Words from Bede Circuit

Dear Friends,

Recently, I found myself listening to a lady who was telling me the story of her holiday. As part of this story, she went on a coach trip, but sadly the bus broke down on its way to the Lake District. This took place during the recent hot spell of weather.

Because the coach had broken down on the motorway hard shoulder, the passengers and driver were not allowed to get off the bus as it would have been too dangerous for the passengers to be on the side of the motorway.

The lady said, that as they sat on the bus and the sun shone down, the heat was so warm that the chocolate in her bag melted!

Seconds turned to minutes, minutes turned to half an hour, half an hour turned into two hours before a replacement coach turned up.

What was unexpected, despite the heat, was the way in which the passengers interacted with each other and kept each other’s spirits up. She said that she learnt much about her fellow passengers, their lives, their loves, their trials and tribulations.

They survived and had a wonderful holiday that followed!

This story coincided with a busy week of ministry for me, and I found myself on the Thursday evening before my day off on Friday, very tired and feeling as though my brain could take in no further information.

I then realised that in the busyness of my week, I had been giving out in ministry but failing to take ample time to receive in from God. Effectively I had used up my reserves and was running on empty.

Sometimes, it is easy to get caught up in the many calls upon our time and forget to spend quality time with God. Fitting God into the busyness rather than putting God first and fitting our lives around the quality time that is needed to be spent with God for our faith to flourish.

So, I want to encourage you this week, to spend time with God, to spend quality time with God that allows you to receive from God and recognise the spirit of God at work in the world and in your life.

As it says in the words of the worship song ‘To be in your presence’

To be in your presence not rushing away, where your love surrounds me, here I will stay, this is my desire O lord, this is my desire, this is my desire O Lord, this is my desire.

May you find time to rest well in the presence of God this week

Rev Matt Sheard On behalf of Bede Circuit ministry team                                          

Prayer Meeting – Wednesday, 10am on Zoom