Malcolm Potts October 26th 2014

I was thinking about Gideon today… The text says, “The Angel of the LORD spoke to him.”  That really means that God spoke to him.  We have God’s Holy Spirit in us.  As Paul says to the Corinthians, “You have the mind of Christ” [1 Cor 2:16].  That’s pretty amazing.  I might have the mind of Christ but that sure doesn’t mean I do what Jesus did. But, it does mean we have unique access to God.Gideon talked to God, asked God questions, had a whinge, told God how things were for him.  And God was patient, kind and generous.  He also expected Gideon to get with the programme.My hunch is people make prayer way too hard – lists and times and special words and right places.  Way too hard.  So hard that I won’t bother.But God is open to a chat anywhere, anytime, about anything:Thanks, Lord, for the volunteers’ morning tea on Tuesday – I love those guys [even though I can’t remember who was there].For Frank and Ruth’s faithfulness.For John and Rosemary’s generosity and love for our kids.For Peter’s prayers and love for the bush and volunteering.For Betty who You love.For Joan’s ‘can do’ attitude.  Now,  that reminds me of Mum (also Joan), be near her today.  I love her and miss her.  Make up the gap, Lord.For Helen’s commitment and loyalty.For the other Helen who loves you so much.For Lesley’s generous spirit and love for the bible.For Cathy’s generous energy.For Pat’s ‘Patness’.And for Bev’s ability to share about things. It helps me.For Julia’s prayerfulness and Ernest’s loyalty.For Pam’s extraordinary commitment to us all.For Jean and Della, help Jean to know Della is welcome in church.For Martin and his cousin, for his health and Jill’s loving concern for him.For Rod and Sue – wise bricks.And for Gary and Barb, in so many ways.For Chris and Christine, may Your deep call to their deep.For June and Viv and John as immobility takes its toll, find them there.That reminds me of the neighbourhood.For everyone of us who will do something good, notice something or someone, serve, submit, speak with grace, Lord, season them today.And...Oh good and faithful God, if you hadn’t gone before each of us today, we’d be in a place most precarious [as Poirot would have said]. Nudge us and bump us and save us when and where we need it today.God, bless all Your people, in Jesus’ name. Amen.