role models

I was looking through some old copies of our church magazine, there was one article which reported on a stage item which I remember from when I first came around the church. This was a group of sisters sharing about how God had drawn them together from all sorts of different backgrounds and made them good friends in Jesus.



The thing that I noted about it was, the sister I most looked up to at the time was 35 when the article was written. That was about 17 years ago, when I was 18. This year I will turn 35, so I will be the same as as this sister who I considered "mature", "stable", "secure" and so on.

It's a bit scary to think I am now the same age as people I used to look up to when I was in my teens.
Part of me does not feel like I have been around the church that long. I certainly do not feel that "grown up".

I also wonder what I have actually achieved in all the years I have been in the church.
Or what am I doing with all the "experience" that comes with 17 years of covenant/community/celibacy/kingdom employment.?

It also makes me think along the lines "Am I living the life I claim to?", "Is the life I am living what I really want to be doing?", "Am I really achieving what I want to in life?"

encouraged

I was helping someone in another department at work yesterday 'cos they had a load of rubbish to clear up and were anxious to get on with another job. Also, we have had a mouse so I wanted rid of the rubbish to be sure of getting rid of the mouse.

Anyway... we were chatting about this and that and the brother asked me "Are you a celibate?". "yes, I am" I replied. "I thought so" he said "you are too happy not to be".

That so encouraged me because so often I think I am just stressed and moody at work. I don't like myself the days when it seems all I do is nag and correct people and hassle them to get the work done. I was encouraged that someone does see something different sometimes.

Vision

We were singing this song on Sunday:-

I can hear the sound of a rising generation
Not afraid of love or dreaming of the future
They talk about Jesus and the good things He's done
Fling wide those gates, let's see His Kingdom come...

Then someone returned a book to me with this poem in

The way of God (David Adam from The Glory of Light)

When I walk in the shadows
Unsure of my way
When I fail to see the beauty
Or the wonders about me
Come, Lord, guide me into light
Show me the way to walk in.

Lord, go before me and lead me
Let me follow in your steps
Then let me boldy venture
Rejoicing in all about me
Reveal to me the way of holiness
And the glories of your creation

The line in the song which struck me was "not afraid of love, or dreaming of the future".
When I feel discouraged then I do not feel brave to love. By this I don't mean that I don't love anyone, but I stop taking the risk of reaching out to new people or deepening relationships that have begun.
When I feel encouraged, I easily find inspiration both for the future and for things I am already involved in, I am keen to try things and take risks. Life is exciting when you can see God leading the way.
The poem sums all this up so well. In times of doubt I need God to lead me, to go before me, to give me courage to be brave and to enjoy what is ahead.

Life should have excitement and adventure in it. Not that it can always be like that, 'cos daily routine is obviously routine. But as it says somewhere in the Bible "without vision the people perish".
So, hold fast to your hope, your vision, and encourage each other too 'cos it is often through each other that encouragement or discouragement come

Tree of Life

In one of the proverbs it says "a desire fulfilled is a tree of life"

I was thinking about that at work recently as I was making some bread. I have really enjoyed myself doing this because I find food science really interesting, and making my own method has meant I can get the grey cells working again and put some of what I remember into practice. The fact the bread also worked out well and tastes good is a bonus.
The proverb is probably talking about deeper things than enjoying baking. But, I think it is good to do things you enjoy. It is good to express the creativity or talents God has given you.
If we limit ourselves and never step off the treadmill then we become dull grey robots. If we often try new things, or spend time in creation, or enjoy the skills God has given us, then we become people who are free to try things out in the spirit too, people who are ready for "God adventures".