A piece of equipment had been cleaned, but when it was stripped completely it was clogged with fine saw dust. Simon, Tim and I were cleaning it and the more cleared the compacted saw dust the more we seemed to find that needed to be cleared. Janette joined us to help, and was surprised how bad a condition it was in and couldn't believe how much saw dust had been in the piece of equipment. One part that had been removed had a fitting for an electrical lead to be connected (similar to the connector on a kettle). There were many parts that had been removed to take it apart completely.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Did we also hear the words repeated to us as we studied together through Practicing the Way;

Why should I slow down?

Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life. To live the way of Jesus, we have to slow down. But this is not easy in the chaos of our urban, digital world. To experience the life of Jesus, we have to adopt the lifestyle of Jesus. Allow his pace and his practices to rule our lives. Hurry will sever your connection to God, to other people, and to your own soul. We must ask ourselves, who are we becoming? Slow down, learn the unforced rhythms of grace, and find rest for your soul.

Sally

Suppose I go to the doctor and say, ‘Doctor, I have a lot of problems: I twisted my knee... my eyes itch... my finger is swollen... I have backache...’ Then, having got through my list of complaints, I look at my watch and say, ‘Goodness me, time is getting on. I must be off.’ The doctor might say, ‘Hang on, do you not want to hear what I have to say?’ If we only speak to God and never take time to listen, we make the same mistake. We do all the talking and we don’t actually listen to him. But our relationship with God is meant to be a two-way conversation. When I’m praying, I find it helpful to write down thoughts that come into my mind that may come from the Spirit of God. In a media-saturated age we have many voices that come to us on TV, radio, the Internet, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email and text message. We have the voices of family, friends and colleagues. And sometimes we have the voice of Satan tempting us to disbelieve God’s word and to doubt that God has our best interests at heart. How do you hear the voice of God in the midst of the noise and distractions of life?

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Like many others , I’m sure, I was saddened to hear of the closure of the Bus Stop Cafe again.

I ask myself , how can this be when we prayed for clear direction?

Did we as a body hear God wrongly? ( possible we are all human).

Did we hear God clearly, and as a body not step up in unity to the task God set before us?

One recurring prophecy in the many years I have worshipped at Cogs is:

“Cogs is a beacon to shine in the darkness”

On the day the Bus Stop Cafe first opened God reminded me of this prophecy.

My prayer is everyone , in unity, prays for the Bus Stop Cafes future, and feeds anything , however small back to the leadership of the Church. I hope children and youth will be involved in this as in previous years God has spoken prophecy to our church through our youngest children, often in the blunt simple ways only they can do.

At one meeting I went to regarding the Bus Stop Cafes future God gave me a picture of the” Hare and the Tortoise”. The tortoise had a happy smile on his face. The moral of this fable is;

“Slow and steady wins the race”

This picture keeps coming back to me. What is God saying through this?

Are we trying to run before we can walk?

Would one consistent day a week be a slow start we could build on?

Other people may have different interpretations.

I will continue to pray for more clarity on what God is saying through this.

I will also pray for wisdom and discernment for the leadership of our church as they listen to what God is saying through the unity of His body, the church.

The picture then led someone else to;

Psalms 93:1-5 NIV

[1] The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. [2] Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. [3] The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. [4] Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty. [5] Your statutes, Lord, stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.

Cogs should be alive and the heart of this comunity

How can it's heart beat when it's closed

The BSC was keeping the doors open and the heart of the church was beating however we move forward the doors need to be open and the building looking like we're people who care but it takes doing together not just wanting what we want maybe we should start by a time of repentance for putting our own wants and agendas before god's open the house of the lord and serve him it reminds me of a picture that was given two years ago of the doors open and the cross wedging it open the pub and the phoenix club looks more alive and welcoming what does that say pray repent and open god's heart in crookhorn

I have prepared a table for you in the presence of your enemies

The more I prayed about it made me think what is your enemies

Is it addiction is it loneliness is it dept is it mental health our enemies come in all different forms

The easiest and most unthtratening way is through hospitality around a table to talk to people gently get to know them and share the healing power of Jesus my enemies were many but someone took time for me praise God this speaks to me of the importance of the church being open and available we have many tables

Yes I know we can do this in our own home and some of do regularly but it should be in the church doors open ready for us to be there if anyone walks in tormented by there enemy

How do we work together to make this happen it will take sacrificial acts of kindness from us gods people at cogs 🙏🙏

While they were celebrating higher up the stream the flow lower down was decreasing the fish were struggling and some had sadly died

I believe what the lord was trying to show me is while you're building up stream remember to look back at the destruction being caused lower down

Let him who has an ear hear