Tuesday, 7 April 2020

Good Friday Emmanuel Kids

Good Friday

I think today is the most special day of the year.  Its a day we remember a very sad moment, but without that sad moment we would not have life with God.  Something sad brought us something very good.  Today is a day to be sad and cry, but also to be grateful!



Getting ready - you will need:

means for playing music and/or watching YouTube videos
Bible if you have one
printer if you have one
paper, pens, scissors, glue



Opening prayer

Say together:

Jesus, on this day
I am very sad
Be with me as I think
About the price you paid
Amen




Worship



Activity

Credit Pippa Cant


Bible Story - Good Friday

Read Luke 22:47-23:56 
You can find it here if you don't have a bible at home
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+22%3A47-23%3A56&version=NIV

Further Bible Reading

Have a look at the Additional Resources section at the bottom of this page

Think about

Do you think Jesus dying was good news?  Talk about what Jesus' death means to you.

Watch



Craft

* If you have a printer, print the A4 page below.  If not can you recreate the pictures in your own artistic way?
* Colour the pictures and then cut out the squares.
* arrange the squares on a separate sheet of paper and stick them down to form the shape of a cross. (see example to the left)
* Can you get the pictures in the right order for the Easter story?  Maybe retell the story to each other taking it in turns to do a square.


Further Activities

For other Good Friday activities see below under Additional Resources

Silent Prayer

* Talk to Jesus privately in your heart
* Maybe lie down while you pray
* Close your eyes and imagine you are talking to Jesus face to face
* Maybe have this music on in the background
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2qLIm-dzjQ


Worship to close

If you want to stay quiet, lie down and listen to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz8pttVNBeU

If you want a lively song to celebrate the amazing hero that Jesus is use
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwTqbkkAZ2A
Same song with actions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xrvEzHxTic

Further Bible Reading

Compare the Good Friday story in the 4 different gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

You can also watch more Easter videos here
(they contain the Sunday bit of the story too)
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL8R158Ujp4&list=PLYn06r4leL_RguA_6LO-2. 11rkjEsNb21oa&index=6
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ4gQniUVO8&t=213s


Further Activities

1. Word Search


2. Wood Work

Could you make a cross out of wood & string?  If you have large enough pieces of wood, could you hammer nails in to show where Jesus was nailed up by his hands & feet.  Maybe even attach a sign at the top above where his head would go, saying 'Jesus King of the Jews'.

3. Easter garden

Top Tips for Prayer

* Start with short easy prayers and pass the talking stick round to help you know whose turn it is.
          (e.g. Dear God, please help me when I am upset.  Amen)
* decide in your mind what your prayer is going to be before you start passing the talking stick around.  That way you won't get flustered
* if a child isn't sure how to pray suggest a prayer for them and get them to repeat after you
          (e.g. Dear God .... please help me .... when I'm scared of the dark .... Amen)




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Maundy Thursday Emmanuel Kids

Maundy Thursday

Today is a special day in the Christian calendar.
Today we remember the Last Supper.
But, to really get into it, there is a much bigger story.
So why not turn your evening into a night for story telling?
Get comfortable, get ready, for a story that spans thousands of years!


Getting ready - you will need:

Bible if you have one
means to watch YouTube videos



The Back Story

Read aloud:

The story today is of the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples.  We remember this meal every time we take Holy Communion.

But when Jesus got together with his disciples, they weren't just having any old evening meal together.
This was a festival day!  A special meal.  A meal you ate only once a year.  This meal was "the Passover"!

Passover was a once a year celebration of what God did way back near the beginning of the Bible.  It was God's great rescue plan to get his people out of slavery in Egypt, and take them into their own land where they could worship God freely.

Watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IwMt-KLkSE

You could also read about God rescuing his people in
Exodus 7:14 to Exodus 12:51



Bible Story - Last Supper

So now you know the back story, read the Last Supper story in
Luke 22: 7-23
You can find it here if you don't have a bible at home
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+22%3A7-23&version=NIV

Or watch the story of the Last Supper here

Things to notice

Read aloud

* In Exodus, God's people were saved from slavery by the blood of a lamb
* Jesus is called the Lamb of God. He shed his blood on the cross to save us from slavery to sin.  

* In Exodus, the lamb died so God's people didn't have to.
* The punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23).  Jesus died so that we don't have to.  

* The Passover is a massively important meal, reminding the Jews of God's rescue from Egypt.
* Holy Communion is a massively important meal, reminding Christians of God's great rescue through Jesus.

* The Passover was a foreshadowing of things to come.  Over a thousand years before hand, it was already pointing people to their need to be rescued from death by the blood of a sacrifice.
* At Easter Jesus fulfilled the sign that was the Passover.


Celebrate together

How can you celebrate this story together tonight?





Want to learn more?

At the last supper Jesus taught his disciples many things.  
To learn what he taught watch







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Thursday, 2 April 2020

Emmanuel Kids Church Sunday 5th April

Palm Sunday

As I write these resources, I am doing so with families in mind.  However, that's not to say that you can't adapt these ideas to help you worship if you live alone, or are a group of adults who are young at heart.  However you use this material, may God bless you this weekend xx



Getting ready - you will need:

means for playing music and/or watching YouTube videos
paper, pencils, pens, scissors, glue or sticky tape & a lollypop stick, drinking straw or pencil
Bible if you have one
Craft supplies (choice of three crafts)
1. paper & pens
2. paper, pens, wooden pegs
3. paper plate, craft paper, scissors, glue, pens or googly eyes


A starter

Do you know what the word 'hosanna' means?  It comes up in today's story but is a word that was used in the Old Testament too.  Discuss what you think it means?



Answer:  
  1. The Hebrew word that we translate as hosanna was first used in the Bible to mean "Save us, please!"
  2. then it started to be used to mean "Salvation!  Thank you!"
  3. and later was used as an exclamation of praise
For more info read 

Opening prayer

Stand in a circle.
Turn to face around the circle.
Lay your hands on the shoulders of the person in front of you and pray:

Holy Spirit
please fill [name] today.
Amen



Worship

If you are with other people, split into 2 teams.
Every one starts this song crouching down.
Team A stand up to sing
"King of Kings & Lord of Lords"
while Team B stays crouched
Team B then stand up to sing
"Glory Hallelujah!"
While Team A go back down again.
Repeat this pattern throughout the song

Once you've got the hang of the lyrics, try singing it without the video, going faster and faster each time 😂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91r2ZVQyZkA

or use a different song of your choice.
There a also list of other worship suggestions at the bottom of this page.


Activity - Let's play parade

Lets play at having a parade!  Take it in turns to be the person who is parading.  You can be yourself or pretend to be someone famous (maybe dress up!).  Tell the 'crowd' who you are and set off on your parade.  Everyone else, line the 'streets' and cheer for the parading person.  Wave hats, shout out how amazing they are, maybe try and get an autograph.  Which of you can be the loudest fan?

Craft - palm leaves

draw around your hand on paper (any colour will do)
cut the shape out
stick it to a lollypop stick / pencil / drinking straw / wooden spoon
you can make your palm frond as leafy as you like


Bible Story - Palm Sunday

Read Luke 19:28-40 
You can find it here if you don't have a bible at home
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+19%3A28-40&version=NIV

Drama

Can you act out the story?
Take some time to gather props & costumes.
Remember you'll need coats to lay on the road for Jesus to walk on.
Decide who is going to play who.
Use the hand/palm leaves you made, to wave in the Jesus parade


Further Bible Reading

For those of you who want to study the bible more, why not look under Further Bible Reading at the  bottom of this page?


