[Thursday's Devotional] - Do

"Do whatever he tells you."
John 2:5 [NIV]

Sometimes God guides us by telling us what to do.

Will we do what He says?

As we do what God tells us to do, we get to know Him better.

There are many examples of this in the Bible.

In John 2, the people who did what Jesus told them to do saw water turned into wine

In the Old Testament, Naaman was healed when he bathed in the River Jordan as he had been told to do.

The walls of Jericho only came down when the Israelites followed God's instructions to walk around it, and sing and shout.

God tells us what to do in the Bible, through a whisper, through other people or circumstances. It is good to check these against what the Bible says, and to talk about it with friends and other Christians.

To Reflect

How do you feel about doing what God calls you to do?

We all find it hard sometimes. If you are finding it hard to do what God is asking you to do, then talk to God about it. You may like to pray for His strength.

Sometimes it is hard to know what God is calling us to do. If you are finding it hard to hear what God is saying, then pray for His help to hear Him better.

Tim Norman

[Wednesday's Devotional] - See

"Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God'.

That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, "It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat."
Exodus 16:13-15 [NIV]

I was really moved to hear how God has provided for several people in this time of economic challenge. Through the foodbank, through anonymous gifts, and through surprising ways of there being "more money than month".

To reflect

As we see God's provision, we see that He IS God, whether it's food, money or anything else we need.

Perhaps you are thinking about something to be thankful to God for …thank Him.

Maybe you are looking for His provision …tell Him about your needs.

Maybe you're finding it hard to trust Him …ask Him to help you.

Tim Norman

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Follow

^"By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night"
Exodus 13:21 [NIV]

What an amazing picture of God's guidance!

We were once driving back into Rugby around twilight, and caught sight of the pillar of smoke rising from the Cemex tower. It seemed to glow, perhaps it was something to do with the sunset.

I was suddenly reminded of the way that God lead His people out of Egypt and towards the Promised Land.

They had no question that God was guiding them, and they knew that their destination was a good place. But the in between time was not an easy place to be. The challenge is to keep on trusting God.

Jeff Manion explores this difficult time in his book 'The Land Between'. The land between is a place to discover God's provision, though we may be tempted to complain about all sorts of things.

To Reflect

How is God providing for you at the moment?

How is God guiding you?

How do you feel about following God's leading?

Tim Norman

[Monday's Devotional] - Go!

"Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you."
Genesis 12:1b [NIV]

At the start of a new year, and a new chapter in the life of our church, I have been reflecting on some of the ways in which God has led his people and spoken to them.

Abram heard God saying something very dramatic to him. He was to leave the security of all he knew, living in one of the great civilizations of his day. Where would he go? He didn't know. But God told him that He would show him the way.

To Reflect

Sometimes we don't know what will happen in the future, but we have a sense of the way that God is leading us.

The more we follow God, the more we find that we can trust Him as we know He is with us.

There are times when this feels easy as we know God close to us.

Whether we know God close to us, the challenge is to choose to trust Him.

Tim Norman

[Friday's Devotional] - In the Mirror

I just finished reading the story of Ian Morgan Cron, an Episcopal priest in USA who grew up with a father who suffered from Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), and the story of his journey to emerge from the shadow this left on his life.  The book is called Jesus, My Father, The CIA and Me and it is written with a huge amount of grace and self-knowledge which makes it very readable.

NPD is not very common, but I think that many people have narcissistic tendencies which are not recognised – and generally, although we talk a lot about humility, it is not so often that we come across it on a daily basis.

Perhaps it is time for a look in the mirror to see yourself as others see you (and more importantly to search your heart which is what God sees).  It is common for people to have a false understanding of our identity in Christ.  Perhaps you would like to take a moment to see your true reflection as a child of God – if so, look here

Only by understanding who we are and why we are, can we achieve real peace of mind and avoid the lies that the world would force upon us.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known 
1 Corinthians 13:12 [NIV]

Dave MacLellan

[Thursday's Devotional] - Who You Lookin' At?

