Snakes alive

Psalm 31, Psalm 35
Haggai 1:1-15;

Rev. 2:18-29;

Matt. 23:27-39

Matt. 23:27-39

I still regard suspiciously any foot-long strand I see lying on the sidewalk wondering if it will suddenly start to wriggle in my direction. For the inhabitants of Texas snakes are a fact of life, by the time I left I was getting there. The one that I found in the house when I was all alone I dealt with myself, but it was only one of those little things that looks like a shoes lace with a head. No, I did not kill it and for three reasons. I might have made it angry in my efforts, I would have had a mess to clear up and I am sure it had its part to play in the food chain. I did not want it playing its part in my house. Then there was the one that Stephen had a fight with outside the back door. That was a big black scary one. The girls, who were in elementary school at the time shouted at me "Stay inside" as Stephen pushed it away with a broom which it was trying to bite. Everybody in Texas has their snake stories. Many snakes do not survive the encounter, many people see snake, kill snake.

I was raised to be terrified of snakes. So was my friend Eileen. I remember we discussed our fears during the many months when our family may/maynot be moving to Texas. Mainly though we gave thanks to God for our blessings. Eileen is a gentle influence on my life. She was fond of saying to the children "God loves a cheerful worker". I often have to say this to myself when extracting somebody else's hair from the drain. we do actually have many opportunities for thankfulness that we overlook during the day.

I love Jesus' way with words. That is one of the pleasures of reading the bible daily. One discovers so many hidden treasures.

Brookmans Park- Be Still...

Psalm 37

Amos 9:1-10;

Rev. 2:8-17;

Matt. 23:13-26

Psalm 37

Be still.

Michael Ramsay was the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury. If there is a "type" of man whose appearance would qualify him for archbishop then he was almost it- white hair, bushy eyebrows and a gentle smile. He wrote one of the most profound books that I have read -"Be Still and Know". The title actually comes from Psalm 46 v 10 but I am always remined of it whenever I see the words "Be Still". Most of the book was lost on me the first time I read it and also the second. The third may be when we are reunited with our library when we have a house, whenever that might be. The book formed the basis of the first Lenten series that we participated in at our church in Brookmans Park, probably 1982.

We arrived in Brookmans Park late November 1981 and as usual went to the local parish church. Tom had not yet learnt the art of appearing to follow a service whilst his brain was building Lego vehicles or calculating how fast one has to drive through traffic lights in order to get through the green. He entertained himself by peering over the pew and acquaint himself with whoever was behind. It was Auntie Mary. Her fingers responded and ran along the back of the pew enough to amuse an almost two year old. Three weeks later when Stephen was born Tom stayed with Mary, Mary did my shopping, my ironing and looked after my children and listened to me as I settled into our new home. I do not know why we decided to sit in that particular pew but I know it was not coincidence that introduced us to Mary when we needed a relative.

Mary planned the Lenten series too. Faith and works were intertwined in her life. It was Mary who encourage and guided me to restart reading my bible on a daily basis. A habit which I had dropped in those grown up late teenage/early twenties times. Mary spoke with a quiet voice and made gentle suggestions, she never seemed to be in a hurry and always had time to listen, to drop by, always had a cup of tea or coffee ready or was ready to drink one. Mary was married with growing four children. In theory she was not a lady who had time to spare.

Be still. Have I mastered that lesson yet?

http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/1733?start=3

Fruit in the Marketplace and Doubt

Psalm 38 Psalm 119:25-48
Amos 8:1-14;

Rev. 1:17-2:7;

Matt. 23:1-12

Amos 8:1-14; Rev. 1:17-2:7; Matt. 23:1-12

One of the delights of living in Europe is the easy availability of shopping in the open air markets. On Saturdays we go to the one on Place Flagey. Our little routine is that we go to the Belga Cafe for croissant or pain au chocolat and of course a good cup of coffee and then to the market. On Mondays there is one that I can walk to through the forest and take the dogs with me and then on Wednesday there is an afternoon market at Place du Chatelain. I like the idea of an afternoon market and this market has a stand that sells digestive biscuits so essential for the 'not chocolate brandy cake recipe'. (Click here for recipe) I think the connection between the Matthew reading and my 'thought for the day' finishes here though how one treats people in the marketplace and indeed everywhere is important. One of my frustations is not being able to communicate with the lady with the baby or notice that my cheeselady is looking glum today and thus not reflecting a caring nature to those whom I meet.

In England there is a variety of apple called "Russet". To our delight we found a similar apple on the markets though not in the big grocery supermarkets here. Russet apples are great sliced thinly and added to cold pork or ham sandwiches. The problem is that they have a short shelf life. We were able to by good ones for about three weeks only.

