Family service for Mother's day!

Instead of a traditional sermon, we had a conversation between Moses' mother and Jesus' mother, Mary. Both talking about their children! Do read on and let me know if you enjoy it as much as we did.
Moses' mother
Hi, I was born over 3500 years ago in Egypt. I am sorry, I can't tell you my name as it isn't mentioned in the bible. I am not an Egyptian but a Hebrew. Our people were slaves in Egypt and times were becoming increasingly difficult for us. There were more and more of us and the Egyptians started to see us as a threat. Their answer was to give an order that all baby boys should be killed.
Mary
Hi, I wasn't born as long ago as this lady, but it was just over 2000 years ago. My name is Mary. I'm one of her ancestors and lived at a time when our country had a king but we were really
ruled by the Romans. Our king, who was not very good, had to do as the Romans said.
Moses' mother
I had a son and he should have died but I decided to give him a chance of surviving
so I hid him in a basket in the reeds at the edge of the river Nile.
Mary
I had a son and some special visitors who came to see him visited our king looking for him. King Herod was jealous and tried to kill him but we were warned of this by an angel and fled into
exile in Egypt until the king was dead.
Moses'mother
My son was rescued by one of the royal princesses and brought up in the royal household. I was even employed as his nurse to look after him. Wonderful, I got paid for bringing up my own son!
The princess called him 'Moses' - I think you might have heard about him.
Mary
After Egypt we came back and settled in Nazareth. Joseph, my husband, was a carpenter and my son helped him in the family business. Times were tough for us but good. Before my baby was born, God told Joseph that my son was to be called 'Jesus' - I am sure you will
have heard of him.
Moses'mother
I believed my son was born and lived for a special purpose and that was to help his own people.
Mary
We were told my son was born for a special purpose and that he would save his people.
Moses'mother
Moses took this on board but I think things went wrong because in trying to defend one of our people he was misunderstood and threatened. He got scared by this and fled into the desert.
He was there for forty years looking after sheep.
Mary
Jesus spent time in the desert too, forty days, he went without food and water and was seriously tested by the devil who wanted him to do things his way and not God's.
Moses' mother
The Lord came and spoke to my son from a burning bush and told him to go to the king and ask him to let our people go free. That went down badly but the Lord showed who was boss by
sending lots of plagues on the Egyptians and finally the king said 'go' and they went. Their escape route was though the Red Sea - God divided the waters so they could cross. They ended up in the desert for another forty years.
Mary
My son gathered a group of 12 followers known as disciples. He taught people about the Lord and healed people. Lots of people listened to him and he gave special teaching to the 12. He
also had a thing about water - he didn't divide it but he walked on it! Oh, and once he turned gallons of it into wine!
Moses' mother
Moses taught the people about the Lord too. The Lord appeared before him at Mount Sinai and gave him lots of teaching and instructions for the people. Amongst them were the 10 commandments. Sadly, the people didn't always take what the Lord was saying
to them very seriously.
Mary
Jesus had people who thought they had the laws given to your son all sorted out so they could keep them. Jesus said they were messing with it for their own interests and stopping
ordinary people getting close to God. They thought he broke these laws and they didn't like this or the way he suggested God was his Father. I knew he was right because of how his birth
came about.
Moses' mother
On Mount Sinai the Lord God appeared and he allowed Moses to see him as he
had gone by.
Mary
One day my son went up a mountain and the prophet Elijah appeared with him, and guess who else was there - your son Moses! In the presence of Moses and Elijah and three of Jesus closest
followers, God spoke and said Jesus was his son and that he was well pleased with him and that people should listen to him.
Moses' mother
God had promised that he would give our people their own land and Moses
took them right to the edge of it but it was Joshua who led them into it. Moses
did do as God had called him to and led the people out of slavery in Egypt and got them to the promised land. In that way God saved them.
Mary
Jesus was sent by his Father to save people from sin and death. In doing this it became possible for them to be part of God's family and go to another promised land - heaven. For that to
happen Jesus passed through death on a cross. I was there and saw it. It was horrible. But, he did pass through death and I saw him after his resurrection and stayed with his disciples after
he went back to heaven.
Moses' mother
I think my son Moses kind of prepared some stuff for your son even though it
was so long before.
Mary
I agree and I think that is because God is working with an end in mind all the time.
Moses' mother
What a worry and responsibility it is being a mother!
Mary
It's worth it though, especially when God has his hand on it all!

