Cherish

Off to Cherish women’s conference in Leeds tomorrow early. When preparing to go away, I find it hard to get the balance between looking at what needs doing right now, with thinking ahead to what I need to do/take to Leeds. I’m dashing between the garden and bank forms and correspondence, baking bread for Don (in the bread-maker!) and thinking of what I’ll need at Cherish.

I like variety in my life. Nothing worse than rigid routine. But too much variety can make me feel like I’m fraying at the edges. Like I’m bound to forget something critical.

Commit your way to the Lord. He guides my steps, and nothing critical will be forgotten. Maybe some frivolous trivia will be left undone, left behind, but I trust him to remind me of the important things.

It’s maintaining the right perspective, isn’t it? In this case, it’s the happy anticipation of a few days away, worshipping God in the company of thousands of women, hearing inspiring messages and eating out!

Blessed

Blessed. Grateful. 

Leeds Arena. Seven and a half thousand women who love the Lord Jesus, coming together to lift his name up in worship and to be challenged and changed by the heart-felt, God-given preaching of Godly women. 

This was our fourth year. Security was tighter than ever, but Joey and I stayed in a small hotel in a neighbourhood containing a mosque and a Sikh temple. The hotel was a bit down at heel but trying to posh itself up; its owner was kindly, friendly and helpful. We took taxis driven by men from Pakistan and enjoyed our conversations. Sharpshooters were scattered round the entrance; bags were scanned as in an airport; but there was no sense of fear. Just a hunger and an anticipation to draw closer to the God who is love, who is with us in the valleys as well as on the mountain tops.

There is something truly Awesome about gathering with so many Jesus-lovers. Now I’m back, trying to digest the teaching which did apply to my own set of circumstances, as it will have to the other seven and a half thousand women. That’s the way God works. He speaks out a word through a servant of his which is powerful and is heard at just the right pitch for each listener. Corporate but personal. 

Glory to Him. 

Driving home, I heard of the terrorist attack in London happening at that moment. Stories of tragedy and heroism. If ever there was a time for us to be on our knees, eyes on our Lord, crying out for this nation and listening for his still small voice, now is the time.

As the busyness closes round me again, I am going to guard fiercely my sacred space with the Lord. He is good, and he is love, and he listens to the cries of his people.

Flaming June

It’s such a lovely time of year. Flaming June has actually been warm so far, some days, which is such a blessing. We’ve got the veggie patch dug and Don has dug in the local farmer’s cow manure and he’s planted potatoes. Today I found a place for a row of carrots and planted a couple rows of very tiny seedling lettuce.

It all looks great, the rows darkened by the water I carefully drizzled over the fledgling plants.

In a few weeks time, whether or not flaming June continues to flame, it will be transformed. Not only will the carrots and lettuce have grown, hopefully: unless I am vigilant, they will be obscured by a jungle of weeds.

I’ve come back from Cherish bubbling with ideas and challenges, inspired and ready to live life on the edge for Jesus. My desire is like those fledgling lettuce, fragile and delicate, but bolstered by Jesus’ strength flowing through me I know it’s possible for the desire to grow stronger and bigger and give nourishment to others. It doesn’t need to get lost in a jungle of activity.

Fan into flame, whether it’s June or not...