Lord let me know your tender care.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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 

as the waters cover the sea. 

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.

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

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?

Jonah

Jonah 3:1-10,4:1-11

I love Jonah. He tells God just what he thinks. He does not hide his emotions from God, why should he? He gets his anger off his chest but does not quite move on, well not yet.

I used to have a devotional book with quotations from many sources. One of my favourites was Teresa of Avila. Since it was her day yesterday I had a glance a page which listed some of her quotations. The one which said hello to me was

“For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.” 

Jonah was completely at ease in his relationship with God.

My hope is in him.

Matthew 13:44-52

I do not think those bad fish thought that they were bad. They swam around and ate plankton or other fish like all the rest of the fish in the net. This is why I can only hope that I am leading the life that God wants me to lead.

No Mention

Ester 8:1-8, 15-17

Just because God is not overtly mentioned does not mean that he is not organizing the scene. There are many times when circumstances coincide in such a bizarre manor that they can only have been manipulated by God. Take, for instance our move to Belgium. Never did we pray "Find a job in Belgium", yet a I can see ways that the move is just one piece of God's big plan.

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Acts 19:1-10

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Unheard and unseen the Spirit of God moves in mysterious ways, a little thought here and a smile there. A set of circumstances organized.
As a child I asked where is the Holy Spirit now? Why are there no miraculous healings? I knew the stories. Why do people not speak in tongues? I did not get a satisfactory answer.

I became a teenager heavily involved in all things Christian. I learned that miracles do happen and that people do speak in tongues. It was too much for me. I walked away.

I walked but God did not. This was the time when strange, off the wall ideas would come, sometimes with life changing consequences. In retrospect I can see that they were God organizing me for the future present. No big flashes of light, just a seeping of the Spirit as it filled up some of the spaces in my being. There is plenty of space left. Meanwhile I will gently pray the prayerful song.

Big Stories

Acts 11:1-18

After four weeks it is still the number one topic of conversation in the village; Yesterday I went into the butcher's shop for the first time since the flood. His first words to me were a question about my experience. We spent some time reminiscing over our experiences.
By coincidence, or maybe it was not coincidence while I was thinking about how an important event takes over our conversation I read this story from the Guardian. I thought the lady's last few lines very relevant. We can talk at length about the important events.
This is just what Peter did. His mind was blown away by the fact that God could and did give the Holy Spirit to Gentiles. None of the details of the episode escaped his retelling.
I hope that I remember to give God his place in the retelling of the events of my life. In the current one it is that I thought about putting the drying frame in Naomi's bedroom and thus happened to glance out of her window and see the water enter our garden. The alternative was probably that I would have been doing what I am doing now and be sat with my back to the downstairs window. The first I would have known about the flood was when it reached my feet. Those little nudges are important.

Ask if you want to know.

John 7:37-52

I always find it difficult to answer the question "Where are you from?" The identity which I associate with is Welsh though by most definitions I am not Welsh. I was born of Derbyshire parents in Norwich and was moved to Haverfordwest when I was three months old. All my growing up was done in Wales and it is the place where I have lived longest as my mother left there when I was twenty one and three months old. This narrowly beats the town where we moved from to here, where we spent twenty years. That is Houston, Texas. I sound English but my vocabulary tends to be Texan.
Sometimes if you want to know the truth you just have to have the courage to ask and not assume that you can work out the answer for yourself based on half the evidence.
Maybe the Jewish leaders did not want to face up the the truth about Jesus.
Do I need to step out of some preconceived ideas?

The same old question

John 7:14-36

Recently I received notification of a book called "How God became Jesus". I was intrigued by the title but irritated by what I read upon investigation.
The points raised seem reminiscent of the questions discussed by Jesus' listeners in today's reading.  However much we think we have progressed with our laptops and gsms or our cars and planes the fundamental questions of life and faith remain the same.
Where do I stand? Listening to Jesus and following his teaching.

Post flood

Acts 8:1-13

You may have seen the video of the great Ittre flood of three weeks ago.

This is my photograph. It is silent, there is no roar of raging torrents. You can hear those on the video. You cannot smell the damp mud of the next next from zither the photograph or the video, you had to be there.
Crises happen. There was persecution, the believers left their homes and fled. They went far afield and spread the good news of life with Jesus. Thus the world outside Jerusalem and Judea began to know that God loves them.
In the days following the flood many total strangers passed through our house, some coming for three days shovelling mud, washing floors and furniture, demolishing the kitchen, ripping up the floor, washing and packing crockery and glassware. Most were from the higher parts of Ittre but there were some from Nivelles and Braine le Comte. Still living with the noise of three dehumidifiers and without a kitchen is it is difficult to work out where God is going with this experience. I know my neighbours a lot more, I know the wonderful heart of many of the helpers, some of whom we did not see, there were the volunteer washer-women. I know the gentle caring of the red cross commune workers who daily inquired after our well-being. I know the sharing over delivered meals brought by a high and dry neighbour with a big heart and large saucepans. And I met a mother and daughter who came to help, the daughter having to be a tag-along just like I was, because her father too had died when she was little more than an infant.
God has a very complex jigsaw puzzle and it is amazing how the pieces fit together.

The family of God

Romans 16:17-27

I think St Paul would have been one of the first to sign up for Facebook and Google +. He would probably have been on AOL instant messaging and MySpace before the dawn of Facebook and Twitter. He would have been able to rein in errant churches immediately. The Good News would have been resounding throughout cyberspace. However it was his care for everybody he had met and even those who he had only met by hearsay as well as his wish to share greetings from all and to all that led me to ponder his possible involvement in social media.

Last week our whole family was on holiday together. I shared photographs with my Facebook and Google + friends. One friend commented on how much they miss our family now that we are on another continent. I was touched. Friends who are often in my thoughts but whom I seldom contact 'liked' my photographs. It is a way to say 'I still care about you even though I no longer see you weekly'.

