This is my first post in quite awhile. No, I haven’t been ill with Covid. I have been busy and so tired, it has been so difficult to put one foot in front of the other. I am so grateful to the Lord for his patience and being so close at hand through it all.
I have learnt first hand the truth of those words of Paul the Apostle in 2 Corinthians 12.9… the power (strength) of the Lord Jesus is made perfect in weakness.
We can still grow …. in grace, in courage, in faith.
We can still learn …. first hand, that the Lord never leaves us or forsakes us.
We can make progress forward … even if we cannot take a step from the house.
Little by little will get us there.
Oh most, wonderful,
Most patient and loving God,
Your love refreshing as rain on sad, dusty roses,
Restores, refreshes and fills us with new purpose…
Because…
In our weaknesses…
It is your arm which holds and supports.
Thank you for holding us up when our own strength will not,
Truly, your compassion and mercies will never fail us,
What kind of year have you lived through since this time last year?
What would the label read on the branch if you drew up a Diagram of your life so far?
Lately, because of the slowing down in the pace of life for me, my memory has been throwing up all kinds of shoots, memories of every kind… but in all of them, no exceptions, “there has been that of God”
Some memories have been of people who have crossed over the River, before me. Some have been of places, some of buildings, houses .. some of those changed beyond recognition now. I am a woman who is grateful for the gift of years and thankful for the presence and comfort of God in times when life was rough and tough and downright painful.
This week many throughout the whole world will be seeking in times of quiet and prayer to catch a glimpse of Jesus during His last precious days with us. I have found that Jesus is living out my life with me.
Jesus is the sap. The life-blood of the tree
Without Jesus I would have had no life at all. Without Him there would be no living .. no life.
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you
John 14. 20 KJV
I am not a preacher. I have done and will do what I can. What I am is blessed, all that I have is the life that I have been given, the life that I have been given is Eternal Life, thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The illustration is a page in one of my oldest bibles (a lot collected through the years) the bible printed in 1954 is a KJV Thompson Chain Reference Bible… the page shows the recorded events in the life of Jesus as a Tree.
With all my love and blessings for Eastertide and always
What will the world be like, once the present Pandemic is over?
Some are dreading the future. For the very many it will be a case of rebuilding the lives they once had, reclaiming lost livelihoods and overcoming problems of physical and mental health. Doubtless the few may come out if it all in much better shape than many; there is that saying, “it’s an ill wind that blows nobody good” – there have always been those few that come out of a crisis better than when they went in..
“Once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain; when you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm is all about. – Haruki Murakami
I don’t believe that I will be the same person who said goodbye to so many aspects of my own personal life last March, I think they are lost in the storm, but not my faith. Indeed my faith and inner convictions have grown stronger – there has always been something about a storm at sea which has grown strength and trust in the sailors.
“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for extraordinary destiny – C.S. Lewis
There is that about starting over and rebuilding which has always been good for the soul.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future – Jeremiah 29: 11 N.I.V.
No. Starting over and rebuilding never easy, but essentially those Israelites who went into the storm and exile in Babylon were not the same persons who came out but their knowledge of the LORD and trust had changed them for the better, the lessons learnt in adversity may bring us tears but “joy surely comes in the morning”
Let’s keep following and walking with the Lord, looking up and not down, keeping eyes fixed on the Throne of God, not allowing them to stray.. that way we can walk on water even in these days and times.
Put your hand in the hand of the man who walked on the water
Lord in whose hands are all our days and our times,
Wishing all my friends a Happy and Bright New Year. Continue to look up and keep on following the Star that led us all thus far… Covid19 cannot prevail in the end the Star that is Jesus the Bright and Morning Star will overcome all darkness and bring us through to both peace and light.
Do I really believe this?
Yes I do, those wise men of old, without name themselves and from unknown lands, did not have ease in their journeys and from the day when you and I, brother, sister first began to put one foot in front of the other in our following of the Lord Jesus; we have all, if truth be told known times of difficulty as well as ease, times of sadness as well as joy ~ times of loss as well as gain, times of mourning and bless the Lord times of consolation.
We have known those times of being completely drained and emptied; only to be filled with amazing love, peace and joy beyond all human telling. Such was the finding of the wise men as they gazed on the infant Christ…. they looked on a child wrapped humbly whom they found living in humble circumstances. The Divine Son from all eternity wrapped in the same mortal skin as ours born in such a time as this..
