A pile of smooth white pebbles

The gift of faith

Today I have been excitedly thinking about the gifts that the Holy Spirit delights to bestow upon us and does so when and how He wishes, to bless us and others (see 1 Corinthians 12:7-11). There are the Revelation gifts (when you know that you know) , the Utterance gifts (when God speaks through you into others' lives) and the Power gifts in which God's supernatural powers operate - the Gift of Faith, the Gift of Miracles and the Gift of Healing. Well, I was diagnosed with a chronic medical condition for which I was told I would need life long treatment, to ensure normal rhythms of sleep. However I sensed for months that I wouldn't need this treatment and that something less disruptive would be effective. I had told the doctor for a few months that I was expecting this miracle. Last night she told me that I have my miracle and no longer need the night appliance! I thank God for not only the miracle but also the gift of faith He had given me to confidently believe in His extraordinary provision in this particular situation. The miracle was not to do with my own strength and my own positive thinking. To God goes all the glory. 1 Corinthians 2:12: "Now we have received not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God".

Your Kingdom Come

Today I am reflecting on the verse in the Lord's Prayer, "Your Kingdom Come, Your Will be Done". God's Kingdom is His spiritual Kingdom. In Philippians 3:20 we are reminded that we are citizens of heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. This does not mean we are to lose the reality of us living on this earth as one Body, encouraging and supporting each other with the various gifts God's Holy Spirit endows us with. Let's not be proud or compare ourselves to others. We can all so easily occillate between God's spiritual Kingdom and this world, being distracted and discouraged away from the spiritual. We are all on different journeys but can support each other. I believe that the Lord is asking us, encouraging us, exhorting us to spend more time with Him in the spiritual dimension. It will not make us weird and disconnected from others in this world but bring a deeper unity.

A tight flower bud

Today I saw a very small tight flower bud, indicating that there is a flower to come but not imminently. If we keep close to the Lord we will see His workings in our lives and others' lives, even if the fruit are still a way off. As recorded in the gospel of Matthew 24, Jesus told us that only God the Father knows when Jesus will return again but, just like the fig tree which when it grows leaves, you know that summer is near, so will we know when Jesus will be coming and see the signs if we keep close to the Lord. We are all invited into God's Kingdom, available as soon as we choose to enter. Jesus came to this earth to tell us this good news and to show us the way. The world is getting figuratively darker but Jesus is The Light. Call to Him. He will answer.

From the depths within

I continue to contemplate on yesterday's picture which I took of a beautifully cultivated plot of land. It absolutely does not do it justice, partly because I have limited vision, limited imagination and I honestly do not have photographic skills, and of course I could not show the life within, such as the root system, the seeds, the potential growth etc. Isn't that the same with us? We, similarly, sometimes do not even see the outer beauty of another person let alone their inner depths. So often our words and actions are reactions to our limited vision to what is around us. Instead, God wants us to exude Him from within us. Apostle Paul regularly preached on Christ within us as being goodness. It is His goodness, not our efforts and achievement. For instance in Galatians 2:20 we read, "I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me;...". It is not us living in a Christlike way with our self generated abilities but, rather, it is Christ living through us because we want and allow Him to. We can declare we are Christians but we still need to make daily choices as to whether we follow our naturally self centred nature or let Jesus Christ lead our words and actions.

A bright yellow hose

Today I saw a bright yellow hose in my mind's eye, bringing to mind the little farm at the Montessori school where I work as a teacher, in Cascais, Portugal. A few weeks ago a new gardener started assisting the kids and two existing part time managers of the farm. One of the heads of the school had got to know a homeless man who used to be a horticulturalist so invited him to work on our school farm for a small fee. Well, yesterday I noticed a complete transformation on one fairly large plot of land. It now has beautiful flowerbeds, vegetable patches, smooth clear pathways and a pretty archway. In short it is spectacular and all has been done by this new addition to our farm staff. The hearts of two men are the seeds to this fruitful transformation. What a lovely example of giftings being used for God's glory in a community. Let's celebrate others' giftings and use ours for the greater good. Let's encourage others as the Head of our school did for a homeless man. 1 Peter 4:8-11 reads: "Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each if you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace, in its various forms. If any one speaks they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God; if anyone serves they should do so with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen".