Martha and Mary

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Two sisters who practised hospitality were surely Martha and Mary. When they entertained Jesus no doubt many of His friends came along as well, so it was no small matter. Theirs was a home where Jesus could relax and rest. So much was demanded of Jesus during His life that it must have been great to have been able to rest or switch off as he needed..

I pray that our own homes are places where we can provide what people really and not what we think they need. It is not our agenda but that of our visitors. It is their needs not ours that matter.

Disturb the Comfortable, Comfort the Disturbed

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This a rather neat description of the Bible. Consider the times when Jesus challenged the Pharisees. They considered themselves comfortable by obeying the Jewish rules and regulations. His words disturbed them in their complacent lives; they were quite comfortable as they were.

Today many people are upset by what they read in the Bible and prefer to leave it alone. They don’t want to obey the exhortations they read within the pages.

Then the Bible is also the book for the disturbed. In the times of the Bible, people had great needs; they were sick, hungry and afraid. Comfort was found in reading these encouraging words.

Today, after covid more and more people are stressed and suffering anxiety. They need to hear the comforting words of Jesus; they need the reassurance of the psalms. ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.’ These are the words they are gladdened to read. The Bible is so full of words of comfort. The encouragement of the Lord is there for them.

Hidden Rose

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I bought the rose for a special anniversary. I planted in carefully and made sure to water it well until it was established. What I hadn’t realised was that in the same place there was a large mauve poppy growing. There was nothing of the poppy showing when I planted the rose. Now the rose is completely hidden by the foliage of the poppy. When the poppy finishes blooming I will carefully move it, trying not to disturb my anniversary rose.

Am I like the poppy blooming in the wrong place or am I where God wants me to be?

Free

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As I stood at the hospital chaplaincy welcome table full of gifts, a woman approached me.

‘What’s all this about?’

‘We are here to welcome people of all faiths, although I’m a Christian. We know that hospital is a place of stress whether visiting a clinic or member of staff. We’re here to encourage, make the day better or pray with people if requested. Everything here has been donated and we want to give to you freely.’ I explained carefully, to which she replied,

‘But what’s in it for you?’

I tried to explain the thought of it being better to give than receive. I needed no reward. Sadly, she thought everything had a price and had to be paid for. She would find it hard to expect the gift of salvation!

My Choice

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The roadworks outside my house continue, the noise, the screeching and the banging can be overwhelming. But I can cut out the noise and concentrate on the birds singing in the trees which I can hear in the brief seconds of quiet. I can listen to the gurgle of my neighbours water feature and just discern the hum of the insects. It is my choice.

I love my church but there are dissentient voices. Not everyone is happy with change. Do I listen to the positive reactions or do I listen to the moaners? It is my choice.

The world is in a mess, adrift from God. I can join in the grumbling and increase the unhappiness or in some small way I can do something do make the world a better place. It is my choice.

My Way

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The chorus required actions, ideal for children. But not for four year old Zach. He stood resolutely with his hands behind his back, gripping the chair with white-knuckled fingers. No way was he going to do the actions. His determination showed in his clamped-tight lips. Zac was being Zachy, as we often said.

I am sometimes like this young lad. No way am I gong to do what God wants me to do. I’ve read all the scriptures, know l the spiritual answers but I want to do things my way although I know God knows best.

I pray that I may not continue to be like Zach who never did join in the chorus.

Disruption

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The council are digging up the road outside my house. It’s noisy, dirty and inconvenient as there is nowhere to park our cars. The road is closed to traffic which involves long detours to get anywhere. Muck and rubble is being loaded on to lorries and driven away. The notice says it will be completed in 47 days! (a strange number, will it finally be gold-plated?)

The result will be a lovely smooth road and pavement. It had been a trip hazard. The upheaval will be worth the trouble. It’s like my life. God has to get rid of the rubbish, sin and grime in me. The resulting restored life will be worth the trauma. Praise be to God.

Psalm 23

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When I think about this psalm, I see it visually. I imagine myself lying in a wildflower meadow, surrounded by bees and butterflies. Then my God leads me along smooth, sandy paths. To my left is a stream, not too still, that would become stagnant. The stream is gently flowing into the centre of the picture and teeming with fish. To my right are rough dangerous places, places where I could slip, fall and face the shadow of death. Then beyond that, still to my right is a wonderful city which appears to be sitting on a hill, though for some reason, in my vision it is down in a valley.

I’m enjoying the wildflower meadow but I know I will need to travel to the right and pass through the dangerous valley. Then I shall immerge on the other side and enter that wonderful city. As the psalmist tells me, ‘I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’

Envy?

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I wonder how David, the future king of Israel felt about just being a musician in the court of King Saul. Did he ever want to shout, ‘I’ve been anointed as your next king, yet here I am stuck in this corner almost ignored except to play calming music to you in your demented moments.’

David might have suffered from FOMO. Yet it seems he just kept all these things in his heart and observed what kingship was like. Did some of his psalms come out of this waiting time?

Pray Without Ceasing

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In 1 Thessalonians 5 we are exhorted to ‘pray continually.’ How can we do that is in this frantically busy world? Paul who wrote these words must have had a slower pace of life! But what I believe is that we need to have an attitude of prayer. We need to be only a breath away from uttering another prayer. We can have a structured time of prayer, morning and or evening, when we might use Bible notes as we read the Bible. As soon as we wake in the morning we can give thanks for a night’s sleep. We can give thanks for the promise of a new day.

Leaving home we should pray for our neighbours, travelling we might pray for fellow commuters. Hearing a police car or ambulance we can pray for those involved. Those we know who have problems can feature in our prayers during the day and there are many situations that can demand instant arrow prayers.

That’s praying continually.