When I awake—I am still with you (Psalm 139:18 translated from the Hebrew).
 
On Saturday afternoon, my father returned home after one month of confinement to a hospital bed in Brisbane. My mother sent me a photograph of him and I understand why the hospital staff nicknamed my father, “The Mummy”. He is almost covered head to toe in bandages following lengthy surgery. Then on Sunday, my sister, Leanne was admitted to hospital in Alice Springs and placed in quarantine with suspected pneumonia. I pray that my brother, James is okay where he lives in Tokyo. Like other mortals, I feel a modicum of distress when I hear unsettling news.
 
When ill at ease, my reflex is to turn to scripture for perspective, and voila, Psalm 139 again speaks a simple, yet profound truth: When I awake—I am still with you. I have nothing to fear. Only one of two things can ever happen to me, and both are good. If I should die, I will be with Jesus. If I should live, I will be with Jesus. Either way, I will be together with Jesus.
 
What a thought to cherish! In good health or in sickness, in joy or sorrow, in life or death, Jesus and I will always be together. “When I awake—I am still with you”, says David. That is the comfort in every Christian trial. The night may be long and trying, sleep intermittent and feverish, body faint, heart anxious, but regardless what trials the night may bring, “when I awake, I am still with you”! And what greater comfort can there be than to be with Christ!
 
Even when the night of “life’s fleeting moment” is over, when the veil of eternity is lifted and the Sun of righteousness beams in all his healing brilliance - even in death, “when I awake, I am still with you”! How can we ever thank our heavenly Father for assurance so glorious?
 
Dear Saints, there is nothing in sickness that can harm us when through faith in Jesus, we rest eternally in the security of our Father’s hands. He is always present with us in sickness or in good health, and in the presence of God, no evil dare come near us!
 
We can rest assured with the conviction that Christ’s healing presence pervades every scene of life, and remains with us at the very door of death. Praise be to God in the highest heaven and in our every breath.  
 
With love,
Pastor Greg
Saturday 18th April 2020.

​How weighty [precious] to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end—I am still with you (Psalm 139:17-18 NRSV).
 
Peace be with you, blessed Saints. Another thought came to mind as I dwelt on the words that Holy Spirit inspired as I wrote the sermon for tomorrow. Toward the end when writing about what resurrected people believe, I say, “They trust that what God believes about them is more important than what they believe about God.” Light bulb moment! Psalm 139.
 
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! Meditate on these words Saints, and think of their implication. How beautiful, how sweet, and how comforting is the truth that whatever exists and comes into our lives as Christians, existed first as a thought in God’s mind! Every achievement, every success, every sadness, every sickness, every turn in life we have and have yet to pass through: all were thoughts in God’s mind before they were allowed to play out in our lives.
 
God’s thoughts toward us who have become his children; adopted through faith in Christ, our Redeemer, are always thoughts of love, mercy, grace, tenderness, and kindness. As we remember his thoughts toward us and reckon with how they have been expressed in our lives, we join with David in exclaiming: “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!”
 
Everything that we are now and everything that is prepared for our enjoyment in the heavenly mansions of our benevolent Father is the result of his gracious, loving will for us. Our finite human reasoning isn’t able to comprehend the mystery that lies behind this thought, but every good and every blessing that has shaped our lives, existed first in the heart and mind of our Creator.
 
How rich and precious these blessings have been, are, and always will be. How constant, how undeserved, and how well suited to our every need. As we contemplate the magnitude of the unnumbered blessings which flow from Father’s overabundance of love, may we join our voices to the unending chorus of the uncountable multitudes, the angels, the elders, and the four living creatures: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
 
With love,
Pastor Greg
Saturday 18th April 2020.

​‘Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—in peace because they trust in you’ (Isaiah 26:3 NRSV), or more precisely, ‘Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee’ (RSV).
 
When we think about how we, and others are coping “psychologically” through these difficult times in isolation (a concept alien to Christians), Isaiah speaks a prophetic encouragement: ‘Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.’ But what does it mean to have our mind “stayed on God”?
 
It means that we place our entire confidence in God. We lean our whole weight toward him, trusting that his everlasting arms will catch us.
 
We commit into his gentle hands, all of our yesterdays. All of our failures. All of our sins. All of our regrets. All of our guilty record. We leave them all in his loving hands and forget them. St Paul teaches us to “forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13), because we know that we have been forgiven all things through the blood of Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
 
We commit into his gentle hands, today. Tomorrow, today will be yesterday, and God will again, remember its failures and shortcomings no more. “I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25), God tells us. Today, as yesterday, is a day of mercy and grace.
 
