On being outrageous - Flying on wings like Eagles

Outrageous -  I have particularly come to like the word outrageous this year - I have this inner desire to be outrageous, is it my coming of age and the fact that I am going to be 50 very soon? Just how this outrageousness will take shape I do not know, all the things I think about that could be termed as even slightly outrageous for me do not have the slightest appeal. So maybe being Outrageous for God is the best solution. Maybe the feeling that I am 50 now will allow me to speak about my faith in ways I have never felt authorised to do before, so watch out!
 I have been reading Mark 2: 1-12. It seems that Jesus was being very outrageous and upsetting the "religious leadership" of the day by healing and forgiving sins. The religious leadership who should have recognised Jesus, did not, they thought he was too ordinary and insignificant to be God, in fact they thought who was he to heal and forgive sins. It got me wondering about how we see God - how often do we have our own ideas of how, why and when he will come and what he will do. What little boxes do we compartmentalise him in? So BE OUTRAGEOUS today let God out of all the little boxes you have organised him into - let God be free to really reign in your life, to fulfil all those things he has the power and the authority to do. Then you will 'Fly on wings like an Eagle.' Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with winds like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Who walks with you in your Life?

There are times when the only place to be is on your knees in prayer, because you know there is no other place to go. Not the best option on a wet and windy night walking the streets of Acton. I just called out in prayer and kept walking imagining I was on my knees. Later in the evening my 18 year old son and I were looking at old photo's from before he was born - right up to the present date, a period stretching 30 years. Lots of events, weddings, holidays, births, adventures, laughter, tears. I began to notice 'people' who had been there through my life, but who did not really have to be, by that I mean they were not related to me. One person was John, not a family member but someone who came into my life with his wife Jenny when I was quite young, they were sunday school teachers and youth leaders - living out the Kingdom of God in their lives. John and Jenny are still there - very good friends, there at many events throughout my life, good times and bad. I sat and thanked God for others who had been there too. But most of all I sat and realised that my GOD had been there too and has sustained me and will sustain me through all things. I reaised how important those special friends were but how much GOD wants us to notice he is there so we can keep pace with him. Present your requests to GOD with thanksgiving and allow his peace to come, removing the fever of fear, anxiety and doubt. Philippians 4:6-7

The beginning of Advent



It's midnight on November 30th and I am on facebook sharing the angst of a teenager away from home for the first time as she realised she will not be sharing in her normal family advent calendar tradition. In fact she has no advent calendar at all. A midnight dilemma should she go and buy one so all will be well in the morning - December 1st. I began to ponder on my Christmas traditions and associations, some I have carried since childhood, others are part of my own children's Christmas celebrations. What are they? The tree (very important in our house being purchased as I type and will be up and festooned tomorrow), mince pies (already had one of those this week), sherry, carols and Christmas card writing (already in the diary for tomorrow evening), the star (pride of place on top of the tree), the nativity (Sunday the 18th this year, rehearsals went well this morning). Actually my list of Christmas tradition in our family is endless. All these things have warm and inviting memories of many Christmases past and bring to mind those who will never celebrate Christmas with us again. But December 1st makes me focus not on my Christmas traditions but on Jesus - as each day of the month I open another door on the advent calendar, I glimpse my saviour a bit more, as I read another piece of the scripture that prophesies his birth  it just reminds me again and again that Jesus is alive, here, right now. He was born a baby, walked this earth and grew to be a man who suffered and died for me and you. Ask yourself this question each day as you prepare for Christmas 2011 "What kind of man is this?" If you do not know - then find out more.

first go

HERE WE GO