clarevmerry

Your Fruitfulness Comes from Me

O Ephraim, have no more to do with idols ……I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me.Who is wise? He will realize these things.Who is discerning? He will understand them.The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but in them the rebellious stumble and fall. Hosea 14:8-9

#3 Oh, Jesus I Have Promised

At school I loved singing although I couldn’t read. In assembly each morning we sang hymns and I loved it and sang at the top of my voice. There was one hymn which I really loved, but I thought the words were a bit strange: Oh, Jesus, I have promised To serve thee to theContinue reading “#3 Oh, Jesus I Have Promised”

#2 Dinosaurs Sorted

But I minded……. That is why I returned to the church and pushed open the heavy wooden door which everyone thought a child could not open. It was scary, but I had nerves of steel and always have had. I crept into the church, took the dinosaurs out of the Easter Garden and dropped themContinue reading “#2 Dinosaurs Sorted”

#1 I’ll Sort it Out

TRUTH matters in my opinion. The details matter. I’ve always been like this. This story happened when I was seven: I was brought up in a village in East Anglia and we went to the parish church each Sunday. In those days churches were open all the time and nothing went missing. I went aloneContinue reading “#1 I’ll Sort it Out”

Consider the lilies

Sermon on the mountLuke 12 27-28Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,Continue reading “Consider the lilies”

Millions of Little Flames Alight

Each follower is a little flame bringing forth the light of Christ. Light in a dark, uncertain world. Warmth in the chill of godless society. The flame flickers sometimes, but it never goes out. Each follower of Jesus brings hope to someone, somewhere, somehow. Pentecost is symbolized by flames like the ones that came downContinue reading “Millions of Little Flames Alight”

The Empty Tomb and Resurrection

Sometimes life is too hard, too dark, you feel trapped as if in a tomb. It seems like the end. But then patiently wait three days. Count three days, keep watch through the pain. Wait and hope. If you can’t hope, just wait. On the third day go to the tomb and enter; examine theContinue reading “The Empty Tomb and Resurrection”

Good Friday and the Cross

It came to this. An ending in dust sticking to blood, body broken, searing pain, the final loud cry and breath drawn – defeat. Darkness came down. It was the unjust end, the triumph of brutal power to end life – even the giver of Life – they cut him down. His message was hope,Continue reading “Good Friday and the Cross”

#21 Miracles are Rare

Miracles are rare – they are neither habitual nor reproducible. They are specific happenings in a world that functions through general natural laws. Miracles depend on the will of God, and they are linked to invocation of the name of Jesus. There were no greater signs and wonders than in the life of Jesus Christ. Continue reading “#21 Miracles are Rare”

#20 Miracles Hidden and Unseen

In the case of healing, few healings are miraculous. Usually you know that before you were ill, and now you are better. The recovery took place slowly and quietly, in a hidden way. Today miracles of provision are experienced more by the poor than by the rich; and more by those in danger, than byContinue reading “#20 Miracles Hidden and Unseen”