Monday 29 September 2008

Bread upon waters


Yesterday in our second MSC Exploration gathering someone was reminded of Ecclesiastes 11:1 & 6.


Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will find it again...
...Sow your seed in the morning,
and at the evening let not your hands be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well

Well, I know that God gives daily bread because Jesus tells us to ask for it, and I think that was yesterdays daily bread for us as we met together to explore MSC's. We would all love to have the detail, know whath we are doing, not to have to engage in this way - but we are casting our bread upon the waters and we are sowing our seed. We have to trust that the Lord will lead us as he has promised and not be put off or demoralised by the messy and challenging nature of this time.

We are beginning to create multiple places for people to belong:


  • the 9am Holy Communion

  • men getting together for encouragement and accountabilty in 2's & 3's

  • small groups (housegroups)

  • central gatherings

  • prayer meetings

  • MSC exploration

these and other areas are good enough for people to have belonging and encounter the Lord. We just need to come as open people expectant that daily bread will be given to us.

Saturday 27 September 2008

If



If I was going to start something new I would





  • Pray


  • Find out who else wanted to do it with me


  • Spend time with them praying (and eating)


  • Work with the idea of UP-IN-OUT always in mind


  • Check my plan with the church leader for accountability


  • Get on with it


  • Be prepared for it to feel like it is impossible at times


  • Trust that when God calls he equips