Johnny and Hannah

today in a seismic almost-4-hours of toiling and tilling,…. yes thats gardening! I had some really special moments…. including the pursuit of a delightful red-breasted robin following me around, for much of the time.

doing something in the fresh air is so good at so many levels….

breaking a sweat and rolling up the sleeves is really helpful…

but three questions now linger:-

1 what does a stalking robin mean?

2 why is it that mid-thirties-men are caused to engage more with gardening?

3 what is it about weeding and soil, that causes simplicity of heart and a willingness to make short accounts with God?!

not that us low-church-people would forget….(!!) but since the turn of the month: i’ve been reflecting a bit on Ephesians 1,… and with this season of ascension I’m really appreciating this liturgical-prayer, so I share it with you…

May the eyes of your heart be opened to the nature of God: who is source, Saviour and spirit,
may you know the power, strength and riches of relationship with the living God,
may you grow in wisdom, insight and understanding of the ways of the living God,
that you may be free to know more of God each day,
that you may be free to know the hope gifted to you,
that you may be free to know who you where formed to be,
that you may be free to be all that you were formed to be,
that you might give the best of everything you have, you dream of, you are,
in communion with the God-community and with the community of God’s people,
in the love of the God who created, re-creates and reigns
in the deep peace of God now, tomorrow and into the future.

I feel like I’m often out on a limb…..!

I think most of us walk the line between passion and peacefulness. We play it too safe because we fear failure and criticism. I think most of us wake up every day with the goal of not looking bad or bringing unwelcomed attention to ourselves. But I’ll sugguest a rule here that I think is true… If we’re not offending someone or risking personal embarrassment with our life endeavours, we’re probably making very little impact. Influence comes with the cost of personal unrest, the pricetag of inconvenience.

Here’s how a conversation from last week went…

Noah:- ‘Can you be good always….?’
Esther;- ‘I’m not sure…..’
Mum;- ‘Not always, but God forgives,….’
Noah;- ‘but, can she (Mum) ever be bad…?!!’

Yours grappling with the doctrine of sin and delightful children of the covenant! Agggh what a theological juggle! Roll on the promised-day of sinless-perfection…!

APOLOGIES;- This photo is the credited handiwork of the brillant Jonny Baker

Matthew 6:33 decrees, ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.’What blessings are included when we seek first God’s rule and His righteousness? When He made this statement, Jesus was speaking of practical needs like food and clothing. But doesn’t the principle of putting first things first apply even to “these things” that are of a spiritual nature? Even when the blessings that we seek are spiritual, we must not seek them for selfish reasons or personal benefit. God is not to be sought for what we can get out of Him; He is to be sought for what we long to give to Him! We were created to enjoy a relationship that revolves around Him, not around us. Only when we get this priority fixed in our minds and seek God first will other things fall into their rightful place.

Although spiritual blessings are higher than practical ones, they’re the same in that they come to us indirectly as we seek God, not directly as we seek our own desires. The example of “happiness” is a good one. It is a much sought-after blessing, but ironically, it eludes us when we pursue it for its own sake. Instead, it comes to us indirectly, as a by-product of contributing to others’ happiness. And spiritual blessings, at least in this regard, are no different. The strength we desire doesn’t come by focusing on our own needs, however great and good those needs may be. These things are by-products of focusing on God. If we’re obsessed with ourselves (Are we getting the help we need with our problems?), it’s not likely that we’ll find what we’re looking for.

A. W. Tozer once wrote, “Selfishness is never so exquisitely selfish as when it is on its knees. Self can turn what would otherwise be a pure and powerful prayer into a weak and ineffective one.” Our prayers must not be self-centred, but God-centred. It is when we’re weak that we’re strong. We find ourselves when we forget ourselves. Having been made for the purpose of showing His goodness and His glory, we find our lives when we lose them in His. When we seek Him first — not His blessings, but God Himself — all “these things” will be added to us.

Live out your life to it’s full meaning; for it is God’s life gracing your days!

I have managed to tuck away a few reads recently so thought I’d share my thoughts on four books that have come my way. The first two are a couple of novels but with plenty of historical insight so you feel you have learnt something as well as enjoying a good fictional story.