We commit into his gentle hands, tomorrow. His mercies which are “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23), will be just as new, just as sure, and just as all-sufficient tomorrow as they are today. His promises are sure. His compassion is relentless.
 
Dear Saints, I know it’s easier to say than do. Our fragile nature is much more disposed to fear than to faith. But Jesus has promised to send us his “Comforter”. Applied literally, Jesus has promised to send us One who will always walk alongside us. His name is, Holy Spirit. He will strengthen and uphold us, and guide us through all our yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows, because the One who sent him is, “Jesus Christ [who] is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Lean on God. Stay your mind on him. Trust his mercy and grace. Amen.
 
With love,
Pastor Greg
Thursday 16th April 2020.

‘Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…’ (James 1:17).
 
Yesterday, I spoke about the consolation available to us by remembering to look up; seeking solace from our heavenly Father above. But what is it that he gives to comfort us, and how does he deliver it? The answer is found in this well-known and loved wisdom from Jesus: “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs” (Matthew 19:14).
 
From the moment children are born, they learn to depend on their father’s house as the place from which every need will be met. Food, shelter, clothing, warmth, protection, tenderness and sympathy during times of sickness, and, most importantly, love and empathy when storm clouds of sorrow threaten to overwhelm their little lives. These are the priceless gems that our little ones instinctively seek from their father’s house.
 
Likewise, we older “little ones” should constantly turn to our Father’s house for these same invaluable blessings. Our heavenly Father is infinitely more willing and able to supply our every need, to heal our sicknesses, lighten our burdens, and soothe our sorrows than any earthly father. Jesus says, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).
 
James emphasises the absolute dependability of God when he says, ‘Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change’ (James 1:17). In other words, God can be trusted regardless what our situation in life may be.
 
Beloved Saints, I want you to remember this: Through Christ we are God’s children. You’ve heard that often enough, but life has a way of beating us down sometimes to the point where we feel like God’s orphans. God is our living Father, with abundant gifts for all his children. ‘He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?’ (Romans 8:32).
 
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall be sufficiently supplied.
 
With love,
Pastor Greg
Wednesday 15th April 2020.

‘I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth’ (Psalm 121:1-2).
 
Today, my heart is saddened by the loss of a young man, the 22 year-old son of a woman I’ve known since my teacher’s college days in the 1980’s. Tragically, he was killed in a car accident only days ago.
 
What can we say to people to give comfort when life shattering events ambush them? What assurances can we give? What can I say to you to bring comfort in these uncertain times?
 
Many people are surrounded by seemingly insurmountable difficulties. They look to the left and find no relief. They look to the right and still they find no help. But few remember to look up.
 
How often and easily we forget to look up! In times of trial and trouble we give in to faithless worrying, forgetting that we have a Father in the Father’s house above. We frantically scan the level horizon for help, and forget that the first, pleading glance of the troubled Christian soul must always be a plumb look toward heaven.
 
Often, it’s in the school of hard knocks that the eyes of the heart are trained heavenward. King David, the man who wrote the words quoted above, was a keenly honed graduate. David’s life was filled with tragedy. Few of us today would be willing disciples. On many occasions, King David came within an inch of death. Only following long and bitter days entombed in adversity did he learn to say with unwavering confidence: “I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
 
Will we learn to make that our heart’s cry? Throughout all trials and tribulations, let’s remember that we have a Father in the Father’s house to whom we can go with every burden, every hurt, fear, and sorrow. We know that our heavenly Father loves us because he sent Jesus, the gift, the light, and the life of the world. Look up and be blessed!
 
With love,
Pastor Greg
Tuesday 14th April 2020.

​

Toast again (only 1 piece this morning) and coffee. The din of traffic is getting noticeably quieter, as is the foot traffic in our local shopping centre. The empty shelves and television news only serve to reinforce that people are struggling to cope and are hoarding like doomsday preppers. “All is vanity” (Choose your favourite text from Ecclesiastes).
 
As I sat quietly contemplating human folly and pondering the current paucity of human activity, my peace was shattered by a commotion made by a flock of birds. Doves, lorikeets, magpies, honeyeaters, and all manner of feathered friends are the local congregants of the creeks, trees, clotheslines, and television antennas where I reside. The lorikeets diverted my attention this morning.
 
