A December without Christmas

It’s hard to imagine December without Christmas. For many, it truly is one of the most wonderful times of the year with all the festive sights, sounds, and scents of the season. A December with no carols playing in the background or lights decorating streets and homes, and where the 25th is just another day, is inconceivable. 

I remember my first Christmas in the Middle East. It felt so foreign and disorienting. The familiar traditions of Christmas that make this time of year so special were nowhere to be found. But that first December on the Arabian Gulf was also clarifying. The people in that cultural context don’t need a beautifully decorated tree with twinkling lights, nor neatly wrapped presents underneath. They need to hear of a Saviour wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger.

Christmas is about God’s mission to send His Son to seek and save the lost (Luke 19.10). It is about the good news of great joy that will be for all the people (Luke 2.10) and the true light that has come to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death (Luke 1.79). Christmas is ultimately all about God’s mission, which compels us to consider how we may commit our lives to that mission. The reality is that there are two billion people with no access to the gospel who have never heard of the grace of God in Christ that we celebrate this season.

Will you consider the trajectory of your life this Christmas season? Will you hold your dreams and desires for your life open-handed before the Lord? Will you pray bold, gutsy prayers about your future? Will you consider crossing a culture and learning a language to make disciples among a people group where Christmas doesn’t exist?
 

“God is pursuing with omnipotent passion a worldwide purpose of gathering joyful worshipers for Himself from every tribe and tongue and people and nation…let us bring our affections into line with His, and, for the sake of His name, let us renounce the quest for worldly comforts and join His global purpose.” John Piper

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10.14-15

When God Feels Far at Christmas

Christmas is supposed to be “merry and bright”, full of warmth, family, and joy. Yet for many, this season only magnifies what is missing. Empty chairs. Broken relationships. Lingering grief. Unanswered prayers. And in the quiet beneath the celebration, a question sometimes rises: Has God forgotten me?

One of the most honest prayers in the Bible opens this way through David:
 

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?” (Psalm 13.1-2)

This is not polished worship. This is raw. David names the full weight of his pain. He talks about emotional distress, anxious thoughts, enemies, shame, and sorrow that return day after day. He wonders if his suffering means God has forgotten him. Many of us feel that same tension at Christmas. We see lights everywhere, but inside it feels dark. We hear songs of joy, but inside, there is grief. We hear about hope, yet we feel stuck in cycles of despair. We wonder if God still sees us. David goes on to say,
 

“Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.” (Psalm 13.3)

This is more than a prayer for relief, it is a prayer for clarity. “Light up my eyes.” In other words: Help me see You rightly. David understands that while feelings are real, they are not always reliable. Our emotions can describe our experience, but they do not define God’s reality. Feeling forgotten does not mean we are forgotten. At Christmas, this truth matters deeply. We may feel abandoned, but the manger declares otherwise. God does not move away from our darkness, He enters it.

Finally, I love David's resolve at the end.  He says,
 

“But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.” (Psalm 13.5-6)

Notice what has not changed. The enemies are still there. The feelings are still heavy. The waiting is still hard. And yet David discovers something that remains within his control: he can choose to trust, to rejoice, and to sing, even before circumstances change. His worship becomes an act of holy resistance against despair.

And this is where Christmas speaks most powerfully into the fear of being forgotten. The world waited four hundred years in silence between the last prophet and the first cry from the manger. Many must have wondered if God had abandoned His promises. But at just the right time, God did not send a message, He sent His Son (Gal 4:4). The birth of Jesus is heaven’s unmistakable answer to our deepest fear of being forgotten. So when Christmas feels heavy, when joy feels forced, when God seems silent, we can still ask our honest questions. We can still pray for light. And we can still sing!

Sisters in Scripture

Over the last few months, women from across all three congregations have been gathering on Saturday mornings to walk through the Old Testament scriptures together. Each biweekly session follows a simple rhythm: breakfast, Bible-reading, reflection, and prayer. Led by Bisi, Paulina, and Naomi, the study has brought together women from all walks of life, who share more below.
 

Seeing Scripture as One Story

Following David Platt’s Secret Church: A Survey of the Old Testament, the group has been unpacking scripture as one unified story that points to Jesus. As Bisi shared, “It was a joy to trace God’s glorious story as it unfolds and to see how it all fits together perfectly. God has been establishing his kingdom right from Eden.”

“If you want to properly understand Christ”, she continued, “you need to understand the Old Testament. It’s rich in Christ symbolism, hiding more easter eggs and foreshadowing than any Marvel movie. This also matters because knowing that the Bible is coherent and totally consistent gives you confidence that it’s not only reliable but the true revelation of God.”

Naomi added, “It’s so good to see such hunger for God’s word among sisters at Grace. A highlight for me has been tracing God’s heart for mission throughout the Old Testament. I could write for ages about this, but I’ll summarise by saying I didn’t expect to be so stirred for mission through this study. It has deepened my understanding of God’s unwavering and faithful heart, and made me so excited about his kingdom coming. It’s been such a gift.”
 

Building community

For Paulina, a highlight has been seeing not only spiritual hunger but also friendships flourishing. “Welcoming people who started this with us one year ago, when we were studying 1 Peter, has been really encouraging, as well as seeing new faces. We’ve seen such a growth in interest this time around!”

“I hope we continue gathering to open God’s word and to remain curious about what he’s doing in and through our lives, the church, and the world. I just love all the women that have come… happy, weary, curious… all have been a blessing.”

Salome, who joined the Waterloo PM service earlier this year, reflected, “Being new to London sometimes feels isolating, but this Bible study has helped me experience God through a community of fellow women. It's more than just an intellectual study of scriptures - it's life-giving to hear from people of all different ages, personalities, and backgrounds.”

As we wrap up our Old Testament study and look ahead to our next session in the New Year, we warmly invite any woman at Grace—whether you're happy, weary, or curious—to join us for the next study. To get involved or ask questions, email Bisi at bisi@grace.london or join the women’s Bible study group chat via our WhatsApp community.

As Laura from the Waterloo evening service put it, “I will never regret not sleeping in on a Saturday - but to think what I could have missed if God didn’t meet me and say, ‘Come, I’ll fill your cup till it overflows!’”

