The battlefield of the mind

Some people just leave impressions on your life, even when you don’t know them on a deep level. Today my husband and I attended a military funeral for Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Richard ‘Skid’ Dorney MBE at Salisbury Cathedral. Skid came up through the ranks of the Grenadier Guards. A true leader who was compassionate and always had time for people. On retirement from the guards he continued his work in supporting those with mental health issues, particularly those effected by trauma and PTSD. Setting up a company called Strong Mind Resilience  https://strongmindresilience.co.uk/ delivering courses on mental health first aid, suicide awareness, and much more. 

In the eulogy we were reminded that Skid would say, ‘there are no atheists on the battlefield.’ When we are facing death in the face then you have to be a brave man or woman to deny God’s existence. 

So are you strong minded? Do you know what you want and are clear in what you believe in? How is your resilience to life? Are you battling alone and failing miserably? We all need help once in a while and there is no shame in asking for that help, quite the opposite. Courses and training can help in overcome and living with many things. Talking and therapy can help to but so can prayer. Whatever you are feeling or thinking or worrying about right now why not talk to God about it? Prayers don’t need to be elegant and you don’t have to hold anything back. If you are angry, even angry at God tell him. Get it out your system. If you are confused and don’t know where to start God even listens to and understands our groans. Actually, he already knows how we feel and is aware of all that goes on in our lives but we still have to do our bit and come to him. We have free choice. God honours that. So what do you choose? 

Look up, instead of inward. Know that God loves you. Yes, even you. No matter what you have done, or how long you have denied him and pushed him away. He awaits you on that battlefield and when that last post sounds. 

Grief is the price we pay for love

Yesterday afternoon Queen Elizabeth II died. Whilst we all knew it would happen the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and beyond and have gone into shock. Grief does that to you. Even when you know it’s going to happen it is still a shock when it does. It was the Queen herself who said, ‘Grief is the price we pay for love.’ If we didn’t love it wouldn’t hurt. I’m sure there are mixed emotions today from lots of people. Even if you aren’t a royalist the Queen has been so much a part of our country you cannot help but be saddened. Today is the first day of ten days of official morning. 

Yesterday Before the news was announced I completed a new jigsaw puzzle. Unfortunately it didn’t fit in my jigsaw board so I had to improvise a little. The puzzle was if the London skyline including the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben. We use our eyes to see, they cast vision. Parliament is where the countries big decisions and laws are made. Our new Prime Minister Elizabeth Truss has on Monday taken up her new post. Big Ben is part of the iconic landscape and calls the time. 

Big Ben chimes the changes of our nation. 

From it the watchmen see and pray. 

Parliament takes up its mantle 

and the country grieves the passing of the Queen. 

The new season is upon us 

we wait with urgency 

as the roaring of the lion 

seeks to devour its prey.

Changes are afoot 

the lamb is at the door 

the two will lie together 

will you welcome them once more? 

Love and grace

'Love and marriage, love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage...' In the same way that love and marriage go together so do love and grace. You can't have love without grace. 

'For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it.' Eph 2:8-9

Grace is not something that we earn. It is not awarded because of something we have done. God's grace is given in mercy and not based on merit. His grace is never ending, which is just as well. We really don't deserve God's grace but that's the point. 

Grace, or being gracious is wrapped up in forgiveness. To be gracious with others we need to accept them as they are, warts and all, and to forgive their idiosyncrasies. To show love we also have to show grace and that involves acceptance and forgiveness. 

God's grace is perhaps hard for us to understand because we are so hard on other people and so hard on ourselves. We often want to beat ourselves up when we do something wrong. The bigger the mistake the bigger the stick. The bigger the stick, the less grace we show ourselves until we fail to forgive ourselves, yet alone ask God for his forgiveness. We think we are not worthy but God says, 'Yes you are, you are my child, and I love you.'

God doesn't want to beat us with a stick, he doesn't want us to feel guilty, he wants us to accept his grace, and his forgiveness and his love. Grace and forgiveness may seem alien to us if we are use to beating ourselves up, in the same way love can be alien to us if we don't actually love ourselves. It is impossible to give love unless we have experienced it for ourselves. It is impossible to behave lovingly to other people, unless we are loving towards ourselves. 

We don't have to earn God's love he bestows it upon us because of his grace. He forgives us through his grace and because of his abounding love for us. Paul's prayer for us is that we may know God's love as he knows it. 

'I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundations in love, so that together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how heigh and deep, is Christ's love. Yes, may you come to know his love - although it can never be fully known - and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.' Eph 3:14-19

Photo every day, Lent 2016

Today's photo theme is love... This is a photo I took of the Last Supper which hangs in St George's Church, Nailsworth. I have blogged about this before.

Time, love and grace entwined

Time is precious so is love

Beating together,

Held forever,

Shared.

Time ticks minute by minute

Moments inspired,

Thoughts transpired,

Lived.

Love wrapped as a gift

Grace expressed,

Width, breadth,

Depth.

Time and love delicately held

Hand-in-hand,

Past, present,

Future.

Loved memories held in time 

Encapsulated heart

Felt emotion,

Love, pain... And grace entwined.

©revdjo 27/10/13

My tears wash the feet

I have been away on the East Midland Baptist Association's ministers' retreat this week. We were blessed with two fantastic speakers again this year, Julie Kilpin (you can find her on twitter @julietkilpin) from Urban Expression (@urbanshalom) and Ian Stackhouse. Juliet was talking about alternative expressions of church and Ian on his book Primitive Piety. I have already blogged on Ian's book - when I eventually find the post I will post you a link! Why am I always so amazed at how much God speaks to my heart during this time?

We ended the retreat with praise and worship and Ian spoke to us on Luke 7: 36-50 - the women who anointed Jesus feet. As I reflected on the following verse and the love expressed I wrote this short poem.

'As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.' Luke 7:38

My tears wash the feet

My tears wash the feet

Of the Saviour I meet.

My scares are seen

In his hands and feet.

In the mirror,

That once was dark,

I see the light.

Reflection seen,

The picture of me

And Christ inside.

©Revdjo 27/9/13