Comments on: Living in the Desert http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/ Random wonderings about God, life, church, journey, books, the bible and anything else that catches my attention. Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:22:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Rupert’s Blog » Living in the Desert 3 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4220 Rupert’s Blog » Living in the Desert 3 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:34:07 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4220 [...] Living in the Desert 1 [...] [...] Living in the Desert 1 [...]

]]> By: rupert http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4218 rupert Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:29:13 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4218 <img src="http://www.cce.uk.net/ims/Rupert.jpg" alt="Rupert" WIDTH=60 HEIGHT=75 HSPACE=15 VSPACE=10 ALIGN=RIGHT /> <FONT color=blue> Please do ... i would love to hear... </FONT> Rupert
Please do … i would love to hear…

]]> By: Laura Anne http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4198 Laura Anne Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:24:43 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4198 I'm not sure. Been going through a bit of a no-mans land period over the last few months (coming out of it now I think). So I'll let you know if I work out an answer to this one...! I’m not sure. Been going through a bit of a no-mans land period over the last few months (coming out of it now I think). So I’ll let you know if I work out an answer to this one…!

]]> By: rupert http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4186 rupert Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:42:25 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4186 <img src="http://www.cce.uk.net/ims/Rupert.jpg" alt="Rupert" WIDTH=60 HEIGHT=75 HSPACE=15 VSPACE=10 ALIGN=RIGHT /> <FONT color=blue> thanks Paul ... it is good to be back! </FONT> Rupert
thanks Paul … it is good to be back!

]]> By: Paul http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4171 Paul Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:06:26 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4171 heh bro, great to see you back :lol: heh bro, great to see you back :lol:

]]> By: rupert http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4118 rupert Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:58:23 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4118 <img src="http://www.cce.uk.net/ims/Rupert.jpg" alt="Rupert" WIDTH=60 HEIGHT=75 HSPACE=15 VSPACE=10 ALIGN=RIGHT /> <FONT color=blue> Laura Anne - thanks for the great and insightful comment. I love the concept of no-mans land. I think this is probably the ground that many Christians in the west stand on ... Have you any thoughts on how you can get off this middle ground? </FONT> Rupert
Laura Anne - thanks for the great and insightful comment. I love the concept of no-mans land. I think this is probably the ground that many Christians in the west stand on …
Have you any thoughts on how you can get off this middle ground?

]]> By: rupert http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4117 rupert Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:51:02 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4117 <img src="http://www.cce.uk.net/ims/Rupert.jpg" alt="Rupert" WIDTH=60 HEIGHT=75 HSPACE=15 VSPACE=10 ALIGN=RIGHT /> <FONT color=blue> thanks tayna - it is good to be back. The Psalms are wonderful as they describe the whole of our Christian experience. Sometimes the Psalmist does wait patiently and God answers him. Sometimes he cries out in agony as it seems God has forgotten him, forsaken him, or isn't answering prayer. eg. Ps 10:1; 22:1-2; 42:9 etc. We know that God never does leave us, but sometimes it seems as though He is absent or distant - it is how we navigate these seasons that i am interested in. </FONT> Rupert
thanks tayna - it is good to be back.
The Psalms are wonderful as they describe the whole of our Christian experience. Sometimes the Psalmist does wait patiently and God answers him. Sometimes he cries out in agony as it seems God has forgotten him, forsaken him, or isn’t answering prayer.
eg. Ps 10:1; 22:1-2; 42:9 etc.

We know that God never does leave us, but sometimes it seems as though He is absent or distant - it is how we navigate these seasons that i am interested in.

]]> By: rupert http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4116 rupert Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:30:41 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4116 <img src="http://www.cce.uk.net/ims/Rupert.jpg" alt="Rupert" WIDTH=60 HEIGHT=75 HSPACE=15 VSPACE=10 ALIGN=RIGHT /> <FONT color=blue> thanks alastair </FONT> Rupert
thanks alastair

]]> By: rupert http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4115 rupert Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:30:19 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4115 <img src="http://www.cce.uk.net/ims/Rupert.jpg" alt="Rupert" WIDTH=60 HEIGHT=75 HSPACE=15 VSPACE=10 ALIGN=RIGHT /> <FONT color=blue> thanks duncan - will try to post a bit, and maybe keen an eye on a blog or two ... just can't do it all! </FONT> Rupert
thanks duncan - will try to post a bit, and maybe keen an eye on a blog or two … just can’t do it all!

