Skip to main content

Fruitful....

Thank you, Father, that I am chosen, 
And that you want me to enjoy my friendship with Jesus 
just as he basks in the joy of being the utmost object of your love.

Like Jesus, let me not take you for granted;
Help me to remain in your love by obeying your commands.

Help me to remain in Jesus by fostering the intimacy he seeks with me
Help me to walk closely with you, God, in step with your Spirit. 

Lord, make me fruitful on the vine, dependent on you,
not withering on the ground from striving in my own weakness.

May everything I do be for your glory:
My prayers and praise to you,
My loving care for others,
My hope and joy in your incomparable worth.

Lord, I submit to your pruning of my life and character,
Knowing that it demonstrates your love for me,
Knowing that it is to make me more fruitful for you.

I choose to delight in you in all things – 
It is an honour to live in your love
To know your love in my life,
To love others with your love.

Amen.

Phil Andrews

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Give a "hug"....

A church in Speke (based in its own cafe) gives people "hugs" (personally and prayerfully knitted scarfs wrapped in a clear bag) complete with a personal dedicated card from the knitter. They're (freely) given out to anyone deemed to be in need of a "hug". Know someone who is "down", bereaved, recently divorced or having a hard time? Give 'em a "hug"... Just imagine how many "hugs" our local knitters could produce.....!

CORDOBA - clever, cultured and cold....!

Travelling from the lush tropical rainforest of Iguazu to Argentina's second city, Cordoba, came as something of a shock! Firstly, there were all the usual trappings of a city - traffic, buildings, people, hustle and bustle. (The very comfortable but "simple" hotel was also a bit of a come down! Indeed, intermittent wifi has made sending blogs a challenge but, here we are...!) Although a travel cliche, Cordoba really is a fascinating mix of old and new... 17th century ecclesiastical buildings stand next to the latest shopping centres. CLEVER: Indeed, this city boasts a long established academic foundation: Manzana Jesuitica, Argentina's first university (so it claims!). The next door academic establishment, Colegio Nacional de Montserrat, with its baroque exterior walls, may be as old - it all depends on whether you consider the date building began or charters were established! Visiting the university's oldest library and being shown a 17th century bible...

If God was a glacier...

Would I recognise within the purity of the whiteness, the whole spectrum of mercy and love hidden in that white light....? Would I stand in awe of the power veiled in the beauty...? Would I be open to this transforming force - shaping and re-shaping, removing all that stands in the way of changing, slowly and subtly taking all the 'boulders' of my 'baggage' and depositing them far away from my concerns...? Would I be prepared to pause, to stop and to listen out for the sounds of the secret symphony within, God promising hope that, even in the cold, painful moments, all will be ultimately well...? If God was a glacier, would I dare to visit, would I want to visit, knowing that, when we meet God, things will never quite be the same again...