From the

Coalface

NORTHLAKES—A church for everyone

7th August 2011

The NORTHLAKES Salvation Army Community Church

Happiness Does Not Grow Us

Most of us are searching for happiness but it can be such an elusive emotion. It is also intriguing that it is not necessarily happiness that grows our character. Social researcher, Hugh Mackay writes in his book, “Right and Wrong”. "Most people report that their most significant personal growth and development has come from pain not pleasure." While we love the joy of peace and happiness, our character and lives grow and develop through times of pain. If you are struggling through some difficult situation, can I en-courage you to stay with it. Don’t give in to despair and defeat. Know that through whatever you face, your character is being moulded. This period of time in your life is helping to define your values and teaching you what is important. I believe that God is aware of your pain, stands with you in the tough times and will help form your character as you turn to Him. While some lash out in anger at God, I believe the wise turn to God for strength and hope.

The Bible

Did you know that when you carry "the Bible", Satan

has a headache, when you open it, he collapses, when he sees you reading it, he

loses his strength, AND when you stand on the Word

of God, Satan can't hurt you

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PRAYER CHANGES

EVERYTHING!

Come and join together to pray this week...

Monday 6.30am

Tuesday 6.30pm

Wednesday 6.30pm

Thursday 5.30pm

Friday 6.30am

Every day at the Church House

EXCEPT Tuesday—at Chadban’s home

5 Glider Court Charlestown

Before church next Sunday at 8.45am

Northlakes Salvos

are now on

Twitter

follow us @NorthlakesSA

‘Enough Hope’

Sunday, August 28, 2011 6pm

Macquarie College Hall

Featuring

an in-depth interview with

Ryan Stig

Hot supper & drinks

afterwards

Invite your friends

Wednesday August 10th

7.30 pm

Church House

2 Cor 1 Ch 1&2 “The god of all ComforT”

TRY THIS…

Stare at the dots between the eyes in

the picture above for 30 seconds.

Then close your eyes and look up.

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From Blessing To Bitterness

Read Ruth 1:19-22 19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred be-cause of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” 20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune up-on me.” 22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Mo-abite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning. (TNIV) In the Bible, a person’s name was significant: it represented something. Naomi’s name meant pleasant or blessed. But by the time she got back to her hometown of Bethlehem she felt anything but pleasant or blessed. Hence her pain-filled remark about being called 'Mara' which means bitter.

The cause of all this was the death of her husband and sons in Mo-ab. Now back home with her daughter-in-law, Ruth, she laments the emptiness of her life. In typical Hebrew fashion she attributes it directly to God. We might query that and respond that God is never the author of misfortune. He allows it but does not wilfully send it to us. But Naomi, like most in her position, is not observing theologi-cal niceties. She is shattered and blames the person she figures is in control of her now impoverished life. Her story is not uncommon. Life hits us with all sorts of low blows. Our trust in God is stretched to the limit. In our pain we shake our fist at him and regard ourselves as life’s losers. God understands: his shoulders are broad. And yet he will try to get us to see that there is still hope, he is still good. Naomi’s bitterness is not lasting. Later her bitterness turns to something like praise and thankful-ness. She realises, as we realise, that clouds may come but the sun still shines.

"Come away." We do need to withdraw -- not once-in-a-while, but

often, daily! What is incredible is that Jesus invites his disciples

(today that's us!) to withdraw with him to a quiet place and rest

with him. The little childhood prayer is appropriate here: "Now I lay

me down to sleep and pray the Lord my soul to keep." Only this isn't

just about a good night's sleep; it's about taking time in the middle

of our wild and crazy days to join him for a few moments of grace,

rest, and refreshment. Let's make these daily stops in God's Word

more than quick e-mail viewing; let's let it be a time to withdraw

with the Saviour and take a few minutes of rest!

Holy and gentle Shepherd of my soul, thank you for your constant care and

loving faithfulness. Please touch my heart as I try to be more disciplined in

my rest times with you. Please keep my soul, but even more, please restore

my soul as I withdraw to spend time with your Son and my Saviour Jesus,

in whose name I pray. Amen.

SHARE A PRAYER

Check out our website

www.northlakessalvos.com.au

For Our Church Family at Northlakes Our HSC students completing their HSC Trial Examinations

EPIC Youth

Healing for people in our church suffering from the flu virus

God’s dreams to be released in our church and for people in our church

Safety for Don Lyall as he continues his road trip and Anna, Clare & Ken as they travel in US, Val in UK, Collins & Amos families in NZ

Megan McKee; Meredith & Stephen; Reece& Mel; Stan; Ling

Ryan Stig as he plays with the Newcastle Knights—for safety & success

Tara and her family—for justice to prevail—court case on 24th August

Britt Lloyd—for healing and comfort

Northlakes Salvation Army

Newsletter entries and enquiries 0423 033 318 or fiona.stig@spcc.nsw.edu.au

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HAPPY

BIRTHDAY

Wishing you all a fantastic day

and a blessed year ahead!

Love from all your

Northlakes Family

For the Salvo’s India Northern Territory

Northlakes Corps, NSW—Pam O’Dea Northside Corps, ACT—Captains Dale & Roslyn Brooks

Oasis Youth Centre Wyong, NSW—Envoys Stuart & Heidi Grice and Team

Oasis Youth Network Hunter, NSW—Elise Briggs, Captain Peter Spindler and Team

Oasis Residential Service, ACT—Carolyn Bradley and Team

Calendar Dates:

8th-11th: 15 year Review

9th-18th: Officers Brengle

12th: South QLD Division Healthy Mission Training

12th-13th: Tri-territorial Theological Forum

14th: Junior Soldier Renewal Day

Seek God while He’s here to be found,

pray to Him while He’s close at hand. Isaiah 55:6 The Message

AUGUST

Anabel Smith 3

Carly Armstrong 7

Lyn Hazell-Bland 8

Matt McKee 13

Janice Deal 14

Matt Kolasinski 17

Kirsty Whalan 21

Mahnie Roberts 22

David Price 22

Stuart Chadban 22

Lynne Mitchell 25

Andrea Stig 26

Paula Greenaway 27

Jack Bingham 28