Yesterday, through a message from a friend (thank you L.), I discovered Wikimedia Commons, giving me access to thousands of new photographs. I’m so grateful for this, and so delighted to begin sharing them with all who visit this website.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest…
Are you weary?
Are you burdened?
Come, right now, To Jesus.
Are you grieving?
Are you frightened? He will help you Face each test.
He is humble.
He is gentle.
He is here To comfort you.
Are you weary?
Come to Jesus: He will always
Give you rest.
…Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30; NLT).
References
I am with you always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20; WNT).
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).
The Rosary Hospital
Here is today’s rosary, which I thoroughly enjoyed making:
After saying my night prayers yesterday at the end of an unexpectedly eventful day, I turned off my bedside light and laid down to sleep. However, God still had a little bit more to give me:
How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! (Psalm 111:2; NLT).
God: amazing!
Love a-blazing!
Christ: our light, Our strength, our way.
Spirit: help, and truth, And comfort –
Threefold God: peace,
Come what may!
The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
References
God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
The Lord your God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).
God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; NLT).
The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV).
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).
I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth (John 14:16-17; NKJV).
The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever – even the Spirit of truth (John 14:16-17; ASV).
What a difference our attitude makes to how we respond to all God sends. As Saint Paul says: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:5; NLT).
Last night I dreamed I was very ill. It was clear that I was dying, and that this was beyond my control, and beyond any possibility of medical intervention.
In my dream, I was aware that my attitude to death would make a huge difference to how I experienced it. I could accept what was happening, facing it willingly and putting my trust in God. Alternatively, I could resent it, get angry, and feel bitter, or afraid, even blaming God. However, no matter how I approached it, death was still inevitable.
It was a very vivid dream, and I laid awake for a long time afterwards. Eventually I gave up hoping to go back to sleep, so I sat up in bed with a hot drink, and began to pray. To my surprise, as soon as I had said the Lord’s Prayer, today’s blog began to arrive:
In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground (Luke 22:44; NET).
I’m hot. I’m cold.
I’m restless. I can’t sleep.
Into my mind, Lord,
Doubts and questions creep:
Can I face all that’s coming
Without fear?
Yahweh, I know I can’t,
But you are here
To help me bear
Whatever you may send:
My Lord, my God,
My Comforter, and Friend.
Now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God (Romans 5:11; NLT).
References
I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things (Isaiah 45:7; NLT).
TheLORDgives, andtheLORDtakes away. Blessed be the name of theLORD (Job 1:21; CSB).
The LORD gives both death and life (I Samuel 2:6; NLT).
He …became anguished and distressed (Matthew 26:37; NET).
Look – the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners (Matthew 26:45; NLT).
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).
I want your will to be done, not mine (Mark 14:36; NLT).
He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever (John 14:16; KJV).
Context: Today’s prayer describes a rare moment late one evening, when I was able to accept and believe that God really had forgiven all my sins. This meant I could start afresh next day, without looking back, to my great joy. These verses arrived the next morning:
Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looksback is not fit for the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:62; NLT).
The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23; NLT).
I start again today, Lord,
Without sin –
For you forgave me yesterday,
And healed my guilt within.
I start again today
Without a grudge –
For I’ve forgiven all who hurt me:
You, alone, will judge.
I start again today, Lord, Without fear –
For you will walk beside me
Giving comfort, always near.
I start again today
Without regrets –
Instead, I’m looking forward,
For you’ve cancelled all my debts.
When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both (Luke 7:42; ESV).
References
He forgives all my sins (Psalm 103:2; NLT).
Her guilt has been removed (Isaiah 49:2; NASB20).
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NIV).
Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us (Matthew 6:12; NLT).
Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all – the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; NLT).
God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad (Ecclesiastes 12;14; NLT).
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory (Romans 5:2; NLT).
Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world (1 Peter 1:13; NLT).
Context: Yesterday morning I looked out of my bedroom window, as I often do when I get up. The sea was roaring, and the wind was blowing the rain hard against the glass. As I watched, I thanked God for being in the storm. Then I rejoiced that God is present in our painful inner storms, as well as in the sunnier times of our lives. The first two lines of today’s prayer arrived instantly, with the rest quickly following:
From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance. Our God approaches, and he is not silent. Fire devours everything in his way, and a great storm rages around him (Psalm 50:2-3; NLT).
You’re here, Lord, in the storm,
And in the sun.
You’re here, Lord, in defeat;
In battle won.
You’re here in every failure, And success.
You’re always here – To comfort, heal and bless.
I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).
References
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33; NLT).
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him (James 1:12; NLT).
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! (Psalm 103:3; NLT).
Context: I wrote this prayer very late at night a few days ago, after a really bad day health-wise. I was exhausted, and it was time to settle down, but the words were so insistent that I had to rough them out as best I could, then work on them next day. This prayer falls naturally into two related halves:
1. He refreshesmysoul (Psalm 23:4; NIV).
Jesus refreshes me,
Jesus instructs;
Jesus delivers me,
Jesus delights.
Jesus releases me,
Jesus protects;
Jesus advises me,
Jesus unites.
Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
2. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42; CSB).
Jesus, unshackle me,
Jesus, console;
Jesus, replenish me –
Jesus, my Friend.
Youaremyfriends if you do what I command (John 15:14; NIV).
