Aroha

Oh Aotearoa.. I have been missing you this week.

Its hard to write about Baguio when there is so much happening in Kiwiland. We have been praying for you all at youth and at street church. I'm proud to be a kiwi. Christchurch, you are amazing.

Men of ev’ry creed and race
Gather here before Thy face
Asking Thee to bless this place
God defend our free land

Let our love for Thee increase
May Thy blessings never cease
Give us plenty, give us peace
God defend our free land

May our mountains ever be
Freedom’s ramparts on the sea
Make us faithful unto Thee
God defend our free land



At house church yesterday, I was leading a discussion about Acts 8:1-8. It hit me as to how relevant this passage is for our nation. It gives the account of the events just after Stephen had been killed for preaching Jesus, and seeing people saved, healed and delivered. Below are my musings.. (all bible verses from the NIV)


"On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered..."(v1)
Many of the churches in Christchurch were destroyed. I saw the line at the airport on nzhearld.co.nz.


"Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him." (v2)
There is deep mourning all over NZ. Deep deep mourning in Christchurch. I also believe that there is deep deep mourning in the heart of Jesus.


"Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went." (v4)


"When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil sirits came out of many, and many paralytics and crippled were healed." (v6-7)
People paid attention to the word of God, and His kingdom came. In a recent article, a local Christchurch resident is quoted as saying "We wouldn't go to church normally but we needed to come and share our story today. It is better than sitting alone crying and togetherness is good for the spirit.'' I love the unity that is coming out of Christchurch and out of Aotearoa. We as a nation are starting to pay attention. Christchurch has been crippled. But it will be healed. His kingdom will come.


"So there was great joy in that city." (v8)
This seems unbelievable right now. But its true, and its prophetic. God specialises in taking situations that are beyond-our-comprehension-horrific, and bringing beyond-our-imagination-awesome events out of them. This is not 'seeing the flip side', but actually doing the impossible.

--- Kia kaha ---