two sided puzzle

Ginny led devotions this morning. She showed some videos. One was of two Iranian christian ladies who were imprisoned and in the prison they shared the gospel but they suffered.  Ginny has pain and has been on a pain management course where she shared the gospel with others.  She likened the way God does things to a puzzle.  we see the bits around us, but not the whole thing.  She had pieces of a two sided puzzle wrapped in £20 notes, which she gave to us.  This I will remember and treasure.  I am trying to be a wide influence like the puzzle, hence I am trying to get my book published.  At the time of writing it is being considered by onward and upward publishing.

The shooting in town

A man has been shot with a pellet gun in his flat in the middle of town. the police were still there today. They had two cars in the street which is a pedestrian precinct and there was a police van at the bottom of the road.

out with the old and in with the new.

My old bedroom window is out and the frame is in bits.  Goodbye old window. You have served me well.  However, I expect even more from the new.

New window in the bedroom

As I write this, my bedroom window is being removed, and a new one put in.  I was told a few years ago this would happen when money was available to do it and it is happening today.  I was told it would happen yesterday, but it was delayed.  I find the heat in the bedroom perfectly acceptable, but perhaps it will be even better with the new window.

As someone who is not a tradesman, I admire those who work in all weather conditions. I would not like it for myself.  I am also surprised at  how quickly glass can be removed.  They have only been here for minutes and already two panes are out.

How well do we know the lord in provision?

When a woman indicated that she loves the lord and would not put her husband first in her heart, and she loves the lord first and foremost. I wonder if she really knows what she is talking about.  When we talk about the heart, we really mean the will and that  is not a fixed size.  One also has to question how much she loves the lord if that is based on owning property.  If a man does not own property, then he is a weak leader. In that case most minister or vicars are weak leaders by that measure. 

I think God is more interested in Character.  How much do our hearts, ( wills belong to him)?  How much do we trust him to supply our need?

Often we think we know that the bible teaches and at an academic level we do.  However I have found that I learned far more about what it means by being in situations where I had to do it and trust the lord all the more to get me through difficulties.

I think that for some they are so blind that they cannot see that their trust is limited.  They trust the lord for salvation, but they will not trust him for daily provision even though Jesus himself taught us to pray for daily provision.  He called it, "Daily bread".  Many of us want it all in advance before we will really believe and God may force us into situations were we are not in control and we cry out to him for help.  One gets to know him so much better this way.

Who am I?

At the team meeting today, our field leader said that if we were interested in money we were in the wrong job. We put so much emphasis in OM on a high calling because we are serving the lord. After the on line argument I had with Dian and the impertinence from her, I found myself saying yes, exactly, that is who I am, someone serving the lord. I felt so refreshed and refocused on hearing what the field leader said in those few simple words.  It made me all the more determined to press on and not be distracted.


I think Dian had no idea about the level of commitment it takes, and would always complain about provision.  The people of Israel did nothing to make manna grow in the wilderness.  God provided it, but then they complained and talked about the wonderful food they had in Egypt ( when they were slaves)  they rejected god and grumbled against him for they wanted meat.  God said to moses he would provide it. Even Moses was astonished and told God that even if they killed all the cattle there would not be enough.  God brought qual in abundance. Too much in fact that it went off and he punished Israel for their complaining.

I see myself as being like Peter, who got out of the boat to walk on the water.  People dwell on him sinking in unbelief, but fail to remember that at least he had faith to get out of the boat.  None of the others did.

Being in mission makes me all the more aware of Gods provision. 

Levites unlike the other tribes were not Land owners. the other tribes supported them as they went about their priestly duties serving the lord and that is what we are like.

Gods provision and friends first and foremost.

I suppose Dian had one view beyond which she was not willing to go.  I find myself dwelling more and more on Gods provision and a greater calling to trust him for provision and it is to this that I cling to.  God does not provide for me in the common way.  I knew this to be the case when I joined OM and I did that with fear and trembling. 20 years further on, I still find I am learning about his provision.  It is however a pity, that she was not willing to look.  To actually meet me and find out.  However, she was insensitive and rude, and I suspect would have been a liability.  I have decided to join Friends first. I have been putting this off as it costs and other people would be doing the work for me.  However, one of the examples of their clientele identified herself as a missionary and my plan is to identify myself in that fashion so that my cards are on the table right at the start and not likely to attract time wasters who would be better off appealing to someone who only does conventional work.