Earth is crammed with heaven

Five Minute Friday. The day we write for five minutes on a given word. This week's word is HERO. GO My Dad was a Hero. No, he really was. His training session at The Salvation Army college was called 'Heroes of the Faith'. What a title! What a challenge! What a legacy! I met with colleagues this week for a time of worship. We gave thanks for the life of our regional leader who died suddenly from a heart attack last Thurs. We sang our songs We prayed our prayers We told our stories of Peter. We talked about his caring nature His sense of humour His ability to get angry graciously His integrity His love for God His wife His family His people We laughed We cried We gave thanks for this man of God Taken from us at a time we wouldn't have chosen, had we been given the choice. A man of God A man of faith A hero.

Today has been given the name Blue Monday. But it will be forever known as Blooming Monday around these parts. Today I have come clean to some of my closest friends that the depression that comes again and again in my life is lurking like a dementor at the moment, And has been for about six weeks. I hadn't told them because you can say what you like Until you're blue in the face Every time it comes again I feel I've failed That their high-maintenance friend needs them Again And I wouldn't blame them if they'd had enough. Lord knows, I have. But I want to tell you a few things about this Blooming Monday. No it's not been the best of days. Yes things have gone wrong Quite a few actually. But I'm sat writing Wrapped in TWO prayer shawls That friends lovingly created And prayed into for me And I'm remembering that today... I've seen the sea And heard the waves And eaten jam doughnuts And been given beautiful flowers by t...

You matter. Really and truly. Every day of your life. From the moment you wake up whether it's with a "Good Morning God." Or a "O God, is it really morning?" You matter. So if life is really hard at the moment And you're wondering if it's worth it... Or you're literally bouncing around Full of the joys.... If someone has said something to you that has cut deeper than a flesh wound, Or you did something with the best of intentions, and have been misunderstood... If 'life's a bitch and then you die' is truly where you're at, Please STOP And breathe And remember That you are loved. Look around you for your 'cloud of witnesses' who will cheer you on, or pause with you in the race while you rest and catch your breath. Be encouraged. God loves you above and beyond anything. Truly. If you're reading this, then chances are you've been one of my cheerleaders in the past. I'd like to ...

I had my Officer Development Review/Appraisal today. There's nothing like a spot of navel-gazing on a Monday morning! It was my first since 2008 for many reasons. It made me realise how fortunate I am to have people in my life who have loved, supported, and helped me through these past years. Some have been there all along. You'll know who you are when you read this. There are not enough words to express how I feel about you, My forever friends. Others, God has brought back in to my life after a long absence. It brought discomfort at first as I came face to face with the past. But we hung in there. Your contribution to my life is immeasurable. Others are 'virtual friends' So-called because we have never met Yet you have brought such blessing And challenge And solace to me that it feels as if we grew up together. And as I have been saddened at the loss of some friends (See previous blog posts) So I am grateful for those who have come in...

"Earth is crammed with heaven And every common bush afire with God But only he who sees Takes off his shoes. The rest sit around picking blackberries." Elizabeth Barrett Browning Lord help me to see today. To see you in the world around me. To see the truth in the eyes masked by a smile. To see those who are bowed beneath their load. To see the meaning behind the words in a text And the pain lurking in a Facebook status. To see the doorways I need to walk through And the doors I need to close, because what is behind them is not for me. Help me to see, truly see, with your eyes. Help me to see you more clearly Love you more dearly Follow you more nearly Day By day By day Amen

I have a free day today. Ish... I had a frantic P.E.kit-needing phone call at 08.04am But still... For now The candles are lit. Jesus is here. And I'm still. And my mind feels like the inside of an old-fashioned printing press. The cogs are moving The wheels are turning And I imagine bells And whistles And probably steam. And how do I get rid of that? How do I call a halt when the workings of my mind feel physical? When it feels like hard, hard work to calm it? When being still is not just physical but emotional and mental? We went for a walk yesterday me and my man. And we had one of our 'prayer-moments' as we walked. I prayed as the wind was howling And battering us Almost lifting us off our feet. And as I prayed for peace and calm in our family life, the song started. The one in my heart that had spoken volumes to me when I had no idea of how strong storms could be And no inkling of life as I knew it being snatched away. "St...

"Outside. Now" Is it only on Eastenders that people actually say that? I can't imagine wanting to invite people to come outside and inflict pain on me. But fight? I know it well. We are companions on the road. Along with battle And struggle. Maybe that's just the way life is? I know Jesus never promised it would be easy. In fact he warned of the the opposite. But with the warning came the promise "I've won!!" So at the start of this year I'm ready..... ish. We're in this together He and I. We're fighting for joy And love And peace of heart and mind. We're fighting against things that threaten to floor me. And the really good news? "I will fight for you. All you have to do is be still" Exodus 14:14 Ssssh!!! Oh (I'm whispering....) And Happy New Year!