Wisdom

Twenty years ago when my eldest son was one and I started regular church attendance again, a Christian friend told me how, when she conceived after a lot of problems she dedicated her son to the Lord and her son then became a missionary. And I was a bit scared...did God want my son too?

On Friday my son was received as a Senior Scholar at Trinity Cambridge.
It turns out we did have to give him to God.
Born gifted, he was reading at two,
Struggling within the limitations of the state school system
we were blessed by extraordinary teachers who nurtured his talents
by a supportive head who re worked the curriculum.

But when he started to talk about Cambridge
we started to doubt.
Maybe one or two students a year get there from our town
And not from comprehensive schools
Or our family’s background.

I recently read Stephen's post about using your talents.
My son worked those God given talents.
Dropped favourite science and did
Maths, Further Maths, more Maths
God gave him those ten Maths talents
And he brought them back with interest.

But with submission, with faithfulness
And when he got an interview,
the test was whether he was teachable
if they could teach him and he could learn from them.
First year was so hard
State system just hadn’t prepared him well.
He worked without ceasing to win the First.
And the second year. The second First
Senior Scholar.
But still with time to give it back
To the holiday clubs
And to support the next generation from his old sixth form.

After I wrote this, at church we looked at how Solomon asked for wisdom and God was pleased. And how James recommends that wisdom from above

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.3. 13

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.3.17

Sometimes it’s not so easy to discern your gifts and I really seek that heavenly wisdom to understand how to use my God given talents.

linking with Michelle at Hear it, use it

Acceptance?

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

I'm looking for that peace and sense of order this week.
But how to stop striving for it
And just accept?


I can't write much this week but still linking up with  Hear it, use it as I know there will be a word for me.

In which Twiz finds herself Martha...

But  learns to be like the widow of Nain


Hard times at Twiz Towers this week. 
My father is still in intensive care ten days after surgery 
and his recovery is painfully slow. 


Why, instead of finding myself on my knees praying, 
do I find myself baking,
turning out cupboards,
bringing extra work home?
 If I’m on my knees it’s because I’m cleaning the skirting boards. 
I am that busy Martha with no time to wait on the Lord’s word.


And I’m scared to pray.
I’m scared to ask for God’s healing 
                            in case he doesn’t heal Dad 
and I’m scared not to pray for healing 
                            as it shows how little faith I have. 
So I bake.
And I clean.


We had a visitor at church today.
When she read the story of the centurion, I was shocked. 
I had just been thinking of his story
seeking his faith.
But then she read on.
About the widow of Nain.
The woman who din't ask for anything.
Didn't even think anything could be possible for her dead son
And Jesus saw her need.
Without her asking.


Our speaker said that on our journey with God sometimes we don’t know how to pray.
We can’t see what God can see.
What God can do.
And that’s okay.


And sometimes our faith is strong enough to ask for what we want.
Like the centurion.
And that’s okay too.



And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, 


for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 
Matthew 6 v 7,8

Linking up with Michelle and Hear it, Use it Every week I feel blessed and encouraged at how God speaks t me through this community. I'm sure he gets one of you to write something especially for me every week!