Love can move mountains

For my husband.

And you, good blog visitor, may enjoy it too.

A prayer request

Some of you may know I've been poorly recently. Prayers are appreciated as I try and acclimatize to being at home again after a prolonged period in hospital - it's not easy, and I'm not doing very well at it.

On having a sting in the blogpost.

Well, look at that - it's me, with Tedd Trip and his very lovely wife Margy. A couple of Saturdays back, Ant and I escaped on our own to spend the first meltingly warm day of the year in a school hall. It was worth every second, because we got to hear a whole day of biblical teaching on parenting which was such a challenging encouragment.

Lots of books are recommended on parenting, but 'Shepherding a Child's Heart' is one which I think really surpasses a lot of them. We get fed so much that is the wisdom of man - and it's ok, in the right place.

I'm very glad of human wisdom when it comes to having to buy a new washing machine because ours broke down this week, or of human wisdom that can discern whether or not the concussion I've had this week, after my head became a magnet for a heavy door, is something to worry about or not. Something like 'The Five Love Languages' has plenty of truth in it, simply from the perspective of studying humans and how they behave and react.

But nothing is ever going to come up to the standard of the bible, in terms of wisdom, because that's God's wisdom, and if we're wise, and want to be wiser, that's the place to get it from. This is true for many, many things - parenting is really no different. Now, I'm not one to follow gurus, and while meeting Tedd Tripp was fabulous, because it was so helpful to hear it, having already read it, he'd be the first to say that scripture is the guide.

Bearing that in mind, I really would recommend Tripp's book to anyone - current parents especially, but the truths in it are applicable to all of us. It's the heart that needs to be right, and if you're parenting outward behaviour and not dealing directly with the heart, you're just raising little white-washed tombs.

Now, having filled you in on that, I'm going to close up shop for the foreseeable future.

I know, you weren't expecting that. You're all "What? What?! WHAT?!!" in a shocked Doctorish manner.

I'm afraid it's become largely impossible to blog on any kind of regular basis - quite apart from the demands of that pesky real life thing, I am operating on possibly the most idiosyncratic computer ever which only lets me online when it feels like it. I call it HAL, actually. Thus my online time is severely limited, and the blog just sits here accusing me, and I'm sorry, but no digital construct is allowed to do that. Besides all that, I really am trying to pursue my creative writing, which in itself, takes up valuable time.

Until I get a new computer, which isn't going to happen any time soon (the emergency fund just went on a washing machine, remember?) the pink blog will go dark. I'm not saying I won't ever come back to it, but you shouldn't expect it soon. Many, many thanks to everyone who has linked to my ramblings and/or commented here over the years, and I shan't be deleting anything, so I won't be messing up any posts which do link here (Actually, that's a pet hate of mine, might blog about it in a few years...)

I'll probably see you around the blogosphere, I'm quite sure I don't want to stop reading you all.

On ways in which I emulate Mary

There's much in Roman Catholic circles about emulating Mary. Many sincerely believe that Marian devotion is a real path to unity between Protestants and Catholics. ECT is going to bring out a whole paper on ecumenical approaches to Mary soon.

I'm not unfamiliar with Catholic devotion to Mary, having had a brush with Catholicism myself, and I understand the attractions it holds. But you know, I'm not a Catholic, and I don't believe that she was ever-virgin, assumed into heaven, (In fact, for ages, I thought 'The Assumption' meant that it was a guess you had to believe in, which isn't so far from the truth, really...) and nor do I believe she dispenses all graces. I think she's probably consumed with wonder and love in the presence of her Lord, in all honesty.

But this idea of her being someone that Christians emulate has been something I've pondered for ages. Because, like any other biblical Christian, it's perfectly true. And where she was godly, this is a really good thing. Being willing for God's will to be done, however hard and terrifying, as Mary was at the annunciation, is something I admire greatly.

Being gathered together with the other believers in prayer as she was at the descent of the Holy Spirit, is something I know I need to do more.

Yet there are other things in which I emulate her and I shouldn't. When I discover that Christ seems absent from me, I do as Mary did, and look everywhere, leaving the house of God until last. When life throws me a problem, I do not trust, but instead, I often need the Lord to remind me to wait on His timing. When something of His teaching challenges me, I am far too apt to stand apart from him, as Mary did with her other sons, calling Him out.

I want to emulate her faithfulness, and I too often find I emulate her moments of confusion and faithless behaviour. I want to emulate her quiet following of the Way - I love the way she just disappears after the Holy Spirit fills the disciples in the Upper room. In this day and age, it's quite the thing to want to be part of 'the chosen generation', to be the one to 'make an impact for God'.

I love that Mary's lasting impact was simply bringing Jesus into the world, and a beautiful hymn of devotion to her God, in the Magnificat - none of which should make us think of Mary, but of the wonderful loving God who blessed her. I fear ending my days with a legacy that makes people think of the Doctor, or my politics, or, God forbid, me, more than they think of Jesus Christ.

A fabulous blog

There's just been a documentary, on the BBC, in which the gospel was clearly preached - by a 13 year old girl. I appreciate that many of my readers won't be able to see it, as iplayer is only available in the UK, but if you do get the chance to see 'Deborah 13: Servant of God' on any of the overseas BBC media, then I recommend it heartily.

Her blog is here, and she's a real credit to those who have raised her, and most importantly, to the Lord. Her soft heart towards the lost challenged me more than I can put into words. She's going to be taking a lot of heat for her bold witness, especially in this country, so do leave her a message of support, and pray for her.

Go ahead, scream a little louder.

This is, without doubt, disgraceful behaviour. Hateful, stupid and bigoted. But you know what? I'm glad they are free to say what they want in my country, so that sensible people can look and see hateful, stupid bigotry for what it is.

Because in most of the countries where their vile creed is in the ascendancy, you would be subject to severe retribution for daring to voice dissent. Go ahead, boys, speak out for the Ummah, so that that fewer people will be deceived into believing you are all a bunch of peacenik fluff-bunnies.

Nothing of substance

But still. Currently, my wish list of frivolity includes this,
these and this.

I think I'm not very good at being a grown-up. In other news, one of my children swapped the 'V' and the 'End' keys on the keyboard, and despite being able to mostly touchtype, it actually took me a few attempts to actually hit the right keys to explain that to you. The human brain is a marvellously intricate thing.