Craft

I'm a bit over-enthusiastic about donkey related crafts, so here is a choice of 3 for you


  • Donkey Foot craft
Draw around your foot and follow this picture →
to help you turn it into a donkey's face  

  • Peg Donkey
Draw the outline of a donkeys' body & head (use card or stiff paper if you have any) and use pegs for the legs







  • Paper plate donkey
use paper plate, craft paper and googly eyes, if you have, them to create a donkeys face




Prayer

Do you know the game: "I went on holiday and in my suitcase I put"? It goes like this ...
Player 1: "I went on holiday and in my suitcase I put ... a pair of sunglasses"
Player 2: "I went on holiday and in my suitcase I put ... a pair of sunglasses and my passport"
Player 3: "I went on holiday and in my suitcase I put ... a pair of sunglasses, my passport and suntan lotion"

Lets play a praise version!
Player 1: "Praise God!  He is ... an amazing creator.  Amen"
Player 2: "Praise God!  He is ... an amazing creator and wonderful friend.  Amen"
Player 3: "Praise God!  He is ... an amazing creator, wonderful friend and my saviour.  Amen"

How long can you keep the praise circle going
Remember!  You aren't just playing a game.  You are speaking out praises to God - who He is, what He has done, what He does and still will do!


Worship to close


Song Suggestions


You can also find a load of actions uploaded on my Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaLzqmUS3lUycygAUe5B2Jg

Further Bible Reading

Compare the Palm Sunday story in the 4 different gospels
Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 19:28-44
John 12:12-26
Also look up Zechariah 9:9 (this bit of the Bible was written 518 years before Jesus was born!)

What differences do you notice?  Why do you think they are there?
What one thing strikes you most in what you have read?
Have you got any questions you'd like to ask about this story?
What is God saying to you today?

Top Tips for Prayer

* Start with short easy prayers and pass the talking stick round to help you know whose turn it is.
          (e.g. Dear God, please help me when I am upset.  Amen)
* decide in your mind what your prayer is going to be before you start passing the talking stick around.  That way you won't get flustered
* if a child isn't sure how to pray suggest a prayer for them and get them to repeat after you
          (e.g. Dear God .... please help me .... when I'm scared of the dark .... Amen)




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Thursday, 26 March 2020

Emmanuel Kids Church Sunday 29 March

On the Road to Easter 

Hopefully you enjoyed last week's worship activities.  Here is this week's offering.  Feel free to use them in any way that suits you.  Not all activities will work for younger kids, but hopefully there will be some ideas you can make use of.  As ever with anything I do, feedback would be great! God bless you this weekend! xx




Getting ready - you will need:

means for playing music and watching YouTube videos
worship props: scarf, cushions
blindfold
printout of Jesus picture (or draw your own)
pens & paper
Bible if you have one
craft materials (optional): card, split pin, scissors, colouring pens/pencils/crayons
talking stick, toy or other item to pass round in prayers
printer (optional)


Opening prayer

We pray together:

Dear Jesus
Help us to spend this time focused on you.
Amen

Wiggle Song (to help us get rid of our fidgets so we are ready)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYalf5f-vzc



Worship

If you like to twirl, maybe use a floaty scarf as a ribbon to help you dance & worship.
Or maybe you'd like to lie down on cushions and rest in the truths of this song

or a song of your choice.
There a also list of other worship suggestions at the bottom of this page.


Activity - blind man's bluff

To play blindman's buff, one player is blindfolded and then disoriented by being spun around several times. The other players call out to the “blind man” and dodge away from him.  If the "blind man" catches you, stay quiet and the "blind man" has to identify you correctly by touch.  You now take a turn to be blindfolded.


Think About

Print or draw an outline of Jesus.  Take it in turns to write the things you know about Jesus on the picture:
     Who is he?
     What is he like?
     What did he do?
     How do you see him?

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, and today's Bible story come just before Palm Sunday in the books of Matthew and Mark.  We are beginning to travel down the road with Jesus towards Easter...

