Dear Friends,

August is for many a month of refreshment and rest, a change from the regular routines. For me, it is a time of reflection and more studied observation. Here are a few things I have noted…

1. A poem someone sent me:
When you plant your garden,
Plant three rows of peas.
Peas of mind, peas of heart, peas of soul.
Plant three rows of squash.
Squash gossip, squash indifference, squash selfishness.
Plant three rows of lettuce.
Lettuce be kind, lettuce be happy, lettuce really love one another.
Water freely with patience, cultivate with love.
There is much fruit in your garden because you reap and sow.
To conclude-we must have thyme.
Thyme for fun, thyme for rest, thyme for ourselves,
thyme for God, thyme for one another.

2. I listened to the ‘Newsagents’ podcast introduced by Emily Mathis, entitled, ‘What is going on with young people and faith?’

3. I watched on BBCIPLAYER: ‘Saving lives at sea’ series ten episode one, where RNLI volunteers rescue over eighty migrants from death in the English Channel. Are these not doing the work of God?!

4. A thought which came into my head: ‘The benefits of following Jesus are nebulous and sometimes painful, but they are there to be enjoyed.’

5. A reminder from a visiting preacher quoting from the Westminster Shorter Catechism: ‘The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.’

6. An Instagram message from Graham Kendrick, emphasising that worship is both vertical and horizontal, to God and with other people.

God bless, David