(by pastor Norman)

I love the picture painted in Genesis 3:8 (NKJV) of God walking in the Garden of Eden in “the cool of the day” to fellowship with Adam and Eve; peace, serenity and perfect fellowship with God. King David wrote, “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water” (Ps 63:1; NKJV). Does that reflect our desire for God? The prophet Jeremiah told the people that if they sought God with all their heart, they would find Him (Jer 29:13). Christ dwells in us Christians as the Holy Spirit (Gal 4:5) and we have fellowship with God available to us (1 Cor 1:9). However, do we put God first in our lives? (Matt 6:33), do we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Matt 12:30) thirsting for His fellowship? Jesus said that if we truly lived in Him (that is walking in His kingdom ways) and allowed Him to live in us and direct our lives (John 5:1-7, Rom 10:9,10) we would be fruitful and blessed. James, the brother of Jesus wrote, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8; NKJV). The apostle Paul did not claim to be perfect or complete in his walk with God, but he pressed on to have all God’s blessings, and all God wanted him to be and do (Phil 3:12-14). Let’s press into His word and prayer allowing the Holy Spirit to change us and grow us and lead us into the fullness of that amazing fellowship God has for us (2 Cor 3:18). Remember God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5; NKJV).

(by pastor Norman)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold all things have become new” (2 Cor 5:17; NKJV). If you truly believe in Christ, His life and ministry here on earth, His death and resurrection, and are willing to speak it out and surrender your life to Him, you will be saved (Rom 10:9,10). To be saved means your spirit is made new, you are a new creation (John 3:3, 5-7, Eph 2:1). To believe is more than head knowledge; it is complete faith and trust in God to the point of obedience and verbal acknowledgment of Him as master of your life. As Christians, we are to walk in obedience to His commands, living a life committed to His will (John 14:15; Prov 16:3). God’s cardinal command is that “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30; NKJV). We are to love others as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31) and this must have practical expression (1 John 3:16, Titus 3:8, Matt 25:35-44). We are also called to walk in humility (Phil 2:3-4) and fear God (1 Peter 2:16), the latter means to honour and respect Him. God desires to transform each one of us to be more and more like Christ, this is the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:18). To facilitate this growth, we need to saturate ourselves in His word (2 Tim 3:16-17) and in prayer (Phil 4:6-7), pressing into God (Phil 3:14) and allowing the Holy Spirit to develop His fruit in our lives (Gal 5:22-23). Finally, we must be part of His church (Heb 10:24-25) and His ambassadors, leading others to Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:18-20).