In the breeze

 Here's a little teaser for you: Dogs have baby dogs that we call?  Cats have...?  Kangaroos have... ?  Chickens have... ?  God has... ?  While we know that a puppy is still a dog and a kitten is still a cat, surely God's children aren't gods?  Yet in John 5:18 When Jesus called God, "Father" that's exactly what the Pharisees understood Jesus to mean, and they were understandably shaken by the thought.  "For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God."  We know that Jesus, as God's only begotten Son, is and was God so of course that's accurate. But why, knowing the heretic nature of this comment did Jesus teach us to pray "Our Father, who art in heaven"? Why does the Holy Spirit make it known in our souls that we have been adopted into a new family, and we cry out "ABBA, Father!"? (Romans 8:15)  Every time ...

  I love to watch movies where good versus evil and like most viewers I'm rooting for good to triumph. But every now and then the writers add a twist. You spend the entire film cheering on the goodie only to find at the last minute there was information you didn't know which changes everything, and you'd been on the wrong side all along!  Throughout history there are those who were once considered rebels, that we now see as heroes. Rosa Parks, Martin Luther and... Jesus! The pharisees in the time of Jesus were strict observers of not only the written Law but also the many traditional oral laws passed down through the generations. They were determined to keep themselves set apart for God. That's a good thing right? Jesus on the other worked on the Sabbath (healing people) and allowed His disciples to also (picking and eating wheat) He spent time with tax collectors and prostitutes and taught women. These were not the actions of someone keeping the status quo. To add insu...

Having been married for the past 25 years, and being a mum to two daughters, I've learnt a little about the importance of compromise. The daily compromises we make like having a Chinese takeaway instead of the Indian you fancy and watching James Bond, Dora the explorer or a rom-com for the 20th time just to spend time cuddling on the sofa with your loved ones, all build strong bonds. Knowing someone loves you enough to lay down their desires so yours can be fulfilled is precious. Of course there are the not so fun filled compromises too! The debates and on going negotiations of what time is bedtime or maybe how many hours your partner is spending at work/the gym/ the pub. In healthy relationships, both parties share their point of view so the other can take it into consideration, weigh it up and see if they're willing to meet somewhere in the middle. We see Moses had ths kind of relationship with God. In Exodus 4:10-18 God chose Moses to speak to Pharaoh, Moses wanted Him to ch...

Pa mor gyflawn? Yn ein ty ni, ‘da ni yn hoff iawn o gwis “Pa gymeriad wyt ti?” Mae’n wirion i fod yn onest ond mae’n gymaint o hwyl, yn ateb cwestiynau damcaniaethol lle ‘da chi’n dewis o bedwar ateb sydd yn hollol wahanol i beth fyddai’n atebion go iawn ni a, “Ta-ra”, mae’r canlyniadau yn dweud mai ti yw Gandalf/Aslan/Ron Weasley/Captain America (nid fy atebion i gyda llaw!) Wedyn, mae cwestiynau sy’n fwy difrifol “Pa grwp wyt ti?” profion fel “enneagrams” lle ‘da chi yn dysgu am eich cryfderau a’ch gwendidau. Efallai eich bod wedi gweld y blogiau hyn felly. “Pa ran o’r corff wyt ti?” Efallai y bydd y rhai dwfn yn debyg i’r galon neu organ mewnol. Maent yn gryf a phwysig ond mae ‘nhw angen eu gwarchod. Byddai’r rhai sy’n dal ati yn draed ac yn coesau. Maent yn cerdded y llwybr hir sydd wedi ei orfodi arnyn nhw neu yn un y maent wedi ei ddewis er mwyn nerthu a chryfhau brawd mewn angen. Y rhai sy’n dangos uchder cariad Duw yw’r llygaid a’r clustiau, yn clywed ac yn gwrando beth sy’n di...

How whole? In our house we're big fans of the "Which character are you...?" kind of quiz. It's ridiculous but so much fun, answering hypothetical questions that need you to choose from four answers that are rarely what your real choice would be, then hey-presto the results show you're Gandalf/Aslan/Ron Wesley/Captain America (not my answers by the way!) Then there are the slightly more serious "Which group are you?" enneagram type of tests where you can learn your strengths and weaknesses.  It might seem like this series of blogs has been like that. A "Which part of the body are you?" Perhaps the deeps would be the heart and internal organs. They have great strength and importance but need protection. Those who endure would be feet and legs. They walk the long path, whether it's a journey forced upon them, or one they choose to pick up in order to help and strengthen a brother in need. Those who show the height of God's love are the eye...

Pam Mor Llydan? Cathod! Nid dyma fy holl anifeiliaid, wna i ddim dweud celwydd! A dweud y gwir, roeddwn yn eu hofni nhw ar un adeg (er na fyddwn byth wedi cyfaddef hynny) a byddwn yn trio cadw allan o’i ffordd os yn bosib. ‘Dw’i ddim yn siwr beth ydy e amdanyn nhw ond mae fel tase nhw yn gwybod rhyw gyfrinach nad ydynt yn fodlon ei rannu gyda pobl. Wedyn, un nos Iau, fe roedd yna bâr bach o lygaid yn syllu arna’ i trwy ddrysau’r patio. Agorais y drws i weld cath ddu hyfryd a oedd yn amlwg yn starfio ac yn ysu i gael dod i fewn. Y funud y cafodd y drws ei agor, cefais fy nhrawsffurfio a roeddwn mewn cariad, er mawr llawenydd fy merched a oedd yn ysu i ni gael anifail anwes. Roedd yn hynod o ddifyr sut y gallodd un foment newid blynyddoedd o ragfarn. Roedd yn fy atgoffa o pam wnes i gyfarfod Iesu a drodd fy myd wyneb i wared. I mi, does dim byd yn cyfleu lled cariad Duw yn fwy na’r darlun o Iesu, gyda’i freichaiu ar lêd, yn dioddef ar y groes. Fe wnaeth e’n bosib i symud ein pechodau mor...

 How Wide? Cats! They aren't my favourite animals, I'm not going to lie! In fact I was a bit frightened of them at one time (although I would never have admitted it) and would try and keep out of their way if I could.  I'm not sure what it is about them but they seem to know a secret they're not willing to share with a mere human. Then, one Thursday night, a small pair of eyes looked at me from the darkness through the glass of the patio doors. I opened the door to a beautiful black cat who was famished and desperate to be let in. The minute the door was opened, a transformation took place in me and I was smitten, much to the delight of our daughters who'd been desperate for a pet. It fascinated me how one little moment could change years of prejudice. It reminded me of the encounter I'd had with Jesus that tipped my world upside down.   For me, there is nothing that depicts the width of God's love more than the picture of Jesus, arms stretched outward, endu...