Rainy Days

I stood against the railings at the edge of the promenade and looked out across the misty North Sea. The tide was high and lapped gently against the sea wall, surprisingly calm and tranquil despite the strong breeze and dark clouds which threatened the heavy and persistent rain which would soon follow. An August weekend but few people braving the cold wet day, preferring possibly to stay safely indoors and hide away from what could be described as a dark, miserable day.
There are days when we can all feel a little like the description of the weather – too much to do, not enough time to do it in, pressure from work, pressure from home, worry about children or elderly relatives, ever increasing bills to pay, income which does not stretch as far as it used to, heartbreaking stories in every aspect of the media. No wonder people begin to feel miserable and depression is increasing at an alarming rate. Not surprising that at times we are tempted to hide away, fearing to face the day ahead because we think we may not cope and look or feel inadequate and ineffective.

But it is when we are at our weakest that God is at his strongest and stands alongside us or will send someone to be beside us.

As I sheltered from the heavy rain and looked in the distance a ray of sunshine peeped above the horizon with a promise of better weather to come, the seagulls began to screech loudly (although not nearly so noisy as they had been at 4.00am) as if they knew the sun would soon be shining, and even in the passing rain the abundance of carefully planted flowers looked magnificent; Gods glory and restoring power is evident every where, whatever the weather or however we may feel. As I watched and waited I thought about the words of a well known hymn: - Let your living water flow over my soul, Let your Holy Spirit come and take control of every situation that has troubled my mind. All my cares and burdens on to you I roll.
Thank you great and wonderful God

Lesley

Newsletter 18th May 2008 P.R.A.Y.

P.R.A.Y

Many Christians struggle with prayer and a frequently asked question is how do I pray? This article printed in UCB “The Word for Today” on 20th March might help.

Look to The Lord And His Strength; Seek His Face Always.

To help you remember the four parts of prayer, think of the acrostic P-R-A-Y.

P- Praise the Lord! Not sure how? Think you will run out of words? Not if you use the scriptures. David gives us a beautiful example in 1 Chronicles 29:11-13. “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splender......... Now our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”

R – Repent of your sins! Just as heat forces impurities to the surface so the metal refiner can remove them, your prayer time will reveal attitudes that must be changed, habits that must be broken, and barriers to blessings that must be removed. It’s not enough to tell god about your sins. He already knows them. You must ask him to help you turn away from them. This is true repentance.

A – Ask for yourself and others! Your prayers invite God into the situation, and your faith activates His power to change it. There’s no distance in prayer, no culture or language barrier it can’t overcome. It’s like throwing on a power switch – things begin to move when we pray. Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven.......Whatever doors you open on earth shall be opened in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).

Y – Yield yourself to God’s will! Declaring the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life is like signing your name to the bottom of a blank cheque and inviting Him to fill in the amount.


So if you are struggling with prayer, try the above you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

God bless

Lesley.

Newsletter 10th February 2008, The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-31)

Tuesday home group met socially this week to enjoy pancakes on the eve of Ash Wednesday and to give some consideration to what our actions and responses will be during the next 40 days (Sunday’s do not count in Lent apparently), as we remember the time Christ spent in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan on at least three occasions.

Lent, a period of fasting and penitence is generally considered a time to give something up (chocolates and sweets being popular favourites) but this year we have been challenged to do something different:-

Firstly to read “The Return of the Prodigal Son” and then, by our own observations and reflections to discuss, in a home group forum (those who do not usually attend home groups are invited to come along - you might find you would like to stay) the deeper mysteries of reconciliation, forgiveness and inner healing in the three main characters of the book, the younger son, the older son and the father.

This book will confront our own life journey of struggles, fears, loneliness, dejection jealousy, anger or inner conflict but through the revelation of God’s delight in loving us individually despite our faults, it will challenge us to love as the father and to be loved as the son! Some powerful stuff and most probably interesting discussions.

Secondly The Bishop of Lichfield with Christian Aid is challenging us all to have “A Heart for Creation.” Each week in Lent we are asked to change something about our lifestyle to help in the fight to cut carbon emissions. There are six challenges: waste, consumer choices, energy savings, transport issues, water consumption and biodiversity. If each of us makes small changes then together it can make a huge difference.

Thirdly the challenge is from “Hope08” To do more. Do it together. Do it in word and action. Mike Pilavachi writes Hope in 2008 provides an amazing opportunity for all Christians to work together and make a huge difference on the nation. For more details look on webpage Hope 08.com.

Are you willing to take a challenge during this Lent and beyond?

God bless.

Lesley

Holly: Newsletter 7th October 2007

It was Christmas Eve 2004 the phone rang and my niece, working voluntarily at the local Animal Hospital said “We have just received a dreadfully neglected little dog who may not survive can you accommodate her if she does”.

A Yorkshire terrier; not our kind of dog at all but we went to see her anyway and after a few days of intensive treatment we took her home. What a sad sight she was, head & stub of a tail drooping, dull sad eyes that spoke of a life of misery and suffering. Breathing but not living, at one point we thought she had just curled up and died so completely motionless was her poor bedraggled body.

Approaching three years later anyone who has met “Holly “ would witness a very different dog indeed, full of life, bright expressive eyes, a well developed personality (do dogs have personalities?) Confident in manner, as she proudly protects home & family, the difference is a response to love, an ingredient we all need in which to grow and develop our full potential. At times we can all feel unloved and unlovable and sometimes it can perhaps seem easier to love an animal than another human being, especially if that person happens to be someone we don’t particularly like or have difficulty relating to, and sometimes it could be a member of our own family; but God calls us to bear a distinct family resemblance to him and his son Jesus. “This is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” 1 John 4:10 At a time where there are many people and families within St. Martin’s who are experiencing very difficult times for a variety of reasons let us reach out and love one another, “For God is love and whoever lives in love lives in union with God and God lives in union with him”.1John 4:16.

Lesley