Posted on by Loretta · 2 Comments

What’s your perfect gift?

Day 8 #wonderfulladvent and the prompt word is gift

If you could have the perfect gift what would it be? 

Diamonds?
Gold?
A night in with your favourite sporting team?
One last hug from a loved one?

It breaks my heart so many do not believe in a child born so long ago. People happily buy into a man in a red suit, chubby and cuddly coming down a chimney. If you believe this why not the truest most perfect gift ever.

A baby born many years ago, creating the first ever Christmas. A baby who came to die and fight for us. A child that never grew old. Who died to take away our sins. Free us from pain, depression and fear. To wipe away our tears, longing to hold us near. Giving us eternal life.

Surely this is the perfect gift.

Posted on by Loretta

A Christmas family

Today’s word prompt for #wonderfulladvent is family. I struggled with this word but have persevered. 

There were more like a family from today 
Than 2000 years ago 
Joseph's not the father
Can you imagine the rumours

But Joseph a righteous man
Believed in the God of Israel 
Loyal,honest,discerning 
Weighing up all his options 

Mary his girlfriend pregnant
And he knows for certain 
That he isn't the father 
What to do is the dilemma 

This is where God enters in 
Appearing in a dream 
God's voice 
Confirming this is his Son

Marry Mary, Joseph's told
I trust you to raise my child right 
Mary and Joseph accept the challenge 
Jesus part of the family

Mary and Joseph's family grow
Three brothers later follow
Did they want pillow fights doing normal things

Did the boys want a normal brother 
Not one full of insight 
Did they understand
Their older brother was the son of God 

Was this family just like ours
Not always understanding each other
Did Mary and Joseph get tired
Breaking up the squabbles 

But isn't that the point of Jesus 
Stepping down from heaven
Becoming fully human
Experiencing all we do
Knowing what family is and the mess we make it so

Whether our family is from birth
Chosen or through Christ 
We need to follow what Jesus taught us
To love one another through God's grace

This Christmas just because we can't see every one 
Doesn't mean we can't be connected 
Having fun celebrating the supernatural baby 
Who became all to human in a way to human family

Photo – clipart

Posted on by Loretta

Wonderfull advent – count

The word prompt today for #wonderfulladvent is count. 

Count your blessings
That's what we're told
Blessings seem distance 
When your in a dark cloud
Counting redundancies
Days to pay day
Hospital appointments
Will make your days grey

The government are counting statistics
The amount of vaccine
Showing their graphs 
Makes dismal reading

But counting our days of our lives away
Isn't how it's meant to be
If we have family
To spend Christmas with
Food in the house 
And a nice comfy bed 
We are blessed 
Be contented your life's not a mess
But whatever your counting 
Including calories 
It all means nothing
If your empty inside 

This Christmas,
Countdown to a day where hope 
Was born on earth 
When God stepped out of heaven 
To earth so dark and lost 
To experience human
And go through all that we do
God's son the father is pleased with you 

Born as a baby
Adored and so loved
He humbled himself
To death on a cross
The ultimate blessing for us to count
When accepting Lord Jesus 
Our sins disappeared
Our fate eternity looming
With a king of all blessings 
Through grace pouring down.
Posted on by Loretta · 4 Comments

I believe in impossible

Day 2 #wonderfulladvent and the prompt word is impossible

Why do we always limit ourselves to the possible? There is a universe of impossibilities surrounding us.

A world of beauty in galaxies beyond our skies, planets,stars, nebula’s and more.

Oceans deep, colourful and bright, sustaining so much life.

We limit our minds to what we think we can achieve, what can be done, what we can see and what is possible. Are we willing to believe in miracles and open our mind. Did order just naturally evolve from chaos?

I believe in a God that loves and created me so. That sent his son at Christmas to a virgin mother. His son that died for me and rose again. From death to life he paid the price. I believed in Jesus who in his life, performed miracles, turned water into wine, healed the sick and fed the 5000. I believe in the Holy Spirit that was left to live in us if we just believe.

A Holy Spirit that still lives strong wanting to perform miracles and waiting to be unleashed. I want to see the sick all healed. No need for hospitals. I want to see an end to poverty and insecurity. And end to injustice, to wars and hostilities.

This may all seem impossible but what if we all believed, saw and witnessess such impossibilities?

Photo copyright NASA.

Posted on by Loretta

A December story from long ago

Well December is here! The #wonderfulladvent word prompt today is story.

