Minister’s Note 09 August 2020
Mothers advise their children “we can’t always choose what happens to us, but we can always choose how we will respond”. As followers of Jesus we are empowered to respond to any situation, no matter how challenging, by offering our resources for God’s service.
David Newton, in the Wednesday morning devotion (further exploring last Sunday’s Gospel reading of the feeding of the 5000) noted how we feel overwhelmed when we focus on our lack of resources. David encouraged us to adopt a mindset of believing that God has given us something to offer. He told the story of his later friend Hamilton Bennet. Hamilton, confined to bed with a terminal illness, chose to continue offering what he still had to serve others. He had a phone installed beside his bed and made it known that anyone could phone, at any time, he would listen and pray with them.
It may be that, sometimes, we feel like we are “rowing against the wind” in our efforts to serve God. If that’s the case this Sunday’s reading (Mt. 14:22-31) is timely. We are always dependent on Jesus, without him in the boat we make no headway. Praise be to God that, no matter the storm, Jesus is always with us. He saves all who call upon him.
God Bless,
Sean