In Church - But Lonely

Image by khalid almasoud via Flickr

No man cared for my soul
Psalm 142:4

People come to church looking for ligh and warmth! They want to know we care. Good preaching and music may bring them in, but relationships that nurture will keep them coming back. You can feel lonely in a crowd, even one that preaches love and has a 'greet your neighbour' moment in every service. If we kept 10 percent of those who came through our church doors we'd be in constant growth mode.

You say, 'Well, the Bible teaches that if a man would have friends, he must show himself to be friendly.' True, but people bring with them the wounds of their past, the struggles of their present, and the unspoken anxieties of their future. What they want to know is, 'Will you love me as I am, even if I don't fit your mould and change as quickly as you'd like me to?' Often our rigid structure keeps that from happening. [Leaders], if your greatest concern on Monday is 'how many people did we have in church yesterday?' check your heart. You may be more concerned with your own image than meeting people's needs.

Jesus told His disciples, '...I have called you friends...' (John 15:15). Many people are shy, distrusting, and relationally impaired. Our mandate is to make 'friends' out of them, not just bench warmers and financial contributors. The Scripture says, 'Bear one another's burdens...' (Galatians 6:2 NKJV), because a burden shared is a burden lightened. Many of those who come to church aren't looking for profound answers, they just want to feel cared for. When that happens they open up to God's love and miracles take place.

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Healing Is In Your Hands

Healing Is In Your Hands - Christy Knockels

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39

Now by Your grace I stand.... healing is in Your hands. There are certain verses that imprint themselves on me during certain seasons in my life. This one from Romans is one of those at the moment. Does Paul really mean it when he says 'nothing' can separate us from His love? Because if it's really true I should be so overflowing with peace and confidence when I go through trials, temptations, and all the rest of the tough stuff. Paul is convinced it's true, and today so am I. It's all in His hands.

Skywatch #98

Fluffy Stuff, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Then, together with them, we who are still alive will be taken in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In this way we will always be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:17

I love clear blue skies, but my very favourite is this fluffy white stuff. I live in a built up town, but just 3 minutes walk from my house is a huge open area of heath with always so much to discover, and the skies just open up before your eyes. I love walking there. Have a great weekend everyone!

Prayer

Image by Frank Wuestefeld via Flickr

But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:6

'If you have so much business to attend to that you have no time to pray, depend upon it, you have more business on hand than God ever intended you should have.' DL Moody

'The management of time is the management of self; therefore, if you manage time with God, He will begin to manage you.' Jill Briscoe

'The Word of God is demanding. It demands a stretch of time in our day; even though it be a very modest one; in which He is our only companion...God will not put up with being fobbed off with prayers in telegram style and cut short like a troublesome visitor for whom we open the door just a crack to get rid of him as quickly as possible.' Helmut Thielicke

'Now, as always, God discloses Himself to babes and hides himself in thick darkness from the wise and the prudent. We must simplify our approach to Him. We must strip down to essentials (and they will be found to be blessedly few). We must put away all effort to impress, and come with the guileless candour of childhood. If we do this, without a doubt God will quickly respond.' AW Tozer

The Breaking Process

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Your kingdom come. Your will be done..
Matthew 6:10

In the breaking process God's intention is not to destroy your will, but redirect it; not to rob you of self-worth, but to let you see that He is the source of your worth. Gideon's three hundred soldiers had to break their pitchers, which made them vulnerable to attack, before the light within them could shine out and the enemy be defeated (Judges 7). Elisha had to break his plough, which represented his financial security, before he could qualify for a double portion of God's Spirit (1 Kings 19:19-21). Mary had to break her alabaster box, which represented her dowry and hope for marriage, in order to receive Christ's highest commendation (Mark 14:3-9). Brokenness is costly; it happens in stages.

Stage 1: Repentance. After his affair with Bathsheba David prayed, 'The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit...' (Psalm 51:17 NLT).

Stage 2: Discipline. '...I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified' (1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV).