I sent a message to a friend with a sick husband. This caused other people to comment on the message and share their love and support.

St Paul's letters are a wonderful example of the care and love which binds the family of God. There are a lot of words of instruction but under it all is the love that binds us all together.

It's starting

Matthew 27:24-31

There is a twinge, you wonder if this is it. After approximately eight months of knowing that this day would come you wonder if this is really it, if this is the beginning of the great pain, the pain that will release the new life. The pain increases and becomes more frequent but you know it is going to get  a lot worse. I think this is where Jesus is in today's reading. He is willing to endure great pain and death to give me life.

Sabbath Rest

Mark 2:23-28

I was planning to squeeze a job or two into the space between making coffee and reading at the morning service and taking my husband to the station so that he could go to the singing practice for the evening service. Then I read this passage; Jesus;said it was ok for the disciples to nibble the wheat as they passed hungrily through the field on a Sabbath. To me he said take your time, catch your breath. So that is what I am doing.

Sun set, peace

Psalm 50

Yesterday we sat at a dinner table and watched the sun set. 

¹ The mighty one, God the Lord,
   speaks and summons the earth
   from the rising of the sun to its setting. 
² Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
   God shines forth. 

Romans 15:1-13

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Sharing the peace of the setting sun and its reflection of God's glory.

Praise God

Romans 14:1-12

And every tongue shall give praise to God.

Psalm 45

my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 

Yes I am ready to write, though maybe not skillfully as the NIV translates the word. Words do not always come easily to my fingers. I hope this is a case of God understanding the praise that is in my heart even if it does not reach my lips. 
How easy it is to grouch about our fellow church members than to praise God for them. Though I must admit that today the praise that is welling up within me is nothing to do with my home church but an adoration of the beauty of creation and thankfullness that I now this area of the world and have the opportunity to be here.

Unanswered Prayer

Matthew 26:36-46


I pray. I believe that God answers prayer. On Saturday we were going to a concert. We did not want to miss it because Naomi was a member of the orchestra. We were not on home ground, the railway ticket system was strange and we did understand the route. We pressed a few buttons and bought what we thought was the correct ticket. When we got to the map we realised that we had bought a ticket for a longer route than was necessary. The next train in was the line we needed but our destination was not listed as a stop. Ah but the place we had bought the ticket too was and from there it was easy to get back to our concert station. Without even a prayer God had guided us. It was certainly  case of "Thank you Jesus." as we got on the train.

Answers do not always come that easy. When I read the gospel this morning I noticed that a few years ago I had written a note at the top "unanswered prayer". Jesus knew the pain he would have to endure. As a man he did not want to do it and wanted an alternative. God did not have one.
Things do not always work out as I think fit. Yes i wanted Matthew's eyes to flicker as they conducted the brain dead tests. The ICU sister had said "Watch carefully, parents often notice movement which we professionals miss." There was not sign of life. He was pronounced dead.

I do not know who Matthew would have grown to be but I do know the too caring daughters who we now have and would not have known if we had not endured the pain of Matthew's death.

Generosity or not

Matthew 25:31-46

This is not one of my favourite passages. It makes me feel uncomfortable.
Occasionally I give food to beggars on the street or a bottle of water, particularly in the warmer weather. If I have a suitable coin available and they are brightening my day with a cheerful tune on accordion or fiddle I will drop a little something in the hat.
In my days as an Open University Tutor I had a student in prison, I used to visit him, well I had to, it was part of my job but I could have opted not to go. I often pass our local prison and wonder if there are any English speakers there whom I should visit.
Once I asked an unknown Christian visiting our school for an interview to spend the night with us.

This is not much for the length of my life.

Lord Jesus guide me and forgive me.

What are my talents

Matthew 25:14-30

I do not risk anything with my money. Working the stock market is not for me. My money goes into the bank where I hope it earns a little interest. Thus I have a problem with this parable. However I am quite willing to use my talents for God. The problem may be discerning what they are and how best to use them to grow the kingdom.  So I keep on greeting people who I think are strangers, sometimes they are not which is slightly embarrassing and making coffee; praying or rather bringing my thoughts to God and writing this.

Rahab and I

Joshua 2:1-14

News travels fast nowadays. I knew just as it happened that Germany and Argentina had a 0-0 draw and were going to have to play overtime. Just over 30 minutes later I knew the result that Germany had won. I tell this not because I was particularly interested in the success of either Argentina or Germany or even in the outcome of the World Cup but as an example of how speedily and accurately we can follow world news.
This morning I was listening to one of the kidnapped Nigerian girls who had escaped from Boko Haram. The kidnapping was an event that was not covered by the world's TV cameras or watched by an estimated 1 billion people. The news of the girls spread slowly, as does the news of their current whereabouts.
I suspect that the news of the Israelites spread to Rahab in a way more akin to the Nigerian kidnapping than the World Cup win, slowly and not with the visual accuracy of a TV camera.

God's reputation preceded the Israelites. Rahab did not know all the facts but she knew that she wanted to be with God rather than on the other side. Me too.

Psalm 150

Psalm 150

It's a Psalm 150 day. This means that it is a day of praise.

To start
I praise God that I did not hang the washing out, it started raining soon after I made the decision.
I praise God that it did not start until the moment I came in from my ambling around the garden trying to remember where I had planted the rosemary. I praise him to that I remembered before the heavy rain came.

Ready?

Matthew 24:32-51

Today, 12th July I noticed a violet in bloom. I had to stop and ask myself why. The only conclusion I could draw was that it is a result of the colder definitely wet week that we have just experienced.
An unusual natural occurrence makes us think. Jesus tells us that everything will be going on just as usual when he comes back. We will not be stopping to think, just doing to same ole same ole. There will be little clues but only the thinkers will recognise them.Only those who are living a life doing what God desires will be ready.