On reflection, I couldn’t help but be drawn to Matthew 6, just after we ask God to, “Give us this day our daily bread” [11]. Daily bread. Not fortnightly, monthly, or yearly bread; daily bread. (Matthew 6:25-34) follows:
 
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear, [or wipe your bottom with]. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear’ [or ‘What will we wobw’]? 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
 
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
 
There is little wonder that St Francis preached to the birds; they provide much food for thought and a great example of faith.
 
Back to “our daily bread”. One of the most hilarious and deliberate misquotes of Scripture, comes from a comedy skit I watched on television as a young, impressionable boy in the ‘70s. 1970s before the clowns out there start up the Ark references! The ocker Aussie comedian, Paul Hogan, utilised a well-known quote from Scripture, and added a comical twist to great effect – “Man cannot live on bread alone, … it must have vegemite on it.” I laughed so much I nearly wet myself [It’s okay. Toilet paper wasn’t scarce in those days]. I still have a quiet chuckle to myself every time I’m reminded of it. Like now! He played on Jesus’ first retort to the tempter in the wilderness, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4).
 
What great comfort! Every word that comes from the mouth of God is peace and goodwill to his creation redeemed by his Son, the Beloved. Saints, the way to endure, nay, prosper in these days of transformation, is to cling to the feet of Jesus and enjoy the ride. Consider the birds of the air, delight in their carefree countenance, listen to their joyful squawks of thanksgiving, and listen to every word that comes from the mouth of God, not the, “Horror movie, it’s the 6.30 news” (Skyhooks [another 70s reference]).   
 
By absorbing God’s word, your joy will be fulfilled (John 3:29) as Jesus increases, and our worries decrease (John 3:30). Be bold, Saints. Every day is the Day of the Lord, and we are his beloved children.
 
Oh, by the way, I received a “pinch and a punch for the first day of the month” on Wednesday. Some traditions are just priceless. Just like vegemite [Sorry, I couldn’t resist].
 
With love,
Pastor Greg
Friday morning 3rd April 2020.

​God moments 4 (Inspired by Pauline Hill)
 
Morning coffee and toast again out on the back patio. God whispered one word to me – “children.” That’s it! One word. Immediately my thoughts went to (Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16), “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven [God] belongs.” And that was it! Then I received this email from Pauline and everything began to take shape:
 
DNA test not necessary........           
                      
 
Isn’t it fascinating how seamlessly children mimic their parents. Postures, habits, speech patterns; all manner of idiosyncrasies are transferred from parent to child effortlessly. I guess, with the amount of time children spend with their parents, some things are bound to “rub off” or “stick”. After all, children are very impressionable and they sure are fast learners.
 
This reminds me of a particular child born nearly 2000 years ago in a little town not far from Jerusalem, called Bethlehem. His parents were not particularly remarkable but I’m sure the little boy, like all children, adopted many of their habits and ways of doing and seeing things.
 
Yet, this little boy would grow and become the most remarkable person to ever walk this earth. Of course, I’m talking about Jesus, the Christ, who followed his heavenly Father’s will to perfection. Talk about a “chip off the old block”. Here’s how the Scriptures describe him more eloquently:
 
“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs” (Hebrews 1:1-4).
 
He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being.
 
And do you know who else bears this imprint? You do, dear Saints. Through holy baptism, you have been adopted by God, you have been marked with the sign of the cross, you have been clothed with Christ, you have been made holy, you have been made a bride adorned for her husband, your robes have been washed white in the blood of the Lamb. And the Lamb says, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children” (Revelation 21:6-7).
 
“My children”, says God. Every moment, God is shining his glory and imprinting his being onto you, his child, so that his love will be reflected into the world. What a daunting responsibility! What a glorious blessing!
  
Do not be afraid! There is no need for a DNA test for God to identify you as his child. There is a cross on a hill at Calvary with your sins nailed to it, a book of life with your name written in it, a mansion being prepared for you, and a heart so full of love that its beat penetrates the whole cosmos, calling you his.
 
With humble love,
 
Pastor Greg.
 
Tuesday 31st March 2020.

