Angels

Matthew 13:44-52

It is the angels who are to do the judging, not me.

Refreshed

Acts 20:1-16

Today the weather is warm and sunny. I have just finished an enjoyable and delicious lunch of a variety of cheeses from BioKaas at Kinderdijk, homemade pate from our local butcher and fresh campagne bread,  from the village boulangerie. My tummy is happy and content.  A idea of a snooze is very appealing. I am embarrassed to say that on occasions I have fallen asleep after lunch. The embarrassment being because I was at a homegroup meeting. I had to fight myself to keep awake. Unfortunately my neighbour on the couch was almost asleep too. The topic was not boring and the company and conversation were not unstimulating.        I was in a state of contentment following a busy morning and a good lunch.
Life went on and I was refreshed and renewed for the week ahead.

Snares

Psalm 91
I thought there was a song about being kept safe from the snares of the fowler but my searches today have not been able to find it.
What snares am I going to fall into today. I hope that I keep my eyes open and look where I put my feet so that I can walk in the way that God wants. I need to keep talking to him too.

Absorbing Plans

Psalm 85



8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
   for he will speak peace to his people,
   to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.

Today I had a little plan in my head. Get up, sew curtains, maybe go to Brussels to pick up the church coffee machine thus getting my exercise by cycling to the station. Myself was quite interested in my plans for me. We had quite a discussion on the merits of going to Brussels today by bike, train and metro or tomorrow by car all the way but in heavy traffic, tomorrow being Friday. What was the conclusion of the debate? Sore throat and rain.That meant a whole new set of plans could be formulated. Very entertaining.
I wonder what God has to say. Have I given the floor of the debate to him at all?

If

Luke 4:1-13
If my dogs are feeling a little recalcitrant I will open the tin of very little balls of dog biscuits that is sitting by the door and before the bride is in my hand they are there waiting for their lead to be put on. I don't need to say a word. My actions speak "If you come here and have your lead on then you will get a little edible treat".
Am I as easily bribed by the thought of an impending pleasure?

B.

Esther 5:1-14
B was the name of a lady in my Bible Study Group. Every Tuesday we went to "Ladies Day". I thought it was  bit of a misnomer, it started in the morning and finished before noon. There were hundreds of women, we were divided into small groups to discuss the text and our homework.
B was older than me, though probably a lot younger than I am now. I cannot remember the passage that made this story relevant but I do remember the story. I wonder if we were studying Women of the Bible and that this same passage about Ester was the cause of the story telling.
When B was a newly-wed she had a fender-bender. The cops were called. B was in a state of great distress. The kindly policeman advised "Now you go home and cook your husband a nice dinner. After he has eaten tell him about this." This of course was all said with a wonderful drawling Texan accent - both the story and the quote.
Choosing one's time and circumstances to break the news is important. First and foremost Ester prayed.

Pain

John 12:27-36

A common topic amongst women is childbirth. I have produced five full term or over babies so I consider myself an expert. The first little twinge can be exciting, it it is downhill from there. Contractions get stronger and the pain increases to beyond bearing. The pain overtakes all other thoughts and emotions. "You need one more contraction just like that" from the midwife is no encouragement. I was too overwhelmed with the pain to argue though in my brain I thought "I do not, no way". But I knew that overpowering contractions would come and indeed were essential to the birth of the new life within me.
Jesus knew that he was going to hang on a cross in immense pain. He knew it was the only way forward for our new life.
Thank you Jesus.

Much fruit

John 12:20-26
I bought three courgette plants. So far we have eaten one courgette and there are two maturing on the plant, the same plant. The other two plants have done nothing at all. I think I have cared for them in the same way, giving the same amount of water each day and lining the planting hole with compost. Admittedly I bought them late in the planting season. I had gone to the nursery to buy either fuchsias or petunias but since the purpose of the plant was to fill  newly weeded space I decided to buy  potentially useful as well as decorative plants. I am still hoping for much fruit. I hope God has that attitude to me too.

