The quiet, domesticated life

Some words from the lovely Ruth Marsh:

"Whilst I was away in Cornwall and had a bit of space to think, I asked God what He might be saying to me from the weeks' experiences, and a couple of pictures and a passage came to mind which I felt were part of God's heart for pastorate that He was sharing with me (us!).

The first picture came from a house-buying TV programme I was watching that morning, and it was of a very sleek-looking fireplace, with metal trimming around it, boxed into a wall. The feature about it that stuck in my mind was that it had a remote control to it, so you could turn the fire up or down as you wished.

The second picture came from a Christian DVD I had also been watching that week called 'Nooma: Flame', and it was one of a HUGE outdoor bonfire; the biggest on I'd ever seen. It was being used in the DVD to illustrate the wildness and enormity of God's love - it certainly was wild and enormous, and you couldn't control it!I felt that God might be speaking to us about the fire of His Spirit - maybe that if we tried to stay in control of things ourselves we'd have a very controlled, domesticated spiritual life at pastorate, but if we dared to invite the Spirit in and obey His leadings and promptings as a pastorate, then fire will burn! (But it might also look quite messy...)

The verse that came to mind was Isaiah 61: 'The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favour has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory.'

Bring it on, God! We love what You do and want to see more of it..."

Amen. A messy life, but a life that brings God's order and God's good news to all who will receive it (me first!)