Preaching with a purpose

Lord, you know what it is like to be without a home. Bless all those many millions throughout our world who do not have a proper home. Bring your love into their lives despite their poverty and help us to realise how poor we wealthy ones are because we allow wealth to get in the way of our knowing you. Amen Are you poor? So cluttered up with possessions that you have no time to think about the spiritual side of life? Surely there is more to life than a computer, an i-phone and all the other things we crave after these days. Humans need more in life than these things. We need to meet together and discuss. To share our lives with others. Yes the laptop can be a good slave to help us reach new people, but it is also a cruel master if we let it take over every moment of our life. This morning I enjoyed playing quartets with three other friends. What joy that was to share music together. I'm sure no one would want to listen to us, but we loved it. We played Mozart and Beethoven and...

How nice to settle in at home again, To watch the trees grow in the rain. To settle into bed at night And stay there after dawn's first light. To wander gently through the day Without a timetable to control my way. To amble on from meal to meal. To let time's balm my mind to heal. 'Tis good to go about and play But better far at home to stay. I've been away, now it's good to come home. If you like my poem take a look at some more here. A poem for every day in August

I've been on holiday. From Devon to Suffolk which necessitated me travelling through London using the underground. I had not done this for more than forty years so faced it with some trepidation. Thanks to helpful fellow travellers I had few problems. While away I took a rest from my blog but did manage to keep my poetry challenge alive. I am writing a poem a day for a year and began on April 7th this year. You can see my latest offerings, including my travelling experiences here A poem for every day in August

How easily we are frightened and upset in life. It never has run smoothly and you would think we would get used to the different dilemmas which confront us. Everything about life is doubtful, always changes confront us. How do you cope? My faith in God is the main thing that I rely on. He is dependable when no one else is. He never lets me down. True he might take me through some very difficult times , but he will take me through. To read about someone in the Bible who went through difficult times see the story of Joseph at this link. Interesting Bible People:Joseph

Sometimes it's hard to keep going with something we have started. A little setback can get in the way of trying to do something good. I want these thoughts to touch your heart and make you think things through. However as I cannot tell if anyone has read them unless you comment, I get disheartened and feel I am a voice calling in the wilderness. But who can tell who might light upon this page and be really encouraged or helped in their journey of life. If only one person was helped it would all be worthwhile. If you have been helped in any way by this blog do make a comment.I could do with some encouraging too.You can find more thoughts like these at this link A thought for each day

Have you noticed how disaster follows disaster in this world. Now we have the flood in Pakistan. We feel so helpless, giving money just doesn't seem enough. Fairly near where I live there is a charity called Shelterbox. They supply a large plastic box full of camping equipment. These can give vital aid to peole in disasters, basic shelter and means for cooking. People who live near this charity often give their labour voluntarily to pack these boxes ready for dispatch. It must feel great to feel you are helping in this very practical way. The boxes are all numbered and if you pay for one you can find out where it went and whom it helped. Each box costs £490 so get together with some friends to buy on. They are right on the ball, already 406 have reached Pakistan. Here is the link to them Shelterbox Of course giving money helps a lot. Why not give on a regular basis to help someone in need. It might even be in your own country.