ACT 13: SECOND FIDDLE?

MARCH 18, 2022

Romans 12:10   The Message

Love from the centre of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

_________________________


I remember reading of Leonard Bernstein, legendary conductor of the New York Philharmonic, giving an interview following a televised performance, he was asked: "Mr. Bernstein, what is the most difficult instrument to play?"

With humour and without even a thought he replied:

"Second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm . . . now that's a problem. And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony."

For some of us, I’m included in that us, surrendering control (looking out for # 1), and sacrificing our own agendas or plans is difficult. It means, first, that we don't get our own way and secondly, we must trust someone else or put them first. But practicing playing “second fiddle” sometimes is important and the generous thing to do: it shows the other person that you acknowledge their worth, that you value them.

For Jesus, the Gospel’s tell us, everyone belonged, and he responded to them in a way that recognised the worth of each person. Even when exhausted, at times pressured by those in authority, Jesus set aside his own needs to concentrate on whoever stood in front of him, showing respect and love for the marginalised, the children, the women and those who had physical problems which literally placed them on the fringes of society at that time.

The Apostle Paul in reflecting on the “Jesus Way” wrote “Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:3–5

There are plenty of small ways to put others first. Perhaps hold the door open for more people than necessary. Give up your seat on the city bus. Let someone else go ahead of you in the line at the grocery store. Let someone else choose the TV channel, or the Netflix stream to watch. (Is that going too far? 😊)

Plan a nice day out with someone. Choose to do an activity that they would love – not the things that you would love to do with them. Do it Joyfully.

Consider a situation you're in now with a friend or family member where you might be at a disagreement over something. It could be anything from choosing a new paint colour, or where to go for a meal, to disagreeing with your best friend over what to do this weekend. Usually, you would find a happy medium – a compromise. This time though, let that person's wishes and opinions be what is done, not yours. Let them know that you value their thoughts as much as your own.

Love from the centre of who you are; … 

Be good friends who love deeply; 

practice playing second fiddle. 

                                                                     Romans 12:10 

ACT 12: Chocolate. Everywhere.

Romans 15:2

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.


Romans 13:10

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

1 Thessalonians 3:12

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

1 John 4:12

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

_____________________________



I thought that title might get your attention. 😄

We are in the season of LENT, where many say they are giving up chocolate. We have been suggesting that maybe a proper response to Lent is generosity. What I am about to share suggests what we might do with the Chocolate we are surrendering.

I came across this story, and I just had to share it with you all. What if everyone reading this decided to do something like this in their community.

The Story. Dan Usher writes “Back in 2013 I had a little idea. I called my sister and told her I wanted to buy 100 Easter eggs and give them away – would she like to come? She was so excited, especially as we went up and down the supermarket aisles filling the cart with some of her favourites! That weekend, we gathered a few more friends and headed into the local community – what fun!

As we handed out the Easter eggs, we found people started to smile, laugh, talk and respond. Conversation flowed and I caught a glimpse of how an act of kindness could be a catalyst for building new relationships and forming stronger communities.

It’s amazing how well people respond to free chocolate. It’s something everyone can get involved in and a great conversation starter. I can genuinely say from my own experience that you’ll quickly see that, far from being skeptical, people start to respond with a wonderful openness that will inspire you! In one exchange, a woman was near to tears as she accepted an egg. Her husband was very unwell in hospital and the egg we gave her just happened to be his favourite. In another, some schoolchildren were handing out eggs, and as one lady accepted an egg, she told them that the last time she’d seen a member of their school they were trying to knock down her garden fence! She saw this as a real act of reconciliation”


Isn’t that great!! What a story. Last year this act actually engaged over 15,000 people.

Everyday as Jesus followers, we celebrate the greatest act of kindness every, “New Life” through Jesus death and resurrection. In response to Jesus generous gift to us, what if each of us did something like this act, and we were to reach out to our Neighborhoods? I wonder what amazing things God might have prepared for us in our own communities!

 ACT 11: ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

MARCH 16, 2022

Romans 5:8

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 13:13

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 John 4:9-10

9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 3:1

1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

John 3:16

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son.

_________________________

Love means different things to different people. It might look like hanging up the bathroom towels after you use them, instead of leaving them on the floor. It might look like a special surprise. It might look like a day spent in someone's company. It might just be a pat on the back and a smile. But each of us is built to give and receive love. It's a basic need. 

Perhaps before showing love to someone today, we should consider two things first: (1) In what ways does that person experience love the most? Do they prefer acts of service, gifts, quality time? (2) What kind of love do you most struggle to express? These are meant to help us think about the ways we might challenge ourselves to step outside our comfort zone and express an act of love to someone the way THEY need to be loved today.

Without oxygen and food and water, we can't survive. But there’s something else. Something just as crucial to our survival.

In one orphanage, it was discovered the babies were not thriving. And, even though they were being fed properly, some were dying. Researchers finally uncovered the reason. These babies were not being held or touched. They were not being loved.

Without love a baby will not survive. Neither will we. 

"Love, like oxygen, is vital."  (saw this on a post recently)

We use the word LOVE about all kinds of things – we love our spouse. Or a kitten. Or kitten Video. Or a holiday on the beach. Or a movie. Or a cup of tea/coffee. Or cake, Or Pizza. We use the word "love" lightly. What is love? Hasn’t it got to be more than that…? 

Sally Lloyd-Jones wrote this entry in her devotional:

What is love? Is it a feeling in your heart?

The Bible says Love is much more: it is patient and kind, never bears a grudge, doesn’t demand its own way, always wants the best for someone else, never puts itself first, never gets jealous, isn’t proud, doesn’t boast, isn’t rude, always hopes, never stops.

Oh dear, that’s quite a list. Who can love like that?

Only one.

He left his father and his throne and came to live with us. And showed us what love was really like.

Because, you see, Love isn’t mostly a list.

It’s a Person.

May the One whose name is Love, the One who made us from love, to love, may he fill our hearts and our souls and our minds today. And may we be open doors through which He may love the world

 ACT 10: GOLDEN APPLES

MARCH 15, 2022

We have talked about this before, but reminders are always worthwhile. Our words have immense capacity for good. When we use them encouragingly, generously, and genuinely, there are few things that have more power. A timely word can change the course of someone's day, or even someone's life. Use words wisely.

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Proverbs 16:24

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Proverbs 15:4

A gentle tongue is a tree of life ….

Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

_______________________

"A word fitly spoken," says Proverbs 25:11, ’is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.’ Other versions have “golden apples in a silver basket” or “on a silver tray”. A shining, striking image that portrays the effect of good words: they create a relationship and invite more words to be echoed in reply, “like the light between two beautiful reflective surfaces.” Generous words given to us become words that can flow out generously to others.

Jesus, too, is a great giver of golden apples. “You are the salt of the earth,” he told the group of uncertain fishermen who followed him around; “you are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–14 NIV). Later, as he was about to leave them, he told the same group of people that he called them his friends, that he had chosen them to bear fruit, and that they should love one another (John 15:14–17).

Jesus’ generous words are meant for each of us who follow him today, too. If we let them take root in us, they will produce the fruit that he promises, and then we will give those promises to someone who needs it: Generous Words: “golden apples, on a silver tray.”

Hebrews 10:24

24 And let us consider

how we may spur one another on

toward love and good deeds, ..."

Grab a stack of Post-it notes or sticky labels, and write down some one-line encouragements. Then stick them up around your house, your workplace, or your neighborhood for other people to find.

Each day try to give three verbal encouragements. Make them genuine and appropriate.

Grab some chalk and head for the streets. Find a patch of pavement and get creative: write a public message of encouragement for everyone to see. This will brighten someone’s day. A great act to do with kids, too!

