​We have had such an amazing start to Spring with loads going on including baptisms,

Easter Egg hunts, a youth Sunday and so much more! I am grateful for everyone who has

participated in making our church a vibrant centre of the gospel in our community. I am

overwhelmed by the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst bringing new youth, families and

older folks to join us in our worshipping community. I have not seen the outpouring of God

in this way ever in all of pastoral ministry in the last 25 years. I pray we would continue to hunger

and thirst to see more of God in all ways and that we would continue to do our part to rise up and

 

share his love in our broken and chaotic world.
Yet today I write this sitting at home and not being able to participate in some things I would

have liked to do. A few days ago an ordinary virus hit me and has had me down and in bed,

missing lots of Lydia’s dance shows this weekend and failing to be able to set up the start of our

bible study again for next week. I dislike staying at home. I have always been like that. I remember

my mum once telling me when I was just a tot, I used to look out the picture window at our home and ask if I could go with my older brothers to school and she claimed my first sentence was ‘I want to go out.’.

As much as I like people and adventures there are times when I need to stay still. After Joe died I had to listen to advice and not return to ministry right away. My emotions were raw and there was so much new to figure out. I am thankful I listened to sage advice givers in my life because it has made all the difference to my ministry now.

This week has been frustrating because I had to slow down. There was a school assembly on Friday but thankfully someone stepped in. I had to have folks help me at Lydia’s dance shows this weekend but many people stepped in and kept her going in a positive direction. I am having to consider that I might not be able to take on my upcoming busy week and will have to cut a few things…I don’t like that either. But we must listen when God is calling us to be still.

Psalm 46 is one of my favourite Psalms and it has a lot to say about trusting God and knowing that he is in control. Two of the verses I find meaningful in it are verses 10 and 11:
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
The world is not going to fall apart if someone has to do the children’s talk other than me (actually is there any one out there that would like to do it even when I am not sick?? I love for the children to hear other people’s voices!) or if I have to hold off on a meeting or start the bible study a bit later.

The world is not going to fall apart if you need to say ‘no’ to something in your life either. Even though that can be hard to do it can also be a blessing. We all have special gifts but God can use all of us and sometimes when someone steps down for a time, help comes from unexpected directions!
I wonder if you have ever had an experience like this? It is not just when we are ill physically but sometimes, we are just mentally tired and we need some time to refresh our inmost being. God meets us in those places. In fact sometimes he is waiting patiently for us for a long time, calling our name and letting us know it is time to sit with him.

My faith grows in these opportunities where I have to rely on God and say ‘I need help’. I can’t do it on my own. No one can do it all on their own. We need each other. We need to work together as the body of Christ. Some of us need more help than others and that is ok. We are here for each other as the family of God.
Please let us know if you have something in your life that you need help with and there is a way we can assist. Please tell us if you have taken something on at church and you are feeling like you are burning out and need a break. We need to listen to one another and most of all listen

to God.

The call to take a slow down is a precious space to remember our God is in charge and is with us!

My prayer for each of us as we ramp up our summer programs-holiday club, Scottish week etc, that we would also have time to sit and reflect on the God who loves us and who wants to show us grace and mercy in abundance.

Sitting still can be difficult but it is also not a negative; it provides space for us to grow and stretch. It allows others to shine and fill in the gaps and in those spaces God shows up in big ways! I am looking forward to lots of activity serving God this summer but also to some quiet time each day to listen to God calling me (and all of us) to sit beside Jesus and learn, just like Mary did so long ago.
Luke 10:39b and 42b ‘…Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said…Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’

I look forward to hearing about your journey of sitting at the feet of the Lord and what God is saying to you!