We see a large wonderful tree standing in all its glory, but either side is a church to the left and a castle to the right. This picture was taken on a walk around Waddow Hall, and the view is looking down into the town of Clitheroe in Lancashire.

Today started off spending extra time praying. I just felt the need to pray, rather than get into work and do stuff,I just got in early and spent the time in prayer. Fill the school as it were up with the power of prayer.

1 John 3:7-9

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

I just love this first letter by John as he is guiding the followers in their walk with God. We all need guidance and encouragement and here John is guiding them with love. We are all a guiding light for someone, and we have to be careful that our grumpiness on some days is not transmitted to others as they may see it differently.

I was thinking on how the spirit could be like the church in the picture in that it seeks God, and wants to sing hymns and prayers.

The body could be the castle which has earthly things happening. It’s there for protection. To feed it’s people and provide for its earthly needs.

The tree in the middle stands like a go between. A guide between the two bodies, the spirit body and the earthly body. The church and the castle. The soul makes all the decisions. Perhaps Jesus unlocks the soul so that we can be given the power to make that decision to not sin. And when we do sin, we immediately feel the sorrowfulness of falling again. But we have a helper. We have the Holy Spirit who will guide us and comfort us when we are down.

This is a huge subject and needs more thought but prayer is the key, always.

Dear Lord, thank you for breathing your spirit into each one of us so that we can glorify you through our whole life. Praise you Lord for every thing you have created and continue to create,

through Jesus Christ our saviour

Amen