Our God is a big God


I was sat amongst some friends this week and we listened to song called 'You are' by Bradford Church . We spent a few minutes thinking about the song and we were asked what the one thing was that stuck out to us . When listening to this song the words that stuck out to me was ‘You are’. In the song it talks about all the things that God is...

“You are the strength for the those in need , You are the defender of the weak Your everything we need, You are our God”

It can be so easy in our everyday lives to forget how big God is ! , We can forget that God is interested in the small things in our lives as well as the big. God is all the things above and so much more . I was challenged to try to include God in all parts of my life not just the big things.

Do we truly understand where God is or do we put Him in a box and see Him where we want Him to be. It is easy to see that God is there when we worship or when we sometimes pray, but do we see God when people are hurting or struggling? Let us show others that actually we see God in the smallest things like a baby smile or a hug to someone in need. Where will you acknowledge God this week and where are you going to take Him over the next few days?

Emily Swinburne / Richard Dawson

Thoughts of a work experience student (2)

Reality Check

I came to do my year 10 work experience at Nottingham YfC because I wanted something different from the norm. I wanted to get something else out of my week, asides from an extended knowledge of how to make coffee and use a photocopier…
And do you know what? I totally got it.
I’ve done almost three days now and I think the thing that has struck me the most is how so many churches and believers can work together, despite their different ways of doing things. I mean, we’re all a family, right? God’s family. And if that means meeting up in a café to talk about our lives, or making breakfast at a community centre, or playing table tennis with a group of teenagers, it’s all for God and through God and with God.
A couple of years ago my parents felt called to move to a new church and we visited a number of churches in Nottingham when making the decision. Recently I have also started going to a youth group at different church from my own. Through this, I have seen how easy it is to get caught up on all those little differences or ‘alternative interpretations’, which churches and youth groups have. I know I can definitely get absorbed in comparing and over-analysing. I spend time wondering where I really belong and which way is the ‘correct’ way of doing things, but this week has been such a reality check for me. It’s not about what youth group I go to or how we do worship at church or what refreshments are served after the service! The fact is: as long as we’ve got the foundations sorted, the little things are simply what make us who we are.
I have loved seeing how different people can just work together because they have one common interest, God. All of us can draw from each other and bless each other, whilst we worship and show his love in tons of different ways, that are as diverse as we all are from eachother. And I shouldn’t be wondering where I belong, because I am one of God’s children and that makes me a member of his family. That is where I belong, in the unity that is God’s family, full of wonderful people who love him just as much as I do!

Ephesians 4:4-6
You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all.

Ephesians 4:15
We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other.

Helena Gloeckner

is it easier to give than recieve?

We are currently working through a Leonard sweet book, and one of the points he makes is that it is easier to give than it is receive. I know we live in a culture where everyone seems to be on the take, and The Church and Christianity has done a lot over the last few years to show that we want to serve and make a difference, and give to things we think are important. In fact i often do a workshop on how to serve local schools, as we think this is really important. When you look at it though, you ask yourself when you do give of yourselves, when you do make that effort to put something into a project, do people take what you offer or do they just let you do it.
There is a difference between taking something and receiving it. Over the years i have had some great Christmas presents. I remember some random family member knitting me some lovely socks, I also remember getting some great Christmas jumpers. Yes i took the presents and yes i said thank you, like the good boy i was brought up to be, but did i fully receive them? No, I found the quickest way to put them under the stairs and they were never seen again.
When someone offers you something do you take it or do you receive it? To receive something we have to accept it and make it ours.
When we connect with Churches and schools we offer a service, we like to support and help in anyway. Some institutions decide to take, they use us without really getting the best out of us. They take what we offer and don't see how it could be best used in their situation. Others, they receive the offer and grab hold of it with 2 hands, and look to the best way they can use what is on the table, they will talk to us and try and adapt and work with what they have.
When someone offers us something, do we take it and fully accept it.
It is easier to give, why? Because the power is with the giver. If you have something to give and you give to someone who doesn't have that then you are seen to be the provider, the giver, the one who has it. It can become a pride thing. When we give do we give out of pity? or because people are equal to us and deserve what we have, and in which case, do we give as much as we would want them to truly receive?
To truly receive and accept, means to get rid of pride and say I need what you have, you have something that i need and i am not ashamed of that.
God wants to give us so much, do we accept that? do we receive what God has truly offered us, or does pride get in the way of that too. In fact Leonard sweet goes on to say that if we prefer to give then we are putting ourselves in line with God, as he is giver and we were created to receive from Him. Not saying i agree but thought provoking. Be who you were created to be, and receive what other people , and God, want to give you. Rich Dawson