This is a story of long ago
About a young girl
Beautiful and true
Engaged to a carpenter 
You know where this is going
Back to the first Christmas 
Over 2000 years ago

A period in time 
When Romans rules
With tyranny and bloodshed 
Not much hope at all
Maybe not tyranny in our country today
But hope seems currently
Far far away

Mary our girl so bold and brave
Taking the news of pregnancy in her stride 
Joseph not the father 
This sounds like a soap opera 
Not a naughty young girl
But in fact caught in a miracle about to unfold 

Joseph accepts Mary's story 
The Angel of the Lord came down
Telling her she was with child
Conceived by the Holy Spirit  
No scans to prove this, 
DNA tests not yet around
Scientist still to discover this tech 

So fully pregnant
Many miles travelling 
All because Caesar wants to count his people
No postal forms
To complete and return 
First class stamps not happening yet

So arriving in Bethlehem 
Not a room in sight 
Poor Mary about to give birth in  stable
No matter if you believe or not
Jesus was real 
And Mary went through a lot
This year think of the story of one brave girl and the part she played in the first Christmas 
That started long ago
Posted on by Loretta · 19 Comments

What are you grieving?

This week’s  Five minute Friday prompt word is Cancel. You can join in the fun here: https://fiveminutefriday.com  As a writing community we write for 5 minutes(ish) no perfection or edits, the words just flow. #fiveminuteFriday

What are you grieving today?

It’s a simple question. One we ignore or overthink.

Are you grieving a loved one. There is a lot of loved ones sadly gone this year.

Are you grieving a loss of a job

Are you grieving not seeing family and friends

Or the promotion you never got. A job lost. Money that is no longer there to feed your family.

A past you want to forget or even want back.

Or maybe your just grieving the normal that no longer exists the whole world round.

Remember what ever you are grieving. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Even when we do not feel it, God is the God that stays with us and never leaves us. Just because we can’t feel it doesn’t stop this being true.

Have a truly blessed weekend all

Posted on by Loretta

Jesus you bother with us

Light of the world shine 
Why Jesus do you bother with me
You never give up  
Or leave me alone
You stand by my side in every fight
Pick me up when I'm down
Send peace when I frown

My mental health is low today 
I love my imaginary pet
More than people 
We all deserve your wrath 
Yet patience rules within your heart

You bother with me and everyone
Because you love us so
So much so you died for us
conquered death and rose again

Please take this gloom 
And turn it round
Let your love and peace 
Rule in my heart
Let me step in time with your spirit
Sharing your love with all
Whether or not people believe in you.
Posted on by Loretta · 2 Comments

Step in time

In Mary Poppins while Bert is a Chimney sweep and on the roof with the children and Mary Poppins they sing the song step in time. I’m not suggesting that we need to flap like a birdie, climb on the railings or go round the chimney, although it would be amusing to watch!

I am thinking about how we step in time with God through the Holy Spirit. Do we keep perfect time with God or are we a beat ahead or behind? 

Lord Jesus
The beat of your spirit 
Is a fast changing tempo
Sometimes quick
Sometimes slow
Give us ears to hear your beat
Stay in time
And not fall behind

Open our hearts 
Let us dance to your rhythm 
Praising and praying
As we skip along
Let your peace and love 
Rule in our hearts
Keeping judgment and hating
Far away

As we go into our days
Our weeks 
And the rest of the year
Let us keep dancing
Marching and walking
In step with your Spirit 
Shining and sharing 
Your gift of the cross
Love,peace and eternity.

Posted on by Loretta · 26 Comments

Cancelled sin not canelled 2020

This week’s  Five minute Friday prompt word is Cancel. You can join in the fun here: https://fiveminutefriday.com  As a writing community we write for 5 minutes(ish) no perfection or edits, the words just flow. #fiveminuteFriday

Walking in the muddy puddles of life
At times is most appealing 
Splashing in the dirt and grime
Spreading my sin around

In the darkness
Of that cold word
Just one more drink
I'm not forgiving them
Why would I do that

But the day the rainclouds of heaven opened up 
And Jesus entered in 
He melted a heart so cold
And asks you child why the frown

My cross has set you free
I cancelled your every sin
Every word of hate
Act of disobedience has been washed away

So let my Holy Spirit in today
And cancel all the dark clouds
That are holding on to you 
Let sunshine enter so you will shine 
And never look behind.

Not my best but hey it’s Friday and 5 minutes! God cancelled every sin when we accepted Jesus as king. What more can a girl want!

Photo: Owlbeech woods last weekend.