Light and Darkness

Light from Darkness

The writing of a journal for some is a therapeutic and helpful process. It focuses the mind and heart - at least that's what the websites say. On one of my bookshelves are six beautiful journals - leather bound, lined with stunning graphics and though provoking texts - all empty until now.

I began writing "my journal" a couple of months ago as a way of helping me to ponder and reflect. It all seems just self-indulgent, as does writing a blog sometimes, but maybe just maybe it allows us to reflect even more deeply than before.

You see my memory is not so good, and it is getting worse, when I walk into the kitchen I sometimes forget why I have gone in there. At least when I walk into the loo there is a hint and not so many choices! So the point of a journal has been designed to help me consider and re-consider thoughts, feelings, frustrations, hurt... the list is endless. And it helps.

In The Chronicles of Narnia, Lucy, one of the visitors whispers to Aslan, (a talking lion symbolising Jesus - “Aslan, Aslan, if ever you lived with us at all, send us help now.” C.S. Lewis writes, “The darkness did not grow any less but she began to feel a little — a very, very little – better.”

How lovely to feel just a little better when darkness threatens to consume.

Lewis continues the story saying at about the same time a crewmember sees a tiny speck of light ahead, which, again, “did not alter the surrounding darkness” but did light up the ship.

Wow a powerful reminder that sometimes the darkness seems not to disappear immediately and the storm does not always cease ..but,, BUT  there, just there in the clouds there is God. And keeping a journal - even for a few weeks has helped me see the light shining through.

Why not try it?

Run the Race

 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us".

 

 For those that know me well I am not one for walking. When told about some great feat of stamina or expedition e.g. a marathon run, mountain climbed or cycle rode my tongue in cheek response is normally "why not drive?" In fact someone , who I admire greatly, finally convinced me to walk from one of my churches to a neighbouring one as part of the historic churches walk.  Great I thought through a thoroughly convincing smile "can I get a lift back?"

 

Some would, rightly, call me lazy and perhaps I would agree. I'd just rather do it all quickly and get on with the next thing. Does that make me strange? Yes, but it makes me like a lot of people who just rush about with their eyes fixed on the next thing sometimes negelcting the current. The next appointment, the next meeting, the next person you want to talk to .... the next race.

 

So the big question is simply "Where does God fit into this?". In the hurry of life, the  hustle, the bustle, the busyness, the fast paced aspect of our lives where is the one who give us our breath?  

 

Running the race marked out for us is edifying, it reminds us that God is involved. Yet the race is more difficult because of the burdens we carry and the sin reminding us we are not worthy. We cannot run the race when we are carrying suitcases and bags that weigh us down. What a picture that would be in the upcoming olympics. 

 

Friend, will you lay it all down and run the race set before - the race God intended? Will you sore like the eagle or slither like the snake?   

Waiting......

Waiting

It's hard to wait, hard to desire something so much that it hurts. That sense of longing brings varying degrees of feelings entirely dependent on the activity.

The joy of a celebration or an anticipated date/event brings an altogether different feeling and emotion to the waiting of a results from a hospital test. Every action of waiting has its own choices and complications.  

When we are waiting are we really doing nothing? We consider waiting as a wasted moment. The dictionary definition doesn't help in this way

Waiting -to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often followed by for, till,  or until ); to look forward to eagerly; to remain neglected for a time.

But is waiting an inactive moment or are there things that we can do. While we wait are there other doors you could try? (When waiting for the answer to the job interview why do you not send other applications out!)
Instead of just passively waiting is there something else you could do?

Do you know why you are waiting? You could be left in a sense of limbo if you don't know why you are waiting. Friend, what are you waiting for? Are you waiting for the answer that you desperately want to hear or are you waiting for the answer that is right. Your need vs Your Want.

Are you just killing time? Rather than do how about thinking ahead. Make plans but be flexible enough to change them. God will plant a desire in your heart - a seed - and it might take years until it develops.  

Prior to the incarnation (God becoming flesh) was God doing nothing? When Jesus sat in the desert was he doing nothing (except being tempted).

Waiting .......try not to worry (not easy), try not panic (very easy to do) and direct the waiting .. try not to let the waiting to direct you.

Christy Nockels - Already All I need

A Bit of a Delay 

Sorry. I haven't been around for a while on this site and I apologise.

I could list a host of excuses, after all we tend to do that don't we. However, in this instance perhaps I won't but ask for understanding. 

The blog has a new look and I hope to update it more frequently. 

So what has been happening... 