ACT 9: GENEROUS PRAYER

MARCH 14, 2022

Acts 2:42

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Matthew 5:44

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

1 Timothy 2:1-3

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

Galatians 6:2

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We begin this week’s devotions with a story about Helen. Helen was a member of a previous church that I Pastored, and each week at our Wednesday night Prayer meeting, when we were putting our prayer request list together for our prayer time, she would often request prayer for some unknown person. What I mean is, not even Helen knew the person. For example, on the way to church she would see an Ambulance, or Fire Truck on their way to a scene, or she would see an accident that had just occurred on her route to church, and she would ask for prayer for these situations. I can remember thinking that her requests seemed odd, I mean, why pray for people or circumstances that we do not know about. Truth is I learned a lot from Helen about prayer on those Wednesday nights.

Today’s generous act is all about setting in motion the gift of prayer. Wait, what? How is prayer generous, you ask? When we pray, we spend time talking to a God who lives and moves and acts with power and presence, in response to our prayers. The Bible tells us “ask anything in my name.” Re-read our verses today from the Bible, notice “they devoted themselves …. to Prayer”, there is this invitation/Command to pray for those who are cruel to us, to pray for politicians, yes even the ones we disagree with. Don’t miss that it says this kind of praying for others pleases God. Prayer is generous because we are asking the creator of the universe to do a good thing for someone else. That’s Powerful stuff. That’s something that Helen understood, that I did not, and that she taught me about Prayer.

Don’t you find it remarkable that God is interested in us and wants us to have honest conversation with him? Here is the thing, we do not need any special skills or “high-level” clearance to get in contact with him. In fact, there are no barriers (except perhaps those we put up ourselves). Wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, day or night, we can talk to God. We can tell God what is important to us, what we are concerned about. We can acknowledge what we are grateful for. You could … well, just be honest. Here’s some space to do it …





Praying. Think about it, millions of people around the World do it: believers, sceptics, young people, people who are desperate and people who are not. Do you know something, this is astounding, God responds!!


So here is a thought: who could you offer the gift of prayer to today?


Go to your local news source, Paper or on air media, or click open your Facebook/Twitter etc newsfeed. Just offer up some brief prayers for the stories, or the people in them that you see listed or hear about there.


One person I was reading suggested that we schedule a regular time throughout the day to pray for newsfeeds or our relationship circles and Community.



Why not share the gift of prayer with others today?

“We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the answer. If we are true intercessors, we must be ready to take part in God’s work on behalf of the people for whom we pray.”                                         Corrie Ten Boom

 

 

 

 ACT 8: DIRTY CASH?

MARCH 11, 2022

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 

Some people, eager for money, 

have wandered from the faith

 and pierced themselves with many griefs. (I Timothy 6:10 NIV)

Interestingly, the Bible in general and Jesus in particular have a lot to say about money The Bible is full of wisdom about saving, investment, insurance, debt, budgeting and, of course, generosity.

The overwhelming message of scripture is God’s grace to an undeserving creation. And the consistent application of that grace for us is to challenge Jesus followers to analyze how we use our resources generously.

Our verse today needs to be read carefully, please notice it is not the cash that is the root of evil; it is rather our love of cash that is called the “root of evil.”

What we encounter in the scriptures is that we are the recipients of the amazing and overwhelming grace and generosity of God, and our response to this grace and generosity is gratitude. Out of this thankfulness flows lives of generosity. A generosity that overflows into the life of others.

Think back, to the Mitten Tree during December, the generosity to fill that tree to overflowing was a symbol of the generous hearts that you have. I think of the Food Collection we joined with Walkerville Baptist to donate to Drouillard Place. The Food Drive in late November in which the Fontainebleu Community joined with us and supported the Food Bank just up the street from us. Generous is what we are.

The Bible passage is cautioning us about the subtle allegiance of our love shifting from gratitude for Grace to a love of money and resources. Overall, the message in our Bible verse is to say that the love of money may be the root of all evil, but generosity with that money grows good fruit in our lives.

I want you to know that this is an area in my life that often is a battle. Is it for you too? I have, however learned that the more I let generosity to God’s grace fuel my life, the greater my life is filled with Joy and Peace.

If times are hard at the moment, spend some time in thought. Challenge yourself to look honestly at your giving attitudes:

Do you view it as 'your money', or God's?

