Bear with me

I'm back in Europe yet again, having just been on holiday for two weeks with my parents. We were on a tour of New England and Canada to see the beautiful colours of the autumn foliage. One day, as I was looking out the bus window and admiring the flame red leaves, it struck me that all this beauty was only possible because these leaves were dying. We visited a farm where they make maple syrup, and the farmer told us that the brilliant red leaves are a sign of sugar production caused by the biting cold weather. Sometimes in our lives, we encounter painful situations that feel like a death; it's our choice whether such things bring out bitterness or bring out sweetness in us. My prayer for my own life is that the difficult and challenging seasons will be times when I can willingly "die to self," so that other people can see the beauty of the Lord in my life.

I'll be in Scotland for all of October, and a number of things are in my diary for the coming weeks: I'm speaking at a few women's meetings and church services, as well as connecting with various friends and ministry leaders here. There will also be a couple of "special events" at my home church, which is celebrating its bicentenary this year.