Psalm 31
Today is a day for Psalm 31.
I want God to listen to me. I am tired of things happening that cause me discomfort, emotionally or physically.
I want God to keep me safe. I want him to protect me.
I want to be released from imprisonment by dampness in the house.
Yes my eye is consumed with sorrow. Yesterday because of my frustration at having nowhere other than a hard wooden chair to sit but today morning our little dog Windy who was killed yesterday by a car outside our house.
I feel useless.
Here my entreaty O Lord.
23 Love the Lord, all you who worship him; *
the Lord protects the faithful,
but repays to the full those who act haughtily.
24 Be strong and let your heart take courage, *
all you who wait for the Lord.
I don't really mind what he does to the haughty though I suppose I could class the driver of the car as too arrogant to stop.
Lord let me know your tender care.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Monday, November 24, 2014
Like a child
Luke 18;15-30
Do you remember visiting Father Christmas in the grotto? For me my first experience was not a happy one. It was my third Christmas. We were in a department store in Llanelli. The grotto was in the basement. We descend the dark stairs, I was put on this strange man's knee. I cried.There after I always had a problem with this Father Christmas guy, so much so that I was the first one on the block to hear the truth. my mother just could not take any more of my Christmas agonies. I was terrified of Father Christmas.
When I had my own children I could not encourage the myth of Father Christmas and told them that we gave and received presents at Christmas because God gave us Jesus at Christmas and the Kings brought gifts to the stable. It was a time of giving. The other mothers in the village were not happy. They were worried that my children would tell their children the truth.
This came to my memory this morning as I was pondering what it is the accept the kingdom like a child. Children are not gullible. They are often very wise. So I suppose this is how I accept God and his kingdom. Believe what I am told until proved otherwise.
Do you remember visiting Father Christmas in the grotto? For me my first experience was not a happy one. It was my third Christmas. We were in a department store in Llanelli. The grotto was in the basement. We descend the dark stairs, I was put on this strange man's knee. I cried.There after I always had a problem with this Father Christmas guy, so much so that I was the first one on the block to hear the truth. my mother just could not take any more of my Christmas agonies. I was terrified of Father Christmas.
When I had my own children I could not encourage the myth of Father Christmas and told them that we gave and received presents at Christmas because God gave us Jesus at Christmas and the Kings brought gifts to the stable. It was a time of giving. The other mothers in the village were not happy. They were worried that my children would tell their children the truth.
This came to my memory this morning as I was pondering what it is the accept the kingdom like a child. Children are not gullible. They are often very wise. So I suppose this is how I accept God and his kingdom. Believe what I am told until proved otherwise.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Thank you, thank you for your help
Luke 17:11-19
Ten were healed, one back to say thank you, and of course he was the Samaritan amongst the group. The rest were not thankful, they followed the rules, went and went to the priest to get check. I expect they went home to their families after that. Perhaps they had a party to celebrate their good health. What they did not do was say thank you to the chap who had healed them.
The day after the flood most of the roads in our village were closed. Parking was at a premium. People had come from all over the region to help. They swept out the water and mud, emptied cupboards and washed plates. For three days 6 angels, total strangers to us cleaned our house. There were others too, one who went to pick up a form with me to make sure my pigeon french was understood. There was a familiar face from yoga who came with her husband, sons, sister in law and niece who washed plates over the grate in the street for hours and took clothes to the official Ittre laundry service. It is difficult to thank these people enough, But I must. Writing this here is not sufficient.
Ten were healed, one back to say thank you, and of course he was the Samaritan amongst the group. The rest were not thankful, they followed the rules, went and went to the priest to get check. I expect they went home to their families after that. Perhaps they had a party to celebrate their good health. What they did not do was say thank you to the chap who had healed them.
The day after the flood most of the roads in our village were closed. Parking was at a premium. People had come from all over the region to help. They swept out the water and mud, emptied cupboards and washed plates. For three days 6 angels, total strangers to us cleaned our house. There were others too, one who went to pick up a form with me to make sure my pigeon french was understood. There was a familiar face from yoga who came with her husband, sons, sister in law and niece who washed plates over the grate in the street for hours and took clothes to the official Ittre laundry service. It is difficult to thank these people enough, But I must. Writing this here is not sufficient.
