Right across the face of the earth today, God is pouring His love and compassion upon women, and adding His value and love upon their lives.  I regularly stop and thank God that I have been born in this time in history and in such an amazing country as Australia.  We are truly blessed as women, in this wonderful land, we are privileged to live life in freedom with huge opportunities, to study, travel, nurture others and to love and be loved, without having to hide away because ‘I am a woman’. 

Sadly, in this amazing time in history, when there should be great freedom, there is loneliness, pain, anguish, sorrow and injustice being done to women.   In these modern day times, you would think that slavery would have been a thing of the past, but how tragic it is that the lives of women and children have been decimated by the cruelty and base nature of man, for their own profit, with no thought to the victim and of their own wickedness.  I pray that our heart is always moved by the plight of others less fortunate than us and that we never allow our heart to become hardened or desensitized by the tragedies that happen around us.  

We can all make a difference to see a life changed right where we live!  We can give a smile to the person in the shopping centre, saying kind words to our neighbors, extending hands of warmth and health, which can do so much to bring value to people.  We can spend so much time thinking of what we can’t do and underestimate what one person and a collective group of women can do.

Right on our doorstep we have women and families, which are our concern; women and families who have been deeply impacted by the bushfires in Kinglake.  We want to extend hands of love and healing, for them to know that we are still thinking about them, even though it is over a year since their world was turned upside down.

We are collecting items over the coming weeks leading up to Mother’s Day in May, to assemble ‘pamper hampers’ to as many women as possible who have been impacted by these fires.  We want them to know that we have not forgotten them, that there is a group of women down the mountain who are still thinking about them and praying for them. Girls, you can do something to extend God’s love to these amazing and resilient women.  We would love it if you would bring in items for the pamper hampers, or you can make a monetary contribution towards this.

We will also be continuing to knit squares and will continue to make blankets for the families impacted by the fires, so keep knitting or take up the art J

Girls, you have so much gold inside of you, which brings life and hope to people who come in contact with you.  I have found when I reach out to others, even though I may be feeling vulnerable and hurting myself, that I am left feeling richer and healthier in my own spirit, just by reaching out to others.  God has made us women to extend His hands of love and grace.  I challenge you girls to reach out and show God’s great heart of love and compassion to women who live in your world.

I strongly encourage you, if you are not already in a connect group, (a small gathering of women), to join one today.  Having girls, who will travel alongside of you, who will support and pray for you and your family, girls who will uphold you before our amazing and loving God, is a wonderful group to be a part of. We have been born for connection, with God and with other women.  Phone the church office for a connect group which is being held near you.

Much love,

Lois
James 1:27 (NLT)  Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.