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.