Travel and Treasure

Off we go to London again. Going to spend my birthday this year once again in hospital - just like last year. On this 32nd trip to the capital for medical reasons I feel a bit like a commuter, turning up at the airport with a bag of pills instead of a laptop. ~Ho hum. At least I get the chance to experience the current security scare at the nation's airports from the inside. Endless queuing, radical searches, vast crowds, noisy children, screaming babes and surly security people with scowling glares.

All this is made easier by the Bible passage I preached on at church this morning. 2 Corinthians 4:7 'For we have this treasure in jars of clay'. I am very aware of the clayness of my jar, but what has really caught my attention is the wonder of the treasure. The gospel, the radiance of Christ, the presence of God Himself in my life - that makes me a very special kind of traveller. I wonder if this kind of treasure will show up on the scanner? 'Excuse me Sir, did you know that you have got incredible riches on your insides?' Maybe not, but the knowledge of it keeps me going.

In the same chapter, Paul writes ' though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day'. I know it's the clay pot that they are going to be fiddling with this week, but I'm going to fix my mind on the treasure. 'Fix your eyes then on what is unseen, because what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.'

Someone very kindly sent me this link to a very moving webpage about the kind of vessel God chooses to use - take a look at http://wandascountryhome.com/potter/ Enjoy!

Back again soon. God bless.

Lifted Up!

How does it feel to be prayed for? I should certainly know. For the last week or 10 days loads of people have been praying for me here at home and around the globe. What an immense privilege. This encourages my heart no end.

We leave home this weekend to travel by boat to the mainland of the UK in order to see the senior surgeon at the University College Hospital in London. After 10 years of incredible pain and loads of recent operations it is likely that he will want to open up my abdomen again. On the way we will visit the church being led by Rev Peter Lawrence, author of 'The Spirit Who Heals' so that we can be present at a healing service. What we are praying for is:

• That God will have His way in the situation
• That God will heal
• That God will be glorified whatever the outcome.

So, how does it feel to be prayed for? It makes me feel very special and very grateful. It gives me a peace that all will be well because God is in charge, not me, not the doctors. It reminds me that I am part of a worldwide family. Most of all, it tells me that my heavenly Father cares for me, and that if I could never do another work of service for Him, He's still my Dad and wants my company.

Now that's pretty uplifting!