Coronavirus Reflections #5

A verse came on the daily calendar this week which it has been enjoyable to meditate more on:
to console the mourners in Zion—

'to give them a crown of beauty for ashes,

the oil of joy for mourning,

and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair.

So they will be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified'

Isaiah 61:3

I was particularly struck by the garment of praise and the oaks of righteousness.

Last Sunday was Easter and we had a sermon on the resurrection, we also met to study the book of Galatians.

On Easter Monday I planted some seeds in the garden so it will nice to see them grow and develop over the next few weeks if all goes well.

This week the prime minister has come out of hospital, thanks be to God, and is recovering at home. Our former pastor went to glory at the beginning of the week. Our prayer meeting reflected on his passing.

The bluebells are looking lovely in the woods. It is a blessing to have nice places to walk so nearby.

I've continued working by telephone all week, it seems to work very well and many people have good motivation for exercise at the moment with plenty of time and good weather.

It's strange really some things seem to be getting easier - the regular daily routine, the method for going around the supermarket doing two lots of shopping, the routine of evening phone calls but somehow this week has seemed more difficult for the lack of face to face interaction. It was disappointing but not unexpected that the lockdown has been extended for another 3 weeks.

Many churches are taking advantage of online opportunities, running short evangelistic courses, seeing more people at their meetings, online Sunday schools and holiday clubs. There have been several online sermons and blogs about 'Don't waste your lockdown'. There is more time for Bible study and prayer but there are also many distractions. How wonderful it would be to see a bright shining church emerge from this full of zeal and no longer lukewarm.

 

Coronavirus Reflections #4

It has been a beautiful sunny week. This lovely Easter weather makes me think back to the lovely sunshine we enjoyed a year ago at Easter when I was camping.

How much of life we never realised was a privelege - to go in and out as we please, to freely enjoy the countryside, meeting with friends, to be able to sit beside my mother on the sofa, gathering to worship God together.

Last Sunday we again met on Zoom with a visiting preacher speaking on Palm Sunday, then an afternoon Bible study on Galatians. In the evening I went to another church by Zoom with a sermon on the Philippian jailer. I find Zoom meetings much easier to be a part of. Watching youtube on my own it seems much easier to be distracted and loose concentration somehow.  The queen addressed the nation in the evening, only the fourth time she has done this in extraordinary times.

On Good Friday I watched a service in Bangor at the same time as my friend and then we had a Zoom meeting in the evening.

We've had the joy of seeing wonderful answers to prayer for healing. The prime minister was in intensive care for a few days this week with the virus. Many in the nation prayed. The Lord has restored His health. Another friend went into hospital but was very soon sent home to continue recovering. Hundreds are dieing each day in the UK and several nursing homes have a lot of cases. The government continues it's daily briefings.

This week I've worked at home all week. I'm glad to be able to speak to others on the phone and it's good to have purpose in the day. It's already noticeable though that the work Whatsapp group is much quieter. I emptied my clinic room on Friday moving out of the premises I rented.

I've seen Tesco's with huge long queues going round the car park and down the road this week. I was thankful to choose a time with no queue. Most things are in stock now although there are very few eggs - the only ones left were Duck eggs.

I've been getting lots of household cleaning done and jobs in the garden. I feel concern though about the need to spend more time with the Lord and learn the lessons of this situation. 

Today is Easter Sunday - we remember our Risen Lord - the same, yesterday, today and forever.

And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. Mark 16:4 Let's look up and see our God and what he will do to bring glory to His name.

Coronavirus Reflections #3

How quickly we adapt as humans. This isolation is becoming a new way of life, not that I would like it to continue any longer than necessary, it is so unnatural. God created us to be social beings and living in communities, not isolated ones and families. I hope we never forget the blessing of being able to be together after this.

Last Sunday morning service went well on Zoom with a remote preacher, we managed the same again on Tuesday evening. Isaiah 26 on Sunday and Peter being released from prison in answer to prayer on Tuesday. It's good to be reminded of the Sovereignty and trustworthiness of our God and that he answers prayer.