A great concert last night at the Liverpool Phil watching Keith & Kristyn Getty and my fave song "Stll my soul" was played. 

Found a new inspiring singer - Christy Nockels - stunning 

New Song is growing and growing and is such a joy. 

Appeared in a Christian Magazine "Woman Alive" with article about all that has happened in the last year. 

Appeared on Radio Merseyside talking about New Song. 

Back and to with hosp apps regarding the head and brain.... and the elephant woman face which appears every 10 days. 

Learning to be more patient and to wait so much more on God. 

Desiring to love God more and more.

Waiting Here for You Christy Nockels

Forgetting God

O Lord, you know how busy I must be this day. If I forget you, do not forget me.
(Sir Jacob Astley, before the Battle of Edgehill, 1642)

Jacob Astley was a sergeant major with the Royalists who fought against the Parliamentarians in the Battle in 1642. A nobleman he came from an established Norfolk family and his first experience of war was age 18.

His characteristic battle-prayer at the Battle of Edgehill has become famous:

"O Lord, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day. If I forget Thee, do not forget me." which he followed promptly with the order "March on, boys!"

I guess at the start of a new year we are not heading into a battle which demands the strategic and military might of Jacob Astley but we do engage in a different type of struggle. Our struggle centers around ourselves, our relationships, battles with the past and fear for the present and future. In all of this I think the prayer of Jacob Astley is therefore entirely appropriate.

Let us never lose sight of the one who sustains, guides, comforts, challenges, heals, delivers and loves. Happy New Year.

The Continued Journey - 27 December

Reflection
The journey of Moses was not straightforward. He told God he did not want to lead any people anywhere if God’s presence was not going with them. What a brave and right decision. How easy to do things in our own strength fixed on our own agenda. When did you recognise Gods presence going with you into a situation and what
difference did that recognition make?

There is no place worth going without Gods presence. It is all about one major truth, we need the one who loves us enough who gave his own life. Our journeys may not be like Moses, Mary and Joseph, the magi or like our neighbour yet they are still important to God - the one who travels with us. We may flee, get diverted or never see the final earthly destination, yet with God as our guide and companion we can know fulfilment and joy in the travelling.

Prayer
Dear God,
I acknowledge my need of you. Without you my life would be void and have little purpose. At times the journey of my life seems relentlessly difficult and I struggle.

I cannot see around the corner, I do not fully know what tomorrow will bring. The paths I have chosen have not always been right but I am thankful that you, the Holy One travels with me. In my today and in my tomorrow may I trust you and may my past journey be an offering to you. Restore and guide me for I am willing to listen to you. Amen

Readings
Exodus 33:12-23, Matthew 2:1-12

Hymn/Song
Wise Men Seeking Jesus

Shh - Be Still - 26 December

Reflection
Have you ever been silent. Really silent? Sitting so still that you could sense your own breathing. Without thoughts, without worry.

“For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him” (Psalm 62)

We cannot tell what God will do in our midst, but we wait with bated breath to see it. Why? It hardly ever makes sense, our waiting on God. Why do we do it? Why do we bother? We bother because all our hope rests in God. We have nothing without God. God is our refuge, the source of our salvation. Our souls cry out to the One who saves us, so we wait for him no matter what

God is about to do something big in our midst. Are we willing to wait in intense silence to see what it will be? Are we willing to stay on the edges of our seats even when it doesn't make any rational sense? Are we willing to cling to the One we need no matter what?

Prayer
God, there are times when the waiting is hard. It seems we wait forever for you to do something, As we wait for you let us be reminded that you are always moving, always doing something within and among us, no matter how small. Help us to cling to you always. Amen

Readings
Psalm 62, Luke 2:41-52, Philippians 4:4-7

Hymn/Song
Silent Night

Jesus, Promised Child of Bethlehem - 25 December

Reflection
May you now the peace and hope of a blessed Christmas. Perhaps at one point today you may take just a moment to utter the words “O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord”. Perhaps as a grace, a private prayer - at the start and end of the day. A moment of simple worship to a God who has spanned time and space and became vulnerable and dependent because of us.

It is the call to now begin a journey of grace. Saying yes to Jesus is
acknowledging who He is; it is even giving thanks to God for “so loving the world that He sent His Son so the world may be saved through Him” (John 3:16-17). To be saved is to be healed, to be made whole or, to continue to journey with Jesus to happiness, holiness, and love.
May God bless you in the joy and struggles of this day.

