no doubt whatsoever that he was hearing the truth from God and didn’t confer with anyone else when God called him to preach to the gentiles. If you’re like me, and sometimes wait and question before acting on the voice of the Holy Spirit, it may help to remember that John 14:17 tel...ls us that we have the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, within us. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t sometimes seek counsel. Proverbs 11:14 teaches that there is safety in seeking the wisdom of others, but I don’t believe we should prioritise flesh & blood advice over God’s voice. The greatest Wisdom lives in us. The Truth lives in us. The liar may try to trick us, but greater is He Who lives in us than he who is in the world. Shalom Danielle

25.01.2022 A Thought for the Week. Stop and energize! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACV2NIat-hU

24.01.2022 The original St. Nicholas, bishop Myra in what is now Greece, was known as 'the secret giver'. It's good for the soul to give without making announcements about it. Australian World Service has a high rating with the UN as an aid provider that has ensured that 88.86% of donations go directly to the people who need it. The rest is administration costs. You can help refugee children with an education this Christmas, or give in other ways.https://www.alws.org.au/christmas-action-10000-children-10/ https://www.alws.org.au/christmas-action-10000-children-10/

24.01.2022 In 2 Chronicles 32:31, we read how God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and see what was in his heart. I know that feeling, and I really, really dislike it. It makes me so incredibly sad for those who live that existence permanently, without being aware of God’s presence and not hearing His voice. It’s awful to go through these times, but this passage reminds me to not be discouraged, because just because God’s quiet, doesn’t mean He’s not there. After all, tho...se who are baptised are filled with the Holy Spirit so are never alone. But there are times we need to grow and there are times He allows us to be tested. Luther called it ‘Tentatio’, but that’s a devotion for another time. So, be encouraged that even during those quiet times, God is still there and is giving us an opportunity to grow and be more determined to lean on Him regardless, through easy times and hard ones. Shalom Danielle

23.01.2022 At worship on Sunday, Pastor David spoke to the children about one aspect of meditation, and meditation is one of the most beautiful spiritual practices to draw nearer to God and get to know Him better. But meditation can be extremely difficult and ineffective for some people who try to align themselves with a particular style, rather than utilising a style that aligns with them. Whatever your particular style of meditation (and I encourage you to experiment and determine wha...t is most beneficial for you), this passage from Zechariah (9:12) is a wonderful message from Abba to ponder. Prisoners of hope. A prisoner is one who has been captured and imprisoned. What a beautiful prison we have here! This is a prison that we have been invited to enter and be captured by, and this should be our daily existence. We should think hope, we should speak hope and we should be hopeful always. Prisons sound like awful, tormenting places without freedom. But our God loves to turn the things of this world on their heads. Our God is a God of opposites, and as prisoners of hope, we have incredible freedom! When we’re facing trials and situation that seem hopeless, as prisoners of hope, they have no hold on us in this world. As prisoners of hope, we live in the freedom of the gospel. Shalom Danielle

22.01.2022 Perfectionism seems to be a genetic trait in my family, and I see it in so many other people. We aim and strive to do our very best and achieve the goals that we set for ourselves, often celebrating when we reach them, and this is great! Overcoming and excelling are cause for acknowledgement. But, do we aspire and aim to do and our best for God like we do with our other studies, vocations and creative pursuits? The truth is that we lost the best of us at the fall. With tha...t first betrayal of God’s trust, we can no longer offer God our best because we surrendered that to the enemy. But - and in all things sinful, we always have a ‘but’ - but Jesus. We may not be able to give God that purity and wholeness He desired for us before the fall, but Jesus can. We may have surrendered our best in the garden, but Jesus surrendered His best at the cross. And our brokenness was surrendered there with Him. So, we can strive daily to give God our best and our first-fruits, and we can still strive for perfect devotion and adoration to our Abba, Father, knowing that although we can never achieve it ourselves, Jesus does, and the Holy Spirit will strengthen us and give us the endurance we need. Shalom Danielle

22.01.2022 This is a very sobering prophecy from Zephaniah, and many are questioning if we are fast approaching this day with all that’s happening in the world at the moment. Although we won’t know the time, day or hour of the Lord’s return, we have the blessing yet of today, and our greatest weapon during these days of uncertainty right until judgement day is prayer. Let me encourage you today to include in your prayers those who don’t yet know the amazing life and assurance of eternit...y with God, that we do as baptised believers. Pray for lost souls, those sheep that have wandered, that they will recognise the voice of their Shepherd and be brought safely into the sheepfold. Let’s pray that those crying out on that last day will be few and those rejoicing will be as many as the grains of sand. Shalom Danielle

