/IWEDja11 by CWR

Inspiring Women

JUL/AUG 2011

Every Day

JULY

Reaching out in faith Gill Beard

AUGUST

Summertime Marion Stroud

Plus â&#x20AC;Ś Special Article, Ministry Report and CWR Events Page

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Gill Beard Gill Beard currently co-leads two outreach initiatives in Reading – Prayer Café and Prayer Stop. She trained as a cellist at the Royal College of Music, and played with the Royal Ballet Company. She has been a singer, songwriter and worship leader for 25 years, working for 10 years with Lord Carey as Director of Music on his teaching missions. In 1991 he chose her to sing one of her songs live on BBC Songs of Praise. Married to Nick for 40 years, she has two sons and three gorgeous grandchildren, Josiah and the twins, Elanie and Wesley. Her passion is to see Prayer Café or Prayer Stop in every church in the country. She loves people, cats, film, humour and chocolate!

Marion Stroud Marion Stroud has published 21 books and writes regularly for Woman Alive and other magazines. One of her particular concerns is the needs of those who come to faith or regain their faith after marriage leaves them as lone worshippers in their families. She has written and spoken widely on this topic both in the UK and overseas. She is a European trustee of Media Associates. She works with this charity to train Christian writers in Eastern Europe and the developing world. She is married to Gordon, a retired dentist, and has five adult children and 15 grandchildren, ranging in age from 0–17. See more on her website www.marionstroud.com and read her blog Living Life on Purpose at marionstroud.blogspot.com

Copyright © CWR 2011. Published by CWR, Waverley Abbey House, Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8EP, UK. Tel: 01252 784700 Email: mail@cwr.org.uk Registered Charity No. 294387. Registered Limited Company No. 1990308. Front cover image: Getty Images/Anne-Marie Weber. Concept development, editing, design and production by CWR. Printed in England by Linney Print. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of CWR. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are from the Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV), copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Other versions used: NLT: Holy Bible New Living Translation, © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc. The Message: Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

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Reaching out in faith

s we begin our notes on ‘Reaching out in faith’, we need to consider how we might define faith. The dictionary says: ‘Strong or unshakeable belief in something, esp. without proof’, or for Christians it says, ‘Trust in God and in His actions and promises.’ Hebrews 11:1 states: ‘Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.’ In a song, I wrote these words: ‘Faith is knowing that in God you’re growing, when there’s nothing showing, simply trusting that it’s true.’ Faith is distinctly difficult to describe, isn’t it, but deep inside we know that a ‘faith seed’ was planted when we became a Christian. God waters that ‘seed’ and our faith starts to grow. Hebrews 11 highlights some giants of faith: Abraham, Moses, Noah, Gideon, David and many more. Their faith in God’s words, actions and promises brought God’s blessings, enabling them to do more than they ever thought possible. As we explore the New Testament, we’ll marvel at Jesus’ demonstrations of faith which are still so relevant. We’ll consider the faith of several Bible characters, share faith stories and discover ways of reaching out in faith today. As a Christian, I believe that God is my heavenly Father. I believe He sent His only Son, Jesus, to take my place on a cross, where He died for my sin. I believe the Holy Spirit was sent to empower me to hear from God, gifting me to do God’s will here on earth as it is done in heaven. I believe that I will live with God forever. This is my faith, my hope, my challenge and my desire. How might you express your faith? Find a moment to write down what you believe.

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Fri Jul 1 Hebrews 11:1–12 ‘... without faith it is impossible to please God ...’ (v.6)

For prayer and reflection Faithful God, help me to go deeper in love and faith as I learn to trust You for my life. May I never be shaken in my belief that You chose me for eternity. Amen.

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Jul 2/3

weekend ‘I knew You from the start’

For reflection: John 3:16

ears ago, my eldest son went to Bolivia for four months. He was away from home, in a foreign land, without communication. It was only then that the enormity of what God had done for us truly hit me. God sent His only Son, knowing what was going to happen to Him – and still let Him go. This song expresses what I thought God may have felt.

I knew You from the start, before the world began I sent You from My heart, to live on earth, a man I had to let You go, I had to let You fall I had to let You die, because I loved them so.

You were despised, rejected, mocked and scorned My heart too was broken when Your body was torn I laid on You the punishment for all their sin But Jesus, My beloved Son, the victory was won. I raised You from the dead, to sit at My right hand The Lamb upon the throne, the King of heaven and earth I had to let You go ...

Are you having to ‘let go’ of someone ... your child to university; your parents, as you start life as an adult; someone close to death? God is with you too. Optional further reading

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John 17:1–19

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Oh Mother, please!

