With our wedding fast approaching, this week God has reminded me of the encouragement I wrote a couple of years ago, when my best friend was getting married. The same message still applies today:

In a few months, Dan and I will be getting married. Whilst this is super exciting and wonderful, it also comes with a lot of planning, people to coordinate, relationships to navigate, things that have to be done at the right time.

With all the thinking about the food, what to wear, sending invitations, it can be easy to miss what is most important. In fact, it is our relationship that ties it all together, and gives all the preparation, meaning and purpose.

This got me thinking about the church; we are the bride and Christ is the bridegroom. Let's not get so focused on the wedding, i.e. the planning & the doing, that we miss out on the most important thing, our relationship with Him and as a result, our relationship with people.

Jesus put it to Martha this way:

"Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her (Luke 10:39 TPT).

As the wedding day is fast approaching, I'm learning that in this process of preparation, I can no longer put off until tomorrow, the things that need to happen today, and we the church, must take the same approach 🙏❤️.

Church in Caerphilly. Caerphilly Church.

A lot can happen in a week.

Someone can be adored and fall to a place of hate and be abandoned or worse, killed.

*BUT* when Jesus died, He came back to life three days later. Jesus defeated death!!

If Jesus did that to enable us to have a relationship with God, how can we not have hope in the Lord?

Even though this may be a dark time for you, God is with you, right in the midst of your situation.

Be strong and take heart all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

Keep hoping and trusting in God, it'll make you stronger.

If you're not sure or need reminding, please ask someone or me to share a testimony (experience) with you, God never lets go of us. His Son died for us, but it didn't end there.

Happy Easter to you, but more importantly, Peace be with you.

Church in Caerphilly. Caerphilly Church.

A simple act prompted by the Holy Spirit can change someone's day, week, year or life.

A simple ...

Smile "Hello” Hug Phonecall Text message Word of knowledge Gift Kindness Listening ear Giving someone a lift Caring act Word of faith Compassion Sympathy Being there for someone There in the good times There in the hard times Giving financially Food and fellowship Open home Word of hope Prayer

... can have a massive impact.

You are a walking example of Jesus on earth.

The greatest command God has given us is to love him and love others. Let's walk in that today and everyday by listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and being his hands and feet.

Church in Caerphilly. Caerphilly Church.

There is a story that in the early 14th century, Robert the Bruce, the King of Scotland, found himself in a dire situation. Defeated in battle and on the run, he took refuge in a cave. As he sat there, feeling hopeless and defeated, he noticed a spider attempting to weave a web. Time and again, the spider tried to attach its web to the cave wall, only to fail repeatedly. Yet, the spider did not give up. It kept trying until it finally succeeded.

This simple yet profound moment inspired Robert the Bruce to persevere. He realised that if a tiny spider could overcome its obstacles, so could he. With renewed determination, he went on to lead his forces to victory and secure Scotland's independence.

As Christians, we can draw a powerful lesson from this story. Just as the spider did not give up, we too must persevere in our faith and trust in God's plan for our lives. The Bible reminds us in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

When we face challenges and setbacks, it's easy to feel discouraged. But remember, God is with us in every trial. He sees our struggles and is working behind the scenes for our good. Just as the spider's persistence led to success, our steadfast faith and trust in God will lead to His perfect plan unfolding in our lives.

So, when you feel like giving up, think of the spider in the cave. Let it remind you that God is faithful, and He will give you the strength to overcome any obstacle. Keep pressing on, for in due time, you will see the fruits of your perseverance.

Church in Caerphilly. Caerphilly Church.