Sunday Reflection

A friend and I have taken up running - well - ok, brisk walking with some bouts of gentle jogging. This is our route. No-one but the sheep and God to see us. Its good to have company - someone to encourage me - to say "we can do this". It is hard, some days to be motivated, especially when the weather is wild. As we start off, we wonder how we are going to get through our program - the end seems such a long way away. But we step out, and soon we are well into our stride, and surprised at how quickly the time has gone. I am really enjoying it, and I come home feeling lighter and full of energy.

I feel the same about these Sunday Reflection posts - your supportive wisdom and prayers, fill me with encouragement, thank you all. 

Today at church, we were blessed with the preaching of a young man of 21. (I can hear your sighs of relief.) He has visited us before, and we have always been struck at the maturity and wisdom of his words. The Holy Spirit is truly with him. Today, he led us through the parting of the Red Sea, and all the fear and trauma involved in that story. The Lord will fight for you; You only need to be still.(Ex 14:14). The Israelites were terrified, trapped - hemmed in on all sides, no idea where to go next. Suddenly their past lives as Egyptian slaves seemed preferable to them - they forgot all the miracles that had happened previously, in their fear of the moment.  But they only had to look up - to the pillar of cloud and fire, and God would lead them to the land that was promised - and He did. So, often in the storms of life - we focus on our own human problems and we forget to look up. Yet, if we remember to do this - to look up, and watch and wait - God will take control and deliver us. Its not at all easy - we remember how simple life was in Egypt - and even walking through the path that God has opened for us requires a huge act of faith. But He has given us the hand of Jesus to cling on to, and He is only a prayer away.

Writing this tonight  was a bit like my running sessions. I sat in front of a blank screen, wondering how I was going to even start. What could I write that would be in the least meaningful - how can I keep this series going, week after week? So I decided to look at my Bible app for inspiration. Today's verse is from James 1: 5 If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all, without finding fault, and it will be given to you. At first reading, it appears to be exactly what I needed  - of course - I needed to ask God for inspiration! After all, this is meant to be about Him and His glory. If I don't ask God what he wants to write about, and truly listen, then what is the point?  Indeed - I only needed to look up, and he led me through to the end. 

Wishing you all God's blessings on the week ahead xx