Carol Purves

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

In this country we’ve now started to name storms. I don’t think this lessens their power. Last winter our area was battered by Storm Desmond. Last week we were promised another furious storm. In our area at least it just didn’t happen. Some rain, occasionally heavy, but no wind. Our precautions were unnecessary but wise.

This felt rather like life to me. We look to the future and are overcome by the terrible things that could happen. We make preparations but nothing helps our worry. As the future is completely unknown, it is wise to listen to the One who knows exactly what will happen. Then we can rest in His knowledge and not fret.

Carol

I got to thinking about foundations. As I read more of the scriptures I realised that as a Christian I am laying down foundations. These foundations have been gained on the apostles (with their writings in the Bible) and saints (those who have gone before whose Christian life is an inspiration to us).

The saints and apostles built their lives on Jesus Christ, the Corner-stone.

Carol

I’ve just spent a day with a fourteen year old girl. As she chatted away about her school and interests, I realised that in many ways things haven’t changed through the generations. Her main topics of conversation were about her school work and the old friends she is falling out with, or the new friends she is making. Boys featured a great deal in her conversation. In all these things I remember I was just the same.

Then I realised there were many differences. She held her mobile phone in her hand and was constantly abstracted making or receiving messages. At her age we just had a shared land-line phone at home. Her mother takes her to school each day, I used to walk.

She then explained that on a ‘residential’ (we called them week-ends away) she felt lonely and out of things as none of her friends were with her. Then she told me that she just sat in a corner and talked to Jesus. Fortunately, something never change.

Carol