Loving Psalm 119

Psalm 119: 1-24

Psalm 119 is that long one, each of the 176 verses contains a word for God's law. It was verse 24 that I noticed this morning-

Your decrees are my delight
they are my counselors.

For me this does not mean The Ten Commandments but the one which Jesus usually referred to and which I remember as

Love the Lord your God with your whole heart and your neighbour as yourself.

Thus I came to love Psalm 119

The Line in the Sand

Matthew 23:13-26

The Pharisees and Teachers of the Law believed in God, they followed his commands, they worshiped him, they prayed. They went to church regularly on the Sabbath and at other times too. They gave money to the synagogue and Temple coffers. If God had drawn a line in the sand, like William Travis did at the Alamo I am sure they would have marched rapidly to the God side of the line.
Yet Jesus likens them to blind guides who do not know where they are going, to somebody who could not find the line or know where side to stand. How blind am I in Jesus' eyes? I think I know where I stand. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and will forgive me my transgressions. But I do not see me through Jesus' eyes. I do not view sin in the same way that he and his father do. Like the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law my sins are far less heinous that those of my non-churchgoing, wife-swapping, thieving and murderous neighbours.
I want to stand with Jesus but is that a bit too presumptuous on my part?

Lord Jesus have pity on my, I do not even know my own sin but whatever it is I believe that you died for me.

Partially formed thoughts

Romans 8:26-30

I had a busy day. I thought that it would be nice if a student cancelled then I could do the meal delivery that I was offered. Another day something similar happened, in fact it often does; Last week I had a long work day on Thursday, my husband needed his car and  was left with the bike; It is a pleasant ride, that was not a problem. I was anxious about the time away from my furry friends since the bike travelling takes 5 times as long as the car journey. Yes the last student cancelled. It is amazing how often this happens, and other little coincidences too.

Perfectly articulated words are not necessary to communicate with God, he responds to our partially formed thoughts and desires.

Miraculous and mundane.

Acts 19:11-20

God did great things through Paul... some people gave up their occult books. So the word of the Lord grew. It grew in the magnificent miracles performed by Paul and his shadow, it grew by a nobody throwing away a book which led them in a different way. God's kingdom spreads in many ways, extraordinary and the seemingly almost mundane.

Balaam

Numbers 24:1-13

Sometimes God speaks in strange ways, earlier this week it was a donkey, now it is Balaam himself who is God's mouthpiece. Maybe next it will be you and I will need to listen or maybe you should listen to me.
God has many means of communication. I want to be ready to hear him when he speaks and to discern his voice amidst the other sounds which bombard my ears.

Hills

Psalm 121

A single word can trigger an hour of reflection. If I had the opportunity that might have happened this morning. Mighty waves and golden paths of descending sun never fail to raise in me memories of God's greatness so when I read that the psalmist was looking for help from the hills I pondered on the majesty of great mountains, the Great Tetons for instance but it was the humble Preseli Hills which caught my imagination. On a clear day coming over the top from Cardigan to Haverfordwest it is possible to see as far as the sea beyond the land. As a child this view always fascinated me. The Preseli Hills are the only home of the bluestone for the great standing stones of Stonehenge. How did the men of Wiltshire know of the special Pembrokeshire stone? here unfortunately I had move on to the rest of my day, or rather reading the next verse.

However there are many mysteries in creation and the history of mankind and I believe that God is behind them all.

God's True Law

Luke 13:10-17

I like the passages, like this one, in which Jesus gives smart yet loving answers to the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law. They had following God's commands as explained by men at their heart. Jesus exemplified the way of love which underwrote the Law. Sometimes it is so easy to take the easily visible route without delving into the depths of need.

Trusting again

Numbers 20:14-29

In my sleepy state this morning I thought "Ah, dying is a mountain top experience for Aaron". I was reminded of the transfiguration of Jesus story.
On reflection though I saw the downside to the episode.

Whether it was a real high of his life or not he knew that God was involved. It was God who gave Moses the instruction to take Aaron and his son up the mountain and to strip Aaron of his priestly garments. Aaron was going up the mountain to die. Why? Because he had not trusted God to produce water out of rock without the rock being hit with the staff. It was not even Aaron who had hit the rock, that was little brother. Aaron only acquiesced to the action. But God knew what was in his heart.

Lord give me a pure heart and forgive me for the many times when I do not trust you.

Overstep

Numbers 20:1-16

It was not because he left his wife or because he was a murderer that Moses did not enter the Promised Land. It was due to the little episode that we read about today. He did not trust God to bring flowing water from the rock without a little help from his staff.

How much do I trust God or do I always have to do it my way. God did not want Moses to be just a bystander- Moses had been instructed to stand in front of the rock and command it to produce water. But he did more. Now I need to listen and obey and not overstep my duty.

Daisy Chain

Romans 5:1-11

I loved making daisy chains when I was a child, in fact I still like the challenge. Can I make the slit in the fragile stalk large enough to thread the next through it or will the next stem be too thick. Will my hand quiver too much or will I use too much force and the stem rip apart.

Suffering ~~  Endurance  ~~  Character  ~~  Hope

Hope does not disappoint because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

God's loving and tender care builds my character into a chain that will endure whatever suffering befalls me.

(Note to God- no more suffering please.)

Not special

Numbers 16:36-50

I do not like the passage. It is one of those which I would prefer had not been written and certainly one that I wish I never read. I do not like the thought of all those people dying. Neither do I like the thought of God being that angry. But he was and they did die, all of them in one day.

How pleased I am that Jesus came, died and rose again and that I believe this to be true; It is all that will same me. All that the Israelites had done to be so offensive was to think that Aaron and his sons were not so special.

