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

Dear Friends

I may have shared before, how a lot of my hymnody (the awareness of the words and tunes of many different hymns and choruses) was picked up as a child when hearing my mum singing whilst washing up at the kitchen sink. Indeed once songs and words are in your head, it’s hard to dislodge them (as I have experienced when working alongside dementia sufferers who when encountering familiar songs from the past, are transported to a praise filled place). This morning, when outdoors with Helen, we were surprised to discover how much of the hymn “Praise to the Lord, the almighty, the King of creation” we were able to recall when we attempted to remember it.

Today the Church of England remembers the life of Christina Rossetti, who as a poet may at first, seem a strange person to commemorate. Usually, we are presented with a list of saints, martyrs or notable Christian leaders who have had a significant impact on the wider church. However, the arts (in their different creative forms) on many occasions lift the soul and draw attention to the ultimate Creator. And indeed two of her more famous works – "In the bleak midwinter” and" Love came down at Christmas" – were subsequently put to music, and have been a significant blessing to Christians over the generations.    

Whenever the next chorus or hymn that pops into your head, and whatever it is, cherish it, and give thanks to the composer, the author  and the ultimate Creator too!

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.

Simon

Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (Which means Teacher). John 20:16

Dear friends,

Hope you all are doing well, back to routines, but with the new prospects, new hope, and new plans. Of course we all heard, read, and reflect on all gospels regarding the resurrection of Christ our saviour. There are many characters in the Bible, I do admire them a lot, but fewer of them really impacted and left the footprints in my life. Don’t worry friends I know you all are very busy; therefore, I will share with you only one character and that is the character of Mary Magdalene.

According to Luke 8:1-3, Mary Magdalene was one of several women who travelled with Jesus and his disciples and gave them material support. She was a very faithful follower of Jesus Christ not only in Christ’s life but even after His death. She was the first woman Jesus appeared after his resurrection. There are many things and facts about her life but for me her faithfulness with Christ leads her to see Christ. She was very faithful even when everyone was hopeless and they were living in a fearful and hopeless situation, she was still looking for Christ. Wow!!!!!!

Mary found a live Christ in her life; however, she did not recognise her until Jesus called her by name. Before that she was upset, overwhelmed by grief and on the top, she could not even find the dead body of her Christ. It seems too much to take, how many times we are in the same situation, or we could relate our world in this situation or someone we know well. One thing after another, things and troubles seems never ends in our life, tears just don’t stop and in this situation. We some time become very hopeless and don’t recognise the person who can really comfort us and love us. Mary was talking with Jesus but did not recognise until He called her by name.

Friends, here Jesus called Mary by her name but in Isaiah 43:1, tell us that we all have been called by our name too. It reads..

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; 
I have called you by name, you are mine.

No matter what situation we are in, God is with us, He redeemed us and called us His own.

So, be encouraged and be happy.

Rev Kathreen Shahbaz