We're Back!

Serious quickie to just say Hi! Got back from Canada a few hours ago...amazing trip, and I will bore you silly with it once I get over the jet lag and remember which way is up...

See you all soon

Canada-bound....

A mega-quick blog – fantastic Silver Wedding party last night…it was all we could have dreamed and more! Thank you so much to everyone who made it such an amazing success

For those who were there, the 3 rose bushes are now planted…! Hopeful that we might have some pics of the night available for when we come back, but for now, we are busy doing last minute packing.

Canada here we come… 16 hours and counting….

Later....

As the news develops, the toll increases.

Our prayers increase accordingly...

London Bombings...

What a day

I was in a planning meeting for our October Ladies Day this morning when the news broke that there had been an explosion in Central London, between Aldgate and Liverpool Street. The immediate thoughts are not so much for the masses, but for individuals, family members you know and love, who might have been injured, or worse…

No wonder the phone networks reached overload…

Our first thoughts go to the grieving, and whilst we do not minimise their sense of loss and trauma, we can thank God that, at least so far, the deaths are so few compared to what they could have been…

Our prayers go to the survivors, many seriously ill, and to those family and friends who will want to get to them, but may be hampered by gridlock…

Our thoughts and prayers tonight also go to those who work in the City, who may struggle to get home tonight, and for those who anxiously wait until they hear the key in the door…

Time will come for reactions, interpretations, and plans for the future, but in this moment, let us reach out where we can, in any way that God gives us opportunity, to those affected by today

Pat’s Thought for the Day:
Terrorism strikes at the heart of infrastructure. It is also the way Satan attacks, by allowing a seemingly small thing have devastating consequences. “Minimum Input, Maximum Effect” seems to be his motto. 2 deaths out of 2 million commuters could be said by some to be a “small thing”, but it will have devastating consequences. Let us also be spiritually vigilant, that no “small thing” in our lives is allowed to have a huge impact on our walk with God.

Health update

Just thought you might like to know that this afternoon I had my first major 3-month check-up since being diagnosed with diabetes in February this year. This involved complete blood analysis, and the great news is that the hard work has paid off big time. For those interested in the details, my cholesterol (which should be below 5) is actually only 4.09, and my underlying blood sugar level, taking into account the overall sugar levels for the last 3 months (which I should hopefully be able to get between 7.2 and 7.5) is actually 6.5. I was told that to have achieved this without any medication was very good news indeed.

I am now only having to check my sugar levels twice weekly (instead of daily), and she doesn’t want to see me for another 6 months. She was also very pleased with the weight loss.

Thanks to all for your prayers, support and encouragement. They are deeply appreciated.

Pat’s Thought for the Day
It is never easy to do something now in the hope of a future pay-off. But when Solomon built the Temple for God, it is said that “At the king's command they removed from the quarry large blocks of quality stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple” (1 Kings 5:17). The stones were cut and shaped (dressed) well away from the site of the Temple, before they were allowed to be placed in the Sanctuary of God. Every trial we experience on earth is a “dressing” , preparing us to spend eternity in God’s Sanctuary. Far better to be trimmed and shaped here, than have to experience it in heaven…

Psalm 121

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you — the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.

Had a great time at Ladies Prayer Breakfast this morning. Spoke on Psalm 121, and I have been so gripped by this Psalm recently. Two big themes here for me:-

Firstly, God is “Beyond the mountains” – He is bigger than any mountain in our lives, for He is Creator-God, The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Secondly, in Psalm 121 v 3 “He will not let your foot slip”. Father-God holds our hand each step of the way, like a Dad helping his child cross a road. HE watches the traffic, for when it’s safe to move, the pace at which to cross, and then guides us across to the other side. Life is a series of roads, each of which need to be either travelled or crossed.

Pat's Thought for the Day:
Today, trust your mountain to the mountain-maker, and your hand to the One who has always held you in the palm of His.