How to eat the book

Reading is a lot like eating. 

But then again, so is watching, and scrolling, and listening to your favourite pods. That’s why we talk about consuming content.

The biblical authors talk this way. They speak about God’s word as something you can consume. Ezekiel was told to ‘Eat this scroll…’ and so he adds, ‘Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.’ Jeremiah says something similar: ‘Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart…’ 

The Psalmist talks about God’s words as desirable and edible: ‘More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.’ And again, ‘How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!’ 

Why is reading (and watching, and scrolling, and listening) like eating?

We know that, at some level, the things we consume become a part of us. That’s true of food, and it’s true of words. They change us, very often in unconscious ways. Everything we are exposed to leaves its mark upon us, affecting how we think about the world and about ourselves. 

This means that you can approach eating and reading in much the same way. You eat regularly (at least once a day), habitually (even when you wish you wouldn’t!), by necessity (or you’ll die), and mostly with enjoyment; it’s sweet to your tastebuds. 

I think that God wants us to read his word in the same way: regularly, habitually, by necessity, and with deep enjoyment.

How should you go about consuming the book?

Of course, there is a maximal approach to studying the Bible. Some people are called to dedicate their whole lives to it, and even then, after years of dedicated study, they will often feel that they have barely begun.

But it can be unhelpful to think about the maximal approach when most people struggle to make any headway in reading the Scriptures. And so, I want to suggest that eating the book should look like the straightforward, daily practice of just reading or listening to the Bible. 

Don’t overthink this so that you paralyse yourself. Just as you manage to pour a bowl of cereal each morning, or buy a meal deal at lunch, or whip up your favourite pasta dish at night, so should you establish a habit of eating the Bible every day – same place, same time, following a manageable reading plan. (I like this one.)

You won’t understand everything. You may not even know what difference it is making at first. But just as eating does you good regardless of whether you understand the biochemistry involved, so does God’s word.

As this habit becomes a part of your life so that you love it and actively look forward to it, you’ll find ways of going deeper. But that’s for later. Right now, just read.

Why bother with Communion?

Over the centuries, the bread and wine we share in remembrance of Jesus’ crucifixion have been called many things: the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, the sacrament—and my favourite, Communion. The word itself speaks of relational intimacy—think of community or communal—and captures the heart of why we eat and drink each week.


Drawing Near to God

Communion is a moment to remember Jesus. We recall his suffering and death for us, and draw near to God in our hearts. In this sense, it is a memorial—we eat and drink to remember and make Jesus’ sacrifice the centre of our gathering. As he instructed, “Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22.19)

So, taking Communion is an act of worshipful obedience to Christ. We say in effect, 'Lord, you are worth remembering. I return to you and make the cross the centre of my life once again.'

It’s a relational act—an opportunity to remember, to draw near to God, and to glorify him as we do so.


Drawing Near to Us

However, if Communion were only about our drawing near to God, it might feel like a one-sided relationship—God standing at a distance while we try to inch closer. Yet this couldn’t be further from the truth. While we edge towards him with mustard-seed faith, he races out to meet us and comfort us with his presence.

In particular, Jesus draws near to us through Communion. He is present with us as we share it. The bread and wine don’t become his literal body and blood (we’re not Catholics, after all), but Christ is truly and spiritually present in them. And where he is present, fresh happiness and rejuvenation flow. Just as bread and wine nourish our bodies, through the Lord’s Supper, Jesus nourishes our souls.

How exactly does he do this? Well, bread and wine are more tangible than words and ideas. They speak concrete words of truth to our often wavering, doubtful minds. Undeniable taste and texture, telling undeniable truths. As writer and theologian Tim Chester put it, “[Jesus] could have said, Say this in remembrance of me, or Think this… But he knows how battered by life we can be. So he gives bread and wine as physical reminders of his love.”

Communion is a channel of God’s grace—a tangible means by which he makes himself known. Of course, God is always with us, but in eating and drinking, we feel that presence more deeply. Again, Chester describes it beautifully...

“A good husband will tell his wife that he loves her, and Christ tells us that he loves us in the gospel message. But a good husband will also hug his wife as a physical demonstration of his commitment to her. Communion is Christ’s reassuring hug.”

So, as you take Communion this Sunday, let Jesus reassure you with his presence. He loves you more than you can imagine.

Waiting on God

Before leaving Abu Dhabi, I met with a friend to catch up on her life and ministry in the Middle East. She is a missionary, speaks fluent Arabic and shares the good news of Jesus Christ with women in the Arab world. Her life and faith are an encouragement to many. She is faithfully serving the Lord and taking the gospel to the hard places.

As our conversation unfolded, I could see that something was weighing heavy on her heart. She felt like she was reaching the end of her rope. She had waited for the Lord to answer a particular prayer about her future and cried out to him countless times for things to change. Life was not turning out like she had hoped, and it seemed as if God wasn’t there or simply didn’t care. It felt like God was distant and disengaged when it came to the hopes and dreams of her life.

Have you been there? Have you looked at what is (or isn’t) happening in your life and felt like you are reaching the end of your rope? You have waited, prayed, but nothing changes.

Waiting is a part of everyone’s story. Men and women in the Bible endured significant times of waiting. Abraham and Sarah waited to hold in their arms the child God had promised. Joseph waited in prison after being unjustly accused by Potiphar’s wife. The Israelites waited for their slavery to end. Habakkuk waited for God to intervene in the chaos of his time. The disciples of Jesus waited for hope to return when he died on the cross and was buried in the tomb.

Author Mark Vroegop writes in his book Waiting Isn’t a Waste that “Waiting isn’t a supplemental experience of the Christian life. It’s central. Following Jesus involves a life of waiting.” So where do we anchor our hearts while we wait? How do we wait well and not lose hope? We hold onto what we know to be true of God. We remember the promises of an unchanging God and anchor our hearts in his Word. We trust his character and ways, even when what is happening in our lives may not make sense.

If you find waiting to be hard, I want to encourage you to consider these three truths about God.

