Went to a friend's son's Christening yesterday (thoughts on Christenings to be left to another day!) and they acted out the story of the Lost Sheep with some of the children. The woman who was the shepherd took all the sheep with her when she went to look for the lost sheep.
You know I had never seen it that way. Some how I'd seen it as the shepherd being more concerned over the one missing sheep than the safe 99 so had left them behind, a sort of safety in numbers thing. Bur really there is no way Jesus would leave us who are with Him to look for one who isn't. Of course He would take us with Him. And remembering the whole thing of middle eastern sheep is that they follow the shepherd wherever he calls and wouldn't have stayed behind anyway.
So does this mean that as Church we really should all be going off to look for the lost, in a crowd, rather than just waiting for the lost to either come to us or for those "called to evangelize" to bring the lost back?
At the end of this story the sheep had a party along with the shepherd. Suddenly this story makes loads more sense. Now to work out how to put it into practice.
Monday 22 March 2010
Saturday 20 March 2010
Romans
Woke up praying and thinking about Romans this morning! Basically I've done lots of spiritual mapping and very much there is always this whole things about the control of the Roman empire on our land and then the control of the church of Rome on our land and the aftermath of all that, leading very much to a spirit of control. And very much in whatever you read, be it on spiritual matters to fiction books Rome is seen as the bad guy, wanting total control, who walks across the land and stamps out the indigenous cultures and uniforms them.
We live in an area that actually welcomed the Romans over. They were trading with the Romans before they invaded and actually appear to have given them a foothold in England. There is a swath of land that had Roman style villas dated before 33AD when Roman came a conquered and settled.
So what sort of things should we be praying when we see the control in this land but know that it welcomed in the control of the Romans? a area where the whole idea of organised life was clearly welcomed, even maybe happening beforehand.
We will keep praying and see what God leads us to but it would be interesting to know what it was the led the Romans and the church of Rome to want to control others in the first place.
Or really is everyone like that, likes to know how things go, keeps away from letting everyone have total freedom, just in case they lose their position, their place of being. How controlling are we all really?
We live in an area that actually welcomed the Romans over. They were trading with the Romans before they invaded and actually appear to have given them a foothold in England. There is a swath of land that had Roman style villas dated before 33AD when Roman came a conquered and settled.
So what sort of things should we be praying when we see the control in this land but know that it welcomed in the control of the Romans? a area where the whole idea of organised life was clearly welcomed, even maybe happening beforehand.
We will keep praying and see what God leads us to but it would be interesting to know what it was the led the Romans and the church of Rome to want to control others in the first place.
Or really is everyone like that, likes to know how things go, keeps away from letting everyone have total freedom, just in case they lose their position, their place of being. How controlling are we all really?
Tuesday 16 March 2010
Meetings Mondays
I do not know what goes on in this town but it seems to be meetings can only happen on a Monday!
Yesterday we had at least 3 we could go to, 2 to do with prayer and one a canoeing one - for Ian not me that one!! And once a month here on Mondays (different Mondays) there is Churches Together, Climate Change, and something else which I forget.
I am already committed, as is the car, to take Tabi to and from drama in the next town. This use to be on Weds but they changed it to Mondays!! And we missed out playing 2 of the witches in the local amateur dramatic society's production on Roald Dahl's Witches because instead of rehearsing on Tues and Thurs they changed to ....... Mondays and Thurs!!
Though actually I say that is all happens on Mondays but maybe that's not quite true, though so much does, it also happens on Tues which again seem to be able to go into the same spin of there being a choice of 2-3 things on the same Tues :)
And my way of dealing with it all so often is just to stay home and read a book!! So much easier than trying to make a decision :)
Yesterday we had at least 3 we could go to, 2 to do with prayer and one a canoeing one - for Ian not me that one!! And once a month here on Mondays (different Mondays) there is Churches Together, Climate Change, and something else which I forget.
I am already committed, as is the car, to take Tabi to and from drama in the next town. This use to be on Weds but they changed it to Mondays!! And we missed out playing 2 of the witches in the local amateur dramatic society's production on Roald Dahl's Witches because instead of rehearsing on Tues and Thurs they changed to ....... Mondays and Thurs!!
Though actually I say that is all happens on Mondays but maybe that's not quite true, though so much does, it also happens on Tues which again seem to be able to go into the same spin of there being a choice of 2-3 things on the same Tues :)
And my way of dealing with it all so often is just to stay home and read a book!! So much easier than trying to make a decision :)
Saturday 13 March 2010
Oh to 18-25 again!
After the last post of debt and young people I am now wishing I was that age again. Maybe not a teenager but very much in that age of 18-25 when life seems to sort out a bit more, people start taking you seriously, the hormones are calming down, and the door of opportunity is wide open!