Have you noticed how much we love to watch other people?  With reality TV shows offering us constant surveillance of "the public" and "celebrities", we are keen to watch them going into melt-down or striking up dysfunctional relationships with their fellow inmates.   We feast on their frustration, tiredness, drunkenness, jealousy, spite and selfishness in a way that is surely reminiscent of the gladiators in Roman times or the people watching public executions in the 18^th century.

There is also a tendency to be judgemental of others when we feed on a diet of reality TV or spend our lives looking at others on the covers of magazines or in the pages of newspapers.  It is all too easy to compare ourselves with others and find ourselves mentally assessing whether they are "better" or "worse" than us as if we are all positioned on a ladder of morality (or beauty, or talent or popularity).  Perhaps you imagine are 3 rungs of the ladder lower than her, but 5 rungs higher than him?  How liberating it is that God doesn't have a "pass mark", we are not to view our lives as an exam where good deeds push us up the ladder and bad deeds drop us down.  Life is not a game of Snakes & Ladders, here is what Paul says in Ephesians:

God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven.  God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.  You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own.  It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.  God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are.  Ephesians 2:6-10 [CEV]

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus, your own son, to die for us and pay the price for our sin.  Help us not to listen to the judgements of this world and to resist the temptation to judge others.  Fill us with your Spirit and help us to grow in faith and knowledge of you.  Amen.

Dave MacLellan

[Wednesday's Devotional] - The Condemned

Are we quick to condemn?  Are we in tune with the mind of God?  Do we remember the way Jesus spoke to the poor, the unpopular and the outcasts?

Today I want to think about the situation where Jesus was presented with a "woman caught in adultery" – if you have time and would like to re-read this passage click on the above link.

Jesus was teaching in the Temple Courts when the woman was brought to him by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.  We see the wisdom of Jesus in the way he dealt with the situation – although they tried to make Jesus agree to the punishment the law demanded, he found a way out.  

A few things to ponder:

• Jesus challenged those present to examine their own lives before casting the first stone.  Are we without sin? No!  Then think before you condemn
• The only person entitled to throw the first stone (the one without sin) was Jesus – but he didn't.  Even if you are entitled to condemn someone, should you?
• The elders were the first to leave.  Youth is sometimes zealous and age often brings wisdom and experience.  Can you use your wisdom to walk away from a situation where someone is being condemned?

Satan is the one we know as the accuser – Paul tells us there is no condemnation for us:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.  And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 
Romans 8:1-4 [NIV]

Lord, help me to understand my identity as under the law of the Spirit, not under the law of sin and death.  Help us to ignore and stand up against the lies of Satan.  Amen.

Dave MacLellan

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Consumer Culture

One of the ways the internet has transformed our shopping experience is the useful and invaluable tool of checking other peoples' "feedback" scoring or ratings.  If I want to book a hotel, buy a book or a DVD, or almost any transaction you can think of, there will often be a way in which I can check what other people have said about their "consumer experience".  

Personally, I have found tripadvisor a very useful tool in booking a holiday or choosing a restaurant or a hotel – but I have also learned to recognise the signs of grumpy old men and women (some not so old!).  We live in a consumerist society and our expectations continue to rise based on a diet of TV programmes like Hotel Inspector and others which seek to point out the failings of any establishment they visit – only the worst being worthy of airing on prime time TV.

One of my big fears is that the church is seen as a consumer experience.  I don't know of a website where you can score your local church for cleanliness, friendliness, worship quality and atmosphere – but I do sense that people are making these judgements in their heads as they grumble about the failings of this or that person, or the badly organised group they have become a part of.

Have we forgotten that we are called to follow Jesus and to serve, not to be served?  Do we give as often as we take or are we always in debt as a result of our draining the resources of our church without "topping them up" when they are running low?

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 [NIV]

Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do your will.  Amen.

Dave MacLellan

[Monday's Devotional] - Throw it Away!