Bible Story - Bartimaeus

Read Mark 10:46-52 
You can find it here if you don't have a bible at home
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+10%3A46-52&version=NIV

Think About

When Jesus healed Bartimaeus, not only could Bartimaeus see Jesus and the other people around him for the first time, but he could see something new of who Jesus is.

Jesus once asked Peter: "Who do you say I am?"
Watch what these people have to say about who God is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkuCFb-xg4M

Who do you say Jesus is?



Further Bible Reading

For those of you who want to study the bible more, why not look under Further Bible Reading at the  bottom of this page?


Creed

As we say the Creed, we join Christians past and present, and from all over the world, kin proclaiming our common faith.  
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Craft

If you have the resources, this is a nice Bartimaeus craft

Alternatively you could

  • try drawing a picture of Jesus whilst wearing a blindfold
  • use google to search "colouring blind Bartimaeus"
  • create a storyboard of the story (google "storyboard template")
  • find a word search on https://wordmint.com/public_puzzles/151556

Prayer

A Jesus to follow
After Bartimaeus was healed he immediately followed Jesus on the road.  Lets commit our lives afresh to following Jesus.  Use these words or your own.

Dear Lord Jesus
Thank you for the road to Easter
Help me to see who you really are
I choose today to follow you
Please show me how to live for you. Amen

A Jesus who heals
Spend some time praying together for the people you know who need healing.
eg Dear Lord, Jesus. Please heal Aunty Susan.  Amen

A Jesus who answers
Jesus asked Bartimaeus "What do you want me to do for you?"
Take turns to ask Jesus for what you want.

You might like to use a talking stick or toy to pass round so you know whose turn it is.


Worship to close


or a song of your choice

Song Suggestions


You can also find a load of actions uploaded on my Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaLzqmUS3lUycygAUe5B2Jg

Further Bible Reading

How many of Jesus' miracles can you list?   And can you find them in the Bible? 
What do these miracles each tell us about who Jesus is?  Do different miracles have different messages or all the same?  Is there a pattern to Jesus's miracles or are they random?  What are your thoughts?  (PS I don't know the answer!)

Here's an interesting thought stolen from Wikipedia...

The seven signs in the book of John are:
     1.    John 2:1-11     
     2.    John 4:46-54
     3.    John 5:1-15
     4.    John 6:5-14; 
     5.    John 6:16-24
     6.    John 9:1-7
     7.    John 11:1-45
The seven signs are seen by some scholars and theologians as evidence of new creation theology in the Gospel of John, the resurrection of Jesus being the implied eighth sign, indicating a week of creation and then a new creation beginning with the resurrection. 

Top Tips for Prayer

* Start with short easy prayers and pass the talking stick round to help you know whose turn it is.
          (e.g. Dear God, please help me when I am upset.  Amen)
* decide in your mind what your prayer is going to be before you start passing the talking stick around.  That way you won't get flustered
* if a child isn't sure how to pray suggest a prayer for them and get them to repeat after you
          (e.g. Dear God .... please help me .... when I'm scared of the dark .... Amen)




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Thursday, 19 March 2020

Emmanuel Kids Church Sunday 22nd March

Mothering Sunday 

Here are some suggested activities for you to worship God together as a family this Sunday.  They are given in the order in which I would lead Kids Church, but feel free to use them in any way that suits you.  Not all activities will work for younger kids, but hopefully there will be some ideas you can make use of.  As ever with anything I do, feedback would be great! God bless us all while we are apart! xx

Getting ready - you will need:

pencils
paper
means for playing music eg youtube
a talking stick eg wooden spoon
Bible and or access to the internet
Craft materials:     paper plates or circles of card / small felt or fabric squares / cotton balls / glue / crayons / card / yarn

Opening prayer

In order to be ready to spend time with God lets put the things that might distract us to one side.  Choose a place where you are going to put them (eg on a shelf).  It might be a favourite toy, it might be your phone or other tech, it might be a distracting thought (write this on a piece of paper).

