Yesterday was a day of the planned and the unplanned; the expected and the unexpected. It was Bert Leonard's funeral - a real thanksgiving for a life well-lived. Each person agreed that he brought life and light wherever he went. He brought the fragrance of Jesus with him - always positive, always smiling, always cheeky! He would tell terrible jokes and also quote poetry.
So we thanked God for him and for his life and his influence. At the same time his coffin was in front of us and we were at his funeral, and there was a very real sense of loss as we sang and as we talked about Bert . We know he's gone to a better place, but there's still sadness.
One hymn we sang was "We have an anchor" ; and the words stayed with me through the day.
A day where I wondered and worried and prayed for Lee Layton-Matthews' heart surgery. Praying for skill and wisdom from the medical team; for peace and strength for Linda as she waited; and for life and health for Lee. Thank God we heard later in the evening that the operation went well.
Earlier in the day, returning from a coffee and "catch up" with an old friend, I realised that our poorly guinea pig had sadly died. With 15 minutes before leaving for Bert's funeral there was time to wrap him in a towel, cuddle him and tell him how much we'd all loved him and how much fun and amusement he and his brother had given us in the last 5 years. Finding a box to lay him in I wondered how I was going to tell our son later. Returning from Church, I found some photos of Ginger on the computer and phoned my very obliging in-laws to arrange burying the Guinea in their garden.
As I said, it was a mixture of the unexpected and the expected. All on a day when I felt my time was quite scheduled and planned out.And of course, I still had a weekly supermarket shop to do, and tea to get on the table, and children to ferry to their activities .
I realised again that that's just LIFE in all it's variety, and that God gives us His grace to cope with, and be very present in every detail of our daily life. We have an Anchor.
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,Will your anchor drift or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul Steadfast and sure while the billows roll, Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
It is safely moored, 'twill the storm withstand,For 'tis well secured by the Savior's hand;And the cables passed from His heart to mine,Can defy the blast, through strength divine.
It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,When the breakers have told the reef is near;Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,Not an angry wave shall our bark o'erflow.
It will surely hold in the floods of death,When the waters cold chill our latest breath;On the rising tide it can never fail,While our hopes abide within the veil.
So we thanked God for him and for his life and his influence. At the same time his coffin was in front of us and we were at his funeral, and there was a very real sense of loss as we sang and as we talked about Bert . We know he's gone to a better place, but there's still sadness.
One hymn we sang was "We have an anchor" ; and the words stayed with me through the day.
A day where I wondered and worried and prayed for Lee Layton-Matthews' heart surgery. Praying for skill and wisdom from the medical team; for peace and strength for Linda as she waited; and for life and health for Lee. Thank God we heard later in the evening that the operation went well.
Earlier in the day, returning from a coffee and "catch up" with an old friend, I realised that our poorly guinea pig had sadly died. With 15 minutes before leaving for Bert's funeral there was time to wrap him in a towel, cuddle him and tell him how much we'd all loved him and how much fun and amusement he and his brother had given us in the last 5 years. Finding a box to lay him in I wondered how I was going to tell our son later. Returning from Church, I found some photos of Ginger on the computer and phoned my very obliging in-laws to arrange burying the Guinea in their garden.
As I said, it was a mixture of the unexpected and the expected. All on a day when I felt my time was quite scheduled and planned out.And of course, I still had a weekly supermarket shop to do, and tea to get on the table, and children to ferry to their activities .
I realised again that that's just LIFE in all it's variety, and that God gives us His grace to cope with, and be very present in every detail of our daily life. We have an Anchor.
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,Will your anchor drift or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul Steadfast and sure while the billows roll, Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
It is safely moored, 'twill the storm withstand,For 'tis well secured by the Savior's hand;And the cables passed from His heart to mine,Can defy the blast, through strength divine.
It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,When the breakers have told the reef is near;Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,Not an angry wave shall our bark o'erflow.
It will surely hold in the floods of death,When the waters cold chill our latest breath;On the rising tide it can never fail,While our hopes abide within the veil.