Lent 2014 - 15 April: peace and quiet

Today's simple pleasure is peace and quiet. What's that? Absolutely nothing. Bliss.

Lent 3014 - 22nd March: special places

Another simple pleasure from me... special places. There are many special places that I have already blogged on. Today I focus on The National Memorial Arboretum at Arelwas, Staffordshire. It is a special place for me for a number of reasons. My husband is ex-military and served with the Grenadier Guards whilst the Arboretum is not just about remembering those who have died in conflict, for me, this is a significant reason why I like to visit. The Arboretum is fairly close to where I live and one of the places locally that I feel at peace. It is quite exposed and can be rather chilly on windy days. It can also be rather wet under foot. I love going at different seasons and seeing the change in landscape both because of the season and because there is always something new to see. It continues to live, and breath, and grow on behalf of those who have died and are remembered in our hearts. 

The Arboretum pay only a peppercorn rent, of £1.00 PA I believe, for the land that has has the gravel extracted from it. As the gravel company extracts the gravel for the adjacent land it then gives the land other to the arboretum. This is such a generous act that again makes it so special. It is a place I can loose myself in for hours. The other reason close to my heart is that a friends name (a close friend of my husband) is written on the remembrance wall. It is a special place for remembering. If you have never visited I would urge you to do so. It is important to remember those we love. For me the Arboretum is a special place I hope it becomes one for you as well. Maybe you have your own special places where you can relax, feel at peace, and remember?

What helps you to pray?

I like things around me to make me think and, in turn, to pray. The above photo, and the one bellow, were taken in my study. So, what inspires you? What helps you to imagine and dream of possibilities yet to be? What helps you to pray?

I like to laugh as often as I can. Life really is too short to be grumpy, besides we use less muscles to smile then we do to frown. So sit for a moment, have a cup of tea, and think of the things that make you laugh. They are usually free! Perhaps its as simple as chatting with a friend?

Maybe it's nature that inspires you, maybe it's words, maybe you dream of possibilities when you sleep? I have said before, I am at my most creative late at night, normally before I drift off to sleep. This is also the time I am most relaxed and most receptive to God's voice. Yes, there are other times and in my quest to seek God's face I have found solace in quiet days (retreats from the outside world), and alone pottering in the garden, and just recently in the middle of the swimming pool where I felt God's still small voice says to me, 'I'm here.' God is all around us. It's a question of us connecting with him. So how do we do it? 

As I reflect on my sign that says 'sit long, talk much, laugh often' I wonder can I apply this to my prayer life? Have you tried pouring your heart out to God recently? Try it. Go on give it a go... Shout at him. Scream at him. Tell him how you feel. Jump up and down. Cry, laugh, but be honest, honest with your emotions. There is nothing like a heart wrenching prayer. God hears the cry of our heart. He is there, talk to him, he's waiting for that long chat and for you to tell him how you feel. And then listen... wait for him to respond. Feel his peace, the peace that passes all understanding.

 

Luke 12:22-31 NRSV

²² He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! ²⁵ And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? ²⁶ If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. ²⁸ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. ³⁰ For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Drowning in the storm

There's a legend of a man who lives beneath the sea. He is a fisher of men, a last hope for those who are left behind.

The Guardian (2006) staring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher tells the story of a veteran coastguard. It starts with the above thought provoking quote of a mystical figure who helps those who are drowning to reach the surface.

We don't need water to drown. Life can drown us, or so it seems. Sometimes the waves are big and fierce crashing down around us leaving us gasping for breath. Sometimes the storm seems relentless. We can only tread water at best. We pray for help. We pray some more. Nothing seems to change or even give. The storm continues. Life continues but not perhaps as we would like or want it.

But Jesus is still there amongst the waves and in the storm and his love for us never changes.

God is our refuge and strength,

An ever-present help in times of trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

And the mountains fall into the heart of the sea

Though its waters roar and foam

And the mountains quake with their surging.

He says, 'be still and know that I am God'...

The Lord Almighty is with us;

The God of Jacob is our fortress.

(Psalm 46:1-3, 10a, 11 NIV)

Remember the account of Jesus sleeping in the bottom of the boat (Mat 8:23-27) whilst the disciples worried about the storm. Then Jesus calmed the storm and everything was still once more.

In the midst of the storm Jesus says to us... 'Be still and know that I am God.'

 

Are you there Lord?

I am glad to say that the hill has levelled out a bit.  I wish I knew what was around the corner, or may be it is just as well I don't.  The path leads over hills and down through the valley.  It has high points and low points and many twists and turns.  Are you there Lord?

He waits patiently in the silence offering peace to those who take time to notice.... 

Listening

How do you know that you are truely listening to God?  Recently I really felt that God was directing me in a certain direction but alas the door was closed.  I am left pondering as to whether I did actually hear what God was saying or not.  Is this just all part of his plan and part of my journey in life or was His will stopped in its tracks?  I am convinced that discerning God's voice is a corporate thing and that together as the church body we seek out HIs will but what if the body gets it wrong?  I guess we are all infallible individuals and churches are made up of infallible people so it is not surprising we get it wrong on occasion.  I am sure it grieves God when we don't walk in His will and go off on our own agendas and I am thankful that He is a God of grace who forgives us when we make mistakes and ask for His forgiveness.


My hope is in a God who knows my deepest thoughts and fears and who shelters me under His wing in times of trouble.  I am blessed to have many lovely people who are praying for me and in these last few weeks I have felt at peace.  At peace that no matter how events turn out God is with me and feels my pain because it is part of His pain too.  At peace because God knows how expectant I am and how excitted I am to follow Him.  At peace because I journey on the road that Christ journeys.