What is my shelf life as a Christian? Am I getting over-ripe like the Jews who looked as if they were OK in Amos? Am I doing all the right things- going to church, trying to keep others in line, do I question new philosophies before I assimilate them...but have forsaken my original enthusiasm for God himself like the Christians in Ephesus?

I don't know.

Oasis

Psalm 26, 28 36, 39
Amos 7:10-17;

Rev. 1:9-16;

Matt. 22:34-46

Psalm 36

Midweek service and Jo Derrick

⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

We learnt English, well I did though some of you have only learnt an approximation to the language, by hearing others speak it. I may learn french but since I am coming to it later in life it is taking a lot more effort that the natural assimilation with which I picked up speaking English.

I do not pretend to be a Bible scholar, I started reading it regularly in my youth and with a few breaks have read it almost everyday for about the last thirty years. Thus I have assimilated some knowledge of what is contained in the pages of the book. My intention in this blog is to encourage you to do the same, to use regular bible reading as part of God's map for his path for you. To this end sometimes I witter about the content of a passage and sometimes share a thought which it has provoked. Today is a day of the latter.

The verse at the top is part of the liturgy at the Wednesday mid-week service at Holy Spirit. It was a response which always seemed alive to me. The version in the service actually is "In you is the well of life". Well, fountain, they are both sources of running water, water that sustains and refreshes. The knowledge that God is in charge of my life sustains and refreshes me.

Jo Derrick was one of my Wednesday friends. She died yesterday which is why it is so special to me that I read Psalm 36 this morning. I had no knowledge that this special verse was in Psalm 36. When I read it this morning it seemed as if God was sending me a gift, a gentle reminder of Jo following close on the announcement of her death. I am reminded of Jo's sweet smile and quiet voice, to pray for those who mourn her. I remember the other ladies and gentlemen with whom I shared the peace at the oasis of those Wednesday morning services.

Paths

Psalm 9, 15 25;
Amos 7:1-9;

Rev. 1:1-8;

Matt. 22:23-33

Psalm 25

I love hiking. It is not a pleasure that I indulge in very often. I told my 'children' that for my sixtieth birthday next year I wanted them to take me backpacking in the backcountry of the Rockies. The first problem was that Stephen told me that if I was not going to carry my own pack it was not on. I can see his logic but think that I ought to be indulged. The second problem is that we no longer live within a thousand miles of the Rockies. I shall havew to change my treat. Currently I think we shall go on a canal boat through middle England, stopping off at Stratford to see a play. Neither of these appeal to my husband who thinks that a three star hotel is camping.

Today I am ging to meet a friend of nime who I met at a Girl Guide (Scout) camp in I think 1964. She is Dutch. we have met four times since 1964, the last time being around 1981 when she and her husband visited us in Yorkshire. Every year we give each other a calendar. Today we are meeting to exchange calendars.

God's path has led us to different places and countries. Yes she had a short time living in the states when I was in England. I never thought that I would be living an hour's train journey from her. Whoever would think that they would live in Belgium? It just is not a country that is dreamt about by anyone other than Belgians. But here we are and we like it. God's path has led us to many places Tomorrow we may find a house right where God wants us next. We have not seen the signpost yet.

Psalm 114, 115 148, 149, 150;
Amos 6:1-14;

2 Thess. 1:5-12;

Luke 1:57-68

Amos 6:1-14;

Psalms 148, 149, 150;

Do we really think Jesus wants to come back to earth considering what happened to him the first time he came? This the essence of one of the things that stuck in my brain from this morning's sermon. What would Jesus find?

Amos 6 is one of the passages which reminds of today's society and how little we have changed over the last 3000 years. We strive to have nice looking houses and sit around drinking wine with our Christian friends. I seem to be saying the same thing most days this week but the content of Amos' message was a real wake up to me the first time that I read it a few years ago and so I always try to make the most of it when I have the opportunity. I am 'gob-smacked' as to how little humanity has changed over so much time.

I hope that I also remember to praise God in all situations.

Praise God in the heavenly realms

Praise from the housetop

Praise with your voice, good or bad,

Praise in your daily life,

Praise him in the dirty socks and the ironing

Praise him in the yard and on the track

Praise in the traffic and the tram.

Praise at golf and in the cafe...

Improve and add your own praises.

Don't test God. He won't give you a straight answer.

Psalm 20, 21:1-7;110:1-5, 116, 117
Amos 5:18-27;

Jude 17-25;

Matt. 22:15-22

Matt. 22:15-22

Don't test God. You cannot rely on him to give you a straight answer. And that is it.