Long Problems

If you have life experience, and once we have lived as adults for some time, we all do, we experience what I will call “long problems”. They are situations which are not able to be resolved quickly, no matter what action is taken. They are unpalatable, painful circumstances that will not go away.   They may seem to occur without invitation. We wonder how we could have avoided them. And they cost us time, money, joy, freedom, peace, comfort, and all the things we equate with success. 
Others may or may not think our situation is our own fault, and judge us as stupid for allowing something like this to happen, but from my perspective, I am my own worst judge. Kicking myself mentally for making an error of judgement and not avoiding the issue.
As we mature we can see these things approaching and avoid some of them, but others still happen.
The media portrays successful people, those who do not have "long problems", or have overcome them. But I suspect most ordinary people have them. 
They are our crosses to carry, our thorns in the side.
We may or may not have caused them, but once they are present they are there for a long time, sometimes for life.
Occasionally we see a way out and gain hope of freedom, only for the door to cruelly close. And sometimes we exchange one long problem for a worse one, hence the saying “better the devil you know”.
But what I have not said is that God is with us in our long problems, even when we have caused them, even when we deserve them. He gives us some of them, for our sake.
He wants us to continue behaving as Christian’s in those circumstances, which includes gratitude, and prayer.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.” Said by the man with a thorn in his side who prayed for relief but was granted only grace.
I say “only” because I must admit that grace at times, seems little, though really it is the full tsunami of God’s holy love. 
And there will be a day when all creation (including us) stops groaning under the strain of long problems. Until then,
Rejoice. Even in our sufferings, which produce, amongst other things, true hope.

Service or Proclamation?

Question: Service or proclamation?

Answer: Yes

Some strongly believe that speaking the gospel is the only way people will hear and have opportunity to repent. Others believe service is the best way to witness and would struggle to find the courage and correct words to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
But Jesus both spoke and served. 
And his Spirit enabled people like Peter to speak and people like Dorcas (Tabitha) to serve.
But both of them spoke and both served.
We are all gifted in many ways, and we have particular gifts and skills in which we are very good. With the gift of faith, other abilities are often released or given. I say “released”, because maybe some of those abilities were already germinating within. 
So, someone who previously would not speak publicly, now has the courage and understanding to do so.
Someone who previously was uninterested in working with children, now finds a new willingness and joy to be involved.
And that word; "willingness", is an important one. As many abilities are more to do with a willingness to try, and keep trying.
Once you try to do something ten, twenty, fifty or a thousand times, you notice an ability that was possibly hardly there before.
Practice is what brings out what appear to be to be natural gifts. Things we feel able and ready to do.
That includes sharing our faith with others. That includes folding clothes. 
God gives us willingness. 
Another way to describe willingness is putting a purpose or goal ahead of a natural desire. Putting someone else’s need above other priorities. Fitting in something that wasn’t initially planned, or more simply; love. 

I just want to to take this opportunity to honour Mrs Hill, who many years ago came and helped clean up my flat where I was living, and made a meal for me, fully out of love.  

Loving one another as Jesus loved us.

He was willing to heal, and willing to forgive, and willing to die for our sake. 
If we are willing, God will use us.
Jesus asked Peter “Are you willing?"...

"Feed my Lambs”.