Eternal Echoes

People

Why do we find people so difficult and preplexing, why is it that when we feel we need to see the best in someone that we become more and more picky about their faults?

It has been said that the things that agravate us about others are the very things we despise about ourselves.

I want to see the best in folk but often see the worst instead and so I have decided that I need to learn the art of letting go. Letting go of comments and niggling actions that would grow out of all proportion were I to hang on to them.

Any comments please?

Cat

Our old cat disapeared he was 20 and we thought he'd gone off to die, when Jon saw a sign in the Post Office and we were looking at a picture of our cat we were sure of it... so we called up and now we have a new cat. It wasn't our old cat, but a younger version who'd been cared for for over a month by a lady who couldn't keep him any longer... I don't believe in re-incarnation but they do say cats have 9 lives!!!

Coughs, colds & revalations!

I've been suffering from a really bad cold all week and haven't been doing much thinking or writing..went into our Churches Toddler group this morning where I am meant to chat and be friendly but felt like death warmed up! Had a chat with Bill though at the Social Centre, he's been reading Genesis and wants to believe that God really did make the earth in 6 days, told him it didn't matter and that the that it is the revalation of a creator that is the important thing, I think a lot of the early chapters of Genesis are about revalation rather than a chronological series of events. They show us ourselves and our human frailty in relation to a creator, they show us how our relationship becomes damaged and how we are still cared for even when we are seperated from his presence...

I'm off to take my cold to bed now, but I have something to think about!!!

Good food good wine and friends

What better way to spend an early December evening than with good friends, good food, and good wine... Thanks to Penny and Simon for a great night, talking boats and everyday stuff, relaxing even to Malcoms wierd CD's...

HOME AT 2.30AM no matter it was worht it!

Blessings and promises

What is a blessing?

No small thing surely, but something that touches and expands us, something that enlarges our inner bieing soul and spirit, something big yet possibly intangible, something we will know when we experience it for Gods blessings are more that we could possibly ask or imagine!

To recieve the blessing we need to step out, to give ourselves over to something bigger than we are, to risk all for all...

I was challenged tonight to look at the stars and to remember Abraham who left the security of home for a far country at the age of 75...

And so I pray ;

"Lord help me to look up, to look to you , to step out in the risk of faith and to trust you will do more that I could ever ask or imagine!!! In Jesus name Amen"

Will you pray with me?

Where's the passion?

I've just come home from church, we had a visitor in the congregation this morning who commented on how dull and lifeless our service was, and I can't disagree. We display such little passion for a God we proclaim to be our saviour, one who comes near and touches us. One who we ask to fill us with his Spirit...yet seem unready to recieve that same Spirit...surely we should be excited when we come together, able to share joys and sorrows, able to tell stories of what God has done throughout the week!

Where's the passion for we claim to know a God of love, why are we so stilted when we should respond in love and praise?

Why don't we ask ourselves hards questions about the nature of our relationship with the Living God, and how do we fall in love with Jesus again?

I want my faith to be vibrant and alive, I want to know God in new and deeper ways, I want to live a life of deep connection , filled and overflowing with the Spirit of God!

So I must first ask myself where's my passion, why do I become so distracted and bogged down by other things, (material possesions, cares and worries) ..I will resolve again to seek God's kingdom first before my wants, before church programmes and agendas, and then to speak of God... how he fills and directs my life along a challenging and vibrant way.

Tesco overload!

Ever just felt I can't do this? In Tesco today I abandoned my trolley and left the shop, so many people were pushing and jostling to get Christmas goodies... It was mad in there, and a touch unreal after all  what are we celebrating ? This is the season of too much...too much food...too much drink ...too much debt when we've finished and too much stress. My  younger two (twins of 16) children are involved in about 5 different productions over the next two weeks, they are exhausted and so am I... I take assemblies in Primary schools and the children have that glassy eyed look, not to mention the teachers who are stressed out with trying to keep them going!

I know it is a cliche but don't we need to get back to the reason for the season... the wonder that God came among us, leaving the glories of heaven for a stable... and such odd people come into the Christmas story, shepherds, inkeepers, astrologers from far away, a carpenter and a young Jewish girl... the priests and rulers end up on the outside not understanding the wonder of it all.

How will you reclaim the wonder of it all this Christmas...

How do we escape Tescos overload?

The death and life of Charlie St Cloud

I've just finished reading this book and it has really made me think. How often do we live our lives in the past, hanging onto things we should let go of! Past mistakes and events can prevent us from moving on and from realising our full potential. Our past does shape who we are, yet everyday is a new day, we need to learn to live in the tension between the two somehow.

The book also deals with the spirit world and the question of heaven... a good read... if you've read it let me know what you think.