Nothing but Everything to Say !

Liz has prompted bloggers to get blogging, so here I am.

I have so much bursting to say and yet I don't know how....so my blog today is I have Nothing and yet Everything to say and that is that !

The Last Choir Standing

Tonight is the first time I have watched The Last Choir Standing from start to finish. What an inspiration they all are ! But the phrase that has prompted this blog is this from the leader of Sense of Sound group: "We are all individuals but with one voice".

They were all in shades of purple, all reflecting their own individuality through their dress but they were with "one voice" as they performed as a group.

I love that concept of celebrating our individuality alongside our "one voice"..... brings to mind
'Romford Salvation Army, Living as God's Family, Building His Kingdom'!

Lord show us how .....

Proverbs

Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins.
American Indian Proverb

Reminding me to pray for our young people who are going to Zambia next week. Walking in their flip-flops!

Call on God, but row away from the rocks.
Indian Proverb

Reminds me that I have personal responsiblity as well as replying on God. We are the hands of Christ etc....

You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.
Irish Proverb

Back to previous blog about 'reputation'. Again a reminder, I have personal responsibility for my own spiritual life.

What you don't see with your eyes, don't invent with your mouth.
Jewish Proverb

Reminds me to guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Hold a true friend with both hands.
Nigerian Proverb

Reminds me to nurture my personal friendships.

Reputation

I have been at yet another new ladies meeting today to talk about "The Salvation Army it's Beginnings and Symbols". They love The Salvation Army! One after the other say either one of their parents or their grandparents were members of TSA, or they say things like "My Dad told me never to pass a Salvation Army person by without giving them money".

All very humbling especially when they say "You do such good work" "You are the only Church who really get out there amongst the people"!

Deep inside me I want to shout - but WE DON'T..... we are riding on the reputation of those gone before and those in the Social Services who work their guts out to help the needy.

I know we are in a funny place at the moment, not in our own premises etc etc..... but my struggle with belonging to the Church side of our beloved Salvation Army, is that it is easy to ride on the same reputation The Salvation Army has because of it's social work.

I go to great lengths to say that Richard and I work within the Church side of the movement and that I actually know very little about the social work within the Territory - but I can get you the number of someone who does know more and can give an up-to-date talk!

Today highlighted for me again that yes...I want people to know we are just as much a Church as the Methodists, Baptists, CofE etc etc.....but I want to be a Church that bases its whole being on "With Heart to God and Hand to Man".

When my Grandchildren are giving talks about The Salvation Army to ladies groups.... I wonder what legacy my generation will have left them to talk about? Will it still be World War I and the Doughnut Girls in France or World War II with cups of tea in the trenches? or will it be Crest Cafe 2008 serving Breakfast to the needy while the Gospel Message is being preached? (William Booth would approve of this I am sure!) Will it be Romford congregation getting their hands dirty as they wash a tramps feet?

Sorry to go on a bit - but I just wanted to share the question going around in my head just now, whose reputation are we riding on? and for whose sake?

Oh and BTW..... I was persuaded to show them some moves with the tambourine ! How very very embarrasing.... that is one reputation I think needs to be squashed - TSA is not about bonnets, tambourines and bands playing on street corners....is it?

Cracked Pots

Read this in the Adult and Family Ministries Resource book, thought I would share it with all the other crack'ed' pots out there !

The Water Bearer

A water bearer in China had two large pots, hung on each end of a pole, which he carried across his neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pots was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a two years, this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. ‘I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes my water to leak out all the way back to your house.’

The bearer said to the pot, ‘did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautifulflowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, we would not have such beauty.’

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You’ve just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

That's what Grace is !

Grace & Forgiveness full and Free !

Been staring out at my garden today. Recently have spent quite a bit of money and time on getting it looking better and more colourful. It is now a pleasure to look at. But this morning, I noticed the neighbours tall red rose bush is coming over our fence and adding a depth of colour to our garden - making it even more beautiful!

Our current sermon theme is "What's so amazing about Grace" and this week in our small groups we will be looking at Forgiveness when it seems impossible. As I looked at my garden and the colours of our own garden being so enhanced by the lovely red roses, I thought of God's grace enhancing our poor attempts at being Christlike....full of grace, truth and forgiveness !

So I have decided today, I want to be a rose ! Those who know me, if you see me being more like a weed - please just remind me of this blog :-)

Is God like a foreman?

Just wondering if God is bit like a foreman? Yesterday we spoke to the foreman oversighting the bricking up of the new extension at the Hall. He was on the otherside of the road just observing the men as they worked. I guess he was just watching their workmanship and then would get involved if something was not going right.

Does God stand back and watch us and then step in if necessary? Or is he more hands-on than that?