God has a purpose behind every problem & difficulty. Not only does He use the Bible & His Spirit to transform us, but he uses difficulties & pain.

Jesus warned us that we would have problems in this world, because no one is immune to pain & suffering. We live in a fallen imperfect world. Life is a series of problems. Every time you solve a problem another one awaits. 

Sorry about that!!

Jesus went through the greatest of troubles in Mark 14. When it came to the crunch, Peter denies Him, the realisation of cup of suffering on the cross awaits. His other disciples fall asleep instead of keeping watch & praying, then Jesus is arrested as a devious criminal. 

Yet all of this took place for our own good & salvation.

God could have kept Joseph out of jail, kept Daniel out of the lion’s den, kept Jeremiah from the pit, kept Paul from being Shipwrecked 3 times, kept Shadrach, Meshach and Abednegofrom the fiery furnace, kept Peter from his Denial of Jesus. But He didn’t. He let those difficulties take place because in the long term, it forces us to look to God & depend on Him.

Regardless of the cause, none of our troubles happen without God’s permission. Because of God’s Sovereignty & control, accidents are just incidents in God’s plan for you.

Like Jesus, when we go through the wringer, when we face trouble, when we experience pain & difficulty, remember don’t become bitter rather think how we can become better as we trust our Lord. So:

1. Remember that God’s plan for you is good. Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

2. Rejoice & give thanks in all circumstances. 1Thessalonians 5:16. Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

3. Refuse to give up. Be patient & persistent. James 1:3,4 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Character building is a slow process, whenever we try to escape the troubles in life, we short circuit the process & delay our growth & transformation. If you are facing trouble right now, don’t ask, “Why me?” but “What do you want me to learn from this?”

Don’t give up – grow up!

Tony

The Greatest Denial​ Mark 14:27 – 72

Who loves to watch the weather and see if the BOM is actually right! Storms? Sunshine? Wind? Rain? We like to know what’s coming and so be prepared. This usually means decisions like what to wear and do. Sport cancelled? A weekend away in the sunshine? Or leave now before the river rises or the cyclone hits. 

Mark 14 is like a cyclone building – the swirling mass of clouds, rain and wind about to smash into the very centre of the action. And Jesus is at the centre. Swirling around him are sleeping disciples, betrayal, arrest, condemnation and judgement. But was this a mistake – a blindside, out of the blue end to what should be a glorious finale for Jesus?

No. for at the epicentre of the storm is Jesus talking to the Father. “Not my will, but yours”. The plan since before creation to pay the price of sin once for all. The will of the Father who gave his Son in Love to be the curse instead of us. Instead of us facing the agony of separation from God, Jesus took that agony upon himself.

Yes, the storm of Jesus’ death is gathering, but “for the joy set before him” he is prepared, obedient and prayerful. And it is for me, for you. The Maker of the Universe, praying to the father in a humble garden. We can respond with loving thankfulness. We ought to respond with repentance. We are called to respond with willing obedience to follow in His steps. What is your response?

Andy

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” Psalm 23:4

Everyone goes through dark days at some time or other. Some people go through difficult times more than others. So, what should we do when we think we are all alone & even fearful?
This is the central verse of Psalm 23. It’s a powerful expression of trust in God during life’s most frightening and uncertain times. It teaches that even in the face of death or overwhelming danger, believers can find peace because of God’s constant presence, guidance, and protection. It’s one of the most comforting verses in Scripture, often quoted in times of grief or trial. Knowing & practicing the presence of God in our lives is able to give us healing and boldness to stand firm in all circumstances.
Fix your eyes on the Good Shepherd!

Tony Galea

David is not speaking about the shepherd but speaking to the shepherd. In the dark valley, He is not before us but beside us, leading the way and calming our fears. The “valley of darkness” represents any difficult experience of life that makes us afraid, and that includes death.

Sheep lack good vision and are easily frightened in new circumstances, especially where it’s dark; and the presence of the shepherd calms them. The rod was a heavy cudgel with which the shepherd could stun or kill an attacking beast, and the staff was the shepherd’s crook, which he used to assist the individual sheep.

Tony Galea

1. God Invites Us to Cast Our Anxiety on Him “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

God doesn’t ignore our anxious thoughts—He invites us to bring them to Him.