God is near and has not abandoned or forgotten you. “I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.” Psalm 73.23-24

God is still sovereign. There is nothing that can prevent him from fulfilling his plans and purposes for your life. “My times are in your hand.” Psalm 31.15

God is still steadfast in his love for you. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.” Lamentations 3.22

As John Piper says, “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.” Anchor your heart on the promises of a sovereign, loving God who is always near. Will you trust him while you wait?

The best things in life are free

There’s a line from Ed Sheeran’s The A Team that struck me recently: “The worst things in life come free to us.” It rings painfully true. Disease, injustice, grief, depression, and death all arrive uninvited, barging into our lives without warning or cost. Ed was on to something.

But it's only half the picture. Because the best things in life are free too. The deepest sources of truth, beauty, and goodness aren’t bought—they’re received. They come as sheer gifts, poured out by a generous Father.

​In light of this, here are three of life’s greatest treasures that are ours to (freely) enjoy.
​

Creation

Living in a capital city, we can easily overlook the wonder of nature. For starters, there’s just less to see. Light pollution and the abundance of concrete make the stars dimmer, and wild spaces scarcer. But even so, life has a way of finding the gaps in the tarmac - the sun still dawns in unrestrained beauty, the birds still sing, the clouds still form their patchwork quilts. Creation quietly insists on being noticed.

Step outside the city and the spectacle widens: oceans, forests, mountains, skies that stretch unbroken. It’s all from God, who loves to shower us—all humanity in fact—with undeserved common grace.
​

People​

The people God places in our lives are among his sweetest gifts. For most of us, the love and company of family make life’s highs higher, and its lows more bearable. We didn’t choose our family (sometimes that’s obvious!), but God chose them for us and knitted them into our lives with great intentionality. We never earned their kindness, but he knows we need it.

And when family is absent or strained, God’s grace is no less evident. He gives us friends—often in unexpected ways. Most of my closest peers are not those I consciously invested in from the get-go, but old flatmates, life group members, and school friends. God sovereignly brought us together, and the rest is history.


Jesus

This gift surpasses all others. We get to enjoy time with Jesus every day. He speaks to us through the Bible, hears us as we pray, and nourishes us as we take communion. He encourages and challenges us through prophecy and the faithful words of a friend. He walks with us and loves us. He loves us, he loves us, he loves us.

This intimacy was never guaranteed. Once estranged from God because of our sin, we had no claim to it. But Jesus closed the gap, choosing the cross and paying the debt. The treasure of knowing God is now ours to enjoy, the invoice already settled. Into eternity we go, an endless discovery of his love freely given.


Wherever you find yourself today, why not enjoy God’s gifts and let them stir up thanks? Take 10 minutes away from your desk to walk through a park. Reconnect with a friend. Most importantly, spend time with your saviour who paid for your life so that you don’t have to.

Home from home

The door opened to a familiar face. “Welcome,’ Alex said. ‘Come in. Come in!”

A hubbub of chatter, caffeinated air, and clattering plates greeted me as I left the quiet street and entered the Tait’s home. Alex’s wife, Kat, stood talking by the stove, every gas ring covered by a pan. Their kids, George, Clara, and Oscar, played with grown-up friends, unfazed by the organised chaos around them. Preparations for brunch were in full flow, and it all reminded me of a big family gathering - loud and busy, yet warm and relaxed. Home from home.

For Alex and Kat, welcoming people is a passion. Since joining Grace London three years ago, they've made it their mission to bring others into authentic church life, over brunch, life group, or a post-service picnic. Last May, they also began leading the Waterloo AM Welcome team, helping newcomers feel at home each Sunday. But their story at Grace didn't start as you might expect.

“When we came, we didn’t feel hugely welcomed. We stood alone for a while,” laughed Kat as I chatted to them last week, a few months after that first brunch. The room was calmer this time round, the dishwasher quietly churning in the background.

"We used to run the Welcome team at our previous church," Alex added. "So, it mattered a lot to us. Our first Sunday here was slightly uncomfortable, but we left feeling that there was an opportunity for the church to grow in this area. Grace drew us in—people who adored Jesus, passionate worship, strong teaching—but we were hesitant about our experience of being welcomed."

Given their initial hesitation, I wanted to know why they stuck around. “On the flip side”, I said, “now you’ve been a Grace for three years, what’s your favourite memory?”

A pause. “Shortly after we joined, our daughter, Clara, went to hospital and was very, very sick,” Kat replied. “But within two hours, we had a week's worth of meals and babysitting rotas. It was a real testament to the incredible community that exists within Grace. It was certainly an amazing thing to witness.”

“The community really stepped into its own,” agreed Alex.

“And it gives us confidence as we welcome people into the church - we know that we're drawing them into something amazing and can do it with such sincerity.”
 

Kat alluded to their role of spearheading the welcome at our Waterloo morning service, and I was keen to know more. “What’s your favourite thing about your current team?” I asked.

“I’m probably gonna say the same thing,” Alex said to Kat, smiling.

“We love that there are loads of families in our team. It has been special to see those with young kids finding a way to serve. It's such a delight to have our son George—he's four—on the gate with Alex, highfiving people as they enter church.”

“Dare I say, he’s a far more effective welcomer than I will ever be,” Alex said. “Who can say no to a happy four-year-old?”

“And what kind of people are you looking for to join the team?” I asked. “Besides, you know, four-year-olds.”

“Five-year-olds are also welcome,” Alex joked.
”Another strength of the team is that we don't just have extroverts. I’m your typical ‘E’ - I'm energised by a room of people I don't know, but for a lot of people, that's their worst nightmare. Our Welcome team is blessed to have many who seek out quieter conversations. We need people who can energetically say hi to anyone, but also people who can welcome those who don't enjoy an energetic greeting.”

Our conversation was coming to a close, but over the course of it, I had learnt that for Alex and Kat, church is as much ‘home’ to them as their Kennington terrace. Both are places where they open up their lives and hearts—and stand by an open door. Saturday brunch and Sunday service aren’t so different in their eyes.

“In the same way that I would welcome people into my home—looking out for those who are new, offering a drink—that’s how I want to welcome people on a Sunday”, Kat said when I asked her about her heart for the ministry. “Church is God's house, and we get the privilege of welcoming people into it.”