21.01.2022 Saint Nicholas of Myra, the ‘secret gift giver’. What Coca Cola did to him for a cash grab

21.01.2022 Pride and ego have been very much on my heart of late, and I actually preached on them a couple of Sundays ago in morning worship. But I somehow missed the wisdom in this passage in my preparation. Paul’s words here remind me of the expression People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. He says that knowledge makes us feel important but love strengthens. This is all about the balance between head and heart. If we don’t approach our learning... from yearning, we’re upside down and really vulnerable to pride. Pride always comes before a fall, and focusses on self. Christian love is the opposite. Love is humble and doesn’t think of self. When we’re tempted to tell others how much head knowledge we have, we should ask the Holy Spirit to give us a heart check-up. Because we have nothing to boast about in ourselves. When we boast, we should only boast in the Lord and what He’s done for us. So when pride takes over in your life and you fall - as we all do sometimes - look up. You’ll most likely find yourself at the foot of the cross, where Jesus is ready to help you back up. Shalom Danielle

20.01.2022 God, I pray that You’ll teach me to be as wise as a serpent and as gentle as a dove. Amen

20.01.2022 God is our Vindicator! No matter what we face, no matter how other people come against us, exclude us, ridicule us or even despise us for our faith, He will defend us and rescue us. Stand firm in your faith friends, even when it’s rocky and call on the holy name of the Lord, your Redeemer.... Shalom Amen

20.01.2022 Lord, I’ll praise You and trust in You forever because of all You’ve done for me. I’ll trust in Your name because You are good. Amen.

19.01.2022 David Christian is a wise and gentle retired pastor who should have an influence on us all. He speaks the gospel. https://watw.com.au//11/08/what-does-the-bible-actually-/

19.01.2022 Temptation, my dear friends, is everywhere. And the devil is always prowling; deceiving. We need to be soooo careful. It’s a slippery slope when we start to believe what Satan says to us, and this warning in Habakkuk is a great touchstone for us for those times where Satan will try to catch us off-guard. Those times where we discover that item left in the bottom of the trolley that wasn’t scanned; when we slip in that extra (but not appropriate) receipt in our tax return; ...when we hide that latest shopping bag or new purchase from our spouse; when we find that loose $50 note on the footpath. All of these seem like the smallest of things, but they accumulate and infect. Because sin is like a disease, and financial dishonesty can be addictive. In fact, Jesus spoke more on money than any other subject. Not only because financial sin can cause you worldly grief, but it can also reveal a gap in your trust in provision from God. We are weak and helpless in our sin when we try to fight these temptations alone. So, why would we want to?! We have the greatest support, protection and defence against this form of attack through the blood of Jesus, the Holy Spirit’s presence, and the wisdom of The Father. Today, if you find yourself in financial temptation, look up. Shalom Danielle

18.01.2022 God, I declare that You are holy. The whole earth is filled with Your glory. Amen.

17.01.2022 I know that God loves me. I mean, I do. But there are those days. Those days where either my faith is weak, the worries of the world and day to day life are such a heavy burden, and those days where the weight of my sin is like a millstone around my neck. Do you ever have those days? Those days where you know He loves you, but you just can’t imagine how or why? On those days, this passage of prophecy from Zephaniah is like the warmth of a fire in the bitter cold of night.... In the original Hebrew, we’re given a picture that God literally spins around with joy over you. And that He shouts over YOU with joy! We don’t need to stop at the comfort that we’ve been redeemed from our lost state and have new life through Jesus, but we should always remember that He delights in us! So much that He can’t stay still! When you spend time with Him today, stop and bask in that. Thank Him for His mind-blowing love and know that in this realm, we can’t even begin to plumb the depths of His devotion for us. May these words be a comfort for you, on those days. Shalom Danielle

14.01.2022 Troubles, trials and temptation - the triple T’s. We all have them, and yet sometimes we seem to forget that these are actually our new normal as Christ’s disciples. Jesus Himself told us in John 16:33 that we’ll have them, but Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:13 that Jesus is with us through these and that God is our Strength during these times. Once we accept that our lives aren’t always going to be sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, we can surrender those tough times to J...esus. The only way we can have shelter through those storms and have steadiness is through faith and gratitude. Although the skirmishes will continue, these are just the tantrums of the enemy throwing his hissy fits over Jesus’ victory, by attacking us. This is because he has no power over us. Jesus has overcome and we ourselves are overcomers in His name (Romans 8:37). The enemy will try to convince us that there’s no way God’s going to want to stick by us through the hard times because of how sinful we are. Satan will remind us of when we did this and when we did that, but that just shows his desperation. James tells us that we can have wisdom during those testing times and Jesus will give it to us despite our shortcomings (Js 1:5). I have a beautiful cracked and rusted picture hanging on my wall that was my grandmothers, that I have always treasured. Proverbs 3:5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. The verse continues ... and lean not on your own understanding. In the middle of the storm, when the rain and squalls are so heavy you can’t see your hand in front of your face, Jesus is there. Standing on the water in the middle of the waves. He is the only surety in this world. Shalom Danielle

