Category Archives: theology

Elizabeth- God’s Timing

Advent, faith, God, hope, love, Religion, response, theology

Taken from my 2015 book Voices Through Advent and Christmas, available through Moorleys

Based on Luke 1: 24-25

So, there I am, suddenly find myself pregnant.  Zechariah had heard right all along!  This child growing in me.  God working in and through me.  Who knew!  God is good.  People will be able to see now what God has called me to.  They will see.  He wasn’t punishing me.  He was waiting for the right moment, his exact timing for what he needed to do.  He needed me and it has happened.

Thank you Lord
for your timing,
right timing,
to work in me.

Help me not to push things along
by my agenda,
but to work with yours.

Give me patience,
grant me strength,
may I live in hope,
as I wait for you
and what you are going to do.

Elizabeth – Unexpected News

Advent, bible, faith, God, hope, Religion, theology, , , ,

Taken from my 2015 book Voices Through Advent and Christmas, available through Moorleys

Based on Luke 1:5-15

Well, Zechariah came home with a right tale today.

Well, I say that.  It would have been if he could have got it out, but for some reason he was having trouble speaking.  Oh men that go to the back of their caves when they’ve got something on their mind.  But what a tale it was.

Apparently (ahem), he’d seen an angel.  He was the Priest on duty, the one chosen to go into the Temple, and there it had happened.

Goodness knows Zechariah and I have not had the easiest life.  Our longing for children has never been satisfied.  We’ve tried everything and it’s just not happened, obviously not meant to be – though I don’t know what we’ve done to deserve such a curse.  And now it’s never going to happen.  I’m way past that now.

Except, that was the message Zechariah had got from this angel.  There will be a child, a boy.

For some reason we are to call him John, though there’s no John’s in the family.  Still if God’s going to do something this amazing, I guess we can let him name the baby too.  Because this is going to be no ordinary baby, he’s got something important to do for God.

I suppose all I can do is let God do what he needs to in and through me and the child I will carry.  Still can’t quite believe it.  Can’t get my head around it.  How will I cope with what God is asking of me?  I guess God only knows.

God of surprises and impossibilities,
may I be open to all you seek to do
in and through me.

May I hear your voice,
your call,
your challenge
and respond with my life. 

 https://youtu.be/4YPr0AD5MhQ

Washing

bible, faith, follow, God, hope, Jesus, lent, love, theology,

Jesus Washing the Feet of his Disciples (Albert Edelfelt) - Nationalmuseum - 18677

John 13:1-20

This is it!
Resonances clanging,
echoes chiming
in my heart and mind.

This is what Mary did,
so recently.
Poured out her all
in an offering.
She gave her everything,
now Jesus is giving his everything.

He,
God here among us,
King of all kings,
kneels
at our feet
and gently,
tenderly,
lovingly,
washes them.
Soothes them,
cleans them,
deals with the cuts and blisters,
and gently pats them dry.

***

Our feet,
as wandering disciples
had been the tools of our trade,
what took us with him,
the sign of our following
and wanting to be with him,
to walk in his footsteps.

He stoops
to bring refreshment,
healing,
and the ability to go further.

How can I let him do this?

Surely I should be washing his feet,
showing my service to him.

But no,
he wants to tend me,
restore me,
and refresh me.

To not let him
is to turn my back on him,
to all he offers me.
He wants me
to learn to tend others,
and like with everything else,
he shows me the way.
His way,
the on your knees way,
the not afraid of dirt way,
the not too great for this way.

Lord,
may I learn
and live
as a washer,
a kneeler,
a restorer
in you.

 

Taken from my book: Voices Through Holy Week and Easter available through Moorleys

VoicesThroughHolyWeekandEaster-1