*The Welcome team differ from the hospitality team, who prepare food, drinks and communion. If you’d like to join any of our volunteering teams, visit grace.london/serve.

Where will you sit this Sunday?

What goes through your mind as you approach church on Sundays?

I’d expect a wide range of answers to that question, and it probably depends on various factors - what the time is, how your day is going, whether there are any kids in tow, etc. Perhaps you’ve been attending church for a long time now, and there is a tendency to just go into autopilot as you walk through the door and not give attention to your mindset.

A few years ago, I read Tony Payne’s helpful little book on how we should walk into church on Sundays. In the opening chapter, he argues for a small but significant shift in this moment, which is to pray about where to sit. This not only expresses our trust in God for what he will do as we gather together, but also turns our attention towards others. He writes:
 

‘When we pray about where to sit, we’re also putting ourselves in the right frame of mind towards each other. We have started to think about the church as being someone other than me. This can be quite a mind-shift, but it’s a vital one. We come to church not only to be loved and blessed by God, but also to love and bless others around us. We come not to spectate or consume, nor even to have our personal encounter with God. We come to love and to serve.’

From experience, this kind of thinking requires intentionality. If we don’t set our minds on the things of the Spirit, then we turn inwards. On the contrary, imagine what it would look like if every person walked through the door having just finished a prayer with a posture of ‘who can I encourage today’ and ‘how can I show hospitality to those who are new’? I think we would see a demonstration of what the author of Hebrews had in mind in chapter 10:24-25:
 

‘And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.’

Last Sunday, Daniel reminded us that as followers of Jesus, we are all called to this kind of ministry and succinctly defined it for us as ‘pursuing God’s purposes in people’s lives for God’s glory and people’s good’. Prayer is our most effective way of fulfilling this.

So on Sunday, as you walk through the gates or park your car, I want to encourage you to join me in starting to pray something like this, with joyful expectancy for what God may do as we gather:
 

Lord, as we gather today, help me to glorify you and serve others. Lead me to those who I can encourage and set my mind on the things of the Spirit as we worship you and hear from your word. Amen.

One life-changing decision

A look of trepidation-turned-excitement crossed Amy Walter’s face as we sat in a park a stone’s throw from the church office. We were chatting about her upcoming move to Milan. Sun-scorched grass bristled against fidgeting fingers as she shared her plans. Since January, Amy has been making preparations to join Jeremy and Jen as they embark upon a church-plant in Italy’s metropolitan hub. Olive trees and long boulevards will soon replace London’s oaks and park hideouts.

But the decision to uproot herself hasn’t been straightforward. Although Amy has had a growing desire to pursue ministry further afield, she never foresaw Italy. So, when Jen shared their intention to plant a church in Milan last October, she was mostly sad that they would be leaving and felt no inkling to go. “She broke the news, and I was very quiet,” Amy recounted. “Selfish me was heartbroken."

“So, what changed your heart?” I asked.

“In January, I became more and more open to making the move,” she admitted. “I knew that I was past the initial emotional processing. I was praying intentionally and had quite a prophetic journey of seeking God and hearing him speak.”

“I had a prophetic picture of a little rabbit”, she continued, “cupped in someone’s hands, lifted, moved to the side, and placed back down. I sensed that God was going to pick me up, move me, and set me down somewhere completely different. I later realised that I was the rabbit. I didn't understand where God would place me, but I knew this year would be one of real change.

“A week or so after, I was praying again about Milan, and a word popped into my mind. I didn't even know what it meant, but it kept recurring. I really couldn't shake it off. The word was coniglio. I didn't know what it meant, so I decided to type it into Google Translate. I discovered it's Italian for rabbit.

“Almost instantly, I remembered the prophetic picture. When I paired the two together, I can't tell you, I had such a deep fear and felt the weight of what I might be called to. I was like, ‘Gosh, might God be calling me to go to Milan too?’ Everything in me wanted to run in the opposite direction out of fear, but the call felt unignorable.

“From then on, God took me on a journey of growing my heart for Milan. It became increasingly clear that this was what God wanted, and I wanted his will. I felt the internal tension—and the grief, actually—of that gap between wanting God’s will, but not wanting the thing itself. It was a journey of being humbled, choosing to trust, and allowing God to change my heart.”
 

“Now, what excites you looking ahead?” I asked.

“I'm excited for an adventure,” Amy replied. “To see God do crazy things. I have faith that he will do things only he can do. And I’m excited to learn Italian,” she added. “I don't know any, but it's cool.”

“Coniglio!” I interjected.

“Coniglio. First word,” Amy responded with a smile. “I’m looking forward to learning more for sure. It’s a beautiful language. And I’m excited for how God will break through with this small team to see Italians turn to know him. I have faith that God will pour out his Spirit and that the gospel will move powerfully even in such a spiritually barren context.

“Okay, last question”, I said. “How can we support you?”

“Prayer is the greatest gift I could be given”, Amy replied with complete sincerity. “I would love prayer for practicalities, for somewhere to live and all the challenges of moving country. More importantly, prayer for spiritual strength and endurance and forever-increased faith in what God will do... and comfort when it's hard.

“Financially, I’ll be fundraising again. In Milan, I’ll work 1-2 days a week on the start-up business with Jeremy, which will provide some income. But I’ll also need to raise support through Stewardship to cover living costs, visa costs, language learning costs, moving costs, and the many unexpected expenses ahead. It's a humbling and crazy thing to be so dependent on God's provision and others’ generosity. I am also looking for a support group of people not just to support financially, but prayerfully, and to be encouragers." (See below)

In less than two months, Amy will be packing up her stuff and leaving friends and family for a new nation, language, and culture. Big challenges await. But even faced with such uncertainty, Amy has a childlike trust in God's goodness. "His will is so much better than your will for life," she said as we sat in that little park. "What he calls you to, that will be the best way."
 

Our Merciful God

What would you say if you were asked, “What is so different about your God?” In a world with so many options of who or what to worship, what sets the God of the Bible, the God perfectly revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, apart from all others? 

