Back in 2013 when I acquired a home in Florida and made the decision to live between the UK and Florida I had no idea what God was up to. The life I was accustomed to had changed, I was now on my own, devastated and seemingly with no purpose yet with no obstacles to living life how I wanted to.

Prior to leaving the UK I had a dream that I would start a business serving afternoon tea the English way. On arriving there and setting up home, I acquired all the necessary crockery and cutlery for entertaining others by having them come to tea. Checked with the council the requirements for so doing but then decided to do it informally, not as a business anymore.

It all happened as planned. I met others at church, outside church and some had become friends. What I hadn’t planned but God did, was those conversations sometimes turned out to be a cry for help. They needed to talk and share their burdens of what was going on in their lives and we could laugh and cry together as I prayed with them. God was combining my skills as a Christian counsellor and my gift of hospitality to just meet with those whom He knew needed help.

I watched how God began to bring my agenda in line with his. All along that was his intention, a ministry he had shown me in a dream that started out as simply tea and talk.

It’s ok to ask God why questions. He doesn’t always answer them this side of heaven but when we get there we will have all the answers.

I met D in church. He helped with the youth projects at church, we worshipped together, prayed together. I had finally found the right person for me. After eighteen months, we got married and life seemed fine. Both working, earning good salaries, going on at least two holidays a year. Yes, life was fine until an adoption process went horribly wrong resulting in the slow degeneration of our marriage.

I’ve question myself many times. Whether that was the right thing for us to do. I have asked God why over and over with no real answers.

God in His wisdom sometimes do not answer us for our own good. My consolation is that one day I will find out why things happened as they did.

I set many goals for myself. My bio for a recent short story published in the ACW Christmas Anthology stated that my aim was to become a travel writer. For me that means attempting to combine my photography/art with my writing. I also speak a little Spanish so I ambitiously joined a Spanish speaking class at my church. And as if that wasn’t enough, I joined the art class too having done some art lessons prior.

Would I be able to accomplish all these goals….becoming a good writer and a travel writer at that, fluent in conversational Spanish, an artist? Deep down I would like to accomplish these goals and although not impossible, they may be improbable.

I took a step back and asked myself while pursuing them, are they in any shape or form honouring to God or are they just for self-gratification? Then I am reminded that God is the giver of all gifts and as long as I am doing them with Him in mind, then they are honouring to Him.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col.3:17)

When I saw this Friday’s topic ‘TOUCH’ I said “WOW! What timing as I recently had this idea of doing a piece of writing on the Master’s touch and which I am working on right now.

Everyone at some time needs a touch, a hug, some acknowledgement of knowing that they are loved and cared for.

My dad was the tactile one more so than my mum. I remember how he would tickle us until we couldn’t stop laughing, romp with us like a kid himself, play hide and seek with us, up to when we became young teenagers. His hugs were unforgettable and he would carry us on his shoulders where we would be so high up we could see the world, or so we thought at the time. He was also a good listener. To this day I tell people he was the best listener after God.

So how much more to us is our Heavenly Father who has reached down to us and touched us with His love by sending His Son, Jesus Christ who, in physical form, touched and healed all who came to Him, both physically and spiritually.

When the blind man came to Jesus, He asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”….The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” (Mark 10:51). What about the woman caught in adultery. “Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” (John 7:10-11). Wherever we need Jesus’s touch whether physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, He is always ready, willing and waiting to give it to us, all we have to do is ask.

There are professing Christians everywhere. When asked what is their religion, whether it is face to face or completing a form of some sort, they say, “I’m a Christian, I believe,” or tick the box that says “Christian” they may or may not have come to saving faith, but what do they really believe?

• They claim they haven’t done and do not do anything that is unlawful or immoral.
• They may be Christians but do nothing for the Lord (not using their gifting)
• Some occupy church seats, week after week, year after year but do not allow the HS to change them (no sanctification taking place)
• Others continue to live like the world (hoarding worldly goods, unkind to others, unjust, etc.)
• They do not make Jesus the Lord of their lives (hearts not fully given to the Lord)
• Those who think witnessing to others is not for them, they say their gift is not evangelism
• There are those who do not raise their children/families to know God (lifestyles at home…swearing, etc.)
• Many do not make prayer a lifetime habit (only when disaster comes)
• They have a Bible but do not read, study or even meditate on it but leave it to gather dust on a shelf. They dispute that the Old and New Testament are connected but do not realise that the Old foretells of the coming of Jesus in the New)
• Some do “good” works as their ticket to heaven
• There are those who are afraid of death. Who have no understanding that Jesus conquered death and that death is just a transition from one life, the earthly life, to another, eternal life with God forever.

It is convenient and comfortable to live this way because it doesn’t demand anything of or from us.

But what about those who have come to real saving faith?

• They understand that the Christian life is a blessed and joyful life, and that this earthly life is short and temporary. That real life is long and spent with God why it is called Eternity. A life without end.
• That while they are here on earth God has a purpose for them
• These people find their purpose and live it out through studying God’s Word, helping other and providing for their needs
• In this life they experience the same challenges and struggles as everyone else but the difference is they have HOPE, hope for the future
• Why did Jesus come? So that we would have life eternal and live in such a way that it would mean something, that it would make a difference and ultimately bring Him glory
• We are not to keep this “GIFT” of eternal life to ourselves but to share it with others by our witnessing of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.

Feel free to add anything to this list that you feel I may have missed out and that would be helpful to others.

Burdens come in many forms. There is the burden of carrying things, usually on ones head, like some people do in poorer countries. There is the burden of worry and the cares of daily life. There is the burden of caring for others. But for me, the burden God has put on my heart is praying for unsaved family members.

As part of my prayer ministry team at my old church, praying for people was God’s way of equipping me to help others carry their burdens. And although you also pray for those you know generally, my heart became burdened to pray for my unsaved family who knew God but have turned away. During my quiet time one morning I heard myself say this prayer, “Lord, do not let one single member of my family leave this earth without knowing you.” That could only have come from the Holy Spirit because I don’t consciously remember formulating this prayer. As I continue to pray this prayer daily over the years, I feel a real burden to the point of tears and I know God has heard it and continues to and one day He will act. Maybe not in my lifetime but He will, I am sure of it!

That is the best burden we can carry. To see others that we know come into the kingdom of God is to pray fervently for them. Whom do you feel burdened to pray for? Keep praying, don’t give up!

James 5:19-20 – “My brothers (sisters), if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”