God in a box 

How we continue to enjoy intimacy with God even in a place of trial and disappointment?

There are two vital keys to maintaining connection with God when your heart hurts. Firstly its a decision to approach the trial, and the situation with a sense of expectancy. Expecting God’s greatness, goodness and vastness, His sovereignty and wisdom to work, to show up and produce something good. You don’t need to understand why the situation happened, you don’t need to like the current outcome, yet in the midst of the mystery choose to trust that throughout history God has always worked things out. Look back on your own short story, consider a time when you thought “nothing good can come out of this” and then consider how His wisdom made things bigger, better, more amazing than you could of ever thought or imaged. God has the infinite capacity and the kind disposition to work all things together for good, He’s always looking to bring increase, redemption and promotion.

The second key is to not distort this wonderful expectancy into a list of how He has to work things out. Our expectancy mustn’t be accompanied by dictating to God our plan and our pace. It is vitally important that we don’t try to shove an infinite God into a tiny box. You cannot control God and tell Him how to work it out, when to work it out, what the outcomes has to look like. “God this is what I can do, this is what I can imagine, this is what I can anticipate, these are my plans, this is what my resources can accomplish, now you do it just like that” This is foolishness, when we attempt to control God we discover ourself in a dark and hopeless place, and when we look for God in the box we created, we find He’s not there. He simply cannot be contained like that.

When we discover He won’t be limited by our imagination and requests we often become disappointed and discouraged, “why won’t you work within the parameters and the design that I made for you to work in?” This is a very dangerous trap for the believer. Trying to put God in a box is a recipe for disaster, entitlement can all too easily lead to falling away. This disposition leads to judging God, “I would be a better God than you are” When we find ourselves reasoning like this we need to repent, take one step backwards and get a fresh glimpse of how wise, loving and all powerful He really is. To be in awe afresh “wow you are God, I don’t know what you are going to do in this situation, but what would you like me to do?” Don’t remain with an offended heart that asks Why? Why? Why? instead declare I yield and I surrender to your greatness and majesty. It’s in this place that hope, joy and peace replaces frustration.

(Based on and inspired by Bethel TV Revival Chat with Danny Silk, September 30, 2015) 

Jamie Lee, 03/03/2019
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Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
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Planning your Visit

New to Church?


Welcome! Whether you've just moved to the area, or have lived here all your life, we hope our website helps you to find out everything you want to know about our Church.

 

Some key information about the church...

 

Where & when does the church meet?

The church meets every Sunday at 11:00 am for our Sunday Service. There is plenty of free parking around the CCK building. We are walking distance from Plumstead Train station and local buses. It’s good to get to the meeting 15 minutes early to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee before the service starts.

We meet at the church building in the middle of Plumstead

The address is:

46 Lakedale Road
Plumstead
London
SE18 1PS

You can see a map on our contact us page.

 

What should I expect when I visit the church?

You will receive a very warm welcome particularly from our Welcome Team who will be able to answer your questions and direct you to where you need to go.

Sunday is special because it’s the main opportunity in the week for the whole church family to gather, worship God, enjoy his manifest presence together, minister to one-another, receive encouragement and exhortation from God’s word and be refreshed by God’s Spirit and one-another’s friendship and support.

There will be approximately 45 mins of singing with opportunity for church members to pray, prophesy or read a passage from the bible. After the notices there will be a preach, we take time to understand the bible’s message and how this can teach us about God, about ourselves, about the world that we live in and about what authentic Christian lifestyle looks like in practice. At the end of the preach there is always a chance to respond.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are served after the service where there is plenty of time to meet new people and ask more questions.

 

What happens to the kids at church?

As a family church we are thrilled to have people of all ages involved in our Sunday morning meetings. Typically, after worshiping together for 30 minutes or so, the children and young people will leave for their own activities.

We have a fantastic programme for the kids at the Church for ages 0–14. Children stay with their parents at the start of the service as we worship (sing songs!) together for the first part of the morning. Someone will announce when the children need to go to their programme.

For more information about what happens in the children's work please visit the relevant age groups for you under church life.

Is there a dress code?

No! Please just be yourself and come dressed in your 'normal' clothes.

 

Will I have to join in?

Not at all!
You are free to simply observe or participate as much as feels comfortable for you.

 

Useful Links...

We have more information for you specifically if you…

 

I have more questions, how can I get in touch and ask them.

Please feel free to contact us.