Blue Shirt Friday

Today in Brandon is the day (Friday)  when people are asked to wear red shirts in support of the troops.    I did have one red short sleeved golf shirt from an Air Cadet fundraiser (Penhold AB).  The shirt was purchased in 2006 (or maybe even 2007).    Last month,  I discovered that the shirt had holes and was not befitting the decorum needed for a red shirt.  It was time to relegate the shirt to the "used cloth" bin.   Now there is no red short sleeved shirt in my dresser drawers. 

This is rather like our life in the Church isn't it.   We support some awesome missions but then over time we need to re-evaluate to see if we are giving our very best efforts to this mission.   Some missions may need to be dropped or our attitudes to these missions changed.  But in the Church (and in our dressers!)  there needs to be times to say, "This isn't working anymore.  Let us pray together and see what God has in store for us!"

And so we pray and really listen to what God is telling us to do for missions,  for change, and for new red shirts!

Please keep Old Son in your prayers as he goes today to hear the results from all his tests. Yesterday he actually had enough energy to do a bit of cleaning on his rifles.  This is a good thing to see a bit of energy!

Friday Retreat.....

Prayer:  God,  You are our salvation.  We will trust in You and not be afraid.  You are our strength and our might.  You are our salvation.   In Jesus Christ name we pray.  Amen  (PCC The Book of Common Worship).

Read St. Matthew  17:  14 – 23

A father comes and kneels before Jesus and says, “Lord, have mercy on my son”.    The father feels helpless at the apparent uncontrollable behaviour of his son. The son has seizures and falls into the fire or into water. 
Jesus then drives out the demon plaguing the boy and the boy is made whole.    The disciples, who had done  healing on their missionary journeys, wondered why they were not able to heal the boy. Jesus responds,  “Because you have so little faith.   Even a tiny amount of faith in God can move mountains.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Nothing will be impossible if we ask God.    Wow!  These are awesome words for us to remember and put into action.   Jesus’ words are not for us to  just  ask for anything that comes into our heads. It is not an invitation to manipulate God.  It is a call to put all our trust in God knowing that, whatever happens to us, God has our best interests at heart. Such a faith, accompanied by a deep love, is what brings the Love of God and peace into our lives.

Prayer:  Great God,  we know that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.  The old life has gone and a new life has begun.  Help us this day to begin a new life in Your love.  In Jesus Christ’s name we pray.  Amen.

Many blessings!