Monday, November 17, 2014
As the waters cover the sea
Habakkuk 2:1-4, 9-20
But the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea
How I disliked the daily assembly of my secondary school. Fifteen minutes of enforced silence. The hymn, the reading, the prayer and the announcements. I think that was it. One day we sang the hymn with these words as its refrain.
But the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
Our school was seven miles from the Atlantic Ocean. We were all familiar with the waters and the sea. Mighty white fringed breakers crashing onto the pebbles at the beach top then the sound as the salt water was dragged through the stones back to its ocean home. Or the sea in its tranquil form seeming and indeed spreading beyond the horizon to America, a golden path of sunlight leading the way. Yes I was familiar with the waters but not yet with God's glory. From that moment on I never saw the sea as mundane, it is an expression of God's glory. God nudge me towards his purpose.
1 God is working his purpose out
as year succeeds to year:
God is working his purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
as year succeeds to year:
God is working his purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
2 From utmost east to utmost west,
where'er the church has gone,
by the mouth of many messengers
the call of God has come:
Give ear to me, you continents;
you isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
where'er the church has gone,
by the mouth of many messengers
the call of God has come:
Give ear to me, you continents;
you isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
3 March we forth in the strength of God,
with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious gospel of truth
may shine throughout the world:
fight we the fight with sorrow and sin
to set their captives free,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious gospel of truth
may shine throughout the world:
fight we the fight with sorrow and sin
to set their captives free,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
4 All we can do is done in vain
unless God blesses the deed;
vainly we hope for the harvesttide
till God gives life to the seed;
yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
unless God blesses the deed;
vainly we hope for the harvesttide
till God gives life to the seed;
yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Floods
Psalm 93
I try to get back into my usual routines but somehow it is difficult. Life is not normal. All the cupboards are empty and the drawers are upstairs. The chairs are waiting to be recovered. The walls are waiting to be stripped of the water marks and the damp removed. The floor is tile covered in wood glue.
I no longer hear the roar of the flood at night, though it did persist for a few days. Neither is the smell of damp mud in my nostrils any longer.
Slowly the neighbourhood is eturning to normal. Quite a few houses have the remnants of their kitchen on the pavement and there are piles of concrete, presumably dug up and discarded floors.
The word flood is not one that will never again pass through my ears without twinges of emotion.
I try to get back into my usual routines but somehow it is difficult. Life is not normal. All the cupboards are empty and the drawers are upstairs. The chairs are waiting to be recovered. The walls are waiting to be stripped of the water marks and the damp removed. The floor is tile covered in wood glue.
I no longer hear the roar of the flood at night, though it did persist for a few days. Neither is the smell of damp mud in my nostrils any longer.
Slowly the neighbourhood is eturning to normal. Quite a few houses have the remnants of their kitchen on the pavement and there are piles of concrete, presumably dug up and discarded floors.
The word flood is not one that will never again pass through my ears without twinges of emotion.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Richard Hooker
1 Corinthians 2:6-10,13-16
Richard Hooker is one of my heroes. The walked the via media, that narrow path between Romanism and Puritanism in the 16th century. He was adamant about his beliefs but tolerant of those who did not share them.
He likened Anglicanism, i.e. Church of Englandism, not the contemporary American use of the word to amongst many things, a three strand cord. The elements of scripture, tradition and reason each being a strand of the cord, scripture being the strongest. I am a bible reader, I believe that I can deepen my relationship with God through regular bible reading. It is how I discover more about our wonderful God and gives hil an opportunity to nudge me in the direction he wants me to take.
Yes I like a bit of pomp and ceremony. It is a special way to honour our God.
As for reason I do not think I could be a part of a religion that did not allow me to make my own decisions and be responsible for my own actions.
A little about the man and his theology. Of course there is a lot more about him, Wikipedia for instance
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Psalm 150
Psalm 150
It is a Psalm 150 day; a praise God day.
Can I praise him fpr being tired? Can I praise him for the empty brain and layers of dust and grime? Probably I can. I thrust hil to have a plan. Meanwhile spot the parrow who was just hopping amongst the rocks. I could see him because of tile spent by my friend clearing away the brambles and summer weeds.
Can you see him?
It is a Psalm 150 day; a praise God day.
Can I praise him fpr being tired? Can I praise him for the empty brain and layers of dust and grime? Probably I can. I thrust hil to have a plan. Meanwhile spot the parrow who was just hopping amongst the rocks. I could see him because of tile spent by my friend clearing away the brambles and summer weeds.
Can you see him?
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