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just love this story. It’s so normal, yet totally extraordinary. Here is Jesus’ mother, bustling around at a family wedding we assume, when the wine runs out. Dilemma ... what do we do? This would reflect very badly on the family. Such lack of hospitality is more than an embarrassment, it’s a total disaster. What would people think! Weddings in first-century Israel often went on for a week, with feasting and celebrating, unlike ours today when we often cater for just one meal! I don’t know about you but, as the mother of two sons, also in their thirties, I’d have done what Mary did. I too have faith in my sons’ abilities and gifting. I know that when I am in a quandary I can ask for their help and they willingly give it. So Mary simply tells Jesus that they have run out of wine, looking in faith for Him to provide the solution. Jesus’ response is interesting. It seems He is being a bit harsh with her. But I believe His response is more along the lines of loving family banter. ‘Oh Mum, do I have to? I’m just here with My friends, enjoying the party,’ but said with a knowing smile, not a rebuke. Mary, totally ignoring His response, tells the servants to do whatever Jesus says. She trusted her son implicitly, even though she hadn’t the slightest idea what He was going to do. I’d love to have seen the look on her face as Jesus demonstrated His glory, authority and power. This amazing miracle heralded the start of His ministry on earth. Wouldn’t you have been very proud of your boy? And the very best bit of all? His disciples, seeing His glory, put their faith in Him. Let us do likewise.

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Mon Jul 4 John 2:1–11 ‘His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”’ (v.5)

For prayer and reflection Let’s take time to soak ourselves in this story, imagining ourselves as Mary, the wine taster, a disciple or a servant and see how it impacts our faith levels.

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Tues Jul 5

Why wait?

hy did Jesus let one of his best friends die? Why didn’t He rush off the moment He was told that Lazarus was sick? This isn’t how I imagined the loving, caring Son of God would ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the behave, especially towards His closest friends. So, as I Son of God, who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, whose very nature was to come into is love, there must be an answer. the world.’ (v.27) What do we learn from this story? Martha, understandably distraught, points out that if Jesus had come earlier, her brother wouldn’t have died. Jesus’ response to her gives us our answer: ‘Your brother will rise again.’ For Jesus to have healed Lazarus when he was sick would have been what people expected of this itinerant preacher/healer. Instead, Jesus demonstrated His supernatural power over life and death. I find Jesus’ raising of Lazarus really helpful. I have no problem in believing that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. But me; will He raise me? Jesus loved this family deeply, as they too loved Him. He knew that For prayer and He was going to bring Lazarus back to life. Jesus loves reflection me deeply, as I too love Him, and so it follows that I too will be raised from the dead. Our faith in Him gives us eternal life that death cannot destroy. I’m looking Lord Jesus, forward to a long chat with Lazarus! please increase This powerful miracle impacted many Jews, who my faith in You, put their faith in Jesus right there and then. Martha’s regardless of my state or situation. statement of faith, recognising Jesus as the Son of God, reflects the depth of faith He hopes to find in us (v.27). Lord, show me We may not understand why Jesus does what He the bigger picture does, but we do know that it is always in our best and deepen my understanding. In interests. ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today Your name, Amen. and for ever’ (Heb. 13:8). John 11:1–7, 14–27,38–45

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C Dat

1–3 J

4 Jul

6 Jul

7–8 J

12 Ju

23 Ju 8–12

15 Au 20 A

22–2

30 A

31 Au

Plea Wav Psy

Mon Aug 1

Summertime

hether or not it’s summer as the hot season for you now, what do the words: ‘Summertime, and the livin’ is easy’ ‘See! The winter is mean to you? School holidays, extra hours of daylight, past … the season sunshine, time spent with friends and family? Women’s of singing has magazines are packed with advice on how to look your come ...’ (vv.11–12) best, entertain the children, barbecue ‘al fresco’ feasts for friends – we’re full of hope that this year the sun will shine, and we’ll become tanned, relaxed and more like the ‘beautiful people’ portrayed in the media. After a long, cold winter, we often get a surge of renewed energy when we feel the warmth of the sun on our faces, and the ‘Lover’ in our reading is no exception. Full of the joys of early summer, he comes bounding across the hills, vitality and enthusiasm personified. Perhaps the ‘Beloved’ has been reluctant to venture out into the cold to meet him, but now there is no excuse. For prayer and The rains are over and the world throbs with new life. reflection This is the time to enjoy their relationship all over again. I don’t know how you feel, as you see August 1 on the calendar. Perhaps you’re counting the days until If my heart has you set off for that long-awaited holiday. Maybe you’re grown cold, simply wondering how you’re going to get through the warm it with the next few weeks as you juggle child care and work. If sunshine of Your you’re not tied to school holidays, perhaps your break love, dear Lord. is over or still a long way ahead, as this month is given If I’ve withdrawn over to those with children. For some, summer is the into my ‘comfort busiest time of the year and you’re looking forward zone’, help me to the autumn. Whatever circumstances you face, the to answer Your Lover still says to each one of us: ‘Come. Let’s spend call to fresh time together. Enjoy the beauty of My love and let’s adventuring dance together in newness of life.’ with You. Song of Songs 2:8–13

