Realms of Trust for Tomorrow

Pictured: Pandanus trees by the Pacific Ocean

The dramatic impacts of 2020 have affected each of our lives in so many ways. For some it has been great loss and setback, for others a pandemic of changed plans. As I stood by the ocean reflecting on the past year I was amazed when observing the root systems of the Pandanus Tree. The stronger the storms the more roots the young growing plants develop to establish themselves in the sandy coastal soil. The image inspired me. Stand your ground and keep trusting.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path. ”

— Proverbs 3:5-6

My encouragement to you at the beginning of this new year is to keep trusting in the only one who will never disappoint you. The Lord is faithful. Dig deep into His word and the refreshing revelations of hope and life. Keep looking to Jesus! The author and finisher of our faith.

Have a significant season ahead!

Godspeed,
Steve

Pandemics, Plans and Expectations

Pictured: A cloudburst of refreshing rain falls on the new peanut crop at Desert Springs Farm.

“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.”

— Isaiah 43:18-19

There is an emotional fatigue that we all have experienced as we head into the last months of 2020. It has been a difficult year, one we could not have imagined... and yet here we are still believing things may one day get back to some sense of ‘normal’. Truth is it will never be ‘normal’ again.... We are all required to make the most of this post - pandemic world we now live in. Social distancing and restrictions, government controls, unemployment, learning to live with the loss of freedom we once had. Our world has changed.

But one thing has not changed. The love of God for humanity expressed so wonderfully through the life, death and resurrection of His son Jesus. That will never change. He sent His Holy Spirit to fill our lives with the hope of heaven and the will to keep believing. The Bible is filled with the goodness and grace of God for humanity. Keep reading it every day!!

Don’t focus on the negative stuff. The world and all its corruption and politics is bound for hell. But we are not of this world... so don’t get bogged down with the pollution of planet earth.

Be refreshed by the very present and living power of the Lord. He is with us! He is for us! He is our healing and our hope. Like rain falling on the dry and parched desert lands is the goodness of God over our lives. Don’t ever give up.

Godspeed.

Steve

THE COURAGE TO KEEP GOING

Pictured: A distant electrical storm in the red desert country.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We watched it forming in the distance... a massive storm system. After months with no rain we had great expectations today was the day... it would be so good for the crops and the dry earth... But it passed by to the north. All we got at Desert Springs Farm was a violent dust storm. Horizontal winds filled with dirt and debris. Just another day in the desert country. You can choose to either be discouraged or keep going and be encouraged. Both words have the word ‘courage’ in them.

When you choose to be an encourager you are filling people with new hope, new expectations, courage and confidence. The opposite is to fill people with fear, doubt and a sense of powerlessness. No matter what your circumstances are today... Rejoice and pray!! And be filled with courage to keep going! Christ is in you and you are in Christ! That’s good news. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.

Godspeed,
Steve

Making a Way in the Wilderness

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

— Isaiah 43:19

I'm back to my former trade, spray painting! The world has been such a different planet since the COVID-19 virus inundated literally every nation. 2020 has become a year of great uncertainty and for some fear and anxiety. All of our plans and projects were either deleted or postponed back in March and we look back six months later in gratitude of God’s faithfulness.

Thank you to many of you who have continued to support us. Opportunities to do the kind of ministry we love doing are very limited. The financial flow of income from Tours, concerts, shed nights, churches and resource sales literally stopped overnight and we wondered how we could continue generating an income... Especially living on a very remote farm in the centre of the Australian outback.

But God has continued to supply our needs through my old trade of Spraypainting. He has made a way in the wilderness and a stream of financial provision in the desert wasteland. Customers are sending their cars, tractors, trailers etc from all over the Northern Territory to get new paintwork done!!! We are humbled and grateful. 

God can do a new thing when we are looking to Him and not the circumstances of the world around us. He is our provider and protector in these crazy times. 

Keep looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!!

Godspeed.

Steve

FAITH FOR UNFAMILIAR TIMES

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. ”

— Psalm 139:1-6

2020 will go down as a year like we have never known before in our lifetime. For every one of us. The plans, dreams and expectations we had at the beginning of the year have either been deleted or put into some kind of unpredictable holding pattern.

Don’t ever let the difficult times destroy you, let them define you. These past months have been tough in so many ways and yet filled with God’s miraculous intervention and presence. My encouragement to you is to keep your heart and focus on the Lord and His leading. Don’t be distracted by negative news and the fear that has polluted the planet. God is bigger than that. He knows us for who we are and that is a wonderful knowledge to hold on to.

Thanks so much for your ongoing friendship and support.

