Kat Thomas is a student in Bristol and goes to church at Pip N Jay. She writes here about their recent student weekend away.
"If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose." (Philippians 2:1-2)
I've been away for weekends before,on holiday with with my family, visiting relatives and friends, even with my church but this weekend just gone I experienced a rare feeling. A feeling of being totally at home, even though I was away from Cheltenham, my birthplace, or Bristol where I now live. Over the weekend it dawned on me that home is not where you pay rent, or keep all your stuff, or even sleep. It's where your family are, it's where you are close to your Father, it's where you feel safest and most loved.
On Friday I exchanged Bristol for a beautiful house in the middle of the Somerset countryside for a weekend of fellowship, worship and teaching with students from my own church (Pip N Jay) and our brothers and sisters in Christ from other churches in Bristol. This weekend was all about growing together as a community, as a family, learning to support on another as we build God's Kingdom in our "own little patches of earth".
We were all enriched and taught by the word of God, through some amazing speakers, Tim Silk, Silas Crawley and Andy Stansbury. His word spoke of identity in Christ, seeking His agenda and community. We all sought Him in worship and cast out the things that were holding us back. We spent time meditating on scripture and in prayer. We made new friendships and old friendships grew stronger. We laughed, we walked, we had a quiz. At the heart of this weekend was a simple concept. Family.
God has a passion for family, and wants to see His own family grow, to see all His children take their place in His Kingdom. Just as we rejoice at the birth of a new addition to our human families, so does our Father as we come to recognise Christ as our King. Together we support and love one another as brothers and sisters, a closeness and familiarity that was clear this weekend.
Being able to share what God is doing in our lives is so important, as is being able to share the things that keep us from seeking Him wholeheartedly. Vulnerability is the key to an intimate relationship with God, being able to come to Him with all our insecurities and sin laid bare. Knowing that the people around us are there as our family, ready to support us, forgive us, pray with us and rejoice in our blessings is a blessing in itself. God not only gives us Himself as our Father, Saviour, Protector and Redeemer but we also have brothers and sisters who can we can share his wonders with.
This weekend I have felt at home. I have felt loved. I have felt enriched. I have felt relaxed.
As I come back home and settle into life in Flat 202, I know that I am also at home because here is where my family is, it's where I am close to my Father, it's where I feel safest and most loved.
