The Haven

The Cross in my Pocket

I carry a cross in my pocket

A simple reminder to me

Of the fact that I am a Christian

No matter where I may be.

This little cross is not magic

Nor is it a good luck charm

It isn’t meant to protect me

From every physical harm.

It’s not for identification

For all the world to see

It’s simply an understanding

Between my Saviour and me.

When I put my hand in my pocket

To bring out a coin or a key

The cross is there to remind me

Of the price he paid for me.

It reminds me, too, to be thankful

For my blessings day by day

And to strive to serve Him better

In all that I do and say.

It’s also a daily reminder

Of the peace and comfort I share

With all who know my Master

And give themselves to His care.

So I carry a cross in my pocket

Reminding no one but me

That Jesus Christ is Lord of my life

If only I’ll let Him be.

Reconciliation

We remember with pride the brave sacrifice of men and women who paid the ultimate price in the service of their country.  This controversial poem by Siegfried Sassoon is from the 1^st World War, but is still a hard lesson in forgiveness.

Reconciliation

When you are standing at your hero’s grave,

Or near some homeless village where he died,

Remember, through your heart’s rekindling pride,

The German soldiers who were loyal and brave.

Men fought like brutes; and hideous things were done;

And you have nourished hatred, harsh and blind.

But in the Golgotha perhaps you’ll find

The mothers of the men who killed your son.

Lord, help us to forgive.

Prayer for the Nation

The two excerpts below are reprinted by kind permission from “The Word For Today” a quiet time companion, published by UCB, PO Box 255, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8YY.  The Word for Today is published quarterly with daily readings and notes and issued free of charge.

Reflecting, and being grateful!

‘I WAS EYES TO THE BLIND AND FEET TO THE LAME.’ JOB 29:15 NIV

Chuck Swindoll tells of The Giving Tree: ‘When the boy was young he swung from the tree’s branches, ate her apples and slept in her shade.  The tree loved those years.  But as the boy grew he spent less and less time with the tree.  “Come on, let’s play,” said the tree, but the young man was only interested in money.  “Then take all my apples and sell them,” said the tree.  He did and the tree was happy.  He didn’t return for a long time, but the tree smiled when he passed one day.  “Come on, let’s play!”  But the man was older and tired of the world.  He wanted to get away from it all.  “Cut me down.  Take my trunk, make yourself a boat, then you can sail away,” said the tree.  The man did, and the tree was happy.   Many seasons passed – and the tree waited.  Finally the old man returned, too old to play, or pursue riches, or sail the seas.  “I have a pretty good stump left.  Just sit down here and rest,” said the tree.  He did, and the tree was happy’

Swindoll continues, ‘I stared into the fire, reviewing my life as I grew older with the tree and the boy.  I identified with both; and it hurt.  How many giving trees have there been?  How many people have given of themselves so that I might grow, accomplish my goals and find wholeness and satisfaction?  Thank you Lord for each one.’  That night I crawled into bed.  I had wept, now I was smiling.  “Goodnight, Lord.”  I was a thankful man.  Thankful I’d taken time to reflect.’

Peace ‘in spite of’

‘YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GOD’S PEACE, WHICH IS FAR MORE WONDERFUL THAN THE HUMAN MIND CAN UNDERSTAND.’ PHILIPPIANS 4:7 TLB

Catherine Marshall writes ‘A king once offered a prize to the artist who could paint the best picture of peace.  Many tried, but there were only two the king really liked.  One was of a calm lake.  It was a perfect mirror for the peaceful towering mountains all around it.  Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.  The other picture had mountains too.  But they were rugged and bare.  Above them was an angry sky from which fell rain, and in which lightning played.  Down the side of the mountains tumbled a waterfall.  This did not look peaceful at all.  But when the king looked closely he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock.  In the bush a mother bird had built her nest.  There, in spite of the rush of angry water, she sat on her nest; in perfect peace.  Which picture do you think won the prize?  The king chose the second picture.  Why?  “Because,” explained the king, “Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work.  Peace means to be in the middle of all these things and still be calm in your heart.”’

At some point we all discover that there’s no safe harbour free from storms; that peace is not the absence of storms, but a) the assurance of God’s presence and protection in the midst of them; b) the growth of our faith and character because of them; c) His rock-solid promise to bring us through them stronger and wiser.

Be a peacemaker

‘BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.’ MATTHEW 5:9 NIV

When you walk into a scene of conflict you have two options; you can be a troublemaker or a peacemaker; you can add to the stress or bring a solution.  Zig Ziglar tells of a little guy who was confronted by three bullies, any one of whom could have flattened him.  And clearly, that’s what they had in mind.  But the little guy was very bright.  He backed away, drew a line in the dirt, backed up a few more steps, looked into the eyes of the biggest of the three and said, ‘Now you just step across that line!’  The big bully did.  At that moment the little guy grinned and said, ‘Good, now we’re both on the same side!’

