Come alongside

 

They put on old clothes, donned gloves and headed into the barn to load the trailer with its fourth load for the dump. They dragged heavy window frames, lighter louvred doors and kitchen cupboard doors into the light, brushed them down and took pictures so we could put them up on some platform and find them a new home. They strimmed and cut grass, dug out overgrown plants and weeds, swept the drive and more … all the while smiling and responding to the requests and demands of three active children.

They came alongside us and picked up some of the jobs we were struggling to keep up with.

Love in action. We are both so grateful, and so encouraged. Thank you, Jamie and Chrisie.

Jesus invites us to be harnessed into the same yoke as he is, so that he can bear the burden of the pull. It’s not always easy to accept offers of help. We like to be independent: my parents used to tell me that as a young child I often refused offers of help with an impatient, ‘I can do it!’

Sometimes we can’t do it on our own. Usually we can’t, though we struggle on stubbornly.

Jesus welcomes us: Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will refresh you.

Who isn’t weary these days? Who isn’t heavy-laden – both personally and in a world-weary way?

Lord, I come to you today, and offer you my ‘to-do’ list. Please scratch off those things which aren’t important, and help me to buckle in beside you to accomplish the rest. I am so grateful to have such a divine helper. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, my helper and my friend, my saviour and my Lord.

God is Everywhere

 

I slipped into my prayer window after a busy time preparing food for some of our family, who will arrive soon. I sensed a sigh of relief. The chicken is bubbling. The jellies are setting in their moulds. The cake for the pre-birthday celebration rests in the cake saver. With an hour to spare.

I started the timer for the five minutes – paltry, I know – which I mark out for listening particularly to God’s voice to me. I sensed his welcome, and his whisper that he loves it that I have a special place set aside to encounter him, but that, in fact, he is no more present in that prayer window than he is in the kitchen, the garden, or the garage. It is me that is more present in that special place.

Lord, as I anticipate a busy, happy weekend, may I also anticipate catching your eye in the eye of loved grandchildren, of hearing your chuckle in the good-humour of loved son and daughter-in-law, of being stilled and consoled by your love I see in the eyes of Don. May I sense your presence amongst the livestock at the Banchory Show. May I see your exuberance in the competitors in the highland dancing. May I sense your joy in the dogs and their owners in the dog show.

Lord, I praise you for this whole world, which you have so lovingly created down to the tiniest detail. I love you, Lord. May your love and peace flow through me to all those I meet today.

Tall ships and small decisions

 

Exotic flowers trumpet from the six courgette plants I’ve got growing outside my bedroom window. Baby courgettes lengthen imperceptibly. One courgette has reached a stage to be cut and eaten – I think. I’ve not grown these before. I am not quite sure when to harvest, when to leave.

I do know that if I leave them too long, they will swell into marrows (squash), and the taste will change, will not be so delicate, so delicious.

This is one tiny decision to be made in my life, today or tomorrow. A decision which I trust will be guided by someone who knows more than I do. Yes, maybe a gardening friend, but also perhaps the divine gardener himself can guide me into the right course of action.

We are heading into Aberdeen to see the Tall Ships. We go with some misgivings. We’ve changed our minds about taking the bus, reasoning that it might entail more walking than we are up to. More walking in the rain, which is forecast. We are pulling the plugs on all our internet and telephone stuff before leaving the house, in case the thunderstorms in the forecast arrive while we are away. Been there – done that – having holes blown in motherboards by a direct hit, telephones disabled by power surges.

Every day involves decisions major and minor. Lord, would you guide my every thought, word and action today and every day. So grateful that Jesus is my ever-present companion, his Spirit in me my guide and advisor. May I listen well and obey, today and every day.

PS (I couldn’t post because Don had already pulled the internet plugs…we had a great day. Praise the Lord!)

Deep Fakes

 

Deep fake.

An IT professional (Doug) mentioned that he is preparing for a presentation and will speak about the dangers of taking things at face value, ‘even your own identity’.

It strikes me that humanity has struggled with deep fakes since the beginning, when the enemy slithered into the mind of Eve and insinuated that maybe God wasn’t who he said he was. Maybe he wasn’t as truthful as he made himself out to be. Maybe it would be better to take things into her own hands, and bite that piece of fruit.

