Monday 4th May - Marlene
Anyone who knows me will know that I'm a complete technophobe. I have a mental block when it comes to the intricacies of my mobile phone and ipad. The wise and learned men in my family tell me that I don't need to know how it works rather how to work it! I understand this theory as I am completely at ease with switching on a light or the washing machine without knowing how they work but I have yet to apply that philosophy to my gadgets.
Given this background, you may be surprised to know that my interest in the night sky prompted me to download an app which would keep me informed of what I might see in the sky at the time. This was surely progress! However, I got more than I bargained for. At 2am there was a peculiar ring on my phone and when I looked it was telling me what I should be able to see in the sky. If only I had my eyes open! Next morning I deleted it.
What, you may ask has this to do with a pause for thought? Well I always look for the lessons to be learned and three things emerged. First was I'm not always prepared for the consequences of my curiosity or interest. This happens frequently in my study of the scriptures. I often get more than I bargained for and am left with the dilemma of how to apply what God is saying to me. I can't just dismiss it or delete it like I did the app. Second lesson was there will always be things I don't understand now but in God's time I will. In Paul's words " now I see through a glass darkly, but then (in His time) I shall see face to face. Last lesson was to accept that in the great scheme of things in life - my past, present and future- what really matters is God's grace which, alongside everything else that I may not understand, is equally beyond comprehension.
Psalm 8 v 3 & 4 says ' When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?'
And finally. Words from song 876 in the Salvation Army songbook.
Given this background, you may be surprised to know that my interest in the night sky prompted me to download an app which would keep me informed of what I might see in the sky at the time. This was surely progress! However, I got more than I bargained for. At 2am there was a peculiar ring on my phone and when I looked it was telling me what I should be able to see in the sky. If only I had my eyes open! Next morning I deleted it.
What, you may ask has this to do with a pause for thought? Well I always look for the lessons to be learned and three things emerged. First was I'm not always prepared for the consequences of my curiosity or interest. This happens frequently in my study of the scriptures. I often get more than I bargained for and am left with the dilemma of how to apply what God is saying to me. I can't just dismiss it or delete it like I did the app. Second lesson was there will always be things I don't understand now but in God's time I will. In Paul's words " now I see through a glass darkly, but then (in His time) I shall see face to face. Last lesson was to accept that in the great scheme of things in life - my past, present and future- what really matters is God's grace which, alongside everything else that I may not understand, is equally beyond comprehension.
Psalm 8 v 3 & 4 says ' When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?'
And finally. Words from song 876 in the Salvation Army songbook.
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Click on the crest on the left to hear Camberwell Songsters sing this song.
Many are the things I cannot understand, all above me mystery I see. But the gift most wonderful from God's own hand Surely is his gift of grace to me. Higher than the stars that reach eternity. Broader than the boundaries of endless space, is the love of God that pardoned me O, the wonder of his grace. |