Welcome to the Dundonald Presbyterian Church Website

A Branch and a Bride 18 May 2012
'I am the vine; you are the branches...' John 15:5
The Bible gives us two interesting pictures of our relationship with Jesus: 1) A branch. 'I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.' Jesus wants to be as close to you as a branch is to a vine. One is an extension of the other. It's impossible to tell where one starts and the other ends. The branch isn't connected only at the moment of bearing fruit. The gardener doesn't keep branches in a box and then, on the day he wants grapes, glue them to the vine. No, the branch constantly draws nutrition from the vine. Separation means certain death. 2) A bride (2 Corinthians 11:2). Aren't we the bride of Christ? Haven't we made vows to Him, and hasn't He made vows to us? What does our marriage to Christ imply? For one thing, the communication never stops. In a happy home a husband doesn't talk to his wife only when he wants something. He doesn't pop in just when he wants a good meal or a clean shirt or a little romance. Healthy marriages have a sense of 'remaining.' There is tenderness, honesty, ongoing communication. Sometimes we go to God with our joys, sometimes we go with our hurts, but we always go. And the more we go, the more we become like Him. People who live long lives together eventually begin to sound alike, talk alike and even think alike. As we walk with Jesus we take on His thoughts, His principles, His attitudes. Indeed, we take on His heart.

Do You Love God's Word? 17 May 2012
'Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.' Matthew 24:35
One of the first books to come off the printing press when it was invented was the Bible. And it's still the world's best-selling book. An anonymous author has written: 'It contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the fate of sinners, and the happiness of believers. It is a light to direct you, food to nourish you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller's road map, the pilot's compass, the soldier's weapon, and the player's game plan. It's a mine of incredible wealth, and a river of genuine joy. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Christ is its grand subject, your good its design, and the glory of God its end. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be spiritually healthy. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. Let it fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide your steps. It is given to you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered for ever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and judge those who trifle with its sacred contents.' The Bible is 'The word of our God which shall stand forever...' (1Peter 1:25). Most of us respect the Bible; the trouble is we don't read it daily and put it into practice. After hearing a discussion on various translations of the Bible, one man said: 'I prefer my mother's translation, because she translated it into everyday life.' Are you doing that?

If You Persist, You Will Prevail 16 May 2012
'...Don't give up.' Galations 6:9
James Watt spent twenty years perfecting the steam engine. William Harvey worked for eight years to demonstrate how blood circulated in the human body, then for another twenty-five years trying to convince the medical establishment. Most of us underestimate the time it takes to achieve anything of lasting value. You've got to be willing to pay your dues. Cutting corners is a sign of impatience and poor self-discipline. The secret of every breakthrough is to follow through. Albert Gray says, 'The common denominator of all success lies in forming the habit of doing things that failures don't like to do.' If you find yourself continually giving in to your moods, you need to change your approach to doing things. To do this, you must set standards for yourself that require accountability. Suffering a consequence for not following through will keep you on track like nothing else. Once your new standards are in place, work according to them, not your moods; that will get you going in the right direction. Self-discipline is a quality that's won only through practice. Successful people have learned to do what doesn't come naturally. They are willing to confront discomfort, distractions and doubt, and act in spite of them. R. H. Macy, founder of Macy's department stores, failed at five different professions-whaler, retailer, gold miner, stockbroker, real estate broker-before he finally succeeded. When asked what sustained him through failure after failure he replied, 'Purpose and persistence.' That's what separates those who achieve from those who merely dream! It's why Paul wrote: 'Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.'

Draw on His Power Within You 15 May 2012
'To him who is able to do immeasurably more...' Ephesians 3:20
There are words in your Bible which have so much power in them that they're more effective than any therapy. God can illuminate a Scripture that goes back into the past and heals your wounds, gives you direction in the middle of despair, and provides hope for the future. Satan will try to fill your mind with so much junk that you don't have an appetite for God's Word. That's because he knows the Scriptures unmask him, and release the potential lying dormant within you. Before Jeremiah rose to national prominence as a prophet, God told him two things: 1) 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...' (Jeremiah 1:5 NIV). Your parents didn't get the first look at you, God did. Nothing about you surprises Him. In spite of what you've been through, He hasn't changed His mind about who you are or what you're destined to become. 2) 'Before you were born I set you apart...' (v. 5 NIV). You say, 'I've always felt different.' That's because you are. Celebrate it! Stop looking for acceptance where you don't belong. You're on a mission for God; that's why the enemy has tried so hard to take you out. Once you understand that, your struggle will begin to make sense. As you study God's Word you'll begin to experience the mind-renewing, life-changing power He's deposited within you. 'Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.' So start drawing on that power today.

Sunday 6th May Morning Sermon now online: http://www.dundonaldpc.com/audio/6th%20May%202012%20-%20Rev%20McCully.mp3

Hold Up Your Pastor's Hands 14 May 2012
'I will give you shepherds according to My heart...' Jeremiah 3:15
Here's a sad statistic: Over 50% of those who enter the ministry leave it within ten years because of discouragement. Make sure that doesn't happen to your pastor. Picture this: Joshua's soldiers are down in the valley fighting the Amalekites. Above him on a hilltop sits Moses with his hands raised toward heaven. As long as his arms are raised the battle goes their way. But if you've ever tried to hold your hands up for long, you quickly grow weary and lower them. The moment Moses does that, the battle goes against Israel. So Aaron and Hur hold up his arms and the tide turns in favour of Israel. It wasn't just Joshua's ability to fight, it was Moses' ability to hold up his arms that won the day. Aaron and Hur kept a leader from fainting so an entire nation could be saved. God said, 'I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.' If God has given you a pastor who loves, leads and feeds you, support them. Hold up their hands! In the Old Testament tabernacle the candlesticks had to be kept burning day and night because their light represented God's presence among His people. If a light so much as flickered, designated servants moved in immediately to refuel it and restore it to its original glow. Are you getting the idea? It's your responsibility to make sure the light doesn't flicker in your church or the fire go out in your pulpit. So pray for your pastor every day. And be sure to encourage him every chance you get.

