Another gift

another dear friend sent me to make me smile.

The card

The card that came with the gift....my friend knows me well.

The perfect gift

A dear friend recently gave me a gift for no reason, well maybe it wasn't for no reason...but because she cares for me.

The gift was a framed photo of the lifebuoy - I wasn't quite sure what to make of it but a mutual friend suggested 'Don't you feel like you've had a bit of an emergency lately and needed rescuing?'....

A thoughtful, funny gift. And perhaps also tongue in cheek as we both know who I should really be looking to for help.

It reminds me that Jesus gave us the perfect gift of salvation - we are rescued from our sins. Rescued because He loves us.

'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.'

James 1:17-18

Congregational Commission

Following on from the individual's commission, the congregation were asked to respond:

• Are you persuaded that xxx is the person who God has brought at this time and into this place to be a pastor among you and a leader in your ministry?
• Will you seek to make her work a joy and not a burden?
• Will you be sensitive to her needs and the needs of her family?
• Will you seek to minister to her as well as with her?
• Will you assure her of your confidence, your encouragement, and patience?
• And will you commit yourselves to pray regularly for her?

....Since none of us are sufficient for the commitments that have been made today let us call upon the Lord God in prayer.

I was struck by the questions and the sensitivity in which the questions were written. Often, I think we can take those working in the church for granted - just as the individuals are expected to make commitments, so we as congregational members are also called to be committed to the individuals in thought, word and deed.

Individual Commission

One of the churches I visited in Vancouver was First Baptist Church. They were commissioning a new pastoral minister and I was really struck by the induction service - the questions that were asked of both the person being inducted and also the congregation. Challenging call I believe we each are called to in one form or another - here are the questions.

• Are you persuaded that you are truly called to this particular ministry, according to the will of Christ and the custom of this church?
• Are you motivated for ministry by a deep desire to walk with God, a love for Jesus Christ, and a passionate concern for the lost and hurting people of God's creation?
• Are you committed to the mission goals of First Baptist Church and are you prepared to give your support to the ministries in which it is engaged?
• Will you be faithful in caring for this congregation, for giving leadership to the ministries of this church, in proclaiming the Word of God, in discipling Christ's people, and in reaching out to the larger community? (Note response to this is 'I will, with God's help')
• Will you pledge to live a life that models the kind of personal morality, spiritual vitality, and gracious joy that will contribute to the building up of the body of Christ? (Note response is 'I will, with Christ as my strength and guide')
• You will only be able to maintain this response by an ever-deepening practice of prayer, enriched by daily readings of Holy Scripture. You will depend, not on your own strength, but on the Holy Spirit of God and his grace. You are called to make disciples, to lead the people in prayer, faithfully to read the Scriptures and proclaim the Word of God; to baptize and to preside at the Lord's Table with reverence and wonder. Like Aaron, you will bear the names of your people in intercession before the Lord. You will teach and encourage them form the Scriptures and bless them in the name of God. You will help God's people to discover, and use to his glory, the gifts he has given them. Like Moses, you will gladly receive counsel and share the burden of leadership with others. In love and mercy, remembering your own frailty, you will correct, rebuke and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction. Following the Good Shepherd, you will care for the sick, bring back those who have strayed, guide his people through this life, and prepare them for death and life to come. This ministry will be your great joy and privilege. It is also a weighty responsibility which none should dare to undertake except for the call of God. To you, whom he calls, he will always give his strength.

I think I could spend many months contemplating these questions - it's a high calling.

(Congregational response in the next post)

Allpress @ Zetland

My friend S and I were glad we did not share as initially planned.

This was good. Roast pork fresh out of the oven....on a fresh baguette with spicy mayo. Yum.

My friend and her husband have worked through all the sandwiches - they look good and trust her when she says they ARE good!

The queue for the takeaway coffee was long - a rare case of better to eat in than takeaway!

58 Epsom Road, Zetland

8198 4440 for the cafe.

Weekdays : 7am - 3pm

Saturdays : 8 - 2pm

What brings you to your knees?

I've returned home to an unexpected trial. Reading back on an entry I wrote in Vancouver it reminded me of something I wrote when I opened up my heart to God:

Breaking me in every part where you know I may hear You

So that I may surrender to You & seek You, willingly or not.

You long for me to realise your fullness of grace &

accept my weaknesses & failings, but know that I am loved.

Down to the bareness of my bones, chipping at the hardness of my heart

Gently but persistently asking me to relent & let go, so that my life is caught up in You & not life's worries.

Calling me to turn to you here and now, instead of longing for the 'to be' with you in Heaven....

There was more to what I wrote, almost like a psalm.

'Down to the bareness of my bones'....It's funny how sometimes you think there is nothing left to give, then something else comes along.

I've felt like I'm going insane at times and then feel guilty that I've not been more in control of my mind and emotions. A reminder that we are not perfect - we are in fact human.

Trying to hold onto God's sovereignty & that He is in control - there is freedom and peace in that.

'There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:...' (Ecclesiastes 3:1)