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Wellbeing Thought for Friday 19th March 2021
Friday 19 March
The journey of forgiveness
Studies have shown that forgiveness improves mental health and relationships, increases self-esteem and lowers anxiety and depression.
“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6.12)
Our unwillingness to forgive can have a devastating impact on our relationship with God and can lead to harmful bitterness. Because of what Jesus has done, we can receive and release forgiveness! That doesn’t mean it’s easy – sometimes the healing process can take a longer time.
Another thing to consider is how easily we are offended. At times we will disagree and hurt one another, but in healthy relationships we are prepared to work things out and move on. In fact, as we weather these storms, our relationships will grow stronger.
> Reflect on areas of unforgiveness or bitterness that you may have. Ask God first to forgive you for holding an offence. Then choose to begin the journey of forgiving the other person. Invite the Lord to heal and help you.
Census Day: This coming Sunday, 21 March!
Have you got your census letter?
The census is coming, and it’s about you. Without the information you share, it’d be more difficult to understand our community’s needs and to plan for the future.
By taking part, you will help inform decisions about the services you and your community need, like doctors’ surgeries and new schools. Anonymised data will also help us shape our church’s work in future years.
Census day is on March 21, but households will already have received letters with online codes explaining how they can complete their forms. If you haven’t received one yet, please get in touch with the census contact centre. You can also request a paper questionnaire if you’d prefer to complete your census that way.
There is lots of support available such as a help area on the census website and a contact centre that can give you help over the phone and guidance in a range of languages and accessible formats, including paper questionnaires and large print. You can also use your postcode to find local census support centres on the census website.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) runs the census in England and Wales and is independent from the government. All information is held securely for 100 years. Statistics are only compiled based on anonymised data and personal information is not shared with any organisation and is never sold.
For more information, and to find out how to get help, visit census.gov.uk or call the contact centre on 0800 141 2021.
Wellbeing Thought for Thursday 18th March 2021
Thursday 18 March
Loving others
Putting others first is at the heart of healthy relationships! As Christians we have Jesus as a model – the most unselfish person who ever lived, who gave his life so we can receive the extravagant love of God the Father. As we grow in knowing this deep love of God for us, we can learn to love others deeply.
How can we love others better?
(1) Be present: The most desired gift of love is focused attention. Central to this is affirming, non-judgmental listening. Learning not to interrupt or immediately give advice is a discipline worth cultivating.
(2) Be positive: Affirmation and encouragement have huge power.
(3) Be honest: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” (Proverbs 27.6). We all have blind spots and need others to help us see them!
(4) Give wise counsel: One of the greatest gifts we can give and receive from each other is Holy Spirit-inspired counsel.
> Look at these four areas and consider which you most need to grow in. Ask God to fill you with his love, power and wisdom to empower you to become a better friend.
Wellbeing Thought for Wednesday 17th March 2021
Wednesday 17 March
Growing in relational health
Dr John Townsend suggests that there are three types of relationships that energise us: COACHES, COMRADES (such as family members and friends who provide mutual growth and support), CASUALS (low commitment, but enjoyable relationships). We need enough people in these three categories to give us the energy for other important types of relationships (colleagues, people who need our support, etc.).
How do we develop these important relationships?
(1) Invest time.
(2) Be vulnerable. (Jesus asked his three closest friends to be with him at his most vulnerable moment in the Garden of Gethsemane).
(3) Set appropriate boundaries. Not all relationships are good for us and even the good ones need appropriate limits. The only people who will have an issue with you establishing boundaries are those who benefitted from you not having any!
> What changes might you want to make in the light of these three points?
Wellbeing Thought for Tuesday 16th March 2021
Tuesday 16 March
Levels of Connection
Not all relationships are or should be on the same level. We have four spaces for relationships: an intimate space for close friends and family, a personal space for conversations with friends, a social space for acquaintances, and a public space. These circles of connection can be seen in the life of Jesus: Jesus had THREE close friends (Peter, John, James), TWELVE disciples, 72 leaders whom he involved in his ministry, THE CROWDS, who he ministered to.
The great news is that Jesus set up a community that we can all be part of: the church. Not everyone has a healthy family or close circle of friends, but we can all become part of Jesus’ family! Pastor Rick Warren says, “Being included in God’s family is the highest honour and the greatest privilege you will ever receive. While your relationship to Christ is personal, God never intends it to be private. In God’s family you are connected to every other believer, and we will belong to each other for eternity.”
> Thank God for the key people in your life.
> Consider joining a church if you are not part of one. Consider joining a small group in your church, if you aren’t part of one yet.
Wellbeing Thought for Monday 15th March 2021
Monday 15 March
Not good to be alone
Loneliness is one of the greatest problems we are facing today. It is bad for our health. In the biblical creation account God says, “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2.18). And so he created ‘another’ – a woman and wife for him. While this passage celebrates the special place of marriage, it has a wider application: we are not designed to be alone.
However, in many relationships we can experience
(a) no connection: through circumstances or choice we fail to connect, to be invested in other people
(b) bad connection: a pull towards a person who is making you feel bad or ‘not good enough’
(c) pseudo-good connection: it can make us feel good for a time without meeting our deepest needs.
The goal for relationships is (d) true connection: you can be your whole self and both parties are invested and ‘safe’ for the other.
> Think about the four types of relationships above. Which describes most accurately where you are right now? Ask God tohelpyou develop healthy, live-giving relationships.
Wellbeing Thought for Sunday 14th March 2021
Sunday 14 March
Relationships matter!
There is healing power in relationships. We are hardwired to need one another. It’s often through our relationships with others that we survive life’s lowest moments.
The Bible says that God himself is a relational being. There is one God who exists in three ‘persons’ – the Father, the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. At the heart of this divine community is eternal love and concern for each other. And we are made in his image!
At the heart of biblical wellbeing (or shalom / peace) is relational harmony with God and with others.
> Consider your relational ‘dial’. Who do you love being with? How could you deepen the relationships that are most life-giving?
210314 Mothering Sunday Service
It’s Mothering Sunday! This service is brimming with encouragement, with your contributions, and with helpful insights into relational wellbeing. Join us for Church Coffee on Zoom afterwards. [Find all the links below the video]
Church Coffee on Zoom:
Meeting ID: 836 9097 1697
Passcode: Coffee
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES:
A special Mothering Sunday Craft…
BONUS CLIP on relational wellbeing…
Where to find us
St Mary’s Church Office
Village Road
Denham UB9 5BH
Tel: 01895 832771
