a year later .. on loss and finding

I find myself in a reflective mood. My blog was a year old this week, and also this week, God has been speaking into my life and the life of friends. Some are dealing with hard times and some dealing with moments of deep joy or inspiration. It makes me realise that nearly always our hearts are pulled in two or more directions.And there are regrets too! For a few years I had the privilege of being in active ministry of diakonia in a parish, that taught me something of the truth of St Paul's words "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Romans12.15.NIV - some days the two experiences could be had within what seemed like a few seconds of each other as people arrived at the door. It makes me realise that God holds both the pain and joy of human life in his heart at the same time. The extremes of our lives and our loves are all exposed and known to him. His unquenchable love holds us close.

Chatting yesterday on the phone with a good friend I found myself saying again "God has been saying a lot to me since I moved to Ipswich, but I honestly think the truth is really that I have started listening to him again and that before I came here I had stopped listening." This led to a whole conversation.

Our God is super abundant! Sustaining and maintaining the universe each day by his powerful word. His continuing love is there for each one of us whether we choose to turn to him, or ignore, or disbelieve in him. God knows the very ebb and the very flood of our tides of our enthusiasm. And the riverlets in between.

So a review of the first year!

The call (read)

The most unusual "Stag" or "Bucks" weekend in the history of mankind! (House of Prayer) and (Iona)

Marriage! Yep I got married to an amazing woman

Two Mini Series

* Live by the Spirit
* Live by the Spirit - Prayer
* Live by the Spirit - Time Spent in the Word
* Live by the Spirit - Asking
* Live by the Spirit - Give Up Judging
* Live by the Spirit - Forgive
* Live by the Spirit - Our Father

* Guide Us Lord
* The Plan for Your Life
* The Plan for Your Life (2) Listen
* Take Action to Change

The tipping point - 2 blogs nobody challenged
* Tipping Point and Year of Grace - maybe they  were too Catholic!

Writing these have helped me to grow in faith, at times it has felt like being in a tumbler drier "for the Lord" and at others, in a washing machine with a block of cement. But the Lord hasn't finished with me yet! So you will hear more from me. What did I lose and what did I find? I lost a bit of my iniquity and found a spiritual inheritance.

He has his "Child Ipswich" in his sights! The dew of the Holy Spirit is awaiting his command to fall on this place. Listen you have understanding!

May the peace of Christ be present in your hearts, may he lift your soul, may you learn what it is to shelter in the shadow of his wings. Amen