A recent report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers recently made headline news in the UK (a rare event for the IMechE!).  Apparently our throw-away society disposes of around half of the food that is produced (at least in the USA and Europe).  Supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, shops and homes are all part of the problem – as well as our love of strict adherence to "best before dates", and our love of perfectly formed and uniformly shaped fruit and vegetables.  Also, "Buy One Get One Free" encourages people to buy more than they need, and the "free" one may go out of date and be thrown in the bin before it is needed.  It's not only food though that we are wasting:- phones, TVs, computers and other electronic gadgets seem to have a life time of less than 5 years now before they are replaced by the newer/better/faster model with better resolution and more storage.

The transitory nature of our relationship with items like food and technology should not pollute the way we think about people or God.  God is permanent – something that we can't imagine.  He was and is and is to come.  And our time on earth, short as it is, should be focused on relationships, not on food and "stuff".

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6: 7-10 [NIV]

Lord, help us to be responsible with the world you have given us.  Help us to share our food, possessions and talents with those who have nothing.  Keep us from greed and the temptation to always want more.  In Jesus name, Amen.

Dave MacLellan

[Friday's Devotional] - The Perfect Church

My final quote of the week comes from a much loved Mr Milward (Senior) and although I know this piece of wisdom did not originate from him, it is the advice he gave to his son (my husband Chris) many years ago when Chris was looking to join a different church.

Mr M wisely told his son "If you do find the perfect church don't join, because you'll spoil it!".

Chris and I had the privilege of visiting M2O on Sunday 18^th November 2012 while catching up with family in Rugby. It happened to be Mission Sunday, however there was a surprise announcement from the vicar Martin, after 22 years at that church, the Lord had a new mission for him and the news came as a great shock for many present.

Martin and Jackie, led by the spirit and with the support of church members, have enabled M2O to grow into the church it is today, although of course not perfect, it is an amazing testimony to their hard work and love for God and his people. The changes ahead will be challenging for all who are part of the M2O body, however, I feel it is an awesome privilege that other churches will be shaped and modelled as Martin draws on all he has learnt and experienced during his time of growth with the changing family of M2O.

This time last year I was praying for my church family in Rugby and the changes they faced as the original St Matthew's Church building closed its doors. It was a sad day for many as the building had been part of a journey of faith for most of us, for me since I was christened there in 1964, for others long before that. A framed photograph of the building is proudly displayed in our home in Surrey, a precious gift from my mum.

As I prayed for my home town church last January the Lord gave me this picture - His hand was closed and safe inside he held the body of M2O, he then lovingly, yet purposefully, shook his hand from side to side and people scattered to the east and the west (God had appointed other places and purposes for them) when the dispersing was complete he opened his hand and those remaining were just as he ordained. Little did I know that the vicar would be one of those dispersed to pastures new!

I ventured to pastures new 2½ years ago, it was God's perfect plan and the new pastures have brought difficulties and joys, its called life! Above all, I know I am exactly where God wants me and am following His lead. Although it may seem a time of uncertainty for the family of M2O, be assured, God sees the bigger picture. Now is a time for earnestly listening to God's leading and, whether he leads you to stay or to pastures new, remember.... "If you do find the perfect church don't join, because you'll spoil it!".

Dawn Milward

[Thursday's Devotional] - A Piece of Your Heart

One quote I saw as a status update on Facebook recently made me really consider how I sometimes react to certain people and situations.

"It is better to give somebody a piece of your heart than a piece of your mind."

I would like to think that I seldom say an unkind or critical word, but of course I would merely be fooling myself. Some habits from my 'old nature' are still a thorn in my side, however, I am making a conscious decision to bite my tongue (or get a big ol' angel to grab hold of it) before I open my mouth. This is a change I am hoping God will bring about in 2013.

"Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone." Proverbs 25:15 [NIV]. Gentle speech does what it seems at first least capable of doing; it overcomes obstacles which are as bones that the strongest jaws would fail to crush. Proverbs 15:1 gives us a similar message.

