I’m Back

Dear Oaks,

I am back from a wet yet refreshing holiday, and I do hope that all of you have had some opportunity to get some rest and perhaps find some sunshine.

The Book of Proverbs tells us that “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of Kings is to search out a matter” (Prov 25:2).  As we re-group as a church and a new “term” begins let us go on searching out what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  Let us search out the matter of authentically presenting Him to the world.  Remember, we owe people an encounter with The King who lives within us by His Spirit.

The God who put the gold in the rocks brought his “kingdom gold” with Him but left it unseen and undiscovered by the casual and the complacent.  This gold is worth searching for!

On the subject of gold, my mind turns to the phenomenal achievements of Team GB.  Our Olympians have been quite magnificent at the Beijing games.  I was particularly touched by the endeavour of our competitor in the BMX race who fell at the last bend as she sought with every fibre of her body to move up from the silver to the gold position.  Silver was not enough.  I also think of Rebecca Addlington our double gold winning swimmer who is up every morning soon after 4am and spends 30 hours a week in the pool.  Only gold was enough for her.

As I hear these stories I think of the gold that God has called you and I to search out.  I wonder if we are desperate to know more of the gold of God’s presence and power in our lives?  Am I prepared to put in the hard and hidden work required in order to search out what God has concealed?

As I ponder that I am encouraged by Christ’s words in the Sermon on the Mount. He says “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  As we go after more of God, or should I say, allowing God to have more of us, we should be spurred on by this promise.  The desperate will be fed and the kingdom gold diggers will find their treasure.  Let us renew our training for Godliness in bible and prayer, service and obedience.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes in to strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

Every blessing,

Mark

This Sunday we re-start at Twyford School at 4:30.  Due to works ongoing at the school we shall be meeting in the café area where we normally meet for munchies and fellowship after a service.

Healing on the Streets also re-starts on Saturday from 10-12.  Either at HOTS or at Twyford I look forward to seeing you again this weekend.