Today I was sitting in the car waiting in the carpark and enjoying the view of fields and trees.As I sat there I saw  an elderly man who had his hands full and was making his way across the carpark. In spite of the fact he was already laden, I watched as he bent down to pick up a piece of litter and put it in the nearest bin.

 

It was a simple thing but it made me consider the idea of going the extra mile, had I had my hands full would I have stopped to do that? Probably not!

 

Jesus talks about going the extra mile, about carrying a pack a little further, about giving your coat as well as your shirt, for by such actions we are showing a love beyond duty, a love beyond that which is expected, the love indeed which Christ shows for us.

 

"And if someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if one of the occupying troops forces you to carry his pack one kilometre, carry it two kilometres." Matthew 5 vs 41-42

There has been much in the headlines over the last few days about Facebook and the potential dangers of social networking sites, as the mother of two girls what happened is my worst nightmare and I have spent a lot of time (too much my girls would say) reinforcing the advice about using these sites wisely and safely.

 

I thought I would share however a story of technology used to make a very positive influence, by way of contrast. There is  a child in my daughter's class who went into hospital for some major surgery this week, those of us who have undergone some sort of surgery know how frightening that time is as we wait to go down to theatre. Somehow the familiar world of friends and family seems far away and we are transported into an alien environment of medics and equipment which can be terrifying. Throughout this whole time however the girls in her class were sending texts, wishing her well and just chatting right up until she went to theatre.I can imagine how comforting this would have been to feel your friends right there with you.

 

I thought this was a lovely story, and reminds me of the fact that it is the intention that matters not the technology in itself. Yes advances may have opened up more ways for those with dark intent to do evil , but the same technology in the hands of those with a pure heart can be a powerful force for good.

Living in England for the first time as a Scot I am constantly surprised at the different views we have of history. A typical example is Mary Queen of Scots, for us as children she was portrayed a such a heroine, but clearly that is not quite the case here. my point is that it all depends on your viewpoint.

 

Jesus was very clear about his mission in his three short years of ministry, but those around him had such different points of view, Judas assumed he was the leader who would overthrow the Romans,and  the Pharisees saw him as a rebel rouser, a threat to the establishment.

 

Many today believe him to be a great teacher but no more than that. Jesus asked his disciples"

But what about you, who do you say that I am? Luke 9 vs 20

It is worth taking time over Lent to ask ourselves that question, who do we think Jesus is ?

Whilst browsing the bookstore this weekend I could not help but notice the large displays for Mother's Day, but I was amazed and perplexed by the wisdom which seemed to suggest whole piles of cookery books for Mum. The one which sent shivers down my spine was "Cooking for the family" and trust me if that were to make any sort of appearance next Sunday in my house I might not be answerable to my actions.

 

Maybe I am alone in this, but surely Mother's day is about saying thank you, not piling on another set of tasks.

 

I wonder if we make the same mistake sometimes in our prayers, we turn to God, but seldom say thank you just give the next list of problems and worries to be sorted out. I believe we should take all our concerns to God , but we should make thanks an important part of our prayers.

 

Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! ... I Chronicle

 16 vs 8

And in case they are reading this, a nice novel , set in some sun drenched island would be just lovely........

Last week on one of the first sunny days, I went for a lovely walk with the dog on the fields near our house. The sun was out, the birds were singing and there were some rabbits on the hill. Therein lay the problem, I let the dog off the lead and 45 mins later I was still trying to call her back.The lure of Spring was too much to resist and I was left  worrying that she would stray onto the road or meet all sorts of dangers.  So this week I have been starting at the beginning again with the command "Come" to try and train my daft mutt to be like all these other obedient dogs who return the instant their owner calls them.

 

Jesus also asks us to come. He doesn't command or force us , but he asks us to come, and how quickly do we respond? The fishermen drop everything and follow him, but for many of us ,well we run off in every direction chasing all sorts of things. Even though he can see the danger we put ourselves in and the unhappiness we cause ourselves he still leaves it up to us, because unlike our pets, he wants us to follow of our own free will , not because we have been indoctrinated.