In my own strength I find this hard but thankfully I have a helper. Over Christmas, my son visited with his girlfriend and we had a most wonderful time. Just before leaving he asked "Mum? Is there a ghost in this house?" I enquired why he thought there may be 'a ghost in my house' (I refrained from a vocal rendition of the famous Motown classic). He replied "It just feels like it", so I asked "What does it feel like?" he responded "It feels kind and good, a friendly ghost". Of course there is a ghost that lives in our home and it's not Casper! The Holy Ghost is in the house and produces the fruit of His spirit "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23) in our homes and in us.

I was greatly encouraged that in our house, and that of many of our friends, Jesus does not come out of the loft with the Christmas decorations and go back up at the start of the New Year. All year round 'God is in da house' and visitors feel his presence, it saddens me that many do not know his existence in such a personal way. As we share a piece of God's heart with others, rather than a piece of our own minds we bring a change to ourselves and others. As the carol testifies, 'where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in' to transform our hearts, our minds and our lives.

Dawn Milward

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Scraping the Barrel

Not long after becoming a Christian I watched a film called "Saved by the Light", I later read the book. It is the story of Dannion Brinkley from South Carolina who had a near death experience. Struck by lightning on 17^th September 1975 while on a telephone as a thunderstorm approached, Brinkley was clinically dead for 28 minutes and taken to a hospital morgue. Brinkley described many characteristic details of the near-death experience as well as certain unique ones. His account includes an out of body experience upon exit with extensive external observations, a tunnel passage, a meeting with a Being of Light (identified by some as Jesus), a high-speed detailed life review, including his experiences as a sniper in Vietnam, discussion of a life mission and a strong reluctance to return.

Whether his claims are factual or fraudulent, his life was transformed and he shares his story worldwide. One quote from this film has always stayed with me.

Once, after speaking to a church group about his life, a woman approached him with a look of puzzlement on her face. She had heard many people speak about God, she said, but never one quite like him.

"I'll bet you drink," she said.
"Yes ma'am," I do.
"And you obviously like women, don't you?"
"Yes ma'am, I do."
"Then I will say this, Mr Brinkley," she said giving him the evil eye. "When God was looking for prophets, he must have been scraping the bottom of the barrel to have found you."

"Yes ma'am" replied Brinkley, "he sure did."

I have always loved that response. As Dannion Brinkley said, sometimes God gets us by scraping the bottom of the barrel. He seems to want the meek and lowly, the people of simple faith with a childlike interest in life and salvation. Thankfully, however, many of us encounter God before we reach the very bottom.

I watched this film again before writing this devotional (it's available on YouTube) and another message penetrated my heart: "Who you are is the difference love makes". I am constantly encouraged that throughout the bible weak and ordinary people become vessels for a strong and extraordinary God. It is His love that makes the difference in our lives and, when we share it, the lives of others. Who will you be in 2013?

Dawn Milward

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Adventurous Prayer

Encouraged by some recent devotionals about prayer (a discipline I have to work on!) I recently read the story of how the '24-7' prayer ministry began and grew; the book "Red Moon Rising" by Peter Greig and Dave Roberts was being given out free at New Wine. It was awesome; I couldn't read it fast enough and for any folk who feel that prayer is boring I would invite you to read it too. I know this was an invitation given at M2O several years ago, along with a prayer room, and although I attended some prayer meetings I never actually read the book.

God spoke powerfully through the book about many things, including a season of change in my life and, outside, the winds of change began to blow physically as well as spiritually. I have been in my job for the last 2½ years and it has brought endless challenges, to say I have not enjoyed it would be an understatement, however God has told me to remain there. He spoke particularly clearly last summer when, knowing God had said 'wait', I was browsing the 'situations vacant' in the local paper.

Reading 'Red Moon Rising' the Lord confirmed a wind of change in my life, I believe 2013 will bring many huge changes. One quote from the book really stood out for me, written by Charles Studd, the youngest and most famous of three brothers all of whom played cricket for Eton, Cambridge University and Middlesex. Studd was born in Northants in1860 and died in the Belgian Congo aged 70; he gave up his passion for cricket for his greater passion:

"Some want to live within the sound
Of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop,
Within a yard of hell."

