The Storm

The storm is brewing;
Brewing in the teacup
Brewing on a lake
A storm that scares you
that something will break

A storm in our lives
A storm that shakes
The winds are howling
The waves are high
Some tease and taunt,
Others full of electric-
Intensify!

Some linger a while,
Others quickly pass by.
They can question life,
Throw everything up in the sky
A whirlwind of uncertainty,
Swirling, crushing hopelessness,
Seemingly drowning,
Amid a torrent of anxiety

Just like a tale in ages past,
Which many join the cry and ask
Jesus- what on earth shall we do?
How can you sleep, will we make it through
The night when the fiercest windstorm blew

Waves surrounding,
Gaining uncontrollable height
As the might of the gales
Raging within my soul
Blurs everything else from sight
Except the lightning flash!
In a sky as black as a ream of coal

But Jesus awoke and rebuked the storm
The storm in a teacup
The storm on a lake
Storms that scare
And storms that shake

The winds instantly died down,
The waves levelled low
From a raging tempest,
To deep calm, blissful slow
With instant and utter authority
He teaches waves how to behave.
He commands the wind, the rain and the snow.

And more than that,
The same Jesus, the Jesus I know
Is with me, and in me, and NEVER goes.
My soul no longer in distress
My soul in him alone, finds rest.
The peace of all peace
The hope of all hope.

Some years later, another storm arose,
This time a shipwreck- certainly posed
But Paul was inside and he knew the Lord
He called everyone together,
 everyone on board.

They ate a meal and together broke bread,
They gave thanks and prayed. Calm instead
Of calamity, like the feast in Psalm 23
A table of refuge laid out
In the middle of the enemy.
That night, every person was saved
Only the boat was lost the waves.

The Peace of all Peace,
The Hope of all Hope
The rock that is solid,
Not thrown off to the left or the right
Though wind and waves
may obscure your sight.
Nothing can ensnare you,
Because Christ is there
and he stands for you

He is the Prince of Peace,
The Bringer of Hope,
Trust in the Lord and you will cope
Not because there won’t be any storms,
Nor because you are strong
Or can ‘keep calm and carry on’

But because we build our house on the Rock
He is our Foundation that withstands
And can command storms to stop.
No matter, the tempest-
He’ll bring us safely back,
Into the haven of the dock

I wrote this poem last month a few days before I even knew anything about Hurricane Sandy. Although, if you've been affected by the storms, I pray you'd know God's closeness and peace as he walks with you through the inevitable steps of cleaning up, rebuilding and restoring.

At the beginning, the tone sets the storm brewing and building up, tapping into the frightening reality of storms in our lives and how things happening around us can deeply impact and resonate within us as well. that brew in our lives, without ignoring and belittling the devastating effects, but acknowledges them in two stories;

The first from Luke chapter 8, where Jesus and his disciples are in a boat, Jesus falls asleep and they are caught in a fierce windstorm and the disciples (some of which are experienced fishermen) are petrified, in panic, thinking they are going to die. Until Jesus stood up and spoke to the storm and it stopped! Just like that!

The second story takes a different route, Paul was held as a prisoner, being transported across the sea to stand trial, when the shipwreck hit, Paul already knew God's peace and didn't lose faith like the disciples and again everyone survived (In fact Paul survived 3 shipwrecks) but the storm and the shipwreck was not stilled.

Sometimes storms build and then instantly changes; breakthrough, peace... and we praise God,
but other times God does not take away the storms, but he holds us, carries us, leads us through. Sometimes it may feel lonely and you feel like you are facing the storm head on, but God promises never to leave us and its then he's at our back, helping us push through.

In Psalm 77, there is a verse that talks about God's path going through the mighty waters, So in these times, even though we'd rather avoid difficult circumstances altogether, we need to praise God and trust in his ways, finding refuge in God's peace, that is not dependant on circumstance, but that He, the Prince of Peace gives us freely.

June Project, A Poem by Emily Pringle

Our church has just had our Sixth June Project in Durham, and last year, a friend of mine; Emily Pringle wrote the report in the form of a poem.

With her permission I have the privilege of sharing it with you. :-)

Juby and his crew put the final plans in place,
for gardens, flyers, painting and the King’s Art Space.
United by God and his good news for all,
120 delegates filled St Oswald’s hall.
Nerves, excitement and expectation spread,
for what God had in store for the next few days ahead.
Everyone in teams, we jumped to our feet,
to work with young and old, play sport and worship on the street.
Prayer for healing, digging gardens, painting fences, serving tea,
through our actions God was working for any and all to see.
Residents joined in too with many a cell event,
to Newton Hall, Gilesgate and Neville’s Cross we went.
Our hearts were being moulded and our city being changed,
with many lives transformed and priorities rearranged.
Just the eager few got up soon after light,
to serve coffees at the station and then again at night!
Evenings saw youth events, Ceilidhs and such things,
with many having fun and others learning how to swing.
Chat to a delegate to find out lots more,
for much has God been doing and more has He in store.
Though June Project came and went in less than a week,
we know that God is still at work and His Kingdom we still seek.


