I discovered with a bit of a smile that  the Gnomes of Zurich is a disparaging term for Swiss bankers , as Swiss bankers are  popularly associated with secret deals, in the same way gnomes in fairytales live underground, in secret counting their riches.

Transparency is perhaps an overused word these days when it comes to politics and finances, but it cannot claim to be a new idea. Jesus warned that what was done in the dark would be brought into the open and that God would see it all, whatever we do must be right in the eyes of God ,for he sees us and knows us and nothing is hidden.

Now I don't have any deep dark secrets, but there are times when I know I could have behaved better, the parking tickets where I chanced my arm, the borrowed stationery from work, the gossip I happily indulged in.... I am sure I am not alone, but God expects better.

"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open".
Luke 8 vs 17

So for all us potential gnomes, think again and do the right thing, even when no-one is watching. Have a great Summer!

 

Thought for the day will return  at the beginning of September

Two conversations are buzzing around my head today, on radio 4 this morning I heard a discussion on the growing Pentacostal church in Africa, and one of the reasons put forward for its success by the person speaking was that it gave hope, because it promised success and wealth in this world by harnessing the power of God and using it in our lives. Forgive me if I misheard but that seemed to be the message.

 

The other was a conversation with friends last night whose elderly relatives are suffering from Dementia, one of them expressed surprise that this lady who had been so fastidious with her finances all her life now had no idea how much things cost and cared even less.

 

Jesus is very clear about the priority he gives to wealth and success in this life,it is not the most important thing , there are no promises for success and wealth in this world, ultimately they will do us no good,but  the real prize of peace joy and life eternal is living a life with Christ at the centre and using our lives to do his will.

"What I am trying to get you to do here is relax, to be not so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving." Matthew 7 vs 24-34 The Message

Today I came across some verses form Matthew translated in the message which I really loved.

It is from Matthew's gospel where Jesus instructs us on prayer and says the following;

"Find a quiet,secluded place....just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God and you will begin to sense his grace." Matthew 6

 

Sometimes when I start to pray I am so filled with what is going on in my day and what I want to happen that I am not sure the focus ever shifts. These words are inspirational, as if Jesus is telling me to get off the treadmill, be still and recognise he is there. Soothing words in our busy days.

At the moment whenever I take the dog out she goes mad over butterflies. Chasing and leaping after them yet with no hope at all of catching them, however I was surprised to see that when she came across one which was injured and lying on the path, she did absolutely nothing, in fact I think she was a bit afraid of it.

I was thinking of this when I read about Jesus's trip to the synagogue, the jewish leaders had been hoping and praying for a Messiah for hundreds of years and I cannot imagine how they felt when Jesus read to them the words of Isaiah and announced that he had arrived, that the waiting was over. Far from rejoicing they too were afraid and ran him out of town.

We pray and worship and constantly claim to wish for a better relatiuonship with God but I wonder if he appeared right now what would be our reaction?

 

"Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.All the people in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on him as he said to them,"This passage of scripture has come true today as you heard it being read." Luke 4 vs 20-21

Just back from the supermarket and putting my half dozen loaves in the freezer when I thought about the line in the Lord's Prayer "Give us this day our daily bread"

When I pray this I am asking God to provide me with enough to get through this day, but I don't really rely on that, instead I carry out my plans for weeks and months ahead. I wonder if its possible with a family to just live from day to day, because surely without all that organisation and planning the whole thing would fall apart.

 

Maybe it means to be content in the moment, to make space to consider every moment of that day and not to let it rush by considering what needs to be done tomorrow. Its a beautiful idea and far removed from our reality where we seem driven on to the next thing. But then God never had much faith in our reality did he, he shows us a radical alternative and lets us choose.

"Give us this day our daily bread" Matthew 6 vs 11

Throughout the year I have been reading a daily devotional, and I am not sure how I managed to mix up the times, either I am too far ahead or way behind, but today I started the Christmas story. It felt really strange at first in the middle of summer to be considering Bethlehem and I almost passed it by and moved on , but then I became conscious that I was seeing it differently.

