“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” Colossians 1:28-29 ESV)

Down the road from where we live they are resurfacing the road.  They have already ground out the old in the process of mending the substrate with big machines progressively layering up the tarmac to meet the levels of the drain-covers and metal access hatches.

 There are just one or two things in which Caroline and I bang heads; a small price to pay for the fellowship, love and companionship we share.  Do not get me wrong, I am sure there are plenty of things about myself that are at least equally annoying to her that she has learned to tolerate, or not in some cases, but that is what marriage is sometimes.  We have a strong bond and maybe we are sensitive about the same things but we are equally irritated or thin‑skinned in some areas of life together.  Who knows?

Along that vein I had a rude awakening from God today in seeing these roadworks: Apparently I am in need of being resurfaced, ground down to the core of my being; to allow the Holy Spirit to break up the hardness of heart and fill in the holes of indifference time has eroded because I have lost the intensity of my love and compassion praying for His Kingdom that so often I have experienced, rejoiced in and written about.  Presently I have co-existed, as I have been keeping on keeping on, enjoying the blessings from God because I know He loves me, more than I do but not often together in deep in prayer! 

In my D.I.Y. tasks which I have spoken about elsewhere, I am focused in the doing and in their completion.  During such a time, Caroline, often protests when I take her for granted and my focus is solely on the present task at hand.  When she has had enough she comes to find me and remonstrate that I have neglected her company and attention, and she is always right.

 I on the other hand know she is there when I seek her face as I am mentally souled-out (sic) to the task at hand. So why should Jesus be any different in seeking our attention?

 Jesus and the Holy Spirit Love us truly, sincerely, open-handed, waiting for us to realise that we have missed them and that we are missed by them too as we focus on the hubbub of life and not the Kingdom of God. 

 Today Jesus is waiting to be invited to break up the rotten ground and make good.

 PRAYER: LORD we are truly sorry for taking Your Love and Provision for granted.   We confess our sin and ask You to re-light the Holy Spirit’s fire in us to Love those we are called to, empowered by Your Presence in us, rather than just our good intentions.  Let us not be found empty through Jesus’ name. amen.