'One person's rubbish . . . . .?'

The car boot queens were at it again this morning. This was another of those fundraising mornings involving selling stuff no longer wanted or items donated - and being careful to BUY NOTHING yourself! The second part of the deal didn't work and never does - home with some lovely boxes, notebooks and new coffee mugs!

Every time I look at our boot table I think - 'who on earth will buy (this time round) a watch with no battery, a giant dice, a bag looking like it was made of your granny's old curtains and a back scratcher?!' But yet again we discover that there is a buyer for most items out there and a home for each treasured piece.

Doing boot sales is as much about the people and the conversations as anything else. We hadn't done one for a long time so it was good to see some old 'booty friends'. It is also a great place to people watch and play the 'I know who that is but - 

* where from?

* what's her name?

* how is it she seems to know me?' game.

I also think that one day I will be that person who finds the buried treasure bought for £1 and sold for £1,000's. Boot sales remind me that what we might call rubbish isn't so when in the right hands. And that's exactly what God says to us. You might think you've messed up, rubbished life or aspects of it - but God calls you treasure because in His hands that's exactly what you are - highly prized treasure - worth dying for.

By the way we raised some money for Rwanda. The dice sold to a lady who said they were hard to find! The bag looked amazing, quirky and cool over its new owner's shoulder, the back scratcher is still there - but if suddenly your back is starting to itch you know where I am! And the watch - gone to the great watch-maker in the sky!

'D' - lightful!

When I lived overseas one of the highlights of any day was the mail. I had to travel to the Post Office to get it and nothing can describe either the joy in receiving or the disappointment at finding nothing there. And then there were the parcels - even better. I received some very unusual items in packages. One of the most memorable got me an invite to customs as the white powder leaking from the parcel had caused some concern. Love my sherbet fountains - what can I say?! When we had visitors it was lovely so see them but even lovelier to see what they'd brought with them - chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate! And, for some reason Angel Delight. Peru didn't really do puddings so I suppose something like Angel Delight became extra special, particularly among the English.

All of this gets me around to my little God alphabet - now 'D' for delight! This is a lovely, lovely God word because it tells us that God delights in us. According to dictionary definitions God is charmed, enchanted, captivated, entranced and thrilled by me. And I give him pleasure, happiness, joy and gladness. Wow! Simply writing those words makes me smile, sit up that bit straighter and taller (?) and feel better about myself. To think that this is how God sees me is amazing. And surely that ought to change me. Maybe if I saw myself more as God sees me I would be the better person for it. I see lots of fb posts on how we shouldn't concern ourselves with how others see us, particularly if they are putting us down - but we can do even better than that. We can look in a mirror and say 'God delights in me - he is charmed, enchanted, captivated, entranced and thrilled by little ME'. And not by what I do or what I have achieved - but just by who I am - simply by me. In response he asks us to delight ourselves in him - in all we are and in what we do to give him pleasure, happiness, joy and gladness. 

And Angel Delight - if you ever invite me to dinner, please don't feel obliged to serve it up - think I had my fill of it all those years ago. 

I like to think my tastes have become more sophisticated. Bring on the jelly and ice cream!

But if you would like '1001 ways with Angel Delight' I think I can oblige!

Pennies from Heaven

I was a Brownie once. I loved it and vividly remember many of the details of Brownie life. I can almost smell the shoe polish as my dad polished my had-to-be brown shoes. And the smell of Brasso as I insisted on polishing badges and buckles myself. I was definitely an OCD Brownie. Everything had to be exactly right!

One Brownie event I loved was 'Thinking Day' when we were encouraged to think of Brownies all over the world, and in the case of my Brownie pack, generally think good thoughts all day. As part of Thinking Day we had to shine a penny, along with the badges and buckles. I'm not too sure what that was all about, but I loved the shiny pennies. I'm just realising that I have no idea what became of them!

Sally and I get lots of pennies. They come in bags and jars and boxes from so many people who save their small change or ambush family and friends for theirs - all for Rwanda. Just today The latest box arrived. I can't tell you what joy these pennies bring to our house. People often half apologise for what to them seems so little, but those pennies mean a lot to us. They speak of commitment to our work, love and concern for the people of Rwanda who receive help as a result, and I can't put into words how much all this encourages us. Every penny counts and every penny is precious.

