Author: curlysue028

Selah

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The Psalms are punctuated by the word ‘Selah’ which means an interlude to pause & reflect & praise God.

We need to punctuate our days with quiet Selah pauses with God:

Our God says:

“Be still, and know that I am God!”

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

We need quiet moments to calm down & catch our breath. Especially when we feel under pressure & when things are spiralling out of control.

The Message paraphrases the same verse this way:

‘Step out of the traffic! Take a long,loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

In the hectic transit through our days on this journey of life:

Look inward & you may be discouraged with yourself & saddened by your troubled heart & anxious mind.

Look around at the tangled mess of our fractured world’s struggles & stresses & you’ll likely feel overwhelmed.

Instead, this Psalm urges us to look up at our Most High God.To gaze on the One who reigns with truth & grace.

Above politics.

Above all powers.

Above all other thrones.

Above everything.

So, we can shut out the noise of our world & gaze on our Almighty King.

We can intersperse our days by pausing to praise & reflect.

“Be still, and know that I am God!”

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Anastasis

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Today, more than any other day on the calendar, we celebrate the fact that Jesus is alive! 

Anastasis is the Greek word for resurrection – capturing the audacious truth that Jesus died, trampled death, rose to life & will return one day soon. It speaks of all things becoming new & truly alive.

The Gospels tell us:

The stone was rolled away.
The tomb was empty.
The angel gladly proclaimed, 

“He is not here, He has risen!”

Before His death, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;”

‭‭(John‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Our God is God of life & death,

 Creator of resurrection & rebirth, 

Giver of Truest life- 

turning even the darkest winter of the soul into eternal spring.

The chains of death could not contain Him, so our Saviour ascended & now lives in resplendent glory in heaven.

‘Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.’ (Hebrews 7:25 NIV)

These are great words to ponder, & cherish.

If we come to God for forgiveness, through accepting what Jesus has done, & trusting in Him, He will completely save us. (The older versions say ‘save to the uttermost’) And now, Jesus ‘always lives’ to intercede for us. He is our Mediator. He liaises between us & God, acting on our behalf.

Jesus’ last words to His followers were these:

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20 NIV)

Because He lives, He is with us, always.

Because He lives, we can face the future. It’s in His hands.

Because He lives, we don’t have to fear.

Because He lives, He is there to guide us through trials & sorrows

Since Jesus conquered death, we can place our hope in God- not merely for this life- but for the next. Our hope transcends time into eternity. Death is not the end- it is but a shadow. Because of Jesus’ triumph over sin & death we can have a happy never-ending!

Today let’s worship the Life-Giving, Death-Defeating God who can give us strength & ability to stand today & forever. Now & always.

Blessings,

Ruth x

Pause & reflect- the Wonder of the Cross

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The goodness of Good Friday centres on the unfathomable greatness of God’s love & His sovereign plan for our redemption.

‘God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.’

‭‭(1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

The cross symbolises the immensity of pure grace and the immeasurable dimensions of God’s amazing love. Its breadth flows from one nail pierced hand to the other. Its height stretches from heaven to fallen earth.

On this Good Friday, pause & ponder:

Today, we reflect on this awful yet pivotal point in history when Jesus, the Messiah, God’s chosen One was nailed to the cross.

Jesus, our Good Shepherd was slaughtered as the Passover Lamb.

Our Great High Priest became the sacrifice for humanity’s sin.

The Light of the world died in midday darkness – so we could walk in His light.

The Author of Life was murdered on a cruel cross. Yet He died that we might live {true & eternal life}

The beloved Son of God was separated from His Abba, God the Father – so that we won’t be separated & might become the children of God.

The sinless One took on the sins of the world- in exchange that we might gain His righteousness.

The One who holds all things together, was held to the cross- not by mere nails but by infinite love.

The Creator of the cosmos was tortured by His creatures. Jesus, Lord of all suffered in anguish & agony so that we may be wholly healed.

The curtain in the Temple was torn symbolising a new & living way  into the very presence of God- that we might have the confidence to enter in.