Each person place their distraction on the shelf and say:
Dear God
I give this to you to look after.  
Help me to focus on you.  
Amen

Worship


or a song of your choice.
There a also list of youtube suggestions at the bottom of this page.

Activity - sardines

Its Mother's Day!  Give mum to a count of ten to go and hide.  Then split up and look for her.  Each person who finds her has to hide with her, until the last person finds her.  Play this as often as you'd like.

Think About

Sit in a circle.  Pass the talking stick around.  The person who has it says one thing they love about mum eg "Mum, I love it when you tickle me", or "Mum I love that you are kind", or "Mum I love your shepherd's pie" 

Bible Story - Hannah

Read 1 Samuel 1 
(You can find it here if you don't have a bible at home 


Think About

Hannah desperately wanted a baby and being a mum made her very happy.  
Give Mum the talking stick so she can tell the family all the things about being a mum that make her happy.

God calls himself 'our Father'.  In what ways do you think God is like a mum to us too?  How many ways can you think of?  

Most importantly, God loves us hugely, just like Hannah loves Samuel.  
God wants us, just as much as Hannah wanted Samuel.  
And us being God's kids, makes God just as happy as Hannah was.

Further Bible Reading

For those of you who want to study the bible more, why not look up some of the verses at the bottom of this page?

Craft

If you have the resources, this is a nice Hannah craft

Alternatively you could:
  • use playdough to make Hannah & Samuel
  • draw a picture of the story
  • act the story out using dress up clothes
  • write an acrostic poem about God's love

Prayer

When Hannah was upset she prayed to God.  God answered her prayer.  Pray together a family about the things that are upsetting you.

If you are not in the habit of praying together, don't be nervous!  This is a great time to learn new skills.  Read the Top Tips For Prayer bottom of this page


Worship to close


or a song of your choice

Song Suggestions


You can also find a load of actions uploaded on my Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaLzqmUS3lUycygAUe5B2Jg

Bible verses of God as mother

  1. Hosea 11:3-4 God described as a mother
  2. Hosea 13:8 God described as a mother bear
  3. Deuteronomy 32:11-12 God described as a mother eagle
  4. Deuteronomy 32:18 God who gives birth
  5. Isaiah 66:13 God as a comforting mother
  6. Isaiah 49:15 God compared to a nursing mother
  7. Isaiah 42:14 God as a woman in labour
  8. Psalm 131:2 God as a Mother
  9. Psalm 123:2-3 God compared to a woman
  10. Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 God as a Mother Hen

Top Tips for Prayer

* Start with short easy prayers and pass the talking stick round to help you know whose turn it is.
          (e.g. Dear God, please help me when I am upset.  Amen)
* decide in your mind what your short prayer is going to be before you start passing the talking stick around that way you won't get flustered
* if a child isn't sure how to pray suggest a prayer for them and get them to repeat after you
          (e.g. Dear God .... please help me .... when I'm scared of the dark .... Amen)




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Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Learning to be prophetic



I've always wanted to be prophetic.  I mean who doesn't want to hear God speak!  Can there be anything more wonderful than hearing what God has to say?

What do I mean by being prophetic and hearing God?  I believe that God is speaking all the time, not just through the Bible (though that obviously is the best way to hear Him) but in real time, right now, and that as His child, I can hear what He is saying.  And as I tell the kids in my Sunday school, He speaks in lots of ways.  Sometimes we can see pictures in our mind's eye.  Sometimes he reminds of us a Bible verse.  Sometimes He will cause us to feel something physical in our bodies or emotional in our guts.  And sometimes we just know things in our know-er ... But in this blog I'm not aiming to explain what prophecy is, there are many more better equipped people to do that.  I'm just sharing how I came to discover prophecy in my own life.

