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Click on the image to hear The International Staff Songsters sing the song.
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As I listened and watched different services on Pentecost Sunday, what caught my attention was how many times the phrase ‘THE NEW NORMAL’ was used in relation to the way forward for the disciples.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus the disciples were told to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. All that they had been taught and promised by Jesus would now happen, things would be very different for them; they would now be living a New Normal lifestyle empowered by the Holy Spirit.
But this was not the first time these chosen followers of Jesus had experienced life-style changes.
Three years previously these twelve ordinary men were chosen and called out from their normal everyday lives to be trained and transformed by Jesus a Galilean Preacher. During the next three years spent with Jesus they had many lessons to learn: I have chosen four of them.
After 3 years of following Jesus and learning some very hard lessons, were these chosen followers ready for another ‘New Normal’ life changing experience?
Were they prepared for what happened next?
Were they up to the challenge that Jesus had set for them?
Find out in Pause for Thought Part 2 tomorrow
Now listen as the International Staff Songsters sing ‘If your Presence’.
After the death and resurrection of Jesus the disciples were told to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. All that they had been taught and promised by Jesus would now happen, things would be very different for them; they would now be living a New Normal lifestyle empowered by the Holy Spirit.
But this was not the first time these chosen followers of Jesus had experienced life-style changes.
Three years previously these twelve ordinary men were chosen and called out from their normal everyday lives to be trained and transformed by Jesus a Galilean Preacher. During the next three years spent with Jesus they had many lessons to learn: I have chosen four of them.
- They asked Jesus to teach them how to pray and the Lord’s Prayer was a result of that earnest request. When you pray said Jesus, recognise God as your Father.
- Jesus also taught them how to be servants. In Mark’s Gospel we read that the disciples wanted to send a hungry crowd away to find their own food. But, in His compassion Jesus taught these raw recruits the spirit of sharing and caring. ‘You serve them, don’t send them away hungry’ said Jesus. At the last Supper Jesus revealed the heart of a true Servant when He knelt before each of the disciples and washed their feet.
- Jesus taught the disciples how to relax. Like us they felt the pressure and the demands of everyday life. This is what Jesus said and this would be an appropriate lesson for us all to learn especially in these days when life sometimes becomes an uphill struggle for all of us. ‘ Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me, Get away with me and you will recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me, watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t try anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’ (Matthew 11: 28-30 – the Message).
- Jesus taught them how to love one another as He loved them. He said, you can only be my true disciples if you show love for one another. (John 13: 34-35)
After 3 years of following Jesus and learning some very hard lessons, were these chosen followers ready for another ‘New Normal’ life changing experience?
Were they prepared for what happened next?
Were they up to the challenge that Jesus had set for them?
Find out in Pause for Thought Part 2 tomorrow
Now listen as the International Staff Songsters sing ‘If your Presence’.
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Click on the image to hear The International Staff Songsters sing the song.
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Note: This series of 'Pause for Thought' started on Monday 4th May. To find these previous thoughts go to the Archive section of the website listed under the 'more.....' tab at the top of the page. On the 'Daily Pause for Thought' section of the website we will only keep 2 weeks of contributions before putting them into the Archive.
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In this current situation when our church doors are closed to our normal activities but our work to support those in need continues, our normal source of funds (Sunday Tithes and Offerings) have reduced dramatically. We need your help, so that we continue to be ready to meet the ongoing needs of our community that will undoubtedly impact beyond this lock down period. If you are willing to help please visit our Just Giving Page to make a donation to this work. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bedfordsa