The question is not a new one. In fact, it is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. What makes Israel’s God greater than the idols of the nations? One of the primary answers that the Old Testament gives us is this: he is merciful.

The Old Testament writers had deeply meditated on God’s words in Exodus 34 when he “told Moses his name”. He reveals himself as “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,” (Exodus 34.6). That verse is the most referenced in the rest of the Old Testament.

If your view of God in the Old Testament is influenced by the prevalent caricatures in our culture, this might seem surprising. However, the God revealed in the pages of scripture—from Genesis to Revelation—is a God of astonishing mercy. Here are three precious Old Testament texts that remind us of this unique attribute.


More merciful than our idols

“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger for ever, because he delights in steadfast love.”  Micah 7.18 

When setting up a contrast between the true God and other “gods”, the prophet Micah zeroes in on the fact that God is a forgiving God. He does not reluctantly receive us—perhaps after we have proved just how sorry we are and sufficiently punished ourselves—but rather delights in showing steadfast love to his people.

The fact that God is more merciful than our idols holds true whether a person worships Baal and Molech or our culture’s more subtle idols like money and beauty. A person who idolises money is crushed when they make a bad investment or miss out on a pay rise. There is no grace from the idol of money,  only a demand to try harder and do better. It’s the same for anything else we put in the place of the true God. But our God is different because when we fail him—as we do every day—he is merciful.


More merciful than us

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55.6–8

Many of us associate the last verse quoted above with the reality that God is wiser and knows better than us. While that is true, it’s not the passage’s main focus. Reading that verse in context, the message is clear – God is more merciful than we are.

We often count ourselves out of God’s mercy and think thoughts like “surely God could never forgive someone like me who has done [insert grievous sin]”. But our God unreservedly invites the wicked and unrighteous to forsake their ways and receive his compassion and abundant pardon. If you feel condemned about some seemingly unforgivable sin, you can take comfort in the truth that God is more merciful than you.


Merciful and just

“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53.5–6

We know instinctively that wrong deeds should be punished and feel outraged when a guilty person goes free. Other deities may claim to be merciful, but even if this were true, it would not make them like our God. In fact, their mercy would be an evil rather than good quality, because it would be an unjust mercy.

The final way our God differentiates himself is in showing both mercy and justice. His is a just mercy. He does not forgive us by ignoring our sins, relativising them or letting us go because we have done more good than bad. No, he leaves no bad deed unpunished. He can show us mercy because he has punished another for our guilt. The perfect Son of God became our sin-bearing substitute so we could spend eternity delighting in our merciful God.

The end of your shame

As swiftly as Adam and Eve ate the fruit, so did they experience a new and profoundly uncomfortable sensation: that of shame.

They went from being ‘naked and… not ashamed’ to hiding in the bushes, crossing their legs and covering their privates. When God came looking for them and asking, ‘Where are you?’ Adam replied, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.’

What was new to them is not new to us. Shame is part of our very existence. What are we to make of it?

Shame is both deeply right and deeply wrong. 

It’s right because it’s an intuitive, conscience-level awareness that we are not as beautiful, pure, and admirable as we ought to be. We were made for glory and for innocence and for peace in our consciences. We were made ‘a little lower than the angels’. But we have climbed down into the cesspit of our sin and our humanity has become tainted. As a result, there are things in us we want to hide because they’re genuinely ugly. 

But it’s also deeply wrong because our redemption should mean liberty from sin and from shame. For many, this sense of being clean can be hard to accept. When this happens, our shame can become enflamed and aggravated by the devil who accuses us, the world that alienates and despises us, and even our own sense of hatred towards ourselves. Shame in your conscience is much like your immune system: It’s designed to keep you healthy and fight off infections, parasites, and the like. But for some people, the immune system itself can be the very thing that is causing harm and even death.

Either way, whether our shame is right or it is wrong, the remedy is the same. We must turn again to a crucified saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who took our sin and our shame upon himself when he was made a spectacle on the cross.

In an age of advanced pain management – of paracetomol and aspirin and morphine and anaesthetic – we are often most horrified by the physical pain and torture of the cross. ‘And yet,’ writes Fleming Rutledge, ‘we must continue to emphasize that the shame of the crucifixion is more important for the determination of its meaning than the physical suffering.’

Jesus experienced the shame of the cross in order to take your shame away. 

Dear Christian, that is one reason why Good Friday is truly good, and why you can smile in relief and bask in his loving acceptance, knowing once more what it means to be truly seen and to be deeply loved.

Why give thanks?

Psalm 92 verse 1 says, 'It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High'. Scripture is full of exhortations and encouragements to thank God, prayers and songs of thanksgiving, and cautionary tales about the danger of ungratefulness. Most of us know thanksgiving is something we should do, yet many of us struggle to practice it intentionally. We must ask, Why is it ‘good to give thanks to the Lord’? 


Thanksgiving blesses God

Scripture tells us to enter God’s presence with thanksgiving (Psalm 100.4), to make our requests known to him with thanksgiving (Philippians 4.6), and to give thanks to him in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5.18). It is possible to see texts like this and wrongly perceive thanksgiving as another duty to perform or a ritual we do to appease God, but scripture is emphatic that while God delights in our thanksgiving, he does not need it. He doesn't call for it from a place of insecurity or a desire to be encouraged. Rather, thanking God is the natural response when we see God for who he is.

We are not called to baseless thanksgiving but are repeatedly told why to thank God. We thank him because he deserves it. ‘Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ is a repeated refrain in scripture (e.g. Psalms 107, 118, 136, 1 Chronicles 16). We thank God because ‘every good and perfect gift’ comes from him, every breath we take, every ray of sunshine, everything comes to us from his merciful hand. When we truly grasp this, thanking God should be our instinctive response. When we give thanks, we are saying true things about God. We are treating God as God. 


Thanksgiving blesses us

But when Psalm 92 says it is good to thank God, it is not just saying ‘It’s the right thing to do’ or ‘It’s good for God’, but also that it is good for us. How so? There are many ways, but I’ll touch on three briefly – faith, hope and love.

