You will keep that person in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26.3 (translation mine) I'm going to share a little more about me in today's post (not that I don't mostly just end up doing that anyway...) - I keep the Sabbath. Now, it's not some legalistic thing I do with a million and one rules or lists of 'I shall not...', and I absolutely don't do it because I think it'll get me into heaven or that people who don't do it won't be invited. Not at all! I keep Sabbath because it injects rhythm and purpose into my weekly walk with God.
I try to do things on Sabbath that will direct me towards God - I spend time reading the Bible, worshipping and praying, I sometimes study books about faith and God, I talk with people and make sure I know how they're really doing, and sometimes I get the chance to make things while doing some of that as well! I love creating as I worship, or pray, and making things that focus me on some aspect of God's character, either alone or alongside a friend. Last Sabbath I got to do just that. For my housemate's birthday a couple of months ago I'd gotten her a lino-cutting starter pack, and we'd liked it so much that we'd gotten some more pads, and then we hadn't really done much with them. After we enjoyed a good lunch together (with cheesecake for dessert - my all time favourite!), we decided to do some printing. I had this verse in my head from earlier as it was the one sent to me that day to illustrate for my church's Look up in Lockdown post, and I just sat there reflecting on this idea of "perfect peace". And in that day, of not having to worry about productivity or work; and in that meal, of being open and true with my husband and closest friend; and in the discussion we'd had about the intricacy and beauty of the flowers that adorned the table, sent to me from my sister earlier in the week - I felt a sense of that perfect peace. So I made a print of one of the carnations that stood in the little jar of water in front of me. To remind me of that beautiful time when there was no fretfulness, no rush, and no worry, and to remind me that this is what God wants for each of us. Peace. Shalom. Wholeness. Perfect peace. Stay safe, and take care!
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The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. Psalm 35.15 (KJV) I've been struggling with prayer meeting since Lockdown. Like, I used to always go when it was in church, and sometimes I had to cycle in the rain to get there and I'd be cycling just wishing it could've been in my house. And now it is, and my church has started doing a prayer meeting every evening now, so I can even pick when I want it to be convenient for me. AND so many more people are going now, because lots of people struggled with the travel before and now don't have that problem. But as much as it's become more convenient for me... I've become less likely to actually go, and when I do I rarely say anything, and afterwards it doesn't feel like I even went to anything anyway.
It's strange. I don't like not seeing the people I'm praying with, and I don't know when to talk or not. It's just strange! But it's also encouraging, to hear the prayers of those who share my faith. To be united with one purpose - to help each other through this time and to bring all our cares, worries, thanks and praises before our God. The one place where something can actually happen about them. So maybe it's not about feeling comfortable or having prayer meeting go my way - but about sharing in this fundamental part of Christian faith, together. Stay safe, and take care! I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91.2 (ESV) I love the Bible (as you can probably guess from my insistence on writing blog posts based on it...)! But I am very aware that the Bible is often ambiguous, confusing and messy. God's interactions with messy human life probably couldn't not be messy! But it is clear - again and again - on what God cares about. God cares about what goes on here on earth, this little planet in a humongous universe. God cares about animals, and plants, and weather cycles! God cares about life. On top of that, God cares about goodness, peace, joy, love. Again and again through the Bible, we see characters whose lives are sometimes good and sometimes bad, and sometimes how they see God working in those times is questionable, but how God actually remains, is steadfast - a safe haven, a place to run to, a person to sit with, a companion to grow in the presence of.
I took the photo I used in the above illustration in the Peak District in Derbyshire. Every November, for more years than I've been here, my church has been going on a retreat here. We spend the weekend living in log cabins together, worshipping, reading the Bible, and walking in the countryside. And it is some seriously stunning countryside. And every year so far, God has been revealed to me in some new way, when I run into the refuge and fortress of God, away from all the pressures, stresses, normal, boring stuff of everyday life. I wonder if we can create some of those refuge and fortress spaces in our present habitations? Can you mark out a space and some time, where nothing else can press on you, and you can just know who God is for you, right now? Because God is definitely for you. God is your refuge and your fortress. In whom do you trust? Stay safe, and take care! Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5.7 (NIV) Have you had those nights? When you've just got so many thoughts rushing through your brain that you can't sleep? Some of them seem reasonable things to keep you up - sadness after watching the news, concern for friends or family. While others are just something you did during the day which you could've said in a better way, or even half dreams you've had and now you're just awake thinking about them! Every now and again you look at the clock and see the night slip away. And you know you're going to be so tired in the morning, but try as you might, sleep doesn't come.
Well there is somewhere we can go when this happens. One of my pastors was sharing how she experienced this, and she was so wrapped up dwelling on 'what ifs' and worries, that she just tossed and turned and twitched and... gave up. In the end she searched out this verse in her Bible. 'Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.' She took God at his word and wrote down everything she was anxious about, on little pieces of paper. And then she slept. In the morning, she places those pieces of paper in a box, since called 'My WORRY Box'. If you're struggling to deal with all your thoughts and anxieties, why not make your own box - a physical way to signify giving them all to God. God cares for you. Think about that. God really cares. For you. Wants what is best for you. Wants you to thrive. Wants you to be free from the heavy weight anxiety settles on you. So take God at his word: cast your cares on him, and let him care for you. Stay safe, and take care! But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will wise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Malachi 4.2 (NLT) Not so long back, around January, I was exhausted all the time. I would go out to work, and by the time I got home it was not abnormal for me to just climb into my bed and fall asleep. Now, I wasn't working long hours, and I'm the sort of person who is usually go-go-go, so it was frustrating and a little alarming in its almost constant-ness. The tiredness also made me get ill more often, which when you're in your first year of working in a school anyway means getting ill A LOT. So after a few weeks I decided to go to the doctor and had a blood test - nothing serious, just on the low side of a few things, one of which was Vitamin D. Unsurprising given it was the middle of winter and I live in the UK! I talked to a doctor at my church (because I didn't really understand my test results and because there was nothing terrible, my doctor never called about them...) and he suggested a daily multivitamin including iron and vitamin D, and so that's what I got! And since then, I've been absolutely fine! I've had lots of energy, done lots of things, and feel stronger. Sadly, I still caught things at school, but they certainly didn't hit me as hard. I was surprised at how much of a difference it has made!
But maybe that's like our faith too. We go about our normal lives and suddenly we find there's not as much energy in it - not as much zest or interest. We've been doing all the things we were supposed to be - exercising (doing good things), eating healthily (studying the Bible), creating head-space (praying regularly), and yet, it's just become tiring! Well perhaps just as I was so dependent on this "sunshine vitamin" that I hadn't been getting enough of, our spiritual life takes a slow-dive when we're not getting enough exposure to the 'sun of righteousness'. We can't always take our to-do lists into our faith. Productivity can't always be our goal. Slow down - soak up the rays of health and healing. God has what you need. As always, stay safe, and take care! |
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AuthorI'm a recent Cambridge Theology graduate now studying for a Masters in Biblical Studies and blogging about all sorts of things! I'm interested in faith, Church, theology, social action, the great outdoors and being creative, and all of those things - along with many more - come through in my posts!
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