The reminder of the frailty of life and seriousnsess of the virus has continued this week. Daily deaths have been increasing rapidly. A man in his 60s from my friends church died yesterday. A lot of medical staff have died.

This week I went to a 21st birthday party on Zoom. I've also transitioned to working from home, covering patient lists by telephone.There have been a number of issues getting the IT set-up but the IT department has been overwhelmed by demand.

The shops are laid out for distancing with a new one-way system around Tesco. There was no queue to get in when I went, more evidence that things are settling into more of a routine.

Although the isolation is becoming more routine I feel it is important to use the time to seek the Lord and plead for His name to be glorified through this and the protection of many lifes temporarily and eternally. When this first happened I was so moved by how the finger of the Lord had gone out against us, I pray I wouldn't become hardened to that conviction.

The week has ended with beautiful sunshine so it has been lovely to be out in the garden. This morning is beautiful ready to worship the Lord on this Palm Sunday.

Coronavirus Reflextions #2

Another week has quickly past with more of what we could never have imagined becoming the norm. On Monday the country was put into 'lockdown'. Everyone must stay at home. Only essential journeys and work are allowed. You can go out for one form of exercise per day.

Sunny weather has been helpful giving opportunity to spend time out in the garden and not feel so restricted.

Last Sunday was difficult, my eyes kept overflowing contemplating the new routine of Sundays alone but with periods of online connection. The service worked well on Zoom and there were other live sermons to listen to in the evening. It is good we have the technology to be able to join together. We used it for Tuesday evening prayer meeting and a social time on Thursday evening.

We've been continuing with work but just telephone consultations now. I got a laptop on Friday to be able to work from home. The service is being reorganised as the physio department will soon be made in to a ward and many staff need to go out to rehab people in the community and get them out of the hospital.

Lots more people are coming down with the virus. It feels close when you actually know people with the virus and some key public figures such as Boris Johnson and Prince Charles have got the virus. Deaths and number of cases are rising quite rapidly now. The government is building large temporary hospitals in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

America has had a rapid rise of cases this week and Italy and Spain are still seeing many more deaths. The virus is affecting all the world. I think the stats this week were that a quarter of the world is in lockdown - Surely this is the hand of God.

The supermarkets are still very busy with restricted numbers entering at a time. This leads to long queues outside all spaced out by 2m. I queued for 25 minutes to get into Tesco at 6am yesterday!

It's amazing how quickly we adapt, getting used to online Sunday school and church and speaking with friends and relatives virtually. It's a good second best but never as good as being present in the same room or face to face.

I've been enjoying having time to put my 'house in order' by tidying up paperwork in the office. Somehow with so many deaths expected it makes me feel like I need to be organised if anyone was left to deal with my estate.

I've been reading a book by Martin Lloyd Jones on Psalm 73 called Faith on Trial which is very helpful. I personally feel challenged to truly make the Lord the priority in my life and to value those things I have neglected - prayer, the gathering of the church, hearing the word preached, opportunities to serve. Praying that the Lord will save many through this and bring glory to his name.

I was thinking this morning that apart from the eseentials how little work will be going on today, the Lord's day - it will be more of a day of rest around the world than it has been for many years. May that cause many to hear the word preached and be saved.

Coronavirus Reflections #1

What a week. Coronavirus has led to a life that we could never have imagined. 2020 was always spoken about as a futuristic time when life would be so different and it certainly feels like we are in a surreal world today.

There isn't a home in the country that has not had normal life interrupted. I'm restarting this blog partly as a way to process all that is going on and also I think it is important to record these events in practical and spiritual terms.

The virus has been around for about 2.5 months, initially starting in China. As the problem escalated and spread to the UK I had little realisation of the immense impact it would have on our lives.

Last Sunday we were at church joking with our older friends about the potential that they would be quaranteened. Little did we realise that by the end of the week schools, restaurants, pubs, cafes and gyms would all be closed and as many people as possible working from home. There are no GCSEs or A levels this year. Students have suddenly finished their degree courses, children suddenly finished school. No time for goodbyes.

