Sunday Thoughts

This Sunday we started a brand new series at MKCC called One Prayer. Over the next 4 weeks we will be joining with over 1,600 churches from around the world to look at the subject: God is ...

Sonia and the musicians did a great job!

Mark did an incredible job bringing the message: God is our refuge and strength. If you missed it listen or watch it at mkcc.org.uk. It will be up tomorrow.

Here are some of the highlights:

• You've got to know first and foremost that GOD IS. God is saying look at me.
• God is saying don't down size me don't compact me.
• Do you not know? Have you not heard? (duh!) God has all the power. Isaiah 40.
• God is saying I am completely available for you no matter what never beyond our reach.
• God is strong when we are weak. Nothing comes to my life without going through God first.
• What do you do when the storm hits. Do you run from God or run to God?
• He who began a good work in you WILL complete it.
• God is our strength. You ain't going anywhere if you don't download from God.
• God is our refuge and he then becomes our strength he helps you get up and start walking again.
• You don't find God in your arrogance you find him in your total surrender.
• None of us know what life is going to bring us except: God Is!
• You may have walked out on him but God has never walked out on you. His grace is sufficient for you, his power is made perfect in weakness.
• The Lord ALMIGHTY is with US; the God of Jacob is our FORTRESS. Ps 46 v 11 // now how different will we live today with that information?
• God will sooner empty heaven of angels than leave a saint without defence - C H Spurgeon

Remember to visit www.oneprayer.com for Bible Reading, Prayer & some additional messages.

Being & Doing in Community

Since I was a little boy and first experienced God's love I have always wanted to do great things for God. Not a bad desire. But that's also where the battle started.

For so many years, and even now I relapse, I missed the point that God is more interested in me BEING rather than me DOING.

If I'm not becoming more like Jesus then my doing is going to be holed below the waterline. So my doing is sabotaged by my doubt and self-loathing because of my own internal private warzone. In which I continue to lose and hide, isolated and alone whilst surrounded by people and friends all fighting the same battles but too scared and proud to join forces.

I read this recently in a book called Sampson & the Pirate Monks:

"I am merely part of a team. I am unique but only in the way that a snowflake is unique. We are different but not easily distinguished. We are ALL composed of the same stuff. We all fall to the ground, and we achieve our most captivating beauty in community."

I am learning two things BEING who God made me to be is more important that what I do. And authentic relationship is not only a key to my transformation to become LIKE Jesus it is also how WE will do great things - Together.

A different slant on surely Goodness & Mercy

One of the ministries that has had a big impact on me over the last few year is NewSpring Church in South Carolina. So much about what they do inspires me. But at the end of the day church is not an organisation, building or even a set of values or vision. Church is people.

Not just about pastors, preachers & leaders but about ever member in the church living their life for Jesus. I have visited there a couple of times and met many of the people but through the medium of blogs and social network sites I can keep up with the comings and goings of many of the people there.

Over the last few weeks I have been praying for Zac Smith. He works at NewSpring Church in IT and has cancer. I read a post by Zac last night that touched my soul.

Zac wrote something that rocked my world to the extent that initially I just wanted to shout no. He talks about a conversation with his friend who told him: “God is not holding out on you, He is holding you.” Then they read Psalm 23 together which Lee later sang in church which affected Zac deeply. You can watch it below.

You can read the whole post in Zac's own words here. Be sure to pray for Zac today.

I'm Back

Things have been a little quiet here on billyritchie.org for the last 10 days. Mainly due to holiday. Guess if I was a real serious blogger I would have lined up some scheduled posts to appear while I was away. But hey i'm just not that organised.

Truth be told I intended to blog when I was on holiday. I even picked a campsite that had free wifi so I could stay connected! Sitting there on the first day looking at my computer screen I though what am I doing so I packed it up for the week and got disconnected. (Well almost. I still had my iPhone and twitter not exactly cold turkey eh?)

So the last 10 days:

• 1100 miles behind the wheel.
• 2 transitions through the Tunnel sous la Manche.
• Umpteen tolls on various French roads.
  
• Eurocamp Mobile home in St Jean De Monts in the Vendee.
• Great French bread and lots of very cheap but nice wine.
• Lots of sitting by the pool, watching the kids in the pool & a few games of pool.
  
• A few French markets.
• 1 novel - Jeffery Archer and 2 books - Irresistible Revolution and Samson & the pirate monks. (More about them later)
• Many, many podcasts - Perry Noble, Erwin McManus, Mark Driscol & Matt Chandler.
• A little bit of footy watching - never mind Man Utd there is always next year and if you get to the final the team might actually turn up.
• Abbie's 17th Birthday.
• and a stinking cold for the last few days with my ears hurting with an infection.
• Laid up in bed on Sunday and Monday
• Back to work on Monday to 100's of emails!

So that was my holiday how did you spend half term?