Sunday, 31 March 2019

About being afloat on the ocean of life

We are rowing on the raft of life.

Jesus is the cox who directs our voyage.
Only he can see the way ahead.

God's Spirit gives us the breath in our lungs
and the strength in our arms.

The Father's love is the ocean on which we float
and the horizon to which we are steered.


About the choosing of a king - Saul or David

Honestly, you will never find a better 'good read', than the four books of the Old Testament, 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings.
Believe me, all human life is there!
The story of the choosing of a King starts at 1 Samuel, chapter 8.

(The reasons Samuel gives, v 10-22, for not having a king are hilarious, and as true today as they were then!)

First of all, the people chose Saul!
He was tall and handsome and looked like a King.

Bad choice!!

Then, God pointed them to David.
He was small, the youngest of his family,
definitely the least obvious choice!

Small boy, heart of a King!!

He was a hero in so many ways -
and weak, in his failings and failures,
in so many other ways.

And yet, he was the beloved king -
because of his love, his humanity
and, ultimately, his humility.

God knew that the people expected a Saul
and not a David.

Life and history, as it pans out in those books,
showed whose choice was right!


About choosing Jesus

Jesus had to be born into a humble life
so that people could choose him for who he was
not what he had.

PS
I always feel that this must be something of a problem for, say, very rich, very beautiful or very important people. Do people 'want them' for who they are or what they possess?

I have to admit that this has not been an issue for me!
The people who have put up with me for the long, and even the short,
in some cases, haul must actually like me or they would never have stayed the course!!


Monday, 4 March 2019

Some sad images

There is a baby dying of starvation.
Are there no hands reaching out?

An old lady is dying of loneliness.
Are there no neighbours stepping in?


About sitting in prayer

When I am sitting in prayer, I try to remember that I have

You, Father surrounding me,
you, Jesus beside me,
and you, Holy Spirit within me.