So here's my story:  Twenty years ago I was on placement with a church in Cape Town, and whilst there, amongst a myriad of great experiences, one moment sticks out.  A lady prophesied over me that in time I would become prophetic.  My immediate thought was 'Wow, that's great! I can't wait' and although I longed for her words to come true, I never did anything much about it.  So wait is exactly what I did.  My assumption was that if God wanted to give me the gift of prophesy then at some point he would drop it in my lap.  After all, I'd been brought up nicely not to expect presents or ask for them, but if given one to be suitably appreciative.  Occasionally, I'd have a go at prophesying; listening to God to see if He wanted to give me a word or a picture for someone, but on the whole I was waiting for the time when He would give me a prophetic gift.

Then about two years ago, I persuaded a friend to be my mentor.  The first thing she asked me was: 'What spiritual skill would you like to 'up-skill' in?'  And although the thought of spiritual skills (as opposed to gifts) was a bit alien to me, my immediate heart's cry was 'I want to be prophetic'.  I long to know how to hear God and feel confident that I can and do hear Him. 

My mentor suggested I get some training and pointed me in the direction of Accessible Prophecy, part of 3DM's ministries http://accessibleprophecy.com/  I was initially very reluctant, thinking this wasn't really for me, but was kind of committed since my mentor would be expecting me to follow through on my stated desire to up-skill.  Nothing like being held accountable to get you moving!  So I joined an online prophetic coaching huddle and I'm so grateful I did.  And cutting a 2 year journey short, here is something of what I have discovered about prophecy:



God has shown me that each prophetic word is like an apple.  Yes, an apple.  Bear with me. 

My view of the prophetic used to be that IF I were to listen for a friend for a word from God, and IF God had something to say, and IF He wanted to use me to say it, then He would drop that apple in my lap for me to give to my friend.  Somehow regardless on what my head-knowledge might have told me, in my heart I believed that apples were rare.  I believed apples were hard to receive.  Somewhere deep in my heart sat a poverty mindset that apples were rationed.  Not enough for everyone.  Not enough for every day.  My role was to sit and wait to see if He wanted to drop an apple, but I didn't really expect Him to.  Afterall, I wasn't 'a prophet', I was merely me.

So why would God use an apple to explain prophecy to me?  Well in our house with 3 small kids apples are never rationed.  Sweets yes.  Exotic fruit, yes.  Apples never.  If you are hungry, even if just before a meal, its OK to help yourself to an apple,  Now you might need to ask permission to have some things in life, like 'may I have a biscuit' but you don't need to ask for apples.  And it might be considered greedy or rude to ask certain other people for things, like asking friends for birthday presents, but you can always ask anything of your parents.

So what does that mean for prophecy?  Now, when I think of the prophetic, I imagine God's vast throne room and all down one side of the room there runs a banquet table laden with apples.  All juicy, all crisp, all delicious and good.  There is such an abundance of apples that in a million years you could not run out.  And because I am a child of the King and heir to His Kingdom, I have the freedom to enter the throne room any time I like and help myself to an apple (just as my kids are free to eat as many apples as they like, even without asking, they are there for the taking).  So if I would like an apple to give a friend, I know there are plenty and I can just take one and give it away.  If I'd like an apple for myself, I can go into the thrown room and pick one up.  I don't have to wait; I don't have to worry there might not be enough apples; I'm not concerned that I might not be permitted or might not the right person to give out apples. 

Now I know that our God is a God who speaks all the time.  He is not distant or remote, but he is a loving Father who loves and longs to talk with His kids.  He is the God of abundance and there is no lack of anything good in His Kingdom.  I believe that I am a child of the King and through Christ have access directly into the throne room of heaven.  I knew all this beforehand in my head, but know I know it in my heart!  (contented sigh)  I set out thinking I needed help with a skill ... instead I discovered I needed help with a relationship.  My relationship with Abba Father.

So this is what I have learnt about God and about prophecy.  How great is the love that God has lavished on us that we should be called children of God! (1Jn3:1)  Apple anyone?



