Welcome to Glengormley Methodist Church
Part of the Methodist Church in Ireland
A quote from Oswald Chambers got me thinking recently. He wrote “Life is more tragic than orderly”. It was the more bit that I wondered about.
Then my thoughts went to Psalm 90. As a well known sign in East Belfast says “Sam’s your man” – for me it must be Psalm is your man when it comes to reflecting on all of life’s various experiences and emotions. Psalm 90 reflects on our brief journey through this fallen world. Part of it is sometimes read at funerals. It sets our brief earthly journey in the context of God's eternal life span.
Then just near the end comes a request for an equal number of glad and sad days, an equal number of good and bad years. Perhaps we do get a 50/50 quota. Perhaps for some it is “more tragic“. Perhaps for some “the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” Psalm 16: 6.
The important lesson for all for us, including every believer, is that suffering is part of life here on earth. Let us accept that and under God allow it to make us better and not bitter (a phrase I found helpful in Every Day with Jesus by the late Rev. Selwyn Hughes).
Our Lord Jesus Christ experienced deep suffering even to the point of separation from his Father God. We cannot expect any different in this world, except that in Christ we will never be separated from God. By his wounds we are healed Isaiah 53: 5.
Then my thoughts went to Psalm 90. As a well known sign in East Belfast says “Sam’s your man” – for me it must be Psalm is your man when it comes to reflecting on all of life’s various experiences and emotions. Psalm 90 reflects on our brief journey through this fallen world. Part of it is sometimes read at funerals. It sets our brief earthly journey in the context of God's eternal life span.
Then just near the end comes a request for an equal number of glad and sad days, an equal number of good and bad years. Perhaps we do get a 50/50 quota. Perhaps for some it is “more tragic“. Perhaps for some “the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.” Psalm 16: 6.
The important lesson for all for us, including every believer, is that suffering is part of life here on earth. Let us accept that and under God allow it to make us better and not bitter (a phrase I found helpful in Every Day with Jesus by the late Rev. Selwyn Hughes).
Our Lord Jesus Christ experienced deep suffering even to the point of separation from his Father God. We cannot expect any different in this world, except that in Christ we will never be separated from God. By his wounds we are healed Isaiah 53: 5.
The recent outrage about the wrong use of the name of Mohammed by a British teacher in Sudan has highlighted the importance of names. Just this morning while waiting for the children to gather for a local school assembly, I read the rules for the playground pinned up on the notice board. One rule went something like this 'we will only call each other by our proper names.' Names are important. It was no different on the first Christmas; Joseph was clearly told what names to give to Mary’s first born child – Jesus and Emmanuel. Names which reveal to us why he came, to save us and to be with us. Perhaps you are thinking, "Why doesn’t God intervene in the mess my life is in, or the mess of our world which is so unjust and unfair?" Truth is he has. God has come to save us from the very cause of all wrong, the sin in our hearts, and he has come to remain with us by his Holy Spirit.
It is so sad to see and hear how our society today uses these precious names of God and Jesus and Christ. Our national broadcasting networks constantly beam across our land the use of these special names as swear words. In fact, it is worse than sad, it is worse than an outrage, it is very dark indeed.
May we all, not only respect all names, but know personally the one who is the true and living God:
Father - Son, the Lord Jesus Christ - Holy Spirit
We send to all of you, our warmest Christmas greetings for a really peaceful and meaningful celebration of Christ’s birth. May you all experience his saving love and constant presence in the year ahead.
This comes with our love and prayers from all the Kilpatricks’ (which means Church of Patrick).
It is so sad to see and hear how our society today uses these precious names of God and Jesus and Christ. Our national broadcasting networks constantly beam across our land the use of these special names as swear words. In fact, it is worse than sad, it is worse than an outrage, it is very dark indeed.
May we all, not only respect all names, but know personally the one who is the true and living God:
Father - Son, the Lord Jesus Christ - Holy Spirit
We send to all of you, our warmest Christmas greetings for a really peaceful and meaningful celebration of Christ’s birth. May you all experience his saving love and constant presence in the year ahead.
This comes with our love and prayers from all the Kilpatricks’ (which means Church of Patrick).
When I first heard about 'blog', I thought it was one of Fred's offspring for which he had not thought of a name or perhaps a misspelt Irish swamp! Gareth put me right, by explaining he would like occasional thoughts for the church website. My thoughts at present are very much focused on all the exciting ideas being shared by all our church family through "Clearing our Vision".
Just to pick up on one of our six vision statements, namely Dependence on God, I personally feel this is one of the key ingredients for our future. We have God's promise that if we "humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up" (James 4: 10). Part of that will mean being a people immersed in prayer. There must be loads of different ways we can do this and probably we are only paddling in the shallows at the moment.
The two weeks of 24/7 prayer were wonderful experiences for many, and our day of prayer on the last Saturday of October was truly a divine encounter. Prayer meetings, prayer triplets, a prayer line, fasting and prayer, house-group prayer times, the prayer ministry team and the battle prayer time are areas to be developed and/or initiated. I am sure the Lord will lead us into other ways in which we can be a people "immersed in prayer".
Let us go forward on our knees. Billy Nesbitt recently referred to an early name given to the apostle James - camel knees - because the skin on his knees became tough through many hours of prayer. Little wonder they turned their world upside down. As one boss said to me, "you don't have to be on your toes all the time, your knees will do".
Until I blog again, may you know the Lord's blessing in the full measure he has for you.
Mervyn.
Just to pick up on one of our six vision statements, namely Dependence on God, I personally feel this is one of the key ingredients for our future. We have God's promise that if we "humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up" (James 4: 10). Part of that will mean being a people immersed in prayer. There must be loads of different ways we can do this and probably we are only paddling in the shallows at the moment.
The two weeks of 24/7 prayer were wonderful experiences for many, and our day of prayer on the last Saturday of October was truly a divine encounter. Prayer meetings, prayer triplets, a prayer line, fasting and prayer, house-group prayer times, the prayer ministry team and the battle prayer time are areas to be developed and/or initiated. I am sure the Lord will lead us into other ways in which we can be a people "immersed in prayer".
Let us go forward on our knees. Billy Nesbitt recently referred to an early name given to the apostle James - camel knees - because the skin on his knees became tough through many hours of prayer. Little wonder they turned their world upside down. As one boss said to me, "you don't have to be on your toes all the time, your knees will do".
Until I blog again, may you know the Lord's blessing in the full measure he has for you.
Mervyn.