We came back from IAM10 24-7Prayer.com party with a bag full of leaflets. It has taken me a month to get around to look at them and they are totally amazing. It is all on the justice and prayer angle, which is awesome, but all very much aimed at the 18-25 year olds.
Oh I could go on about all sorts but really I am just awfully jealous of these young people who have so much energy too. I'm suffering with lack of energy at the moment too - menopause and chicks flying the nest!
I was wondering what there was out there for those of us who didn't get to Jesus till we were older (30 plus for me) and are only just starting to work out what we are called too. There is loads and I am just trying to get over the things that our society can be prone to throw at us, that by late 40's we are over the hill, which is so untrue but can leap up and grab one at times.
I am now waiting with excitement and anticipation for when my energy comes back after menopause and Ben and Tabi getting a bit more sorted and just see where I will fit. But sometimes there is that frustration of missing out because so little is about to encourage those who are older, no 40-60's group to join. Life very much is geared towards the younger generations
And also to make sure that I don't get too jealous of these opportunities and frustrated when these young people settle for just the ordinary!! :)
Like my dear friend Mavis I want to still be causing hassle for the Kingdom when I'm as old as she is. Bring it on!!
We came back from IAM10 24-7Prayer.com party with a bag full of leaflets. It has taken me a month to get around to look at them and they are totally amazing. It is all on the justice and prayer angle, which is awesome, but all very much aimed at the 18-25 year olds.
Oh I could go on about all sorts but really I am just awfully jealous of these young people who have so much energy too. I'm suffering with lack of energy at the moment too - menopause and chicks flying the nest!
I was wondering what there was out there for those of us who didn't get to Jesus till we were older (30 plus for me) and are only just starting to work out what we are called too. There is loads and I am just trying to get over the things that our society can be prone to throw at us, that by late 40's we are over the hill, which is so untrue but can leap up and grab one at times.
I am now waiting with excitement and anticipation for when my energy comes back after menopause and Ben and Tabi getting a bit more sorted and just see where I will fit. But sometimes there is that frustration of missing out because so little is about to encourage those who are older, no 40-60's group to join. Life very much is geared towards the younger generations
And also to make sure that I don't get too jealous of these opportunities and frustrated when these young people settle for just the ordinary!! :)
Like my dear friend Mavis I want to still be causing hassle for the Kingdom when I'm as old as she is. Bring it on!!
Thursday 11 March 2010
What we are letting our young people do!
I do wonder what we have let our young people become. Interestingly at the moment I am reading a book by Francine Rivers about Rome in about 75AD and again how the youth are just after pleasure and what they can get for themselves. It seems like we have allowed our young people to seek after pleasure, look to themselves and not too worry too much of what comes next, what the consequence are. But as with the observation in Francine Rivers' book it is the parents who have allowed this to happen.
As you know I work in the Citizens Advice bureau (a charity that shows people how to deal with difficulties they have got into) yesterday there were 3 young girls all with major money problems. I was only observing so cannot say anything but what I wanted to say was "what have you been spending your money on?". One girl had a £6,000 car because she needed it to get to work. In my day (oh dear here we go) we use to get cars for a few hundred pounds, and I know they are still out there because we have been looking to get another car and there are loads for not much. But also one's first car was always an old banger not bought on finance. Actually I remember a dear friend on mission who was in a muddle because she had a car on finance and her reason was "because everyone did it".
But it was the attitude of the Adviser I was working with with these young girls. Very much his thing was that these debts were not that bad, that they could get away with paying very little, and even writing the debts off.
We wonder why our economy is in a muddle when an awful lot of people are being able to get rid of their debts by paying £90. Just working the basic sums of 100 people with £10,000 worth of debt and how then that adds up.
Also why it is so easy as a person to be able to get rid of one's debts and yet there are developing countries that if they could get rid of their debts could give health care, education, etc to their people.
I will launch some more of what I have seen and heard with young people in another blog.
But the question I come back to in my head is what can I do? What can the church do? is the church doing anything? I see many young people in church with stuff. Are they in debt? I know not all are as I remember one lovely young girl who was dress making for the whole of her university course so that she wouldn't even get a student loan, which is very much an accepted part of life.
What did Jesus say about money? and our love of it? Again back to the sheep and goats - as a developed, rich country what are we doing for those little ones?
As you know I work in the Citizens Advice bureau (a charity that shows people how to deal with difficulties they have got into) yesterday there were 3 young girls all with major money problems. I was only observing so cannot say anything but what I wanted to say was "what have you been spending your money on?". One girl had a £6,000 car because she needed it to get to work. In my day (oh dear here we go) we use to get cars for a few hundred pounds, and I know they are still out there because we have been looking to get another car and there are loads for not much. But also one's first car was always an old banger not bought on finance. Actually I remember a dear friend on mission who was in a muddle because she had a car on finance and her reason was "because everyone did it".
