Saturday 19 November

Ezekiel 36:1-37:28

Oh the sweetness of it.  Oh the joy.  That the people of God are being gathered from every corner of the globe.  We were scattered through our own fault and through the faults of others.  We were scattered and backslidden.  We were scattered and stone-hearted.  We were scattered and as dry as death.  That should have been our end.  I deserved that to be my end.  But there was a rattling sound.  There was a sprinkling of clean water.  There was The Breath coming from the four winds.  There was the hand of the Prophet drawing us together.  Tendons appeared, my stone heart became tender, I was cleansed, I came to life.  He has done it.  I was just a recipient.  You were just a recipient. We are all ridiculous, undeserving recipients together.  And He is the Lord our God.  He deserves renown for this.  He deserves every praise.  No once-slain bones should keep quiet.  No once-stone heart should not rejoice.  Our God is awesome.  Our God is mercy.  Our God - the Lord - is our rescuer.  Our God has done the whole ruddy lot of it.  He deserves all glory.  He deserves all praise.

James 3:1-18

Oh bum.  I already feel slightly neurotic about my talks after I’ve given them and now I find out I’ll be judged more harshly because of them.  Has there been presumption in me O God?  If there has, please would you forgive me?  I know I love the sound of my own voice and I think I’m hilarious and super-cool but please don’t hold that against me.  I do really just want to use my tongue to bring you glory (oh and to suck polos as I like those - you don’t mind that do you?).  But then, Lord, I am deeply grateful that even as soon as your brother James has said this thing about being more harshly judged he goes on to say “we all stumble in many ways”.  I am so thankful for that.  I love the fact that your word one minute severely challenges me and the next embraces me like an old friend.  Because although I long to live worthy of you and to glorify you in everything I also know that I mess up.  I know I stumble in many many ways.  So thank you that you neither lower your standards or withdraw your love.  O God you truly are amazing.

Psalm 129:1-8

“May they be like grass on the roof which withers before it can grow”.  He’s obviously not seen my gutter - there is almost a forest up there.