Pentecost Sunday was a battle for me ... everything seemed to go wrong!  Perhaps that was to be expected, but it's always frustrating when that happens.  Yet it was good!  My agenda was overthrown by God's agenda, and there was lots of good that happened.

Observations from a 10am service attendee

Yesterday in the service we were encouraged to wait on God and listen to Him in the middle of our focused worship. Well, Jesus said to me “Draw closer.”

So this morning I’m thinking about drawing closer to Jesus.

During the service I was sitting far back in the pews and no one came forward to do the prayers. If I’d been sitting further forward, drawn closer, it would have been easier for me to volunteer to lead the prayers. Then I may have told us all what God had said to me. I may have prayed for all of us to draw closer.

Our certainty is based on facts not feelings

This is a brief summary (easy to remember – 3 W’s) of the certainty we can all have that we belong to God. I would be happy to explain this further to anyone who is struggling to know that they have an assured relationship with Jesus.

Stephen Middelkoop 
(Happy Birthday Stephen!)

My Bible Study note for 1 May was from Deut 31:8: The Lord is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.

Not a bad reading for a birthday and it got me to thinking about what it means for us to go forward in our faith.  How do we grow?  God goes before us – but how do we follow?

You may have other suggestions but this is what I thought:

• read a good book – I have borrowed “Run with horses” by Eugene Peterson (the Message author) – very challenging and informative investigation into Jeremiah – from the library at Barnies (ask Olga or Bernie for help – there are some great books there)
• read The Good Book – Bible notes are helpful – they keep prodding when you forget/run out of time
• take part in a good group – we have 2 but need more (any volunteers?)
• listen to the sermons – we may not get it all right, but we do pray about them and so God may speak through them – even if only through what we missed
• pray – silence and words and listening to the gaps
• the internet has resources; e-mail Bible verses/poems may sometimes seem annoying but they do keep us remembering that God is part of our life
• friends – talk about what is happening in your faith-walk – as you might talk about the latest film/sport/family news
• do something – getting involved in fixing a bit of the world reminds us of Jesus’ example and teaching – practice consistent and not just random acts of kindness

Above all – Practice the Presence of God.

Strength to you and may you grow and move forward without fear but with joy and anticipation.