Sunday 21 July 2013

Sharing the shame

Lost in my body
My soul escapes.
It ventures the road 
others won't take.

Tears lost inside
Pain is my name.
Shouting at me
Sharing my shame.

If only you saw 
The man at the door.
Watching with me
As I look at the floor.

They use me 
And abuse me.
They look
And they prod.

Day after day,
Hour after hour,
Minute by minute
I look at the clock.

I wonder if I 
Will ever remember,
Sunshine and freedom
The rain in September?

©Revdjo 21/7/13

Today we had a speaker, Andrew Wrath, from Hope for Justice. When will human trafficking end? We commemorate the abolishing of the slave trade but yet it still continues. Human trafficking is the slave trade of this century. It needs to stop; until then we share the shame. Please Lord let it end.




Friday 19 July 2013

What helps you to pray?




I like things around me to make me think and, in turn, to pray. The above photo, and the one bellow, were taken in my study. So, what inspires you? What helps you to imagine and dream of possibilities yet to be? What helps you to pray?


I like to laugh as often as I can. Life really is too short to be grumpy, besides we use less muscles to smile then we do to frown. So sit for a moment, have a cup of tea, and think of the things that make you laugh. They are usually free! Perhaps its as simple as chatting with a friend?

Maybe it's nature that inspires you, maybe it's words, maybe you dream of possibilities when you sleep? I have said before, I am at my most creative late at night, normally before I drift off to sleep. This is also the time I am most relaxed and most receptive to God's voice. Yes, there are other times and in my quest to seek God's face I have found solace in quiet days (retreats from the outside world), and alone pottering in the garden, and just recently in the middle of the swimming pool where I felt God's still small voice says to me, 'I'm here.' God is all around us. It's a question of us connecting with him. So how do we do it? 

As I reflect on my sign that says 'sit long, talk much, laugh often' I wonder can I apply this to my prayer life? Have you tried pouring your heart out to God recently? Try it. Go on give it a go... Shout at him. Scream at him. Tell him how you feel. Jump up and down. Cry, laugh, but be honest, honest with your emotions. There is nothing like a heart wrenching prayer. God hears the cry of our heart. He is there, talk to him, he's waiting for that long chat and for you to tell him how you feel. And then listen... wait for him to respond. Feel his peace, the peace that passes all understanding.
 


Luke 12:22-31 NRSV

22 He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Saturday 13 July 2013

Words

Words matter let then flow
On a page,
On a wall.
Words matter let them flow
From within,
From your soul.
Words matter let them flow
Cascading,
Descending,
Slow.
Words matter let them flow
Speak them out,
Let them show.
Words matter let them flow
Igniting,
Highlighting,
Go!

copyright Revdjo 13/7/13

Friday 12 July 2013

What is this mystery you keep?

I've taken lots of photos 
As I gazed upon your beauty.
I've wondered at your elegance
And tried to understand
Why you're so cold 
When its warm outside.
How you're so silent
When your bells are tolled.
What is this mystery you keep?
Sealed in a book that's centuries old.
Your perfume it haunts me
And follows me home.
What is it you desire of me?
As you beckon
And annoy.
You call my name 
I'll not be shamed.
I won't ignore.
I will explore.
New day.
New start.
New open door. 
I'm here again once more.

©Revdjo 12/7/13


Rev 3:20 'Here I am! Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me.



Sometimes things are difficult to work out exactly what they are until you step back to see it really is the obvious.

Wednesday 3 July 2013

Hot chocolate pleasure

I sit and stare 
at my hot chocolate
Looking at me 
with his creamy whips.
He acts all cool 
but he's hot, hot, hot,
With his marshmallow drops
And mysterious looks.
'Drink me!' He cries
I almost die.
He's heaven bent 
with angel eyes.
He's looking at me 
I'm drowning inside.
We touch at last
But then he's gone.
A fleeting moment
Of warm embrace.
A guilty pleasure
Repent at haste.

© Revdjo 2/7/13




Tuesday 2 July 2013

Is it time for a rest?





I have recently come back from a long awaited holiday in Corfu. The area my husband and I stayed at was called Canal D'Amour, Sadari, it was indeed love at first sight. Such a beautiful place to be. Having been to Corfu before and driven around the island (including three laps of a round-about in Corfu town) we decided just to chill by the swimming pool all week. It was as they say a dogs life. This little friend joined me one morning and then scampered away again following the crowd. It is so easy to follow the crowd and get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and forget to stop and listen to God. Even God rested on the seventh day and if he needs a rest so do we (Gen 2:2).


I like to read but of late have struggled to find the time to read just for me rather than books I have to read to complete an essay. It's been nice to be able to relax and read what I want. Two of the books I enjoyed, I read more, were David Walliam's Camp David and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. Walliam's autobiography is a very honest account of his life and things that have made him who he is today. We are all molded by our past but not many of us would want to put those painful moments in black and white and share them with the world. But perhaps we should be willing to share more of the things that make us who we are? Perhaps we should be more willing to share how the Spirit of God has changed our lives with those that don't know God?

Joyce's book is a fantastic read. Harold goes to post a letter to a friend but ends up going past the post box to the next one. Having got to the next post box he decided to continue walking... I won't spoil the plot for you by telling you what happens. Walking is good, resting is essential. God calls us to follow him. To walk with him in faith. To journey with him. He also invites us to rest with him (Ex 34:21, 35:2). 

Jesus said, 'Take my yolk upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls 
(Matt 11:29).      


Is it time for a rest?