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Monday, 9 February 2015

...the greatest of these is love!

Can't believe its 2 months since my last post - I had intended to do this every month - but maybe its apt that I am writing this just before Valentines Day ;)

But as its been 2 months, for my own sake at least, let me recap ...

... I want to learn what the bible has to say about how we are to be with each other in church - our code of conduct if you like. (Blog Post 1)
... Before I can get to grips with God's instructions to us its important to remember who I am to be, before I think about how I am to be - a forgiven and accepted precious child of God (Blog Post 2)

...and now I thought I would start getting to grips with God's advice, maybe a list of instructions as the basis for a vision statement or something clever like that.  For four months now I have been chewing on Matthew chapter 5 so I honestly thought that is what I would write about next (the sermon on the mount does read a bit like an instruction manual and it appeals to my liking for order and logic).  But apparently there is still more for me to learn before that.

In the last week God has smacked me with His big idea, His most obvious big idea, so obvious in fact that I missed it - d'oh!

'Love!'

If I was looking for a one word answer for 'how are we to be with each other' then it must be 'love'.  Love must surely be the starting point, the end point and the undergirding of every point in between, because God Himself is Love (1 John 4:8)

Last week I was preparing for a difficult meeting.  I was writing down objectives and strategies for said meeting, preparing various papers and praying madly that God would sort it.  The morning of the meeting I sat down with a  cup of tea (rare occurrence) and picked up my daily devotions book (ought to be a less rare occurrence) and this is what I read:

'Practise Love
Want of Love will block the way.  You must love all.  Those who fret you and those who do not.
Practise Love. It is a great lesson, and you will have a great Teacher.  You must love, how otherwise can you dwell in Me, where nothing unloving can come?  Practise this and I will bless you exceedingly, above all you can not only ask but imagine.' God Calling; A Devotional Diary

I immediately looked up 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 And God said this:
Kate, even if you are the very best possible kids worker, missionary to your local school, church leader, discipler of others, but you do not love all people (those who fret you as well as those who don't) then you are nothing and will gain nothing.  Love is patient, kind, not boastful, not self-seeking, keeps no record of wrongs, and always perseveres.  Love is the greatest and only commandment!

Hard core and true.  Love!  Must love!  Everyone!  Always!  Or you are nothing!  Woah!

But bless the Lord for that lovely word 'practise'.  I have recently seen Anna & Hugh through learning to ride their bikes.  There were times when I honestly thought Anna would never get it.  More off than on, more stopping than starting,  more crashing than riding.  But she persevered and now it is almost second nature, almost automatic, almost unconscious. 

God knows I won't get it right much at first, but if I keep at it then I will get good and it will become automatic, because He is a perfectly patient and loving Father and Teacher.  Love will become who I am.  And I do want that to be who I am!

Now before any of you kind people wade in and try to reassure me that I am not hopeless - because I know how kind you all are - let me just be clear:  I am not saying that I, or any of us, are especially unloving.  I am just saying that we have not yet reached the goal of being as perfect at loving as our heavenly Father is.  All of us have people we find difficult to love.  And in later posts we will no doubt come onto what our responsibilities are towards those who fret us and where the boundaries lie - I am not an advocate of Christian doormats ;)  But that said, God does not let us off the hook: love your neighbour and your enemy alike (Matt 22:39 & 5:44)  Tough stuff!

Jesus said: 'If you love each other then everyone will know you are my disciples' (John 13:35).  Makes sense right; if God is love then it will be obvious to everyone that we are His followers if we practise love.

And not just loving our friends but those people in church that fret us!  Not easy by any stretch but it would be worth it right?  How awesome would it be if Emmanuel church was known by everyone as the church where people really do love each other?  Surely people would flock to join our ranks!  Rush to meet this God who can make people so different.

And my meeting?  Well, God really did bless me exceedingly, above all I could ask and imagine.  Turns out this stuff works  ;)
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