Lent 34 - Wonderful II

 

Jonathan Jacoby - 
greatbigphotographyworld.com

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 1 John 4 16-17

How do I know that God loves me?  How do I know that anyone loves me?  It is by their actions, their attitudes, there emotions and their thoughts.  This is actually all I need to know.   St Augustine famously is quoted as saying "Love God and do as you please." (Rough translation.)  What about the opposite.  "God loves me so I can do anything."  By this I mean I am free, and not constrained.  The Spirit is within me, so I am only really able to do what is sympathetic to the Spirt of God.  I know that the Spirit of God will not die when this body dies, and will be with me forever.

PRAYER:  I make more space for you in my heart.

Lent 33 - Wonderful

 

Wonderful Life II - Print from 
theprintemporium.com.au 

 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17 

What is life all about?  Why are we here?  I have an image of arriving at the pearly gate only to be met by Jesus.  He will smile and enquire, was it good?  Did you enjoy your life?  I really wanted it to be amazing, was it?

PRAYER: Thank you for you wonderful love that constantly amazes me.

Lent 32 - Casts out Fear II

Mural designed by Alphonso Mucha created for the Lord Mayor's Hall,  Prague.
Credit:  I've forgotten - sorry

 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. 1John 18-19

There are many moments in history when 'fear' is overcome.  There is a national celebration; a moment of collective euphoria.  Sometimes the nation celebrates in 'Thanksgiving'.  Sometimes with a monument.  My picture today by Alphonso Mucha celebrates the invention of Czechoslovakia after the First World War. This was 'the war to end all wars' of course.  The feeling of joy can last a while.  But like the weather, it can turn, and fear resurfaces, and pours like a dirty stream of evil through the street.

We are not alone.  Like a small child walking through a bustling market of traders, strangers and animals (I'm not thinking of a UK market), we hold tight to the hand descending from above.

 

PRAYER: Together we can do anything.

Picture in situs credit:damyantoursprague

Prague Municipal Hall: Credit TripAdvisor

Lent 31 - Casts out Fear

Apologies if this image is sacrilegious.
Liberty is angry.  

    

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 

as far as the east is from the west,

    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:11-12

Is the word Fear a contronym? "Fear of the Lord vs casts out 'fear'." 

Most 'fear' is seen to relate to fear of death.  Much of it is unfounded.  I have only recently realised that the way to deal with the miniscule pain inflicted by a needle is to allow the pain to exist, and appreciate it.  It is there for a good reason and I am thankful that I experience pain.  What a mercy.

But there are many real fear, often associated with 'fear of death'.  I noticed when I experienced two threats to my life from melanoma, that I was also give the greatest gift I could possibly be given at the same time.  This is an almost complete absence of 'fear of death'.  It would be most inconvenient and upsetting of course, but  it does not have any control.  I did have a fleeting fear of death when I looked out over the wooded hills of Arkansas from a tiny single prop aeroplane, with just rushing air, and Dustan (instructor) strapped to my back, complete with his parachute. 

PRAYER: I may feel fear, but I know I am safe with you.

Lent 30 - Love never Fails

 

Jakub Stefansk

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17 

The lord loves us.  In the West we tend to focus on 'me' as an individual.  But just as important is me as a community.  The English language does not help us her, because the singular and the pleural and not specified.  The Lord has saved us.  He rejoices over us.  Our community spirt is quietened.  As we join together in worship, listen to the choirs of angels we join.

PRAYER:  Perfect love is a duet of equality.  Dare we believe that you have made us your equal?

Lent 29 - Love never Fails

Harold Gilman 
Credit: Gallerythane.com

 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,  the Lord has forgotten me.” 

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Isaiah 49:15

The people feel forsaken, but they are not.  The baby cries out in panic.  "Have you forgotten me?  You are not here, and it is dark, the middle of the night. Come quickly"  The invisible cord remains.  You feel.  You hear my panic.  You come; comfort and feed me with you life blood.

I am calmed.  I am reassured.  My trust grows as I feel the certainty of your presence and response.  I cease to even have to think.  Your love is taken as a given, like the rising of the sun in the morning.   Your love is the smile of pleasure when we meet.

PRAYER:  I thank you for your perfect constant love for us.

Fifth Sunday in lent

Merkel in the Chagall state hall of Israel's parliament
 just before giving her speech to the Knesset 2008.

 Foto: Getty Images

• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
• You shall not covet.