But it was the attitude of the Adviser I was working with with these young girls. Very much his thing was that these debts were not that bad, that they could get away with paying very little, and even writing the debts off.
We wonder why our economy is in a muddle when an awful lot of people are being able to get rid of their debts by paying £90. Just working the basic sums of 100 people with £10,000 worth of debt and how then that adds up.
Also why it is so easy as a person to be able to get rid of one's debts and yet there are developing countries that if they could get rid of their debts could give health care, education, etc to their people.
I will launch some more of what I have seen and heard with young people in another blog.
But the question I come back to in my head is what can I do? What can the church do? is the church doing anything? I see many young people in church with stuff. Are they in debt? I know not all are as I remember one lovely young girl who was dress making for the whole of her university course so that she wouldn't even get a student loan, which is very much an accepted part of life.
What did Jesus say about money? and our love of it? Again back to the sheep and goats - as a developed, rich country what are we doing for those little ones?
Saturday 6 March 2010
How we should live!
There are a couple of good pieces out there on the blogs - one from Emerging Mummy, which you can get to via Accidental blog and one from the 2churchmice - and what has been buzzing in my head which sort of fits with them. Hey I'm a connector and I like to connect things!!
How do we live our lives? What do I do that makes a difference to other people? How do i walk out my Christian walk in the doing what Jesus would do?
I am very caught up in this whole act justly and behave righteously and am exploring what it means. But when I suggest to people that actually we could form groups to pray blessing over the town, over the area, they look at me as though I have lost the plot.
I am told that one fellowships and prays for each other, that we learn so that we can grow. I am not sure if I understand this when I read what Jesus and the early disciples got up to.
Yes we are to grow in Christ. We are to die to self and take up our cross and that this is a daily thing. But we must be caring for others. What is it Jesus says about how people will be seperated? The sheep and goats story? Those who do good things to others, who see what is going on and take care of them. And He also says "I can only do what I see the Father doing?" and how do we know what the Father is doing? By praying more and more, by seeing the presence of God come down when we pray.
2churchmice look at a book where and Christian and an atheist go round different congregations in US. The atheist notice that there is a lot of talk about self help and very little about caring for others. Yes I know I must care for my fellow believers, but I am afraid for me that is with a desire to lift them up and to see what a difference they could make for the area they live in if they pray and pray and pray some more, hear from God and expect Him to reveal what He wants them to do, and to just see what a difference His Spirit makes when we pray and call Him into a situation.
This is what I want to do. And as Emerging Mummy says I don't want to be remembered for clean floors and a nice house but for so so so much more.
Interestingly in the week my 16 year old daughter said she would keep following God because she wanted to finish up in heaven with me. Now I think that means I must be doing something right - hopefully in my journey with God.
How do we live our lives? What do I do that makes a difference to other people? How do i walk out my Christian walk in the doing what Jesus would do?
I am very caught up in this whole act justly and behave righteously and am exploring what it means. But when I suggest to people that actually we could form groups to pray blessing over the town, over the area, they look at me as though I have lost the plot.
I am told that one fellowships and prays for each other, that we learn so that we can grow. I am not sure if I understand this when I read what Jesus and the early disciples got up to.
Yes we are to grow in Christ. We are to die to self and take up our cross and that this is a daily thing. But we must be caring for others. What is it Jesus says about how people will be seperated? The sheep and goats story? Those who do good things to others, who see what is going on and take care of them. And He also says "I can only do what I see the Father doing?" and how do we know what the Father is doing? By praying more and more, by seeing the presence of God come down when we pray.
2churchmice look at a book where and Christian and an atheist go round different congregations in US. The atheist notice that there is a lot of talk about self help and very little about caring for others. Yes I know I must care for my fellow believers, but I am afraid for me that is with a desire to lift them up and to see what a difference they could make for the area they live in if they pray and pray and pray some more, hear from God and expect Him to reveal what He wants them to do, and to just see what a difference His Spirit makes when we pray and call Him into a situation.
This is what I want to do. And as Emerging Mummy says I don't want to be remembered for clean floors and a nice house but for so so so much more.
Interestingly in the week my 16 year old daughter said she would keep following God because she wanted to finish up in heaven with me. Now I think that means I must be doing something right - hopefully in my journey with God.
Tuesday 2 March 2010
Dealing With Disappointment
This may not be as positive a blog as the name of my site should be.
I checked my emails today to see one that said that the Weymouth pastors have decided they want someone more local and who can do evenings and weekends. Interestingly enough I didn't say I couldn't do evenings and weekends but that I would need someone to put me up. I feel a bit let down as I really did feel that this was something I wanted to be doing and have had some great confirming words from people. Maybe I got my hopes up, or maybe it is of God.
