My prayer for the weekend

Psalm 141

A Psalm of David.
¹ I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
   give ear to my voice when I call to you. 
² Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
   and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. 

³ Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
   keep watch over the door of my lips. 
⁴ Do not turn my heart to any evil,
   to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
   do not let me eat of their delicacies. 

⁵ Let the righteous strike me;
   let the faithful correct me.
Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head,^*
   for my prayer is continually^* against their wicked deeds. 
⁶ When they are given over to those who shall condemn them,
   then they shall learn that my words were pleasant. 
⁷ Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land,
   so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol.^* 

⁸ But my eyes are turned towards you, O God, my Lord;
   in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenceless. 
⁹ Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me,
   and from the snares of evildoers. 
¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
   while I alone escape.

Take courage

2 Corinthians 4:1-12

This time round I seem to be finding much more encouragement from Paul than I usually do. My normal attitude to Paul is that he is just a little bit pompous. Today it struck me how much Paul was on the verge of depression. Nothing seems to be quite right. He does not have the universal recognition that he thinks he deserves. He has been beaten and criticised. Yet he carries on because he is convinced he is following the path God has planned for him.
I feel like that too. I write and I work, for what? God knows.

As you are

Mark 10:1-16
"Of course the baby can come into the service. No she does not have to go to the nursery." We were visiting the Episcopal Cathedral in Honolulu. Part way through the service there was a tap, tap on a shoulder and a whisper "Please will you take the baby to the nursery." We left, all of us left the service. Either children are welcome or they are not. Either they are welcomed as they are, potential noise boxes or they are not welcome and are places in the nursery.
We would have been happy to take six month old Becky to the nursery before the service. Perhaps we should have been told "Only completely silent babies are welcome, gurgling noises are not allowed."
Children come as they are, no pretences, no airs and graces. Noise or no noise. No special behaviour Jesus is near. Just come as you are and he will take you in his arms and smile.

Pork or bacon?

Mark 9:42-50

I bought some bacon a couple of weeks ago. It is still in my fridge waiting for me to enjoy it. I bought some pork chops last Friday. We ate them on Sunday, quite late enough, by Monday they would have to have been slow roasted. Salt keeps the meat edible, usable. 

With Jesus with me I have nothing to fear. I can live life peaceably and know that when I do make a mistake he will sort it out.

Using gifts

1 Corinthians 14:1-19

The Bible tells stories, real life stories of encounters with God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Real situations with real people. There would be no point in believing if the whole thing is a work of fiction. 

I write because I believe the Bible. I believe that God is not dead. I believe he is alive and well. I believe he lives in us and through us. This is why I try to tell my story. 

One night as I was dreaming I heard a voice call my name. I replied in a words. I think it was God talking to me. I find it much easier to practice teaching than to practice talking to God in a special way but maybe after reading the passage today I might try to adore God in his special way. But, heeding St Paul I might just continue to witter here too, maybe there is some instruction in that too, for you and me both.

Love

Love is not impatient: love is not unkind; love is content and humble and meek, always polite. It does allows others their way; it is placid and accepting; it accepts the faults another's faults does not find the truth painful. It does not grouch at the slightest thing, it does not doubt, or worry or be intolerant.

What to do when?

Psalm 103:1-32
I read verse 1 and I thought "Today is a day to write a list of thanks to God. That will be an easy blog to write". Then I came to the darkness and gloom of verse 10 which reminded me of my real current feelings. Feelings that an overwhelming life- The "Too many things to do" syndrome with no time to enjoy the beauty of the blue skies and spring breeze, the splendour of newly ploughed fields and budding hedgerow trees.
God is in the beauty not the busy. The busy can leave no space for God to squeeze in. Things do need doing but in God's time and in his way.