There is much in life to distract and disappoint us, to provoke us to ignore or doubt God. Without intentional effort to fix our minds on God, we drift towards unbelief. But giving thanks reminds us of who God is, what he’s done and what he’s doing, and it builds faith in us. Thanksgiving also gives us hope. Difficult situations can drive us to despair, but recalling the good things God has done gives us perspective. Our challenges are big but our God is bigger, so we can have hope.

Finally, thanksgiving blesses us as it stirs our hearts to love God. Left to their own devices, our hearts focus on what we don’t have, growing cold and bitter to God. But when we ‘bless the Lord and remember his benefits’ (Psalm 103), we are reminded that God loves us and means to do us good, and this enables us to love him.


Thanksgiving blesses others

Christian thanksgiving differs from the secular idea of “practising gratitude” in that our thanks are directed to God. But another key distinction is that Christian thanksgiving has a strong communal aspect. Throughout scripture, thanksgiving is something others are invited into. Psalm 34 says, ‘Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!’

Why? Because thanksgiving not only blesses God and the person giving thanks but it blesses others too. It builds faith in those joining in, as they hear how God is still at work, answering prayers, saving and bringing deliverance. It stirs hope and warms their hearts with love for this God who constantly lavishes mercy on undeserving people.


So friend, I encourage you to take time today to write down some things for which you are thankful to God. Make a regular habit of doing this. Don’t stop there, but invite others into your thanksgiving. It’s as simple as asking, 'What are you thankful for?' or 'How have you seen God at work lately?' Let us thank the Lord, for he is good and giving thanks is good.

Who manages our money?

Who sets Grace London's salaries? Who tracks our cash flow? Who signs off hiring plans or significant costs?

Behind the scenes at Grace London, we have a team of experienced accountants, administrators, lawyers, and bankers, who hold these responsibilities and more, mostly as volunteers. Paul Nicholas is our Finance Team Manager and a Trustee. He tells us more about himself and the finance team below.

Please tell us about yourself.

I’m married to Gloria, and we have two daughters, Abigail (Abby, 4) and Eleanor (Ellie, 3). We’ve been at Grace for around three years and love the community and fellowship. I grew up in South London (mainly Peckham), so I’m one of the few born and bred South Londoners at Grace! We live in North Kennington, close to Elephant & Castle, where we lead a life group. I work as a fixed-income fund manager in the City of London.

Paul, Gloria, Abigail & Eleanor

What do your roles involve?

As Trustees, we focus on the more administrative aspects of church life. We have formal meetings once a quarter where the Finance Team produce a financial update to review income (i.e. giving), compare expenses against budgets, and assess the ongoing financial position of the church. We then discuss key business items, such as hiring plans or potential significant expenditures.

We also communicate regularly over email to make ad hoc spending or staffing decisions. I also sit on the Remuneration Committee, which reviews salaries for current employees and sets the initial pay for new joiners.


What does the finance team do?

We have a theological (as well as legal and regulatory) obligation to steward the church finances well. It includes:
 

• Categorising every item of income and expenditure so we can track against budgets and prepare detailed accounts.

• Maintaining appropriate reserves and managing cash flow.

• Helping to set budgets once a year so the ministry teams know how much they can spend.

Zach Kellett on the staff team does most of the day-to-day work with oversight from Pete Mills. Kat Miller will shortly take up a finance role on the staff team. Cezar Rugasira, Naomi Wang and I help in a voluntary capacity.
 

Our finance team, minus Cezar (Pete, Paul, Naomi, Zach & Luke)

Why did you step up to the role? How do you see your role connecting with your faith?

It’s somewhat niche – Luke said I was the first person ever to mention ‘Trusteeship’ as one of my gifts in the membership interview!

One of the first problems the early church encountered was administrative - "[some] widows were being neglected in the daily distribution" (Acts 6:1). The apostles had to choose “men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom” (v3), including Stephen, the first martyr. Paul lists ‘administrating’ as a spiritual gift in 1 Corinthians 12:28.

Although it’s mostly behind the scenes, doing this work well has a big impact on helping all our ministries to flourish and thrive, as well as taking some of the burden off the elders.


What's a highlight from the last year?

We’re so blessed by God’s faithfulness and all of your generosity! We have a policy to give 10% of our income away to kingdom causes. It’s a huge joy to support churches that are faithfully witnessing but struggling financially, and they are so grateful for our support.


How can we pray for/support the team?

Pray for wisdom, discernment and faith! It would also be great to have one or two more people with relevant experience/gifts join the team.

As a church, let's get behind them in prayer! If you'd like to join the team, contact Paul via finance@grace.london. For more info about giving to support the church, head to grace.london/give.

Ending the year well

In four days, 2024 will be over. I don’t know how you feel about that. Maybe a sense of relief in closing a hard and unpleasant chapter. Maybe gratitude for a year that exceeded expectations and brought delight. Maybe even cynicism after a year of setbacks and disappointments. Wherever you find yourself as the curtains close on 2024, I want to share some thoughts on how you might finish it well.


Remember
Psalm 77.19–20

New Year’s festivities provide ample opportunity to avoid being alone with our thoughts. We can distract ourselves with meals, movies, board games, live sports and a litany of other options. However, we do ourselves a disservice if we don’t intentionally carve out time to reflect. Scripture shows us that the discipline of remembrance is vital for our joy in God and faithfulness to him. So, why not cast your mind over the past year and write down some things you are grateful to God for? He is worthy of your praise - and giving thanks blesses you even more than it blesses him.

You might think, “This has been a tough year. The last thing I need is to ruin the holidays by dredging up all the painful stuff”. But friend, choosing to remember can also help you savour all the ways God has been good to you despite the pain. As you take stock, you might begin seeing how your heavenly Father has worked amidst the hardship, bringing blessing, refining and sustaining you. Your lament might turn into thanksgiving. But even for those things for which there is no discernible reason to give thanks, remembering still serves a good purpose as it provides an opportunity for a Godward response.


Respond
1 Peter 5.6–7

The beauty of reflecting as a Christian is that you are not left helpless, even when you happen upon a hurt that bears the weight of an immovable boulder. No, you have your heavenly Father whose shoulders are broad enough and arms strong enough to lift the heaviest hurt. He calls you to cast your anxieties - alongside every disappointment, sorrow and sin - onto him. He has new mercies for you every new day and every new year.