Red sky means.....?

Luke 12:49-56

Red sky at night shepherds delight, red sky in the morning sailors warning.

This is one of the first rhymes that I remember learning and it has stayed with me. As Jesus said it is indeed a useful indicator of weather. I have not quite got my mind around the explanation so I am not going to attempt to explain it. You can read it here.

Lord help me to be aware of the needs of the people I meet- and to respond in the way that you would want.

God is with us.

Number 11:24-35

I wonder what effect this one off experience of God's spirit had on the men on whom it/he descended. He was commissioning them to be Moses' helpers for more than a day. I believe that though they did not prophesy again they did knew that God was with them, even the ones who, for unknown reasons had not gone to the meeting.

The Cloud

Numbers 9:15-23, 10:29-36

"Where would you like me to go today Lord? "

"Just follow the cloud, Jane and when it stops that is where I want you to go in for coffee. There is somebody I want you to meet in that coffee shop."

I wish that following God was that simple. Maybe it was not really that simple for Moses too as he pleaded with Hobab, his brother-in-law to stay with the Israelites in the wilderness. Moses wanted Hobab's expertise in choosing good places to pitch the tents in the wilderness. I suppose when I get to the coffee shop, or supermarket checkout I have to make the decision and act to engage in conversation with my neighbours in the queue.

Now for the first step. Which cloud shall I follow?

Lord help me to discern your direction for my day.

"Get a life"

Matthew 16:21-28

I ahve a list of things that I want to do. I always have a list and it gets longer every day because I never seem to get everything done that I think is essential to do. I had beed thinking about this during the week and wondered if losing my life was not really being a dead martyr but more giving up my will to do the tasks that God wants done during the day.
A different angle on "Get a life"

Shouting

Matthew 15:21-28

I do not like to shout. I was always the subdued parent on the sideline of the football field. The others were all shrieking their daughter's name, or of the player who needed encouragement. It was not that I was not involved. I just feel the need to be quiet.
We watched the marathon recently. As she ran by our daughter shouted "Aren't you going to cheer?" My husband responded accordingly. I kept on filming.
I knew that the woman in today's story was a nuisance but never before did I realize that she was shouting at Jesus to attract his attention. Perhaps I need to do a bit more shouting in Jesus' ear.

Pentecost

Deuteronomy 16:9-12

So I suppose this explains why today is called Pentecost. fifty days. What I want to remember is to thank God for the blessings I have recieved from him. The particular blessing we remember today is his Holy Spirit.

Wisdom

Ephesians 5:1-20

I do not know what wisdom is but I do want to be wise. I would like to be able to give astute advice when consulted by family members. Really what I should do is point them to God and not worry about myself, except to be a channel for him.

My unique role

Ephesians 4:1-16

We are the body of Christ and just as each atom of my body has a unique role so does each person in the body of Christ. We cannot all be coffee makers or money counters.

Maybe more to come later

Do not lose heart

Ephesians 3:1-13


Those of us who visited the sick and were the ones who were available for private prayer during the service in our church in Houston were members of the Community of Hope. We followed the Benedictine way of spirituality. One of the aspects of this is lectio divina. This is the attitude which I often use in my daily writing. I suppose this blog is a kind of journal of reflections on our daily reading.
Today the words which hit me were 'do not lose heart'. I needed this today. maybe I am taking them out of context but they are words of comfort which I need to hear.

The wise man...

Matthew 7: 22-27

The wise man...

Do you know the song?

It was a favourite of our children, the ones we taught in Sunday School and at Mums and Tots. Action songs are always popular with little ones. They might not get tongue around the words but actions can be seen and followed. I do not know how many of the words or concepts they understood but there was definitely enjoyment in the participation.
May it be so too in the building of my relationship with God- may my actions speak louder than my words and may I have enjoyment in the participation.

Sticky question

Matthew 22:41-46

I hate being put on the spot. I hate being forced to give an answer when I would prefer not to commit myself. Or as is the case here, I give an answer which is followed by a provocative question.
I want to be able to say that Jesus is my Lord and God. He is my Saviour.
No add-ons or frills, that is when it gets a it sticky.

A mirror

Matthew 7:1-12

They say that the behaviour which we find most irritating in other people is that which we exhibit but overlook in ourselves.
I suppose this is an aspect of the 'Love your neighbour as yourself' of Leviticus 19:18 or Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby as Charles Kingsley wrote in the Water Babies. the moral of this book was lost on me as a child but perhaps it takes an adult to realise that we ourselves  are not the centre of the universe and that other people have feelings.

Patience and praise

Psalm 71

In the version which we read this morning verse 14 was translated as
But I shall always wait in patience and shall praise you more and more.

My waiting is not usually very patient. On approaching green traffic lights I pray that they will stay green so that I will not have to wait.
I went to the veterinarian this morning.  He arrived at least five minutes after opening time and treats every patient as if they are the only one he is seeing that day. It is a slow process but the experience is usually beneficial. I struck up a conversation with a lady in the waiting room. Maybe she will be a friend.
Maybe one day I will understand why God wants me to wait and in the meantime can I not overcome my frustration and remember to use my waiting time to join with the psalmist, probably David, in praising God.

Hidden Gold

Leviticus 19:1-18

Today is a no brainer day. I can never resist Leviticus 19:18. The verse number is easy to remember, it is the year the First World War ended. It speaks of loving your neighbour as yourself. A good concept for the beginning of peace.
Until this verse was pointed out to me by Maurice, a retired banker, in an ecumenical Bible Study that we were in, on the eve of the vote to reinstate the death penalty in England, I had always thought of Leviticus as a turgid book written mainly for the Jewish people and with little relevance to the modern western man or woman.
What was good enough for Jesus is good enough for me.