We all have our unique spiritual giftings, quite often our past misery becomes our ministry. In developing our prayer life we can intercede for those who are a yard from hell as we embark on the most amazing adventure, without even having to leave home, unless of course he calls us to.

If you feel you are not a natural prayer warrior, take heart, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." Romans 8:26.

Dawn Milward

[Monday's Devotional] - Giving Up

As we embark on a New Year I want to share with you a few quotes from various people that have encouraged me on my journey of faith. As many folk pose the question "What have you given up for the New Year?" this quote seemed very appropriate.

Martyr Jim Elliot (1927-1956), missionary to the Auca people in Ecuador, often expressed this classic piece of wisdom: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

There are a myriad of things that we can never possess in life; one of these, and the most significant one, is having ultimate control over our life. I will never forget a friend saying to me "If you don't think God has a sense of humour, tell him your plans!".

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, Jesus said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? Mark 8:34-37 [The Message]

This New Year consider 'giving up' to God daily, surrender your will, your character defects and those matters over which you have been avoiding God. This can't be done overnight, it's a process commencing with the seconds and minutes. It's about training. It's about listening to, and cooperating with, the Holy Spirit who dwells in us and continually desires to transform us and continue the good work he started.

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Dawn Milward

[Friday's Devotional] - Being Challenged by the Challenge

This week we have looked at the three scary possibilities that seem possible when we are facing a challenge. But there is in fact a 4th possibility. I didn't think of this possibility, it was suggested to me by the quiet inner voice that I have come to recognise as the Spirit of God, right after I had finished outlining to him in prayer the original 3 possibilities.

'Or, Sheila' he said 'You might just grow up'.

To be honest with you had it been anyone else who'd made this suggestion, I'd have poked them in the eye (or at least I'd have felt like doing so). In fact, I wasn't that impressed even to hear it from God. I would have preferred him to have said something along the lines of 'Goodness me, that's a very difficult challenge, poor you. Here's an unexpected windfall, take two weeks off and go to Barbados'. *Sighs* God never says those kind of things, not to me anyway!

But there you go, he's probably right, isn't he always? Any and every challenge affords us the opportunity to grow. And we only have two choices: take it or leave it. We can become bitter and angry and waste the opportunity to grow or we can say 'Right, what can I learn from this? How can I grow as a person? How can I turn this to good?'

This is why James told us to 'count it all joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds' Why? 'Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything' James 1:2-5

The reality for all of us is that 2013 will most likely be a mixture of all the possibilities (hopefully not too much of possibility 1 or possibility 3) but maybe, by the grace and presence of God, possibility 4 will prevail.

With love

Sheila Bridge

[Thursday's Devotional] - Facing the Challenge (3)

So far we have looked at two scary possibilities which face us when we are challenged: we might either crack up or mess up. This leaves possibility 3) we will give up.

For me, it feels like the jury is still out on this one. In relation to writing the dissertation and completing my studies, I don't know. Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. Or maybe I'll just have to accept it'll all just take a bit longer. What I have learnt (mostly from long distance bike rides) is that it's never good to count the miles between you and your destination. It's far better to count the miles already under your wheels and just focus on one day at a time.

In other words just do the task that's in front of you, to the best of your ability. Allow yourself to be pleased if, at the end of the day, you have done one thing well, even if there were ten other possible things you could have done.

When I was baptised I was given a verse by the elders at my church: 'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up'. Galatians 6:9. This verse promises us that appropriate labour will eventually pay off. It is as inevitable as the fact that tilling the soil, planting the seed, and watering the ground will lead to a harvest. For a non-gardener like me, it often feels like there is nothing evitable in this process!

But I have to trust and simply put in the hard graft that is called for on each day, just enough, not too little nor too much … and leave the rest to God.

With love

Sheila Bridge

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Facing the Challenge (2)

Today we'll look at Possibility 2) I will mess up.

