Posted on by Loretta

New life

My youngest woke Saturday morning to a frost and wanted to go on an ice walk in the garden.

While in the garden although there was not much ice to see, I did notice new life popping through in nature. Shrubs starting to spring green leaves. Bulbs poking their leaves through the ground. Flowers hiding in buds. And fungi forming out the side of a pot.

A lot of people will have said at the beginning of the month that they will have made a resolution for a better lifestyle.

However in reality as people we do not need to wait till spring or new year to have new life in us. We can accept a new life any time.

The moment we accepted Jesus as our saviour we were receiving new life. The moment we rose from our baptism pools we had a new life. It didn’t matter what the time or date was. We received new life.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

As Christians, we always seem to say that we are going through a season. However whatever the season God is changing, developing us and bringing us new life.

We just need to be mindful and pray for wisdom in our lives. As we bud and flower in our new lives, weeds can also grow and take hold. We need to keep them at bay.

Whether we are in a place of needing new life, wanting a new life or happy with our life as it is, we need guidance from the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit keeps us in the armour of God. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and discernment when we ask. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us. We need the Holy Spirit to stay in our new life. The Holy Spirit  keeps weeds away so we can bud, blossom and be fruitful for God.

The cherry on the cake. When we have a relationship with Jesus and our days on earth are over. He is waiting in heaven to embrace us into new eternal life. 

Dear Jesus 
Please keep us close living with you in our new lives. 
May your Holy Spirit lead us, so we can bud and bloom. 
Help us to share your gospel, spreading the good news. 
For we long to be fruitful bringing others to your kingdom. 
Yet sometimes we struggle in this task. 
Just let us be bold and daring for you, in sharing your story of bringing new life. 
Amen.
Posted on by Loretta · 16 Comments

Conversations with my God

The FMF word prompt today is prayer. Something I always need work on. So much to say but only five minutes. (Just over sorry) https://fiveminutefriday.com

I treat you like an earthy friend
Dipping in and out when I can
Yet you are a Holy God 
You deserve my very all

You come down to where I am
No expectations of me
You sit and listen 
While I reel off every feeling

I pray
Rush off into my day
When you deserve my time
Worship and adoration 

My prayers not always frequent 
Often very selfish 
I need to learn this art
Of conversation with my Lord

I need to dwell in your presence 
So I never want to leave
Forgetting the world around
Just talking to my God 

Help me to be more like Joshua
With you face to face
Breathing in your presence
Never wanting to leave

Posted on by Loretta

Help me to listen

Help me to sit still
At the foot of your throne 
Looking at the King
As an expectant child 
Listening to the story
With excitement in my eyes

No distractions of thoughts 
No requests waiting to splurt out
Just sitting in awe
Quietly with brothers and sisters
As a family of Christ
Looking into the eyes of a King

Never let me forget
How holy you are
To be honoured and respected
Even though you come as a friend 
You are a 3 in one divinity
And deserve my all
Posted on by Loretta · 4 Comments

God’s promises – he never leaves us

Today I really am feeling a shift. I feel God moving again. God is always my rock but for months he has felt still, motionless even though I know he is still very much alive.

#Godspromises and answer to prayer for others are really lifting my spirits. We may all still be lockdown in our homes but God doesn’t just go with us on outside journeys. God is with us in the emotional, internal and physical battles. God never leaves us.

Jesus
You never leave us
You are always by our side
In us 
Carrying the Spirit of God 
Taking every step of life with us
We may not be able to go outside 
Be locked in our homes
But we are all still on a journey 
Of heart and minds
You haven't left us
Your still making us bold 
Courageous and tackling fear
Keeping us bold
And giving us new opportunities 
With a new creativity 
That only comes from you
Thank you that 
You are our strong foundation 
Never leaving our side. 
Amen

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Posted on by Loretta · 2 Comments

God’s promises – we are not alone

Today a close friend is grieving a parent, my daughter is at her shift in the hospital where she works and it feels odd having a verse about a spirit raising Jesus from the dead, when this world is counting the cost of the pandemic in lives.

#Godspromises are true. Nothing can take that away and as both my friend and daughter take comfort in God, they are not alone.

God has left his Holy Spirit, who in essence is God. Do I understand this? No. Do I believe this anyway? Yes. This is faith.

We do not go through any part of life alone. When we accept Jesus this is  God’s promise. God never leaves us, he is in the good the bad and the ugly, God loves us and accepts us wherever we are, whatever the situation. 

