Dear all,
May I begin by thanking you all so much for your prayers and support over the past few weeks. As many of you know, I have been quite poorly and in some pain. Whilst I am still undergoing tests, I have to say that the pain is much better and I am really pleased to be back at work (yes, honestly!).
I look forward to seeing you all again soon in our fellowship meetings on Wednesday lunchtime at Bethnal Green and Friday morning at Limehouse. The faith rooms have now had a lick of paint (thanks to Andy and Paul!) and are looking great! If you are new to the meetings, please feel free to come along or drop me an email and we can have a chat if you would like to know more about the CPA at Tower Hamlets.
Before I sign off I would like to share something with you from my experience over the last few weeks…
Enforced rest can be a blessing (I am sure you all agree) but after the first few days we begin to miss those things we are prevented from doing and resent the intrusion of unplanned restrictions enforced on us – we have to rely on others for help (something I am not very good at) and life seems to be turned upside down for a while. Other than managing the daily family routine, the biggest disappointment for me was missing two adventure races I had planned to take part in in Derbyshire; the ‘Wild Warrior’ and ‘Mad Monk’ are the highlight of my year and I was absolutely devastated when I realised that I would miss these events. After much praying, questioning, reading and attempting to ‘work God out’, I read a passage which really stuck with me during this time of uncertainty and lack of control. I’d like to share it with you…..
“Father, Glorify your name”We were made for this!When God fashioned the first humans, he designed them body, mind, and soul so they could participate in his glory and share in his pleasure.If you’ve ever known that glory, either just sitting in his presence communicating with him or having just seen him use you to reveal himself to someone else, you know what I’m talking about. At such moments it seems time itself stands still. You feel so incredible that if you were made just for that one moment, your life would have had a wealth of meaning. “I was made for this.”And you were.Jesus knew that about himself. Faced with two choices, “Father, save me!” or “Father, glorify your name,” he chose the latter. He knew the only real glory existed in fulfilling the Father’s purpose in his life regardless of the circumstances. As much as he might have dreaded the agony of the cross, he knew he had come into the world for that moment. “Father, glorify your name.”This is the prayer the Father always answers. “Father, may the purpose for which you have created me and placed me where you have in the world be fulfilled completely.” It is the prayer that disarms our self-interest and asserts our trust that the Father who made us and who loves us so deeply knows us better than we know ourselves.We make this choice not one time for our entire lives, but in the immediacy of each situation we face. When I didn’t get the post I wanted or the medical diagnosis I hoped for: “Father, save me!” or “Father, glorify your name.”We face it when we’re the subject of malicious gossip or the object of someone’s selfish act: “Father, save me!” or “Father, glorify your name.”We confront it when we face people in need, the opportunity to speak the truth where it will cost us, or when we can take up the cause of the powerless: “Father, save me!” or “Father, glorify your name.”We engage it when the dark storm surrounds us, and when trials overwhelm us: “Father, glorify your name.”
God bless and hope to see you soon
Lara