On that day eternity’s plan & Satan’s schemes intersected. Heaven & hell collided (not by chance but by Grand Design) On the cross wrath & mercy mingled like Jesus’ sweat & blood. And as love & grace flowed painfully, yet freely, the course of the cosmos shifted for all time & eternity.

We are forever blessed because of Jesus’ death & resurrection , because of what He has done. And that makes today & everyday truly, deeply Good!

‘Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all’

(Isaac Watts)

Blessings,

Ruthx

Breaking waves

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We’re just back from the North Coast- & it didn’t feel much like British Summer Time there! The wind blew & the ocean surged. The waves rose & crashed against the shore.

This verse was painted on a wall in Portstewart where the coastal path meets the town:

‘The sea is his, for he made it’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭95‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

I also thought of the words of another Psalm:

‘Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-the Lord on high is mighty.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭93‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

I remember reading this verse on a plaque as I cycled round the little Scottish island of Cumbrae with Caris, many years ago.

And its truth is relevant today, an anchor to grip as the waves of worry crash into our lives. And words to calm us as storms are brewing on the world’s stage.

Mightier than the ocean’s waves,

Mightier than earth’s rulers,

Mightier than all other powers,

Our God enthroned on high is almighty.

And we can trust Him. 

With our lives.

With our hearts.

With our souls.

Blessings,

Ruth x

As for me

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‘As for me, I trust in the Lord.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭31‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

In day to day life, I will trust the Lord.

When challenges loom large, I will trust in God, my Saviour.

When the days ahead seem unclear & uncertain.

When things don’t go as planned or anticipated.

And despite disappointments-

I will trust the Lord.

In small things {that aren’t so little after all} I will trust in my God.

Whenever I am afraid, I will still trust Him. (Psalm 56:3)

I will trust in Him rather than my own feelings & fears. I will trust in the One who sees my troubles & cares for my soul.

Even when the world shakes & quakes, I will trust in our God.

For,

‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

So,

‘As for me, I trust in the Lord.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭31‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

As for you, trust in our God

{today & always}

Blessings,

Ruth x

Pause to praise

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I don’t know about you, but I know I can confess that my prayers are more often requests than praise. Asking rather than thanking. Often it’s about what I want rather than the good things I already have.

Like the lepers who didn’t return to acknowledge Jesus the Healer, I bring my petitions without reflecting on God’s amazing answers.

Last week I read these beautiful words from Isaiah:

“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.”

‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭25‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Our Faithful God is at work in our lives. Our Eternal God planned gracious blessings for us  from even before the earth began (Ephesians 1:4) 

It’s easy to notice the good things & praise God when the sun is beaming into our lives. But it’s more difficult when the storms gather. Yet even then, God is above the dark clouds, working all things together. Even then {especially then} our God is worthy of our praise.

At the end of chapter 25, Isaiah looks forward to the ultimate fulfilment of God’s promises:

‘In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”’

‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭25‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

And we will be forever grateful :

‘I can no other answer make, but, thanks,& thanks, & ever thanks’

(William Shakespeare- Twelfth Night)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Perfect peace

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Earlier, I was reading & reflecting on Isaiah chapter 26.These words were written by the prophet centuries ago, at a time of severe crisis:

‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.’

‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

There’s much to unsettle our minds & disrupt our inner calm today. Worries about health. Family concerns. Health issues. And of course major events in our war-torn world.

Peace feels very fragile.

Yet, as Isaiah says, we can experience God’s perfect peace- if we fix our minds on Him. We can rest in Him & rely on His strength.

In church this morning we read these words of Jesus, spoken to His disciples the night before the cross:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God in our life. Life brings turmoil & turbulence to us all, but if we’re trusting on God, He is with us through it all.

Isaiah goes on to say:

‘Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.’

‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

We can trust our God, the Mighty Rock beneath our fragile lives. And we can know His calm in the chaos, His perfect peace in the storm.

Blessings,

Ruth x

All things together

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In my bedside cabinet, you’ll find my favourite Bible,bursting with bookmarks, highlighted verses & other momentos cataloguing my journey of faith. (Chances are you have a much-loved Bible like this too!)