I often think of the irony of Pilate standing face to face with Jesus – ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’ – and asking ‘What is truth?’. He didn’t recognise it even when Truth stood right in front of him.

Lord, I fear the insidious spread of AI and what that might mean for humanity, and yet Deep Fakes have been active in our midst since the beginning. This day, please open my eyes to recognise Deep Fakes when I see them. Open my heart, my mind, and my spirit to welcome, recognise and live by the truth. I love you, Lord, and I know all things are possible with you, and that in my weakness you are strong, so this you can do. I need not fear, just have faith. Amen.

Trust

 

Technology may be great, but I for one would find life less stressful without the pressure to keep up to date with security formats, changing Windows platforms, laptops which still feel new but somehow are deemed antique and need replacing.

Despite assuring God I would remain in his peace as I made an overseas call (without Skype anymore, so I hear the clock ticking…), I felt anxious as I dialled the number of a US bank to give some information which was needed.

Anna picked up within a minute, and I was off the phone in five minutes. Easy.

Help me to trust in your promises, Lord. I had just read Psalm 55:17: Morning, noon and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice. May that assurance sink into my very being, Lord.

Our God is an awesome God. Nothing is too big for him, nor too small. So grateful for his grace, mercy and love.

 

Stir it up!

 

I sit in the silence of my prayer window, waiting on the Lord. Suddenly the bread-maker’s paddle rotates, pauses, rotates, pauses, and rotates again.

Wind, wind, blow on me. Fan the flame of faith in my soul, in the depths of my being. Let faith arise. I sense his presence.

Abandoning the sporadic bursts of rotation, the bread-maker launches into a continuous motion, mixing and warming the ingredients to just the right temperature to make the yeast begin to stir to life and raise the bread.

May I follow my Lord Jesus so closely today that I catch the fragrance wafting from his presence. May I not flag nor pause, be distracted nor diverted, but keep in step with wherever he takes me, physically or spiritually. May my every word drip with the honey of the Kingdom; may my look reflect the love of Christ for his world; may my actions bring peace and joy to any who observe me.

I can do nothing in my own strength. In Christ I can do everything. I will not be overwhelmed by the news. I will keep my eyes on my Saviour, keep my heart beating in rhythm with his, and allow him to keep hope alive and joy strengthening.

Stay Close

 

People might think I never wash my hands.

I’ve spent several hours so far, picking and then stoning cherries. Fingernails are now stained with the juice of red and black cherries.

In a rush to pit all the cherries so I could loan the cherry-pitter to a friend, I forgot to insert the critical piece, a tiny rectangular bit of plastic with a cross cut into the middle of it. I couldn’t understand why the cherries were falling through the hole and not just the cherry pits. I resorted to a former method – using a straw, until Don came through and asked innocently, ‘Don’t you need this?’ Of course. That tiny bit of plastic with the cross cut in the centre, big enough to allow only the unwanted cherry pit through into the discard box. Crucial.

How often do I struggle to remove the hard inner bits of my own character, instead of coming to the Cross and letting the Lord do it for me? Rather than reforming my character in my own strength, with all its limitations, help me this day, Lord Jesus, to bring those things which defeat my godly aspirations to the Cross. Help me to follow you so closely that those godly character traits – the fruits of the Holy Spirit living in me –  begin to stick to me, without my being even aware.

My yoke is easy, you said, Jesus. My burden is light. Praise the Name of Jesus.

Tears of heaven this rainy Fourth

 

On this cool and rainy 4^th of July in northeastern Scotland, I pray in tears, asking the Lord to reawaken compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience within the hearts of all who call themselves Christians and yet voted and approve of the heartless bill which has just been signed into law in the USA.

It is in a somber mood that I greet this 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Lord, have mercy on us all.

I read Paul’s admonition and instructions to the Colossians (3:12-17) and petition the Lord, to fill me again with his Holy Spirit to enable me to live to such a high standard of empathy and compassion, but also to change the hearts and minds of those in leadership positions in many countries in the world right now.

I am so thankful for the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that He is the loving Creator God who knows the end from the beginning and who is in ultimate control. I am so humbled that He has called me into a close walk with Him, and so eager for others to hear and respond to His call for them. Today, Lord, open eyes and ears and hearts and minds today, I pray.