Advent 17

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Kath

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An old friend just posted verses from Isaiah 46 on Facebook. They are exactly what I need to hear right now.

After holding things together for so long I can feel myself unravelling. I am allowing myself space to cry and feel the pain of the last few years. I think I need to do this to get to a potential space away from mere survival mode. I’m excited to see what might be on the other side in that land, but I don’t want to miss being held in the now.

Because.

We have a God who carries us.

I am held.

I am, I have been, I will be: carried safely.

In a state of exhaustion these words speak tender hope as I hold my small child hands up and get picked up and carried in strong everlasting arms.

Isaiah 46:

Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity.

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.“

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Advent 16

Posted on December 16, 2018 by Kath

Christmas Nativity.

Watching Elf.

Singing Joy to the World twice in one day.

Slowly falling apart. Because it appears I can.

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Advent 15

Posted on December 15, 2018 by Kath

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Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 33:20
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 37:7
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
Psalm 40:1
I waited patiently for theLord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 130:5
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:6
I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Isaiah 8:17
I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.
Isaiah 26:8
Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
Isaiah 30:18
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
Lamentations 3:24
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
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Advent 14

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Kath

Something is odd this year. I don’t feel the same need to jump into Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, the wonder of Immanuel is still strong in me and I’m eating clementines like there is no tomorrow. But I’m not over anticipating. I feel strangely grounded. Almost as if I know I need this ‘God with us’ thing to face the year ahead, rather than just one day. I love this season immensely but I feel a little detached from it all at the moment.

I have a new metaphor for this place we have found ourselves in at the end of a long few years. I feel like we’ve reached some kind of harbour, a small town Cornish one with stone walls and cottages up on the hill. The storms have died down. I have stopped gripping onto a tiller tightly whilst gritting my teeth. I slowly ease my body off the ship and find the more stable ground of being on shore for the time being.

We look around. There are twinkly fairy lights, some corner shops full of delight to explore, an ancient oak beamed pub to drink hot whisky in and some friends staying in cottages nearby. It will be good to stay for a few weeks.

I have stopped. Husbandface feels more solid and real right now. He is present in a way I haven’t seen for a long time. I am tired. We need some harbour rest before working out what the voyage ahead looks like. January feels like a good new start for the sail on. For now we are here, wrapped in present moments, reaching out to those around, enjoying old friendships and new. We are here. We are held, safe in the harbour until we are called on.

Christmas feels like a good time for not thinking about the road ahead for a while. Come join us in our quiet sitting if you have a moment.

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Advent 13

Posted on December 13, 2018 by Kath

Crisp sunny winters day.

Run in the sun.

Walk talking to my Maker.

Warming soup.

Afternoon nap.

Another day of life down here.

Yet still my heart cries loud:

Come Lord Jesus Come.

There is too much that is broken. Too many wounds that cannot heal here.

For all those whose hope is a flickering flame tonight:

“And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours,
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing…”

One day the sun will shine out the clearer and we will be home.

One day.

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