How much would you like to be able to give, if you could?

What causes would you give to?

Pray about those things. If you find that you have a little loose change that accumulates each day, why not start a Giving Jar? When it's full, you can choose who to give it to.

As we learn generosity and how to handle money as recipients of grace, we make better and better decisions about finances in all areas of life. Money is not dirty cash – something that we separate out from our faith. Following Jesus affects everything, including how we spend, invest, borrow, and give.

Remember the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 9:7.

Each of you should give 

what you have decided in your heart to give, 

not reluctantly or under compulsion, 

for God loves a cheerful giver.

 

 

 

ACT 7: ALL EARS

 

 

 

 MARCH 10, 2022

 

 ‘Whoever has ears to hear, 

let them hear.’ (Luke 8:8)

It's tempting sometimes to make our conversations a means for making ourselves heard rather than genuine consideration for what another person is saying. Can I suggest, this is for me too, that we remove interruptions/distractions and that natural inclination to thinking up what you are going to say next, and actually listen to people.

The first step might be simply to be disciplined in removing distractions. Try to switch off devices or screens if you're around others today.

Call someone for a chat today. Except, try to do less talking than them; make a point of asking questions about their life and be genuinely interested in their answers.

If you have a little more time, make a point of having a Coffee/Tea break with someone. It could be someone you haven't spent time with in a while, or the colleague you sit next to. Take half an hour to really listen to them – make mental notes of any prayer points and commit to pray for them this week.



Jesus always had time for people. From the trembling woman who cautiously touched his clothes to the father desperately worried about his child. Nowhere in the Gospels does he ever say, 'I'm a bit busy at the moment.' Whoever we are, whether young or old, we all long to be listened to. Let someone know that their words and their story are valued today.

 

Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another which both attracts and heals.

 

 

ACT 6: CLOSET LOVE

MARCH 9, 2022

 

If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers – most of which are never even seen – don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. 

(Matthew 6:30–33 The Message)

One key to a generous life is to be good stewards of what we have. What do you have hidden away in closets, totes, or cupboards that someone else could benefit from? Who might need/want it? Could you give it away or lend it out today?

"Your living room is where you share the story of who you are," wrote a certain well-known Swedish retailer. When I read that I began to wonder what my living space says about who I am. I’m sitting in our family room writing this, listening to music on our TV, Yes, I am in my recliner : ), it was my Father-in-law's, beside my recliner is a child’s rocking chair, next to the chair is a doll house with a tote full of accessories, on the wall above these are pictures of our children (individually and a Group shot), on the mantle is a sketch given to us by a dear family friend when our “Kipper” (Golden Retriever) died, there are candles, plants, lots of seating, a wicker basket overflowing with Children’s books, and a rocking horse.  What does this say about who we are, who I am?

This question could extend to our clothes closets: does it hold a select few items regularly worn, or is it filled up with clothes tied to your aspirations for the future (different bodyshape/job)? I like William Morris’s words, ‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.’ It’s a great benchmark.

Jesus, in Matthew 6, says: "What I am trying to do here is to get you to relax, not to be concerned with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving" (The Message).

One key to a generous life is to be good stewards of what we have. Self-help books and TV shows sing the praises of decluttering. Giving things away benefits the people who receive, but it is also about freeing us up to respond to God’s giving. As you consider the Acts below for your Generosity Toolbox, I wonder what the things you give away say about who you are.

Start simple: gather a few bags of stuff to take to thrift shop, or food bank that stocks clothes, or tools. Let’s give some good stuff away too!

Go back to your circles – who might need what you have? This may take a little more thought and effort (e.g. sorting out kids’ clothes, digging out old tools, fixing an old bike ready for giving away, or clearing a laptop). Be intentional about what you give and to whom.

Organise a clothes/book/jewellery/ tool swap. Contact the people in your social media/work circles to see who would be interested in helping out or hosting, and then find ways to spread the word. A great way to minimise clutter, meet someone else's need, and make new friends all at once.

