Rainbows

A vibrant rainbow this morning caused my neighbour to wonder which arch-end rested on that legendary pot of gold. The postman asked if we’d found the pot of gold for, as he drove towards the house, the rainbow seemed to rest on our property.

I love rainbows. During a particularly difficult time, I felt God whispered to me, ‘In every teardrop is a rainbow’. Sunshine and showers are the ingredients for a glorious rainbow.

Rainbows are a sign of God’s promise of mercy and love to a flooded world. It’s so human for us to add a pot of gold to something which is intrinsically worth so much more. We are more tempted by tangible treasure than we are by divine love.

Today may my focus be on God’s gift to us in Jesus, a treasure beyond all others, and may that focus bring peace, contentment and hope.

Light, Stillness, Simplicity and Hope

The light shines in the darkness. The darkness has not overcome it. At this darkest time of year, I light a candle.

Be still and know that I am God. Be still and know. At this busiest time of year, I choose to take time, to be still, and to know.

The stripped-down simplicity of the first Christmas. Bare. At this glitziest time of year, I focus on the natural simplicity of this supernatural event.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. At this time of worldly crisis and despair, I receive the joy and peace of Jesus, trusting in him and overflowing with hope which is based on the faithfulness of our loving Lord.

Infusion of peace please

My uncle was infected with E. coli in his bloodstream recently. For a fortnight he received daily infusions of antibiotics at his local hospital. The seriousness of the infection required the powerful medicine to be introduced straight into his bloodstream.
I need a daily infusion of God's peace. We all do. The world is full of turmoil and tragedy. Our individual lives are full of disappointment and decision, stress and worry, and the antidote to this worldly infection is an infusion of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. I need to step aside from the action in my life daily to sit with him and receive. I can't will myself to be peaceful. I can't work it up. I have to receive it.
The Lord, using British Air, took me halfway across the world yesterday, through Storm Diana. She did her best to upset my travel but though I missed my connection, the Lord, again using British Airways, popped me and my suitcase onto one just an hour later.
I could have been anxious about all of that, not least the turbulence of the landings, but the Lord held me in his perfect peace.
It's so simple, but somehow so hard to do. Be still, and know that I am God, and in the stillness we receive his peace. What a Saviour!

Costly gifts

I opened my jewellery box and thought how pretty this would look on you, she said, as she fastened the clasp of a delicate and beautiful opal bracelet on my wrist. The bracelet is beautiful, but even more beautiful is her self sacrifice and her generosity in wanting to give me something which would look so pretty on her, too. A gift from the heart.
David ... Or was it Abraham?... said at one point that giving God a gift that didn't cost him anything would be meaningless.
In this season of gift giving, I pray I might remember that.
Leaving here today. Shredded and tired and aching, leaving mom alone over the holidays, leaving Mhairi. God bless these dear ones.

Gridlock

The freeway slowed, compressing to gridlock. As we crept past an off ramp, the lady on the app advised shrilly that we should take it as an alternative, but her advice came too late.
Ok then...she sounded resolved to our poor choice and informed us there was a major accident in three-quarters of a mile and it would take nearly an hour to get past it. We crawled on, resigned.
An on ramp joined on the right of us, and we were appalled to see a driver, realising the congestion was serious, reverse back down. Into any oncoming traffic which could potentially suddenly round a corner. Then another such foolish driver. Then, unbelievably, someone on that on ramp actually did a u turn and drove quite casually the wrong way. As I watched in the rear view mirror, I saw many more make such a potentially lethal decision. Perhaps there was another car crash given the foolishness of those drivers.
Sometimes life slows to a crawl. It seems there is no forward movement. We feel stuck. The temptation is to bail. The temptation is to seek a way off the road which seems stagnant and is hard. The temptation is to go into reverse or even hang a u turn and drive straight into oncoming traffic.
But as we remain faithful, living the way we believe in, following the way of Jesus, clinging on at times unable to see any progress or forward movement, trusting in him, we eventually reach the car crash which has stalled our lives and safely get past it. We put it behind us without endangering anyone else's safety.
The road opens up. We pick up speed. We have choices again. Life beckons with promise and hope is revived.
Trust in me, Jesus invites. Trust. Keep moving forward, even if progress is hard to discern. It is there, nevertheless. Keep Jesus riding shotgun. Keep him in mind. Keep him in heart. Follow his advice, not the shrill voices of others throwing out good advice. It can be hard to hear him in the cacophony of life. Hard to follow as others seem to get round their crashes and move on. But his is the only real healing. His is the only way which guarantees life in its fullness, life which will suddenly open out again in technicolor, lifting us from the sepia landscape of pain.
Jesus, prince of peace, healer.

Grounded

We smelled no smoke, saw no blackened earth, so drove up into the dry Hollywood hills near Malibu. We were headed to Eagle Rock, where we hiked and prayed and released a balloon last year. Just below the giant rocky escarpment which so resembles the head and body of an eagle, with wings in flight jutting from each side, we sat down on the dirt and gazed at the landscape. We felt connected, grounded in a place familiar, a place with a look that takes me back to my childhood, camping trips, laughter and fun.
We sat beside Eagle Rock as others climbed its bare surface. We sat.
You will soar on wings like eagles. You will run and not grow weary. You will walk and not be faint.
Grounded. Grounded in the Word. Hanging onto the promises. Trusting that soon I will see my sweet Mhairi soaring, running again, walking in faith and freed from all fear. Healed and whole.
Looking across a dry, scrubby landscape, full of promise. Looking for the green shoots.
They who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Waiting, though the wait may be long. Knowing our God never disappoints. Knowing Jesus is our strength and our refuge and even our song.
The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. In him we trust.

Perspective

Perspective. Hemmed in in high density neighbourhood. Activity. People. Cars everywhere. So we're  pulling back this morning, about to head for the hills once we confirm they are no longer on fire. Last year we climbed to eagle rock, and we hope to retrace those steps today.
Weirdly we plan to reward ourselves afterwards with Macaroons and tea in Beverly Hills, in a French shop Mhairi won a voucher for. It may require a quick change of clothes in the car to ensure we don't enter the posh neighbourhood sweaty and stained.
I sense I need to gain perspective on what I've been doing here these last two weeks. To pull back, be still and listen to the one who gives the clearest understanding.
Praise the one who knows the end from the beginning, and can keep us in his perfect peace whatever the challenges.