Life will go on
Firstly, to acknowledge those who are bereaved. The Holgates said farewell to Geraldine last week. Margaret Paterson passed away this week quite unexpectedly [these things are often unexpected in their expectedness] and her funeral will be on Thursday next. Prayers are with Heather, Iain, Isabella and Rafael. Di Hooley’s Dad died in the UK on Wednesday. Fortunately Di was there with her family. I’m not sure when we will next see Di! Our hearts go out to you all……and to all who are still grieving loss from times past. Be assured I know it doesn’t just ‘go away’.Listening to Andy speak last Sunday about money as a ‘power’, I was struck by the bible’s conclusion that the God who loves me calls me to simplicity and generosity. I actually find it easier to be generous when things aren’t too complicated. I also find it easier to be generous when I know I have enough to cover the basics. My challenge is to resist the temptation for ‘enough’ to always be ‘just a little bit more’!Thanks to those of you who have signed up for Vision52.As the church council and I prayerfully set about doing things, we do not feel like experts or great ones or skilled leaders. We are usually feeling our way. But we are under the umbrella of Christ and his love compels us onward.Peter Brain shared with me this prayer of the great reformer, Martin Luther [1542] which resonated:
Lord you have placed me in your church as overseer and pastor. You see how unfit I am to administer this great and difficult office. Had I previously been without help from you, I would have ruined everything long ago. Therefore I call upon you.I gladly offer my mouth and heart to your service. I would teach the people and continue to learn. To this end I shall meditate diligently on your Word. Use me, dear Lord, as your instrument. Only do not forsake me; for if I were to continue alone, I would quickly ruin everything. Amen.
When by Wednesday this week I had come down with some viral thing – it’s never a good time for that - it was merely a reminder that life, whatever stage we are at, will go on quite as before with or without us.And that our God has all things in his hands, so relax.BlessingsMalcolm