Sometimes we are called to give of our best, inspired by God who has given the most precious gift of all.

 

 

ACT 5: BBQ?

 MARCH 8, 2022

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ (Matthew 26:26)

 

What better way to start today than with food? Some of us struggle to share a bag of popcorn, while others joyfully over-feed everyone who enters their home. Wherever you are on that spectrum, consider this: food has brought people together since the dawn of time. Use it as a means to build relationships with people around you.

I love the fact that some of the most powerful conversations Jesus had were over a meal. He invited himself to banquets with the ‘wrong kind of people’ such as tax collectors – social outcasts of the time – and had beach barbecues of fish and bread with his dearest friends and followers.

In fact, what they ate wasn’t important. It was the conversations and human connections made over those meals that changed hearts and touched minds. It’s no coincidence that Jesus spoke of himself as synonymous with food, “I am the Bread of Life” for example, implying that he was the spiritual food  essential to the human condition. When we share food with someone, we share something incredibly valuable and precious: Ourselves.

Be the GOOD NEWS to your COMMUNITY.

Plan a meal with your friends and family. Don't rush the meal – enjoy each other’s company.

Don't let them eat alone. Perhaps someone you know is home alone today. Ask what their favourite treat is and take it along with you for a drop in visit.

Share food with a stranger today: you might pay for someone else's meal in a restaurant. Whether you choose to give someone the gift of food anonymously or with a friendly hello, make a point of blessing someone you don't already know.

 

ACT 4: 911

MARCH 7, 2022

 

Today's act is incredibly practical and simple: find a need and meet it. Now. Today.

Put the word out in your social media group today – ask what needs people have right now. Look at community facebook posts, or on the NEIGHBOR app perhaps someone is posting a need they have. It might be simple: picking up some groceries, fixing a leaky tap, or a ride to an appointment. They might just need a listening ear. Whatever small thing you can do for someone else today, do it.

Contact one of our local foodbanks/ shelter’s/ other community agencies near you, and find out what supplies they're running low on today. It might be food, bedding, craft supplies or toilet paper and cleaning products. Then drop a care package off to them.

‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ (John 13:34–35 NIV)

I believe that kindness is often an under-appreciated gift. And “random acts of kindness”, no matter how small, are always appreciated because they show that someone cares. In John 13:34–35 Jesus says, ’A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.’

Wherever there is a human in need, there is an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference. And sometimes it doesn’t have to be a practical gift. I can tell you that on several occasions I have found little notes, hand made word searches or drawings on my office desk from children and adults in our church, these are beautiful acts of kindness with encouraging scriptures or words, that lift my spirit and remind me of the importance of community.

 

So, be on the look out for those God-given opportunities to live out Jesus’ command. There’s no shortage of needs around us and today you might be the “911 call” someone needs.

 

ACT 3: ROOTS

MARCH 4, 2022

We can live somewhere for a very long time and never really put our roots down there. What does it look like to get more deeply rooted in our home community? Today's Act will help you to explore ways of generously investing in your neighborhood.

Go LOCAL. Find an excuse to make a local connection today. Take a quick detour to a small local shop or, if the local supermarket is more your thing, take extra time at the checkout to connect with the person who serves you. Learn their name, ask them how they are, or simply thank them for their help. Try to remember their face for next time. In other words, plant a tiny seed of community today.

Chances are, somewhere in your community right now there is a voluntary group desperate for help. What a perfect way to get rooted! Find out about groups in your area.

The most revolutionary ideas are usually answers to a simple problem or a need. Take a long, hard look at your community, and see if you can find a gap to fill. It might be that social groups for the elderly are needed, or that a youth drop in club would be a benefit. There might be a need for a support group for cancer survivors, or a coffee morning might be needed for single parents. Whatever it might be, take steps today toward identifying something needed.

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians to remind them of an important truth: Just because we cannot see why things are the way they are right now, a day will come when we will see and understand fully. Nothing catches God unaware.