Maybe there was no tinsel to distract me, but rather than the cutsy Christmas story I was considering how it must have seemed to those present who realised that something was happening after 400 years of silence, after waiting for God's promises for generations.

I tried to imagine what that would be like , because although we talk of Jesus coming again, how much do I really expect it, how surprised would I be if it happened in my lifetime, today, tomorrow?

How would that change what I am doing right now, how I spend my days and where my focus is?

 

"But the angel said to her,"Do not be afraid Mary, you have found favour with God.You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." from Luke 1 5-52

 

 

Today I watched the rain fall today on the parched grass, and the thirsty wheatfields with some pleasure for in this part of the country we have had very little rain in the last six weeks and the ground has been crying out for it.

Water is such an important thing for us isn't it. Over the weekend with scorching temperatures, I foolishly didn't drink enough and by the end of the day was aching and irritable. Fields full of crops are struggling for lack of water, and gardens are looking pretty droopy.

 

When Jesus travels to Samaria he meets the woman at the well and asks her for water.Knowing the importance of water in her life and that of her village he surprises her by telling her of a water she can drink and never be thirsty again. It must have been confusing for her to understand, in fact it can be confusing now, but I think it is simply an illustration of how important God is in our lives, as necessary as rain to the crops and water to the woman.

 ^"Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."John 4 vs 13-14

It is possible to make someone do something, but it is almost impossible to make someone do something with joy, I mention this in the context of two words which I think will be familiar to some. Teenagers and chores.

 

After indulging in the sort of rant which I used to hope I would never stoop to, and after all sorts of threats regarding pocket money I managed to get my daughter to help, it wasn't that she was particularly hostile to the idea, but just that there were so many other more interesting things to do and I actually agree with that ,but then someone has to do it.

 

It seemed to me a great analogy for why God gives us free choice. Yes the creator of the universe I am sure could make us all live as devout Christians but where is the joy in that.

How much more joy was there in heaven when Paul came gladly, when Peter realised that Jesus was the son of God ,when Matthew left his tax collecting, and what impossible things they then went on to do.

 

Not in the same league but to continue the analogy,a similar joy perhaps to the day when our teenagers come to us smiling and ask how they can help.....

"What about you?" he asked them "Who do you say that I am?"

Peter answered "You are the Messiah."

 Mark 8 vs 29

I wanted to share a lovely quote from a book I am reading at the moment.

"There is much for love to do"

 

It seemed a wonderful way of giving our days meaning and purpose, so often we get caught up in our agenda, which if you are like me is often quite a selfish one.

 

Yet looking around there is so much can be done, I am thinking of the call I need to make to an elderly friend, the thank you letter to a friend who so encouraged me this week, the visit to someone recovering from a bad fall, the offers of help, the kindly word , the lift to the shops. None of it is life changing, much of it is easy to do if I but take the time, but each act of love changes the world around us and makes it a better place. What higher calling could there be:

"There is much for love to do"

Yesterday I bought a very funny coaster which has tips for appreciating art and visiting art galleries, the one which caught my eye being"Glance at art on the way to the gallery cafeteria" Today I am about to head to a gallery and I will be keeping this in mind, because too often we do just glance and move on, yet the pictures only  begin to speak to us when we stay a while and really look.

 

Sometimes my prayers are like that, I am rushing about with  lots to do and I bow my head and glance in God's direction on my way to my to do list. Yes of course  I believe he holds my life itself in his hands, but you see I have this long list....

 

In order to gain some peace, to really enjoy the day I need to spend time only being with God, letting him speak to me, letting my thoughts come and go and fully form before they are hurried on.

 

 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

 

Today I want to be Mary and not Martha, to listen and be still , to choose what is better. Luke 10 vs 38-42