Today I also remember another penny from childhood. A boy knocked me over in the playground and my very favourite teacher gave me a cold penny to hold against the bump on my head. Don't think anyone had heard of A&E and concussion! When I went to return it to her she said I could keep it. She may as well have given me a thousand pounds, it was so precious. A little girl who rarely had money for sweets (violins out!) didn't even spend it for a very long time. I treasured that penny so dearly. That was largely because of the person who gave it to me - the giver made the gift special.

So to everyone out there who continues to give me pennies today - thank you. They are precious, yes, because of how much stuff they turn into in Rwanda, but also because you, the givers are precious too. Never underestimate the value of the penny - each one counts and is much appreciated.

And the bump on the head? Some would say that explains a lot! it was almost worth it for that very special penny.

All for one and one for all!

It's team time again - well at least the beginnings - the search for a Rwanda team for 2015. I have a good idea of the kind of team for this time round and some names in mind. Will be asking shortly! It's an exciting part of the process, but not the easiest. For Rwanda's sake and for the sake of individual team members it is important to get it right. This is where I am relieved that the real team picker is God and even when I don't get it he does know exactly what he's doing.

So what makes a team? Well, here are some thoughts.

'T' is for together. Always on the look-out for good team players; people who will play the game with others; play their part for the good of the rest; respect leadership - a kind of all for one and one for all. Yes, I'm looking for the musketeers!

'E' is for each - because while we want a good closely knit team we also love that each person brings that unique something that is all their own. Each has his/her own gifts, personalities and abilities. And even their own quirkiness. Love watching how God uses the quirky!

'A' is for adaptable. From experience this is a bigger challenge for some than it is for others! Even with the most detailed of planning nothing EVER goes to plan. You can sit around bemoaning the fact and going on about how 'they' should do better or different - or adapt - and learn that your way is not the only way - nor even always the best way.

'M' is for ministry - the willingness to serve. This is a must. There needs to be the expectation that hands will get dirty and hearts broken as we give all of us to all of 'them'. This is hugely rewarding but costly. Nothing ever quite prepares anyone for this - either the cost or the blessing.

Of course an overseas missions team may not be for you, but we are all on a team - the Jesus team - and all of the above apply as we serve him wherever and whenever. I'm sure we could all do the 'together' thing better, do our own thing better, adapt better and serve better. Jesus had a team and what a motley crew that was! And he has a team now - called the church. If Jesus were on the sidelines now as we play the game, I wonder what he would be shouting?!

Back to my team in formation - it's an exciting but wee bit daunting part of the whole process. Wouldn't be the first time I've been told - 'well, all the best with that lot!' before leaving! And then there's me - because they have to contend with me - now there's a challenge!

Lost and Found

I am the world's expert on getting lost. I have had some scary and very amusing moments in the country called 'Lost'. I once got on the wrong bus in Lima and decided that the only thing to do was stay put - once I realised - as it was late and dark and scary. I figured that that was safer and once 'there' (wherever 'there' was) I could decide what to do. We got to the end of the line which turned out to be the middle of nowhere and I was the only person on the bus apart from the driver - people don't generally want to go to the middle of nowhere. The driver turned to me and said 'Now where exactly did you want to go?' I told him and he kindly took me to another bus and told that driver where to leave me. I have been 'lost' umpteen times in hospitals and shopping centres - my specialities! And on several occasions have had to phone someone, describe where I am and find out how to get where I need to be!

My bunch of girlies and myself were talking last night about what it is to be lost in the sense Jesus meant it - how we are/were all lost; how some seem more lost than others; how some don't know they're lost; how some almost deliberately get lost; how some, like me, are simply more prone to being lost! Jesus doesn't want us living in the land called 'Lost'. That's why he came to find us. But we can be a bit stubborn. Men have a reputation for never asking for directions - the macho thing apparently is to drive round in circles until you eventually find where you are going no matter how long it takes and how much fuel you waste! Can I say men are not the only ones? I have travelled many miles out of my way, not really 'lost' - simply taking the scenic route!