12 May 2012
'...Died Abner as a fool dieth.' 2 Samuel 3:33
The absolute fool. Abner slew a man called Asahel, whose brother happened to be Joab, King David's number one general. So Joab was out to take Abner's life. The tragedy of this story is that Abner was within reach of Hebron, one of the six cities of refuge. But instead of running into that city and enjoying its protection, he allowed the enemy to catch him outside the gates and kill him. 'They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept...and said, 'Died Abner as a fool dieth?' (vv. 32-33). Abner was the absolute fool. Why? Because unlike the atheistic fool who did not believe in God, or the ambitious fool who had no time for God, he knew what to do-but didn't do it. There were no rivers to cross, no mountains to climb, and no price to be paid. The gates of Hebron were open; all he had to do was go in and stay there. Imagine being given a gospel tract with these words on the cover: 'What must I do to be lost?' Then opening it and finding that page is-blank. You don't have to do anything to be lost! But you must do something to be saved: '...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...' (Acts 16:31). When Mary brought the newborn Christ to the temple, an old priest named Simeon held Him in his arms and said: 'Now I'm ready to die, because I have seen the Saviour of the world...' (Luke 2:25-32). In order to die right you must meet Christ, embrace Him, and acknowledge Him as your Lord and Saviour. Why don't you do it today!

11 May 2012
'...Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee...' Luke 12:20
The ambitious fool. Jesus told the story of a successful farmer who said, '...I will pull down my barns, and build greater...' (v. 18). Evidently he was a good businessman and planner. But then he said: 'I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee...So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God' (vv. 19-21). This man had a plan for time, but none for eternity. He thought about himself, but not God. He paid attention to his body, but not his soul. It's said that the average body has enough phosphorus to make eight hundred thousand match heads, enough sugar to go into sixty cubes, enough salt to cover twenty spoons, and enough iron to make about ten dollars' worth of nails. The rest is just dust and water. When you pamper, promote and protect the part of you that will only live seventy or eighty years and neglect the part of you that will live on in either heaven or hell, God says you're a fool. This man told himself he had 'many years,' but God said, 'This night thy soul shall be required of thee.' Don't you realise that an accident, a blocked artery, a stray bullet, a plane with engine failure or a drunk driver could take you out in an instant? Wise up! The question is not will you die, but when? And are you ready to stand before God?

09 May 2012
'This I call to mind and therefore I have hope.' Lamentations 3:21
You need to establish some spiritual landmarks in your life to remind you of the times when God intervened on your behalf. Someone said, 'We're not slow learners, just quick forgetters.' How soon we forget, or claim credit for things we had little to do with. When God parted the Jordan River for His people to cross over, He knew something they didn't-that on the other side they would face some big challenges, including the City of Jericho. That's when they would need 'reminders.' So He told them to collect twelve stones from the Jordan and build a monument, so they and their children would recall His past faithfulness to them. Samuel did the same after Israel defeated the Philistines. He took a stone and named it Ebenezer, meaning, '...Thus far the Lord has helped us' (1Samuel 7:12 NKJV). Before you give in to discouragement, doubt or defeat, stop and recall what God has done for you 'thus far.' Like the day you met Jesus, or the times He guided you, or the doors He opened that you thought were permanently shut, or the scrapes He brought you through. Keep a record of these events and refer to it often. It will help you to remember His goodness when you tend to forget it. It will give you a sense of gratitude for yesterday's blessings, and confidence to face whatever tomorrow brings. 'This I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness' (Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV).

Ladies,

Don't forget Fit For Life tonight. Zumba at 7:30pm in the Church Halls.

After the Zumba there will be a short talk with Amanda Mitchell and some health food.

C U There

Sunday 29th April Sunday Morning Sermon now on line

http://www.dundonaldpc.com/audio/29th%20April%202012%20-%20rev%20McCully.mp3

Sunday 22nd April Morning Sermon now on line

http://www.dundonaldpc.com/audio/22nd%20April%202012%20-%20Rev%20McCully.mp3

Be Nurturing 08 May 2012
'...Love each other as I have loved you' John 15:12
When Jesus said, 'Love each other,' He used the Greek word for 'love,' which means to nurture. Think of a mother and her child: her love is constant and her greatest desire for that child is that they should thrive. You say, 'But isn't that the kind of love people should get somewhere else, like at home?' No, beneath the fa?ade, some of the people in your life desperately need to be nurtured. And they'll be influenced most by those who make them feel best about themselves. One leader writes: 'Many people are very close to my heart because they believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. They listened to me without condemnation and loved me unconditionally, even when I wasn't very lovable. Without them, I wouldn't have possessed the hope I needed to keep pursuing my dream.' Now, you can't be like the little girl who came home from church and announced, 'I want to be like the man who stood up in the pulpit today.' Delighted, her mom said, 'You want to go into the ministry?' 'No,' she replied, 'I want to tell people what to do!' Hello! Some of us want to be authority figures so we can correct people and give them our so-called 'constructive criticism.' Most folks don't need a critic, they need a cheerleader. When you nurture them they will welcome you to speak into their life-and they will listen. Goethe said, 'Correction does much, but encouragement does much more.' So think encouraging words and speak encouraging words. 'Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad' (Proverbs 12:25 NKJV).