Everlasting God - Chris Tomlin

This beautiful song reminds us that strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord.

Short Video Answer (Less than 5 minutes)
If God Exists, why is there suffering?

Getting The Best From The Bible
6 Weeks of Daily readings to help you get the best from the bible with Selwyn Hughes. You may remember Selwyn from the Everyday with Jesus bible reading notes.
https://connectedalways.cwr.org.uk/download/844/

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Other Short Guides from Everyday With Jesus
Keeping Your Spiritual Balance
https://connectedalways.cwr.org.uk/download/844/
Exploring The Bible
https://connectedalways.cwr.org.uk/download/818/
Spiritual Health Check
https://connectedalways.cwr.org.uk/download/811/
Staying Connected To God
A series of short videos 
https://connectedalways.cwr.org.uk/videos-of-encouragement/

Reimagining Faith Webinars
This pandemic has raised fundamental questions about church and culture. We are in a period of intense change that will inevitably lead to longer term shifts in both.
What does it mean to BE Church in the change now, and what can we recover, retain and reimagine about how to be and do Church in the future?
Peter Lynas from Evangelical Alliance is hosting a series of conversations looking at what we might be able to learn so far and how we might reimagine the future. Some important conversations include:

• The importance of the scattered church, when we cannot gather in normal ways.
• Creating meaningful connections through Church, in and beyond a digital forum. 
• The unique role of Church in the Public Square as we serve the most vulnerable alongside social infrastructures.
• How do we share our faith and point to Jesus in this strange moment, and beyond?

You can watch the first conversation here and more are to follow.
https://www.reimaginingfaith.com/blog/reimagining-faith-webinars/2020/4
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These Three Remains - Podcast
The Podcast for this week is now available - Discipleship At a
A Distance – It is hosted by Rick Hill @RickHillNI and he is joined by @michaelswylie (@ChurchCarnmoney), Mark Johnston (St Andrews, Bangor) and Marty Gray (Ravenhill). Michael Wylie who is now discipleship assistant in Carnmoney PCI came to Burnside one night as a student while he was at Ulster University Coleraine and rededicated his life to Jesus. Sometimes we do not realise what God is doing in someone’s life at what we might consider is an unremarkable evening service.
https://audioboom.com/posts/7562308-004-discipleship-at-a-distance

Portstewart
Some more photos from yesterday.

Tides
The reading today in Tides is the stunning post-resurrection encounter between Jesus and Simon Peter. (John 21v15-17) After denying Jesus three times, Jesus now gives Peter the opportunity to declare his love three times. There is forgiveness waiting on us all no matter what we have done.

Stephen Johnston writes -
Perhaps as we reflect on the preciousness of life in light of the devastating effects of the Coronavirus, our many failings come into view and our hearts are heavy. We all sin and mess up. We all know times of real failure, guilt and shame. We need to honestly face these things, truly repent of our sin and know God’s fresh forgiveness.​

Then Stephen uses the words of the song “He touched Me” to illustrate the change in Peter’s life. 

“Shackled by a heavy burden,
'Neath a load of guilt and shame.
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.

He touched me, Oh he touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.”

Some of you may know that my 2nd favourite singer is Elvis Presley, so enjoy this rendition of “He touched Me”.

Tides
Today tides is taken from JOHN 21:7-14
The disciples catch 153 fish after being told by the risen Jesus where to fish. They then eat with Jesus on the beach.
Do read all of the Tides devotional but here are just a couple of highlights.

Stephen Johnston writes -
Left to our own devices, of which we can have many, we do not catch many fish. This passage calls us as individuals and churches to die to self-reliance. Our abilities, whatever they might be, will not see people saved and brought into the Kingdom. We desperately need the touch of the Lord.
Cry to God for genuine Holy Spirit inspired renewal and revival. 
D.A. Carson writes - 
“What is the most urgent need in the church of the Western world today?... The one thing we most urgently need in Western Christendom is a deeper knowledge of God. We need to know God better… One of the foundational steps in knowing God, and one of the basic demonstrations that we do know God, is prayer.” (D.A. Carson “A Call to Spiritual Reformation”)

Remember that the best place to fish in Portsewart Bay is to line up your position in a boat with the cross on top of Dominican College and the Praying hands of Burnside Tower. When our prayers are lined up with the cross then we will be in the right place to fish.

Thought For The Day - Wilma Devenney

Thank you to Wilma for this “Thought For The Day” - Wilma phoned me on Saturday and at the end of the conversation I asked her if she would write down Some of what we had been talking about. 

It is lovely seeing photographs of local scenes on Richard's blog. Recently there was a photo of the boats at the harbour, the one named Mizpah caught my attention. I recalled the use of this word in Genesis as part of a covenant made between Jacob and Laban. The Hebrew word means “watchtower”.  
​The verse is -

​Thinking of the fishermen leaving their families and loved ones to spend time at sea fishing, i think it is a wonderful name to give a boat. The word Mizpah and this verse are special to me. I always wear a “Mizpah” ring which belonged to my grandmother who died when i was age 2 years. My mother had a “Mizpah” brooch which she inherited, the verse was written on it, she gave it to my sister.  I would have  liked it! My mother sensed that, and in due time bought me a “Mizpah” brooch from a local antique shop.
On considering this special verse I thought of all the Burnside church family separated from one another at this difficult time and prayed that God would watch over each one. We have a wonderful God who neither slumbers or sleeps Ps 121 v 4.

He is on constant duty watching over us all at this time of lock down, but, God calls us to watch and pray. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus, in his hour of need found his disciples sleeping and said,

​Watch and Pray!

And here is the service for Easter Sunday

Living Alone In Lockdown
Rachel Cubitt, Deaconess in Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church reflects on what it’s like to experience lockdown while living alone and suggests some things that we can do to help others counter feelings of isolation. This is a fascinating and practical read.
https://www.presbyterianireland.org/Blog/April-2020/Living-alone-in-lockdown.aspx?fbclid=IwAR3QA8Yy75KJSVgdW8GKF8giBwwFevTdBhe0AYYbqqDRGN0_ItscUavAO4A

Human Trafficking
An interesting article on the Effect of COVID-19 on Human Trafficking
Five Impacts on Human Trafficking
https://www.techuk.org/insights/opinions/item/17329-guest-blog-the-effect-of-covid-19-five-impacts-on-human-trafficking

Finally Another Home Delivery
This time not food, but perhaps an essential if you are a knitter.
Folklore Yarns Belfast - posting to all of Northern Ireland. Stock up with yarns.
​Order on text 07968 290209.

Tides
The Tides devotional this week is from John 21. Today is the time that Jesus appeared to the disciples when they had gone out fishing, initially they caught nothing, but listening to Jesus the catch was huge.
Stephen Johnston comments -

There is no going back!