Minister’s Message

I started this message being all ministerial and writing about Lent however, I changed my mind. Let me tell you about Rebecca (Becca), she is 9yrs old and has served 7 years as a guide dog. As some of you know my Labrador Benson died very suddenly aged 9 at the beginning of November, I had had him since he was 8 weeks old. I knew at some point I would get another dog and probably not a puppy but not for some time. However a friend got in touch, her neighbours worked for Guide Dogs for The Blind and told her the charity were looking to rehome a guide dog who was now going blind (the irony). She had lost one eye and the other wasn’t too good, so they needed to rehome her quickly for her to get used to a new environment before she went totally blind. They wanted an experienced Labrador person who wouldn’t be fazed by her medical issues and my friend said: ‘I know just the person!’ I was not sure, it was so soon after losing Benson but there was no harm in finding out more. However, the rehoming officer told me there were three other families interested in Becca so I thought that was the end of the matter. Nevertheless, I could not get her out of my thoughts but why with so many other people offering to have her. At this point I did what I always do when I can’t work something out, I discussed it with God and said: ‘if this is of you God then the rehoming officer will call.’ A short time later the phone rang. Becca arrived on December 10th and has settled really well, she even attended one of the Bible studies. But that’s not the end of the story a few days later I spoke to the lady who had been looking after her whilst she was waiting to be adopted and she said Becca was used to going to church with her and she had been praying that she would be adopted by a Christian. Why am I telling you this? To show that God is at work in our everyday lives and answers prayers no matter how mundane they may seem and while studying the Bible is important sharing our experiences of God in our own lives speaks to people in a way that nothing else can.

God Bless you all. Karen

P.S. Back to being ministerial, Lent starts on February 18th.