Deny yourself

Leviticus 16:20-34

God knows what workaholics we are!

The power of verse 29 has never had any effect on me. I always thought the Sabbath was just for a rest and a time to worship. But no, God knows how we want to achieve and gain money and status. he says "Take a break guys, relax. The world will continue without you for one day."

The Law

Matthew 5:11-16

I sometimes think that the poor old Pharisees and Teachers of the Law have a bad reputation. They were only trying to do their best for themselves and their flock. They wanted everybody to do what God wanted and that is why they tried to clarify the law. They tried to make following God's law easier by answering all the what-ifs. If a situation arose then look it up and whether it was permissible could be found. No thinking necessary, all was plain. The along comes Jesus telling them that the law is simply 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength' and 'Love  your neighbour as yourself.' The add-ons were not universal conditions. No easy rule, every situation is different.
Lord teach me to love where I am today.

Important People

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

The letter says that it is from Paul and Sylanus (Silas) and Timothy. Why then is it that Paul always gets the glory for having hatched the ideas that are in the letter? Background people can be important.
Lord help me to see the importance that you see in each person.

Prayer in action

Psalm 41

Easter Minto drove half way across Houston to bring dinner to my family. I was ill. One of Easter's chorus lines is "What is God doing in your life today?", said with great emphasis on the today. That day Easter was sustaining me on my sickbed. Prayers are all well and good but we need some action too.

Healing forgiveness

Psalm 32

Yesterday I was angry and grouchy. Somebody had taken away my Sabbath rest. In the name of Cristian servitude I was having to up and go out on another person's schedule.  I was far from happy and not pleasant company. Then I remembered the verse about causing a little one to sin and realized that though my anger had been caused by another it was me who was doing the sinning. Having got to this stage I was able to ask for forgiveness and my day improved vastly- I noticed the sun shining and the rhododendrons ling the road.

Sabbath

Colossians 2:8-12

My Sabbath is usually Saturday. Saturday is usually the day where I rest or rather do the things I that I want to do and which I find relaxing such as going on an extra long walk, getting up a little later, having a special breakfast- not the bowl of cereal which I can prepare in a semi somnambulant state. Saturday is the day of leisurely pace rather than the fast-track routine of almost every other day. On Saturdays I can take the time to revel in the beauty of the weeds I am pulling and watch the rivulets of rain creep down the window. I may not be in a church taking part in a corporate worship but the it is the day when I have the time to be more aware of God's presence  in my life.

Baptism

Matthew 3:13-17

I go to a Church of England church because my parents took me as a baby to be baptized. My paternal grandmother was C of E, the maternal side of the family were staunch Methodists. My parents were married in a Methodist church so it was only right and proper that the baby was baptized in the church of the other family. I am not sure how much religion was involved.
When I was eight a mission church was opened near our house. I was taken there once by some friends with whom we had been eating Sunday lunch. I announced that henceforth I would go to that Sunday School since I had been baptized an Anglican. I do not use the term C of E here as we were in Wales and thus the church was a Church in Wales church but still a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
At twelve I was confirmed, a time when one is supposed to affirm the promises made on your behalf by your parents and grandparents.
At seventeen I thought enough of this nonsense and spent a year or two questioning the existence of God and the validity of infant baptism. When I came through the time of indecision I was annoyed that I had been baptized without being consulted. I wanted a baptism in which I was fully involved in both body and mind, one which showed that I had turned to God and accepted his cleansing.
At twenty-nine we took our first son to be baptized as a three week old baby.
Now at sixty-three I am grateful for my infant baptism. I question if I would ever have the relationship which I now have with God without it. Also I pray that God will work through the baptism of all my children and bring them into his fold as he did with me.

Maybe later I will add a photograph of the event. No doves or voices present just an angry mother and God doing his will.

Eloquence

Colossians 1:1-14

Sometimes Paul 'gets up my nose'. This passage is not one of those which annoys me. I pray that my children will love and trust the Lord but Paul puts it so much more eloquently. I can use his words but I know however fumbling I might be with my prayer words God listens to each one of them as it stumbles out of my mouth. What is more I know that he listens to my thoughts before they are fashioned into words. Often I have thought how nice it would be to have a little more time and the next thing I know the telephone rings giving me some time away from an activity. Or, perhaps I am thinking about a person and when the telephone rings it is them.
Lord look after my little ones.

Praise, praise, praise

Psalm 150

It is a Psalm 150 day. The last was only two weeks ago, on Easter Day itself. But praise and thankfulness never go amiss.
Looking out of my window I see violets, broom, hawthorn, real geranium, forget-me-not, camellia, primroses, hebe (waiting to be planted), snowdrop leaves, euphorbia, stonecrop, ladies mantle, pachysandra, herb robert, quince flowers and some snowdrop leaves. The sun is shining and there is a gentle breeze. The memory of the chocolate egg from the shop around the corner is still fresh in my mind. I have a lot to be thankful for.
Hallelujah.

Effective prayer

1 Peter 4:7-19

I like spending time with my friends. We chat and work together. So it is with God. If only I could remember this.

Enough?

Exodus 16:10-22

"That was good. I suppose we shall never have it again?" I keep all leftovers, often amalgamating some to create a new meal. I wonder if I would have been able to follow the instructions not to keep the remains. I think I would also have had problems with the double on the sixth day. How could I trust that it would not be maggoty by morning.

This passage has given me a lot of food for thought about my trust in the Lord.

Listen and take heed.

1 Peter 2:1-10

I did stumble, I did fall, I did break my elbow and all this after I had had a thought that I must remember to pick up my feet when passing of the debris fallen from the derelict buildings. Perhaps I need to be more consistent in following pressing thoughts. God might have put them there for a purpose.

