Week beginning 28th April

Luke 17

Again reading these passages has reminded me of how different Jesus is from what would be considered ‘normal’ in regards to behaviours and attitudes. To keep on forgiving people; to even have the smallest amount of faith and what that faith can do; the understanding and experience of God’s kingdom being present right where we are – you don’t have to chase it, go looking for it and do some great list of activity to have God’s kingdom – it is right where we are.

Luke 18

Jesus shows us who God is and what God is like. Jesus’ story of the woman and the judge, the pharisee and the tax collector, how Jesus wants the children to come to him. God is nothing like we would expect. God gives us attention not based on our goodness but on God’s goodness. God listens to the poor, loves the humble and invites the children – I don’t have to be anything but being a person who ‘needs’ God and God accepts me. This is the best news!!!

Week beginning 21st April

Luke 15

These are some of my favourite stories from Jesus – the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. I love the fact that Jesus is telling these stories in the face of judgemental people who got upset becasue of who Jesus was eating with and being friends with. It is the simplicity of Jesus way that grabs me – it’s all about meals and friends! The stories that Jesus told are just great because they are all about the experience of being lost and how God finds us-loves us-brings us home – and celebrates!!!(More food and friends). Each story is a different way to be lost – i.e. wandering lost (sheep), being stuck and lost (coin), trying to get home and lost (son) and in all of them they are found. There are so many people today who are lost – wandering or stuck or trying to find their way but even when they get home they are rejected. Our world needs to hear Jesus’ stories – and we can tell them/show them in the same way as Jesus – food and friend-making. Who’s coming for a BBQ with you?

Week Beginning 14th April

Luke 13 & 14

A story about a Fig Tree jumped straight out at me this week as I reflect on the timing of seasons and of bearing fruit. There is a time to allow fruit to bear and a time to cut down the tree. I am thankful for God’s patience with me as I journey through my seasons of life – sometimes bearing fruit and sometimes not.

Sometimes the big comes out of the small, as Luke tells us in Jesus’ story of the mustard seed and of the narrow door. What appears to be not much at all is often the way that God works to bring about significant and great things. When I connect these stories with the Fig Tree I end up seeing that God’s timing and ways are not my ways – I judge so differently to God – Thanks be to God for the way He judges and makes things work. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

So…as Jesus challenges in Luke 14 – I need to count the cost and consider my YES to Jesus – to say I love Him more than any other and allow His season and His fruit and His small ways to give shape to my life. And I pray that people will experience healing as Jesus ministers through our lives.

Psalm 15

Who can worship God? Those who are just, truthful and righteous! God is always practical in what think is religion. We can’t separate worship of God from loving people – you just can’t!