Stage 3: Intimacy. You love prayer and God's Word because you 'connect' with Him through them. But you'll have to fight the distractions around you to get to the place of intimacy, and fight the carnality within you to stay there.

The real issue in brokenness is submitting to God's control. Dick Rasanen writes: 'Dear God, I find it so easy to try to be the one in charge. I find it so painful to realize that I am not the one in control. Help me to know when saying 'I just work here' it's a confession, and not just a way of evading responsibility.'

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Amazing God

Amazing God - Phatfish

A few weeks ago I heard Lou Fellingham at the Big Church Day Out. On the return journey in the car we were all singing this new song, and it's been with me ever since. Enjoy, and have a blessed Sunday with all you love and our Amazing God!

Looking in the sky, whoever could deny Your glory?
Gazing into space, how small the human race appears.
Seeing You in all Your majesty, I wonder how it could be
That You delight in me.

Lord You are an amazing God
Lord You are an amazing God
Lord You are an amazing God
And I love You, I love You.

Lord of everything, no other god or king is like You.
Powerful and strong, yet tender is Your song to me.
Knowing the extent of all my sin, however could You be pleased
To pour Your love on me?

You light up the heavens with just one word,
You measure the mountains in Your hand;
Yet You treasure the broken and make them whole,
You crown us with Your love

Finding God In A Broken Generation

Finding God in a Broken Generation...Trying to redefine an unchangeable God for a changing generation...

A new blog from my friend Matti who is the Youth & Children's Worker in my church: Go visit and have a chuckle at his latest post.

Skywatch #97

Sky Breeze, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

May there be plenty of grain in the land. May it wave in the breeze...
Psalm 72:16

Furnace Faith

Image by Dominic's pics via Flickr

The God we serve is able to save us from it...But even if he does not...
Daniel 3:17-18

Facing the fiery furnace, the three Hebrew children refused to compromise their beliefs or change their behaviour. They told the king, 'If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand...But even if he does not...we will not serve your gods.' With the words, 'even if he does not,' they took their faith to a higher level. They knew God could prevent it, but not that His plan called for it in this instance. But they'd rather die than deny or disappoint Him.

Understand this: God can take you out of your situation or bring you through it. When He leaves you in it longer than you'd like to stay, He's developing-furnace faith. Furnace faith is dead to doubt and blind to impossibility. It reaches up through the threatening clouds and lays hold of the One who has all power in heaven and on earth. It makes the circumstances bearable and the future hopeful. Furnace faith believes that even if you do have to go through the fire, God will go through it with you. Listen to the words of a heathen king who watched it all happen: '"...I see four men loose, walking in...the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God"' (Daniel 3:25). Furnace faith makes you as free in the fire of affliction as you are out of it. Furthermore, when your friends see the Lord in there with you, it'll convince them like nothing else.

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Crazy Love

Francis Chan. I was fortunate to hear this man speak at Holy Trinity Brompton Church a few weeks ago, and just recently I have come his books Crazy Love and Forgotten God. I listened to the first one on audiobook and was challenged to say the least! His message is desperately needed by the church!! If you feel you have any lack of commitment or lukewarmness in your life then get hold of Crazy Love. You will be changed I can guarantee.

Spring 2010 Retro

Spring has come and gone, so here it is... visiting the 7 July memorial in Hyde Park...

Listening to Handel, meeting friends after 20 years and having a glass of something...

Trying to be a sensible uncle, and failing miserably...

Getting lost on Wimbledon Common, but enjoying every minute...

Not so daily walks close to home on a brand new path...

Meandering in London, always a pleasure...

Spring colours.. almost as good as Autumn...

Numerous visits to so many wonderful churches, and time to celebrate Jesus...

Meeting up with friends again, the face aches from laughing...

Thanks for looking :)

This Is The Plan

Image via Wikipedia

And this is the plan...
Ephesians 1:10

The first chapter of Ephesians is full of the most amazing truths about the gospel. Here in this short chapter, the 'mysterious plan' that was hidden since the beginning of the world, has now been revealed!