 

Some of us will stray and return, and how much rejoicing there is in heaven when we do, some of us however will never return, and over  those people, I am sure, Jesus weeps.

"In the same way I tell you, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents." Luke 15 vs 10

I have been taking time over a series of Lenten readings by Tom Wright and today came across a wonderful line that I wanted to share.

"If you believe in a living God, use a little Holy Boldness"

It reminded me of the last few weeks in the UK before we left to live in America, as we said more and more goodbyes, the whole process became harder with lots of good friends wishing us luck, but also expressing concern about our new start. On one particular evening as I was becoming more and more worried, I described the process as stepping onto the flume at the swimming pool, the process was happening and we were being swept along by it. At the same time however,  I did feel  that all my fine words on trust and faith were being tested and  if I truly believed in this living God, then I had to believe that he  would be at the end of the flume to catch us, that he would not let us sink.

 

All it took was a little "Holy Boldness"

I wonder how much we truly believe and trust how bold we are prepared to be in our prayers, our actions and stepping out in our faith.

"Do not be afraid-I am with you!

I am your God-let nothing terrify you!"

Isaiah 41 vs 10

This morning as I took my shower I noticed that the soap I used to keep me clean was not just any old soap, not just shower gel, it offered much much more, in fact it was shower therapy. This was a shower which was not just going to clean me but was going to heal me. When  stepped out from behind that curtain how was I going to feel, happy, peaceful, whole? 

Well of course except for the fresh smell of lemon, the me who stepped out from the shower was no different, still my old bad habits, still my old problems, nothing different. There are lots of products now which offer us therapy , foods which will heal us, clothes which will bring us happiness, cars which will solve our problems and technology which will change our lives.But the marketing men and indeed ourselves know that they won't make any difference to the real us.

 

For real change to happen , it has to start from within us, as Max Lucado writes in his book "When God whispers your name" "the heart of the matter is and always will be the heart of the matter" for only God can help us change from the inside out.

 

"Create in me a new heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me" Psalm 51 vs 10

Yesterday the first of March (not the 29th Feb as I put) , did not disappoint, after all the storms the wind and rain , nature put on her best and gave us a little sun and heat. It seemed to me that suddenly the trees were budding and the daffodils pushing their way through something which has been happening all the time but which in the dark gray days I have never taken the time to see.

 

On Monday I wrote about times when God seems far away, and it occurs to me that just like the buds and the bulbs he is there all the time, sometimes hidden by the storms in our lives, but dependably there just waiting on the right time to show himself.

 

"I saw the Lord before me at all times;

He is near me, and I will not be troubled."

Acts 2 vs 25

Sometimes God can seem far away can't he?

 

Lately I have been praying for direction and guidance about several things in my life and I am no clearer now than I was when I started. I have found it frustrating and my prayers are beginning to  reflect that. Where is the God of the Old Testament, who seemed to be in constant contact with David or Moses, why did God speak to them and not to me?

Well there are probably many very good reasons why God would speak to them and not me but it is still frustrating. I would love to have it writ large, a big banner in the sky but therein lies the problem , once again I am thinking in terms of what I want and not what God knows is right for me.

Sometimes , and there are plenty examples throughout the old and new Testament, God responds with silence. Sometimes he does not reply and we are forced to wait. This, I think, is a hard but valuable lesson. To wait and to hold on even when nothing seems to be happening. To know our prayers have been heard and God knows what is needed, to be still and let him be God.

 

"Wait for the Lord;

be strong and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!"

Psalm 27

Thinking back to Valentines day ( and you may prefer not to), I was reminded of the difference between faith and action. Having experienced Valentines day in the USA where everyone gives everyone else a card and a small gift ( and we learned this the hard way) my kids have got into the habit of exchanging a small gift on that day. While it is lovely to watch such a display of sibling affection (although I am suspicious that it is all about the chocolate), a short time later they were at each other's throats for control of the remote. So they duly received Mother's sermon!

 

For there is no point in spouting forth loving words if we do not show love for one another. My kids are not the only culprits here, it has ever been thus and I remind myself of it as much as I remind them.

 

"In the same way faith by itself if not accompanied by action, is dead" James 2 vs 17