Protected

Exodus 14:21-31

I always travel the same way to Charleroi Airport. I devised the route myself, partly in the arrogance that I have for the GPS. I have persisted in using this route even though the new GPS shares my opinion of the best route.
On Wednesday an impulse caused me to try the other, signposted route. I did, it was OK. However I took my usual route home, there being no awkward left turns in that direction. As we approached the tricky intersection there was a helicopter hovering overhead. We wondered what was causing the interest. The answer, an accident right where I would have driven ten minutes earlier.
Maybe coincidence, maybe I listened to the little voice. Whatever the reason I was protected. I am sure that God protects us from unknown calamities in many unseen ways.

Tents

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

My first night camping was at Dinas Head. It rained, it thundered and the large marquee was blown down. I slept through it all. To me camping is about wet grass on sunny mornings. The memory of such times is a 'thin place' for me. It is a time to worship and praise, to give thanks for life and dedicate myself anew to God's service.

View of Dinas Head from Garn Fawr

Taken from the rocky outcrop at the western end of Mynydd Dinas, looking north.

   © Copyright Bob Helms and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The unexpected

Luke 24:1-12

Jesus was dead. The women went to the tomb, to minister to the needs of his dead body. Where else would they expect to find it? Jesus was not there.
In which unexpected place will I find Jesus today?

As you wish

Mark 16:9-20

This passage is not included in some of the early versions of Mark. You read the discussion here. I like to think that everything in the bible is more or less true and thus the passage is included for a reason. Maybe some of the bible compilers did not think it was genuine. We take or leave the stories as we wish.

Easter Minto, thus named by non-church going parents because she was born on an Easter Day, used to say "I've read the bible. I know the bible stories. I want to know what God is doing NOW."

I do believe that God is at work in my life. Last Friday I went to a busy place and there was a parking place ready waiting for me, in fact one that I had in the past declared to be my favourite space. You may believe this or not. That is your choice, as with the rest of the stories of the resurrection.

Dinner

Exodus 12: 14-27

I like to eat. It is not just the food but also the conversation of gathering around the table with friends and family. Preparing food is thus not a chore but a pleasure for me as it is the means to a delightful end. I am therefore comforted by the words hidden in the instructions for the celebration of the Passover that it is quite legal to prepare the feast.
There is no mention of pressing buttons in lifts on Sundays pushing a baby's pram or any of the other ways that the Sabbath Laws have been extended by the development of Jewish doctrine over the last few thousand years. Honouring God by celebration of his saving from us death is the object of the ordinance. Cooking and eating are part of this labour of love.

Psalm 150

Palm 150

Today is a Psalm 150 day, a day to praise. Easter Day is a especially a day for giving praise and thanks to our father, Maker, Saviour, brother and friend.
My past few Easter Sunday afternoons have been spent playing Sudoku but since I did not give it
up this year I did not spend the time playing. It was not that I have kept spending the odd few minutes playing through Lent but that I did not take it back up at the end of Advent and so did not have the opportunity to shed it from my daily round. I am thankful to God for this.
What else....

The Throne of Grace

Hebrews 4-16

Before today I always interpreted verse 16 to mean that God would help me when I needed it. However today perhpas he means that through continual prayer I become aware of the help that God requires me to give to his other children.

New Every Morning

Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-33

It was quite a shock tp find these uplifting words in the reading for Good Friday. I associate them with sunny mornings and damp grass at girl Guide Camp.

But New Every Morning is our Saviour's love, particularly today when when 'celebrate' his dying on the cross. This cross is our invitation to the Royal Banquet. The Queen has a reason for each invitation to a Garden Party. Thus it is with the cross and me.

I am  sorry this is written in haste but I wanted to share the thought but I am a servant today.

Prayers

2 Corinthians 1:8-22

We telephoned everybody we knew who prayed, all over the country and they in turn passed our message on to those whom they knew prayed, and sometimes to people they did not know. There was a prayer meeting of over a hundred people, they prayed, we did not know them but they knew of our plight. the answer was not what we wanted. Matthew was deemed to be brain dead. They tested him and turned off the machines.

Twenty-nine years later I am telling you the story because I believe in the power of prayer. We were comforted by the knowledge that many were holding us up to God and saying " Show your love to these people". So I do the same today. I pray for those I know and those I do not know. I pray for God to be with them on their journey, that they may know his love and comfort, that he will heal their hurts as he has healed mine.

Station 8

2 Corinthians 1:1-7

Yesterday we had an opportunity to wander through The Stations of the Cross. The ones used were those based on scripture by Pope Jean Paul II. Station 8 was where I returned.
The cross was too heavy for Jesus after the indignities he had suffered during the night, his trial, the taunting and the flogging.

Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross

Reader: They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
(Mark 15: 21)

Minister:
Lord,
grant us willing spirits
that we may be your instruments on earth.

I pray that like Simon I will help to carry the cross, to be God's instrument. 

The right time

1 Timothy 6:12-16

This morning there was no sermon in church, the gospel filled in the time. Since the adoption of the Revised Common Lectionary the gospel reading for Palm Sunday has been the retelling of the whole Passion, not just the triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
At Jesus' trial, and while he was on the cross the sceptics asked for him to defy death and come down from the cross in one flamboyant miracle. He did not. Instead he waited fo rhte right time and three days later walked from death to life. The miracle which had been demanded happened and was ignored. God's time is different from ours.

Childhood songs

Psalm 137

My grandmother sang "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam" and "What a friend we have in Jesus". I was too young to understand before she stopped her singing and just sat in her chair.
At Sunday Schools, led by Mr Stephens it seemed that we sang "The King of love my shepherd is" every week. I wanted a change. I was ungrateful for the time and energy which Mr Stephens gave to us. Now I realize how important sharing his faith was to him. I wish that I am was as vocal now. I wish I could tell him how much I appreciate his enthusiasm which I did not recognize, probably degraded  at the time.
Yes childhood songs are important.