14.01.2022 https://www.facebook.com/953503304668527/posts/3867400696612092/?substory_index=0

14.01.2022 It’s incredibly important to recognise that Jesus uses the word everywhere in this translation, or, more accurately, He says the great body, which in the original Greek is specifically the church and not simply the world in general. Since the fall, our world is set up for us to fail. The expression rampant evil isn’t given the recognition that it should because it’s disguised as modern life, and a lifestyle that encourages us to be self-centred and self-reliant. This c...hapter in Matthew (24) speaks about the end of days and most of it is familiar to us, with recognisable events in our history, or even current happenings around the world. But it’s verse 12 that we often overlook and misinterpret - this lawlessness that Jesus speaks of is lawlessness within the Christian family. God has never asked us to go it alone. His invitation and His promise to us is that He will take care of our every need and all He asks is for our response in sharing that love back out into the world in the name of His Son and through the power of His Spirit. In a world that sets us up to fail, God sets us up to succeed, and even excel! It has never, and never will cease to amaze me how, when I feel I’m drowning in my own struggles, that God gives me an opportunity to help someone in their’s. And while I’m helping them, God’s working away in the background (as He is wont to do), so when I come back to my own stuff, it’s all sorted. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to keep us vigilant in these last days and keep turning us away from ourselves. We must ask Her to overburden us with so much love that it can’t be contained within us, and we find it irresistible to share it with others. Always remember that we are carbon-based life forms. In a time where we all must be so aware of reducing our carbon footprints on this earth, we also need to increase our carbon handprints. Shalom Danielle

13.01.2022 As someone who likes (needs) to keep occupied as part of managing my mental health strategies, I sometimes have to remind myself that we are human BEings, not human DOings. Habakkuk 2:20 gives great advice with the instruction that we are to be silent before the Lord and this is a wonderful spiritual practice for people who are always busy. If you are a busy bee and the thought of meditation leaves you cold, bear with me, because I get it. I’m not talking sitting cross-leg...ged, middle finger to thumb and chanting. You see, the difference between Christian meditation and other forms of meditation is that we aim to be filled, whereas other practices aim to be emptied. Today, I encourage you, if you can, to just take 5 somewhere quiet (no phone), sit with a small passage of scripture, and Jesus. Be emptied of the world and filled with truth. Shalom Danielle

11.01.2022 There are seasons in our life where we are blessed with abundance in every part of our lives. Blessed with family, blessed with love, blessed with health, blessed with financial providence and above all, blessed with experiencing the closeness of God. And there are also seasons in our lives where we are blessed with the opposite. Our families struggle, we have disagreements with and lose friends, our health fails, our finances disintegrate, and we enter the long dark night ...of the soul where we can’t feel God’s presence. These times may not feel like blessings, but they are. It’s in our struggles that God reveals Himself as the only true and reliable source of all. It’s in our weakness that God is strong for us. I have no doubt that while Jonah was in the belly of the fish/whale that God used Jonah’s situation to get his attention, but God is also omniscient. Nothing God ever does speaks to just during one moment in time as He is in all time. Today, Jonah’s circumstances speak to us to remind us that regardless of what’s going on in our lives, even when we have no sense of God’s presence and if He seems too far away to be bothered about us, He is right there. God hears us and He is for us. Shalom Danielle

10.01.2022 Frustration. We all know what that’s like. We wait and wait and wait on the Lord. And then we wait some more. We knock and knock on the door, but it doesn’t seem to open. But how is Job’s form? I can’t imagine how I would cope with all he went through without even knowing why. We all experience elements of Job’s experience, but poor Job copped the whole bucket of misery. I know I get frustrated with things I have no control over, and I wonder what Gods doing when things... take forever and are too hard despite my constant prayer. There’s a misnomer that God tests us and does cruel things to us, but that’s not the case. Like Job, He allows us to be tested and it’s not like we’re going to get a grading. Like, Sheesh, Danielle really screwed that one up, that’s 4/10 for her. He only allows it for our growth and as another way for Him to reveal His strength in our weakness. I find it’s usually when I’m starting to harden, lose focus on Him and not walking in my truth that He does this for me, in fact He did it just yesterday and I had to humble myself before Him and my family. It was far from pleasant, but I really needed it and now rely on His grace and forgiveness. Patience doesn’t come naturally to many of us, but it does to God. Wait on Him as He does the same with you. Shalom Danielle

