lent25

Im conflicted about this blog because its about fasting - which is something we are supposed to do but not talk about.  And its partly about a person, who I dont want to expose.  But the distance of time and the fact that none of you will know this person hopefully make that OK.   I had a friend who had an eating disorder. She loved Jesus but somehow, somewhere a lie started to whisper to her that she might become fat and that this would be something terrible and awful and unbearable.  She was, of course, wafer thin. There had been months of minimal eating and of wearing baggy clothes before anyone really noticed, by which time the whispering lies had been shouting for a while and were drowning out the Truth.  Its very hard to understand. Even harder to try to engage with and pray for.    When I found out about what she was going through I committed to pray - which is not something I do very often. I knew it would probably be a long haul.  I ...

https://youtu.be/vLs6Kl3wgtk?si=tXAASY5q_2G84oIq  Now that the dust has settled somewhat on the Trump vs Zelensky debacle in the Whitehouse I find myself reflecting on what really happened that day. Lots has been said about the politics, but what spiritual lessons can we learn? The first thing that springs to mind is the nature of leadership. It's easy to say Trump is a rude, arrogant fascist and Zelensky is a saint. But the truth is that God has allowed both these men to be in their office as president for such a time as this. Their styles are very different but both are elected by people who think each is representing the best interests of their nation.  God looks at the heart. And only He knows what's in the heart of Donald and Volodymr.  Had TV cameras been in the temple on the day Jesus made a whip and drove out the money lenders......  Don't get me wrong, I dislike Trump with a passion. But I'm not sure he is a terrible leader. I waver between thinking he's an...

  Lent 5 traffic lights. God quite often speaks to me when I'm in the car at traffic lights. Probably because I'm at an enforced stop for a couple of minutes with nothing to think about and that's when He can get a word in edgeways  The other day at the lights I suddenly realised that each set of lights is on a timer which ensures they all change over at exactly the same time. Obvious I know, but I'd never thought about it before. Or about the person (presumably) who sets up the timer at each junction and decides what specific length of time is needed to allow a suitable amount of traffic through.  We've all been at lights (esp the temporary ones) which are set annoyingly too long or annoyingly too short. It's a fine art. Someone's job. Thanks very much to them for mostly getting it right. (If you want to see how it all really works this is a fascinating little video - its so much more complicated than you would ever imagine!! ) https://www.youtube.com/watch...

 The following events took place a couple of weeks ago.  Ben is fine. I find myself sitting in A&E with Ben at 5 in the morning. We've been here all night because Ben has developed a rash which isn't disappearing under the pressure of a glass and a doctor friend has suggested that getting him checked out would be wise. It's busy. Most of the 25-30 people waiting have been here for many hours. Some over 12. The atmosphere is a bit fractious, not helped by a very drunk lad who is kicking off and a lady who tells anyone who will listen that this is the fifth time she's attempted suicide. She is getting stressed with waiting and intermittently bursts into tears. I'm sitting praying for her and wondering if I should go and speak to her and offer to pray. Drunk guy has left the building and security guys have gone too. But then drunk guy reappears and starts shouting that he's got no money and can't get home. Everyone is watching. But then all of a sudden suic...

 I stupidly burned my finger the other day.  I was reaching over something to pick up the kettle and accidentally passed my hand over the steam.  Instantaneously my amazing body registered pain and I withdrew the scalded finger sharpish.  I probably then stuck my finger in my mouth because for some reason I have an unshakable belief in the healing power of human saliva 😁  And that was that. Or so I thought. The next day the finger went red. The day after that it blistered. A big blister. A couple of days later the blister burst and then it was sore.  I thought Id let the air get to it to dry it out but this was a mistake because I knocked it doing something simple and then it bled profusely.  I then had a big scab on my finger and still have.  My skin is shiny and tight around the wound. ( apologies if you are reading this over breakfast)  All in all a fraction of a second of heat has resulted in a fortnight of .....well, see above. And what...

 Elon.  What sort of a name is Elon?  Do you know anyone with that name?  Say that name and only one person springs to mind.  Like Madonna. Elvis. Leonardo.   Its funny that some of the most famous (and infamous) people on the planet have had unusual mono-names.  And its interesting that Jesus came with a name that was really really common. Names are important to God - Bible names very often have prophetic meanings (FYI Elon is actually a hebrew name meaning Oak Tree.  Who knew? 😁) Our names are written on God's palms (Is 49:16) and in God's book (Mal 3:16)  so God must have pretty enormous hands and a rather large bookshelf!  But in heaven we are getting new names - and thats the thing that Ive been wondering about today. (Rev 2;17) We are given our earthly names by our parents for a variety of reasons.  Sometimes our names carry on a family tradition.  Sometimes they have a meaning which appeals to the characteristics w...

 Another Lent another blog.  This one is going to be a listening to God one rather than a study one, 2024 was a very eventful year for me.  I lost my Mum at the very end of 23 and her funeral was how  I started the year,  Then there  was her house to sort out, contents to deal with, probate to sort and house to sell in England.  At the same time a couple at church announced they were moving away for work for a couple of years and on the spur of the moment we decided to rent their house, get our own house completely rewired and put it on the market.  So 24 years worth of 'stuff' got sorted, packed and moved. Then our own house needed to be completely redecorated after the re-wire before putting it on the market. Phew, Im an old lady these days. Im surprised I survived! The house we are living in at the moment is great. Its two minutes from church.  And about 12 minutes from Hollywood beach - a lovely long bay overlooking the port where boats a...