slippery stones

Psalm 119 :121-144

Rue Haute is the sort of road I like; a slight slope, mossy banks, trees touching fingertips making a shady arch. The whole with the scent of fresh earth.  But after rain I cannot linger and indulge my senses. My feet slip on the slightly moss covered paving stones. Keep my feet steady Lord as I negotiate the path of life.

Threading the needle

Matthew 19:23-30

Where are my glasses? Snip off the end of the thread with sharp scissors to eradicate that feathery strand  which always seems to be there. Give a little bit of a lick to straighten out the the floppy end. Hold the needle in front of some white paper and away we go. Slowly and carefully aiming for the little space and not to have a shaky hand. Maybe the needle is now threaded and the button can be sewn back into place or we start the process again. Threading a needle is not easy, neither is life but 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’
This is something which I need to remind myself often.

"We are family"

Matthew 18:10-20

Rod and Marilynn, Rosalyn, Mary, Judy, Gill, Marci, Marilyn, Leslie and Stockton, Muriel, Sharon and Bob, Ed and Jeanne, Nathalie and Philip, Petra and Andrew, Rie, Susan all have a special place in our hearts. There are others too, Judy and Lee, Elaine and Gary and ones who I joined with during the daytime- Lynda, Priscilla, Catherine, Ann, Anne, Carol, Bridget, Lin, Sherry,  We have met together and prayed together. They are part of the family into which God brought us. We met and God was with us.

Stumbling

Matthew 18:1-9
For some reason my left elbow has been aching this week. It is two years since my fall and I have hardly had a twinge in all that time.
I was tired and hungry. We were walking between some  unused office blocks buildings. The sort of square that might be used for underworld business deals. The derelict buildings were becoming more so daily as drainpipes and windows left their home and took rest on the once splendid 'Place' between the now redundant offices of La Ville de Bruxelles.  As I saw an iron bar lying across our path I thought "Remember to pick up your feet" but in the intervening seconds between the thought and the arrival at the bar I forgot. I stumbled and fell. I broke my elbow.
I do not want to be the cause such pain, either physical or mental to any person and it makes me shudder to think that I cause another person, young or old to go against God's desires. 
I can only thank God that Jesus is my Saviour and ask forgiveness.

Strengthening?

Romans 1:1-15

Last spring an summer I tried to ride my bike an increasing number of kilometres each day. It was a modest target but I tried to ride 100 kilometres each week. I started with 15 kilometres in the first week. This is quite easy, just ride to the farm 2 or 3 times in the week, maybe taking in a detour down one of my favourite lanes. Or just riding the bike to the station instead of driving- 28 km. It was easy to do 50 km a week. This year it is tougher. We have lots of heavy rain, just for about half an hour once or twice a week but it makes sections of the roads into streams of mud which though they form in fives minutes take five days to dry.
Today is the only day that I can fit a bike into my schedule. I did it last week. I rode to my nearest student 12 km away. I was really looking forward to building up my cycling muscles and maybe tomorrow be able to sit with ease in spite of the exercise today. To be secretly honest too I was enjoying the prospect of an extra snack or two to keep up my energy for the ride. The weather had alternative plans for my day. At 6 30am it was as dark as if there was an impending tornado. I took David to work and will drive to my student. But this still leaves ageing muscles in need of maintenance, stretching and using.

So is my spirit in need of feeding from reading my bible and meeting with other Christians. But this alone would make me spiritually obese and not benefit anyone.  The food needs to be put to good use. How will I share the knowledge of God today?


Photograph: My bike beside the Old Canal, Ronquières to Feluy

Mud

Psalm 73
Today it is raining. That is not too bad. Today it seems as if the whole surface of the village has been changed into floor covering the colour of the great Mississippi. Concentrating on my journey to yoga, the time, the length of the walk , the avoidance of puddles, and whether another class member would pick me up and spare me the dismal walk I slipped. Just a little slip but enough to be a reminder that one has to concentrate on walking.
Today I will try to concentrate on where I think God wants me to go and not be looking enviously at have-more-than-me-s that seem to populate our village.

BBQ

Psalm 74
I am rejoicing in the sunny warm weather. It has just been a pleasure hanging out the laundry. This morning's load is almost dry, I discovered this whilst pegging out a second load. It is almost too warm to work in the garden. Not sultry, not humid, enjoyable, just the sort of day when we shall see blue smoke rising over the hedge. Our nostrils firstly assaulted by the whiff of paraffin fire lighter and later wooed by cooking meat. Our neighbours often a BBQ and not only when the weather is as it is today. Tomorrow though as I dress in BBQ scented clothing I will not be a appreciative of stale BBQ perfume.
Yes the smoke does invoke some feelings of anger within me but I would rather have friendly relations with my neighbours than cause discord by complaining.

Grand Tetons

Psalm 68

The Grand Tetons is for me a thin place, a place where God seems to live or at least somewhere where he seems more tangible- I do not think that this is just a phenomenon of the thin air.
Their majesty points to the power of creation. They seem to have stood for ever sheltering the basin of Jackson Hole. The Hole, a valley of torment and torture by man and weather. Yet there is beauty. Sun, snow, shadows, windswept trees are all elements on the natural canvas. God is here whispering of his might and his strength, his eternal care.

Chase in' after Jesus

Matthew 14:13-21
Today immediately after I awoke I made my tea and together we went back to bed for a cosy hour with God. Little desperation or compulsion, no walking for miles on foot in order to catch a word from the mouth of God or glimpse a miracle. No obvious need for compassion. but during that time I was convicted of a misspent yesterday and the need to today not avoid things that need doing.

Brotherly love

Galatians 2:11-21
It seemed as if it would go on for ever. Our sons had problems communicating with each other in a civil manner. And this after they had been the best of friends until primary school. But the scout leader was excited to tell us that in the fire making contest the first person Tom went to help, after he had finished his own fire, was his brother. Now they talk seldom but they respect each others wishes and are 'there' for each other when needed.
Peter and Paul, it seems did not always share brotherly love but from them both a great community of followers of God has grown.