Many of my colleagues have closed their osteopathic practices this week. I closed mine yesterday and will be moving out of the office space in the next few days.

Quickly we have had to embrace technology. Meetings have been held online assessing the significant impact of the virus on professional life. Patient appointments are all carried out by telephone. The church now has an active Whatsapp group and this morning we will have church on Zoom, some of the children have attended a virtual Sunday school. I no longer see my parents face to face as I used to nearly daily. Now I see them on a small screen. They, like so many others, are in isolation keeping safe and relying on others to bring their food and supply their needs.

How thankful I am that this is in a generation where we have the technology to remain connected.

I am a high risk carrier as I mix with so many people through continuing to go to work so I generally stay in isolation at home so as not to become a spreader.

I'm not sure the reality has kicked in about how serious this situation is. Worldwide the problem is rapidly escalating. Our deaths are almost exactly mapping the numbers in Italy but 2 weeks behind. Italy is struggling to cope and some awful stories are coming out of the health departments there.

The NHS is rapidly recruiting the retired, non-practising and final year students and acquiring as much space as possible to prepare for what seems an inevitable overwhelming demand on resources.

The health and science advisors have tried to hold back the spread of the virus by restricting movement. This strategy has been used with Italy but they are still in a terrible situation. The chancellor is pouring money into society in a way never seen before to help people to continue to afford to live. So many have lost work.

It is expected this situation could continue for months.This virtual, restricted way of life will soon become the norm.

This is a war situation. A worldwide war. Not country against country but every country against a virus. Many of us are being called up to serve our country and fellow citizens in the NHS. Many are being asked to preserve life simply by staying at home.

This is an unseen enemy. You don't know who are the asymptomatic spreaders. You don't know who will be most severely affected.

We need to respond with the seriousness that we would respond to war. Obeying the advice given to us to socially distance and isolate, not taking any risks. Praying for the safety of one another - those at risk, those serving on the frontlines. We know that many loved ones will be taken in the next few weeks.

I've wept several times this week - moved to see people closing their businesses, overwhelmed by the restrictions needed on society, stories of lives taken, sacrificies made and overwhelmed health workers - in summary, humbled before the hand of Almighty God.

I have been convicted about how glibly I read in the Bible about times when God judged the people and many died. Living in one of those situations is a harsh reality. In recent times I've been greatly concerned about the poor preaching in the churches and the lack of prayer and zeal in the churches and the great darkness in this land polluting the minds of young and old. The church had become lukewarm. God has acted. Freedoms have been removed, lives have and will be taken, life will never be the same. Yet still people mock the living God.

I've been thinking about how John the baptist and Jesus had that message they came with 'Repent'. My mind has also gone to the prayer of Daniel 9, crying out to God to have mercy. In my quiet times I've been reading Deuteronomy and we see again and again how the Lord God desires hearts of obedience. This generation has been disobedient and profaned all of God's holy law. As individuals, a church and nations we need to turn to God in repentance and faith and cry out to Him for mercy.

I enter into another week not able to imagine the course that it may take but trusting on the Lord God who is always with me and has promised me eternity with Him.

Daniel 9:3-19
Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

“O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

A Great Legacy

This is a quote from a book I have found very helpfull on Prayer by O. Hallesby:

"It is written ' Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life' Psalm 23:6.  Verily the answers to your prayers will follow you, and none of them will fail to reach their destination.They are yours from the very moment you begin to pray in the name of Jesus, but they do not all reach you just as quickly.  And when you have prayed, it is not any more necessary for you to exert yourself to receive answers to your prayers than it is to exert yourself to receive letters which have been addressed to you.  They are brought by our efficient postal system directly to our doors.

This shower of answers to prayer will continue to your dying hour.  Nor will it cease then.  And when you pass out from beneath the shower, your dear ones will step into it.  Every prayer and every sigh which you have uttered for them and their future will, in god's time, descend upon them in a gentle rain of answers to prayer.