Clay Pot

2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Judging is easy. Fortunatly God can see the inside of a person and not just the outside. It is not up to me to decide by my experience of a person whether they are 'in' or 'out' of God's kingdom. I only see the outside. God sees the contents.

Canal Mirror

2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Tuesday.
It was a beautiful sunset. I watched the sun creeping towards earth as we went at dog's pace ( fast spurts of energy with prolonged sniff stops) to the canal. I wanted to take a photograph to share the glorious golden edged clouds and the great amber orb as it descended. There was always a tree or a hill obscuring the total view. Then we came to the canal, the fire had gone but I looked at the water and saw what I thought was an awesome sight, the still water tinged with rose coloured light reflecting the glory of the previous moments.

Today.
God may not seem close to me today but I hope that in my face there is at least a slight reflection of the love of God that I have experienced through you my fellow mirrors.

Perfume

2 Corinthians 2:14-3:6

I like perfume, it is always a standby gift for me but whatever concoction I spray on myself it is not as pleasing as that of a single sniff of a primrose or the heady perfume of a wood of bluebells. The perfume that I wear though is probably more nose catching in a crowed lift. Is this how easy it should be for people to know that I am a Christian, a witness to the fact that God loves them?

Lies?

Exodus 5:1-6:1

This passage has worried me for a long time. We all know that God was intending the Israelites to return to Canaan and make it their own. Why then did he tell Moses to say to Pharaoh that they were only going for three days? I assumed that in the culture of the time 'a three day journey' was a euphemism for going away and leaving. However, on Sunday we we reminded about the Israelite midwives telling Pharaoh that they never got to a birth on time to kill the baby ( Exodus 1), a definite lie. Perhaps the three days here is a lie too. Maybe God lies. Maybe God has his agenda of which we are not aware. Maybe God sees sin in a completely different light from us who are so set on rules and obeying them. Lies for my own selfish ends are what they are, lies.

"Actions speak louder than words"

1 Corinthians 14:1-19

"Actions speak louder than words", a saying that we were taught as children. I do not recognize love by words but by the sacrificial actions of my friends. Their thoughtful generosity, the allocation of their time helping others in need, their smile, greetings and above all encouragement.
Catherine, who lends her car whenever she goes away without it, Susie who cooks for the sick and organizes others to do so too, Priscilla who helps with women in need, Pam who it is difficult to contact because she is always elsewhere doing something for somebody, Ann who opens her house, Ann who is gives her time and is always willing to help, Lynda for her quiet thoughtfulness and wonderful smile, Rie who always has a welcome cup of coffee. There are many people who touch my life, some of whom speak in tongues and some who do not.
I think I will spend today thanking God for the ways in which you share his love. I will remember the many, living and dead, who have been helping hands in my life and through whom I have seen God's love.

I have wanted a camellia plant ever since I first saw one, probably in my mother- in- law's garden. Last year one of the ladies above gave me one. We show God's love in many ways just by following little thoughts that he plants in our minds. Help me to be aware and act upon those nudges.

Growing

1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Today we were awoken by quarreling next door. We are visitors in an apartment in Hildersheim, Germany. There were the long sentences of the father and something between a cry and shriek from the child. How are method of arguing changes as we age. We have more tools and skills available.
So it is with our faith.

Godly tools

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

How often did we attempt to treat our children equally. If one girl had a new dress, then so did the other. If a son went on a trip then the other went somewhere too. Of course we often failed but we wanted them all to know that we loved, in fact still do love them equally. They are each the product of the same loins yet each is a different person. None of them live in the same country, none of them has the same job.
God loves each of us but he equips us for our day, not our brother's.

Psalm 100

Psalm 100

It is a Psalm 100 day. The psalm that I had to learn in my all age primary school when I was of infant school age. How I hated the learning; I found in difficult, in fact I still find learning by rote tough. However, how I love the familiar words. How I love the comfort of the psalm. I want to be God's sheep in his tender care.

Grounds for hope

John 6:27- 40

Jesus seemed to know instinctively what God's will was for him. I do not know what he requires of me, I wish I did. But I do believe. This is the total grounds for my hope.

Tentative Hand

Mark 6: 47-56

People were healed by Jesus when they touched the fringe of his cloak. That is not much contact. Perhaps that is all that I have to do- put out a tentative hand and believe that all will be well.

Self-righteous fool

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Some people are so opinionated. If you don't behave as they think you should then you cannot be a Christian. If alcohol passes your lips you are a sinner. If a liturgical service passes your lips your worship cannot be biblical or you Christian.
In my youth I associated with some Baptists. The sincerity of my faith was questionable since I was Church of England, to be pedantic, Church in Wales. Thus I carried a prayer book rather than a bible to church. Their father, a pillar of the Baptist chapel smoked. I did not approve of that, to me it was desecrating a gift of God. Now I would say more, that it is desecrating the temple of God.
We all have our pet sins that do not appear to be a sin to us. We unwittingly cause an irritation in a fellow christian;
Lord forgive me. help me not to be a self-righteous fool.

I want to make amends

Genesis 44:18-34

Sometimes nothing seems to go your way. You try to do the right thing but nobody listens or believes you. I have a couple of relationships like that at the moment, have had for a few years but this Lent it is my intention to try to right the wrongs, or perceived wrongs. I hope and pray that I do. There are two problems. The first is the confidence and guts to do something and the second is whether my friends appreciate the gesture. One I failed at thirty years ago. I hope I have better success this year.

Worn out

Mark 4:35-41

Next week promises to be a busy week. I got up this morning thinking that the busy period was over, but not so. I spent the morning is fell asleep ch so that he, frazzled at the edges, so manipulating appointments for the coming week.