In my Bible, you’ll find Romans chapter 8 bookmarked with notes in the margin & verse 8 highlighted:

‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose’
(Rom 8:28-NIV)

There’s such deep truth contained in this verse, from the heart of God our Father. If we love God, He can work ALL things together for our good. The good, the bad & the ugly can be woven together by our Creator-God to form a masterpiece.

ALL things includes the little things, the annoying things, and the huge life changing things. The deeply hurtful things. The unbelievably hard things. Nothing is wasted in God’s hands.

The dark threads are woven alongside the bright ones to create the tapestry of our lives. Joys & sorrows are braided together. Strands of hope intertwined with disappointment. Our ups & downs may look like a tangled mess from our limited viewpoint, but in God’s eyes from above, it is perfectly good. A masterpiece of His glory & grace.

‘That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good’ 

(Rom 8:28-the Message)

For all the trials of this life are matched by God’s blessings & grace.

God has equipped us & given us everything we need for this journey called life- including His great & precious promises (2 Peter1:3 &4)

No matter what is looming this week,

‘All you need to remember is that God will never let you down, he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit, he’ll always be there to help you come through it’
(1 Cor 10:13 -The Message)

When things feel like they’re falling apart, our Redeeming God is stitching our lives back together. That’s His awesome, amazing grace! He is at work, whether we notice or not.

Whatever life throws, whatever lies around the corner, whatever is happening across the world, God is always there & that’s always enough.

Take your mind off your seemingly giant problems & focus on our Gigantic God.

He is Ever-Lasting

All-loving
& All-powerful

He is:

Our Loving Father
Our Good Shepherd
Our Mighty God.

Blessings,

Ruth x

Loved

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Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. As you know, it’s a special celebration of love- typically romantic & sentimental love declared with flowers ( & maybe chocolate!)

Our human capacity to love comes from God whose essence is love. He poured His perfect love into our ruined lives for, God is love!

John declares:

‘We love because he first loved us.’

‭‭(1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

We may feel unlovely at times but we are never unloved. That’s a truth worth acknowledging.

God’s love is boundless. And Paul prayed that we could somehow grasp the dimensions of this limitless love:

‘And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ’

‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

God’s love is beneath us, holding us at our lowest moments. It is deeper than our sin & shame. It stretches higher than our dreams & aspirations. God’s love is wider than we can imagine, encompassing the whole world. It is longer than life itself flowing from everlasting to everlasting.

And God’s love doesn’t change.

‘Though our feelings come & go, God’s love for us does not’

(CS Lewis)

What can be our response to such amazing love? Isaac Watts wrote:

‘Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all’

Blessings,

Ruth x

Thoughts about thoughts

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There are so many thoughts clamouring for our attention. Many notions can swirl & marinate in our minds as we contemplate options & ponder our lives. Our thoughts can take us down alleys where we don’t need to go. They can zigzag through our minds. And spiral out of control.

But we shouldn’t believe everything we think.

A proverb states that ‘It’s the thoughts we water each day that become the garden we live in’

The images that come to my mind is the beautifully cultivated formal gardens at Mount Stewart versus an overgrown mess tangled with briars , knee-high with weeds.

Here’s the thing- it takes a lot of effort to create & maintain a lovely garden. So we need to be mindful of what thoughts we water & nourish.

We need to dwell on what is true. Whatever is good. Whatever has beauty.

The Bible says:

‘Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.’

‭‭(Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ The Message)

When you think about it, we need to think more about God.

A line from the old hymn Be Thou my Vision says:

‘Thou my best thought- by day or by night’

Such deep truth is contained in those ancient words, that we often just skim over.

We can have good thoughts & better thoughts. But God is our best thought. His promises & peace can permeate our troubled minds. His love can guard our hearts & minds too.

We can focus our attention on God’s majesty & might. And His grace & goodness, His wisdom & power.

Then we’ll know a calm mind & best thoughts day by day {& through the long nights too}

Blessings,

Ruth x