Hi Kings

Derek and I miss you so much, we pray you are safe and well. We are certainly thankful for church online during this time, but we know it will never replace actually seeing and hugging you in the flesh!

Although we’re now 11 weeks into lockdown, and many of us have adapted well to our ‘new normal’, let’s be honest - the reality of this has now become a little samey and, like me, some days you quite simply have had enough! If there was any original novelty in all this, by now it has well and truly worn off. We want our freedom back, we want to see people, we want to go places, have a meal out, take a trip somewhere other than the back garden or to a supermarket with a queue the size of the Mersey Tunnel!!

While I am very much aware all of us are definitely not in the same boat - each of our lives and circumstances are very different - we do however have the same Holy Spirit available to us all.

I am grateful that although our lives are restricted, the Holy Spirit most certainly isn’t. He is our 

Strengthener, Comforter, Advocate, Peace-Giver…. and the list goes on. The good news is that we don’t have to do any of this in our own strength when we have all this divine power available to us.

He also prompts and nudges us, meaning He can put someone on our hearts to pray for, to encourage, perhaps to write a note or send a gift. There might be somebody you may never have thought of on your own, reasoning why they don’t need your contact, but the Holy Spirit knows all things.

The Bible says we are one body with many parts. Without each part functioning, as it was intended, the whole body suffers. During this time lets make sure we are playing our part well so that the body thrives. You may think your part doesn’t make that much of a difference but let me tell you - it really does! Your part is significant and what you contribute makes a huge difference.

Let us allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into playing our part well. Listen to His prompts, send that text, put legs on that kind idea, share your thoughts, your gifts, your wisdom. Just get creative. You were made in the image of God and you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You really are awesome, wonderful and brilliant.

There is more in all of us than we think, sometimes we just need to make a start. God made a start - the Bible says in the beginning He created... It’s sometimes only when we take the first step and make a start that the miracle happens and God multiplies what we have. 

Just let Him use what you have and start there, it may seem nothing special to you but in the hands of God he can take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. God asked Moses “What do you have in your hands?”. It was just an ordinary stick, but God used it to part the Red Sea!

It is worth mentioning that there would have been no parting of the Red Sea if others hadn’t played their part. Years earlier Moses’ mother PLACED baby Moses in the bulrushes, in a little basket when she could hide him no longer from the threat of a cruel death from a cruel Pharaoh. Moses sister WATCHED from a distance to make sure he was safe. Pharaoh’s daughter PULLED him from the river and brought him up as her own. Before we get to the spectacular, the parting of the Red sea, there is often a lot of people PLAYING THEIR PART!  

Thank God they did, because the rescue of a whole race depended on them. Moses wouldn’t have even been alive if it hadn’t have been for them. Maybe there are people you are keeping alive (not literally, but could be) by your encouragement, your kindness, your empathy, your compassion, your wisdom, your understanding. It may feel nothing to you but really it could be making all the difference.

So, let’s remember when life may seem uneventful, boring even, we have the exciting Holy Spirit who leads us to live an exciting, powerful life (just read the book of Acts).

Let’s start with what we have and watch what God will do.

Love you all and very thankful that you are all playing your part,

Ps Derek & Georgina