Tag: prayer

Check Your Pastor #SundaySuggestion

In case you misread the title of this one, it is not a blog post about cooking – check your pasta! Instead, my suggestion this week is to check in with your pastor or church leader.

In my experience, church leaders can find it very difficult to manage their time and workload. This comes from the fact that they are not merely doing a job, but trying to fulfil a calling. For many church leaders, ministers and pastors, they are rarely off the clock and can be called on night and day for support. While many try to take a day off each week, the demands of a church family can encroach on that time. This is, of course, understandable at times and we cannot schedule our problems to fall on pastor’s working days! However, if a minister is frequently missing out of their time off, then it is only a matter of time before they run out of energy.

How is your #church leader doing? How can you support them this week? #Bible #Jesus #Christianity

Also in my experience, church leaders are not always so good at asking for help. They are so busy ministering to others that they forget they need ministering to as well.

So, this week, why not check in with your pastor. Ask them how they are doing, and if there is anything you can do to support them. You may be able to pray for them, and indeed is something we should try to do regularly. In what other ways can you be a blessing to them?

Perhaps you can offer to take care of their children for the night, giving them and their spouse an evening off? Maybe you can drop them in a meal or two, saving them having to prepare something during a busy period. I am certain there are lots of things that could be done. You might have to draw in the support of other leaders in the church to find out what they really need or to find the best way of supporting them. It could take a bit of effort, but I am sure it would be appreciated.

Many churches in UK, and I suppose it is similar elsewhere, are rather small consisting of fewer than 50 members. If they have their own minister (as many share), that person might be the only member of staff in the church. That can be a lonely position, especially if they are unmarried. In such a situation, ministers can be left carrying the burden of a whole church on their shoulders.

I am reminded of this passage from the Old Testament.

So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Exodus 17:10-13 NIV

Moses could not bear the weight of his staff for a long time, so Aaron and Hur came alongside him and supported him. Can you stand alongside your pastor or church leader in a similar way?

Have a great Sunday!

This Sunday at Church: Encourage a Single Parent in the Congregation

I often like to share these posts which come out on a Sunday, so hope you enjoy them.

It can be extremely difficult to be a parent, and this is made even more tough when you face it alone. Stand with single parents today, and support them in whatever way you are able.

Have a great Sunday!

This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Pray any pastoral counseling today would be used by God. I have been working all …

This Sunday at Church: Encourage a Single Parent in the Congregation

Good Seed (RB)

What kind of seeds are you sewing?

This thought-provoking post from brother Alan, reminds us that we may not see the fruit of the seed we sow. We should sow it anyway…

Be it a word of prayer, and uplifting encouragement, or sharing the name of Jesus, let us sow seeds into the lives of those around us.

I hope you enjoy the post, and do check out Allens other writing.

And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man“ Matthew 13:37 (NASB) Some weeks ago in midsummer when I was weeding our garden I saw …

Good Seed

Queen Elizabeth II Funeral

At church yesterday evening, we thought about how we mark or celebrate special days in the year. In the UK today, with Mark a particularly special and historic day.

On this, the date of Queen Elizabeth II funeral, we remember her life and service, and we give thanks to God for her Christian faith.

It is likely to be an emotional day for many, particularly so for the Royal family. I expect that many of us will not just mourn the loss of the Queen, but will remember friends or relatives who are also no longer with us.

Many millions may watch the funeral today, and I pray that her Christian faith is front and centre, and that many people will hear the gospel.

This is also a particularly special and difficult day for my own family. I will not go into details here, but needless to say I would very much appreciate your prayers.

I will return to normal posting tomorrow on the blog, but could not let today pass without saying these few words.

Thanks for reading, and thank you for your prayers. God bless you this day.

This Sunday at Church: Pray any pastoral counseling today would be used by God

This Sunday at Church I want to encourage you to do the following: Pray any pastoral counseling today would be used by God. During the weekdays …

This Sunday at Church: Pray any pastoral counseling today would be used by God

Show Me Your Way

I want to start this post with a little challenge for you, similar to what you might find in a children’s workbook or puzzle book. It’s a “fill in the blank…”

Complete the following sentence:

“God, if I have found favour in your eyes, please… FILL IN THE BLANK.”

How would you complete this? Is it immediately obvious to you, or do you need a little time to think about it?

Would you ask for something physical, such as health or strength? Or would it be something financial or material that you needed? Perhaps it would be an ask on behalf of someone else, such as salvation or a particular spiritual blessing?

How would you fill in the blank? #God if I have favour in your eyes, please…? #Bible #Jesus #Christianity

We may have all kinds of different ideas on how to complete this line, but, as it happens, we find out the “correct” answer as the Bible tells us. These are, in fact, words of Moses and I want to spend a few minutes thinking about how he completed the sentence.

Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me your way, now, that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight; and consider that this nation is your people.”

Exodus 33:13

The answer is: “Show me your ways!”

Hands up all of you who filled in the blank in this same way? I must confess that I would not have.

Moses’ prayer is incredibly humbling (to me at least, how about you?) He asked God to show him His way so that he might know Him. For Moses, the “prize” he sought more than anything was to know God. It was not physical, financial or even spiritual blessing, instead it was the privilege of knowing God.

Think of all the things we seek after in our lives. Some seek fame, through a variety of means right from YouTube artists to Hollywood actors. Others seek fortune, gambling or working themselves sick. Others seek satisfaction in romantic relationships, career or political power, and others move from hobby to hobby, house to house, friendship group to friendship group. Moses sought none of these things.

Paul the Apostle valued knowing God far above all else, just as Moses did.