Prayer
May I sing with the angels. May I hurry with the shepherds
May I seek the star with the wise men. For today Jesus is born
 
The Word is made flesh and we have seen his glory
Glory in the darkness of a stable
Glory in the humility of a manger
Glory in the love of God poured out
 
I offer my lips in praise, O Word beyond words
I offer my life in adoration, O Light transforming darkness
I offer my heart in worship, O Love without limits
May this day be filled with the light of the glory of your love

Readings
Isaiah 9:2-7, John 1:1-5, Galatians 4:4-7

Hymn/Song
Joy to the World

Places we meet God - 24 December

Reflection
A small town from one of the little clans of the Hebrew tribe of Judah. A small baby born. Small and seemingly insignificant - a town, a clan, a baby. Yet from these small things God has blessed the world with love and peace. We too are small potatoes, perhaps even insignificant in our own or others' eyes. Who knows how God might use us - how God might use you - to bless the world with the love and peace of Jesus, the holy Child of Bethlehem? The time of Advent waiting and expectation almost is over. God is at work, bringing forth hope through the Child born of Mary. Come, Lord Jesus.

On this night may we be transformed by the mystery that has been unfolded. The word did become flesh and has dwelt amongst us and that word is full of grace and truth. God continues to dwell in our streets, homes and hearts and in these places we encounter the divine.

Prayer
Gracious God, Ruler of the Nations, use me as you have used your people down through the ages to bring your blessings to the world. Fill me with your peace as the time of celebration draws near.

God be the host of this day and in my remembering and in celebrating help me to receive and extend your grace to others.I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the Child of Bethlehem. Amen.

Readings
Psalm 121, Micah 5:2-5a. Luke 2

Hymn/Song
O Come all ye faithful

A God - Here, There and Everywhere - 23 December

Reflection
“I’m waiting for 5pm on Christmas Eve,” he said “it will be too late then.” Too late for what I wondered?. “For gifts, meeting the expectations of others and will they be disappointed on Christmas Day morning”
In the past years as I have wandered through packed shops I have seen the trolleys so full that not one more sprout could fit in. I have seen the post boxes overflowing - literally - with cards and I have seen the tension on people’s faces. What we need is a “silent night” when the pressures are lifted and exchanged for something altogether different. But then I remember a couple of people with tension, pain and fear etched on their faces over 2000 years ago and I realise that we have come full circle. No room for them and no room for Christ in so many at Christmas. I know you may have heard it before but take Christ out of Christmas and you have left M&S! And for so many - even to some extent us for us - that is what it has become. Let us put the emphasis back onto Christ, let us make room for the Holy Child of Bethlehem to descend to us again.

Prayer
Even if the gatherings in our homes do not reflect perfect love, make us into more perfect hosts at your table.
Bless those equipped to share your love with your hurting children. Remind those whose families are still divided by the damages of sin of the hope that we might someday find right fellowship with you and one another.
God with us, be Immanuel to all. Amen

Readings
Psalm 8, Luke 1, Colossians 1:15-23

Hymn/Song
O little town of Bethlehem

The God beyond Us - 22 December

Readings
It took an angel to rescue Joseph from his shock at his fiancée’s pregnancy. That only seems fair as it was the angel that brought the tidings of joy to Mary - so to reassure Joseph seems entirely reasonable.

Do you need reassuring? What life altering message have you been given that has rocked your world? What assurance do you need?
Let’s try…. The God of the universe - the known and unknown. The God of history, present and future. The God of Mary, Joseph, the disciples, the woman at the well and many others. The God of our forebears, inspirational and Godly saints. This God, this very God is right with you now. The one whose promises are steadfast , the one who is not slow in keeping promises, the one who will never leave or forsake is with you right at this very moment. Our God is beyond our understanding but is within our grasp.

Prayer
O God you come with power to shock and disturb Shock me out of my familiarity with the story of Jesus’ birth Disturb the complacency which leads me to wrap Christmas up in a box of taken-for-granted stories
Open my ears to listen for the voices of angels
Open my eyes to see the work of your Holy Spirit
Unexpected and disturbing God, grant me the courage of Joseph to hear the voice of the angel and see life in a new way. May I be ready to receive the one who comes as Saviour. Amen

Readings
Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 139, Matthew 2:18b-21

Hymn/Song
King of Kings

A love that never goes - 21 December

Reflection

The opening chapters of Genesis yield a description of God’s purpose in creating. This purpose is largely echoed throughout the Old Testament where we regularly encounter phrases like, “I will be their God and they will be my people” (Gen. 17:8, Exod. 6:7, Jer. 24:7, Joel 2:27). In those early chapters of Genesis we also discover the devastating effects sin has on God’s purpose. The rest of the Biblical story unfolds this tension between God’s purposeful design for creation and the sinful sabotage of God’s plan.