Brewood week-end part 2

It seems that I wrote part 1 such a long time ago! I meant to post the sequel quickly but circumstances changed. I had to prepare for an interview for yesterday and things got hectic. So, now, I can resume it at last.

Sunday afternoon, Steven and I went walking by the Shropshire Union canal. This is a view from the bridge looking down on the road. From the road, the bridge looks very ordinary so it is a bit of a surprise when you walk up to discover this big canal!

I couldn't resist taking a photo of this cute moor hen

We walked for about two hours which is in itself an exploit! On the way back, I noticed this eco-friendly narrow boat, it has got solar panels and what seems to be a wind turbine. There arn't that many around! We met up quite a number of friendly people, mostly the owners of the narrow boats, busy looking after them.

The sun came out for a while and it was lovely to sit down on a bench by the canal warming up!

I am so glad we spent this week-end relaxing. It helped Steven to recover from his laryingitis quicker!

On the way back, I was so grateful to the Lord, I praised him and glorified him. I was overwhelmed by a feeling of peace and joy. I thanked him for this long week-end, for giving us the opportunity to admire his mighty works. In Jesus's name.

Not an ordinary Sunday! Busy, busy!

When I woke up today, I knew that I had an exceptionnal day ahead.
First I had to catch my husband before he dashed for a service at Hopton church for 9:30. I only spoke to him for 5 min! Then I had another daunting task, to wake up three teenagers Imogen and her friends, Lizzie and Charlotte who went to bed late the previous night and this can be a challenge especially when they have to be ready for church at 11:15.
Before that, I made some fresh coffee. Surprisingly there was a croissant hanging there in the bread box. I never had any trouble waking up Camille, our 18 y.old.
Amazingly, Lizzie was up too, while Imogen was pretending to be still asleep. Come on guys, you have less than 1 hour to get ready. Suddenly we have a situation, Imogen declares she won't go to church. As it is not the first time, I am not too phased! I go back to my office to listen to the latest sermon on Winchester Family church website, here is their link, I recommend it! http://www.winfam.org/Media/AllMedia.aspx Here is a short snipet (my notes) of what i heard :
The uniqueness of Jesus is the only way in which salvation can be given to all nations, every tribe, nation and tongue. Jesus is like a second Adam, he was unique. He is the incarnate God. Only Him can solve the real problem that every human being has, disconnection with God and sins.
He bore our sins on his body on the cross. This is not just a western thing, this is the truth for all nations. We are reconciled to God through Jesus. No other religious teacher died for your sins, rose from the dead. Our focus is on Jesus. Human beings can destroy themselves but cannot save themselves. Salvation is found only one way, through Jesus. By grace. You accept it or not. You cannot alter it.
There is much more.
Then, I gathered the last bits I needed for Sunday school. Eventually the girls are ready.We had a brill service! I enjoyed talking to our friends so much.Thinking again about this hectic morning, I know I couldnt have done any of that without the help of our Saviour!
PS The real date of this post is Sunday 11/01/09. I am regrouping some previous posts!

The Way of the Master

Tonight, I found out this very special blog : http://www.raycomfortfood.blogspot.com/

It's worth visiting! I knew about Kirk and Ray' tv programme and internet site, www.wayofthemaster.com

It is just an amazing way of preaching the Gospel in the streets!

What the fossil records reveal:

Our week-end 17 miles away from home! (part 1)

Two weeks ago, Steven managed to book a pitch for the caravan in a farm near Brewood. He travelled there on the Thursday while I stayed home with Imogen that evening. She had to sort her bag as she was going to stay Friday night and Saturday night at her best friend! In the morning, everything was going hectic even though I got out of bed at 6 20 ! In the end I left for school right on time without forgetting to warn Imogen about not letting Lucy in the house when she sets off to school. Be reassured, Lucy is the neighbour's cat who thinks she belongs to our house and she has done so even with the previous occupiers. If you let the front door open for 10 sec, she dashes up the stairs and finds a cosy place to sleep on one of the beds! Friday after school, I met up with Steven and we had a lovely diner. Saturday we went to visit Ironbridge.