He said:

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Philippians 3:8-10

Paul counted everything as rubbish next to knowing Christ.

Paul counted everything as rubbish next to knowing #Christ #Jesus #Bible

How much value do you place in knowing Jesus? It is rather easy to say the words, “It’s the most important thing…” but if I looked at your life and how you spend your time, would I draw the same conclusion?

I am humbled at the thought.

Lord, show me Your way that I might know You! Help me to see all else as loos in comparison to knowing You! Let my diary, my bank statement, my social media feeds, my words, thoughts and actions all demonstrate that there is nothing in my life that is more important than You. In Jesus’ name, Amen

God’s Grace (RB)

Gods grace is indeed truly amazing!

Caring for a close relative suffering with dementia, this post from Bruce Cooper was very touching when I read it a few days ago.

When facing this terrible disease, or indeed, any other tremendous trial, I thank God for his grace which is more than sufficient.

I pray you are blessed by Bruce‘s words, and can rest in gods grace in whatever you are facing today.

As one endeavours to walk with God, in this life that we have been given, the grace that God so often extends to us becomes more and more apparent. …

God’s Grace

Reflection-13 September 2022

If you live outside of the UK, it may be difficult to grasp the magnitude of feeling surrounding the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Talking to many people about this, lots feel a genuine sense of loss at her death. Few have actually met her, and yet have been impacted by her passing.

Her many decades of service, her kindness, and her Christian faith all play a part in this.

Another reason people have felt her death so profoundly is because it reminds us of our own losses. for me, this event has reminded me of my own late grandmother – who we affectionately referred to as the Queen of our family.

If you are experiencing loss at the moment, the pain of grief, or have been reminded of such things, then I pray for you today.

Heavenly father, we thank you for the life and service of our late Queen. we pray for her family at the moment, asking you to comfort them, and indeed, to comfort all those who feel her loss.

Lord, I pray for all of those who are reminded of their own grief at the moment. May you also comfort them, strengthening them and giving them peace.

Let us remember, with Thanksgiving, those we have lost. we thank you, dear God, for the impact these people have had on our lives. We pray to, that we may be a positive influence in the lives of those around us.

We thank you heavenly father, for your grace and mercy toward us. May you bless King Charles and the UK government with wisdom at this time, as they lead the nation.

As we consider the Christian example of our late Queen, may the nation of the UK return to faith in Christ.

In Jesus name I pray

Amen

Leading Home Bible Study for Children (RB)

Today I am sharing this very helpful resource for anyone leading home Bible studies for children. Hope you find it useful

Establish the need: How do I teach my children? Purpose: This session we will look at three points concerning Parents have an obligation to teach …

Leading Home Bible Study for Children

Eternal Praise (RB)

Townhill Loch, near Dunfermline,  Fife, June 2021. Photography by Alan Kearns I will praise the Lord while I live;I will sing praises to my God while…

Eternal Praise

Change of plans

It was my intention this week, to begin a series on Psalm 37 and to also write about the Prodigal son. however, I have had a change of plans…

Unfortunately my father had a pretty bad fall at the weekend, and has had a stay in hospital.

I thank God his injuries were not worse, and I’m pleased to report he is now home.

It has been a tough situation on all the family, so would very much welcome your prayers at this time.

As you can imagine, I have not had much time to write! in the next few days therefore, I will share some older posts of mine and posts from fellow bloggers who I am sure you will enjoy reading.

I hope that normal life, whatever that is, will resume again shortly and I can return to my keyboard.

In the meantime, I thank God that he is indeed in control. He has watched over us as a family, and I praise him for that.

If you are going through a difficult time at the moment, I can relate! I would love the opportunity to pray for you to, so do get in touch.

Have a fabulous day, whatever you are getting up to, and keep on keeping on! don’t allow a change of plans to derail your faith, and know that Christ is always with you.

Pray for People #SundaySuggestion

One of the best things about a church fellowship is the variety of the members. In virtually no other setting do you find people of such varying age or experience. Think about it, most of your friends are likely a similar age to you, or in the same season of life. In church though, you could just as easily be sat next to a young family or an octogenarian.

No matter what the age profile of your church, today I am suggesting you identify an individual or family and set about praying for them consistently throughout this week. You might choose someone you know well, or you may decide to select a family you have spent little time with. Either way, make them your prayer mission for the week.

People are generally very appreciative of prayer. I know I need a lot of prayer coverage, and so if someone offered to set about praying for me for a week, I’d be very glad of it.

People appreciate #prayer – I know I do! #Pray for someone this #Sunday #Bible #Jesus #Church

What would be even better though is to let them know. Don’t just pray for them at a distance, tell them that this is what you are doing. You can even ask them what is happening that week that you could specifically pray for. Use your phone or a notebook to write things down if your memory is not all that reliable.

You can pray for the spiritual health of the family, that God would bless their working lives, that the Lord would protect them from harm this week, and that the Holy Spirit would reveal God’s love to them in a new or deeper way. Pray for their health. Pray for their home. Pray for their time with God to be productive and fruitful.

Do not merely ask for things though, remember to thank God for them and for their place in your fellowship.

Listen to what God is telling you too, as He may have a word of encouragement for them.

If you really feel led to, you could keep a prayer journal over the course of the week and present it back to them the following Sunday. What a blessing that would be!

I hope that this exercise will not just be a blessing to them, but it will encourage and uplift you also. What a privilege it is to stand alongside someone and invite the Lord into their lives.

#Pray without ceasing – #Bible #Jesus #Prayer #Christianity

Have a great day and a productive week in prayer!