Advent is that season in the church year that unequivocally declares that God’s purpose for creation will not be ultimately frustrated. Neither the darkness of sin, nor the devastating powers of evil can derail God’s good purpose. It is here, during Advent, that the church reaches back with one hand to Bethlehem where the eternal Word was made flesh and took up residence among us (John 1:14). With the other hand, the church reaches forward to the New Jerusalem where the home of God is finally, permanently, among His people (Revelation 21:3). Just as the church looks in remembrance, she also looks forward in eager expectation for the fulfilment of Gods purpose, when finally the dwelling of God is among His people and He will live with them as God, and they will be His children.

Prayer

Maranatha” (Come, Lord Jesus! Come!). Abide in me, dwell with me, as I continue my journey through this Advent season by the presence of your Holy Spirit. Open my eyes that I might see you, my ears that I might hear you, my heart, home, church and life that I might welcome you, the Word made Flesh, until at last all your good purposes for me are completely fulfilled. O, come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel. Amen

Readings
Psalm 134:2, Isaiah 60:1-3, Luke 2:8-20

Hymn/Song
See him lying on a bed of straw

We need to go - 20 December

Reflection
The strange and remarkable thing about Advent is that it is a combination of the unknown and the utterly predictable. It can be as exciting as the little paper doors and windows that our children open each day in the Advent calendar; it's as known and familiar as the words to the Advent songs that we can easily sing from memory. And somewhere in between these two extremes lies the meaning of Advent and its significance for us.

The true essence of Advent is about a journey. The first Advent the adventure was there in all its terrifying, harsh, bewildering reality. Mary visited by an angel and waited for her baby to be born, not knowing what kind of life her son would lead or what kind of impact it would have on her. The pregnancy burst in upon her and imposed a new direction on her life. All she knew was that she was bearing the Messiah, the Long-Awaited One. The rest was pure adventure. Passing through Advent means we to need to move, to go on an adventure .

Prayer
Watch, dear Lord, with those who cannot sleep and those who weep this night.
Tend the sick, give rest to the weary and bless the dying.
Relieve those who are suffering, have pity on those in great distress, and shield those who are happy. Amen.
(St Augustine)

Readings
Genesis 1:1-5, Psalm 63,Matthew 2: 13-18

Prayer
It came upon a midnight clear.

Avoiding Wordly Passions - 19 December

Reflection

As we walk through these days of Advent, I find myself wrestling with "the reason for this season." Christmas carols ring everywhere, and have for weeks; commercialism is at its worst; and people buy and spend for some good reasons and for many not so good ones. And yet we proclaim Jesus, the one who is, but is also the one to come.

Paul writes to Titus to remind him of what is important. "…We wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ." Paul and Titus were not in the midst of preparing for Christmas, but these words speak to us nonetheless. What is important in this hectic season is preparing hearts and homes for the celebration of Jesus' birth. We can't completely avoid the "worldly passions" of this age, but we can take time to walk and talk with God in these days of Advent, and live faithful lives in Jesus' name. With less than one week to go will you ask God to speak more fully to you.

Prayer

Lord,
help us to still seek you in this season of excess and to hear you above all the other distractions that vie for our attention. Amen.

Readings
Psalm 36: 5-9, Zechariah 4, Luke 1:67-75 Titus 2:11-14

Hymn/Song
Hark the Herald

Myster and Awe - 18 December

Reflection
On this last Sunday of Advent, we quietly reflect on the mystery resting in awe, in wonder of how our God entered our world and came to be with us. We pause to receive the gift offered us: that the Spirit of God will open up our lives and that Jesus will really come into our hearts.
This sense of awe is further emphasized by the fact that God chose the innocence of a young woman, and understanding Aunt and Uncle (Elizabeth & Zechariah), a sensitive, faithful, upright and religious Joseph. Thee is so much hope for us then.
May we have watchful hope today, believing what the Lord promises us. Let us pray today, that we might be God's servants, that we might be instruments of God's love for our families and all we serve this week.

Prayer
They all were looking for a king
To slay their foes and lift them high
Thou cam’st a little Baby thing
That made a woman cry.’
George MacDonald (1824-1905)

Lord Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords the only ruler of princes, help me not to seek to possess truth but strive towards its goal

Readings
2 Samuel 7:1-16; Psalm 89, Luke 1:5-23, Romans 16:25–27

Hymn/Song
Tell Out My Soul