Lent 2015: things that make me laugh

I love to laugh but some days it's hard.  We all have days like that I'm sure. I guess that's what makes us human.  Tears and laughter sit side by side in this emotional roller coaster of life. Send in the clowns please. May the rain turn to sunshine. For all of you feeling sad may God send a rainbow, a promise of his favour. May we laugh together again soon.

In The Quietness Of The Night

In the quietness of the night 

I hear your voice 

An echo of the past

Or the whisper of the future?

A call through the ages

To stand tall 

To fight 

To hold the front line

To aim for the foe

Not relinquish the ground

That is hallowed and ploughed

Bring in the harvest

Bring in the wheat

Bring in the new life

Don’t except the defeat. 

Music and Soul

 Sometimes I go to write something and verse seems to just roll out of me. I love to sing and play a few chords on my guitar. Music without passion is just empty words. The same can be true for our worship, unless we into the song and think about the words then we are just making a noise before God and not really worshipping him at all. 

 

I wrote this whilst thinking of a favour musician, Alfie Boe who always sings with such passion and connects so well to the song. Of course whilst I was writing it I was also thinking about faith, that's just who I am. So what is teh story inside of you and who would God ask you to share it with?

  

Music is just music
Without a soul inside.
Every note a resonance 
In time and melody.

Sing it clear 
Sing it loud 
Sing your song 
All night long 

Words don’t mean anything
Without a story told
Every moment captured 
Or lost forever more. 

Passion is the answer
To capturing the heart
Stories without music 
Lie empty, joy unheard 

So what is your story?
The heart beat inside you
Sing out your symphony 
The joy and the pain 

(copyright Revdjo 1/9/25) 

Maundy Thursday but Fridays coming….

Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is when Christians reflect on when Jesus met with the disciples in the upper room to celebrate the Passover and shared a simple meal. Before which he washed the disciples feet. During that meal Jesus broke bread and shared it with them saying ‘This is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me.’ He also took a cup of wine saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is pored out for you.’ This is the reason we take communion, otherwise known as The Lord’s Supper’ not to be confused with ‘The lord’s Super’ as I once wrote about in an essay. I have never been the best at spelling. 🤣 

Good Friday is the day we remember when Jesus was crucified and died as the ultimate Passover lamb so that our sins (the things we do wrong) are atoned for. He paid the ultimate price so that we can be forgiven. No longer do we need to make burnt offerings to God. Jesus’s death marks the end of the Old Covenant (or promise) and the beginning of the New Covenant. 

I recommend having a look at the Gospel accounts in the Bible if you want to know more. 

I will leave you with a picture of my husband’s feet, well one of them. He’s the only one I know who cuts the grass in flip flops! As I remarked on the state of them (he had no idea) he asked me to wash them for him (he was teasing). My remark was well it is Maundy Thursday but no, I think I will decline. 

Jesus washed the disciples feet as an act of service. He wasn’t there as some high and mighty king but as a humble servant of God. Today, I was reminded of my role as a prison chaplain and washing some of the prisoners feet and them washing mine. It was very humbling and extremely moving experience. 

This week I started a new pastorate and have a church and community full of people I’ve yet to get to know properly. Much of today I found myself waiting on tables at our soup lunch and Maundy service meal. I quite enjoyed myself chatting to folk. It is a reminder that I have come to serve. I serve a God that deserves my all who has called me and I have said yes to. Who knows what the future will hold but I am excited by it. 

So what about you? Where has He called you to serve? Have you said yes yet? What has He called you to do? Maybe you are unsure? Why not ask Him to make it clear?

I’ve never been a ‘yes’ person I’ve always been a ‘why’ person. I don’t serve man, or women, I serve God. That’s not always easy especially when God asks you to do something which you know will upset some people, but better to have my integrity before God. Thankfully, I’ve no such challenge at the moment. 

I like to know the answer to the ‘why question’ before I agree to most things. Sometimes the why is obvious but sometimes there are ulterior motives lurking so it’s good to be sure when people ask us to do something or want to know our business. The same is not true of God. I don’t need to know the why, only the confirmation that He wants me to do something. I don’t need to know why He has sent me here, although I have a fair idea. 

I hope that I will always act on what God wants me to do before even thinking about asking Him why. I can’t say I have always got that right. I like to be sure, but the more we step out in faith the easier it becomes. What about you? Do you really need to ask the why question? Can it not simply be because He (God) has asked you to? 

Have a blessed Easter. Best foot forward! 🤣🤸‍♂️

Can I say Yes to you?

It’s not always easy to see ourselves as God sees us. It’s even harder to be truly ourselves and yet God calls us to be true to ourselves and to who He has called and made us to be. I’ve been reflecting on this for quite sometime as I’ve unravelled who I am in Christ, and began to accept who he has made me to be. When you were formed in your mother’s womb there was no mistake. (Psalm 139.) God spoke life over you and called you by name from that moment. It just takes us a while to hear it, and even longer to accept it. Perhaps you have still not accepted who you are? As you gaze in the mirror and look upon your beauty, (yes there is beauty there!) know that you are loved and held by God. Maybe it’s time to say yes to him and be more accepting of yourself? 

Can I say Yes to you?

Can I really say Yes to you Lord? 

From the depths of my soul,

My inner most being?

My mind and my will?

My thoughts and desires?

Can I really say yes to you? 

Can I truly be all that you’ve made me to be? 

Using my gifts those well worn and the new?

Those deep inside of me?

And those plain to see? 

Can I really say yes to you? 

What will it look like to serve you as me? 

And truly be me?

How you have created me to be?

Am I willing? 

Am I prepared?

Am I going to do this? 

Well we’ll best wait and see… 

When it’s only you and me it’s easy to be. 

What will the world think? 

Will they truly accept me? 

Can I really be me?

And say yes to the you in me? 

©️Revdjo 4/8/24

Is your Arrow Polished?

So is your arrow polished? Are you ready for what it is God would have you do? In this ever changing world it is important that we are equipped and ready for what ever life throws at us.

The Bible talks of us as being arrows, polished and hidden in God’s quiver. 

Listen to me, you islands; 

Hear this, you distant nations:

From my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.

He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,

In the shadow of his hand he hid me;

He made me into a polished arrow

And concealed me in his quiver.

(Isaiah 49:1-2)

Jenny Sanders in her book Polished Arrows (Instant Apostle, 2024) takes us through this in detail. Looking at all the stages of arrow making from coppicing the wood, stripping back the bark,  dealing with the knottieness and the splinters, sanding down the wood, putting in the nock, and oiling she uses these analogies to look at how God forms us ready to do his will. 

I first met Jenny at Book Blest, a Christian festival that I help run. She is a great author and her books are really worth the read. If you get the chance to see her read one of her children’s books do make sure you go and take the kids/grandkids. She is so animated and fun! Jenny had us all putting on fake moustaches at Book Blest as she read from her book The Magnificent Moustache. She asked me recently if I would be part of her blog tour for Polished Arrows which I happily agreed to. The bonus of that was a free PDF copy of her book. What’s not to like?

Book Blest 

Polished Arrows is very readable and perfect for those new or more mature in faith. It is rich with Bible references and stories put together to take us on a journey of exploring our own faith. At the end of each chapter are some question which help the reader to take hold of the challenges given and reflect on their own life. It would be a perfect book to use in a Bible study for a small group and is certainly a recommended read for individuals and groups alike.

I for one want to be polished and ready. A arrow  ready for God to use in and for his Kingdom. What about you?