Soul Net 2

Here are my reflections after the first session at Soul Net this weekend.
Fantastic start to the conference, a short time of worship followed by a talk from Mike P. Mike started with the story of Geoff a volunteer Youthworker who wanted to be full time, he got his dream job and it was going well, his work was growing. As his work grew he found he got busier, as he got busier he found he spent more time concentrating on the work on the work and less time on his own relationship with God, until eventually it became almost all about the work and sometimes the ‘spiritual stuff’ got in the way of doing the work, praying for too long was a bit over the top etc. At the end of the story he admitted that Geoff was a made up name to protect the true identity, I think we all knew who he was talking about and I’m sure that many like me felt he could have easily been talking about me. Some f the things he said really struck home, the idea that we read the bible to plan this weeks lesson but we perhaps don’t pick it up just for ourselves. I know I can certainly be guilty of this, getting so busy that I don’t have time for what is really important, my relationship with God, also for many of us our relationships with those God has given us our families. Mike clarified that one of the reasons we are at CenterParcs was that it brings us an opportunity for physical refreshing as well as spiritual, I certainly feel that I am in need of both! The passage that sticks in my mind that was referred to was the classic verse from Psalm 27 v 4 “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” This was followed by singing the great Better is one day, “Better is one day in your courts, better is one day in your house, Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere”. How true these words are yet how often we get so busy that we forget to spend time there.
Lord help me to return to your house, that I may dwell in your presence, that I may draw my strength from you, lord refresh me and renew me, equip me to relate to you and serve you as my response to all that you are and all that you have done that I may serve you as you have called me to do. AMEN.