Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. (Psalm 141:3-4)

We had a similar case earlier this year when a nurse was suspended for offering to pray for a sick patient but thankfully in in that case common sense prevailed and she was re-instated.

I find it difficult to understand that someone could complain about this behaviour. However I expect in these days of political correctness this may not be the last we hear of these sort of cases.

Paul told Timothy that those who wanted to live a Godly life would face persecution and situations like this may well fall into that cateorgy. Jesus told his disciples that they were blessed when others persecuted them and I hope that Olive Jones will know the reality of God’s blessing this Christmas.

More details on this story can be found here.

“Today Father, fill us with your love so that we may do those things which will be pleasing to you, so that our lifes may be a witness to your praise and glory.”

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Eph 1:17)

“Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” (Ps 19:13)

These collects are normally shorter than the usual ones we use in our services.

The prayer for the third Sunday in Lent challenges us to discern God’s will for us and to give up what harms us and seek his perfection .

In the prayer for the fourth Sunday in Lent we confess to the Lord how sin spoils our life and ask him to help us turn back again to Him.

Caroline Petrie returns to work

They say that nursing is a vocational role and it certainly is not an easy job. I guess one of the characteristics of a nurse is that they are caring. Caroline, as a Christian, showed this caring attitude by offering to pray for someone and this praying has got her into trouble.

Should Caroline have prayed for the lady? Was it inappropriate behaviour for a nurse? As Christians we should not departmentalise our lives so our faith should effect her working life. Caroline may well pay the price for living out her faith at work. We need to pray for her that she might know God’s peace in her heart at the moment whatever the eventual outcome of this.

Interview with Caroline Petrie

Interview with Caroline Petrie and background to suspension from work

In Psalm 122 David instructs us to: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”

Christians over the years have held differing views on the nation of Israel. Some believe that the returning of the Jews back to the Middle East and the nation of Israel reforming is part of God’s plans for the end times. Others say that the Church has replaced Israel in fulfilling God’s purposes.

Whichever of the two views one may hold it is important to pray for the people who live in this troubled land. But how do we pray? What is God’s will for the Middle East?

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul says: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority….”

So the first thing we can do is to pray for the leaders of Israel and its neighbouring countries. We may or may not like the various leaders in that part of the world, but God has allowed them to rise to these positions. In the Old Testament God used kings who did not know him to fulfill his purposes. Therefore, it is important to pray for them that they will govern wisely and make Godly and just decisions.

The second way that we can pray is to follow David’s plea and “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

Humanly speaking getting peace in Jerusalem is impossible. However, we are instructed to pray for this. One of the advantages of praying this pray is that we can put aside some of our political and religious bias and pray for the inhabitants of that great city.

I have found it helpful to pray for the different religious and nationality groupings in Jerusalem: Israelites, Arabs, Palestinians, Armenians, Christians, Jews and Muslims. And we need to keep in mind that God loves all those in Jerusalem and his Son died for all of them. That includes the ones whose views and policies we do not support!