It is reported that Mark Twain once said: "Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day."
Now there’s a thought. Burning snowmen on a Wednesday, eating frogs on a Friday! You can’t say ASecludedPlace is a dull and boring place for practical advice and guidance!
"Eat the frog" is a metaphorical phrase that means to tackle the most challenging or unpleasant task first. It’s used in business circles and motivational classes to increase productivity, reduce procrastination and enhance focus and concentration.
Before you visit Sainsbury’s (there are other Supermarkets out there!) to check out their Frog Fridge, you might do well to heed this advice from Matthew 6:5-6, taken from The Message:
"And when you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for fifteen minutes of fame! Do you think God sits in a box seat?
"Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace."
Ah, the foundational text for our ASecludedPlace reflections. But what good advice. And perhaps the best way for us to start our days. So let’s put the frogs to one side for a moment and give our prayers to God ...
Gracious God, the beauty of your creation inspires our hearts to praise you. To see how your hands have formed the heavens and the earth, have shaped our lives, causes us to humbly bow our heads in adoration.
We are sorry for how we have treated your creation, for our selfishness with the worlds resources, for our pollution of land and sea, and for wars that hurt and scar nations. We find it hard to live with respect and honour for one another, but we do truly ask for your forgiveness, for the chance to begin again.
We know you to be a Gracious God, and that is why we are constantly restored and renewed. May these difficult challenges that we face be the ones we address first each day, to set our hearts with love and forgiveness, kindness and compassion.
So we pray for our world ...
our nation ...
our local community...
We pray for our churches. That they may be a loving and welcoming place, a shelter for many in the storms of life, and that in them we may sense the grace of God. We pray for our children and young people, that they may feel a sense of belonging and acceptance in our lives and in our churches. We pray for the marginalised and vulnerable that they may know their worth before us and before God. We pray for all our community.
And we pray for our own lives. For strength. For confidence. For assurance. For healing. We pray for our family and friends.
In you, Gracious God, may we find beauty and truth, and may our hearts be always ready to serve you. Amen.
Neil Chappell
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