You don't have to be a Pastor!

You don't have to be a Pastor to serve Christ! There are many people who feel that the way to respond to God's calling on your life is to become a Pastor - and this couldn't be further from the truth. God has need of his disciples in every avenue and community in the world. God needs people to serve him in schools, hospitals, police stations, commercial enterprises, prisons, old age homes, grocery stores, banks, taxi ranks, shopping malls, gyms, and so on.

Of course, there are some people who are called to serve Christ in the church, to equip the saints for service and to encourage the body of Christ - but this is not everyones calling. Perhaps we should stop worrying about what other people are called to do and ask God to reveal what he NEEDS us to do for him.

Ephesians 4:16 - "He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."

·         “Each of us can reach out with Jesus in our own ways, through our vocations.” – Scot McKnight 

Living in Grace

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Don't drag your feet

There are so many people who want to leave a mark on this world or who want to make a difference in their community, but they keep procrastinating. They have lofty ideals, but never put them into practise. We should all remember that time is short and we should begin to make changes one step at a time. 

If we drag our feet and wait for another day, we may not get another chance.

“If you want to leave your footprints on the sands of time, do not drag your feet.” – Dr Abdul Kalam

James 4:14 - How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

Living in Grace

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Love crosses the street

“What happens when love crosses the street?” – Rudy Rasmus (World Methodist Conference - 2016)

This question has such a strong challenge for us as a Christian community. When we love all people we should be willing to cross the 'street' to help them out or to draw alongside them. It reminds us of the story of the Good Samaritan, who was willing to cross the street (religious stigma, culture norms etc) in order to help someone out. If you haven't read that story for a while, then read it in Luke 10.

Are you willing to cross the street to help one of your neighbours if they are in need? 

Who could this imply in your life today?

Luke 10:33-34 - “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. ³⁴ Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them.

 

Living in Grace

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Waiting for the Sun

Since I have been doing a lot of running lately, I have seen many a sunrise. There is something special about jogging in the glow of dawn waiting for the sun to rise. It is almost as if the sole purpose of my run could be to wait for the sun and not the actual exercise part.

Waiting for the sun to rise reminds me of how we sometimes have to wait for God to respond to our prayers and cries. I am convinced that when we "wait for the SON", he will not disappoint us. He will not let our prayers go unanswered.

Habakkuk 3 - His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from his hands, where his awesome power is hidden. Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind. When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. He is the Eternal One! 

Don't be discouraged if you feel as if you are waiting a long time. God does hear our prayers.



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Don't forget what Goes before!

As we mark Ascension Day in the Christian community, it is easy to get like the disciples were on that day - dazed and confused. We can end up day-dreaming, looking into the sky, without realising the task that Christ has given to us. If we read the verse before the actual Ascension, we will note that Jesus sends the disciples out as "witnesses" - in the power of the Holy Spirit. That is the great task and we need to remember that!

⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
⁹ After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him." - Acts 1:8-9

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Time waits for no person

"You may delay, but time will not!" - Benjamin Franklin

"Time and Tide wait for no man." - Geoffrey Chaucer

It struck me again this morning, that I will never have control of Time in the sense that I can't speed it up or make it slow down. Time is time, and it will wait for no one. However, what I do have control over is how I use the Time given to me and how I direct my diary. This is what I will be held accountable for in the end. If I procrastinate today, then I miss an opportunity to use my time effectively.

Proverbs 4:10-11 (Message) -  Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life. I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road. I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns.

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The answer?

How do you feel about Adam Hamilton's quote:


“Jesus Christ is the solution to the deepest longings of the human heart. He is the answer to the most serious problems that plague our society.”

In a world where things are getting more and more out of hand, I believe that Jesus is the solution to our problems. A community who are changed by the Love of Jesus will bring a whole new outlook to our world. What do you think?

Hebrews 9:26 - But instead he sacrificed himself once and for all, summing up all the other sacrifices in this sacrifice of himself, the final solution of sin.

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What do you think?

I am leading a series of Bible Studies at our District Synod over the weekend and I have been given this theme - "Igniting Mission - Breaking Barriers." I would love to have some of your thoughts on this topic if you have a minute. Perhaps I could be so forward to ask you to reflect on these questions and if you can give me your opinion I would value your time.

1. What does Mission (being a Witness for Christ) mean to you?
2. How do you think we can 'Ignite' Mission in our local contexts?
3. What are you currently doing in your Church that you feel has "caught alight" and is being effective for the Gospel?
4. How can we break barriers in our communities through our Witness for Christ?

Thanks for helping out. Please reply to the email address (delmelinscott@hotmail.com) or on the actual blog itself. In the meantime think on this quote:

Michael Green – “God’s church exists not for itself but for the benefit of those who are not yet members …and the church which lives for itself will be sure to die by itself.”

Acts 20:24 (Message) - What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

Living in Grace

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