Carol Purves

Just read this about David before he went off to fight Goliath.(well, he actually went off to take supplies to his brothers. Just image going out for a picnic and ending up killing a giant. That would have been something for him to blog about!!)

1 Samuel 17:20 ‘Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd.’ I got to thinking about the shepherds at the nativity. There is no Biblical record of their leaving their sheep with another shepherd. Were they so overcome by the angels that they forgot their sheep. God would see they were alright. Did they take a lamb to Jesus as traditional says, though the Bible doesn’t. If so, what would Mary and Joseph do with a bleating lamb?

I volunteer once a week at my local hospital as part of the Chaplaincy team. The nurses and other members of staff who have to wear masks all day find they chaff behind the ears.

So with other members of the team we knit or crochet mask straps which fit round the back of the head and then the mask hooks onto buttons on either side of the strap. Judging by the number I knit each week, they are very popular.

Another day is dawning, please Master let it be

In waking or in sleeping, another day for Thee.

Another day of service, of witness for Thy love

Another day of training for holier work above,

Another day is dawning, dear Father let be

On earth, or else, in heaven, another day for Thee.

Frances Ridley actually used the word ‘year’ instead of day, but it equally applies to every day as well.

In my part of the country we’re suffering with ice. I have a friend who couldn’t have her vaccine because she was iced in. I do feel for her. I’ve just ordered some chains to go on my shoes, so you can be sure the ice will soon be gone!

With a continued lockdown it’s the little things that are becoming difficult – a light bulb which has gone but I’m not tall enough to replace and a landline phone that needs replacing but I don’t understand the instructions.

There is good new on the horizon we are nearly to the end of January, snowdrops are popping up in gardens and soon it will be warm enough for me to work in my garden.

Yes, God is good.

‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-3

I just had to share this with you.

This phrase occurred to me the other day. It describes life at the moment. then a friend commended it must have felt like that at the crucifixion. So dark, so frightening.
We are in that dark place but better days are coming. Love, hope and a better dawn are on the horizon.

We read a great deal about perseverance in the Bible, but I’ve always struggled how to spell it correctly.

I’ve now found the correct spelling – K E E P G O I N G

I’m looking out of my study window as I write this. The tree outside my window is covered with frost. It is so beautiful; only an infinite God could have designed such beauty. This is the tree that I have been photographing during the lockdown seasons. Today it looks just like the time it had a dusting of snow. I know it’s frost today because there is no snow on the ground.

But the ground is covered in thick ice; a danger to pedestrians. It looks so lovely, I wish I could bottle it up; no photo ever does the scene full justice.

As the number of cases of covid 19 are increasing in every country and the virus goes on and goes it is easy to become weary. We have obeyed all the rules (most of us) and yet the figures are the highest yet. With God’s help we just need to hang in there. God is at work in people’s hearts. We will come out of this period. There will be life after the pandemic.

The psalmist suffered in the same way. When we read some of his psalms we can take hope. God is on to the problem. We might not see it but He is there working. vaccines are now being developed and administered. Look to God, He is our only hope and He will sustain us i n the meantime.

Decorations are down and stashed away for another year. Our presents are eaten, broken, appreciated and thanked for. Carol sheets are slipped back in their folders, while New Year resolutions are wavering. All over for another year.

But is it? Did Christmas 2020 make a difference to our lives? Plunged into 2021 will we live differently and better?. On our own we won’t manage; we need the help of the Holy Spirit to reach God’s potential for us this year. May God bless and guide you all.