You need not hide or run from the difficult realities of life, the grief or the areas of persistent failure. You need not throw up your hands in frustration. As you reflect, you can bring everything and anything to him in prayer, whether for the first or thousandth time. Why? Because he cares for you. He really does care. Enough to send his Son into this world of sin to die to rescue you. There is no safer place, no more hopeful place to bring your problems than to your Maker.


Rest
Psalm 3.3–4

What now? Processing the past year's joys, sorrows, successes and failures can be mentally and emotionally taxing work, but it is not without reward. Having deposited the year's reflections with God, you can rest. You can enjoy God himself. You can enjoy his good gifts, like family, meals, movies and board games. You can sleep. You can slow down, quieten your mind and approach the new year with a sense of peace, knowing you are not approaching it alone.

Investing yourself

Christmas is coming. Hallelujah! It’s a time for celebration, family, rest and hopefully, spiritual restoration. After a busy term, we probably feel like we need it! But, as well as enjoying time with loved ones, the holidays are also a time to step back, to reflect, and to consider our priorities, particularly as we begin a new year.  

As you reflect on your resolutions for the coming year, let me give you one more question to consider: Who will you invest your life in? 

As we grow older, I suspect we’ll want to consider what kind of legacy we’re leaving behind. For most of us, our legacy will probably not be in the institutions that we’ve established, but in the impact we’ve left on other people. Have we inspired and encouraged them? Have we helped them spiritually? Or have we hindered them?

Most of the time, this will happen passively. As you share your life with others in the church, you’ll naturally rub off on them. For example, if you pursue God wholeheartedly and without compromise, you’ll (almost inevitably) inspire others with your zeal. 

But perhaps the greatest impact we can have is when we're intentional about investing in others. You might call it mentoring, discipleship, or even just intentional spiritual friendship. The times when I've grown the most spiritually have been when someone has taken the initiative to spend time with me personally, helping me to grow. When I first became a Christian, 16 years ago, I benefitted from 1-to-1 discipleship from an Agapé staff worker, Rich. He taught me the fundamentals of following Jesus, how to share my faith, and even how to teach others to do the same. I'll be forever grateful for what he taught me.

Where to start? First, consider who God has placed in your life, who you'd like to help grow. They might be a peer, or someone younger in faith. You might not be that close to them, but it's probably helpful if you see teachability and a desire to grow in them.

Next, go for a drink, and ask them if they'd like to commit to a regular rhythm of meeting (e.g. fortnightly or monthly) for a set period. You might read a Christian book that you've found helpful and reflect on it each time you meet. Or read through a book of the bible. And of course, be intentional about sharing your struggles and joys.

It's not rocket science! But, I think many of the younger folk in our church would love someone older (or wiser) to do this with them! And if you find yourself wanting this kind of input, just ask someone you respect. And if you can't find anyone, email me and we'll help you find someone to walk with you.

Whether you take me up on the suggestion or not, I hope you have some time to rest and personally meet with Jesus over the Christmas holidays, amidst the celebration and feasting!

Think FAST

Kafui is committed to making a difference in the lives of young people. Alongside being part of our church family, he's CEO of FAST, a charity dedicated to supporting youth in Battersea. In this conversation, Kafui shares his journey, the mission behind FAST, and how we can support their work. Read on to learn more.

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Tell us about yourself.

I am of Ghanaian descent but was born and grew up in North-East London. I joined Grace London in March 2020 after moving to Battersea for work and was blessed to marry Etornam the following September. In June 2023, we welcomed to the world our bundle of joy and very opinionated daughter, Xorlase.

Etornam, Kafui & Xorlase

Please tell us more about FAST.

FAST London is a youth charity based on the Patmore estate that works to support young people aged 10-19. The estate is statistically deprived, and young people have less access to opportunities and are at high risk of all forms of abuse.

We provide three levels of support: 1) open access sessions, including football and cooking,  2) small group interventions and mentoring and 3) ‘keywork’ where we work with parents, social workers and other professionals.

I have been the CEO since 2019 and am responsible for strategy, fundraising, partnerships and governance. I also play a leading role in our Christian youth project.
 

Afterschool cooking session

What’s the vision behind FAST?

The ultimate goal of FAST is to glorify God in how we approach our work and through the impact we make in our community. Our vision is to create, "a community where young people grow up with a healthy sense of trust, resilience and hope for the future." It consists of four key elements:
 

Community. We want young people to belong and know they are unconditionally loved regardless of their gifts and shortcomings.

Trusted relationships. We seek to model and facilitate healthy relationships between young people and ourselves (as authority figures), and between peers.

Resilience. We seek to equip young people to deal with life’s challenges.

Hope for the future. We explore what the Christian faith says about life’s big questions. We also encourage young people to work hard and aspire to a better future in their careers and personal relationships.

We want to model Jesus by practically providing for young people whilst also telling them the spiritual truth of the gospel. Another key desire of ours is to provide opportunities for people who are passionate about sharing the gospel an opportunity to serve whether full-time or volunteering.
 

FAST football training

How can we pray for you and FAST?

Personally, please pray that I grow more in love with God and find complete satisfaction in him. As an extension of this, please also pray for protection over my family.

Secondly, we are blessed to have great relationships with young people and their parents. Please pray for wisdom and boldness to share the gospel, particularly through our Exploring Christianity sessions where there has been real spiritual hunger.

Finally, please pray for partners and finances to further our mission. We have an urgent need to try to raise an extra £150k in the next 18 months and are seeking God’s provision. Please consider becoming a foundational partner and giving monthly to us. 

Praise God for what he’s doing through Kafui and FAST. If you’d like to support FAST financially or through volunteering, please contact them (info@fastlondon.co.uk). They’re looking for volunteers to help deliver their weekly sessions (4-8.30pm) and those with expertise in photography, social media, and fundraising.

Pausing to say thank you

It is a little difficult to imagine now how uncertain things felt when our church first began. 

I had to settle my heart that the church plant might fail, whilst at the same time trusting God for his favour. I don’t know what the others felt, but they certainly took a risk in becoming founding members.

