Evening all. This is now my 4th blog, so that means tomorrow it'll be a whole month since I had my farewell from Wellingborough Salvation Army (my home corps/church) and started my journey on this Essential programme. Wow, how time flies.
My first full week at Eston has gone and this week to say the least has been a real eye opener. In one way it has been great to see the work Eston Corps is doing here, passionate and driven ministry and something that excites me beyond belief. Although in other aspects the ministry Eston Corps has to provide isn't pleasant at all and I think it is very sad and challenging that there is a need for this type of work. It was my first proper day at the Corps and Gary and Lorraine (the officers/ministers at Eston) had told us the nature of the ministry they provide, in particular to those struggling financially and seeking food parcels. I saw people that day look to the Salvation Army for help at a time when they were most at need. We would so rather not want to have to do this ministry but the fact of the matter is that there are people who need it. I am no politician and nor do I have any political opinion but when I see people having to ask for food to keep their family fed because they simply cannot afford it and yet there are still people in this country who get paid large sums of money on top of what they should be earning, something is not right! That day people came to us for help and again, although I would rather it not happened, it was a priviledge for God to use me and the team around me to minister his Grace. I saw the Face of Christ that day, I saw it through those who ministered to those people who came to us. To them, we were the Face of Christ. In Scripture, we read the story in Luke Chapter 7 where the Woman stepped out from the crowd in faith and touched the robe of Jesus, he turned around and looked at her. She literally saw the Face of Christ, a face of compassion, a face of comfort and ultimately a face of Love! If I am to be anything like Christ I must reflect his heart of compassion and to anyone who sees me, they must feel like they have encountered the Love of Christ. For if I will not minister to them, if I will not show Christ's love for them, who shall?
But also I looked upon the Face of Christ when I spoke to these people. In Matthew Chapter 25 it says "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." God loves his Children, so much he would give his only Son to die on a cross for them. He sent Jesus to suffer for us, so when we suffer, so does Christ! So surely as Christians who believe in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord, we must serve these people with love and compassion? I read a story and what happened in this story isn't too different to what happened to me, just in more drastic circumstances. It comes from the book 'The Irresistible Revolution' by Shane Claiborne. It reads;
"Most days I would go to the clinic run by the lepers-become doctors, and a line would form as people waited to be treated. The doctors would lay out a huge pile of cotton about four feet high, and my job was to roll cotton balls for them as they cared for one another. I would watch intently, fascinated by their love and compassion. One afternoon as things were winding down, one of the doctors had to leave early, but there were a few patients still waiting to be seen. He looked at me emphatically and said 'You know how this works; you have been watching. It's your turn,' Startled, I just stared at him. I had been watching, and I did know what to do, but I wasn't sure I dared. I came forward and sat in the doctor's seat and began staring into the next patient's eyes, and the decision hasd already been made. I began carefully dressing the man's wound. He stared at me with such intensity that it felt like he was looking into my soul. Every once in a while he would slowly close his eyes. When I was finished, he said to me that sacred word i had come to love; "Namaste." I smiled with tears in my eyes and whispered "Jesus." He saw Jesus in me. And I saw Jesus in him... I saw a clearer glimpse of Jesus in this leper's eyes than any stained-glass window could ever give me."
What a challenge we have, to show Christ and yet also to serve Christ. This really challenged me this week and I know that God will continue to challenge me and really work wonders in me and pray that I will be given this priviledge again to minister the Grace and Love of our God.
Once again I thank you for reading this and I hope in some way through reading this blog you will be blessed and encouraged and maybe even inspired to make a difference and be Christ to those who you come into contact.
Please get in touch if you have an comments or questions or prayer requests. It would be good to hear from you.
God bless each and every one of you!
@peggo36
pegg.j@hotmail.co.uk
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