...

My friend, if you are not able to leave your children a legacy in the form of money or goods, do not worry about that.  And do not wear yourself to death either physically or spiritually in order to accumulate a great deal of property for your children; but to see to it, night and day, that you pray for them.  Then you will leave them a great legacy of answers to prayer, which will follow them all the days of their life.  

He who thus provides for his whole future life by child-like, persevering prayer will experience answers to prayer: not only in life, but also in death."

What do you think of Christmas?

That's Christmas (Short Film) HD from St Helen’s Church on Vimeo.

Catching up...

Arrrgh, how did a month disappear without writing anything??!?!?  Have got a few posts in mind, so watch this space....

I had the joy of attending a baptismal service last weekend from my previous church in London.  It was lovely to see young people who I had seen growing up, taught in Friday club and worked with on activity week publicly testifying to their commitment to the Lord.  It is wonderful to hear of the different means God uses to call people to Himself.  There were 4 being baptised, 2 brothers aged about 14 and 17, another boy aged 17 and a girl aged 22, all different nationalities showing the worldwide reach of the gospel in London.  I will give a brief summary of their testimonies:

1) The girl was on a gapyear in Japan and was caused to realise there was a creator through being awe-struck observing the sea and considering how amazing it is and the ecosystems involved, she then realised she knew who that creator was and was caused to seek after Him.

2) The youngest boy was challenged when he nearly fell from a height playing a game on Christian camp, collecting hidden ribbons.  He realised that he didn't know where he would go if he had fallen and died, and was caused to turn to the Lord.

3) The brother was saved through the preaching of the word and family worship, a gradual calling and changing of his heart.

4) The other boy was saved through a challenge in a sermon at a Christian conference.

We do not know what means the Lord will use to save souls, but we can be encouraged that He does call and save in His own amazing ways and timing so we must be encouraged to keep on praying for those souls laid on our hearts.

I will build my church

I have recently heard 2 excellent sermons on 'I will build my church' a great promise of Jesus.  It has started me thinking about the outreach of the church and our witness.  It is all very exciting if someone goes to serve the Lord in a township in Africa or a village in Peru but what about our homeland.  What do we think of someone serving the Lord in little church in little village in homeshire?  We should be living as missionaries in our own neighbourhoods, seeking to serve the Lord and reach out to the lost.  If we saw ourselves as missionaries - people serving with a mission - how differently would we live our lives?  Should we move to areas where there are small struggling churches so we can help them and add to their numbers or should we join the large popular church 20 miles away where we can have good fellowship and don't have many duties?

I know I have a lot to change in my life to be able to serve more faithfully.  I need to learn to speak more about my Saviour, it is so easy to talk about church and church politics, but what about Jesus?  Much more to pray about and much more to learn and to act upon.

In the sermon at my church the preacher highlighted the number of villages within a few miles of the church with no gospel witness.  If just 0.025% of the people living in those villages came to the church we would double our congregation, surely that is a stimulus for out-reach and should give us a vision for our prayers, imagine if we got 1% the church would be full! - With God all things are possible. Mark 10:27

Sensitive Measures

Taken from Tinshill evangelical church magazine

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee… you will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her into the kitchen. She filled three pans with water and placed each on a high heat. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed
ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter she asked “Tell me, what do you see?”
“Carrots, eggs, and coffee”, she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After peeling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked “What does it mean?” Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity – boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid
interior, but after sitting through boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. “Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”

Think of this; Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour.

When things are at their worst, the Christian can trust in the Lord with all his/her heart knowing that He does all things well. When the hour is the darkest and trials are at their greatest the Christian waits patiently for God, trusting Him for all things. Whether the trial ends or strength is given to bear it, the fragrance of the presence of God brings light into the darkness and glory to God through the trust of His servant.
Remember this next time you have a cup of coffee.
(Submitted with kind permission of Anchored Magazine)