So at the beginning of 2021 let’s look up and follow the Bright and morning Star.
Lord of all hope,
Bright and Morning Star
Keep us ever faithful in our journey.
Guide us and keep us by the light of your presence,
Until we come into that Bright and Eternal Kingdom
There, sorrows forgotten like those of a mother safely
Delivered of a newborn child, may we kneel in perfect worship
There are I suppose many answers to that one question. Perhaps the initial thoughts of many reading it are going to be about their gifts and the talents they believe God has given them, and the role or service they have within the life of the church to which they belong.
Eternal Life however, how are we qualified for that?
I can hear one answer to that one being offered up even as I ask it, by many brothers and sisters around the world, offered as a joyful shout….
“Through the Blood of the Lamb”
Only through the Blood of Jesus. Amen
However, If we think of earthly callings, in order to get on we need to have at least some kind of educational qualifications to even get a foot on the ladder to success. Some kind of Degree is always to be preferred… I am going to suggest that our heavenly calling also calls for enrolment in a school, or college. A school or college which is open to all students who apply, Christ having paid the fees up front.
The School of Prayer
With such a gentle, patient Teacher as Christ, every enrolled student should do well here and at the end of the life-long lesson produce ample proof that they have paid excellent attention by the fruit of the Spirit grown in them as they go on…..
There is only one thing which could possibly work against any student/disciple in this school, and that is we disqualify ourselves by GIVING UP!
Each day should be seen like a fresh start.
This life is a short preparation for the Reality (life in heaven) ahead.
Do not lose heart! Glory is waiting to be revealed in us.
Look for the signs:
Discretion, justice, courage, and understanding, love, faith in Christ, concern for the poor, hospitality and freedom from anger.
St Antony of Egypt (c AD 300) advice given to others determined to live as close to Jesus as they possibly could
Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 21.22 “if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” … after coming across a fig-tree with no fruit to offer him for breakfast …. if we are discouraged and feel we have nothing to offer Jesus except our daily failings.. Antony says, “Don’t give up. Treat each day as a fresh beginning, don’t lose heart… the Glorious fruit of the Spirit is just waiting to show itself … you must persevere in prayer… never doubting that the One who forgives us all for Christ’s sake will with Him freely give us that Spiritual fruit, that abundant life that is Eternal Life.
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and take heart
And wait for the LORD
Psalm 27. 13-14 NIV
Trust, believe have faith. You will receive the answer to your prayer
Lord, the giver of all good gifts, and the True Gardener,
You know that in the world, we have troubles, difficulties and
We confess we often cannot do what is right
And often we are tempted to give in
To walk away from the fight
To let the enemy of our soul win,
To stay down when we fall
Keep us strong Lord, keep us praying
Teach us to know that Jesus is with us in all our trials and that He
Will bring us out stronger, grown taller and closer to Heaven,
The fruits that are hard won through prayer are those,
the Gardener is patiently waiting for,
For it is you, Lord God who works in us to will and to act
Whether our years are few or many. All of us at some time in life come to a crossroads and often we find the ways are not as clearly marked as we would wish for and there are no guarantees that we shall find what we desire by following this path or that.
Perhaps we may look and choose the “Road Less Travelled By” (Robert Frost) setting off hopefully and Cross Roads left behind, then suddenly we aren’t so sure… How do we know just which is the good way?
Many set off with a strong sense of vocation, and certainty of the road to take. Many more do not.
How do we find certainty
Mark’s Gospel, full of immediately’s, or straightaways, has this little account:-
“Now in the morning, having risen a long time before daylight, he (Jesus) went out and departed to a solitary place and there He prayed.
And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.
When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”
But He said to them. “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth’
Mark 1. 35-38 (NKJV)
When the Holy Spirit points out to us the good way, of Prayer way we should “immediately” take it. It is a quiet way and a lonely way but it is the way our Master took, His feet never left it not even surrounded by great crowds …. and from that good way…. He gained direction for the coming days.