We often acknowledge that God knows us better than we know ourself. We embrace the notion that God sees the beautiful creation full of potential and hope in us. God is constantly bringing restoration and renewal to each of us. Helping us put our roots down in him. I wonder, could the same be true of the world around us? Our neighborhoods? Our communities? That God’s plan of restoration and renewal is already underway and we are invited to become rooted in our neighborhoods so that God’s good plan can unfold?

We confess that God is at work to restore all things to beauty and perfection. Our response is to rest in this hope and wait in faith, and offer ourselves for God’s purposes and He will make all things new!

 

 

 

 

ACT 2: NO SCRUBS

 

MARCH 3, 2022

Alright. Some of us are clean freaks. Others prefer to live in organised chaos. One thing we can all agree on, though, is that our communities feel like nicer places when they're litter-free. It's better for the environment, and easier on the eye. Roll your sleeves up and make your world cleaner today.



If you're not heading out today, or you only have half an hour, why not offer to do the chores for someone else in your house – a family member, or a roommate perhaps. It might feel a bit awkward to ask your neighbour if they need anything cleaned up, but if you share a communal area, start there.



Remember that circle of friends we identified yesterday? Well, today's your chance to plan a get -together for a cause. Organise a cleaning party – perhaps you'll all get together to pick up litter, or clean off some graffiti). Put a date on the calendar and start planning!





The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)

It had been years since I’d seen one of these. A Christian bumper sticker caught my eye. It was old and peeling around the edges, but the ‘This is not my home, I’m just passing through’ sticker was still intact. That's a contrast to what we have been talking about "LOVING WHERE YOU LIVE", dont you think? That bumpersticker reminded me of something very important that there are those who are followers of Jesus who believe that planet earth is only a "stopgap before the main performance on the stage of heaven."



Genesis 2:15 makes clear that from the start we were made to ’work, dress and care for creation’. So the plan was never that the bumper sticker would be true.



Earth isn’t a stop-off; it is our home and – as shown in Revelation 21– heaven is going to invade earth. Heaven is coming to us.


Which means, in my view, we need to roll up our sleeves because we have work to do. We need to be involved in working, dressing and caring for creation. It’s not something to consume and then destroy, but to care for and restore. Our role is to be stewards of the great gift of earth, stone, water and air. We are to work to bring about a restored creation, a beautiful creation, a creation that reminds us of Eden.

Where is your Garden of Eden? What are your Eden streets called? We each have a Garden of Eden to love, treasure, clean, restore, dress, preserve and bring justice for. So, let’s not wait let’s get involved and live up to the first challenge in the Bible.

 ACT 1: CIRCLES

MARCH 2, 2022

All of us have circles: friends, family, immediate and wider communities – the list goes on. Today's act will prepare you for a generous Lent of connecting with and serving these circles of people.

 Find a notepad and pen – sketch out your social circles: friends, family, colleagues, sports teams, church. Notice how they might overlap, or be completely disconnected. Stretch yourself – include the circles of people that you  *could* plug into a little better, with more effort. Stick your doodle up somewhere in your house, as a reminder for the next 40 days of the people God has placed into your life. They're your opportunity to practise generosity! Is there someone in your circle that you have become estranged from, or have been avoiding over their pandemic views? This might be the time to reach out to them as well. 

If you've got a little more time today, spend some time praying intentionally for these circles and how your 40acts experience might impact on them.

 

“He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”

 

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

 

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10:27-29)

 

As we start our series of devotionals let’s begin by thinking about the people in our lives... and the people around our lives. I suspect there will be many loved ones in our inner circles who will feel warmly affirmed and cared for throughout the next days. Beneficiaries of coffee, cake, impromptu meals and visits, hand-written notes and even active listening! But what about the people around us? Those you come into fleeting moments of contact with each week? Your neighbour?  You know their face, and perhaps their name, but we rarely know their story.

So who are you connected to? You already know the inner circle. They are your friends, family and colleagues. But just how deep are these relationships?

And what about those in the wider circles around you? What might God have in store for them – through you – over the next forty days? And what might God have in store for you – through them?