Author: Carol Purves

Even here in the wettest part of the country we have been having near drought conditions. My garden water butt has been empty for days and I’m having to use expensive water on my garden (that’s water that I have to pay for through my water meter)

Pictures on the news show that the river at Seathwaite has dried up. I remember learning at school that Seathwaite is the wettest part of England. We just take rain for granted until we don’t get any and then when it does rain we complain. How fickle we are.

Carol

Wigtown – not to be confused with the Cumbrian Wigton. As I had a friend who lives in this famous town I went to visit her one day last week. It was a beautiful ride with hardly any traffic around (though if you time it wrong you have to contend with all the lorries coming from Ireland via Stranraer )

I seemed to be travelling along an endless yellow ribbon as the gorse was in full bloom. The views across the Solway Firth were stunning with the Lake District hills as the backdrop. The Book Festival is not until September but I think then there is a lack of parking places, so I shall only continue to visit out of the book season.

Carol

My friend was nursing in a hospital in east London. She had one patient who she will never forget. Although the patient had recently had a serious operation, she insisted on getting out of bed too early. My friend wasn’t too happy about this and did nothing to help her.

She was then amazed to see the patient get down on her knees with difficulty and give thanks to God for her safe and successful operation. If my nurse friend had known what she was going to do, she would have helped her.

Carol

This wall, as some of you will know, goes from the east coast of northern England to the west. Built by the Romans, it was either meant to keep the Scots in, or the English out! Very little is left now but the route can still be followed.

As I was travelling from Carlisle to Newcastle last week I drove along what is known as the Military Road. A few years ago I walked along the wall (84 miles) with my two cousins, taking about nine days. We weren’t in a rush.

I also plan this year or next to fly over it in a helicopter. I love this part of history and marvel that the Romans were here and had such an influence on us, so long ago.

Carol

How do we survive in Britain now that Christianity is no longer revered? The Psalmist had the same question. Those who thrive on tearing down others seem to prosper. By the last times though they get their ‘come-uppance.’

Hollywood has latched on to this theme. They depict victory for the under-dog over the oppressor. Success due to pride and ruthlessness never lasts, but their downfall does comes in God’s good time, which will not be our timing. We need to hang in there and have faith.

Carol

I planted the seeds in trays a few weeks ago. Faithfully I watered them, gave them plenty of light and finally left them outside more and more to become acclimatized to the natural temperature. Now that the weather is warmer and free of frost I can plant them into the garden.

Each year this miracle happens and seeds and plants grew. It is not by human effort, we do the minimum amount of work. Because it does occur every year in our gardens and the field, it is still a source of wonderment. We should not grow complacent or unobservant. The Maker of everything causes this to happen, therefore we should give Him our thanks that He does provide ‘our daily food.’

Carol

Two of us had a most enjoyable visit to this museum which shows how Cordite (a mixture of guncotton and nitro-glycerine) was made to go into the shells which were used in the 1st World War.

An area of 12 miles was taken over by the government and local women and girls recruited to work in the factory. It was dangerous work working with explosives which coloured their skin yellow and affected their health.

At the height of production there were 125 miles of narrow gauge track and 34 engines driven by their own coal-fired power station. Two townships were built to house the employees.

The name of the museum was taken from Sir Arthur  Conan Doyle’s comment that the mixture was kneaded into a sort of devil’s porridge. This excellent museum tells of the work with information about the two world wars.

Carol

I read that for the Easter period there will be an evangelistic message on the London buses. ‘Look, I am coming soon’ is one of them. I hope that people will not use this to comment on late buses, but will think deeply.

Haggai 2:6 says I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations and the desired of all nations will come and I will fill this house with glory.’

Assuredly, He is coming.

Carol

Last Tuesday I went a complicated way to say what is put so clearly in this verse – Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Carol

Like many of us I’ve read the Bible a fair amount, but of course, I’ve not counted the individual words. But someone has.

I’m informed by a reliable source (though I don’t remember where now) that the words Do not fear appear 370 times in the whole of the Bible. the word peace is seen 88 times in the New Testament , in every book except 1 John and the word  rejoice appears 70 times also in the New Testament.

These three words seem to sum up the Christian faith. It sounds pretty good to me.

Carol