And the plan goes something like this:

God chose us before time to be holy before Him (v4), because He loves us. He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus. This gave Him great pleasure (v5). This plan reveals how rich God is towards us. How kind! How generous and merciful! (v7-8). At the right time, God is going to bring everything under the Lordship of Jesus, and we are receiving an inheritance with Him because we are united with Jesus (v10-11). The Holy Spirit is given to us as a guarantee of that inheritance so that.... we would praise Him (v14). God has now placed Jesus above all things for our benefit, and we the church are His body (v22-23).

I love that all this gives God pleasure (v5). It is completely stunning that God has such amazing purposes for the church, and that the constant focus of the Bible is on one thing; the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Often I cannot get my head around the fact that a man who walked the earth for 33 years is in fact the One who was present in Genesis 1 and receives the cries of Revelation, 'Worthy is the Lamb'. He is now placed in authority above all things, and will receive worship for ever and ever. The wonderful plan of OUR salvation will result in endless worship and praise in heaven directed towards one Person. We recite these truths often in our creed almost weekly and yet the mind can barely grasp it.

Today I am challenged to remember that it's not about me. It's not about my fulfillment, healing, blessing, but about Him and Him only. I need to let go and forget about my petty desires and complaints. I need to remember that He is God. He is not there to serve me and my needs, but my life should be made nothing in order to make Him increase. Come Holy Spirit!

Following Jesus

Great post at 'Made For Joy'

What does it mean to follow this Jesus? The disciples laid down their nets, laid down their livelihoods. Losing one’s life and losing one’s deathgrip on stuff are critical aspects of following him…

Skywatch #96

Sail Away, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

God called the expanse "sky."
There was evening and there was morning, a second day
Genesis 1:8

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Simon Downham On Tongues

Excellent talk on tongues from Simon Downham of St Paul's Church Hammersmith.

"In the rational seas that we swim in, we don't want to appear foolish..."

Let Him Comfort You

Image by Megyarsh via Flickr

The God of all comfort, who comforts us
2 Corinthians 1:3

God can make you comfortable in the most uncomfortable places. He can pull you out of situations you thought you'd be stuck in forever. He can give you peace, even in the midst of trauma. Before your life is over, you'll live, love and experience loss. Losing some things will actually help you to appreciate the things you still have. It's the taste of failure that makes success so sweet. How can you celebrate victory unless you've known defeat? You'll live each day not knowing what tomorrow holds, but knowing that God holds all your tomorrows. They're not in the hands of your boss, your broker, your mate, or anybody else. Nor are they in your hands to manipulate and control. No, all your tomorrows are in God's hands!

So whatever you do; get to know Him, because you'll need Him. And He'll be there for you. He'll be there when everybody and everything else has gone. He'll be there for you in the dark places. His promise to you is, '... Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning' (Psalm 30:5 Amp). However long the night, morning always comes and with it His joy. Just think, no matter how dark the night, you've always lived to see the morning. Right? Somehow His grace has protected you, provided for you, secured you, calmed and comforted you, and brought you through. Times and seasons change, but not God. He's always '... The God of all comfort... ' and He's watching over you today!

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

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Big Church Day Out

What an amazing day! The Big Church day Out. A musical feast of worship was on offer at Wiston House in Sussex and a small group from our church ventured down from London through the leafy suburbs to find this beautiful stately home nestling in the South Downs reverberating with every kind of worship. Varying musical tastes were catered for with the Kings Chamber Orchestra, Lou Fellingham, Graham Kendrick, TobyMac, Tim Hughes, Israel Houghton, Hillsong United, among others.

Although our group enjoyed worshipping with Tim Hughes, it was perhaps not a day for corporate worship as we know it rather than for being entertained by some amazing Christian artists. I surprised myself by enjoying TobyMac. (Perhaps I am a closet hip hop grunge fan! I shall investigate this). Very professional and highly contagious energy exuded from the platform.

This was the second year of Big Church Day Out and it seemed to me to be very successful. I'm certainly looking forward to next year.