[Original size] Remar Church Issue #3

Church Newsletter | Issue #03

June 2024

Remar Church

WHATS HAPPENING AT REMAr

Verse of the Week

God Is Good

Finding out I had cancer last year took us by surprise. It was a difficult time; we were about to get married, busy planning life and excited with where God was leading us. And then the news; Advanced Stage 3 Cancer. With what should have been the happiest moment in our lives suddenly became…uncertain.

It was hard to pray at times, well most of the time if I am being honest. But I was blessed to have so many stand in the gap and pray for me, as well as support my family. I remember Karina encouraging me to just meditate on one thing; God Is Good. Not an easy task when faced with cancer and an uncertain future. But only a few things in life are certain. So little by little I chose to focus on “God you are Good.”

Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy and there were moments where he probably thought he was getting the upper hand. My joy was waning and my hope for the future was pretty dim. But as I walked through that valley, I realised God was with me. He was comforting me and reminding me that His goodness and mercy have, and will, follow me all the days of my life (Psalm 23).

One of the good things that season provided me was time; time to reflect, time to find refuge in Him and time to wrestle with Him. I wrestled a lot! I also complained and I doubted. But He is a patient and loving God and He challenged me to “Taste and See that He is Good”(Psalm 34:8)

God revealed His goodness towards me by showing me the story of my life - from His perspective. Through all the hurt and difficulties, through all my rebellion, through the pain and sickness, He has always been there, calling me to trust in Him, not the circumstances. Calling me to focus on Him and His goodness, not on the past or the uncertain. He had already restored my life and rescued me from so much. This season was no different and was not going to be my last but another testimony of His goodness and faithfulness.

Instead of looking at God through the lens of my circumstances, I needed to look at my circumstances through the lens of who God is. And we can find the nature of God through His Word; By Hearing the Word, Believing the Word, Speaking the Word, and Putting His Word into Practice—then as we learn to recognise His voice and take each step, our faith increases. Remember, God loves you so much He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Taste and you will see that the Lord is Good.

Our wedding song was Goodness of God. I think He chose the song for us as a reminder;

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

iMPORTANT dATES

Sunday Church - Starts 11am

Coming Soon!

10 Pin Bowling -Join us for an afternoon

after Church. Be warned! It gets competitive!

Baptisms - Date to be confirmed. Reach out to

Ps Luis if you would like to be Baptised

Fundraiser Dinner - Join us in August for a night

of fellowship and raise funds for our Ministry.

More details to come!

Wednesdays @ Remar Church

Community Meals - 5pm every Wednesday

We hold a meeting every Wednesday at our church site so if you’d like to join us, make sure to checkout the information below!

Monthly Schedule:

Week 1 (Wednesday): Open Heaven (Worship) night.

Week 2 (Wednesday): Bible Study

Week 3 (Wednesday): Community Meeting

Week 4 (Wednesday): Bible Study

Week 5 (Alternating 5th Wednesday

of the month): Bible Study

All sessions start at 7pm

And all my life you have been faithful

And all my life you have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love your voice

You have led me through the fire

And in darkest night you are close like no other

I've known you as a Father

I've known you as a Friend

And I have lived in the goodness of God

A Personal Reflection on Last Sunday's Sermon - No Condemnation. No Separation.

It is so hard to comprehend the life we get to live as a son or daughter of God. Taking on this new identity means Freedom. Haven’t we all desperately sought freedom from the prison of our own mind; getting caught up in chasing peace in our circumstances or people in our life when it was never the source of our peace? And here God offers freedom from ALL of it. The guilt, the shame, the hurt, the pain – then why are we so reluctant to receive and live free?

Pastor Luis spoke about the law of the spirit and the law of the flesh, and it made me realise that God understands that while our spirit is willing our flesh is weak. He not only understands but He equips us to fight the flesh. But if only the choice was easy. I think we can all agree that it is a fight. The flesh wants to hold on to fear, the shame, the revenge, the guilt, the pride because it is what it knows especially when you have spent a lot of your life living by the flesh before accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life. The word also says, with God all things are possible. What would it take for us to fully trust in God’s love, hope and power to help us choose life in all those daily decisions to live according to the Spirit? He has so much to offer us. Its Freedom, it’s an Abundant life, a Purposeful life. Its worth the fight. It's worth it for our God who loves us unconditionally. You are His Child and NOTHING can come between you and God.

Father, you are a good God. You have pursued us, paid the price for our sin so we don’t have to live as slaves anymore. Help us to choose you one decision at a time. I am your child. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and guide me to live a life that serves and glorifies you.

In Jesus Name. Amen.

By Christabel Joy Seneviratne

Check out last Sunday’s sermon “No Condemnation. No Separation. ” by Pastor Luis Brito on our Remar Church Facebook page.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

Help us help others

“Be grateful everyday.”

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remar Church- 49 Bald Hill Rd Pakenham

remaraustralia.org

Church Newsletter | Issue #03

June 2024

5 Minutes 5 Questions with...........

1. How long have you been a part of Remar ?

Mario: I entered Remar back in 1994 and began serving in a number of countries in Africa from 1996. We then arrived at Remar Australia in 2017.

Penny: I came to Remar UK in 1995. I then went to the US for a year and in 1999 I went to Africa and served with Remar in a number of countries there before arriving at Remar Australia in 2017.

2. What is 1 thing we don’t know about you?

Mario: I went to the army

Penny: I walked through the Rocky Mountains in Canada

3. What is your favourite thing to do outside of church/ ministry?

Mario: Spending time alone with God, family and taking care of my garden.

Penny: Walking and spending time with my grandson

4. What do you love about our church?

Mario: I love the Worship at our Church

Penny: I love the Worship and seeing lives transformed.

5. What has God been speaking to you about lately?

Mario: Humility

Penny: Standing firm on His word