Author: Carol Purves

The other morning I went to a coffee morning organised through a member of a local church. While I was there I met a number of people I didn’t know. Some were her neighbours or relatives. One was the mother of her daughter’s friend and another a teacher at the local school. These were all connections of the hostess.

I reflected on the different connections we all have during our lives and looking back on my life I have forgotten many of my acquaintances and others I cannot recall their names.

How great it is that God remembers all our names and everything about us. We will never be forgotten by Him.

Carol

A few of us were discussing the happenings of what we now call Easter Week. We thought about how Jesus cleared the temple of the money changers and those buying and selling and cheating the people.

Our discussion turned to whether our righteous anger is justified. Our anger can be uncontrolled. Too often we get angry and use the excuse that it is righteous. It is not for us to dish out judgement; judgement is for God.

Carol

For those of you who follow the doings of these meeting, we met again last Saturday. Our theme was ‘New Life.’ There were many different approaches to this theme; in fact every contribution took a different aspect.

One lovely contribution took the life cycle of a tree, from the small seedling in the ground through to full growth, to being felled and on to becoming fashioned as the cross of Jesus. Yet another wrote about the new life of a new day. One exposition was based on the hymn ‘The King of Love my Shepherd is.’

A poem was written using daffodils as marching warriors, a very original and stimulating thought.  Another most apt poem was quoted from memory, a special and memorable rendition.

One member read from her book ,based on John 10:10 using the thought  This life of mine is Your life.

I wish you were all able to join us.

Carol

Just because in England we put the clock back an hour, we don’t actually lose it. It’s still there; we just call it another name. It’s not like back in 1752 when eleven days were wiped off the calendar. People went to sleep on the 2nd September and when they woke up it was eleven days later. This was to adjust the calendar from Julian to Georgian. People rioted ‘We want our 11 days back.!!’ People thought the days had been stolen from their lives.

Whatever we call the hour or day, we will still live until God decides it is time for us to leave this world. As it says in the Bible we can’t add to it or subtract from it. All we can do is dedicate to Him each day we have been given.

Carol

Life seems to be all about time. Time waiting for a bus which is late, time waiting at traffic lights which never seem to change or even time waiting for the computer to boot up.

Sometimes waiting is more important; exam or interview results to come, the result of medical tests. Waiting for a loved one to arrive or a baby born or the final wait – death.

It’s difficult to realise what heaven will be like where there is no time and never has been. No more will we try to cram 61 minutes into every hour, or rush our time of prayer. We’ll just have for ever and ever praising God. I have to confess it is beyond my imagination.

Carol

I’m a person who tries to fit in 61 minutes into one hour. I feel that by streamlining jobs I can achieve more activities. This means I sometimes get overtired and have to rest.

Yesterday I had been condemned for not being able to help a particular person which made me somewhat upset as I try to do everything.

But this morning I met a reverend lady who spoke words of wisdom to me. She knew little about me so could not have been issuing a warning. We had been talking about how we liked to help people and listen to their problems. She then said ‘Try to leave space at the edges.’ By which she meant we should leave a bit of time and energy for some task which we might divinely be asked to do. Wisdom indeed.

This morning I again came across one of my favourite verses. Isaiah 40:10 they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. they will run and not be weary. they will walk and not faint.

This particular verse resounded with me when I had a three year period when I was unable to walk without pain. This meant I walked as little as possible. Looking to the future I applied this verse to myself. It gave me hope that I would eventually be able to walk and then run.

Now that I am physically fit, I can apply this verse spiritually. In the Lord I can run and walk and rejoice.

Carol

When I read a Bible passage during my quiet time each morning, I often read the same passage from different translations. A most interesting experience.

I was studying Romans 8:17

The N.I.V. reads  Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory.

The Living Bible reads  And since we are His children we will share His treasures, for all God gives to His son Jesus is now ours too. But if we are to share His glory we must also share His suffering.

To paraphrase , ‘We share His suffering in order to share His glory‘ and ‘If we share His glory we must also share His suffering.

One has the emphasis on suffering and the other on glory. A thought which made me ponder.

Carol

In linking up with my old college friends, Norwich wasn’t the only place I visited. I also went to Ipswich. Last time I went by car. As I now live over 200 miles away, this time I went by train.

Ipswich is another beautiful old town, though in the 12 years since I last visited it the traffic has greatly increased and many new buildings have been built in the centre. Fortunately the surrounding countryside is still as lovely as ever, although I did seem to be visiting in a rainy patch of weather.

Carol

I travelled here to visit a college friend who I hadn’t seen for about 15 years. I had forgotten what a beautiful and interesting city it is.

We were able to spend a long time in the cathedral which is magnificent. Having bought the handbook I discovered it is 900 years old and is one of the largest English cathedrals. We enjoyed visiting the herb garden, the library and of course the refectory.

Having been to one of the oldest buildings in the city, we then went to one of the newest, the Forum. As well as a number of cafes, it houses a fine library and BBC Norfolk studios.

I only wish I had had longer to samples all the delights of this East Anglican city.

Carol