I have been considering the Biblical Spiritual Gifts and have been a part of a group in our Church who have completed the Network course which has guided us to discover our own, God given, spiritual gifts.I have completed this course on previous occasions but this has been the hardest journey. I have had to approach this course with a blank sheet of paper and try my hardest not to presume or assume anything.
I am very excited about what I have learnt. I have been shocked and surprised but actually can see how God has guided me to where I am at now.
I look forward to discovering more about how God will use me as I test the gifts that I understand to be God's thumbprint in my life.
University continues to be difficult for me. I find the course very academic in its approach. I handed in 2 assignments in March. Theological Reflection and Practical Apologetics.
It was good to see family at Lindsay and Paul's wedding. Lindsay looked stunning. Harry has fallen in love with her. He followed her around ALL day, but she was amazing with him and all the children that they had invited. Thank you to both families for inviting us. We had a great time.
While we were in London we decided to take a little tour of the Big Smoke. Harry loved seeing all the sites and Poppy just chilled out and took it all in her stride!
April brings 2 more assignments. Foundations of Philosophy and Pastoral Epistles.
We look forward to the wedding of Adam and Jodi on the 20th and also to our holiday at Center Parcs from the 22nd to 26th. Amy's parents are coming away with us. This will particularly allow Amy's Mum to spend some time getting used to Poppy before she starts looking after her twice a week once Amy goes back to work.
Personal Thoughts
During a conversation with Amy, after breakfast on Thursday 14th March, she made a statement that summed up a lot of my thoughts over the last few months.
I have merged her words and my thoughts and come up with the following comment which I will attempt to explain.
'I have noticed that people tend to agree with someone else's opinion or life choice so that they can encourage the other person (or because it helps them to justify their own similar opinion or life decision) without necessarily agreeing with it or even knowing what it is.'
For example, on Facebook, someone posted a status update about how angry or annoyed they were about a certain issue (They were not specific). Several friends had commented on her status and I have added 2 edited comments below:
"I've no idea what has happened but don't let the idiots grind you down!! x"
"What's wrong Hun? Don't let anyone get u down hold ur head high xx"
These 2 comments illustrate what I am trying to point out. Without even knowing what was wrong or what the issue was these friends blindly sided with this person!
Amy had been researching some information for Poppy's condition (You can see some of the fruits of her labour by following these links: Link 1, Link 2, Link 3) and came across a discussion board where parents had been sharing their thoughts and discussing their life decisions.
One lady shared what she had done and several people (we don't know if they were friends or not) in quick succession added their comments of agreement and encouragement for the choice she had made.
Another person gently and carefully (in my opinion) suggested an alternative view point, without condemning the choice, highlighting some consequences of that choice and asking the person to think before acting.
That persons comments were immediately shot down and attention was soon put back upon the ladies freedom to choose and how strong she was to make such a decision. Some of the lady's supporters had made the same decision as she was about to make and encouraged her to keep strong and not listen to other people who don't care about her like they do.
Please understand that I am not rejecting the notion that we should care for, encourage or love one another. What I am attempting to suggest is that some people, who are wanting to do that, are actually, in some circumstance, far from helping anyone.
We have several community health professionals who visit our home to care for Poppy. I began talking with one of them and the conversation soon got round to Christianity. She said that she had been to a Christening in a church and didn't come out feeling all happy and joyful. After all, she said, Isn't that how you should feel after being in Church?
Imagine if my consultation with the Doctor was like this:
Me: "Doctor I have a problem."
Doctor: "Don't worry about it, you look great and sound great and I think you're a great person. Don't let anyone get you down."
Me: Thanks Doc!
That is not what I want at all. I want the Doctor to ask me questions, find out what is wrong, maybe do some tests?
If I have something wrong with me then I want to know what it is.
I may leave the Doctor surgery feeling bad and upset, but at least I know the position that I am in and I have some hope for the future with some medicine/prescription or a plan for how to manage my pain/condition.What does real love, care or encouragement look like?
Do I love someone if I blindly encourage them and tell them that they are doing the best thing or is it listening to them and giving them the best advice for them, however hard that advice might be?
First I have to remember that I am not perfect and that I have not got the perfect life. I have and do make mistakes. I do not love perfectly. I do not show that I care all of the time and I am a discouragement at times...
So how can I give any advice!?
I believe that to love someone I have to tell them the truth. What is truth?
I believe that to show love I need to know what true love is. What is love?
I believe that to help and guide someone in life I need to know the purpose of life. What is the purpose of life?
In Church we are having the Gospel of Luke preached to us.
In Chapter 3 you can read about John the Baptist. He was speaking to crowds of people. John's purpose was to prepare people for Jesus coming (Luke 3:4-6). His message is rather shocking. He does not say things to make people feel good or to pander to their needs and desires nor does he try to make them feel good. He even calls them snakes, (a link to the serpent, the garden of Eden and Satan) hardly an encouraging message!
John brakes down their preconceived ideas of Religion and calls them to a relationship with God through Jesus. He points them to God, who is perfect love, totally True and the giver, sustainer and meaning of life.
He was also saying this to them: 'Don't think that you (Religious people or Good moral people) are good enough or better than others, we are all as unclean as each other (In God's eyes) and we all need to be cleaned'
John points the listener and the reader to Jesus. He is the one who can clean you and make you presentable to God.
What is truth? What is love? What is the purpose of life? All these answers can be found in and through the perfect life, deliberate and chosen death, amazing resurrection and continues intercession of the Son of Man, (God in the flesh) Jesus Christ. All of this is wrapped up in the true message of Easter.
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."
John 15:12-14
Ministry Trainee Stuff
Sydney, Jodi and I have been reading the book of Philippians each day of March. It is packed full of familiar verses that I have enjoyed reading, studying and meditating on.
My favourite verses that I have tried to memorise are:
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Philippians 2:5-11
I look forward to reading Colossians every day this month.
Prayer Points
- That I might develop my thinking in relation to the Spiritual Gifts course and how God might use me in His Church for His Glory.
- That I may have wisdom as I plan next year. Will I continue with this degree course or will I change to a different course that better suits my training needs? Wisdom and guidance from God are needed.
- That our holiday to Center Parcs would be beneficial for Amy and her Mum as we prepare for Amy's return to work and Poppy's ongoing care.
- Amy's return to work
- Thank God that Harry is so amazing with Poppy. He continues to do well in school and is developing well. He seems to be getting used to the fact that Poppy requires a lot of attention.
- Thank God that Poppy is developing well and pray that she will progress in her own time to the next milestone. We are slowly introducing solids and she is still feeding some milk through her mouth and the rest is going in through her PEG feeding tube.
- Thank God that most of Poppy's appointments are now at our home, which means we have less trips to Alder Hey!
- Thank God for our friends and Family who love us and care for us in so many ways.
- Please pray that we might continue to have God at the centre of our marriage and family life. That God would be all that we want.
Future Plans
- I am attending the Northern Men's Convention on Saturday May 4th.
- There is an awareness week/Fortnight from 5th May for Poppy's syndrome. You can follow this link or the one's I posted above to find out more information: Cri Du Chat
- We are attending a Cri Du Chat weekend away in Chester from 21st - 23rd June.
- Poppy's thanksgiving and dedication service is planned for Sunday July 21st at 10.30am.
Thanks for reading.
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