At lunch time we had a drink and a snack at a delightful pub: the Fat Frog where we found out that the landlord was a French person! Of course, I did wonder! Taking advice of the local people there we walked down the road to see the remnants of the oldfurnace where the iron was melted and brought to the river Severn where they builit the Ironbridge. There were also lots of museums.

A very interesting visit!
In the afternoon, we went to see the Cold War exhibition a the RAF Museum in Cosford.
I do recommend it for those of you who like either planes or history! Lots of parents with school kids, teenagers were there as well visiting and queuing to go on board.

All scripture is God-breathed

A few months ago, as I was on a Christian website reading items in a forum, one comment caught my eye. The guy was saying that you could not possibly believe all the events described in the Old Testament, and he was giving examples, picking the stuff that he did not like. Now, I found that extremely offensive because if everybody does that, believing in one book and not the other one, what's the point.

I would like to quote Pastor Steven Abram' thoughts on the integrity of the Bible:

 'In terms of dating, I subscribe to the conviction that the New Testament was written before AD70 - the fall of Jerusalem. It is my conviction that Scripture is not only God-breathed but also God-preserved. Why would the Lord reveal all he wants to reveal and then allows man to mess it up by forgetting it or changing it? I trust the integrity of the Bible and its writers as a true and honest record of what God wants us to hear from him, his ways and his purposes. There are things we want to know that if God explains them to us we would be unable to comprehend. When all is said and done, He is God, infinite, immortal and all knowing and we are not! I am adding his website for copyright purpose  www.abram.org.uk

In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul says : All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

This could not be more explicit! In Corinthians 10 1-11, Paul goes over tragic events that happened to 'our forefathers' and he concludes : 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us..

Two weeks ago, in the staffroom, a colleague told me that he was a Christian but added to my dismay that the Bible was a collection of books solely written by men. 

This is not what the apostle Peter tells us : 

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit'

 2 Peter 1:20-21

There are many more quotations that point to the veracity of the Scripture. 

Jesus too refers to the Bible in many occasions. In Matthew 4 4, Jesus answered : It is written: Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'. 

The writer of Hebrews also mentions Jesus's amazing statement:

Hebrews 10: 7 Then I said, Here I am - it is written about me in the scroll - I have come to do your will, O God.'

Any comments are welcome.

The igloo!

This is what the three of us did yesterday morning. Oh, there is also a snowman nearby. In the end, we ran out of snow so it was a roofless igloo! Imogen's school shut down for the first time this winter!
More photos to come. Watch this space, lol.

Walking by the canal (to Rugeley)

More photos,

some colourful barges

Those two horses always welcome us at the gate.

Apology for the poor quality of the fox (I tried to delete it but it is not working)

Psalm 147
1 Praise the LORD.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem;

he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars

and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

his understanding has no limit.
6 The LORD sustains the humble

but casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;

make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds;

he supplies the earth with rain

and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle

and for the young ravens when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,

nor his delight in the legs of a man;
11 the LORD delights in those who fear him,

who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion'

I love all the psalms!

Walking by the canal (from Stone)

Every saturday, if we can, Steven and I go for a walk by the canal. It's wonderful because there is so much to see and not many people around.

Though there is no obvious clue whereas the weather was fine or not, I can tell you that after 10 min, we feel the cold. After walking for an hour, it's different : you have warmed up!

Psalm 8

A psalm of David.

1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise

because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

To trust or not to trust? that is the question

The answer couldn't be easier: trust the Lord!

You may not have a bible handy but if you have, you may want to read Jeremiah 17:6-8 But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him or Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Today, where would you hear or see these wise advices? One of your Christian friends ? a minister preaching ? your spouse if he or she happens to be a Christian believer?

The chances are that you won't hear or see them anywhere else, whether on the radio or on TV or at work (unless you are working in a christian organisation or you are listening to a Christian channel or listening to a Christian radio)

On top of that, if you have answered the Lord's call late in your life like me, you may feel pretty isolated in this world. Your non-Christian friends are no more, they don't want to know you, they say to you : don't preach at me. They are not ready to listen to you tell them about the only God!
This is why one understands the importance of belonging to a lively true Christian church, a fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ. If you haven't found yet, keep praying and looking for one. Attending services, praising the Lord, thanking Him for the blessings he is pouring on us, encouraging each other, serving Him help us being aware of how much the Lord cares for us as those who belong to Him.

I find great comfort in reading these verses :1 Corinthians 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
So, isn'it time to give it a little thought ? Who are you going to trust ?

