Queensland Women's Ministry November Newsletter

The November Newsletter is out... check it out... http://www.wmpcq.com/Calendar-2012.html

Women's Ministry Queensland

Women's Ministry Queensland WMPCQ have released their dates for the 2012 Calendar. If you are a local, then pop these dates on your calendar and bring a friend. Tell others about the events by directing them to our website. If you happen to be visiting Qld, you are welcome to attend any event. Please contact us and we can arrange transport. http://www.wmpcq.com/

Psalm 62

One of the blessings of our recent Tasmanian Women's camp was hearing Margaret Thatcher give a Bible Talk on Psalm 62. It was such an encouragement to hear that the Lord is Loving and the Lord is Strong, not just strong or just loving, but both loving and strong. In Him we find both rest and refuge.

Psalm 62

New International Version (NIV)

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

¹ Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
² Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

³ How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
⁴ Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.

⁵ Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

⁹ Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
¹⁰ Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.

¹¹ One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
¹² and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”

Psalm 62 is a beautiful new song that we learnt during the weekend, by Stuart Townsend. What a great way to worship and praise our God and to have the words of scripture committed to memory...May it be a blessing to your hearts as it has been to ours.

A wonderful weekend in Tasmania...

Women across all ages and from many churches joined together for our Tasmanian Women's Camp. We were fortunate enough to have Margaret Thatcher, current President of the Presbyterian Women's Association in Australian, join us as our speaker for the weekend, (Margaret is pictured second on the left.)

It was great for the women of our Tasmanian churches to hear of the work that the PWA is doing throughout the nation. It was especially heartening to hear how the gifts of personal items of hand cream and moisturiser have been so well received by the women who are visited by the PIM patrols.

Margaret shared with us about her work with her husband Darrel when they were missionaries in Vanutu, 1995-2000 working within the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu at the Talua Ministry Training Centre. She is now working alongside Darrel in their current role as regional co-ordinators for Western Australia with Wycliffe Bible Translators. The weekend also included an excellent Bible Talk from Margaret on Psalm 62.

Approximately 60 women joined together on the beautiful North West Coast at Camp Clayton retreat. The weekend was filled with women singing, praying, chatting, laughing and sometimes even crying as we built relationships and shared with each other. The main Bible studies were from the book of Ephesians Chapter 1 verses1-14, as we looked deeply at all that have 'In Christ'. Every spiritual Blessing...wow, it was really mind stretching, especially as we applied it to our lives and our churches. We finished of by asking ourselves how God's great purpose for our world should shape our priorities in our lives and in our churches.

Flourishing

WMPCA holds a conference called Flourish, which by the way is on again in July 2012. Recently I picked up a book at a favourite bookstore I frequent called "Flourish, discover the daily joy of abundant, vibrant living" by Catherine Hart Weber, 2010. The book caught my eye firstly as the title mentioned the word flourish, but it also grabbed my attention as I have been feeling, well lets say, a little 'less vibrant' than I like to feel. So I bought the book. After flicking through it for some pearls of wisdom, I decided to give it a go and read it. I enjoyed the book and glad I bought it.

Catherine defines flourishing as discovering and becoming exactly who God wants us to be, and then use our lives to help others, do good and know and trust God. While the book didn't necessarily break me into a vibrant sweat of activity, it did heighten my awareness of Gods love for me and reawaken my gratefulness for His mercy and love. Ít challenged me to be me - as God created me - and love others in creative ways that might make a difference in their lives.

Maybe you might find this book good and encouraging, and maybe you will embrace tranquility. I end with the Bible verse that Catherine starts her book with:

Psalm 92:12-15 TLB The godly shall flourish like palm trees, and grow tall as the cedars of Lebabnon. For they are transplanted into the Lord's own garden, and are under his personal care. Even in old age they will still produce fruit and be vital and green. This honours the Lord, and exhibits his faithful care.

Hopefully I will meet you at Flourish in Sydney, July 27 & 28, 2012.

Many Blessings
Ceale

small inspirations

Lately I have been listening to this Album by Sara Groves. It is not a new album, it was actually released in 2005... But it is new to me and one afternoon I was struck by the amazing lyrics of this song. Add to the Beauty

We come with beautiful secrets We come with purposes written on our hearts, written on our souls We come to every new morning With possibilities only we can hold, that only we can hold Redemption comes in strange place, small spaces Calling out the best of who we are And I want to add to the beauty To tell a better story I want to shine with the light That's burning up inside It comes in small inspirations It brings redemption to life and work To our lives and our work It comes in loving community It comes in helping a soul find it's worth Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces Calling out the best of who we are And I want to add to the beauty To tell a better story I want to shine with the light That's burning up inside This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful This is grace, an invitation Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces Calling out our best And I want to add to the beauty To tell a better story I want to shine with the light That's burning up inside The grace that has been given to us in the Lord Jesus, allows us to be people of purpose. It shapes our lives and reminds us of what God is working out through us. What a privilege to be part of God's great plan to bring redemption to the world.