Carol Purves

The other day I came across this gem in Isaiah.

Is 49:16

See, I have engraved you on the palm of my hands. N.I.V.

See, I have tattooed your name upon my palm. The Living Bible.

Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hand. R.S.V.

Engraving, tattooing and graving are permanent, so we know what this text means! These were hands which were scarred for us.

Carol

When one lives in the same area for over six decades, you build up a number of old friends. That’s what I’ve done.

I’m not sure what my friends in their 40’s will think about being ‘old friends’ but they will know what I mean. I’ve been down south for a week week to visit all these friends. The two who really helped me when the going was tough, the one who became a notable short story writer, partly through my introductions and a previous church friend.

I hadn’t seen any of these people for two years, so you can imagine how much talking we did. As they say, ‘no friends like old friends.’

Carol

Like me you might not immediately recognise these names. They are hardly known at all, although these three young men in the Bible were strong, brave and handsome. They were a delight to behold but inside their hearts were rebellious and not in tune with God.

They were scornful of their youngest brother, a simple shepherd who followed God closely and loved Him. Yes, they were the brothers of David, the first king of Israel. He was a youth who looked unpromising material for God to use. As they were present when David was anointed by Samuel, they probably also jealous.

A lesson to us,and especially to me, not to look on the outward appearances. God looks on the heart. And also not to be jealous.

Carol

For those who follow the doings of the Carlisle Christian Writers we have had another meeting with the theme of ‘travel’.

Nine people with very different ideas, ranging from the use of Ps 139 to light with the Hubble Telescope and from the Pilgrims Walk to Canterbury to a deep reflection of Tennyson. We also had a torturous walk by a crippled lady to one person returning to England from Asia and being appalled at our ‘fitted-carpet culture.

Exciting stuff

Carol

I read this morning that Sarah’s husband was 99 years old when he became a father and she was nearly as old. How is that for a miracle! It makes my little ‘waits’ seem like nothing.

I’ve also come to realise that God’s timing is perfect. If things happened when I wanted them to, my life would be disastrous. It is a case of ‘God knows best.’

Carol

That is what I read in my morning reading. As a person who tries to fit 61 minutes in every hour, I find waiting difficult With my friend I had planned to catch a certain train one day last week. We missed the train, but that was because I had to live in God’s timing, not my own.

The missed train meant we were able to listen to someone who needed to share their problems. We briefly met up with someone we hadn’t seen for a while. Then because of a broken down freight train we missed our connection.

This meant to save time we needed to finish the journey by bus. This proved a more pleasant journey, took me to an  area I hadn’t seen before and landed us nearer to our destination. I have learned that in future I will travel this way as it saves time with more frequent connections and also a saving of money.

The whole day proved to me that God’s timing, is not mine, but eminently better.

Carol

Reading the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand I ended up with a number of questions and thoughts.

This mother of so  long ago obviously felt that five small barley loaves and just two small fishes were the correct amount to keep her small lad going all day. I note that there were none of the sugar busting foods that we consume today.

Were there enough crumbs left over for the birds to  also have a feast after the ‘twelve basketfuls of broken pieces’ were gathered up? Were the baskets of food given to the homeless and outcasts?

Although I want to know more, I realise that in scripture we are always given as much information as we need to know. Nothing must detract from the fact that this was a wonderful miracle.

Carol

As I re-read the account of Jesus turning the water into wine at Cana, I had two thoughts which I’d never had before.

Firstly as soon as it was discovered that the wine was running out, Mary turned to Jesus and said ‘They have no more wine.’ I wondered what she expected Him to do. Did she realise the miracle He was about to perform? Did she imagine He was going to turn water into the finest wine? It is unlikely that she knew the precise definition of the miracle, but since the Annunciation she knew how special He was and His miraculous powers.

Then as I  read to the end of the story, I noticed what was said. ‘He thus revealed His glory and His disciples put their faith in Him.’ My immediate thought was, why didn’t the others believe in Him. Then I realised the  others didn’t know what had happened. Quite a contrast to the Feeding of the Five Thousand!

Carol

Every year between Christmas and the new year I do one jig-saw puzzle. They can be a time waster and one a year is sufficient. This year I bought one at a charity shop and on the box it said ‘one piece missing.’ As I worked on the puzzle and struggled on a particular part, I kept wondering whether that was the piece which was missing. It quite spoilt the fun for me.

The experience made me contemplate whether I was ever the ‘piece’ missing in God’s plan and how it would spoil His plans for my life and others.

So a New Year resolution – not to be God’s ‘missing piece.’

Carol

We all make New Year resolutions we don’t manage to keep. But I’ve been doing this one for a number of years and it is not difficult. I find about three things a day for which to thank God. They don’t have to be earth shattering, just a cause for thankfulness.

Examples from last December include – 6th able to prayer with someone in hospital, 10th hearing the birds singing before the rain, 14th beautiful morning sky, 21st a surprise gift of an amaryllis, 29th meeting a neighbour I hadn’t seen for a while.

Then there are the great big reasons for being thankful to God, which of course are not so frequent  – a clear medical report, a safe journey in treacherous weather or having enough money to pay a large bill.

As the Bible says In all things give thanks.

Carol