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! Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; on you I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, your tender mercies and your lovingkindnesses, for they are from of old. Psalm 24.5-6 (NKJV) The Psalmists went through some pretty treacherous times, and they documented them willingly. But in each Psalm, no matter how difficult the picture is that they paint of their lives, they are singing to God of how good and faithful God remains. If you were to write a song to God right now (ignoring musical capabilities, rhymes, rhythm or anything else that goes into the complicated mix of songwriting), what would you say? What would you focus on? What would you sing about? What would you want to repeat again and again in a chorus until you feel the truth of it in your bones?
We sing God's praises, we sing a new song, we sing day by day. Maybe, like the Psalmists, we can use these difficult times to sing from our home fortresses too. To sing that God is the God of our salvation. To use these precious moments to seek God's truth for us today. I love the second half of this verse: God didn't spring up when tough times started: God's tender mercy and lovingkindness is of old! They've been here forever, and will continue to be so. Whether we're sat here content, or on our knees with broken spirits and tearful emotions, let us know that God hasn't changed. Let us sing new songs as we pray to God to be here with us, new yet the same each and every morning. 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! So teach us to number our days, That we may get a heart of wisdom. Do return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalm 90.12-14 (ESV) Does God care how we spend our time? I guess we're confronted with that question a little more now (at least those of us stuck at home without our usual work to do). But even those still needed for work at the moment might be confronted with the issue of whether it is worth it, when life can be so fleeting - especially for those who've been in hospital and have been scared of losing their lives. What are the things that make life worth living and time worth having? And how much of our lives do we actually spend on those things?
Ellen White, the 19th Century church-founder, who lived from 1827-1915, wrote that: 'The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it.' ~ Ellen G. White, Be Like Jesus, p.78 Time is something we all have, but that we all prioritise differently. It's often hard to say what is the right way and wrong way to gather and use our time. There are enough good things to do that you could fill a thousand lifetimes with them! But we have to be selective. Consider mapping out all the things you spend time on, and reflecting on the things you want to spend more time doing. If there's some aspect of your work or busyness that can be streamlined, try it. And give the remaining time to something important - to building lasting relationships with your family and friends, or reconnecting with God who gives peace and reveals truth. If you have any successes, let me know, because this is something I massively struggle with! I always have so much that I want to do, and often have to stop myself and reconfigure my daily time to make carve out space for the seemingly non-productive things that make me human and connect me with my God. Stay safe everyone, 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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