I put down my tendency to get lost to an absence of any sense of direction. I could easily go out my front door right now and take a wrong turn at the gate. So when I think of the whole thing of Jesus finding me - and I'm so glad he did - I see it as him giving me direction in life. It's like he found me, picked me up and pointed me in the right direction. And I haven't stopped since. Jesus has made a few gentle direction changes now and again, but I know with him I am on the right track. And with him I can never be truly lost. I'll never really end up in the middle of nowhere because with God there is always an amazing somewhere. Not only does he give us direction, keep us from getting lost, but he is also the destination. Can't get better than that.

Some one has said that things are never really lost. They are simply not where they were last seen or where they are meant to be. When Jesus came for us he came to place us where we are meant to be - and the adventure begins!

By the way, if you ever see me wandering anywhere looking lost, I probably am! I might tell you I am simply taking the scenic route, but that's generally not true, so have mercy, save me some energy and gently point me in the right direction!

Keeping up Appearances

To a Louse (on seeing one on a lady's bonnet at church)

'And would that some Power the small gift give us

To see ourselves as others see us!

It would from many a blunder free us'

Robbie Burns

I wonder how we see ourselves? We can be quick to comment on others - even if not out loud! - their dress, hair or general appearance. It's said that within seconds of someone entering a room we will have made several judgments about them, much of that based on appearance. I look at teens sometimes and think - it's ok; it's a phase; she'll grow out of it - but also remember my teens when no doubt many an adult thought the same! I can still hear my dad - 'you're not going out like that, are you?' Beyond the teenage years the trend today seems to be to look as young as you can for as long as you can, with teeth as white as possible and skin - well, orange seems to be all the rage!

Does it really matter how someone else sees you? Well, according to Robbie Burns it just might save some embarrassment. It's useful to have that person around to tell you that a sample of your dinner is all down your front or that you are about to go out in your slippers! But in a sense it matters not, as long as you're happy.

When I was putting together this little picture I had a wee smile to myself when I saw the grey hair option. I didn't have to 'pretend' I was still dark-haired or go blonde. I could be me. And that is what is important - to be me. God made a 'one of' when he made me. I am unique. Physically I inherited some of me. How I dress is my choice. Mannerisms etc I have picked up over years. 

I am me. And I am perfectly happy being me. The thing is it has little to do with appearance. What makes me me is what is inside, and while that is certainly not perfect, it is what God sees and what he is working on - a beautiful work of art! And that is true for us all.

By the way, if I do go out in my slippers no one will notice as they are like boots! I can get away with that one. But if you ever see me with the remains of dinner down my front, please feel free to point it out - but then quickly duck!

Dream on!

I wonder if you remember your dreams on waking in the morning - that's if you get to sleep in the first place? I usually do remember mine and what adventures I have! I climb the odd mountain, swim the odd sea and travel the world. But mostly I get lost - just like I do in real life!

I love this wee phrase which I read today - 'You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream'. Even when I read it I could feel my heart beat faster with the excitement of wondering what next?!

It is sad that many people, as they grow older, cease to dream, and rather than set goals, simply drift from day to day as though they were in what some call 'God's waiting room'. I can remember my wonderful, funny grandmother eyeing a new coat, wondering whether to buy it, but deciding she wouldn't get the years out of it that it deserved price-wise - she'd be gone before the coat wore out! I don't think my gran lacked the ability to dream - she was just being realistic!

I know others though who are constantly taking on new challenges, dreaming and seeing dreams come true no matter how late in life. Those people inspired me as I grew older - and they still do. But what moves me to dream most of all is the God who is the God of the impossible - if the dream is God-given he will make it come true. He will make the goal achievable. Sometimes we need to step up and take the challenge.

Dreams and goals give purpose to life and save us from drifting aimlessly through life until we fizzle out. God defend me from fizzling! I was once involved in visiting an older lady who was coming to the end of her earthly life, and one day as I sat by her bedside in hospital on a day when she was too weak even to speak she managed one sentence - 'Miriam, make sure my funeral is good'. We'd talked about this before as she was adamant that her funeral would be less about her and all about reaching people for Jesus and glorifying God. I knew exactly what she meant. You could say that her final earthly goal was to die well and bring people and glory to God in her departing. She never let go of goals and never stopped dreaming. 

To all my friends, but today particularly to my older friends, I'd say - dream big - God is bigger and able to make those dreams become a reality. Who knows where those dreams will take you. After all, like me, I'm sure you really want to go off like a rocket and not fizzle out like a damp squib!