Poem written by Emily Pringle, June 2011.

I hope you enjoyed her creative report, I think it beautifully captures the variety and essence of the project combined with the importance of seeing what God's heart for us and the community is.


Check out the internlog to find out more about this year's June project http://www.kcd.org.uk/internship/log/

Did you know?

Did you know that giraffes can’t cough
and bluebirds can’t see blue
Did you know that a cow’s only sweat glands’ in its nose,
maybe, that’s why they moo!
Did you know that butterflies taste with their feet,
and insects shiver when they’re cold
Did you know that lobsters have blue blood,
and rats can’t vomit, so I’m told!


Did you know an average iceberg weighs 20 million tons
and only male fireflies can fly,
Did you know astronauts can’t burp in space,
neither can they cry.
The earth’s seas are about 2 miles deep,
and the Atlantic is saltier than the Pacific
Only 1 out of 10 parrots learn to talk,
now that’s a nifty trick.


Who created the house fly that hums in middle F,
or slugs that have 4 noses?
Who created the seas and then parted them,
for the people of Israel led by Moses?
Who created the catfish that are the only animal-
to have an odd number of whiskers?
Who created you and me, with our noses-
that can identify 10 thousand different odours?

Back in November, my Mum asked me to plan "Scout's Own" for a Cub Badge Camp at very short notice. Scout's Own is the Sunday worship/ reflective thing on a Cub or Scout camp- It can a bit like an assembly!

The conversation went something like this:

Me: [answers phone] Hi Mum! you alright?!
Mum: ...[hellos, how are yous, I'm fine, yaa-da-yahdee-yah...]
         I've been asked to lead Scout's Own this weekend.
        Can you* do it?
*[could I plan something simple for her lead?!]
Me: Oh! I'm fairly busy this week, but er.. yeah?!
        When do you need it for?
Mum: Thursday morning- we're going early!
[It was already Tuesday...
and Wednesday is the day I work til really late!!]
Me: Crumbs! Have you got any ideas?
Mum: No, Whatever you like!!
        I just need to be able to follow and lead it.
Me: [yelp!] Erm, okay?!!!

Maybe I should have said no,

Perhaps I should have insisted on a few ideas or direction,

But as a result of this, I came up with a few ideas and finally decided to focus on a verse in Acts (14: 13) which says, "God made the heaven, the earth, the sea and everything in it".

While gathering up some very cool facts from an app on my phone, I tried to work out how to bring it all together in a fun and engaging way, I never intended to write a poem, but on the Thursday morning, as I was trying to piece the different facts and ideas together, rhythm and rhyme started to flow and connect, so at the very last minute, I somehow had a poem, a quiz, some more facts and bible verses, a song (with actions) and a prayer!

This is the story of how this poem came about.

As a final thought,

Did you know, that a completely blind chameleon will still  take on the colours of it's environment!

Totally amazing! Surely proof of a Maker!

The Gate of the Year

by Minnie Louise Haskins, 1908

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,
“Give me a light that I would tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied, “Go into the darkness

and put your hand into the hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!”

So I went forth and finding the Hand of God
Trod gladly into the night.
He led me towards the hills
And the breaking of day in the lone east.

So heart be still!
What need our human life to know
If God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife of things
Both high and low,
God hideth his intention.

   

At the turn of the year, in the midst of yo-yoing between cities, the Christmas rush, seeing family and friends, New Year’s Eve parties, sales and plans, it is important to take stock of the year passing, to put aside what needs to be put down, but not to lose the perspective of ‘who’ is taking us onward into the unknown with its opportunities, possibilities and uncertainties and the ripples of things begun and started that have within them power to transform the next chapter

I discovered this poem at the beginning of last year. ‘The Gate of the Year’ was written by Mary Louise Haskins in 1908, yet it seems so relevant and significant, that having pondered it through 2011, it feels right to carry on mulling it over and gleaning from it into 2012 too. This is the first poem written by someone else on this blog. I hope it resonates and connects with you as it has and continues to do so with me. There are a couple of verses in Psalm 139 that this poems brings to mind,

“If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Ps 139:11-12, NIV).

Despite a lack of posts lately, mainly due to being a yo-yo across the country through November and December), I have written quite a few poems recently, so look out for them over the coming weeks and months.

Whatever this year may bring and however dark and unknown it may look, I pray you will see God’s faithfulness, his power to bring in the dawn and breakthrough in things seeming impossible and his hand at work; holding, renewing, refreshing and equipping you for the coming year.

Happy New Year! x



A Spoon of Grace

A child with a spoon, standing on the beach

A bit of water we’re trying to reach.

The tide comes in, the water is vast,

Come splash and enjoy, it’s here to last.

God’s love, joy and grace are never ending.

The tides may change but he never stops sending

them rolling up and down the shores.

His mercy he continually pours.

He made you to sparkle with life to the full,

to know His goodness and that He’s faithful.