 I wonder how many times you’ve said or heard the words of Psalm 23. It’s probably the best known of all the psalms because of its great hope and comforting reassurance. The words are familiar and beloved. I suspect many of you have memorised them off by heart. They’re words that comfort us in times of uncertainty and sustain us through sorrows and losses. They give us courage when we’re afraid. They assure us there’s nothing to fear in the dark valley of death. They offer hope and strength to take our next step. They remind us there is a way forward when we feel powerless and fearful. They promise us that we never walk alone. 
Psalm 23 is exactly what we need to hear today in the midst of COVID-19. When I look at everything that has changed about our life and world; when I dwell on our unknown future; when I read the statistics; when I think about the immense job losses; when I ponder the strain on those with poor mental health, and the homeless; when I wonder how long it will be before we are able to gather, greet each other with hugs, kisses, and handshakes again — I don’t want more information or answers about COVID-19. And I don’t want more instructions on what to do or what not to do. I need to hear words of hope. I need to be reminded that “the Lord is my shepherd” and “I shall not want.” I need to be reassured that all will be well. I want to soak myself in the words of Psalm 23 and let them soak into me. I’m sure you feel the same. So, I want you to do something. I want you to pray Psalm 23 when 
you get up in the morning. I want you to pray it again at noon. And I want you to pray it again before you fall asleep in the evening. I want it to be absorbed into your hearts. Pray it for yourselves, for each other, for your loved ones, for Adelaide, for Australia, and for the world. 
​Pray it slowly and deeply. Allow a pause between each verse for the words to soak deep into your being. 
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
​ All will be well. 
He makes me lie down in green pastures; 
he leads me beside still waters; 
All will be well. 
he restores my soul. 
He leads me in paths of righteousness 
for his name’s sake. 
All will be well. 
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 
I fear no evil; 
for you are with me; 
your rod and your staff￾they comfort me. 
All will be well. 
You prepare a table before me 
in the presence of my enemies; 
you anoint my head with oil; 
my cup overflows. 
All will be well. 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 
all the days of my life, 
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD 
my whole life long. 
All will be well. Amen. 
 With love, Pastor Greg. Sunday evening 29th March 2020. 

I sat outside again this morning to enjoy my toast and coffee, although I was beneath shelter. It was raining. Baptismal waters bringing new life to our parched ground? Thanks be to God for everything he provides as our daily bread. 
I find it difficult to spend time in silent contemplation at the moment without thinking about what our future might look like. I find it 
consuming much of my time as I pray for and think of, the Saints of Elizabeth - my wonderful congregation, and how I can best serve them with Christ’s love and promises. 
As I meditated this morning, listening for the still small voice of God, I was interrupted by a “pandemonium” of parrots screeching their way through the raindrops. Then the connections began linking together – birds – St Francis of Assisi - a devotion I once read written by Pastor Herman W. Gockel, which I reproduce here for the consolation of the Saints: [my additions] 
Read 2 Peter 3:10-14 
Do Your Best – Today 
Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might (Ecclesiastes 9:10).St Francis of Assisi, while hoeing his garden one day, was asked what he would do if he were told that he was going to die at sundown. He replied: “I would finish hoeing my garden.” 
Significantly, a similar story is told about Martin Luther. One morning, while discussing points of theology with a group of friends, 
he was asked: “Father Luther, what would you do if you knew for sure that the Lord was coming tonight?” In his usual quick and 
impetuous manner, Luther replied: “I’d go out into my garden and plant an apple tree” – meaning he’d go about his ordinary business. 
If only all of us in these unsettled days could emulate the attitude of these heroes of the faith! Because of the insecurity and 
uncertainty of our times, too many of us are inclined to stop “hoeing our gardens”. Many a young man asks: “Why go to college when an atomic war will soon be upon us?” Many a young woman wonders: 
“Why have a family when there’s no guarantee of future happiness?” 
Why plan and work for a future which may never come? 
The Christian has an answer to that question. God has given him a life to live. God has given him a task to do. As long as God gives him life and health and talent, he will go on “hoeing his garden” to the best of his ability. 
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might” the Scriptures tell us. The very certainty of his earthly death prompted the 
Christ to work with unflagging zeal and unabated diligence. “I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.” [John 9:4]
God has asked us to make the best of the present [that is why it is called a gift]. We can be sure that he will make the best of the 
future. 
Lord, keep me faithful to my present tasks. Amen. 
 
Copyright 1982 Concordia Publishing House, St Louis, USA 
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift from God, which is why we call it the present. Author unknown.
Dear Saints, I leave you with this exhortation and reassurance from Jesus himself: “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today” 
(Matthew 6:34). And: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). 
With love in Christ’s service, 
Pastor Greg 
Sunday morning, 29th March 2020.