Each Sunday during August Jon and I have been helping to lead our family services at church.

Whilst I have enjoyed doing this immensely, it has not been easy to pull off with the children all off school and so much else to prepare and do. I felt very tired going into last week – for obvious reasons!
But God really ministered to me through the time of family communion.
I was leading.
(Isn’t it often the case that the one who gets most out of a talk is the preacher?!)
Well, I don’t know what most of the others got out of the communion time… but I was really blessed by it.

I simply explained (primarily for the children’s benefit) that Jesus’ friends did not know what was coming, but He did. I explained that Jesus’ friends did not understand what was about to happen, but He did.

To help them understand, He acted out his death with a loaf of unleavened bread and some wine.

It was the phrase “acted out” that got me (and a few others who were kind enough to come and share with me later)

It is hard to have communion and for it to be totally fresh. The words and the story can become all too common-place can’t they?
But I was IN that room with Jesus as I was speaking. I could see His face and hear His voice.
I could sense the disciples disbelief, sadness and fear.

As I lifted up the bread and tore it apart I said that Jesus showed them with the bread what was about to happen to Him. It brought a lump to my throat and a gratefulness to my spirit.

Thank you Jesus for dying for me. Even though You know that I am so often a Judas. I so often betray You and leave You out of my life. I so often hand your rule and reign in my life to something or someone else that feels more “urgent” and pressing. I let my work or my children, my projects or my dreams push You away. I am so sorry Lord.

Forgive me Jesus and teach me how to be in communion with You more deeply than ever today.

Thank you that You didn’t just act it out with bread and wine, but with Your real body and your real blood. I love You for that… and for all You are.