Mmm

I seem to have had thoughts on this subject approaching me from angles: 

Reading about prayer… ‘then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.’ 

One of many quotes to choose from The Imitation of Christ (Thomas a Kempis) “The humble enjoy continual peace, but in the heart of the proud is envy, and frequent indignation.” 

Mandylion preaching on values, using Luke 14: 7-14 “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” and Philippians 2.  This latter scripture was used at the end of the RUN conference, too.

The Mission Shaped Church report, which I am reading as part of the Pioneer Disciple course, talks about the parallel between Christ giving himself up (Phil. 2 again) and the mission of Paul.  “The Church is most true to itself when it gives itself up, in current cultural form, to be reformed among those who do not know God’s Son.  In each new context the Church must die to live.”

On the futurePRIMITIVE blog, talking about living the Jesus way, the lines which formed part of my thinking were these…

“This is not about usurping God’s place, rather it is truly about having an honest and humble appreciation of ourselves….

When I respond to Jesus by saying “I will walk in your way” we are entering into the unknown with humility.”

A long while ago, I asked God to help me deal with impatience and anger in my life. Our 5 year old often is a source of testing for me!  I am wondering if humility is key. Would a more lowly view of my self help me avoid ‘frequent indignation’?

Questions remain for me about the relationship between self-esteem and humility.  Mission Shaped Church, speaking of the problem of syncretism says “[St Paul’s] identity is now found in the Messiah…. [this] frees him to enter and value other cultures.”  We talk a lot about people’s need for self-esteem.  Should we talk about the need for God-esteem instead?

Any thoughts welcome!

I’ve been over at e-spouse.blogspot whilst vox has been so slow.  Have double-posted this entry.

The drive to and from work today were miraculously different from a week ago.  Suddenly the hedges and trees are bright green.  It has to make you smile.

I’ve been pondering my way through Matthew 5 - the middle of verse 22 today… “If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court.”  Going beyond controlling anger into being encouraging and warm with words is not always easy. I’m working on this.  Well, actually, Jesus is working on it in me.

How about you?

“For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

This is where much of what I’ve been reading and listening to during Lent has been leading.  Most recently, from Unstoppable Force.  The word for ‘witness’ being the same as the word for ‘martyr’.  It’s not about you. (where did that phrase originate?)

I find it hard to serve without at the same time serving my own purposes.  Whether it is grudgingly, cunningly or with an inflated ego.  There is much to learn.

I’ve just been searching for my reading list.  Back in January 2007, I was reading “When Life and Beliefs Collide”, and I had on my to-do list Practice of the Presence of God (which I’ve since read twice), Velvet Elvis (read), Nice girls don’t change the world (read), Divine Conspiracy (read), The challenge of Jesus (read) Beyond Sex Roles (finished yesterday), And I’ve completed reading the Bible (in 15 months!)

The next is Unstoppable Force.  I may not have blogged much in the past year, but I have been reading!

I’m sharing a few thoughts at the end of a Good Friday event in our village today. I’m talking about being sad. Quite appropriate as I read “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” The event starts at the church, and moves on to village hall, village cross and then chapel, with singing, reading and prayer at each place.

You can pray that the rain holds off between 10 and 11 this morning!

P.S. I’ve been having problems logging into vox - may switch to blogger - any comments?

“God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.”

Easter Sunday.

“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Good Friday. Saturday.

“God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.”

Wednesday.

“and I will show you how to fish for people.”

Tuesday.

“Come be my disciples,”

Saturday. Monday.

“because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

Friday.

“Turn from you sins and turn to God,”

Thursday.

“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

Wednesday.

“The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Tuesday.

“‘People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Monday.

“No! The Scriptures say…”

Saturday.

“It must be done, because we must do everything that is right.”

Friday.

“Peter went up on the flat roof to pray.”

Thursday.

“a gentle whisper”

Tuesday. Wednesday.

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water”

Monday

“But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants;”

Sunday.

“day and night they think about his law.”

Saturday.

“When the people heard… and when they saw… they stood… trembling with fear.”

Friday.

“as a man speaks to his friend.”

Thursday.

“Then Moses went up the mountain…”

Wednesday.

“Keep your eyes open.”

Monday.

“Pray long and hard.”

Sunday.

“Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Saturday.

“take the sword of the Spirit,”

Friday.

“Put on salvation as your helmet,”

Thursday.

“you will need faith as your shield”

Wednesday.

“For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News,”

Tuesday.

“and the body armor of God’s righteousness.”

Monday.

“putting on the sturdy belt of truth”

Sunday.

“Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ”

Friday. Saturday.

“use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

Thursday.

“We are no longer slaves to sin.”

Wednesday.

“…the Lord hates… hands that kill the innocent…”

Monday.

“…everything else is worthless…”

Sunday.

“…priceless gain…”

Saturday.

“I once thought all these things were so very important,”

Friday.

“The trouble is not with the law, but with me…

The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Thursday.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,”

Ash Wednesday.

“Through each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me,”

Shrove Tuesday.

We made it to Dartmoor today - this is just an hour from where we live. That is, an hour’s drive then an hour’s walk climbing 170 metres in 2 miles. Now I’m having to sit down as my back is somewhat in shock after such activity! This man gets to make cheese on toast with our 4-year old now! He did a lot of walking on Dartmoor in his late teens, now he is enjoying introducing to the wilds and winds.

This is where we were: Beardown Tors

We arrived in mid-Devon 5 months ago. It seems like ages. It is a beautiful place to be. For me the countryside is energising and I seem to have found a good balance between the loneliness of being on the edge of a small village (the sheep are out today, as is the sun), the closeness of being in a small caring community, and the escape of work (accounts and tax) in a small town half an hour away. I’m not sure the work/family/house balance is quite there yet, but we’re working on it.

I’ve been busy reading. Practice of the presence of God is my new year read - 2nd reading this year. I hope a little more will sink in each year. I finished reading the Bible with the Cover to Cover material - in about 15 months in the end. Now I’m listening to “The Listener’s Bible” on my drives to/from work. I read The Challenge of Jesus (NT Wright) and have got 2/3 of the way through Divine Conspiracy. I see it was last April that I posted on the Bookclub about that! Also reading Captivating (John & Staci Eldredge) for a ladies study group, although it’s a bit disneyfied for my taste!

I’ve not been in voxtropolis much in the past 10 months or so. Having no broadband helped me get out of what could have become an addiction (I’m still not sure about these ‘virtual’ relationships, and you certainly won’t find me on facebook!), and then the move and the aftermath thereof kept me busy. And now I have more friends that I see regularly, have coffee with, and chat in the playground.

I guess that’s where I’m at for now.  Trying to follow Jesus where I am and glad of this ‘place of abundance’ (Psalm 66) where I’ve been placed.

How goes it with you?

At my husband’s desk, looking out to washing line, tree full of apples, hedge tipped with sunshine and blue sky. Sounds? A few bird cheeps, the whirring processor, my finger taps. It’s getting chilly in the mornings now. Feeling? Still a bit displaced, everything is new and tiring. Sick of the question “Are you settled in yet?” Taste? Last of my wake-up cup of tea. Smell? Not good. Next stop the shower!

Our 9 year old was making a cardboard face to dress up as a giant today, and our nearly 4 year old announced she had cut out the ‘ow-breyes’.  I think they will be called that for a while in this house now!

Things here are relatively hectic.  Just over 3 months until we move, and it’s party/entertaining time.  This afternoon, however, I’m baking with our younger two, whilst Mandylion takes our eldest to the local carnival princess competition.  From giant to princess in a couple of hours!