Stuart's Thought for the Day 

These past few weeks it’s been so good to see many of you again. We knew you were still there of course, and you knew we hadn’t disappeared. We’ve even caught up with each other on Zoom and various media. But it’s no substitute for being physically present with family or friends, especially when we’ve been through (and are still transiting) a time of great uncertainty and reassessment of what our calling as God’s people is about. Even though it changes as the flame flickers and the wax decreases our candle reminds of Jesus the Light for the World who never stops shining, so light it now and sit down for a while with your drink.

Waiting for God

Soon after saying this Jesus went up the mountain and disappeared among the clouds. They were straining to get a final glimpse of him, when two of God’s messengers came up to them. “Why are you people from Galilee looking up there? You’ve only lost sight of Jesus for a short while. He’ll come back the same way that he went, and he’ll still be the same Jesus!” So they went a short walk from the Mount of Olives back to Jerusalem and their upstairs room. All the friends were gathered there, and some of the women too, and they spent a lot of time praying together. (Acts 1:9-14)

At the start of lockdown I was wondering how we’d all cope with this dramatic change in our daily lives. How long till normal service would be resumed? 146 days since I wrote my first blog, we still don’t really know quite what the future will look like, although many of us are sure we don’t want to be deprived of each other’s company again. Our health might have been protected, but how important is it now to sit down together and talk about what’s been happening to us since March – and about how we think our future might look. 

I’m sure Jesus’ closest friends must have needed each other in the days after his death and resurrection. Their upstairs room must have been a hub of conversation and debate as they wondered what would happen to them next. At first their conversation was anxious and concerned. What would you have been asking if you’d been among them? What would your concerns have been? Now after Jesus’ ascension they’re talking again. What would you have wanted to talk about that evening? Would you have heard the angel saying, “Why are you looking back?” How would you have reacted to the promise that the same Jesus would return one day?

Whatever our concerns this is a time to look forward as we slowly exit lockdown and start to shape how the future of our Christian community will be. The early stages of the journey will feel unfamiliar and strange, but the promise is as true now as it was on that Ascension evening – the same Jesus will be with us to guide, direct and bless on our continuing journey.

Prayer

Lord God, when the future seems uncertain,
and those around are filled with doubts,
open our ears to hear your words:
“Don’t look back, move on for the same Jesus
has promised to be with you for ever.”
Amen. 

Download:

Pause 4Thought 008    (This Message)

Pause 4Thought 007    Pause 4Thought 006    Pause 4 Thought 005    Pause 4Thought 004    
Pause 4Thought 003    Pause 4Thought 002    Pause 4Thought 001    

Lighting up Time 129    Lighting up Time 128   Lighting up Time 127    
Lighting up Time 126    Lighting up Time 125   Lighting up Time 124    
Lighting up Time 123    Lighting up Time 122   Lighting up Time 121    
Lighting up Time 120    Lighting up Time 119   Lighting up Time 118    
Lighting up Time 117    Lighting up Time 116   Lighting up Time 115    
Lighting up Time 114    Lighting up Time 113   Lighting up Time 112   

Lighting up Time 111   Lighting up Time 110   Lighting up Time 109   
Lighting up Time 110   Lighting up Time 109   Lighting up Time 108   
Lighting up Time 107   Lighting up Time 106   Lighting up Time 105   
Lighting up Time 104   Lighting up Time 103   Lighting up Time 102   

Lighting up Time 101   Lighting up Time 100   Lighting up Time 099   
Lighting up Time 098   Lighting up Time 097   Lighting up Time 096   
Lighting up Time 095   Lighting up Time 094   Lighting up Time 093   

Lighting up Time 092   Lighting up Time 091   Lighting up Time 090   
Lighting up Time 099   Lighting up Time 088   Lighting up Time 087   
Lighting up Time 086   Lighting up Time 085   Lighting up Time 084   
Lighting up Time 083   Lighting up Time 082   Lighting up Time 081   
Lighting up Time 080   Lighting up Time 709   Lighting up Time 078   
LIghting up Time 077   Lighting up Time 076   Lighting up Time 075   
Lighting up Time 074   Lighting up Time 073   Lighting up Time 072   
Lighting up Time 071   Lighting up Time 070   Lighting up Time 069   
Lighting up Time 068   Lighting up Time 067   Lighting up Time 066   
Lighting up Time 065   Lighting up Time 063   Lighting up Time 062   
Lighting up Time 061   Lighting up Time 060   Lighting up Time 059   
Lighting up Time 058   Lighting up Time 057   Lighting up Time 056   
Lighting up Time 055   Lighting up Time 054   Lighting up Time 053   
Lighting up Time 052   Lighting up Time 051   Lighting up Time 050   
Lighting up Time 049   Lighting up Time 048   Lighting up Time 047   
Lighting up Time 046   Lighting up Time 045   Lighting up Time 044   
Lighting up Time 043   Lighting up Time 042   Lighting up Time 041   
Lighting up Time 040   Lighting up Time 039   Lighting up Time 038   
Lighting up Time 037   Lighting up Time 036   Lighting up Time 035   
Lighting up Time 034   Lighting up Time 033   Lighting up Time 032   
Lighting up Time 031   Lighting up Time 030   Lighting up Time 029   
Lighting up Time 028   Lighting up Time 027   Lighting up Time 026   
Lighting up Time 025   Lighting up Time 024   Lighting up Time 023   
Lighting up Time 022   Lighting up Time 021   Lighting up Time 020   
Lighting up Time 019   Lighting up Time 018   Lighting up Time 016   
Lighting up Time 015   Lighting up Time 014   Lighting up Time 012a   
Lighting up Time 012   Lighting up Time 011   Lighting up Time 010      
Lighting up Time 009   Lighting up Time 008   Lighting up Time 007        
Lighting up Time 006   Lighting up Time 005   Lighting up Time 004  
Lighting up Time 003   Lighting up Time 002   Lighting up Time 001