.

It’s one of the better-known psalms, often sung as a hymn and repeated as a short prayer: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will. Psalm 39(40)

The idea of God’s will might not sound all that inviting or attractive. For many years I thought that if I really wanted something in life then God’s will for me would probably be something very different and unattractive.

What a sad image of God I had: a God whose will for me would probably be the opposite of my own heart’s desire.

Then, after a fair bit of turmoil in my immature relationship with God I realised that I had very little idea of what I really desired anyway. Most of the time I would grasp at illusions of power or pleasure that would leave me feeling less human and sadly unfulfilled.

But God, my creator, the writer of the handbook on abundant human living, loves me more than I could ever love myself. And whereas I was willing to settle for an adequate life, God was trying to wake me up to the beauty and availability of abundant life delivering real and lasting happiness.

And this is the Collect that we pray as the opening prayer at every Mass this week:

O God, who have prepared for those who love you
good things which no eye can see,
fill our hearts, we pray, with the warmth of your love,
so that, loving you in all things and above all things,
we may attain your promises,
which surpass every human desire.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen

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AN IMPORTANT FOOD FOR FAITH UPDATE.

This Food For Faith mission has recently moved to a new stage of life with the formation of the FOOD FOR FAITH CHARITABLE TRUST.

As the mission has grown in recent years I have been unable to keep up with administration of the website as well as the production of content and responding to the many emails. It has also become clear that such a mission that is bigger than diocesan and national but also international and ecumenical does not sit easily within existing church structures and administration.

Earlier this year I received a significant number of emails, creative ideas and donations encouraging me to do much more to meet a wider and growing need, reaching out to the many people who are seeking greater maturity in faith and looking for encouragement and food for faith beyond what is already available.

I sensed that the Holy Spirit was at work here, and felt a bit thrown by the generous response and support of so many readers.

In the desert weeks of discernment that followed I found it difficult to write and prepare content, and as a result you haven’t heard much from me.

However now FFF is ready to go again.

After much consultation, discernment and prayer,  I have decided to pass the management and administration of the FFF mission to trustees and advisers who will oversee the newly formed FFF Charitable Trust enabling it to grow and respond more actively. 

I’m happy to be free of the administration aspects of FFF and therefore I will not be a trustee of the Trust. Instead my work with FFF is now able to be more focussed on the production of content and creating new resources to meet the growing need and to support the development of the mission.

To those who have made financial contributions for FFF in recent months I am very grateful. Your donations have been a powerful sign that FFF meets a real need. Life in the digital world is costly, with the production of a single three minute video costing several hundred dollars, but videos along with podcasts, written content, interviews and sharing of other resources are what people are asking for and now FFF is ready and able to meet this need.

This new FFF era includes a new bank account and on behalf of the Trustees (Catherine Gibbs, Chris Fogarty & Merv Duffy SM) I ask that you note this detail if you feel moved to support FFF financially. To those who have been making a regular direct credit to FFF, thank you. Your regular contributions are enabling me with the Trustees and Advisors to budget and decide the time for new content and projects.

Please take a moment now to add the new bank details to your records.  (Note the “Support FFF” button on the front page will take you to this information.)

Food for Faith Trust Account   12-3142-0485211-00.    (Swift code ASBBNZ2A)

I’m always happy to hear from you in the comments section of every post, or directly by email at john@fff.org.nz.  If your query is about some aspect of administration, or a problem with the website, or receipt for donation, please send your note to admin@fff.org.nz.