10.01.2022 This translation of Isaiah 2:22 differs slightly from the original Hebrew in that God warns that He will remove the props that we depend on over Him. In other words, those things that we use to support us or lean on that we need to let go. He asks us to do a spiritual assessment to ensure that we’re not putting faith or trust in anything external, or even anyONE. When we begin our lives as Christ’s disciples, we need those props and support structures, be they people, Bible ...study programs and podcasts. Without them, we topple and fall. Think of the house built on sand. (Mt 7:24-27). This is because as soon as we give our lives to Jesus, we become a target on Satan’s radar. We need to learn how to prepare for those attacks and what to use to fight during them, and how to walk the talk of the Christian life. But eventually, God wants us to move from milk to meat (1 Cor 3:2) and He will begin to remove some of those props that are keeping us from relying solely on Him, especially if they’re a prop that’s feeding our ego. When I restore an old piece of furniture, it reminds me of what God is doing to me. I sand back the flaking paint; glue on any extra mouldings or details; prime and paint; add new handles and designs and then stand back and look at my piece, standing proudly on my workbench. And then I go back with the sandpaper to rough up the edges and corners so it’s not too perfect. Just like it’s creator, it’s a little shabby and distressed. We don’t want to be like the perfectly painted and decorated piece, and we can’t be. Without removing what we’re clinging to that‘s holding us back from God, we’re imposters. We might get a little scuffed and bruised as the props are removed. It’s not about what we look like or who we are. But Whose we are. Shalom Danielle

09.01.2022 God has bound himself to us. We have no need to bind ourselves to anything. Live freely.

08.01.2022 The expressions baptism of fire and trial by fire are heard often, and usually used when someone goes through a test of character and resilience of some kind. As Christians, we are certainly no strangers to this experience, as we strive with the help of the Holy Spirit to live a life that is at odds with the ways of this world. But it’s during those times that we should actually be glad and remember that it’s in this fire that we are being refined, so that all that remai...ns is the most pure components of ourselves. The process of refinement is far from enjoyable. If you’ve ever burnt yourself on something hot, it’s painful! A blister forms, but when the blister bursts, the skin underneath is soft, new and unblemished, like the skin of a newborn baby. Know that when that blister is being formed in us, when it bursts, it will expose new, pure, unblemished children of the King. Shalom Danielle

08.01.2022 When I’ve taught this parable to children, I use the analogy of being at school camp and having flat batteries in your torch just when it’s time to play ‘Spotlight’. Our society is very different to when Jesus was here as a human. Two thousand or so years ago, oil was the only portable fuel for light, so to be unprepared when you had the opportunity to be was, as Jesus says, foolish. When the bridegroom came, the five foolish bridesmaids weren’t prepared to serve the brid...egroom and consequently celebrate with Him. All ten of the bridesmaids mentioned here in Matthew 25:1-10 were given exactly the same opportunity, but only five were prepared when the rubber hit the road, so to speak. The Holy Spirit doesn’t discriminate with who She chooses to reach out to, to bring to Jesus. It doesn’t matter whether we’re able-bodied or not; what our parents are like or the level of dis-functionality in our families; how educated we are; or what ethnic background or gender we have. When it comes to desiring our salvation, we are all given equal opportunity. All ten bridesmaids were chosen, but sadly only half seemed to realise the blessing of it. God wants all of us to be saved, with no exceptions, and all we need to do is grasp that offer of grace and God's acceptance of us through Jesus with all the faith we have, no matter how thin that faith may sometimes be. After all, faith itself is another gift from the Father's grace. Let's pray today that this parable doesn't become a prophecy, and that when our Bridegroom comes for us all, no-one is at Bunnings buying more batteries. Shalom Danielle

07.01.2022 God, I know that You are of purer eyes than to see evil, and that You don’t look silently upon injustice. You are my defender. Amen

06.01.2022 Yesterday I was contemplating and meditating on having a confident heart and how confidence is the opposite of fear, which comes from the enemy. You see, he uses fear because he’s a coward and a liar. He uses the words forever and never to try to invoke fear and discontent in our lives. Your life will never change and it will be this hard forever. You’ll never get that job and you’ll never be financially stable. Maybe so, but maybe not. We live under the cross, ...so we’re not interested in glory and don’t base our faith on if I do what you want, God, I expect that you’ll give me what I want. We know that Jesus told us we’ll have trouble in this life. But Ecclesiastes reminds us to never say never, and that there’s a season for everything. God is the only forever, so when we get dragged down by the devil’s doubts and taunts, we can remind him of this truth. Always remember, friends, that the devil is a liar. Jesus is The Truth. Shalom Danielle

