Fake news ... or Good?

Fake news ... or Good?

The white-gowned ‘doctors’ probed and cut and slit open the wide-almond-eyed cadaver as an inept cameraman filmed the autopsy. The autopsy of an alien invader, filmed in Roswell in 1947, the film makers claimed. Hmm.

‘God told me we should get married,’ the woman told our bachelor friend at church one day. Our friend blanched and blurted out, ‘Well, he didn’t tell me!’

Fake news, or good? Jesus spoke to the Father daily, and encouraged his followers to do the same. But our hearing can be a bit like a game of Chinese whispers. We hear something, perhaps a distortion of the truth, because we are hearing only with one of our senses and not corroborating it through engaging another sense. We hear in prayer, perhaps, but fail to corroborate it through Scripture or through the wise words of praying friends. 

God doesn’t want us to hear ‘Chinese whispers’ from him. He spoke loud and clear in Jesus, and he still speaks through his Spirit in us, but our hearing is imperfect, distorted by our own experiences, our own desires, our own understanding. 

‘Delight yourself in the Lord,’ Scripture advises, and don’t rely on your own understanding. God’s Word to us is Good News, and his Name is Jesus. May I be careful every day to pass on the Good News, by living out his precepts and endeavouring to follow in his steps, and by speaking out his words when they bless and encourage others. But may I be circumspect, too, and never pass on a version of the truth, imperfectly heard as if through a game of Chinese whispers.

Summertime

Summertime. Gathered in the sun, in the Son. Sharing cake; sharing concerns; sharing joys. United in heart; united in mind; united in Spirit. 

Some of us eventually had to find shade. Too much sun and we’d be burned. Too much Son: impossible. 

We were a small group, but the others were in our hearts. We were a small group, but the concerns and troubles of the others were on our lips. We were a small group, but the chatter was noisy and the laughter never far away.

Next time we’ll start a study encouraging us and teaching us how to listen more effectively to God. If we can’t hear him, how can we know him? Next time we’ll open our Bibles. Next time we probably won’t eat so much cake and scones – apologies to those who missed the feast this morning!

God is good. In rain and in sunshine, he is good. 

He is especially good in sunshine.

Humbled

‘I wrote to the judge and told him to give custody of my two grandsons to my son-in-law, their father. My daughter is not capable.’

Suddenly I could join the dots. I had been so outraged last week by this woman’s dismissive attitude towards the homeless, ‘I call them feral people’, and the addicts, ‘hopeless cases’, but circumstances had kept me mute. Now I was grateful to have kept my gut reactions quiet. Sharing the same house, we were beginning to know each other, and she trusted me with this profound agony she carries with her. Her daughter became an addict when she associated with a group of homeless people. 

There is a Proverb (18:13): To answer before listening – that is folly and shame. 

It is so easy to blurt out a retort or to argue a corner, convinced we are right, without ever listening. I am so grateful that the Lord has kept us silent so that trust could build and now, now I can see where the opinion has formed. Silently, I was judging her; praise God he is humbling me.

Today this couple who have taught us so much are going up to the Linn of Dee, the source of the River Dee. I pray that as they experience the beauty of the clear water bubbling up from deep underground, cold and fresh and unsullied, they will experience the beauty of Jesus welling up within them, the living water, cleansing the wounds and healing the hurts and restoring hope.

So grateful to have had this time. I have so much to learn from Jesus. What an exciting journey we are on!

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.

Merry-Go-Round

Remember those round-abouts/merry-go-rounds they used to have in the parks? Kids, or their parents, would grasp the iron handles and push it faster and faster and eventually join the other kids by jumping on and riding round and round and round? I don’t think I’ve seen one of those for awhile...

Sometimes those things would get to going so fast that they ceased being merry at all, and could just make you sick. Know what I mean?

My life at the moment feels a bit like I’m on one of those merry-go-rounds. Not quite sure who’s pushing it but it could just be life. Circumstances. Duties. Challenges. Desires. 

So many things propelling me: no wonder it’s whizzing round and I feel I’m getting nowhere fast!

Time to step back; think it over; identify the things that can be omitted. Time to spend time with God and hear what he’s calling me to do, rather than responding to all those things propelling me.

I don’t think I’m the only one on this merry-go-round. Maybe if we all just shout STOP, we’ll have time to catch our breath, listen to God, and think. And become human beings again, rather than human doings.