BH Bulletin - Sunday 5 April 2020

Thought of the day by Chris Dalton

​“But Jesus would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” 
Luke 5:16

Desolate – my computer offers these alternatives - deserted, isolated, bleak, abandoned, forsaken... ‘the wilderness’ is what the Amplified Bible suggests.
Why?   Why would Jesus seek out that kind of place? Why would any of us want to be isolated, deserted, bleak or in a wilderness?
I suspect that at this time there are some who would...checkout staff constantly being moaned at or abused [yes really], parents at home with fractious, demanding and bored children, anyone in the NHS facing unrelenting challenges and difficulties and human suffering. I think all of those would understand Jesus’ desire to get away to a deserted place.
For some of us we may feel we are in a bleak, isolated place maybe even abandoned. We long for consolation NOT desolation. 
So, what does this verse also say? It says the desert place, the wilderness experience is a place for prayer. Whether you are longing for it or desperate to get away from it, the lonely place, the desolate place is a place that calls to us to pray.
There is so much to pray for at this time – at any time- for people and situations and sickness and sadness and for wisdom and clarity and good sense and self-control and patience and thankfulness and forgiveness and for our personal holiness and........ you fill in the space; there is so much because God created us to be a dependent people, dependent on our Creator for everything and confident that He is more than able to supply whatever we need to live for Him today.
Yes, it’s challenging [my computer suggests – stimulating, thought-provoking, inspiring and exciting as alternatives!] but in the desert place things can grow; check out Isaiah 41: 19 – 20 and 43: 19 – 21

19 I will put in the desert
    the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers in the wasteland,
    the fir and the cypress together,
20 so that people may see and know,
    may consider and understand,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Isaiah 41: 19 – 20 
 
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.
20 The wild animals honor me,
    the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21     the people I formed for myself
    that they may proclaim my praise.
Isaiah  43: 19 – 21 

Let’s keep praying to our awesome God who makes a way in the desert and refreshes and restores us. 😊

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What's happening online today at Bishop Hannington

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Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 on the website Mark 11:1-11 Phil Moon Preaching
Suitable for everyone with separate children’s activities
 
Sunday Evening Service at 18:30 on the website Mark 11:12-26 Don Bawtree Preaching
Suitable for everyone
 
Sunday: KO Hangout - 7:30-8:30
For KO young people a chance to chat together after the evening service has gone live and chat about our faith.
Message Stephen to get involved.  
 
Feast Hangout 8:00-9:30
For Feast people to have a bible study
Message Alex to get involved.