He created you, He created it all

Elements and matter, waves and shore.

The story and vision goes that St. Augustine was at the sea-side, and there was a child trying to spoon the ocean into a pit in the sand he had dug out with a spoon and it is said that it was easier to spoon the ocean into the hole than it was to explain the mystery of the trinity.

Quite few years ago, I heard someone talk of a similar analogy, from a picture that I’ve tried looking for without success... again it was a child going to the ocean with a spoon. But he described it as a picture of grace, a child coming to the water with a spoon to try and collect the ocean. Grace is so much more than we deserve or could hope for ‘His grace is sufficient’; ‘His grace is enough’- not because it is rationed or we make do with what we’ve got but because it is poured out and plentiful. There is an abundance of grace, A spoon of grace is an oxymoron, paradoxical, contradictory. So don’t just try to collect a token of water, live in the fullness of it, because God is not stingy with grace.

In response to what I know of St. Augustine’s vision, theology should not be about using a spoon to fill the hole with water or take a sample in a glass jar to analyse because although you could do tests and analyse its composition, apart from the ocean it lacks life and power. Maybe it’s about delighting in him, and letting the tide roll over the hole, fill, submerge and cause it to overflow.

I wrote this at the end of August 2011, it is adapted from part of a poem I wrote for a friend, and loosely inspired by Boticelli's picture,
"the Vision of St. Augustine."

Free

This is a story

A story of me

This is no fairytale

but of truth that sets free

I’d been plodding for Jesus

But with the weight of a bus

Dragging behind me

While it started to rust.

“I’ve got big shoulders”

I always said

But the weight of the world

was more than lead

Life’s race- a spiritual battle

Been pushing onwards

But with a yoke like cattle

I was worn out and starting to rattle

But this is NOT how it’s suppose to be

It is for freedom that Christ set us free

The weight of the world, he took on the cross

He paid the price, to rescue the lost.

The bricks we carry,

He says- “Let me!”

Throw them into the water,

That makes fresh even the sea.

Shake off the ties,

The things that bind

Enjoy ALL his freedom

Seek first and you’ll find

The peace and the healing,

Come enjoy, taste and eat,

Lightness- so freeing,

His freedom complete.

I’m running for Jesus,

Pushing on for the prize,

He took it all on the cross

And put to death all the lies.

The Spirit of God wells up inside

The sowing of tears,

At last- Put aside!

In laughter and joy, it’s time to abide.

His precious daughter, no condemnation

I am a new creation,

His grace is enough for me

His love redeems and carries me.

“Not your shoulders, but mine instead!”

Because the weight of the word*

Was more than lead

He paid in full, then rose from the dead!

This is a story

A story of God and me

This is no fairytale

But of truth that sets free.

*Thought you found a typo? I'm afraid 'word' rather than 'world' has been left in on purpose, but can be interchanged. 

As part of the freedom that took place over the summer that inspired this poem, it had been words, a kind of 'promise' to God (well meaning but powerful and binding words)- many years ago that had 'tied me up' and made me vulnerable to being weighed down by more burden that wasn't mine to carry. However powerful words are, God's grace is enough and the new covenant takes away the requirement of legalism. It's taken close to a decade for this freedom to break in and break me out of this which had disguised itself as a God promise, I just needed to renounce those words and come to a place of repentance and God did the rest- amazing freedom and joy and life in multicolour.

Following Jesus, had involved the 'spiritual art' of plodding and slogging, i.e. keeping going despite spiritual opposition and pushing onwards, but it's a bit like in Hebrews 12, after God broke through, and we threw off all the stuff weighing me down and getting entangled around my feet I feel able to run (physically and spiritually) in a free way!

Tree from the Rocks

 


'Tree from the Rocks', Acrylic on Canvas



It's about rocks like a tomb, trapping a tree, 

Blocking the light, but the tree bursts free.

Pushing the slab of rock aside,

I don't think I could if I tried!

The dark is too dark

How can you survive

Hope is so small

but it is alive.

Life has strength and power

and Hope does not die.

A tree stands firm like a tower,

from a seed of faith buried on a hillside.

When the power of heaven join and face

The struggles and darkness of this place

Hope goes hand in hand with reality!

Rocks like a tomb, but the tree bursts free!



Inspired by a tree discovered off the beaten track in the Lake District, while I was on a walking trip with my Dad and stepmum the weekend before Easter 2011. I took a photo of this prophetic tree and decided to paint it for the June Project Art Space and up sprung this poem while starting to write the blurb to accompany it!   



Original sketch: water colour pencils





When I wrote this in June, poetry was not something that I considered to be 'my thing'; particularly as I'm dyslexic, it was quite the opposite. I always struggled getting thoughts and ideas on paper in anyway other than a mindmap or picture! (Although, I did used to write very long letters- that only occasionally made it to the postbox!) 

So I was quite surprised and totally amazed at how natural it seemed to write, and how easily this poem had appeared like a new spring!

Hope you like it! :-)