My girls

Job 40:1,41:1-11


5 Will you play with it as with a bird,
   or will you put it on a leash for your girls?


How we dote on our daughters. Naomi's had mail that needed forwarding so what did I do? I made welsh cakes to accompany the letter. I sent Becky some too. It is easy to see a trinket and think "I am sure 'she' would that.
It is the daughters who want a dog and spend hours contemplating which breed or an appealing pound pet. Three thousand years may have passed since the book of Job was written but our attitudes seem very similar.
And what is our usual modern opinion of those Old Testament inhabitants? Is it ignorant idol worshippers?
If the cap fits...

My words and actions

Acts 15:36-16:5

Sometimes a casual and flippant comment can press a button in a friend and cause a rift. We can lose a travelling companion.

All things bright and beautiful

Job 38:1,18-41

For ten days this winter the canal was silent. The familiar barges were absent. Ducks were seen on little bubbling brooks, not their normal slow moving habitat. The surface of the canal was still, frozen. 

Or simply the thought of a beautiful flower. 

Or just contemplating the design of the flower. 

Nature is amazing. How can one not continue to worship the creator.

"All things bright and beautiful..."

IS

Job 38:1-17

I stand on the sea shore watching the rolling breakers as they crash at the foot of the cliff or come rolling with full force along the ever diminishing sandy expanse to end in a ripple. The ocean is mighty, so is the creator.

White puffs of nothingness, clouds strolling across the sky, sometimes highlighted by a setting sun. The same creator is at work. I do not know how or why but I know what is.

Lazarus walks

John 11:30-44
Ever since Wednesday when we started  reading the account of the raising of Lazarus I have been waiting for us to reach verse 44. Why? Not because I am dumbfounded by the enormity of the miracle, the fact that a person other than Jesus was came out of a grave alive- for this is the other big resurrection episode. I refrain from using the word story as that can imply an element of fiction. No verse 44 is engraved in my memory because of the scripture teacher I had when I was eleven years old. I can picture the classroom, I can picture the teacher but I cannot remember her name.  We had to write an essay on this passage of scripture. I described Lazarus as "jump-walking" out of the tomb. I assumed that his legs were bound together and walking was difficult and therefore described the situation as in the most descriptive way that I could. I was scoffed at, told that jump- walking did not exist and was a term that could not be used. I was upset, that is annoyed. I would have been upset even if the statement had not been made to the whole class.

I think I might even have had words with the teacher after the lesson. It is immaterial. The picture I have in my mind is of Lazarus coming out of the tomb with his legs bound together and this his movement was more of jumps or bunny hops that walking. What is your picture? How do you picture other passages of scripture?   How real is scripture to you?

Rules and regualtions

Acts 15:1-11

In our church you have to be baptised in order to receive communion. In the Church in Wales, in particular the church which we regularly visited when our children were growing up it was essential to be confirmed before receiving the bread and wine.
In Jerusalem the problem was circumcision.
But as Peter said "11On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.’

Rather than worry about what is allowed or necessary let us spend our energybeing a friend and bringing a friend to Jesus.

Extra

I choose the passage based on the Daily Lectionary of the Episcopal Church. Today I have yet to read the lectionary but I want to share my today's experience before I start.
I got up bemoaning the long prayer lists that David and I go through each morning. The first set of notes I read commented how we should be persistent in prayer, particularly for healing. I then read a comment by St Teresa of Avila that we should be persistent in prayer for those who do not yet eat at our Lord's table.
I shall keep praying.

Treadmill

Job 29:1,30:1-2,16-31

Where am I going? What shall I do? I pray but seem to get no answers. I seem to be busy going nowhere, achieving nothing. I believe with Job that God is looking and doing nothing, or that is how it seems from my view at the centre of the circle. Am I like the dog in the wheel turning the spit in a medieval kitchen? I work and see no results myself. The family in the castle enjoyed the meal, perhaps eventually the doggy was given a scrap. Maybe I will eventually see what God was up to and how my effort contributed to mankind's greater welfare. Meanwhile I all I can do is keep plodding along.

