A lovely walk this morning having just listened to Daily Calm (Tamara Levitt today) about Awareness through our senses

So to the verse on my heart at the moment (Be still and know that I am God-Ps.46:10) -At the end of this Psalm speaking about our home in God.

In the meditative walk

seeing the beauty in the plants/trees ++

hearing the birdsong/wind ++

smelling the freshness/grass ++

tasting the air/blackberries ++

feeling the breeze/textures of the nettles ++

And thanking God for all these evidences of His/Her Grace/Caring/Complexity/simplicity

Bloom where you are planted was on a poster I saw sometime ago

No wonder St Paul can remind us that the first revelation of God is through and in His/Her creation (Romans 1:20)

The Bible constantly talks about this very nature of God -so we might explore through some helpful websites which lead us to explore and experience what St. Paul calls

That Most Excellent Gift of Love (1 Corinthians chapter 13)

https://www.compassionuk.org/blogs/god-is-love/

35 Important Bible Verses About God’S Love (Explained)

In my parish ministry I think I have conducted over 300 weddings and invariably would start with a verse such as

God is Love and those who live in Love live in God and God lives in them (1 John 4:10)

Our regular wedding reunions – 4 I think whilst I was vicar of Tawstock (1984-2010) – with many couples no longer together, showed how difficult ‘loving‘ is.

So how much do we need God’s grace, strength and perseverance in our lives ?

Our Golden Wedding is on 23rd August and I ( and I’m sure Ruth too) can make a heartfelt reply

We need it constantly or in the words of a short chorus I often used in Church -for myself (and all of His /Her children)

May the streams of God’s wondrous love come flowing through me(us)

can s

Our daughter , Rachel, has come over for a 3 month visit from Japan and on a walk recently, sat me down to ask

‘Have you any pearls of wisdom , Dad, to share.

‘Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain’ was ‘off the cuff’ response

I had just passed my 80th birthday and our son , Tim, had given me such an interesting present of ‘My Life in a Book’ (https://mylifeinabook.com)

52 weekly questions culminating in a book when all completed.

So I’m starting a 52 week ‘reflections’ blog-with a thought each week based on a favourite Bible verse.

First will be next week !!