Peacemakers look for common ground, and try to get everyone onto it.  Their goal is to find a win-win situation.  Barnabas, whose name means ‘Son of consolation,’ stood up for the newly converted Saul of Tarsus when he was ‘persona non grata’ to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem.  And given Saul’s track record, who could blame them?  But Barnabas wasn’t looking at Saul’s troubled past, he was thinking about his potential.  In essence he told the apostles, ‘If you can harness and direct this horse, you win the race.’  And he proved right.  Saul the persecutor became Paul the apostle!  But Barnabas had to put his credibility on the line.  Peacemaking means taking a risk on people, judging them by their best moments and qualities rather than their worst.  Here’s the bottom line; peacemakers are big picture thinkers; they’re governed by grace, not petty opinions or temporary conditions.  So, are you ready to be a peacemaker?

Being happy on the job

‘THE LORD SHALL COMMAND (HIS) BLESSING UPON….ALL THAT THOU SETTEST THINE HAND UNTO.’ DEUTERONOMY 28:8

Happiness involves feeling good about yourself.  It’s based on your relationships and achievements.  When your gifts and abilities are fully developed and utilized through your life’s work, you grow in confidence and strength.  Here are seven keys to being happy on the job: 1) see work as God’s gift, not punishment. ‘When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God’ (Ecclesiastes 5:19 NIV) 2) recognise God as your true employer. ‘Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does’ (Ephesians 6:7-8 NIV) 3) pursue work compatible with your gifts.  ‘If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised’ (1Peter 4:11 NIV) 4) learn everything possible about your job. ‘Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance’ (Proverbs 1:5 NIV) 5) use criticism to your advantage.  In fact make it work for you; ask for suggestions and correction: ‘Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured’ (Proverbs 13:18) 6) do more than is expected of you. ‘And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him [two]’ (Matthew 5:41).  Be an extra-miler!  7) make Jesus your work partner.  Stay Christ-conscious throughout the day as you perform your duties faithfully: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee’  (Isaiah 26:3).

If  these readings have struck a chord with you and you would like to know more, here are some further contact details for UCB:

Website: www.ucb.co.uk/wft

Email: ucb@ucb.co.uk

Tel: 0845 60 40 401 (local rate call)

Prayers to read and use

Let us pray......................

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If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If God had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring
and a sunrise every morning.
When you want to talk, He'll listen.
He could live anywhere in the universe
and yet He chose your heart.
And that Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem?
Face it friend He's crazy about you!
Pass this on and brighten someone's day,
and remember:
God answers Knee Mail!

Dear Lord we stand here before you today knowing that many of us are shocked at the suffering in silence that goes on in our world, we pretend to acknowledge the problem and try to reach out but we are just waving into the sky.  Give us the courage Lord to speak to those people, who are locked in torment in their minds, help us to overcome our own misgivings and touch their hearts.  We ask for your guidance when we feel unable to speak with those we wouldn’t usually and offer comfort and healing.

Lord the modern world is no different to the ancient but we have forgotten to use our mouths to speak as technology takes its hold, let us still be of human comfort to those around us and pick up the telephone instead of the keyboard.  We know that you want us to walk with you Lord and we can think of no better experience than to walk in the garden with you…………give us the reminders that we need peace and quiet to know that you are there.  Every day we need you Lord, we yearn for your presence in our lives we are empty without you and our souls are dry as bones.  Send your holy spirit to soothe us, enfold us and feed our hearts with the food of heaven.  Lord we are yours, we want more of you not less, let us keep our eyes fixed upon you.

God, forgive my incompleteness: not growing in Christ, not expanding my knowledge of the Scriptures, not developing all my talents. Our lives are planned in Your vision, every step we take, every breath we make, every disappointment and every joy.

God, forgive my disinterest: a lack of concern for needs around me, apathy regarding the lostness of millions, blindness to hurts I could help heal.

God, forgive my dishonesty: taking, the easy way rather than the right way, speaking in one manner while living in another, silencing truth to preserve tranquillity, settling for less than what is best, loving tradition more than obeying your pioneering Spirit.

God, forgive my loudness: talking when I should be listening, proclaiming when I should be studying, busying myself with new tasks when I should be finding a quiet place to rest.

God, forgive my silence: feeling love and failing to whisper it, reeling with joy and not shouting hallelujah, knowing truth and forfeiting an opportunity to share it, sensing a need to share my faith and squelching the impulse.

God, please forgive me.

Let us pray for the world with the International Prayer for Peace

Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth.

Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust.

Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace.

Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.

Let us offer a prayer for world peace and for the unity of all religions.
Let us pray for all spiritual leaders to open their hearts and their doors to everyone in need
Let us pray that all people live their life fully no matter what their religion, race, creed
Let us pray for all the children who go to bed hungry that they may be fed.
Let us pray for people of the world to be generous and to give freely.
Let us pray for every human being to live, as God wants them to, with open hands and unclenched fists.
Please, dear God, bless whoever is listening, whoever is hearing, whoever is reading these words to be generous with their time, generous with their love, and generous with their hearts.
May they serve another human being in the name of their God and know that God will always be with them.

Let us remember those events that our fellowship are involved with and ask for Gods guidance and support.  Let us ask for forgiveness in our weekly transgressions and the knowledge that your love will hold us close when we come to you in humility.

Lord Jesus Christ, you call us to proclaim the good news of the kingdom in word and deed: help us to speak out and to listen, to reach out and stand alongside, that the brokenness of your people may be mended and the beauty and harmony of your creation restored. Amen.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.