Filey Parish 40 Days and Nights , Day 22 ...a blanket of wool.

My dog loves snow, it turns her back nine years into a puppy, tongue out, licking the snow like a doggy version of an ice cream.
I don't, but after trudging down Martins Ravine with a deliriously happy pooch I start to think of things differently.
I personally think snow can be likened to God's forgiveness of our sins. Snow makes everything white clean and pretty, even the most ugly dirty objects which people quite often discard can look amazing with snow on. It cleanses the earth and cleans it as it melts. I think God knew exactly what he was doing with snow, a gentle reminder of his gift of forgiveness for those who repent, no wonder my doggy becomes so excited!!

Psalm 147

¹⁶He covers the ground with snow like a blanket of wool, 

 

  

Liz

Filey Parish 40 Days and Nights , Day 21 Ben's Post

As we grow older we begin to look at the world through a different lens,

• A lens less focused on ourselves and our day to day needs and desires. 

• A lens that begins to see what God wants us to see. 

• A lens that sees others and helps us to understand giving and service unconditionally.

Finally we realise that what is required is total and complete submission to God. Even then the ego struggles to break free and take us down dead end paths.

When this happens, and it will, remember verse 4 of today's Psalm and God will gently guide you back to his service."

Psalm 25 v4

Show me your ways,
O LORD, teach me your paths;  

Ben

Filey Parish 40 Days and Nights , Day 20 My Soul thirsts for God

Psalm 42: 1 - 2

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?

This scene is constantly portrayed throughout the bible (Psalm 42:2, Psalm 63:1, Psalm 84:2, John 4.) A total desperation and hunger for the closeness of God! There is no joy and no rest in the feeling that God is far away. But has He forgotten you? Is He far away? Does he ignore your cries?

Isaiah 42:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I THE LORD WILL ANSWER THEM; I THE GOD OF ISRAEL WILL NOT FORSAKE THEM.

Only God can truly satisfy. Only Him. Not a knowledge of Him or a bit of Him and a bit of something else. Only Him. In the time of happiness and abundance, it can be easy to ignore. But in a time of need, decision and feeling lost, we have to come to place where we realise; He is enough. Or we will feel alone, betrayed and forgotten.

So when we feel alone, down trodden and cold, all we need to do is trust in God of Israel. He was the one who parted the seas, fed the 5000, turned water into wine, who gave his only Son to be our sacrifice.

His plan for you is perfect and divine.

James

Filey Parish 40 Days and Nights: Day 19 - God's Love to Us

Psalm 63 (Contemporary English Version)

1. You are my God. I worship you.
In my heart, I long for you,
as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert.

2. I have seen your power and your glory
in the place of worship.

3. Your love means more than life to me,
and I praise you.

4. As long as I live, I will pray to you.

5. I will sing joyful praises
and be filled with excitement
like a guest at a banquet.

6. I think about you before I go to sleep,
and my thoughts turn to you during the night.

7. You have helped me,
and I sing happy songs in the shadow of your wings.

8. I stay close to you,
and your powerful arm supports me.

9. All who want to kill me will end up in the ground.

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide,
'Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

God’s love can see us through all the ups and downs of life –
if only we will ask him, trust him to be with us -
and keep turning to him for strength and hope.

Trust is not always easy –
it is something I personally have struggled with –
but yet, deep down, I know that God is the only true firm foundation.

Have you been aware of him “calling in the night”?

God calls to us in love. How do we respond?

Rachel White

Filey Parish 40 Days and Nights , Day 16 Psalm 103

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.




He saves my life from the grave and loads me with love and mercy.












Simon and Kathy Rudiger

Filey Parish 40 Days and Nights, Day 17. Joseph

Psalm 105 is one of the historical psalms reminding us of what God has done for His people and praising Him for it. Today’s reading is from the portion pertaining to Joseph son of Jacob, so I have added a video from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.” This is a 1999 version with Donny Osmond as Joseph, which was easily the best on YouTube in my opinion. It is worth watching the others in the series.

Psalm 105:16-22

16  He called down famine on the land

 and destroyed all their supplies of food;

17 and he sent a man before them --

 Joseph, sold as a slave.

18 They bruised his feet with shackles,

 his neck was put in irons,

19 till what he foretold came to pass,

 till the word of the LORD proved him true.

20 The king sent and released him,

 the ruler of peoples set him free.

21 He made him master of his household,

 ruler over all he possessed,

22 to instruct his princes as he pleased

 and teach his elders wisdom.

 

Brian Williams

Filey Parish 40 Days and Nights , Day 16 Which road?

God charts the road you take.  The road they take is Skid Row.

(Psalm 1 v 6 The Message)

Lydia

Filey Parish 40 Days and Nights , Day 15 Susan's post on Psalm31

Psalm of David.  31v5        Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me,O,Lord, the God of Truth.

How many times does David get into a mess?
How many times does he call on God to get him out of his mess?

So here he is again,in a mess! But what does he do this time?

Run away ?
Try to lie his way out?                                                                    
No. the time has come for this very human but anointed man of God to surrender. He surrenders his very spirit into the hands of the God who knows him through and through.  As we walk this journey to Easter think of another person who took on the nature and the body of man but in truth was the Son of God.
A Cry of Jesus.      Luke 24 v 46  Jesus called out with a loud voice ,Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit.

Jesus too,at the darkest moment of His life,surrendered His spirit into the hands of Father God.

 Farndale  North Yorkshire

Filey Parish 40 Days and Nights , Day 14 On the way

What an Almighty God, with everything at His fingertips.  We can know that He has our best interests at heart.  Lent is a way of getting ready for Good Friday and Easter. It is a challenge to see how much of our lives we give back to Him.

                                          As soon as you set your foot on the Way,
   I'll show you my salvation. Psalm 50 v23(The Message)







Betty

Filey Parish 40 Days and Nights ,Day 13 St Davids Day. Your people , your sheep

Photo from the Lambwatch website (click on the link)

Psalm 79 v13

Then we your people,the  sheep of your pasture

will praise you forever;

Glory to God forever for his compassion and forgiveness of sins. 
He protects and shepherds his flock through green pastures.

 with love Audrey

Rare  breed  sheep ( farm at Speeton)