The first is ‘The Glass Palace’ by Amitav Ghosh. It’s taken me a while to get through it but it is a very absorbing saga - an epic which takes place in Burma, Malaysia and India, starting in the early 20th century and taking us through the wars and across 3 generations. It is quite harrowing in parts, grappling with the ‘Empire’ and those who were loyal to the British, some Indians eventually finding themselves across enemy lines from their countrymen in the Indian National Army. Fascinating with memorable characters.

The other novel is ‘The Island’ by Victoria Hislop (married to that chap from ‘Who’s line is it anyway?’) and I thoroughly recommend it as an easy read that is both moving and informative. It takes place in Crete and revolves around Spinalonga - Greece’s leper colony. The Observer describes it as ‘a beach book with a heart’ - and I totally agree, definitely one to get hold of for the summer hols!

The other two books ‘Redeeming Love‘ by Francine Rivers, and ‘Notes to Working Woman‘ by Luci Swindoll, are both spiritually challenging but in completely different ways.

‘Redeeming love’ is a novel which brings to life the book of Hosea and gives us a deeper understanding God’s love and compassion. It’s a page-turner with a happy ending so it got my vote, but quite traumatic in parts. Do read it if you can.

‘Notes to a working woman’ is very apt at present because we are looking at ‘women in the workplace‘ on Monday with our women’s ministry ‘Ignite’, and Luci Swindoll has been an accomplished businesswoman for over 30 years. What amazed me was all the different jobs she has done - she listed about 27 of them ranging from door-to-door salesperson to waitress to department manager for an oil company. She chose to remain single and now as an author and speaker for ‘Women of Faith’ offers helpful advice on how to integrate Christian principles into your life at work, while finding passion and fulfillment in your job. Let me quote her last paragraph:

“The Christian professional woman is a woman of peace. She is a woman who believes in miracles. From her first days of wandering and wondering to the arrival at her desired destination, she is one who pursues excellence. She may fall, she may be side tracked, she may be blocked in for a time, but she never gives up. With heart, courage, brains and faith, she continually progresses, recognizing her abilities and strengths come from God. And when her deepest joy becomes giving her life away to others, she will have truly found her place of greatest contribution.”

‘It doesn’t matter what the world calls us, as long as God calls you His!’

from today’s preacher at our local church!

at this fun tool….!

the call of God on our lives….. I Samuel 3:10 finds this instruction “And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” Here Samuel is trying to sleep and God intrudes in and calls out his name. Samuel automatically thinks that it is Eli who is calling him; it was not common for God to speak to folks in those days (what the text says). Eli then instructs Samuel that it is God and tells him what to say the next time God calls his name. And so we have this verse, Samuel is following direction and tells God he is listening. I find a couple of things interesting in this text.

The first is the importance of Eli in helping Samuel discern this call. The other is the fact that God doesn’t speak to Samuel until he is ready to listen. God continues to call out Samuel’s name and when Samuel is ready to listen, God then gives Samuel his call.

My hunch is that God still calls in the same way today as He did with Samuel. I can look back in my life and see where there were those people that helped me to discern my call. I thank God for those that were able to tell me to listen, that God was speaking to me. I find it fascinating that God only calls out Samuel’s name and waits until Samuel is ready to listen before He tells Samuel his call.

I believe that in Jesus Christ, God is calling out our names and I believe that God continues to call out our names until we are ready to listen.

Isn’t it amazing how patient God is with us?

God is waiting; longing for the day for His children to hear Him call them by name and be ready to listen to the call. Perhaps we all need people in our lives that are able to remind us to listen; to help us discern that we can prepare ourselves to listen so God will speak.

Lord Jesus, thank you for calling out my name. Thank you for putting people in my life to tell me to listen to your call. Thank you for giving me the grace to listen to your call upon my life. Use me as a tool to help others listen. I pray that all your children will hear their name and be ready to listen; I pray that you will stop having to repeat names and begin giving more instructions. Give me the grace to continue to listen. Please continue to speak to me and direct my paths. Give me the strength to speak your call regardless of the circumstances of my life. May you never be silent in my life. Amen!

this question;- what is your ‘job’ all about!?

my impromptu answer;-  Chrstian ministry involves ordinary people doing ordinary things because of our incredible God!

so, what would your answer have been?