Skip to main content

Prayer Column - July 2021

Image
By

Hedge clipping time

I have hedges round my garden. They please the eye and suit the birds. In different places I planted beech, hawthorn and Lawson cypress (not Leyland) 40+ years ago, but other species have since crept in. Some are welcome, others tolerated but kept firmly in check, but a few I do my best to eradicate, though it’s almost impossible. And whereas with the passing of the years hedging has got a bit easier because I’ve learned how, it’s also got harder because the trees stubbornly want to revert to their native form and knottily resist my efforts to correct their natural
tendencies. Once or twice a year the shears and loppers have to come out, or I’d soon have rows of rather misshapen specimens struggling onwards and upwards – and also outwards, as our pavements testify.

Not infrequently the Bible likens us to trees: oaks of sturdy righteousness, the planting of the Lord (Is 61:3). What does God want of such trees in his garden? The metaphor varies a bit, but it’s quite clear that he does not want us to grow wild, untamed, and just anyhow, as our natural instincts urge. With his expert clippers he prunes, in order to make us more pleasing to his eye and a blessing to all (Jn 15:1-2). And unlike my stubborn trees, we are to work with him – curbing and even totally denying our selfishness as we seek to follow Jesus, cutting off our old
wayward passions of self – not just once or twice a year but every waking moment of our lives in Christ. And instead, growing a new selfhood of humble caring concern for others (Col 3:5-17) – praying, always praying, for the help we find we need.

Roy Lorrain-Smith

A prayer for each week

Gardening God, from Eden to heaven, always creating beauty and bounty,
please re-form me from within so that I may please you and bless others.
Amen.

Lavish Lord, filling our world with your blossom and promise, please help
me be generous rather than calculating, that others my benefit too.
Amen.

Fruitful Father, ever abundant in your provision, please forgive all my
harmful habits which limit what others enjoy, and help me be more open.
Amen.

Sovereign Son, whose ways are always right and in whose service full
freedom is to be found, please shape us to your liking and fill us with joy.
Amen.

Your own prayers

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For such times as these! - A good news story from Windhill!

By
For such times as these! (Esther 14:14) On June 1st James Stannet (from e:merge , a Christian Youth organisation) began his youth work for Christchurch LEP in Windhill. He says, "Well! June has been a really busy but very productive month. On Wednesday, in the park, numbers are climbing week by week, now averaging 25. Good partnerships have been made with local organisations. this has been a blessing: enabling us to deliver varied sport activities and build good relationships.' 'The Hope Revolution, youth event, based at Christchurch LEP was a massive hit. A BIG Thank you is expressed to the Church for the support, encouragement and prayers. 200 people attended the Fun Day. Despite the rainy weather, 100 young people took part in local projects: two house clear-ups, school garden project (Windhill Primary) and running the Fun Day. 10 Christian Organisations working together resulting in several families requesting Christian children's activities.' ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Circuit Talents Challenge

By
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money ..." Matthew 25:14-30 Why don't you take up the Circuit Talents Challenge by taking a £5 note and making it grow for the Circuit? More details ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Youth and Children - time to Get Set

By
With youth and children on your mind for the 2012 Games, here's three ways to be to be at your best. 1. Sign up for the Youth and Children workshops at Get Set - the day for churches to get ready for the Games. Youth and Children are both among the 11 workshops at our 'Get Set' days throughout the UK. At the ' reach and minister to young people' workshop you will discover: Custom-made resources for school ministry How to engage with those beyond the church through a youth café How sport can play a strategic role in youth At the 'reach and minister to children' workshop you will discover: Custom-made resources for the summer of 2012 and beyond Simple ways to add va-va-voom to reaching children Engaging children in ministry to their friends The vital do's and don'ts when developing a team But don't come alone . The workshop choice will give your church new ideas, strategies, skills and resources to help them well beyo...
Post a Comment
Read more