This is why I do the work that I do...

Rain and flowersofspringtime and kingdom

I have a friend who can play the rain from heaven. Notes of liquid music, and worship that ascends to open the storehouses of the Almighty. 

When the first notes sound, I hear and see the first fat drops of rain splashing into the dusty lands of my heart. The dusty lands of Africa that are parched, cracked and oh, so very thirsty. 

Sometimes when she plays, I hear the thunder, and see the dark storm clouds of His presence start to form. Towering, with lightning. And I hear the deep sound of my God speaking in the currents of the wind. 

How I love those times!

Here's something I wrote over the weekend as I have thought about shalom (Biblical peace), that echoes the cry for rain and the somehow desperation of my heart...

Shalom - not the absence of conflict

But to thrive, to be alive

Shalom - not me in my safe place

But to walk dusty streets in the rain and the sleet

To turn and see, and to be alive

Shalom - to listen, and to hear

And to Stand in the palace of poverty

With the people beloved 

Shalom - the flowersofspringtime

In the wastelands of our lives 

Shalom... We pray for the peace of this city

Oh God, we pray for the rains of your love

On the thirsty lands of our city (and hearts)

 

Jer 29 talks about the plans of God for our lives (hope and a future, to prosper and not to harm). How often we forget that he said that to his people who HE had carried to Bablyon. Maybe some of us have run away to a city to live in. Some of us he himself has carried to specific cities. All of us are in exile from our heavenly home, which is why we live lives of desperation for him and for spiritual life. 

His command is that we put down roots wherever we are. That we love and live and give. That we breathe and see and hear (no scuba tanks or blinkers or fingers in our ears to block out the hurting broken noisy world around us). 

His command is that we pray for the peace of the city he has placed us in. 

People of God, we also need to realise that the church is NOT the kingdom. We are. And when we pray for the rains, we're praying for the rains of God on hearts, on nations and not just a "thing". We are his bride and his beloved. Not the buildings and rules and way we do things. WE are HIS. The church is not more important than the kingdom!

Shalom - not the absence of conflict

But to thrive, to be alive

Shalom - not me in my safe place

But to walk dusty streets in the rain and the sleet

To turn and see, and to be alive

Shalom - to listen, and to hear

And to Stand in the palace of poverty

With the people beloved 

Shalom - the flowersofspringtime

In the wastelands of our lives 

Shalom... We pray for the peace of this city

Oh God, we pray for the rains of your love

On the thirsty lands of our city (and hearts)

Thoughts on a Wednesday mornng. There you go. 

That moment...

... when you realise that the plans for the morning will rearrange so that there is coffee in the house again! The sacred bean appears to have gone AWOL. Sob.

(Oh dear, and I am posting this on my "deepest thoughts" footstool blog. Might have to add it to the family blog too.) 

Just Jane?

Just Jane? Plain Jane? 
No, refrain. 
This lady is NOTHING like plain!
She's a heart who gives like I've never given before
And hands that help to lift up the poor
She's a laugh and a smile to gladden my heart
And a friend who is faithful right from the start. 

Perfect? Oh no, but definitely not plain.
This Jane is one who will dance through the rain
Who has spun through the darkness of despair's deepest pain
She's fought the hard fight - and won again and again
This Jane of all Janes... is simply not just a Jane
She's the song of His heart and carries Heaven's refrain.

(For my dearest friend, Jane. He knows your name!)