Welcome to new friends and old as we gather here today as the family of God. Just as we say “Haere rā” to the Brown family this week and Lisa next week, we also say “Haere mai” to Pastor Roy from Canada who is visiting NZ for the first time, and to visitors and newcomers to Connect in recent weeks. Have you noticed how life is a continual circle of “helloes and goodbyes” as we greet babies into the world, such as Vanessa, McKenzie, and Isabella, as part of our church family in recent weeks, while also saying goodbye to some of our church families’ loved ones who have passed on in the last few months. What all this speaks to my heart is the importance of loving others on this earth as we have the chance to, as best we can, with the tools we have at the time. When we do that we will find that “regret” is not part of our vocabulary. “Yes,” we could all do things better in our relationships with others, but if we do our best at the time, relying on God, then we can journey through life free of guilt and shame.
It’s not too late.
If you need to start loving someone better than you did yesterday, then start today. Jesus said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength……Love your neighbour as yourself,” Mark 12:30-31. God is love, and we, as believers, have the ability to love in the same way. So let’s seek God as to how to love those He places in our world, and as we do, may our joy and peace abound.
About Pastor Julie
I’m passionate about the church – building believers up in their faith, to be all God intended them to be; and I’m passionate about sharing the love and hope of Jesus with people who don’t know Him yet.