Lord be with us today in the good way
That we may leave behind yesterday’s town and regret
Sometimes, the Lord surprises us in unexpected ways. We know, that He knows all about us, each word before we even think to utter it. At some time or other, these words from Psalm 139 have rung gloriously true for most Christians
“How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand-
when I awake, I am still with you”
Psalm 139.18 (N.I.V)
During these ‘Coronavirus’ days, I have felt, as you have also, no doubt that the Lord has been very present in many situations, in many ways, great and small.
I chose the picture of Julian of Norwich with the well loved words that all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well, because reading her Revelations of Divine Love we feel we almost ‘know” this homely lady born in 1342. She speaks comfortably, from her heart to our heart. The little cat sits comfortably on the window sill joining in the conversation with the odd purr from time to time. As I read Julian’s writings I feel assured that Julian knew our Lord God very well and that He knew Julian very well. In fact they were very close friends who shared heart to heart thoughts of each other.
Sometimes people who know each other very well surprise each other.
My first thoughts each morning are spontaneously with God. No effort involved. I know that I am awake and with God, that God is with me. Just over a week ago I was surprised as into my head came a fleeting glimpse of the computer work station, as it arrived new with my first home computer in the year 2000.
When my late mother became ill, she just wanted, needed me to be always in her sight, so abandoning the work station and its little den, I switched to a lap top so I could type up Church Minutes and stuff in the room where she was, Mom would look up from time to time, and we would exchange little thoughts… presence is comforting. Well, my Mom died 17 years ago and the work station on wheels, was never given a second thought. The little upstairs room, which I had turned into a den all those years ago, had slowly become a storage room for boxes and boxes of files that Martha has busied herself with down through the years.
Well, seeing the fleeting picture in my head, I knew, just knew that I was being prompted to do something.
Something like finding the tape measure and finding the work station a new corner elsewhere in the house. It, was, as I vaguely recalled, comfortable to work at.
Not for one moment did it occur to me that the room might be cleared of boxes. A couple of days later, tape measure in hand I entered the room. The work station had been pushed into a corner blocked neatly in by a box, or two.
It was so quiet, restful in that room. I ventured over to the window, opened it, and looked out into the back garden, where the little birds were busily having breakfast.
I just knew. This is my new ‘prayer closet’
The Lord and I are going to be comfortable here.
Of course, there are the boxes to sort, and made ready for their new storage home in church, the Martha side of me has already taken first steps in arranging that!
God, of your goodness, give me yourself; you are enough for me, and anything less that I could ask for would not do you full honour. And if I ask anything that is less, I shall always lack something, but in you alone I have everything.”
The prayer above comes from Chapter 5, Revelations of Divine Love
Thank you Lord, that you see all our needs and recognise them when we do not.
Thank You for your many thoughts towards us, your wise provision.
You carry us, dear Lord throughout all our days; teach us to know when we are being carried that all shall indeed be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Teach us also, to recognise that following You does not always mean a journey of miles, we do not reach your throne by any other means than Jesus who is the way, and though our bodily strength may fail us…. it is always by your Spirit alone that we are empowered.
Many of my posts have been centred on my younger self, well this one is from very recent days, as recently as 2018 a little baby of an elephant presented herself/himself? The lord knows. During my morning prayer time. I was charmed, fascinated. Momma elephant stood nearby, watching as baby raised a courteous trunk in greeting.
We All Have to Learn To Trust the Water
They stood by a roadway constructed from logs, all neatly and perfectly laid
I still find the image of baby, mother and Mahout stirring in my mind from time to time. Yes, I did say Mahout, elephants do not naturally lay logs to construct roads, but they are capable, very capable of learning much and teaching much, passing on knowledge and experience gained down through their generations.
We say, don’t we, that an elephant never forgets? Memory and learning go hand in hand. With people not all learning comes from books, classrooms, teachers, the internet, much of it like that of elephants is from experience. From the moment we are born we are learning from mothers, fathers, siblings, all of our senses, touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight inform us .. we are fearfully and wonderfully made. All God’s creatures are wonderfully and delightfully made – yet all must learn, and to a certain extent learning to all creatures is instinctive, so much is gifted to us before we are even born. Yet… there is always so much more to learn.
I captioned the picture we all have to learn, simply because we do Baby elephants need Momma on hand the first time they take a bath; and a fledgling’s parents are not far away when baby wings are tried out; water for a baby elephant, air currents for a bird. What about a child of God?