Those early Sundays were interesting. A bunch of supportive people showed up for our first-ever meeting in late September, but in the following weeks, it was a little more shaky. We were essentially no bigger than a home group.

Eugene had found the venue and negotiated its use for a mere £10 p/h. Joshua set up the tech (about three cables and a couple of mics). Jenny and Sie made cakes and tried to keep the two kids quiet at the back. Irina printed some bulletins with song lyrics. Dan Tan or Jocelyn led worship (except that one Sunday when they were both away and it fell to me). Danny offered lots of much-needed encouragement whilst getting us registered as a charity. I preached my heart out, making sure my voice reached the second row (there wasn't a third). And we all prayed. That was pretty much it.

But then Annabelle showed up and said she wanted to join. She brought Hannah and Estera and Jamie. Shanice found us too. And so did Chloe, and then James and Tim. We were absolutely flying… as long as everyone showed up at the same time.

I reflect back now and I’m sort of surprised anyone stayed. I’m not sure I would have joined a thing like this. 

But then I’m less surprised when I remember how much fun we had, and how incredibly passionate and enthused everyone was. And most of all, we were really quite certain that God was with us.

And so, early on, we settled it that it was important to mark certain moments to give thanks to God. Nothing is certain except his faithfulness and his goodness. So, we wanted to take our opportunities to pause and say thank you, especially with each year the church grew older.

Now we’re approaching 10 years. A decade. And God has been so faithful and so, so good. I would love for every one of you to join us to celebrate on 4th October as we mark this moment in the life of our church. 

(Photo from Grace London’s first birthday)

How to move house

Starting a new congregation in Holborn has an air of familiarity. We last started a new congregation in 2018 when we began the evening service. Even then, as a much smaller church, we needed more space to welcome newcomers and foster a deep sense of community.

We faced a similar challenge again in 2019 when we outgrew our previous venue and found ourselves regularly squeezing past each other to get to the coffee machine (sound familiar?). We moved both services into a bigger space at the London Nautical School on that occasion. But at both these points in our church’s history, the desire for more people to hear the gospel and experience genuine community meant a shift was needed.

In establishing a new congregation at a new venue, we’re combining two shifts we've previously made. But while there is a familiarity to multiplying again, we recognise it's no small change. There's much to be done, and we need Jesus' guidance and your support as we move ahead with the launch.

There are parallels between what we’re doing in planting a church family into Holborn and what it is like to move house. From experience, there is usually a rapid change of perception from ‘I don’t have that much stuff - how hard can it be?’ to ‘There’s actually a lot to do here… We’re going to need some help’.

When Nats and I moved into our current flat, we called upon an army of willing volunteers to help us with almost everything. Some friends helped to clean our old flat, others provided lunch for everyone, and some put their Tetris skills to good use and packed the van with all our belongings. Even after we moved in, more people helped us paint the walls, put up shelves, and lent us their car for the inevitable IKEA trip. Everyone played a part, and their combined efforts and skills were essential in making the whole thing successful.

In scripture, we see the same pattern. God gives people specific roles to fulfil his purposes. There are countless examples throughout the Bible of individuals and groups of people being raised up by God to serve him and his people.

As we take this step of faith in forming a new community on the other side of the Thames, I want to encourage you to consider what part you can play. Can you help to establish serving teams in the Holborn congregation? Or perhaps strengthen our existing teams in Waterloo? In any case, be encouraged that Jesus is building His church and is inviting you to play a part in whatever capacity you can.

Biblical Creativity

What do the average banker and painter have in common? Probably not much. Their labours are utterly unalike. One works in an office, the other in a studio. One works with numbers, the other with colour. But despite their differences, the Bible bestows dignity on the work of both. The artist is as much a ‘worker' as the financier, and vice versa.

In a world which prizes productivity, this is important to note. Creative work does not make the world go round like money does. We would immediately feel the crushing effects of a financial crisis, but if every artist stopped working tomorrow, it would take longer to notice. However, the consequences would be similarly crushing if only different and more gradual. Life would slowly become less beautiful and vibrant. Culture would grow stale. While creativity doesn't hit productivity goals like other forms of work, it is equally vital.


Creativity is work

The Bible affirms the place of creativity in its opening pages. In Genesis 1, God gives Adam and Eve a mission: “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1.28). 

God honours them with the responsibility to 'subdue' the earth, to tame a sinless but uncultivated world. Pre-fall creation was not corrupted, but neither was it finished. God looked at the world with delight - it was ‘good’ - but there was more to be done. Earth’s raw materials existed but remained untamed. So, God called Adam and Eve to create order in this beautiful but wild landscape.

Creating art is one way to subdue the earth. Just as farmers tame creation by ploughing and sowing, artists do so by composing and performing. Their materials are not seed and soil but colour, language and sound. So, like farming, gardening, or banking, creative work is honest work.


Creativity is hard

However, we often imagine creative work simply as musing for hours, waiting for a genius idea to strike. This notion only hinders us from viewing artistry as honest work. However, understanding creativity as a practice of cultivating God’s creation can help us.

As any labourer will tell you, cultivation requires persistent hard work, even in the driving rain. A farmer doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances or a particular emotion to get ploughing. There will be moments of joy and reward, but grit, patience, and endurance are anyways required.

Similarly, creative work is neither easy nor passive but, like any work, requires persistence. Understanding creativity as a form of cultivating shows us we needn’t wait for a stroke of genius. Like the farmer, we must work even when inspiration is lacking and circumstances are suboptimal. As painter Chuck Close said, “Inspiration is for amateurs — the rest of us just show up and get to work.”


Creativity blesses others

Finally, creative work done well demonstrates God’s kindness to others. Beautiful art, music, choreography, and architecture enrich our lives. Artistry nourishes our souls. It is one way God showers his common grace over humanity - and the world cannot do without it.

So, if God has gifted you with artistic talent and creativity, use it to his glory! Follow his command and cultivate the world through your creativity. Doing so may sometimes feel difficult or uninspired, but your labour will make the world more vibrant. Spend your life for the glory of God and the good of others, and start creating.