Lift Up Your hands

 

 

Psalm 134 

Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord

who minister by night in the house of the Lord.

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Zion,

He who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

(NIV 2011) 

 

I don't know about you but sometimes I don't quite feel like praising God but as soon as I do my whole demeanour changes. The grumpy or sad Jo changes into a more upbeat, calm, and happy Jo. Singing does something to lift your soul and worship does something even more. There is a clear difference between just singing and worshipping. Worshipping is a heart thing. It's not about singing the right notes, although it sounds better if we do. It's about giving of ourselves to God. 

 

The picture is of my cat Buddy, one of my favourate photos of him when he was a kitten at full stretch playing with a garden cane which I had hold of the other end. It, likes singing, and worshipping makes me joyful. We can never get enough joy can we? Sometimes life gets in the way and makes us grumpy, or sad, or whatever and actually it is OK to come to God in those moods. If we can't be honest with our Heavenly Father then who can we be honest to? Even in our grieving, or our anger, bring it all to God. 

 

It's really hot in the UK and we aren't equipped for it like many of our European neighbours and other countries. Also unlike other countries its also very humid. I like the hot weather but not the humidity. I much prefer the summer to other months but the extremes of heat are a bit much for me. Whatever the weather and however we are feeling God deserves or praise. But maybe on Sunday morning as we lift our hands in worship together in our churches we need a little bit more of this!

 

 

Gifts and Acorns

All of us have been given gifts and talents. Some of us use them well. Some of us just shove them in a draw or a pocket and forget them. Some of us are a mixture of the two. There are of course seasons where perhaps we don’t use all that we have been given, for whatever reason. 

I took this photo at the local Sculpture Park. It intrigues me. The image seems to be of a child handing an adult something. Maybe an acorn? To me there is trust in the interaction. Trust that what is given will be honoured, treasured, and handled well. Not screwed up and thrown in the bin. But treasured as much as the giver treasures it. 

It is half-term week here, in other places half term is just starting. Our children, and grandchildren, are a gift in themselves. Enjoy the gift. Treasure the moments. Place your hand in theirs and embrace the moment. 

 

Acorns become mighty oak trees. Little ideas become successful ventures. Our young people become leaders. But these things don’t happen overnight they need nurturing and time and good soil in which to grow. 

I consider myself a life long learner. I’m always learning something. I like to try new things and am currently enjoying a creative streak. It’s good to push our comfort zones occasionally. We never know what we can achieve until we try. 

Sometimes God gives us gifts and we reject them. They can’t really be for us can they? It’s not until we unwrap the gift that we realise how beautiful and precious and truly perfect it is for us. 

So what has God placed into your hand? What are your gifts and talents? Is God wanting to give you another gift? Have you any gifts that you are yet to unwrap? I encourage you to peel back the paper and take a peep. 

Clean

I've been cleaning the house tonight. Here's a poem that arrived as I soaked awake my aches in the bath - one of my places of inspiration. I hope to like it.

'Throw out the rubbish'

I heard you say.

I emptied the bins,

for the sake of my sins.

'What about those spots?'

I looked around..

And scrubbed and cleaned,

I washed the pots.

'The dust in the corner.'

'The speck over there?'

I hovered the rug

And under the chair.

I listen for your voice.

I hear only a din.

The music next door.

I open the gin.

Drowning my sorrows

I put up my feet.

It's comfy here.

I fall asleep.

'What about your hands?

And the state of your heart?'

I open my eyes.

You gave me a start!

©Revdjo 7/8/13