Thought for Monday

One thing I love in the Bible is how it often refers to God as "God of my ancestors". It really speaks of the eternal nature of God.

It's easy for me to appreciate because I have Christian parents. But even if you don't there are older people of faith that have probably influenced you. We also have a rich cultural heritage of inspiring Christians, such as the Wesleys, William Wilberforce, and Smith Wigglesworth (not all them have surnames starting with W).

Consider who has influenced you in your faith, whether they are people who have been directly involved, or those in the past.

Thought for Monday

Today is Nelson Mandela's 93rd birthday. He was an anti-apartheid activist as well as the first fully democratically elected President of South Africa. In 1993 he won the Nobel Peace Prize.

In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, he wrote:

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.

Pray for God to give you wisdom and compassion, especially in issues surrounding injustice.

Thought for Monday

For many people, Monday is the start of the working week. Spend some time thinking about how you are serving God in your job. Re:jesus has a list of Celtic Blessings for various occassions (from driving in your car, to washing).

One is for working:

May my work be faithful
May my work be honest
May my work be blessed
May my work bless others
May my work bless you.

Have a good week.

Thought for Monday

From the 'Being Untouchable' Exhibition, by Markus Perkins, in St Paul's Cathedral.

This week the 'Being Untouchable' Photography Exhibition that has been in St Paul's Cathedral is coming to a close. It shows images of Indian Dalits who are thought of as being 'untouchable': so lowly that you should avoid contact with them.

Jesus touched the untouchables of his day. In Mark 1:40-41 he touches a leper, people deemed unclean.

Who are the untouchables of our society? Who should we be reaching out to?