I wonder if Jesus felt a little like this. Worn out with preaching and healing he escaped the the other side of the lake, falling asleep in the boat on the choppy sea. There was no rest for him. 'Wake up and help us' was the call. And he did so.

Body care

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are beneficial.

This Lent I am trying to take care of my body.

Trust

Genesis 42:18-28

What do I have to do in order to mend broken friendships in my life? Recently friends who seem to have adopted a chilly attitude to me seem to be uppermost in my mind. What did I do to break their trust? I am not sure. I know I need courage, maybe to hear things that I do not want to hear. I know the torn friendships need mending.
God give me strength and wisdom.

St Patrick

Matthew 28:16-20

There seem to be a lot of people on the western side of the Atlantic Ocean posting things about ST Patrick today. Most of the posts mention green clothing or show green beer. I wonder what St Patrick himsel would think of this. My guess is that he would be highly amused.
Being a patron Saint of one of the countries of the United Kingdom I had to learn a brief biography of him as part of my Brownie tests. There was no mention of green clothing and even less of green beer. We did learn that he used a shamrock leaf to demonstrate the Holy Trinity to those to whom he was sharing the Good News.
Today I will think on St Patrick, his love for the people whom he served in Ireland and his desire to share God's love.

Sinday

Mark 2:23-3:6

Sundays start with a walk to the patisserie to collect fresh breads for breakfast and lunch. Some family members require croissants and coque au chocolat and others a ring doughnut with chocolate icing. I like a raccine, a sort of lightly wholemeal bagguette with a lovely moist and soft inside. These are consumed with fresh coffee and homemade strawberry jam and marmalade.
Then it is rush, rush and off to church making sure that we are not late for choir practice, preparing the after service coffee or ushering. Home for lunch, a watch of TV, a dog walk and back to church for a service with no jobs.
How do I spend my Sundays? Are my actions governed by habit or devotion to God.

Limestone pavement, a thin place

Psalm 40

Today we went for a walk on the cliffs. It was about 6km. The terrain was varies. Sometimes we strode along a vermillion track wide enough for a cart. Other parts of the route were tracks which seemed to have been created by rabbits for rabbits, narrow ways through rosemary and rock rose. There were steep descents on loose stones or pebble covered steps, both quite treacherous. By far the easiest pathway was that over the limestone pavements which abound on the cliffs of the Algarve. Walking was easy in these places, And with the sun shining on the blue Atlantic there was a song in my heart. It was a 'thin place'.

Mum's the word

Mark 1: 29-45

Jesus healed the leper. All the man could do was tell everybody what had happened. Why am I so quiet?

No logic

1 Corinthians 1:20-31

I do not know the logic is in my belief but I do know that my life would not make sense without God. I suppose in some ways this follows on from yesterday.
I cannot give a clever argument in justification for my belief. I know what I know and that is it. I believe that God is with me every second of every day - I may not be with him, but that is another matter. Too many coincidences happen for this not to be true.
I find this very difficult to accept, being by nature a logical person, what other sort of person would have a degree in mathematics?
God is.

Come Holy Ghost

Mark 1:1-13

I was confirmed when I was twelve or thirteen years old. I thought I was old and wise enough to make the decision then I wanted to follow Jesus. A lot has happened since then. Some days and years I have followed him and others I have not.
The girls wore white veils. Since it was a special occasion my mother had washed my long silken braids. I was sure my veil was slipping off my head, especially when the bishop laid his hands on my head. my whole head seemed alive. The sceptic in me allows for the laying on of hands by a bishop at confirmation to be symbolic. But information and knowledge that I have gained through the years of coming and going I now know that it was the Holy Spirit, just as our fathers intended.

Little things

Psalm 98

As we were reading this psalm this morning I was wondering if there would be a special verse that I could write about. My eyes wandered out of the window at the ocean waves, this during verse 6. Then came verse 7.
Later I will share with you the photographs of the view. With little acts of his presence I find it difficult not to believe that there is a God who is interested in the hairs of my head. We also had a sparrow chirping his territorial rights on the balcony. (Matthew 10:29-31)

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Philippians 4:1-9

We bought our first computer in the days when they cost four digits. A few days after buying it there was a problem. It was the day that Grandpa was to be fetched for Christmas, everything was closing down and food had to be bought for the celebration. But there were people in the house who thought that sorting out the computer was the most important thing. I spent a lot of time that day singing Rejoice in the Lord Always and again I say rejoice.

And I say it again.

Today is World Day of Prayer. Rejoice for all those who are praying today.

Motives

Philippians 3:1-11

I am an usher, I make and serve coffee once a month, I plan the coffee making rota, I read the lesson, I wash the sacred table's cloths, I edit a meditation book twice a year. I go to church twice on Sundays and two or three home groups a week.
I am a Christian. Well that is what I believe, but it is not what I think that matters. It is God who sees what is on the inside. He looks at the motives for my acts of service.

Neighbours

Proverbs 27:1-12

Got a bleeding finger, need a stitch? Bad news and need a shoulder? Travel 200 miles to your brother of pop next door for help?
I really do need to know my neighbours. They have plenty of relatives a few kilometres away but one day they might need help straight away.

St David

1 Thessalonians 2:2-12

As saints go David is a minor saint. I hope that most people in Britain know that he is the patron saint of Wales. For those of us raised in Wales he is our saint. But for me he is my saint, I come from a town between the place where he was born and the one where he died. 

I imagine that the life-story of St David does not figure in the curriculum of many students. Coming from Pembrokeshire we learnt of his fairness and caring nature; how he encouraged and guided the monks in his care. St David was a good guy. I am glad that I was taught about him and want to follow his example of humility and strength.