Godspeed,
Steve

Peace in Troubled Times

Pictured: Sunset over the Wycliffe Well wetlands in the Northern Territory.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust. Surely He will save you from the fowlers snare and from the deadly pestilence. ”

— Psalm 91: 1-3

Never in our lifetime could we have imagined the manic paranoia and global catastrophe that the threat of the COVID19 pandemic has caused. It has dramatically changed our lives and our future. The plans, dreams and expectations of 2020 have been deleted. For many of us it's like completely starting again to avoid bankruptcy and loss. There is something very evil about the agenda of this virus and its origins. I see it as a strategy of the enemy to undermine the free nations of the world and the global economy. Countless lives will be lost because of the negligence of corrupt governments seeking to control the world. This stuff terrifies me as it points in the direction of the end times and tribulation. But then it also causes me to realise that the promises of God are far greater than any disease. “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world”.

In this season of set backs and difficult circumstances… don’t let the anxiety of the unknown rob you of the absolute assurance of God’s peace, protection and love. "Our God is greater!! “ I said to my mate Chris Tangey in Alice Springs… and his reply was “Yeah but you still wear a seatbelt when you drive don’t ya?” Yes you do… So take all the precautions to stay safe and be wise in this season. We will get through it. Thank you to those who pray for and support our ministry. We deeply appreciate your friendship and faith. Like every church and missions organisation, we’ve had to cancel so much of what we do at this time but we are grateful for God’s provision and for the peace He brings in troubled times.

Stay safe.

Godspeed,
Steve

The Storms of Life

Picture: Crossing the Barkly Tablelands in the Northern Territory last week.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation.. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life.. of whom shall I be afraid?”

We all face storms in our lives. Seasons where our circumstances can be crushing to the soul.. whether its relationship struggles, health challenges or financial hardships.. they can all look like the fearful intimidation of an oncoming storm. None of us like conflict, or the fear of being condemned or the confusion of uncertainty.. not knowing what the immediate future holds. We’d rather run and hide than face the storm front on. But with God’s help we can do just that. One of the keys is to remain sweet and not become bitter. Even when Jesus was confronted by Judas and a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders ( Matthew 26:47-50) He still chose to call Judas his friend. He remained sweet in such a defining moment knowing what was before Him, the greatest storm of His life on earth. His death on the Cross as a condemned criminal. Three days later everything would change.. for Eternity.

“I remain confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. ”

— Psalms 27: 13-14

Run to the storm.. not away from it. The Lord is with you. Thanks for your love and support.

Godspeed,
Steve

Road To Recovery

Pictured: A Firefighter battling a fire front in NSW, Australia last week.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
”

— 1 Peter 5:7

You can drive for hours through fire devastated landscapes in parts of Australia at the moment. It’s hard to comprehend the magnitude of what has taken place. After years of severe drought and an unusually hot start to summer, hundreds of uncontrollable fires have caused catastrophic loss of lives, properties, homes, livestock and wildlife. It’s easy to blame governments or climate change but that does not help bring healing to people who’ve lost everything. I spoke to a farmer mate last week and asked what we can do to help people and his reply was “Where do you start?” It’s not just one region, it’s hundreds of country towns spread across the nation of Australia. Towns we have served for the past 36 years with music evangelism and encouragement.

“Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. He will never let those who are right with Him be shaken. ”

— Psalms 55:22

Pray with us as we make plans to bring ‘Hope to hurting towns’ over the coming years. In times like these it is easy to become anxious and fearful but let the joy of the Lord be your strength.

Thanks for your prayers and support.

Godspeed,
Steve

---

If you would like to support the ongoing work of our ministry, please consider becoming a monthly partner.

Everytown Partner

from $5.00 every month

Amount:

Select Amount $5/month$10/month$25/month$50/month$100/month$200/month

$5/month $10/month $25/month $50/month $100/month $200/month

Subscribe

Grateful Hearts and Hope for 2020

Pictured: Steve and Kerrie Grace

“Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ”

— John 14:1-3

G’Day and thank you for your faithful friendship throughout 2019. For many it has been a tough year full of setbacks and challenges… and looking at the new year there are testing times ahead. We praise the Lord for His promises and the peace that comes with knowing Christ. When Jesus comforted his disciples with the words “let not your hearts be troubled” He knew that their very act of believing in Him and following Him meant for perilous times of persecution ahead. But His words also bought the assurance of Eternity and the hope of heaven.

Kerrie and I are so grateful to you for your prayers and partnership. We’re not sure yet what 2020 has in store but we do have great expectations in the Lord for His provision and leading. We hope to see you in 2020!!!

Godspeed.

Steve and Kerrie