It is again taking it back to knowing what is of God and then does not come to pass because of people not being there or when it is not of God. How does one know?
I think I feel let down because all this planning and organising is what I would love to be doing wherever and yet it does not seem to be.
I was rereading a prophecy from John Dawson from back in Oct 2004, which I am sure I mentioned about having these keys for so much but also in it is says about how people will see me as little and lowly and of no account, which is what it feels like.
Again when does when know when to push oneself forward and when to wait on God, or is it that I will be seen as lowly but He will then show me the doors I have these keys for.
I have been reading Gerard Hughes book on "God in All Things" and one of the exercises was to see what your greatest desire was and he explored the idea that pride was not actually a wrong thing. That the guy who started the Jesuits had a pride attitude in that he wanted to be better than the Celtic saints. There are pride things that do push us onwards, but sometimes these pride things are what get us hurt too.
I think my desire is to be up there organising prayer rooms, talks and discussions, seeing churches joined and united in their heart for prayer and stepping out and helping to deal with issues of injustice and get the world to take notice. Though most of the time i am not quite able to quantify what I mean. But it seems like wherever it just doesn't seem to happen.
I was out walking a friend's dog just now and I couldn't quite see the path but when I looked onward I could see the next bit of the path and sort of guessed where I was meant to be walking. All the way on the walk it was like that. I could see my destination, could see some of the path but it was never quite where I was sure at the time where I was walking.
In fact back when Ben, Tabi and I were doing Ywam we had to do some prophetic getting rid of stuff and we'd decided to walk to the top of this hill, again along the way we kept feeling like we'd lost our way but then we would find something that showed we were on the right path like a bench or litter bin or coloured arrow.
So how do I deal with disappointment. Well firstly I rant a bit at God, take it to Him and wonder what is going on and what I miss, go for a long walk and know that this will give me time to talk with Him, and come back and wonder.....
So for now I am at the wondering stage....But I know the things I must take care of are not to take offense when I am overlooked, not to be hurt and to spent my time preparing, sorting out my lifestyle and being the watchman He called me to be ever ready for when He shows me those doors.
And also maybe writing and bit and sticking to what my blog is called "A Positive Blog". Hopefully I am getting there
I checked my emails today to see one that said that the Weymouth pastors have decided they want someone more local and who can do evenings and weekends. Interestingly enough I didn't say I couldn't do evenings and weekends but that I would need someone to put me up. I feel a bit let down as I really did feel that this was something I wanted to be doing and have had some great confirming words from people. Maybe I got my hopes up, or maybe it is of God.
It is again taking it back to knowing what is of God and then does not come to pass because of people not being there or when it is not of God. How does one know?
I think I feel let down because all this planning and organising is what I would love to be doing wherever and yet it does not seem to be.
I was rereading a prophecy from John Dawson from back in Oct 2004, which I am sure I mentioned about having these keys for so much but also in it is says about how people will see me as little and lowly and of no account, which is what it feels like.
Again when does when know when to push oneself forward and when to wait on God, or is it that I will be seen as lowly but He will then show me the doors I have these keys for.
I have been reading Gerard Hughes book on "God in All Things" and one of the exercises was to see what your greatest desire was and he explored the idea that pride was not actually a wrong thing. That the guy who started the Jesuits had a pride attitude in that he wanted to be better than the Celtic saints. There are pride things that do push us onwards, but sometimes these pride things are what get us hurt too.
I think my desire is to be up there organising prayer rooms, talks and discussions, seeing churches joined and united in their heart for prayer and stepping out and helping to deal with issues of injustice and get the world to take notice. Though most of the time i am not quite able to quantify what I mean. But it seems like wherever it just doesn't seem to happen.
I was out walking a friend's dog just now and I couldn't quite see the path but when I looked onward I could see the next bit of the path and sort of guessed where I was meant to be walking. All the way on the walk it was like that. I could see my destination, could see some of the path but it was never quite where I was sure at the time where I was walking.
In fact back when Ben, Tabi and I were doing Ywam we had to do some prophetic getting rid of stuff and we'd decided to walk to the top of this hill, again along the way we kept feeling like we'd lost our way but then we would find something that showed we were on the right path like a bench or litter bin or coloured arrow.
So how do I deal with disappointment. Well firstly I rant a bit at God, take it to Him and wonder what is going on and what I miss, go for a long walk and know that this will give me time to talk with Him, and come back and wonder.....
So for now I am at the wondering stage....But I know the things I must take care of are not to take offense when I am overlooked, not to be hurt and to spent my time preparing, sorting out my lifestyle and being the watchman He called me to be ever ready for when He shows me those doors.
And also maybe writing and bit and sticking to what my blog is called "A Positive Blog". Hopefully I am getting there
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