Eaton Ford - Learning like a child

< 11th March 2004 | Index | 16th April 2004 >

The Holy Spirit showed us many things this evening, Father opened his loving heart to us and reminded us not to be anxious about anything. He said, 'Come to me like a child'. And how necessary that is!

He wants us to come in trust, expecting to receive love and comfort and his care, open and innocent like a child, bringing nothing, just accepting.


Val told us how she had helped a young child to learn to swim, he trusted her and had a simple faith in her ability and willingness not to let him sink. He was enthusiastic and looked forward to the next swim. What is faith if not putting ourselves in the path of danger without fear or worry because we know he will support us? Not recklessly, but aware that he's always there for us, always with us.

We were also shown that each of us is like a child being given a ride on Dad's bike. We don't need to worry where we're going because we're riding with him, he knows the way and he's steering.There are all kinds of bumps and potholes in the road but if we're on his bike we'll miss them all (he's a truly skillful rider). And riding with him is never tiring or exhausting because he does all the pedalling.

Val had a vivid picture of riding on the bike, down a hill and splashing through water at the bottom, throwing out great gushes of water on either side. How exhilarating, what fun! And we should have fun with our Father!

Romans 12:2 tells us, 'Don't be moulded into this world's pattern any more, but be completely changed by your mind being renewed'. The world's way is to want a great deal for ourselves and to feel we're in control of our own destiny. But that's an empty illusion.

Father instead wants us to have a new way of thinking. We are not to expect anything of each other; for he expects nothing of us! If he did, what hope would we have? Expecting something of my brothers and sisters just ties them down and restricts them; to release them I must expect nothing. If I can't love them as they are without requiring any change, then do I truly love them or do I love myself?

This was such an encouraging, uplifting evening. By the end of it I felt I'd been reminded of much and had my eyes opened to some new truths as well. HalleluYah! Thank you, Father.

< 11th March 2004 | Index | 16th April 2004 >

Time to blog?

Time to get back into blogging. Right now I can't even remember how to make a new post, OK how to get started?...

Eaton Ford - Trees and leaves

< 6th August 2003 | Index | 31st March 2004 >

Trees seemed to be an important theme in this evening's meeting. We were given a picture of trees planted in a field and Father said that when they were mature, their branches would touch and intermingle.

Perhaps young, immature trees should not be too surprised if they sometimes seem to grow in isolation! True community can only come when the trees are fully grown, first they must all attain their full height and spread.

We looked at Ezek 47:1-7 and 12 where we read of the river flowing from the temple and the fruitful trees growing on its banks. These trees are watered by the river and never wither because they don't suffer drought. When we receive the living water, we too will be fruitful regularly and continually.

We had another word that trees may be shaken by the wind, but if they are firmly rooted they won't be swayed. How important it is to be 'rooted and grounded' in the things of the Master!

Matt 24:32 explains that when the fig tree buds and shoots, we know summer is coming. And Luke 13:1-9 points out that it's urgent to repent and to seize the opportunity of life right now. But then a certain amount of patience is required for growth and fruitfulness.

Other thoughts this evening were that we tend to bring the world's way of doing things into the church. But it should surely be the other way round; we should instead be taking the church's way out into the world!

And we need to be in the same place doing something differently, not in a different place still doing the same old things.

< 6th August 2003 | Index | 31st March 2004 >