The timing of going to church that first time was everything. It wasn't long before Mark and I made the commitment to go each Sunday - as soon as we were reassured that we didn't have the worst behaved children in the area and that, yes, they would be welcomed into the Sunday Club. Funnily enough, one of the very first people that came up to say hello figured out who I was because she recognised my son from when he was younger. She was a childminder and knew who he was from the various toddler groups that she attended alongside my son's childminder. God is so amazing as she is now one of my closest and loved friends (I'm going to need to find a way to get my other church bestie into this blog or she'll get stroppy!). At that time, I was going through a pretty rubbish time at work. I'd started a new job possibly the year before and had inherited the most challenging class of my entire career. I worked my absolute socks off at the school and made such a differenc
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My Testimony I wasn't brought up in a Christian household but always believed in the existence of God. My great-grandad bought me a children's illustrated Bible one year, for either my birthday or Christmas, and I used to love reading it, especially the stories about Jesus. There was never a doubt in my mind that God created the world, or that Jesus lived on this earth. But that was it. My dad died when I was in my mid-twenties and, after that, I felt an urge to go to church. I was working in my first school as a teacher at that time and one of the teaching assistants there was a Christian and her husband, who was one of our governors, was the Reverend of a local church. I taught their younger daughter. They were the first Christians I really knew and, although their faith was massively important to them, they never made anyone feel bad if it wasn't for them. There was nothing judgemental about either of them, and they always joined us in the pub for a boozy Friday night. W
Mark had a good idea yesterday (it does happen occasionally!). I have a newly created website for my business, and in the ABOUT section, I mention that I'm a Christian, and that I'm the church secretary in our church. My faith is something I always mention to prospective parents and I really hope that it's part of my life that they can see being demonstrated through the way I behave. Pre-COVID, when parents were allowed into our home, they could see elements of my beliefs dotted around in the form of pictures, quotes, books etc. Mark's idea was to add a link on my website to our church and I also said I could add a link to this blog. If nothing else, it will help me to remember to keep it updated! So, I'm going to step out in faith and do just that. I've also got a couple of people that I'm going to send the link to this blog to. I'm hoping for a seed to be sown (or maybe just some questions about why I'm dressed in white standing in a pool - cert
Children's Talk Ephesians 6: 18 (NIV) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. Since our Pastor has been on Sabbatical, and the pandemic means that we are conducting our Sunday services on Zoom, a few of the congregation have stepped up to deliver children's talks which are usually part of our services. I've just recorded my third one and I've really enjoyed doing it. Unpicking a verse or two, understanding it at your own level, and then trying to explain it to children who are as young as 3 is quite a challenge - but a really good one. I hope that this is something that can continue (though I definitely prefer the comfort of videoing it!) as I've had some really positive feedback. I think it's good for us all to listen to a range of different people when we are learning new things. So the verse I have explained, which is above, follow
Zechariah 3: 1 - 10 (NIV) 1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. 2 The LORD said to Satan, 'The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire!' 3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. 4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off his filthy clothes.' Then he said to Joshua, 'See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.' 5 Then I said, 'Put a clean turban on his head.' So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. 6 The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua. 7 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a plac
Every so often, our Pastor talks about Spiritual Growth - and also how difficult it is to measure. He often tells us to look back a year and make a decision based on that. It's partly his job to be concerned about the spiritual growth of his flock and it's something I often ponder upon. I'm pleased to say that, in the 5 and a bit years that I've been a Christian, I've seen that growth. It builds year on year so that now, when I look back to that Christmas 6 years ago, when my husband (Mark) and I first attended a service at our local church, I can't believe I'm one and the same person. Well, I can believe it because I believe in Jesus and He is a miracle maker. All things are possible, even enticing me into His Church when I didn't even realise I wanted to go (but I'll save that story for another day!). I never want to stand still, so I've made a decision this year to document my Spiritual Journey. I want to be able to look back in a year's