Happy New Year!

a bearded reedling !

Plenty of ducks!

A reed bunting

We got back from Snettisham yesterday. Here are a few photos taken in Titcham nature trail. Here is a redrobin so hungry he is feeding in view of everybody!

Spending time admiring the Lord's creation brings us peace and joy. Just to know that the Creator is looking after us and that He is in control!

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas.

We did have a really good time. On Christmas Eve we went to Christingle, at church.The children read very well  We met lots of friends and we had a fantastic time singing carols, praising the Lord for Jesus-Christ,our Saviour!
My daughters Cam and Imo were there too so I was full of joy.  In the evening,  we baked the traditional family cafe buche,an old French recipe for a coffee cake in shape of a log that my mum would bake.

On Christmas day, we went to another service and we met more friends, sang different carols and it was so enjoyable. 

Somehow, opening presents took for ages. I can't help noticing the difference between the presents I used to receive when I was a child, for example, a home-made jumper and 3 classic novels compared to what is acceptable now! 

Then we had diner later on! I am so lucky, my hubby loves cooking and he prepared everything, smoked salmon, avocado and salad for starter, then turkey and goose with home-made stuffing (with sage and chestnuts), leeks, parsnips, sprouts, roasted potatoes, carrots, then the cafe buche. 

 Later on we got in touch with other family members, my auntie who lives in Nice and Steven's dad who is in Norfolk. Our sister Pauline who is a nurse and was working texted us too from Wales. Family is so important, don't you agree ?

Thoughts for Christmas

So have you finished your Christmas shopping ? This year I have spent less time going round the shops just because I consider that my time is very precious. I knew more or less what the children wanted and I had to make a wild guess for my husband as usual. Then again, his birthday is on the 31st of december and I knew what he wanted for that. I managed to go on the internet and order early. Two hiccups, the mobile I ordered never arrived on the following day as it was claimed. Apparently the transaction did not take place and I had to reorder it again ! Something else went wrong, the trousers I ordered never arrived, instead, i got an email telling me they were out of stock and my money was refunded. I was going to order some perfume on a French website but I did not in the end, just as well as the Euro has gone up so much.
At the beginning of December, I asked my students what was Christmas about ? The younger said : it's about Santa, it's about presents, lots of them.. Then I said : think again ! So the answers were wiser : it's when Jesus was born. Others remember the three wise men led by the star of David. Who knows if they are going to church on Christmas day ? A few raised their hands. I told them that millions of Christians in the world would gather in churches to celebrate Christmas. A reassuring thought.
Tonight, for the first time, we gathered at the pub and sang carols Come and Join the celebration, Light of the world, the millenium prayer, our Father, Saviour's day, Cliff Richard's song, Hosanna Rock. We didn't know how many people were going to turn up. In the end, about 80 turned up. The children enjoyed singing as well. The vicar was playing his guitar brilliantly, Maureen, superb musician, playing the violin and the keyboard. This was such a lovely evening. Praise the Lord!

Rejoice!

Philippians 4 4-5
'Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice. Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon'.
As I was reading this passage again and again, I suddenly realised that this message is so relevant to us. If we were not Christians, we could easily be torn by depression as we are living in such a world where gentleness is dominated by violence, peaceful people are devoured by angry people, even our friends seem to get angry quickly for no reason. We could easily fall into depression. Paul was in jail when he wrote this letter and he could have been extremely depressed too. Imagine being in jail when you are completely innocent, the unfairness of it all.
Now if you are not a Christian and you have just opened your Bible on those lines, you may be wondering what is going on!
Who is the Lord ?
Here is a very simple version of an amazing truth .
Paul's message is that you will find Joy forever in believing that The Lord (who created every human beings and animals on the earth ) sent Jesus-Christ his son on earth, Jesus obeyed his Father in everything and accepted to die on the cross for our sins.
Sins, what on earth does it mean ? We sin when we are forgetting The Lord and not obeying his 10 commandments. Adam and Eve committed the first sin, disobeying the Lord.
Jesus' sacrifice allows us to be forgiven by the Lord and when He comes back, we will join him for eternity in the new world.
Exodus 20
The Ten Commandments 1 And God spoke all these words:
2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 "You shall have no other gods before [a] me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 "You shall not murder.
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
15 "You shall not steal.
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."