Heart 2 Heart

One of my all time favourite films is The Railway Children with actress Jenny Agutter.  The final scene sees Jenny’s character, Roberta, standing on the station platform.  She wasn’t expecting her father to be on the train after a long absence, but begins to entertain the hopeful possibility.  The end of the platform is covered with a thick steamy mist but slowly Roberta recognises her father’s silhouette.  She calls out to him “Daddy, my daddy”, as she runs into his embrace. Roberta running into her father’s embrace always gets to me.  It speaks to me of the longing to be embraced by our father’s arms, held firmly yet gently, deeply loved, accepted, and protected.  It makes me reflect on the unique intimacy available to us from our Heavenly Father.  Jesus, called him, Abba, a tender, intimate name not dissimilar to Dad or Daddy, but like Roberta’s father on the platform, sometimes our Heavenly Father can be difficult to make out, hidden by our false p...

  As we prepare for Christmas, I wonder what you’re having to make room for.  Are you having to make space in a bedroom for extra guests or an extra chair or several at your table?  Are you rearranging your furniture to make room for a Christmas tree or even rearranging your outdoor planters to make room for a blow up snowman or Santa?  I wonder if you have time, or consciously make room, for pondering what Christmas is about? This year, somewhere between the tinsel and the turkey, or maybe in the days between year end and year beginning, I invite you to make room for pondering Christ Jesus.  This is after all what many Christians around the world do during Advent.  They intentionally stop and take a pause to remember that first Christmas, which reminds them that Jesus is the Christ child that gave us Christmas.  But why does it matter today, 2,000 plus years later?  I’m looking forward to Christmas 2022.  It seems so much more hopeful than r...

 

 

God forms the seen from the unseen by his creative word . Hebrews 11:3 (NIV)   3  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.   Hebrews 11:3 (NLT) 3  By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.     ·        As we start a new meteorological season and month, what are you hoping for, or do you need faith for, this season?  It can be personal or for someone, somewhere, something.   ·        What are the signs around you that might encourage you of potential growth or fruit in this area?  Are your senses being tingled by a fresh autumn wind, a new smell in the air, the sight of ripening autumn fruit?   ·        What is your current faith level, is it the siz...

  You ask me God, what do I see? When I look around I see a world full of chaos, confusion, and need. Look down and I see my own doubt and self pity, weighing down every bit of me. Yet when I look up I see, landscapes of beauty and grace. With my gaze I can trace, a glimpse of your glory as it melds with my story. Look higher still, I sense more of your will. The grace in your face frowns with care and compassion, your heart stirred to action, as you reach out your hand to touch people and land. A touch that brings promise, and hope, and revival. If we lift up our gaze  and prepare to receive all that we need  for survival and thriving.