2. God Offers His Peace in Place of Our Worry “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6–7

Rather than scolding us for worrying, God offers a trade: our anxiety for His peace. This peace isn’t just the absence of trouble—it’s the presence of God guarding our hearts and minds even while trouble may still be present.

3. Jesus Understands Anxiety Personally “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death…” – Matthew 26:38In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus experienced intense anguish. This shows that feeling overwhelmed isn’t a sign of weak faith—Jesus Himself felt that way but he did pray.

4. God Provides Through Church family Encouragement “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” – Proverbs 12:25 Sometimes God’s comfort comes through people—friends, counselors, pastors—who remind us we’re not alone.

5. He Reminds Us of Our Value and His Care “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life… Look at the birds of the air… Are you not much more valuable than they?” – Matthew 6:25–27 Jesus teaches us not to obsess over future outcomes.

6. He Promises to Be With Us “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…” – Isaiah 43:2. God never promises that we won’t go through hard things—but He does promise we won’t go through them alone.

7. God Provides his Care and interest The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing – Psalm 23:1. God deals with our anxiety not with judgment, but with compassion, control, and care.

The Christian journey is not about being anxiety-free, but learning to trust God in the midst of it—even if it’s a daily process.

Tony Galea

I don’t know what you’re worried about or stressed out about today, but I do know this: God loves you, He cares about your stress, and He can help you. “The Lord is my Shepherd”.

Emphasize different words — “The Lord is my Shepherd” — there is only one real Lord, all the others are fakes and imitations. “The Lord is my Shepherd” –not might be, He will be, He always has been, He always will be. “The Lord is my Shepherd” — Can you say that

with certainty? Is the Lord your Shepherd? Is the Shepherd your Lord? He can’t be one without the other. When you can say that and mean it, you’re going to stop worrying.

Don’t carry that burden one more second. It’s unnecessary.

So pray:

“Jesus Christ, I don’t understand it all, but I’ve seen that You’ve promised to take care of my needs if only I’ll trust You. And I realize that worry is just a warning light that I’m trying to control everything.

I don’t want to be anxious any more. I want you to be in control of my life. I want You to be my manager. I want You to be my Lord. I want to know You. I want to listen to You. I want You to lead me in the life plan that You made me for. Amen”

Tony Galea

This year of service as wardens at Jamberoo Anglican has been an unusual one. While we wait for our new minister, Ron, to begin, we have been privileged to serve alongside Tony as he faithfully and capably leads our church in his role as Locum. In addition to the usual responsibilities of church wardens, we’ve also been supporting the expansion of volunteer administration roles—for members of our church to carry out tasks previously handled by staff—while attending to the repairs of the old rectory and preparing the current rectory for Ron’s arrival. Throughout the year, we’re also facing important financial decisions and, together with our Treasurer and the Parish Council, we are seeking wisdom from God as we chart a path forward.

Greater than any of these responsibilities, however, is the calling to be servants of our church community. This is a responsibility all of us share. Jesus taught His disciples that anyone who would follow Him must take up their cross—and with that comes the call to humble service. He modeled this most strikingly when He washed the dusty feet of His disciples (John 13:1–17)—a task normally reserved for the lowliest servant.

In fact, servant-hearted leadership turns worldly leadership on its head. In a church that faithfully follows Jesus, leadership looks less like a pyramid and more like an inverted triangle—with leaders placing themselves beneath others in order to serve their needs, just as Christ did.

As we anticipate the arrival of Ron and Julie, let’s each consider how we can grow as servants to one another at church. Not so that we can feel proud or important—but so that we might walk humbly with our Lord, following the One who gave everything for us: Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

From your Wardens: Andrew McPhail, Greg Baker, and Philippa Cleall

In Mark 13 Jesus speaks about future events both immediate (like the destruction of the Jerusalem temple) and distant (the end of this age).

Mark 13 is Jesus’ prophetic roadmap, blending immediate historical judgment with a long-term future vision of history. He doesn’t give a timeline, but a call to watchfulness, faithfulness, and trust in God’s plan.

Much can be said about this difficult passage, but the big idea remains.
Are YOU Ready for Jesus’ Return?

Tony Galea