just a thought

I'm sat here watching the Manchester United game and to be honest not that impressed, think I would rather watch an omnibus edition of coronation street! Mind you I do follow Liverpool so why am I watching it??

Anyway I have been settling into my office and getting to know a few more things about the way the church has been doing things. It was the weekly prayer meeting last night, which was focusing on the persecuted church. I find it hard to pray for the persecution to stop as it seems that when the Church undergoes opposition it seems to grow so, maybe it is better to pray for grace and strength to keep standing. I have to admit my previous experience of prayer meeting I was not expecting to see to many out, but I was pleasantly surprised to see 17 of us gather together and pray.

It is in times like these you get to know what people are like and I get the real sense of expectation as to what God is going to do through us a part of His church. There seems to be an eagerness for change, which is great. Although change will not happen overnight it will come, but all in good time. Over the next few month my main focus is going to be on getting to know the people and the town, listen and watch to see what God is already doing and listen for the leading of the Spirit so that we can get involved and truly partner with God in the stuff that he has prepared for us to do inadvance.

Just a thought from my reading this morning, Jesus at the start of his ministry as recounted by Matthew says repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. This word repent is actually more to do with be converted, carrying with it the sense of turning around, changing our ways. Then Jesus says that the Kingdom is at hand. Not the Kingdom is here, I have arrived - but the Kingdom is at hand. Now I'm of the understanding the the Kingdom of God is here in a now but not yet. The Kingdom of God is alive in all those who believe but is it not that even in us the Kingdom is yet to be fully estabished? Could it just be that the words of Jesus could be as relevant for us as his disciples today as it was the the way back then? The Kingdom is at hand and I maybe wrong but I actually think that we have a hand in partnering ith God to see his Kingdom further established in the hearts and lives of those around us, and the towns that we live and the churches we attend. What part are you playing in the furtherance of the Kingdom of Heaven?

bless ya