Today’s ‘Guest Writer’ is Paul Canvin
When I was a youngster, lepers and leprosy always seemed to be really remote, as the disease was rampant a long while ago in a far-away country. As a child of the 60s, I could go to the doctor with any illness and simply get a pill that fixed my problems. So, it appeared to have little, if any relevance. Far more important was that Chesham United played the Amateur FA Cup Final in April 1968 in front of a crowd of 52,000 at Wembley (it would only have been 51,999 if I hadn’t gone). I didn’t notice that a flu pandemic killed between one and four million people that year. No masks, no social distancing and no hand gel - we thought that we were indestructible!
So, here I am, a few years on and was so focused on getting Kasamira (my daughter) married, looking after my father in law, after his wife died and getting my next job that I have largely missed the latest pandemic, like the last one. As Kasamira is happily married, my father in law is coming to terms with his new situation and the job market starts to move again, I realised that I just kept praying for things and, like the nine lepers, I hadn’t gone back to the Lord to say “Thank You”. Not only did she get married, the dentist fixed my broken teeth the day before so I wasn’t an embarrassment in the photos, my father in law is staring to take more of an interest in things and despite not working for ten months we have enough money to live on and plenty of DIY to keep me busy.
So – I would like to share a prayer with you from Crosswalk.com that you might like to pray to give you a more thankful focus rather than - Can you give me a new something or other? (Job, world peace, warmer weather on a Sunday in Longbridge during the service….)
Dear God,
Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives, thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over us. Thank you that You are able to bring hope through even the toughest of times, strengthening us for your purposes. Thank you for your great love and care. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you that you are always with us and will never leave us. Thank you for your incredible sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don't thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you've given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy!
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Before you go - I have another thing that I wanted to share with you, from the dim and distant past. I remember a sermon from about thirty years ago by a visiting preacher whose name I have forgotten:
There was a devout Christian that lived in a deep valley that was prone to flooding. One day the rain started to fall and the floodwater started to rise. His neighbours warned him to leave, but he told them that he knew that the Lord would save him.
The floodwater kept on rising and the fire brigade came to rescue him - but he sent them away and said that the Lord would save him and refused to leave.
Soon he was on the upper floor of his house as the bottom floor was completely submerged. A man in a boat went past and offered to row him to dry land - but he said the Lord would save him and refused to leave.
Soon he was on the roof and a helicopter was sent to lift him to safety - but he said the Lord would save him and still refused to leave.
Soon he drowned and went to Heaven. "Lord" he said "Why didn't you answer my prayers and save me". The Lord said "I sent a neighbour, a fire engine, a boat and a helicopter..."
So – give thanks to God for what you actually have, don’t assume that what you are asking for is what you need and then ignore what God is giving you.
You have probably guessed that this is one of my many failings – I know the solution and so cannot understand why I don’t get what I ask for – until a lot later!
Let me finish with some words from the bible:
Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Stephen writes:
On Sunday we resume our journey through the New Testament letter to the Ephesians. I will be sharing a message from chapter 4, perhaps you would like to read that chapter before Sunday morning, or even read all 4 chapters so as to be reminded of what we have discovered so far.
If you are coming to church on Sunday, may I remind you to dress appropriately for the cooler weather – perhaps even consider bringing a travel rug, the only stipulation is that you cannot leave it in the hall but need to take it home with you each week.