Empty

Three days after Jesus died on the cross two women came to anoint his body with spices. When they came to the tomb they saw that the tomb was open and empty. Jesus’ body wasn’t there.

When things happen that we aren’t expecting, when our routine gets changed, when we think we know what’s coming next – help us to be ready for you Lord to take control.

The women were confused and upset, all that was left were folded grave clothes, and their Lord had been taken.

When it feels like our faith has been taken or disappeared – help us to find you in news ways that we don’t expect.

 Jesus appeared to the women, they thought he was the gardener.

When they realised that it was him they were so full of joy that they ran to tell his disciples that he was alive again!

Let us have faith to run and tell others of the great news that Jesus is alive again!

When it seems like the world is dark, let us keep watch for the moments when we encounter Jesus in a new way.

Stop for a while, outside the empty tomb.

How would it have felt for the women to discover their Lord, their friend – gone?

Pray and ask God to be with you in the times when it feels like its all been taken away from you.

Rejoice in the moments when we discover God in new and different ways, spend time now thanking God for the times what we have been surprised with the things that the creator of the world has done in our lives.

God, we thank you that you died on the cross and there took all of our sin and shame. We are amazed to think that you are so powerful that you defeated death, thank you that you are not dead but live with each of us still today.

We pray that through the story of your death and resurrection, we can learn to live life with you, and to share your love with others around us.

Amen

Hello!

Hello! Welcome to my blog.

I've decided to start writing down some of life, as it happens.

I work for the Methodist Church as a Children and Community worker, but do loads of youth work that seems to have skipped my job title.
I've been brought up in the Methodist Church all of my life, sometimes I've been glad of this and other times frustrated.

Now, looking back I can see what amazing foundations it lay in my life. Both spiritually and socially.
My family in my mind has always been so much bigger than my parents and sister - its all those adopted Grandma's who make you cups of tea, Grandad's who fix things, Uncles to chase you, the Aunties to sit and listen, the extra kids around to play with. Everyone in the church turns into your family.
That comes with its joys and annoying moments too, as normal families!
When you can laugh and cry with the same people, share feelings - honestly - and truly believe that your views or thoughts aren't going to alienate you from everyone.
When you can share the hugest spiritual moment with people then share a peice of cake together!

I love all that being in a church family brings., my life would be so much smaller and worse off without it.

I am so blessed by all those people who have been in my life, who have shaped who I am and who I will be.

Church is about the people, totally. But its so much more than that!

If it was just about the people then when we sing it would just be noise rather than praise, when we prayed it would be gossip rater than worship, when we give a homeless person a coffee it would be 'nice' rather than serving.

Its all about God! In my life anyway.

Without God, everything we do in churches is just to be 'nice'. I can't stand 'nice' places!!

The Church for me, in my life, has been home. Its where I can be who I was created to be. I can be free, yet know my boundaries. I can love and know I will be loved back. Its where I get the amazing privelidge to meet with the dude who created everything we have.

Every grain of sand - he's counted them! How amazingly insain is that!!
To me, that doesn't just mean that he is super sad and doesn't have enough to do in a day, so counted the sand. It means that he cares, he cares about all those things that seem so small, that we take for granted. The little things in life that we don't think are worth telling anyone about - they so are!
I believe that God already knows everything, some people ask me why we have to pray if he already knows everything before we say it...because he absolutely loves hanging out with us, and when we come to him with he big things or the little things, the point is that we are coming to him with all that jazz.

I love my job - it means that I get paid to tell people, and remind people how awesome God is - everyday!

A few years ago, I felt that God said that  was going to be a part of re-introducing his people to him.
Which was totally confusing, because if they are his people why do they need to be re-introduced!?
Overtime, God has beens showing me a little more of his plan.
I've met so many people who go to church, they sing the hymns, they pray the prayers, they give each week. But you can see it in their eyes that that is it. It has become routine, life, normal, boring even!
They all have a story. I can see God in them, I just don't think they can see it in themselves.
I believe that God wants to use me to open those peoples eyes to God again.
Of course I am interested and passionate about sharing the message of God and Jesus to people who have never heard it before, but I feel that we need to spend time looking after people once they've got the God stuff - making sure its alive in them rather than a routine or normality.

I feel I am preaching now!! So I will stop for now.

But lets see where this goes. I want to show how good the church can be, how awesome God is, and share some of my journey.

Praying that God uses this space.