Earth is crammed with heaven

Five minute Friday. Write. Don't check, or edit, just write for the pure love of it. The prompt is FRIEND I had a card from a friend today. We started as colleagues. Our paths crossed a few times. But over the past year she has become a friend. And as a friend She knew what this weekend meant for us. She remembered. She acted. But friends are all different aren't they? Over the past 12 months our friends have been: Some practical Some ever-present Some prayerful Some encouraging Some business as usual Some helpless Some distant And sadly, some very noticeable by their absence. I don't blame them It's not been easy to be our friend this year. But I thank God for all of them And pray that the absent ones are not gone forever. I'm also challenged. "If you want a friend, be a friend" The saying goes. I pray my friends will always know where to come. And if not, that I'll meet them where they are. And when I fail as a f...

I've just been on the trampoline. It's not great practice for a woman in her mid 40's who has given birth to three children. But I managed to escape without a mishap... Anyway Back to the trampoline. It's 10ft and it dominates our garden. In some ways it's too big. But it offers so many possibilities. Today for instance: Chris has been on it as part of his toning up for summer regime. This is serious stuff. I watched intently... The eldest two boys and a friend spent half an hour on it while I sat close by. And in that time, We laughed they played they chatted we chatted we shared 'stuff' we planned we laughed. A bit later Our youngest worked out some of his angst on it. It's tough being 11. Then he smiled And we laughed I joined him, We chatted. I bounced, He laughed. And there we were. Sharing life Sharing love Around a big bouncy thing in the garden. And I was reminded that all is Grace. It's not ab...

Five minute Friday. Write. Don't check, or edit, just write for the pure love of it. The prompt is JUMP GO: I sat reading all the posts. Jump is today's word. My first thought was being 70ft up in Derbyshire. Not so much as a jump as a shuffle. But I was so high up. And I daren't look down. Even to find my foothold.... Just jump. And today I ran. For the first time in years. I've thought about it. Read about it. Talked about it. Procrastinated over it. But today I did it. Just jump.... And my writing? Well that's been a bit quiet if I'm honest. But as I read other people's posts about hop-scotch and puddles... These great writers who seem to see right into my heart and mind And write what they find... I can't write like they can. But they encourage me, Love me, Inspire me... Just jump.... Jump when you don't know how secure the landing is. Jump when you feel afraid. Jump when you're not sure what God is say...

It's Marathon season. Every few minutes on any given networking site I see requests with links to justgiving. If I'm honest I'm a little jealous. Not necessarily of the Marathon, But of the decision to do something, Then putting in the work, And then bringing it to a joyful, if exhausted, speechless, conclusion. I feel as if I've hit the famous 'Wall' that marathon runners speak of. My recovery has been good so far. I can chat to people now. I can laugh. I can enjoy family life with Chris and the boys. I can go to unknown places with less fear. I can make arrangements and stick to them. I'm doing more and more in Sunday Worship Kids Stuff.... Songs... Reading Scripture... Praying... Leading Worship and Preaching is stuff that energises me. I've missed it. And this Sunday I've offered to preach. A sermon. A proper one. I know.... But you know, sometimes I still feel the fear. The anxiety. The raised heartbeat. The quiv...