From Jo Reed

“Wireless” – a word in our vocabulary that has gone full circle.  It was originally derived from the early 20th century development of wireless telegraphy and in due course radio transmissions.  A number of scientists were involved, but more particularly the Italian Guglielmo Marconi who foresaw the commercial implications of the invention and opened a production factory just down the A12 at Chelmsford.  Today’s modern wireless technology or Wi-Fi as it is often referred to, covers a huge range of applications, from the assortment of remote T.V.  controls on our coffee tables to computer keyboards and mouses (or is it mice?).  Mobile phone “Blue tooth” and Broadband connections add to the increasingly wireless society we now live in.

At a recent Ministry Team meeting, we were sharing a discussion about prayer and praying and it now occurs to me that prayer is a form of wireless communication with God.  Prayer is about being with God, talking with him, doing things in his presence and the means by which our relationship with God finds expression, thus allowing that relationship to develop and grow.  It is possible to get to know a great deal about someone through letters, telephone calls and so on but it is only through talking to them face to face, sharing reactions to situations with them and spending time together that you get to know the real person in depth.  I don’t want to share anything that is significant to me personally with people I only know superficially: but with real friends I can share my deepest thoughts and feelings. 

As in all relationships there are different kinds of conversation and it is possible to categorise prayer in the same way.  Firstly, the “share and comment prayers” made during the hubbub of daily life, neither expecting, or requiring specific answers.  Secondly, the “formal prayers” sometimes using specific words from the Bible or a prayer book or at times put aside for that purpose.  The last category would seem to be the “emergency prayers” and these, in my experience tend to go something like this: “HELP!” No further explanations are necessary as long as we are confident of the God we are talking to.  Like all good communications, prayer needs to be a two-way process and we need to listen to God, to listen for God and to have an expectant attitude – to have our ears tuned for that “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19).

It now seems to be possible to have instant communication with anyone, anywhere in the world through the internet – communication with God requires no internet provider, no modem, no broadband, no apparatus at all in fact.  In our world full of electric and electronic gadgets and gizmos, I thank God that prayer is one wireless device accessible to everyone.

Jo Reed

“If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen!”

When Jesus taught about the cost of being his disciple, “many turned back and no longer followed him” (Jn.6:66) because of his “hard teaching”.  Whatever happened over the years to distort the gospel message, so that many of us have been fed the mistaken idea that being a Christian is about nothing more than comfortable tradition and cosy prayer meetings?

As spiritual beings, humans alone among God’s creation are invited into a deep, personal relationship with our Creator through his Son Jesus, and through that relationship he intends that we change & grow, so that we are fit for his purposes, that we should “bear fruit” (John 15:16) for his Kingdom.  Indeed, so concerned is God about our spiritual well-being that once we choose to embark upon that relationship for which we were made, he will not allow us to meander aimlessly, merely marking time on this planet.  No wonder ‘many turned back’ – spiritual formation can be a painful business!

The Bible is full of pictures of God as the skilled workman about his business in our lives – whether as master-builder, vine-dresser, potter, farmer, fisherman, or as a smelter of ore.  The Old Testament prophet Malachi says of God that “he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver”“ (Malachi 3:3).  Some time ago, I heard the following illustration of this verse which was such a blessing to me that I wanted to pass it on:

A group of women were studying the prophet Malachi together, when they came across Ch.3 verse three, which says, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” This verse puzzled the women.  How did this reflect the nature and work of God? So one of the women agreed to research the process of refining silver.  She called up a local silversmith and he agreed to let her observe him at work.  As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.  He explained that in refining silver it needs to be held in the middle of the fire where the flames are hottest so as to burn away all the impurities.  The woman pictured God holding her during various ‘hot spots’ in her life. 

She then asked the silversmith if he had to stay there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.  The man replied that not only did he sit there holding the silver at all times, but he had to keep his eyes on it the entire time it was in the fire.  If it were left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.  The woman was silent for a moment.  Then she asked the silversmith,”How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy-when I see my image in it.”

How good is that? To know that, when the heat is on in my life, it may not be comfortable, but my Father will neither let go, nor take his eyes off me for one second, nor let me remain in the fire for any longer than it takes for His image to be seen in my life!

Following Jesus may take us out of our comfort zone, but the only safe and worthwhile place to be is in the capable hands of the Master Craftsman. 

Gill Lee