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What are you expecting?

eremiah is sometimes called the Weeping Prophet, and he certainly seems to have plenty to weep about on this occasion. God has been patient, and has held back from judging the blatant rebellion affecting the nation, from the least to the greatest. His people have, quite shamelessly, flouted His laws. Jeremiah can see the urgent need for change, but they seem absolutely blind to the trouble they’re in. They persuade themselves that everything will turn out all right in the end (v.11), and seem quite content to sit and wait for it to happen. But they’re about to reap the consequences. I love the thought of summer. I dream of books I’ll read, places I’ll visit, family and friends I’ll entertain and goals I’ll surely achieve this year! I want my summer to be a time of renewal, refreshment and spiritual growth. Yet I often come to the end of the warmer months (which I expect to be less busy) and feel frustrated because few, if any, of the changes in me or my lifestyle have happened. For several summers I’ve puzzled over why this should be. One reason may be that we don’t become different automatically. Planning what we’ll grow in the garden is helpful, but unless we take action and put in the plants, we’ll still have bare earth. And it doesn’t stop there. We have to water, weed, fertilise and support the new growth. If it’s hot and the ground gets hard, it’s tempting to ignore the need to bang in stakes or do some hoeing. But untended plants may die, or grow with such vigour that they choke everything else. Either way we can miss out on the harvest we’re looking for. The same is true of our lives.

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Tues Aug 2 Jeremiah 8:4–22 ‘The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.’ (v.20)

For prayer and reflection Please show me where change is needed, Lord, and give me the trust and humility to open myself to You in a new way.

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Wed Aug 3

Waiting to be rescued

he Sheep Gate pool was a hub of social activity for the sick of Jerusalem. Brought by others to lie in the shade of the arches, they’d ‘When Jesus … learned that he perhaps settled for a life of weakness and dependency. had been in this It wasn’t so bad. They followed a familiar routine and condition for a didn’t have to take responsibility for their return to long time, he asked health. They just had to wait for the angelic visitation him, “Do you want and for someone to get them to the head of the queue to get well?”’ (v.6) for the plunge into the waters. The ‘invalid’ with whom Jesus talked had been there for a lifetime, but had no expectation of recovery. After all, he had ‘no one to help him’. When Janice developed a life-threatening illness and was told that she must stop smoking immediately or face a very real risk of dying early, her family expected her to give up smoking without hesitation. Not so. Janice was chemically hooked on nicotine but also emotionally addicted to the comfort smoking brought her. She refused to believe that her illness had anything to do with her 20-a-day habit. Her adult children begged her to give up, promising to do anything they could to support her, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. For prayer and Janice insisted that the doctor should ‘do’ something to reflection make her well and wasn’t prepared to help herself. Look at how The Message translates Jeremiah 8:20: ‘… the summer is over, but for us nothing’s changed. Consider this We’re still waiting to be rescued.’ The Holy Spirit thought: If we enables us to change and grow spiritually, but He keep doing the doesn’t force it on us against our will or without our cosame things we operation. As you look at your hopes for the summer, shall continue are you ready to take responsibility? Or are you still to get the same demanding to be rescued? results. John 5:1–15

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Is it worth it?

osie has a golden tan from March to October. Does she work outside or spend money on sunbeds? No. Every day she smoothes on a cream to top up the pigment in her skin. Jenny tried it for a couple of days, dabbing it onto the bits of her open to view. But, in the rush of ordinary life, looking as if she’d just left the beach didn’t seem worth the bother. Some of us ‘can’t be bothered’ with more important things. When a build up of ear wax makes it hard for me to hear, I know that syringing my ears will solve the problem. But I hate putting warm oil into my ears for a fortnight beforehand. It’s messy; I have to lie down for half an hour and, sometimes, softening it makes the wax plug worse. Then I have to go to the doctor for him to wash it away. Last winter I walked around for months with one ear completely blocked, rather than taking simple steps to resolve the problem. As we read on Tuesday, Jeremiah saw that the people of Jerusalem were desperately wounded. Damaged in body, mind and spirit, they needed the healing balm of God’s love and mercy. But they stubbornly refused to turn their backs on the sin that kept them from all God had for them. They weren’t prepared for the inconvenience of the remedy. Do you procrastinate? Are you like the Beloved when her Lover called at an awkward moment? She wanted him, but she wanted her comfort too. The Holy Spirit doesn’t wait until it’s convenient before He challenges us to change. And if we ignore Him, like the Lover, He may withdraw. ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts,’ says the writer to the Hebrews (3:7–8). If He calls, how will you answer?

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Thurs Aug 4 Song of Songs 5:2–8 ‘I have taken off my robe – must I put it on again?’ (v.3)

For prayer and reflection Loving Lord, help me to come to You for the healing that only You can give – without delay or making excuses.

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