Short Thoughts 2019
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Soul Nourishment
Tensions can rise as we head towards Christmas.
Perhaps we have desires or images of family gathering together in perfect harmony;
of this festive time being joyful, peaceful and restful. (umm!?!)
In reality…
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Placing your Trust
My son recently had the opportunity to do several parachute jumps.
As experts took him through the required training, he placed his trust in their skills.
As pilots flew the plane to the required speed and altitude, he placed his trust in their judgement.
As my son pushed himself off from the side of the open doorway,
for a few seconds he free fell until...
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A Dream
Three years ago whilst chatting with my coach about what I’d like the next five years
to look like, I expressed a heart-felt dream to do a theology degree.
This surprised me! I find study challenging, I don’t need a degree
as a qualification and there are plenty of other things I could invest in...
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Eligibility in Suffering
“[God] always comes alongside us to comfort us in every suffering
so that we can come alongside those who are in any painful trial.
We can bring them this same comfort that God has poured out upon us.”
(2 Corinthians 1:4 TPT)
How different life was before ill health changed it...
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Imprisoned by Stories
Making up stories about others is a dangerous thing which can have devastating effects.
Potiphar’s wife made up a story falsely accusing Joseph of raping her;
when she shared this with her husband, Potiphar believed her and threw Joseph into prison...
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Who’s doing the Shouting?
For 30 years I‘ve prayed for my husband to come to know Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.
Through these long years I’ve wept, I’ve been angry and
I’ve wrestled with disappointment, disillusionment and frustration.
Recently I’ve been more deeply troubled and experienced a loss of hope...
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Surprised by Love
In the parable of the prodigal son (see Luke 15:11-32), a father has two sons and the younger son,
rather than wait until his inheritance due upon his father’s death, demands it of him...
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Celebrate before The Lord
I’m sitting on a beach with my hands wrapped around a thermal mug.
It's February and a little cold and foggy, I can just about make out the Isle of Wight.
Children are in their swimming costumes running in and out of the sea;
their joyful abandoned playfulness is beautiful to watch..
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Jesus Sends
‘When Jesus had called the Twelve together,
he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
He told them: “Take nothing for the journey - no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.”’
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Anam Cara - soul friend
Five years ago, when visiting my husband who was working overseas,
I met a woman who was to become one of my soul friends...
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Nowhere. Now here.
What a difference a space makes.
Nowhere becomes Now here.
Sometimes it can feel as though God is nowhere to be found...
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Limitations Reframed
As part of my course homework, a thought provoking question was posed to me:
What limitations are part of your life at present?
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Freedom in Christ
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
You were running a good race.
Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?
That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.“
(Galatians 5:6-8 NIV)
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At Ease
‘“But the one who always listens to me will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace.
Free from fear, confident and courageous,
you will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.”’
(Proverbs 1:33 TPT)
Over the past several months, I have found myself in a place of deeper rest,
and deeper relationship with God. ..
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Jesus Loves Me
The love that Jesus has for us is ‘vast, unmeasured, boundless, free’. *
Discovering the full extent of God’s love for us is the purpose of our spiritual journey...
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Furnace walking with God
King Nebuchadnezzar built a gold statue which he commanded all people to bow down and worship; anyone refusing to do so would be thrown into a blazing furnace.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were three men who were not willing to
compromise their beliefs by bowing before the gold statue. They would worship God..
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Blessings in the Fire
When returning from holiday, our car caught fire.
We had little indication that this was going to happen: we smelt burning,
saw smoke coming from under the bonnet and then saw flames...
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Space for the Unexpected
A new year stretches ahead.
You may already have the year mapped out with agendas, schedules and arrangements all fixed and in place...
Planning can be a good thing and is sometimes necessary.
However many of us have a tendency to either fill all of our time or to let it become full.