God's Prayer

I asked God to show me what was on his heart this morning, as I sat waiting for just five minutes.

I saw stone supports rising up within the church building, joining the roof in decorative flourishes as in some of the ancient cathedrals. Then they turned into geysers of water, powerfully shooting up and then the water sprinkled on all the people sitting in the church. Life-giving water. 

This is the Lord’s heart: that those who are ‘supports’ in the church will be transformed from static, stone supports and become sources of living water rising up powerfully and showering down on all gathered. 

Where the droplets fall there is instant growth of new life, each drop bringing forth a new plant/flower. The sterile, solemn church transforms into a living, fragrant space.

To come into the church as an ‘outsider’ is like Dorothy landing in Oz: going from a monochrome world into a vibrant, living, colourful and fragrant, dare I say enchanted space.

Yes, enchanted in that spiritual gifts are other-worldly, spiritual, and these are in evidence in church.

And out of church. As we leave church we take the fragrance, colour and spiritual gifts into the black and white world outside, transforming every place we go.

Amen. As this is God’s vision, this is my prayer.

Creativity part 2

OK, God, I think I’ve got my main character created – not from some man’s rib but in my imagination. That is, I know her vital statistics – where she lives, approximate age, career, etc. Still unsure of her name though. But what I really need now is to breathe some life into her. 

I need to know how she ticks. What she thinks. How she reacts in various situations. 

I need her back story. Why she thinks as she does. Why she reacts as she does.

So as I head for the car for a spot of childminding, I shall explore some options and see if, with your help, her lungs will begin to inflate and her brain will reveal some of its mysteries to me.

Not all writing is done at the desk. Somehow I need to get into this character’s skin.

Makes me think of someone else. You, Father God. You got into human skin so you could better identify with our temptations, our weaknesses, and save us from ourselves. Thank you. So grateful. Thank you. 

My aim is much less lofty. That is, I don’t intend to save this character or anyone else. But I would love it, Lord, if with your help someone in the future will read her story and through it, see you in all your glory, and receive your salvation.

Amen and amen.

Packing Peace

Anyone who has to agonise about what to pack probably has too many clothes. Thinking of our sisters and brothers trudging towards safety (they hope) with nothing but carrier bags or small back packs. 

Jesus said not to worry about what we wear, or what we eat, and that he will provide. Lord, I pray for the refugees today who need your provision more now than ever. God, open our hearts and the hearts of those lining the routes. Bring peace to the war-torn countries and a century of jubilee years – peace, prosperity, love. Come, Lord Jesus.

Amen and amen and amen.

Amen.

OK, so I know I indulged in a bit of a moan about the stormy winds this morning, but the truth of the old expression ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ is being demonstrated in the most amazing sunset sky.

I was awestruck as I drove back home from Westhill, and nearly stopped the car to admire the rainbow colours scalloping the watery edges of a splat of grey cloud in the western sky. The sun’s rays struggled but failed to penetrate fully and the result was a swish of pastels shifting and changing in the wind.

Now, about an hour later, the colours have deepened into rosey reds fading to grey and darker as night moves in. 

The heavens declare the glory of God. Amen.

God is Able

Our God is able. That is the message blaring from my CD just now. He is with us; he will make a way.

How often I have needed to hear such encouragements! How grateful I am that I know they are not empty platitudes but truths grounded in the faithfulness and love of our wonderful God.

It’s been a morning. Waking to an email and skype with more disturbing news from the Long Beach home front, and knowing that decisions will need to be made. I don’t feel up to them. Thank the good Lord that he is able. He is with me. He will make a way. 

Then a phone call with someone else who is hurting, fasting for a situation to change, clinging to his Saviour. I want to sweep in and make it all ok but the truth is, I can’t. I have no power. But hallelujah, our God is able. He is with them. He will make a way.

A Bible study discussing the justice of a holy God. A challenging and disturbing topic in some ways but yet again, so glad that no judgment calls are required of me. Our God is able and he will make all such decisions. 

A discussion of the plight of our dear sisters and brothers in the Nineveh Plain in Iraq, and in Syria, where Christianity is in peril of being wiped out after two millennia of believers inhabiting these countries. I want to do something. What can I do? The West has already messed things up in those areas by wading in unwisely. Praise God, that he is able. He is with them. He will make a way. My job is to pray and to trust and to listen for any further directions from him who is able.

A further discussion of the situation in Russia and in various European countries where xenophobia is on the rise, racism and anti-Semitism gaining adherents daily. The increasingly belligerent rhetoric coming from the Kremlin and Washington and London and other major cities. Planes being intercepted within territorial waters. Submarines snagging the nets of fishing boats and refusing to surface. Disturbing. Alarming even. Thank God, that he is able. He knows what is coming. He can guide my prayers and keep me attentive. 

Yet one more disturbing topic: maternal mortality round the world, but one third of all deaths come from just two countries: India and Nigeria. How can this be, when these countries have funds for space exploration and nuclear development? When will women’s rights be seen as human rights and treated accordingly? More prayer: will I ever get off my knees? Thank God, he is able; he is powerful and just and loving and merciful. 

Ending with a favourite section of scripture, from Philippians 4. ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’

Amen and Amen.

Your Kingdom Come

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

On earth, as it is in heaven.

God is good, all the time. The evil in the world is rampant and running amok. It’s up to us Christians to stand up to it. God isn’t overcome by evil. God is good, all the time. God is love. That’s who he is, the essence of his being. He is the Lord who heals. He is the Lord who suffers alongside us. His kindness is breathtaking and his mercy is overwhelming. His grace is beyond our understanding.

Today I am going to step forward in faith. The resurrection of Jesus over two millennia ago is the victory over death for which the whole creation has been waiting. Yet we are watching the earth slowly die because our stewardship of it has been so greedy, selfish and profligate. 

Jesus died to redeem it too. I am so grateful. It is such a beautiful earth. The news this morning was that the Great Barrier Reef is shrinking away to nothing at an alarming rate. The news this morning was that a wee girl was snatched while outside playing in a town in Wales. The news this morning detailed further atrocities against innocent children in Syria.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth, Lord Jesus, as it is in heaven. 

Use me today to help bring it about. Amen.