God’s timing is certainly different to ours.

Dear Oaks,

Those of you who were in church last Sunday will have heard me say that the opening of 216, our new church building, has been delayed for two weeks.  Instead of our hoped for opening on 16 January we are now looking at 30 January 2011.  Even so that is only 13 weeks away!

This is due to the builders being instructed by the building inspector to dig deeper foundations.  A very good reason if that is what required, I am sure you will agree.

Sadly it means that 216 will still be a building site over the Christmas period and we shall not be able to use it.  So for one last Christmas our carol service will be at Twyford on 19 December and if you are in Acton on Christmas Day then grace one of the other local churches with your presence!

I wonder if you have ever prayed this prayer? “Lord help me to be patient but Lord do it NOW.”

We live in an instant society and patience is not easily fostered and certainly not esteemed.  But the Bible is full of examples of waiting.  Just think of the delay in getting God’s people out of slavery as Pharoah first ignored Moses cry for freedom; then agreed and then repeatedly changed his mind.  Even when they got out they spent 40 years wondering in the desert.

Or how about the 6-7 centuries between the prophecies of Isaiah and others of the coming of the Messiah and the actual incarnation as Christ was born in Bethlehem.  God’s timing is certainly different to ours.

So what are you asking God for that is surely according to his will?  What are you waiting for?  Perhaps you have even given up expectant waiting and hope has died?

Well in the time I have I cannot examine all of the different reasons for waiting.  But just maybe its because God who is both architect, builder and resident of the building of your life is demanding deeper foundations.

Well you knew there had to be a sermon in there somewhere! So Lord give us patience and in our waiting we shall pray in certain expectation that he who is the one who said he would “build his church” will indeed deliver in Acton with perfect timing.  And it will be much more than bricks and mortar!

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

In the Fathers love,

Mark

21 Days of Gratitude – Day 13

Today Oak Tree is thankful for:

being able to meet at Twyford School on a Sunday.

You can join in with us on Facebook or in the forum on the website by telling us:

What are You thankful for?

Here we are on day 13 of our 21Days of Gratitude

Paul wrote in a letter to Timothy 2 Timothy:1-4 that

‘There will be terrible times in the last days. ²People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God’

Being ungrateful is included in a list of things that mark those that don’t love God.Therefore, gratefulness should be a hallmark of those that do profess to love and follow him. It is easy in this fallen world to be moulded by those around us into ungratefulness. That’s why we are doing this series – to allow the Spirit of God to grow in us a habit of thankfulness. May we stand out as God’s people as we are grateful to him today.

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21 Days of Gratitude – Day 12

Today Oak Tree is thankful for:

3 full Oak Tree villas booked on the Retreat to Advance New Wine Conference in January!

You can join in with us on Facebook or in the forum on the website by telling us:

What are You thankful for?

Here we are on day 12 of our 21Days of Gratitude just a simple quote for you today….

“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” — William A. Ward

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21 Days of Gratitude – Day 11

Today Oak Tree is thankful for:

half term. What a great opportunity for families to have some quality time together.

You can join in with us on Facebook or in the forum on the website by telling us:

What are You thankful for?

Here we are on day 11 of our 21Days of Gratitude

We are over half way! Time to reflect on how making a determined effort to be thankful is making a difference. I have noticed there are always plenty of ways that God is revealing himself to me as I think of all he has given me to be thankful for. It’s reminding me that God is good and generous and for me and not against me.

How have you found it?

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21 Days of Gratitude – Day 10

Today Oak Tree is thankful for:

its adventurous, sacrificial, loving and God-chasing members….

You can join in with us on Facebook or in the forum on the website by telling us:

What are You thankful for?

Here we are on day 10 of our 21Days of Gratitude

Paul writes to the Colossians about gratitude in the whole of our spiritual lives.

Colossians 3:15-17 tells us be thankful as the peace of God rules in our hearts. Paul also says that the word of Christ dwells in us as we teach in wisdom and ‘sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude’ in our hearts, and that more than that ‘whatever you do…do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’

Everything we do as children of God: teaching, worship, work, play, life, can and should be characterised by thankfulness. How can we be thankful in all areas of our life today?

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Madonna is an idol to many

21 Days of Gratitude – Day 9

Today Oak Tree is thankful for:

our vicar Mark and his lovely wife Kate who are celebrating their wedding anniversary today….

You can join in with us on Facebook or in the forum on the website by telling us:

What are You thankful for?

Here we are on day 9 of our 21Days of Gratitude

Paul writes to the Philippians that as we come to God and tell him of the things we are anxious about and we practise thanksgiving, we will exchange anxiety for the peace of God. (Philippians 4:6,7) Paul tells us the peace of God is powerful in guarding and hearts and minds from the lies of the enemy. Satan only wants us to see the negative but God wants us to know his peace in his goodness to us.

May we know the peace of God protecting us today as we come to him in thanks.

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21 Days of Gratitude – Day 8

Today Oak Tree is thankful for:

The fabulous builders working on our new home 216 for us.

You can join in with us on Facebook or in the forum on the website by telling us:

What are You thankful for?

Here we are on day 8 of our 21Days of Gratitude

In Luke 17:11-19 we see the account of Jesus healing ten lepers and only one returns to thank Jesus. And he is the one who gets the personal blessing. ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’

When we come to God in thanksgiving, it opens us up to receive more from God. What ‘more’ does God have for you today as you come to him with thanks?

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21 Days of Gratitude – Day 7

Today Oak Tree is thankful for:

The people we’ve met through market church.

You can join in with us on Facebook or in the forum on the website by telling us:

What are You thankful for?

Here we are on day 7 of our 21Days of Gratitude

Thankfulness is one of the most basic things in our relationship with God. Gratitude is a driving force in our worship. It helps us remember that without his generosity, we would have nothing. No planet to live on, no breath in our lungs…no lungs at all for that matter!

In Genesis 8, Noah and his family get out of the ark and the first thing they do in gratitude for all that God has done to save them, is build an altar and make an offering to God. Then they hear God speak his promise of the covenant between him and ‘all life on the earth’ (Genesis 9: 8-17)

When we are thankful, it helps us come into the presence of God and hear him more clearly.

As we are thankful to God today, may we hear his voice more clearly.

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Market Church – 23 Oct 2010

Market CHURCH

Hello Marketeers

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