Stars

Acts 14:1-18
I have just enjoyed watching the Men's Final of the US Open Tennis Championship. I very happy about the outcome. But how much reverence should we give these "champions"? They are just men and women, just like us, well not quite, I could not win a Tennis Grand Slam even if I was coached by Ian Lendl. We each have our unique gifts. We are each special. Some in a more flamboyant and newsworthy way. Human we are, human they are too.
Only God is worthy of our worship.

Parking

John 10:19-30

Labor Day Weekend, the first weekend in September, temperatures well into the nineties, well over thirty degrees Celsius. It is my turn to take the snacks for the soccer team. It is a tournament. Teams are gathered from all over Houston, the fourth largest city in the USA and the rest of Texas too. Texan parents are enthusiastic supporters of sport and their children. For this event both are combined. The parking area, amply sufficient for every-week games and the occasional family which rented a pavilion for its BBQ and reunion was overflowing. Police were monitoring those who attempted to park on the roadside. The alternative, to park at the other soccer fields and ride the shuttle.
I was laden with an ice chest full of yes, ice. We needed plenty to keep the drinks cold for the end of the game and the ready sliced oranges fresh for half time. Home-made brownies were in my other hand, my chair and handbag over my shoulder. This was the plan. Ascending and descending from a bus were not written into the schedule.
I tried the parking lot. Full, as expected. One tour around the narrow lanes and then a wave, a wave from a leaving parent. Come here I am going you can have my space. What a thank you Jesus situation. I was and still am grateful even though the event was ten years ago.
During the match, to help to pass the time conversation drifted to parking, a hot topic in more ways than one given the normal raging heat which though we lived in daily was still a cause for conversation, a bit like the rain in Belgium. "Where did you park" I was asked, "Just over there" I smiled, maybe there was an element of gloat too.
"How did you manage that?"
"I prayed harder" was my flippant reply.
Th truth is that I believe that God was watching and saw my need of a parking space. He organized it for me.

Just like the people who walked and talked with Jesus and saw his actions we can interpret the events of our lives and can include him as the truth or not.

Strange Language

Psalm 114

Yesterday was the annual neighbourhood 'lunch'. I use quotations because the official start time was 1pm, we arrived about 2pm, we ate nibbles and drank sangria for the next hour and then ate. It is Belgium  so there was an abundance of delicious food, both 'plats' and dessert. We ate our fill and more.
Many of our neighbours speak English and we have a smattering of French but it is difficult for those having a conversation with us to follow our strange attempts at their language. We decided on a strategy. We would sit at an empty table thereby not forcing anyone to have to try to converse with us in either language for whatever the language it would be strange for one of us. Our plan seemed good. We met some very kind people and are better acquainted with our next-door neighbour. But our hats go off most to the couple who knew very little English and yet came to join us. They bravely endured our faltering French. Maybe we can be friends. This would be an answer to prayer. I would like to feel that I have friends in our village, especially ones who speak the local language.

Shafts of light

John 8:12-20
Getting up is not easy for me. Today I made it downstairs before the sun was fully arisen. it was that time when watery shafts pierce the darkness of the trees, beams of heavy dew penetrating the lingering mist. A voice said "Get your camera and capture this'. I did not. If I had a could have shared it with you now an dnot had to rely on my verbal description. Words cannot describe the glory of God.

Light has a fascination for me, especially rays of light in dark places . Such scenes as this morning are a 'thin place' for me.

A Walk in the Forest

I grope through the forest of life.
Daily living darkens my soul
Great oaks of busyness cast shadows over my day.
Never do I pause to stop and pray,
To marvel at the beauty of the battered path
Worn by footsteps of the past.
Let me out of here, this is not my way.
Where is my pedestal of fame?
Inconspicuous motherhood, slave of time.
Shafts of light pierce the canopy of gloom
Spectrums, rainbows of brilliant white
Minutia extraordinaire,
Guides for the frustrated soul.
Blessed lanterns in despair
Illumine singly the glories of your plan
Details freely given for those who care.


Photograph - the road behind our house.