Just the same? We need the Holy Spirit. All the way along, on looking back we will find that even before we tried the water of baptism if we were baptised as older persons, the spirit was carefully helping with the construction of the road, present, although we may not have been fully aware of it, in our choices and decisions .. especially that big decision of trusting our very self to our Saviour and Lord to a new element .. the water of Life in Jesus.
Momma Church can teach us a lot, but not all because when it comes to choosing which logs to lay, which direction to go in, Momma church like Momma elephant needs Mahout, and Mahout is the Man Christ Jesus.
It is through Jesus, that the Spirit, and instruction is given.
I invite you to think about this “showing” with me, share your thoughts please if you will. I know that I still have much pondering on it to do for myself. But one final thing. If you will accept them, the words of Jesus to the little elephant
“Don’t be afraid. I must touch your head as well as heart.”
Lord, there are times
When our biggest need is for your
Touch on our heart, to warm our coldness,
Inspire our thinking.
And
There are times when you understand,
But we do not yet comprehend it, that
Our greatest need is the enlarging of our understanding
Your touch on our head, your gift of understanding,
To the heart you inspire with your thoughts
To bless and willingly to serve in the way You direct.
It takes time to grow a rose. Time for buds to firm, open. It takes time to take in its fragrance, to enjoy its sweetness. Such a pity to be in such a hurry that we have no time to simply look and notice the subtle shading of its petticoat, to touch and smell.
At the beginning of Lockdown in the U.K. I just simply didn’t realise how tired I was. It wasn’t until two weeks in that I came to a stop with trying to get some important things in order – even that stop came as the result of being blocked as necessary communications with various official offices closed down. Telephone queues became hours long, replies to emails were likewise delayed by several days…. so I came to a stop, found content in my little wilderness garden, and found joy in just being still in one place,
Silence will speak more to you in a day than the world of voices can teach you in a lifetime.
Find silence. Find solitude – and having discovered her riches,
Bind her to your heart
Frances J. Roberts… Come away. My beloved (Barbour Books)
And in the silence.. the sound of the rain, the gentle soft rain of the Holy Spirit that refreshes, restores and brings new growth.
Not, the hard, loud, rain of a deluge that causes panic as the flood waters rise to overwhelm a distressed soul.
Not the cold, persistent rain that chills to the bone.
But the soft, gentle, showers of blessing, that leave rainbow crystal drops on herbs, grass, thirsty flowers: rain to swell the buds, causing them to open.
As I rested, I was aware that the Lord was never going to chide me for sitting, and just sitting, because I was sitting with Him, and this was what He wanted, and what He purposed.
As we sat, so my understanding grew, and grows of many things shown and given, through the long years.
He showed me a box, a golden box, a bejewelled box, which I thought must contain some fortunate ladies precious treasures.
“I gave you the box, many years ago!
I gave you the key,
But you were careless with it;
You put it aside, out of sight:
Too busy, Martha to sit awhile,
This to do …..
That to do ….
You gave me back the key.
And the box?
The box you forgot. Placing it
Conveniently, at the back of memory’s closet.
My sweet girl,
I let you,
Allowed you to do this,
Because, I your loving
Friend and brother, watching jealousy
Wanted the pleasure of sitting with you,
To watch you open your gift and taking
Out every treasure reward me with your
Pleasure.
Me and Jesus sitting together
Yes.
The story is true but praise God for His Grace, the Lord and I sit together, and even when Lockdown is done and tiredness done. We will still be sitting together.
These weeks of being shut in, quiet and still have been for me, a gateway into another place, a place of calm, and rest, a place of blessing and a joy.
I pray that you also may know these things for yourself. That you may know all the joy of abiding in the Vine, and the love of the Lord.. it is just a thought, but consider this, the branches actually have very little to do with the work of producing fruit, they are not responsible for their pruning; and they don’t water themselves, they cannot bless themselves with the sunshine of the Lord’s smile or care for the soil that covers their root… all of this is the Gardener’s part.
All you and I, dear friends have to do is abide in the Vine. And listen, to Ruach HaKadesh. This is what He says to me,
“Go and listen for the sound of the rain in the wilderness”
Your words are a doorway that lets in light, giving understanding to the thoughtless. Psalm 119:30
Fresh Whispers 