frenzy

I have spent the day on paperwork
it was a necessary chore and it feels good to get it done
but while I was plodding away, making up lists, answering letters and the phone and thinking forward to Easter liturgies, I had a conversation with a dear friend.
He is unwell at present and I lectured him on not taking enough rest.
He assured me that I may see frenzy, but in between times he does relax.
Then he said he was just exhausted seeing the stuff I do (and of course he knew he only sees the half) and I jokingly said "oh you should have seen me a few years ago...."

So I had to ask myself:
Julie - do you really take your rest?
And just who are you serving when you get so tired you can't see?

My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.

Find rest O my soul, in God alone (Ps62: 1,5)

There's a nail in my hand
it's heavy and cold
I press its tip into my palm
tentatively
nervously
I choose to hold for a second
that's enough
but you,
Oh!! You chose to go the
whole way
you chose to take the nail
you let them...
...you let them
pierce you
hurt you
humble you
denigrate
and humiliate
you did it all
you took the weight of the nail
and its cold dark cost
and you did it for me
I want to repay you
but you do not want that
you did it all
for free
for freedom
for me
and them
and us
and him
and her
for all of us
who were, and are and will be
you did it for all

ice ice ice

this is what I do for R & R
introduced to it a year ago after moving to the Borders
I love it!!
Curling
I am not very good...
but make up for that with enthusiasm!
Taking time out to do something purely for pleasure is so very important
Sabbath rest
not doing nothing
just doing something special
Rest.... good indeed

And a sword will pierce your heart

Sometimes words feel empty, pointless, totally inadequate.
Sometimes in the midst of noise and bustle and humour and life itself there is such pain we are numb.
A mother, and her baby.
In hopsital...
and of course it happens every day
day after day
and then one day it is one known to you
and suddenly it feels personal

Tonight I know one of those mothers and her baby
tonight - pray for all the mothers who are waiting at a bedside; watching their little one undergo treatment
praying and praying
and hoping against hope
for a miracle

Happy Mother's Day

I write on Monday morning, but take this as Sunday night! After a busy blessed day I gave in and went to bed very early!
Yesterday was Mothers' Day in the UK.
Mothers' Day is a commercial re-invention of something that had long been a Lenten Tradition, introduced in late Victorian Britain, when boys and girls, working in service were allowed home from the "Big House" on the middle Sunday of Lent, not to visit their mother, but to visit their Mother Church!
It was actually referred to as Mothering Sunday, so that each one was able to be in their home church. An additional circumstance was that they were also able to visit the family home - and Mum, and as they walked along collected spring flowers to show their love and affection.
Over the year's the emphasis on the Church has waned, and the selling of cards, gifts, flowers and chocolates has escalated into the money-making frenzy we now have.
I love my sons, and was delighted to see them yesterday, but we don't need a special day to share the love - we have that anyway
we love
we are loved
Love comes from the heart
and the depths of the soul
it is a Godgiven Gift
Praise Him!

What kind of welcome?

“God so loved the world, he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him shall not die but have eternal life”

It trips off the tongue; it sounds familiar, comforting, and hopeful
But to an un-churched person; or even a churched person – what does it mean?
When we say God so loved the world – what does that mean?

If we really, truly believe in God’s amazing, eternal, unending, unconditional love for creation – how do we live that out, and let people know they are welcome?
People we don’t necessarily like
People we make us feel uncomfortable
People who are noisy, or distracting, people who live differently to us

Because if we are really talking about all God’s people – then it includes all of those too
Not just the known and loved amongst us

time out....

A snatched moment with a loved one
a precious, precious gift

Thinking of love and grace
and reminding myself that Grace is always enough


There is no end to love.
It goes on and on, and on and on and on.
It takes courage to love,
and patience,
and the grace of God.
yes, loving you is everything.
Lord, teach us to love.