Dear Father,Son and Holy Spirit 
I thank you that you never leave us. 
That you are with us in every circumstance, whether this is good or bad. 
Strengthen and bring peace to all that need you today. 
May they feel your presence stronger than ever. 
Please comfort the grieving,
Bring strength to all who care and look after us. 
Bring rest to the exhausted. 
Let wisdom be in the hearts of everyone, doing what is right from following the rules, to showing love and kindness to each other. 
Amen
Posted on by Loretta

Celebrating Christ’s birth

Day 24 of #wonderfulladvent and the word prompt is birth

Thank you to everyone that has followed this advent journey with me. God bless you all have a blessed and peaceful Christmas. Stay safe x 

It's time to celebrate 
The birth of the child 
Born in a stable 
Long time ago
He came to be born 
To a young virgin 
The impossible made possible

The birth of a child 
Born for you and me
The baby not gone 
Or disappeared 
Very much still with us
If we let his spirit 
Reside in us

Imagine becoming parents 
To the promised one
Taking responsibility 
For God's only son
Overwhelming 
Or full of confidence 
Finding such favour chosen as mum

Mum Mary treasuring events 
Visitors and presents
Storing hope
Waiting for the future 

As we wait this Christmas time 
Locked down
In such unusual times
Reflect and consider 
The true meaning of Christmas 
It's not Santamas
Or St.Nickmas
But Christmas 
Celebrating our Christ.
Posted on by Loretta · 2 Comments

The unexpected diary entry

Day 20 already of #wonderfulladvent and the prompt word is unexpected. I pray people will be gracious and forgiving with me on this post as I let my imagination run.

Dear Diary, March 1BC

Seriously I am unexpectedly calm but at the same time all over the place!

WHAT A DAY!!!

It all started so normally. Just another day in my life.

I got up and did all my normal things. Got washed, dressed, did my chores and of course was day dreaming about my guy Joe. Joe and I are getting married. I know he will understand and be just as excited as me 😊😍

I was in my room, just having some quiet time with God. Praying, reading scripture. I do this everyday.

SUDDENLY there was this bright bright light encompassing me and a strange man in my room! He even called me by name. Hello Mary he said.

My heart was racing, and I was obviously looking scared and visibly trembling as he told me not to be afraid.

There was something about his voice. A calmness which had an authority about it. He called me favoured one. He said he was a messenger of God. He even had a name Gabriel.

As I calmed I could see this was not a man, he had wings and was oozing gold and light. I remember feeling my trembling stopping, my heart beat returning to normal, almost being back in my body. It’s strange what you notice and remember in the midst of things.

Gabriel his voice smooth beautifully musical brought me a message. A message from God no less! WOAH WOW WOAH!. Me not Molly or Joanna or Grace, ME! Not sure how much they will believe me either when I tell them next girls night in.

Ok now here is where it gets really surreal! This Angel has casually rocked up in my quiet time with the bomb shell of all bomb shells.

Gabriel is telling me I AM PREGNANT with GODS CHILD no less. !!!! Being the girl I am I did politely point out this is impossible.

Gabriel not even blinking at the impossible and I’m sure he would of wanted to huff! This is God’s son, conceived of the Spirit. The long awaited messiah. God’s chosen one.

I have read the scriptures but me. We have been waiting for this moment for hundreds of years. But me. A normal everyday girl. Wow wow wow.

Gabriel must be reading my mind. Before I get to utter a word. He tells me, my cousin Elizabeth is also with child. My being cannot argue and the Spirit helps me accept and understand. God’s presents completely takes over.

I am at peace, favoured, let it be is all I can say.

The light suddenly gone along with my angel. But a presence so strong not gone. Prayer, praise and worship flow out from my soul. Time to think and reflect.

Having time to digest and reflect to Elizabeth’s I must go. Some thing tells me she will understand.

Posted on by Loretta

If your feeling low, bow down low

Day 12 #wonderfulladvent and the prompt word is low.

If this Christmas is tough for you. Let’s face it, 2020 has been tough for the most stable of people.

If your feeling low or struggling with low self esteem, remember YOU are the apple of God’s eyes.

Yes you. God thinks your amazing, perfectly made and loves YOU.

God doesn’t want to see you struggling, sad, alone or low. God wants to empower you through his Holy Spirit. God wants to make you new and lift you up.

This Christmas in the middle of a pandemic, stop, think and reflect on what Christmas means to you.

If you accept Jesus stepped out of heaven and became fully human as God’s own son and that he saw and experienced all we do. Then bow low and worship him.

As you bow low feel your chains fall of as you break free into joy, confidence, peace, love and grace.

Remember this Christmas actual doors and buildings may be closed but churches are open virtually along with charities. If you need help ask for help and don’t struggle alone.

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.