I branched out into a new land of fruit recently. I have discovered – blueberries in porridge! This is a new experience. As a child I don’t ever remember seeing blueberries in the shops and was brought up with apples, bananas and pears – so the blueberry was new territory to me. Still – it Read More …
Category: Study
thoughts meditations Bible study reflection
I’ve failed! I’ve failed! I’ve failed!
Depression. Despair. Disillusionment. I remember the Rag and Bone man trundling along the street with his horse and cart, crying out in that spoken-sung tone. It was great news! If you were a kid and brought something to the cart you were given a balloon! This was almost as exciting as the arrival of the Read More …
Get up and make buns!
“I was at work when he came – just doing my job!” Levi. Tax Collector. What was Levi up to? Officially, his job was bound to be unpopular. He must have lined himself up to be hated, complained at and perhaps viewed with suspicion. Certainly, he seems to have confessed to some dodgy dealings. He Read More …
Worn Out! Just Functioning!
Housework Housework is not my favourite occupation. It is inevitability! There is a meal to cook, but when you have done it there are pots to wash, and before you can start on it there is shopping to do, and it all starts again the next day. The kitchen floor is clean – until someone Read More …
Information Overload!
Stress! Panic! Pressure! Today I am suffering from information overload. There is so much I need to find out. One piece of information just seems to lead to another question and suddenly I am lost in a maze. It is all too much to absorb. I need time. I need to lose the sense of Read More …
Watch. Anticipate. Can you feel it growing?
In the parable of the yeast, a woman is baking bread. (Matthew 13) It is an ordinary event. The illustration is over in a moment. It is up to us to interpret this picture. Bread-making can be frustrating. Even though you anticipate the outcome there is a waiting period. You must wait for the yeast Read More …
Rooted in the Church
Get roots! Roots grow deep. Roots are difficult to pull up. In the parable of the sower, the seeds on good soil grow. It would be an odd action indeed – to dig up these seeds and try patch after patch! If you are serious, get roots. They feed you. They strengthen you. Did you Read More …
Stories reach the heart
Jesus used parables – stories. In Matthew 13 he had spoken to a large crowd. The crowd had gathered round him. We can presume they wanted to see Jesus and were at least curious as to who he was and what he could do. You might say they were ‘just looking.’ He told them many Read More …
Work! Work! Work!
There is a big pull from this world to demand all your time and lock you into signing it away. It seems that it is not enough to have a job anymore. You must be dedicated enough to do what seems to be compulsory overtime. You must do the job and also complete training – Read More …
Parable of the Sower
Are we so familiar with the parable of the sower that we think we know it? A farmer scatters his seed. Seed falls on rocks, thorny ground and good soil. Will it grow or will it be lost? We’d all like to be in the good ground where the seed not only grows but produces Read More …