Possibility 2) is not actually a possibility at all: it's a given. You WILL mess up. The sooner you accept this, the better. The rate at which you will make mistakes will vary but probably you will do something wrong, something that upsets someone else, at least 3 or 4 times a week... but hey, everyone else makes mistakes at the same rate so 'forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us'.

Accepting the reality that you will make mistakes is not complacency on your part or excuse making. It is simply a refusal to accept that perfect is possible, achievable or even desirable. What was it Mary Poppins said? 'Practically perfect people never permit sentiment to muddle their thinking'. Rubbish! Your sentiments and feelings will inevitably muddle your thinking and so sometimes with the best possible motive you will still manage to do the worst possible thing!

Don't be too disheartened. Forgiveness and grace are at the heart of what we believe. You too can be forgiven.

But remember not to get too steamed up about other people's failures either. 'Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. BE KIND and compassionate with one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you' Ephesians 4:31-32

With love (and apologies in advance for all my mess ups)

Sheila Bridge

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Facing the Challenge (1)

Today I'm going talk you through the first of the three scary possibilities that face all of us when we are dealing with significant challenges:

Possibility 1) I will crack up

This is clearly the scariest of all possibilities and the time when it feels the most likely is around 3am if we are awake and tossing and turning over our concerns. 'How will I … pay the bills? Manage the workload? Fill my days?' These questions are hard enough at the best of times but when, to cap it all, you can't sleep (and let's face it, any stressful challenge does tend to disturb our sleep pattern) it can all feel overwhelming.

So how will you avoid 'cracking up'? Partly it will come down to taking care of yourself, making sure you get time off, learning to accept that there are things you cannot change, lowering your expectations and sometimes, when necessary, taking the appropriate medication.

It will also help if you can learn to 'eat pie'. What do I mean by this?

This particular piece of wisdom has been gleaned from Men in Black 3 and is given by Agent K to Agent J at the point where imminent global disaster (AKA the end of the world) seems inevitable and neither character knows what to do about it, so one says to the other: 'Let's go and eat pie'. Sure enough, after a sufficiently long pie-eating pause the solution to the crisis emerges. So what does 'pie-eating' mean? (apart from the obvious)

Well, it means stopping and doing something completely different and totally absorbing to take your mind off the pressing crisis and waiting for a way forward to emerge.

It might be riding a bike, knitting a shawl, going for a long walk, reading a book, having a long conversation with someone you love.

Jesus taught his disciples to 'eat pie' regularly. Often he did it by literally pushing them out into the lake: 'Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him, while he dismissed the crowd' Matthew 14:22. In other words, 'push off you lot, you've done enough today'. And again, 'Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake' Mark 3:7

Where do you go to be re-fuelled? Refreshed? Encouraged? Go regularly with Jesus to that place and you won't crack up.

With love

Sheila Bridge

[Monday's Devotional] - What Challenge are You Facing?

Well today is the day everything really gets back to 'normal'. This is the first Monday after all the Christmas and New Year festivities, and I wonder what you find yourself facing in the week ahead? Or in the coming month? Or even in the coming year?

Of course, there will be challenges you don't yet know about but what are the challenges you know you are facing right now? Maybe you are in a new job, or still struggling with a job you dislike. Perhaps you are coming to terms with a loss: a broken relationship or bereavement. Maybe you know that the year ahead is going to be full of difficulties or challenges that you have not previously experienced.

At the moment I feel like I am facing a mountain of a situation. Mine is called 'How to finish your final year of training and write your dissertation in a period of interregnum'! As all m2o readers will be aware, Martin our vicar will be moving on to a new job at the end of January. For us, as a congregation, this is yet another huge change - but I hope my reflections this week will help us find ways to face both our own personal challenges and the challenges we face as a church. Your personal 'mountain' will undoubtedly have a different label to mine, but if you are facing a difficult situation there are three possibilities that probably feel hideously likely:

1. You will crack up

2. You will mess up

3. You will give up.

This week we'll take a look at each of these in turn but, don't worry, I plan to get you to the end of the week on a more positive note. So stick with me!

With love

Sheila Bridge