04.01.2022 I absolutely love the way we can read the same passage of scripture again and again, yet the Holy Spirit opens us up to hear God’s voice differently every time. Today, Matthew 20:16 says to me that we are all given opportunities to serve God, by serving others, using our diverse gifts and abilities. But not all of us feel that we can or even know how. Moreover, it can often be daunting to step out of our comfort zones. But here’s the thing. When we do, we don’t ever do it ...alone and if the Holy Spirit prompts us to share God’s love in some way, then She’s certainly not going to live us hanging. Not one of us is here by accident. Each and every human being is a unique creation with a very special un-substitutable purpose. It’s when we realise that, and respond to the opportunities to fulfill our purpose, that not only do we bring glory to God, but we help the new Kingdom grow stronger. We needn’t be fearful. Jesus has been here, done that, and is with us all the way when it’s our turn. Shalom Danielle

04.01.2022 Frustration part 2. When we’re waiting on the Lord to break through in some area of our lives and frustration is starting to set in, another help can be to take time to reflect. When have you waited on Him for something before? What happened? When did you start to see evidence of His hand in that need? ... Sometimes, we’re so focussed on what we’re praying for that we get tunnel vision, and we can’t see the steps along the way. By not seeing and celebrating the small joys, we’re not only being ungrateful, but we’re also missing opportunities for praise and awe. When the Israelites began to rebuild the Lord’s temple, they didn’t wait until it was completed, they celebrated at the very first milestone, because they could see how God had been working all along to get them to where they were. (Ezra 3:10-11). We only have today, friends. God broke through for us in the past, He will most certainly do it in the future, and today, He is breaking through and building new foundations in all of us, His new temple. Shalom Danielle

04.01.2022 Thank God, for hearing me in my distress. I know that You hear my voice, no matter where I am. Amen

04.01.2022 Ecclesiastes teaches us that there are seasons for everything, and John Denver that some days are diamonds, some days are stone. So, what do we do during those times where everything keeps going pear-shaped? What do we do when we’re copping it from every direction - our kids, our mental health, money, our physical health, work, relationships, neighbours? This is where our only certainty and stability is in God, because we can still have spiritual certainty even during the... most trying times. When the world keeps pushing us back, we can still move forward in our relationship with God. I love Joyce Meyer’s expression Keep on walking while the devil’s stalking. She says this because Satan’s greatest weapon against us is fear. We have three reactions to fear as human beings: Fight, flight or freeze? Which are you? There are no wrong answers to this, but there are two responses that stop Satan dead in his tracks. It’s only when we freeze that he gains traction in our lives. So, my dear brothers and sisters, let’s put on the whole armour of God today, washed in the blood of Jesus. Then we can fight in the power of the Holy Spirit and we can resist the devil and he will flee. (James 4:7) We may be in the world, but we’re not of the world. Be encouraged that our God is greater than anything the world can throw at us. Shalom Danielle

03.01.2022 People can tell who is a Christian by their fruit, or when they walk their talk. As disciples of Jesus, we’re called to live by the principles He taught us and by the way He lives when He was here. Romans 12:9-21 contains super practical advice for how to walk the Christian talk. But, there’s no way we can do this under our own stength, so today, I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to guide your steps, your actions and your speech.... By doing good, we can overcome evil one step at a time. Shalom Danielle

03.01.2022 This heart is a confident heart. A confident heart does not just happen, it’s developed with time, patience, resilience and bucket loads of help from God. This is something that I’m still working on, especially when I’m in a leadership position during worship. All it takes is for someone to close their eyes in meditation when I’m preaching and the devil says See how boring you are, he’s falling asleep. Or for someone to not like one of the songs I’ve selected, then he te...lls me you sound so awful, you should have given this up years ago. The greatest spiritual battlefield is in our minds, to gain control of our hearts. But we can embrace each day with a confident heart, because our confidence lies in Christ. For it is Christ who now lives within us, and we can do all things through His strength. This is where waging war harnessing the power in God’s word is the greatest weapon against the enemy’s seeds of doubt. Today, I want to encourage you to carry around some verses in your memory as a soldier would carry a weapon. My three go-to’s fit together and put the devil into hasty retreat. Romans 8:37; Philippians 4:13 and 2 Corinthians 2:14. I am more than a conqueror through Jesus. I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. I am triumphant in every situation because God causes me to be. Confidence is the opposite of fear. And we have no need to fear. Shalom Danielle