Over 100 gathered on Saturday 7 February to enjoy the 10th London Ministry Wives conference.
Ann Benton, the speaker, likened her message to Classic FM – familiar passages; comforting truths; loved through the ages for good reason – Psalms 1 and 23.
‘Running on empty’ was the theme. I think perhaps I was expecting a ‘hot chocolate by the fire – poor old you’ message. Maybe that was what I felt I needed as I am juggling moving house, starting a new church and the grief of leaving our old church. What I got was the medicine I really needed: simple truth, well applied.
Psalm 1: there is fuel available in God’s word. Find a way to enjoy it. By nature we are like chaff, empty, rejected. But through Christ’s cross we are transplanted into the Word of God, bearing fruit in season. Psalm 23: green pastures and quiet waters are an ordinary day for a sheep. We need to not miss the pastures and waters the Lord has provided for us. We may not have felt strong yesterday, but we did receive strength from the Lord. Be thankful. Though we may be running on empty, by grace we are still running!
I’m writing this at court, on the jury of a traumatic case. I walked home last night with tears rolling down my face not knowing how to keep going. Then a text came from one of the ministry wives. I texted back: ‘only just holding it together, but Ann was right... we may not feel strong, but that doesn’t mean the Lord is not giving us the strength we need.’
I went home and set my alarm 30 minutes earlier than normal. Fuel is available in God’s Word.
