This is a challenging time of the year. Still in the cold dark of winter, we long for Spring. Patience is needed.  

In psalm 40 David looks back to a time he was in a dark place and waited patiently for the Lord to pull him out into the light:

 I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he inclined to me and heard my cry.
² He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
    out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
    making my steps secure.
³ He put a new song in my mouth,
    a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
    and put their trust in the Lord.

Waiting is one of the hardest things to do. Waiting for the bus, for the birthday, for the weekend, whatever it is. Waiting for the Lord is hardest of all because we don’t know when he’ll act.

In the Psalm, David looks back to a time when he managed to wait for the Lord, and wasn’t disappointed:

  ⁴ Blessed is the man who makes
    the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
    to those who go astray after a lie!
⁵ You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
    your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
    none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
    yet they are more than can be told.

The crocuses and snow drops came up last year and Spring followed. The Lord will make it Spring again. He’ll lift us out of the dark into the sun again:

¹⁷ As for me, I am poor and needy,
    but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    do not delay, O my God!

He can do it. He will do it.

Every blessing in Christ,

Ian

If you’re not able to bring someone to hear the good news about Jesus, how about coming along to support and encourage those who have?
Or come to learn how to point people to Jesus more effectively. 
Or come to give yourself a spiritual top up in the middle of the week with brothers and sisters as the joy of last Sunday fades and
the Sunday ahead is still a few days away. 
Pray for the good news of Jesus to change the lives of all that hear it at
Christianity Explored.

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

How do we score on ‘being devoted to one another’ and ‘honouring one another above ourselves’ in the Church family? It’s quite a challenge isn’t it? 

The Church of God is described in a variety of ways in the Bible – as the household of God, as the family of God, and as the body of Christ.

As the body of Christ, the Church, we’ve each got different parts to play. I need you. You need me. We need each other to be able to do the work of God. This is part of our worship of God. But it’s not easy. By nature I think I’m more important than you. I even think I’m more important than God.

In Romans 12:10 Paul tells us that, as part of our worship, we’re to: Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. And to honour one another above yourselves, in the body of Christ.

The background is Jesus’ instructions to love one another as He has loved us; and to love others as we love ourselves, even when, and especially when, we find one another difficult.

It’s a ‘tall order’ isn’t it? But with God at work nothing is impossible. Lets pray for His help and use the skills and experiences and talents He’s given us as we seek to honour one another above ourselves in our partnership to build his kingdom.

With the lifting of lockdown, there’s all kinds of work to be done –
– singing and playing music, hospitality,
– PA and live streaming,
– welcoming and greeting,
– teaching and assisting,
– visiting and encouraging,
– discipling and training,
– serving on the PCC
– and looking after the buildings.

There is something for everyone. And as we use the skills our Father has given us we’ll get to know each other and have the joy of serving the Lord by serving one another and the needs of our community.

If you feel that there is something God has made you to, and you haven’t found a way to do it yet, do talk to me or any member of the PCC.

Your brother in Christ,
Ian