]]> By: Rupert’s Blog » Living in the Desert 2 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4114 Rupert’s Blog » Living in the Desert 2 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:29:30 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4114 [...] first post back was an opening shot looking the subject of “living in the desert“. Today I want to try to define what I mean by desert times in our [...] [...] first post back was an opening shot looking the subject of “living in the desert“. Today I want to try to define what I mean by desert times in our [...]

]]> By: Laura Anne http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4077 Laura Anne Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:43:16 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4077 I totally find that my times in the metaphorical 'desert place' is the times when I really mature spiritually, mentally and emotionally. I learn so much more about God, I guess because so often these times are lonely, and you have no choice but to cling on to God in a way, trust that He will get you through and make good come out of the crappy situations we find ourselves in (or perhaps got ourselves into)... I find the 'no mans land' more concerning. In the 'desert place' I know God's there, even if I can't feel His presence. I know it'll end at some point. On the 'mountain top' well those times you're so filled with joy that you want to drag everyone you know up there with you. But the in-between - when you're just 'fine' or 'ok'. Nothing particularly testing, nothing particularly exciting going on, and there you have your comfort zone. You don't need God, you're not too bothered. Your prayer life becomes stagnant. You don't 'need prayer' from anyone. And suddenly time has passed you by and there hasn't been a single tiny bit of transformation... I totally find that my times in the metaphorical ‘desert place’ is the times when I really mature spiritually, mentally and emotionally. I learn so much more about God, I guess because so often these times are lonely, and you have no choice but to cling on to God in a way, trust that He will get you through and make good come out of the crappy situations we find ourselves in (or perhaps got ourselves into)…

I find the ‘no mans land’ more concerning. In the ‘desert place’ I know God’s there, even if I can’t feel His presence. I know it’ll end at some point. On the ‘mountain top’ well those times you’re so filled with joy that you want to drag everyone you know up there with you.

But the in-between - when you’re just ‘fine’ or ‘ok’. Nothing particularly testing, nothing particularly exciting going on, and there you have your comfort zone. You don’t need God, you’re not too bothered. Your prayer life becomes stagnant. You don’t ‘need prayer’ from anyone.

And suddenly time has passed you by and there hasn’t been a single tiny bit of transformation…

]]> By: Tanya Heasley http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4047 Tanya Heasley Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:14:31 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4047 Hey Rupert, this is my first time in a while since I looked at your blog, (good to see you back). :smile: Yesterday in my cell group we were talking about Psalm 40, I think it's profound to read what you have written about not sensing God's presence where the first verse of Psalm 40 is 'I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry.' NLT Also, yesterday morning in a word of the day booklet I read 'God hears our cries and helps us always in His perfect way and in His perfect time'. How great it is that He is always with us, even when we're not always with Him and when we're not with Him we should at least 'wait' on Him, especially as He knows what is going to happen, before we even know what's happening. Hey Rupert, this is my first time in a while since I looked at your blog, (good to see you back). :smile:

Yesterday in my cell group we were talking about Psalm 40, I think it’s profound to read what you have written about not sensing God’s presence where the first verse of Psalm 40 is ‘I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry.’ NLT

Also, yesterday morning in a word of the day booklet I read ‘God hears our cries and helps us always in His perfect way and in His perfect time’.

How great it is that He is always with us, even when we’re not always with Him and when we’re not with Him we should at least ‘wait’ on Him, especially as He knows what is going to happen, before we even know what’s happening.

]]> By: Alastair http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4041 Alastair Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:19:26 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4041 Good to see you back on the blog scene. I've been absent myself now for a few months! Good to see you back on the blog scene. I’ve been absent myself now for a few months!

]]> By: Good news « What’s your point caller? http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4022 Good news « What’s your point caller? Thu, 07 Feb 2008 07:55:44 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4022 [...] Good news Filed under: Blogroll — duncanmcf @ 8:55 am Rupert’s back! [...] [...] Good news Filed under: Blogroll — duncanmcf @ 8:55 am Rupert’s back! [...]

]]> By: Duncan McFadzean http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4020 Duncan McFadzean Thu, 07 Feb 2008 07:53:49 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2008/02/01/living-in-the-desert/#comment-4020 Good to have you back. Good to have you back.

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