Thank the Lord for winter

I'm reading a cracking book at the moment: Grace People by Michael Baughen. In it he traces God's covenants from Genesis right through Scripture. So I've recently been thinking about the 'Creation covenant' in Genesis 8 v 22:

'As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.'

I've always loved the seasons, because they're such a physical reminder of God's faithfulness. They also mean that Harvest and Christmas and Easter keep coming round again, like old friends, with all the fantastic opportunities they provide to thank God and tell others about Him.

But it suddenly occurred to me this week that God's creation covenant means I should also be thankful for the nights getting longer, evenings darker and clocks soon to change. This is a tricky time of year for me, especially since my depression is back in deep measure (which is why this is my first blog for two months). As winter comes, I and many other depressives fear that our minds will grow darker too. But the coming darkness can be a reminder as well - that God is keeping His promise to all creation. Until that wonderful day when Jesus returns, 'summer and winter, day and night will never cease'. How good to be reminded of the faithfulness of our God!

Mirror, mirror

What does it mean to be made 'in the image of God'? (Genesis 1 v 27) I recently read that this means that God's people are to be like mirrors, reflecting God's image to the world around us.

* What is God like? - look at His people to see His reflection.
* How does God feel about poverty, or greed, or injustice? - look to see how Christians react.
* What matters most to God? - look to see how His people spend their time and money.

In children's and youth work, I'm always trying to help people to be Bible-centred - to teach God's Word faithfully, and to allow it to shape the way we work with young people. But our 'teaching' must be matched by our 'reflecting'. Paul taught this to a young leader nearly 2000 years ago:

'Watch your life and doctrine closely.' 1 Timothy 4 v 16

It's just as true today. What kind of mirror are you? What kind of mirror am I?

Character building

There's an interesting article on the BBC news website at the moment about whether it's possible to build character. You can read it here.

The assumption of the article goes as follows:

'What makes people do the right thing rather than the wrong one? What makes us bad or good? The answer is a mixture of our genes, our parents and our peers - these are the ingredients of our character.'

Hmm... Doesn't that imply that we are not responsible for any flaws we may exhibit? It's not our fault - it's our genes, parents, friends... The Bible says otherwise. My pride, selfishness and laziness all grow from my sinful nature. But wonderfully, God is at work in His people, by His Spirit, to make them more like His Son.

'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.' Galatians 5 v 22-23

Now that's what I call character building!

The three groanings

I've just been doing some typesetting for Explore Bible reading notes. I found the following comments on Romans 8 v 18-27 so inspiring, that I had to copy them here!

Paul is inviting believers to stop concentrating on present problems and fix their sights instead on future glory. That’s where the three groanings come in—they are not grumbling kind of groanings, but longing-for-glory groanings.

CREATION GROANS (v19-22)
The creation around us is in a terrible state. Man’s sin has ruined what was created perfect. It is groaning in pain, like a woman in childbirth (v 22). But why is it groaning like this? Because it is longing for the future. Even the creation is straining its neck, eager for the time of freedom and glory for the sons of God (v 19, 21). The groans are evidence that glory is ahead!

BELIEVERS GROAN (v23-25)
Of course we aren’t perfectly happy yet. We’re not yet in full possession of the salvation that is ours! We must wait patiently, expectantly, confidently (that’s what ‘hope’ means, v 24). Christians have the ‘firstfruits’ (v 23)—the Holy Spirit in us is the down payment of the full harvest; but we groan in painful longing to know the full glory and freedom of sons of God.

HOLY SPIRIT GROANS (v26-27)
In struggling we’re actually in tune with the Spirit of God! If we think we should be on cloud nine all the time we’ve got it wrong—the Holy Spirit is groaning along with us as we struggle in prayer, hardly knowing how to cope and what to pray in our sin-soaked environment. He understands, He helps us, He secures God’s approval of our feeble cries. But it won’t be too hard—pray through v 18 until you agree!

Isn't that brilliant - and SO encouraging! You can find out more about Explore Bible-reading notes here.

A new identity

Today I got a new computer. A MAC Mini - very yum. The good news is that it came with different software than I've used before - and suddenly I can do exciting things like adding bold or italics to my blogs (my previous machine didn't let me do this for some reason).

But sadly, although my Mini MAC is new to me, it's not really new. One of my colleagues has been using it for months. And (again for a reason I don't fully grasp) we can't change the identity on it. So... every time I log in... instead of logging in as Alison, I now have to log in as Andre!

Hmm... It makes me glad that my identity in Christ isn't so fickle.

'Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.' 2 Corinthians 1 v 21-22

So... I guess I may have to get used to being called 'Andre' - but I'm thrilled that my relationship with God through Christ is certain and sure for all time.

Curse or cure?

This may be a well-worn way of explaining Jesus' death on the cross - but I came across it the other day, and hadn't heard it before, so thought it might be new to you, too.

When Jesus died on the cross, He was cursed:
'Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." ' Galatians 3 v 13

But we can get rid of the 'S' from curse, because Jesus defeated 'S'atan and dealt with 'S'in. As a result, Jesus becomes our cure. If we put our trust in Jesus, He makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven and for us to be friends with God.

The name 'Jesus' is often used as a swear word, a curse. But He came to die, to cure us from the results of our sin.
What is Jesus for you? Curse or cure?

How (not) to be me

I'm currently preparing a training seminar on 'How to be a great team member'. Unfortunately, when I tried to save my work on my trusty computer, it decided that this was too long a title to save - so it changed it to 'How to be a great team me'! After I'd stopped chortling, it struck me that this new title summed up exactly what I do NOT want to say:

• The danger when training is to unintentionally give the impression that people need to be just like me if they want to be great children's workers. If someone goes away thinking, 'I'll never be as good a storyteller as Alison', then I've failed.
• The great thing about teams is that everyone is different. Between us we bring a wide range of gifts and experience, that no one leader can have.

So here's a question to ponder (whether you're a team leader, team member, or both):
? What are some of the things that a team member can do, that a team leader can't?
Then take your answers and use them to thank and encourage anyone who works in a team with you.