Rosary Hospital news
The hospital had a good day yesterday: one Fiat rosary completed, one parcel prepared for posting, three orders received and a new work-station, which I hope to photograph for you tomorrow, God willing.
Update next morning: I made yesterday’s rosary for myself. When I came to use it in the evening, I discovered that I’ve missed out one bead, so I plan to re-make it today. I’m definitely a perfectionist, but I also really do feel that all my rosaries should be as good as I can make them!
Context: I wrote this poem quite a while ago, after experiencing a series of shattering realisations during prayer. Yesterday I rediscovered it amongst my drafts, and decided to post it today:
I love you, Lord (Psalm 18:1; NLT).
The Father himself loves you dearly (John 16:27; NLT).
I love you, Lord – that’s easy!
But: You love me, too – that’s hard!
Why do you love me, Yahweh? Why do you guide and guard?
You know my every weakness,
And my sins are all too real,
So why do you help and comfort me? Why do you cleanse and heal?
Ah! It’s because you’re perfect, Lord, Pouring out love and peace,
And sending your Son to make us all one:
Your mercy will never cease.
His mercy endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:34; NKJV).
Context: Today’s blog describes what happened after I posted, “Thank you, Jesus” yesterday (https://wp.me/p45bCr-cP2).
Just before settling down to sleep that night I attached my night-cross to my wrist, as always. Then I asked God to be with me in my dreams (see https://wp.me/p45bCr-cHj). I started doing this recently because of a spate of nightmares, probably due to a new medication I was taking. Finally, I switched off the light and went to sleep.
A dream
I dreamed I was in a small, wooden boat, being rowed down a flooded street. Initially, the water was calm.
Then water began to pulse into the street, each wave higher and rougher than the one before, until the water became a rolling, boiling chaos.
Again and again, tons of water towered above me as the boat was tossed around. Soon waves began to break over me, swamping the boat. I was terrified, and started to scream repeatedly.
A dream within a dream
Then, within the dream, I slowly woke, still screaming, gasping for air. I was in bed in my old, ugly, uncomfortableroom at my mother’s house. I was young, but not a child – perhaps a late teenager, or in my early twenties. There was nowhere I would less rather be.
Slowly, slowly, my screams diminished, and I stopped gasping for breath. Eventually my mother appeared in her dressing-gown. I had clearly woken her up, which was never a good thing. I remember feeling that she was very the last person I wanted to see, as she had nothing but scorn for those who were afraid, including me. She was incapable of offering me any comfort, understanding, or sympathy. Indeed, I feared her more than anyone else I had ever known. Finding myself in her house, undressed and in bed, with her in my room, was worse than being in the boat. I felt so vulnerable.
Waking up
Then I began to wake, gradually realising it had all been a dream. However, I couldn’t stop re-living the terrifying sight of the waves towering above me, or the sensation of them falling on to me, filling the boat. It was just like having flashbacks from my childhood, which happened to me so often, and for so many years, that I had no idea they weren’t normal.
Slowly, slowly, I surfaced more fully, until I reached a point where I was able to whisper, “Thank you, Jesus”, whilst holding my night-cross firmly in my hand, where it had remained all night.
Instantly, I stopped re-living the terrifying sights and sensations of my dream. My inner storm had been stilled by those three, precious words.
Then I reached for my iPad to write this blog, feeling awed by what had happened. I was no longer disturbed or afraid, though my body felt as if it were vibrating for a while afterwards. The whole experience left me with a lot to reflect on.
I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NIV).
References
You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me (Jonah 2:3; NIV).
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NIV).
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed (Psalm 107:29; NIV).
He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him (Luke 17:16; NIV).
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18; NIV).
Reading: Mark 4:35-41; RSV
When evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.
And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?”
And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”
And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”
Context: At present, I’m having a lot of challenging and alarming dreams. Yesterday morning, as I surfaced from a particularly long, disturbing one, I started to pray, and immediately received today’s poem. Later in the day I printed it out, and put a copy beside my pillow. The plan is to say it every night just before settling down to sleep, straight after the beautiful Song of Simeon (see below).
Update: I did this last night, and had no horrible dreams at all, for which I thank God!
God speaks in dreams, those visions of the night when deep sleep covers the land and all are slumbering in their beds. At these times God speaks in our ears and terrifies us with admonitions, to turn us away from wickedness and to keep us humble (Job 33:15-17; TIB).
Lord,
Stay with me in my dreams,
To help and comfort me, I pray,
Then, be with me when I wake, To guide and strengthen me each day.
May I hearten others, too, With help and comfort, when I can,
And walk the extra mile with them,
And share their load, like you, God’s Lamb.
If one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles (Matthew 5:41; GNT).
References
As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36; NLT).
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2; NLT).
Reading: the Song of Simeon
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel (Luke 2:29-32; KJV).
Context: The inspiration for this poem came to me during a long train journey a few weeks ago. There were many distractions all around me, but writing it kept me happily absorbed for miles.
When I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:18; NLT).
I pray beside you when I wake,
And kneel beside you to adore.
I serve beside you when I can,
And sit beside you when I weep.
You stay beside me all day long,
And share my suffering and pain.
You comfort me when I’m afraid,
And help me when the way is steep.
So, we face it all together:
Joy and sorrow, grief and fear.
Then, when every day is done,
You watch beside me while I sleep.
The Lord watches over the simple (Psalm 116:6; NASB20).
References
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me (Psalm 23:4; NLT).
Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20; NLT).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
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