Dear friends

I wanted to share with you my experience and some thoughts I had during my visits to different churches as a part of my curacy training. 

During the introduction that Victor was giving about the churches he is in charge off, he started with the positive thoughts saying about the people who come regularly and their commitment towards church activities, their vision and their future’s plan. However, there are lots of problems too but the way the Vicar was explaining to us it was very inspiring, positive, and blessed. He was there to give good news amidst a lot of problems around the area he is in but still, still had a smile and hope in Christ. 

Church congregations were very positive and full of hope too, I think because the church leader was very hopeful and positive. If you are in a leading position not just as a leader of the church but leader of your house, job or in any other position. Friends, remember, with God there are no hopeless situations but because we are human, we have grown hopeless about them. It’s when there is nothing more, we can do that we start trusting God to do the impossible. The crisis we are experiencing today, may be a blessing in disguise; an opportunity to experience God’s ‘unfolding grace’ and a greater degree of God’s power at work in our life. As we all were reminded about God’s provision during the madness. Also, I think that when we are under pressure, our faith grows, and God knows exactly how much pressure to apply to let us get to a different place. 

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed… So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-17)

May, God will continue to bless the work of our hands and His favour will be upon us; in Jesus’ mighty name I pray.
Have a blessed day.

Rev Kathreen Shahbaz

Dear Friends 

Last Sunday, as we started a new series looking at the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness and focussed on their propensity to grumble.We reflected how we might have a variety of reflex answers when responding to the question “how are you?” which may not always show us in the best light. However, rather than half-hearted responses such as “OK” or "not bad”, which perhaps focus on an absence of negatives, we were encouraged to look to the positives. The phrase “I am blessed” has come into greater usage recently by some celebrities,  not least when used with quasi-religious but vague sentiments relating to a “higher power”. However for us Christians, I would want to encourage us, if not actually to use the words, to hold dearly to the truth that we are blessed in and through our relationship with Jesus our Lord - a truth that then places other concerns into some greater form of perspective.

I wrote last time, concerning the influence of songs learnt back in the day, both in Sunday school, and through the choruses that my mum used to sing (and may well still do!). Here’s another: 
“Count your blessings,  name them one by one, …
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done” 
…an encouragement to focus on our blessings, not just when on a high, but (as the chorus starts):
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

So, friends, how are you doing today?

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.

Simon

Dear friends,

I hope you all are doing well. I had a polite reminder last week from my best friend that I have the power  to overcome all my negative feelings. When we were worshipping on Sunday singing the song: 

“I’ve got the power; you’ve got the power”

We all have the power to make a difference in this world of ours. When we were singing that song, I have had a feeling of confirmation and reminder that we all have the power from God to defeat all the negative thoughts, things really hurt us and worries we have for ourselves and for our family. We all have the power to overcome in the name of the Lord, and since it is voting day today, a reminder for all of us that, we all have power to choose the right person for the right reason for the right place.

Once we know we can make a difference we can use our power to make the right and wise decision and we all can use our power for the right purpose.

We just also make sure we don’t abuse the power we have because the power we have has been given to us through Christ our saviour.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3)

Prayer: Father God, we thank you for opening the eyes of our understanding to the authority that we have as your children. Help us to always walk in that power and authority. Amen

Don't Let the Devil steal your Joy.
Have a blessed, safe and powerful day in Christ.

Rev Kathreen Shahbaz