Faith from a little boat in a big ocean
What we learn from.the past is there is sweet as well as bitter.
What i learn from my own present is that the whole of life is journey
I journey, with God to God, better than that He carries me to a future I can in no way work for myself. Eternal Life is unearned it is a gift
I post infrequently here, for one reason or another life seems always so very full. But I think perhaps now may be a good time to begin again. Like very many others I do keep track of my days in diaries, like road maps they help to plan the way ahead, in notebooks, I have a good few of those.. I have been challenged to gather them altogether and put my own story together; perhaps ..one day.
This to me has been the hardest Lent ever. Church is closed, but the work still goes one. Like so many, I am wondering what church may be like the other side of the rainbow š
Yes I did say, rainbow. I can see a rainbow quiet clearly in my minds eye, there it is, a shining arch over a dark pathway, a dark tunnel which for a time we all must walk through
My heart goes out to the hundreds of thousands, already poor, hungry, homeless and without medical attention in the 3rd world š I mourn with those already bereaved and sigh with relief with those whose loved ones are in recovery from this evil virus.
I do not blame God for any of the present suffering, our God is a merciful God, long suffering, full of goodness and compassion. Our God can turn the world upside down, our God can shake the earth, but our God is with us in all this.. I do not doubt that. To me the worldās injustice, unfairness, itās intolerance, prejudices, excesses the great gap between those who have and have not, are shown up in the bright shafts of light flashing from side to side in that dark tunnel
With the Lordās help the world will get through this pandemic. But only with His help
Should the world return to where it was before?
In many respects I hope and pray not. I pray that with the help and guidance of the Lord it will become a better one. It is time for all of us to wake up, and be re-born in the love of God it is time for the sons and daughter of Adam and Eve to put their garden in order.
It is also time for me also to answer His urgent call for me to seek out the silent pathway… that is prayer
“Truly, I say to you, if you do not retrace your steps inside yourselves and become like little children, then you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
This is the Mixtec (language of southern Mexico) translation of Matthew 18. 3. I read it as I turned the calendar over to the 1st July, and the words found a place, immediately in my heart. There are some words, sown, seemingly by chance, that we recognise as instantly as being sown for a purpose directly by the Master’s hand. And this is one of them.
The translation in my English Bible
“Then He said, ‘In truth I tell you, unless you change and become as little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.”
Then the Lord Jesus, went on to say, “And so the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.”
The disciples had come to the Lord questioning who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, and calling a little child to Him, and placing him in the centre, Jesus had replied gently but sternly, that a change of thinking, and a change of heart was required.
Retracing our steps, and coming back to the place we first began, is never easy, especially for those who believe themselves to be wise, and proficient already … but this is what Jesus teaches us is necessary. Nicodemus, a leader of standing and authority did not find it easy, listen to what the Lord says to him,
“In truth I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born through water and the Spirit; what is born of human nature is human, what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be surprised when I say you must be born from above. The wind blows where it pleases you can hear the sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The disciples had given up all to be with Him, they had come such a long way, grown in understanding, and yet, maybe….. had not grasped that the One who had been from all eternity, had emptied Himself of all ‘greatness’ to become just such a little child as this. And as just such a ‘little child’ to serve with absolute obedience, with sweet and innocent grace His Father in Heaven.
In the day of Jesus’ earthly pilgrimage, a Master would call his slaves, ‘children” … I (we) should never forget that Jesus is not only Saviour but also Lord. A patient, gentle Lord and Teacher, willing to lead and guide all who ask into ‘things too wonderful to speak about. But first, we may have to retrace our steps inside ourselvesā¦
It has been some time since, this blog was last updated. That is because I also, under my Shepherd’s eye, have been retracing my steps. Please visit Wycliffe Bible Translators and praise God for the blessings of Scriptures made available in so many languages, and pray that many more will come to share in that blessing through their work.
Translation made by http://www.wycliffe.org.uk/
Scripture version used N.J.B. References Matt 18.3,4. John 3. 5-8.
Coracle And Tide 