I read this Kris Valloton post this morning and it encouraged me that despite all the challenges of life, whether the worry of world events or the pressure of situations closer to home, the best thing is still to keep pursuing God through reading the bible. He said this: "Have you ever opened your Bible hungry for an encounter with the Lord, but uncertain where to start? Instead of receiving fresh revelation, you felt restless or resentful that the words on the page didn’t leap out and speak directly to your heart?

I’d like to propose, reading Scripture is so much more than a check off a holy to-do list or for a 30-minute set aside quiet time. It’s an opportunity to encounter the living Word of God.

Scripture is a place to discover and learn, to allow Truth to take root in your soul, and become your guide to life.

Some days won’t be filled with an exhilarating encounter or enlightening experience, but it doesn’t mean something is wrong.

I want to challenge you to learn the discipline of approaching Scripture no matter what you receive in return. We must not approach the Word of God to simply receive something, but allow ourselves to be with the Word of God. Scripture helps filter out the noise and bring Truth and Kingdom perspective to every complex situation we face.

Ask yourself, how can you approach Scripture this week? When can you set aside time to simply sit and be with the Word of God?

So today we read about Mary and Joseph having lost Jesus as a boy for three whole days!

I can only imagine the emotions that were running through them until they eventually found him in the temple Court in Jerusalem listening to the teachers and asking questions.

I imagine myself in that situation, and feel it must have been a massive reminder/wake up call for Jesus's parents of who's son He really was and their role and purpose in this world.

I think sometimes we have these 'wake up' moments in our lives where we've been cracking on with life and then suddenly something happens where we're reminded of who God is, His purpose and desires for our lives.

I'm sure Mary and Joseph hadn't forgotten who Jesus was and how Jesus was brought into the world, but sometimes life can get in the way.... Shift our focus and be quite distracting.

Let's remember every day who Jesus is, all He has done for us, and all He continues to do for us.

In the last week, I think we have all found ourselves feeling an increase in concern, as more and more stories of the conflict in the Ukraine emerge. This is yet another pressure added, to a world that is already shaking.

As I sat with my colleagues in work, and listened to the different stories being shared; the following occured to me:

First, at times of great fear and uncertainty, there is an increased opportunity to share stories.

Secondly, the stories we share and the stories that we tell ourselves, can have great power; either to bring courage and build up, or promote fear, and pull down.

While thinking on this, I felt the Holy Spirit ask me quietly; "and what kind of story teller are you going to be?"

In pondering my answer, this scripture in 1John 4:17 came to mind; "so we are as Jesus is, in this world." In effect, His story has become our story, we are His hands and feet, and we are granted the privelege of being His chief story tellers!

So, as we share with those around us this week, we have a choice to make. Are we going to add to the stories of pain and suffering, and evil taking place? Or are we going to be the story tellers we were truly assigned to be; the peacemakers and the life bringers, standing for the hope that is eternal, and displaying a Kingdom that can NEVER be shaken?

John 3:16-17 (ESV) says;

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

Now, this is THE ULTIMATE story - that is truly worth telling!

While meditating on the Word of God I was struck by the sharp contrast of two different Peters:

1. Peter at the garden of Gethsemane, cutting off the ear of a priest involved in Jesus' arrest - Mark 14 v 47.

2. Peter asleep in prison; awaiting a trial that would likely lead to his execution - Acts 12 v 6.

Peter was initially a man of ‘act first, ask questions later'. I can only imagine that when faced with the execution in Acts 12, the 'old' Peter would have been trying to figure a way to break out of prison but, like Jesus in the storm, he was asleep. Not only was he asleep but so deep in sleep that he had to be struck by the angel of God to wake him!

I'm encouraged by the growth of Peter and that the same Spirit in him also dwells in us.

As we walk more with God and enquire of the Holy Spirit, we begin to react less from instinct but more so operate from a place of peace. How wonderful it is to be at peace through the everyday situations/storms that surround us and sleep soundly against it all. This has been an encouragement and a challenge to me to continue to seek the Lord and to follow Him. I hope it is to you as well.