Tag Archives: read

Welcome Or Not?

Have you ever been to a church where you sat through the service and then left feeling you were not welcome – because nobody took the time to speak to you? I’ve been to some churches like that. Sadly churches like this stick in the memory. I’ve also been to others when they have welcomed me with smiles and friendly conversations. I remember those churches too – for far different reasons. Recently I was talking to a young woman. Part of her job involves going around to various churches telling them about the work she is doing in teaching the … Continue reading →

Is it Time to Make Friends?

Timing is important when making friends. We must be ready to make friends and open up to others. Years ago my husband and I went along to a church near where we lived. The people were so friendly, they overwhelmed us. We never went back. At that time we were still on our journey back to the Lord and we were not ready to be swamped with friendliness or commit to others. Back then such friendliness was all too much. It frightened us off. When we planned to move house, any number of people told us stories of people who’d … Continue reading →

Laziness part 4- In Service and Church Life

Moving house and church can be a time to take stock and review what activities God would have us involved in, so we found. Maybe you have too? Or do you think you’ve done your bit and it’s time to retire from God’s service? Since my husband retired from work, which prompted our move, we could have used it as an excuse to retire from serving God in our church as well. But God’s work doesn’t have an age when we must or should retire. So we knew we needed to be doing something but what? Instead of jumping in, … Continue reading →

God’s Spoilt Children

We’ve probably all met spoilt children. How does a spoilt child act? They are demanding selfish, insisting on their rights and their own way and show little regard for the feelings of others. But what about ‘God’s spoilt children’ as a friend of mine calls them. ‘God’s spoilt children’ who are they? So often I hear from pastors and others in full time ministry about the expectations laid upon them by others. Sadly, I don’t just mean those outside the church who come knocking at the door at all times of the day and night, bringing their needs. Of more … Continue reading →

Making The Old New Again

Church music can create problems, largely because everyone has their own ideas about what is good and appropriate music for church and what is not. Just take a look at the forum on church music and see how different people’s ideas are just within our families.com community. I admit that though I like the newer songs written for church, I also appreciate and love to sing some of the older hymns like, ‘And Can it Be,’ ‘I Cannot Tell,’ and ‘To God Be The Glory,’ etc. What is interesting is when the old becomes new again -in other words, when … Continue reading →

Finding the Right Church – Part 2

Yesterday I started a blog about criteria for finding the right church -what it should be like. This is for us how it worked out in practice. When I left you yesterday, my husband and I had just walked into a church in an area where we thought we might possibly move to. It wasn’t the only area we were considering but one of several that we could afford. I found it daunting walking into a new church, where we knew no-one. But God provided. We were warmly welcomed by several people. We sat down. One of the first songs … Continue reading →

It’s Okay to Say No

Have you ever stuggled with someone in your church or community asking you to do a job you feel almost compelled to say yes to? I have. This week, within the space of ten minutes, my husband and I were asked by two people to undertake two different jobs within our church. We’ve been thinking for a while about what tasks God has for us in this new church. A couple of thoughts had surfaced but no clear direction, so we were still praying through the issue. Then the two phone calls came. In each case we found out what … Continue reading →

Unused Gifts

Have you ever given a person a gift and never seen them wear it or never seen them use it? I know I have. And it hurts to think it is not appreciated. When buying a gift for those I care about I put a lot of thought and effort into buying something I think the person would like. To never see it worn or used or displayed makes me feel that time and effort of choosing it was wasted. I imagine the Lord must feel like that too when He gives us gifts and they are not used. The … Continue reading →

What is Worship?

When was the last time someone showed you they loved you? How did you respond? God has shown us that he loves us by sending His Son to take the punishment that was rightfully ours. Because of this marvelous gift of grace, we should want to respond and to serve Him with our lives as living sacrifices, verse 1 God never makes mistakes. He never puts us in the wrong place. You are where God wants you to be. You are there because God has a job for you. Will you respond? As you look at your church and community … Continue reading →

Priorities and TLC.

TLC what does it stand for? Yesterday we saw T stands for Transformation. If our priorities need changing and we want to give our lives the right focus, then some things in our lives will need to be changed. L is for love. Christians should show love and be loving. God is love and as Christians we need to reflect godly qualities of which the greatest is love, 1 Corinthians 13:13 When assessing our lives, it is the love and the people that matter. If we look at Jesus, we see he was a people person. He cared about people, … Continue reading →