Author: curlysue028

In Your Name

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‘Ask using my name & you will receive & you will have abundant joy’

(John 16:24 NLT)

“Ask using my name” says Jesus, God the Son.

There are many names of God given in the Bible. I’ve recently been studying the life of Abraham in a Precepts Bible Study. These are some names of God recorded in Genesis:

God Most High -El Elyon (Gen 14:19)

He is God of all & over all- the Creator of heaven & earth.

Lord, Master– Adonai (Gen 15:2)

God is the Sovereign Lord – in charge of the cosmos.

God who sees – El Roi (Gen 16:13)

He saw Hagar in the desert. And He sees into our situations & deep into our heart.

God Almighty – El Shaddai (Gen 17:1)

He is the All-Powerful, Majestic God.

The Everlasting God – El Olam (Gen 21:33)

His power & authority are never ending

God who provides– Jehovah Jireh (Gen 22:14)

He provided a sacrifice for Abraham, as a foreshadow of the provision of Jesus on the cross. God did not spare His own Son, so how much more will He provide all that we need to live for Him? (Rom 8:32)

We can trust in the Name of our Almighty God during our daily life, as we walk with Him.

‘This is the Lord , we trusted in Him; let us rejoice & be glad in His salvation’

(Isa 25:9 – NIV)

Blessings,

Ruthx

The way of love

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‘Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.’

(Ephesians 5:2 NLT)

At Easter, last weekend, we remembered especially Jesus’ death on the cross. He suffered & died for us there, in our place. He offered Himself as a punishment for our sins- a sacrifice for us. This was God’s great plan of salvation, from before time began.

So, it wasn’t the nails that held Jesus to the cross, but rather His deep love for us. His everlasting, never-ending love.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’

(John 3:16 NIV)

We have to respond to God’s great love by following Jesus to ‘Live a life filled with love’ (Eph 5:2 NLT) or as the NIV puts it ‘Walk in the way of love’

We follow Jesus by sharing His love with others.

For the way of love is Jesus’ way.

The way of love is patient & kind.

It is loyal & true.

It is sacrificial.

It is grace & truth.

It is giving & forgiving.

We walk step by step with Jesus along the way of love.

He is our Example, our Saviour, our Friend & our God.

‘Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us…’ (Eph 5:1&2-ESV)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Just trust

curlysue028

It’s that time of year to choose a word for the year. Which one will you choose? I chose trust.

Just trust!

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.’

(Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)

I choose to trust God as this year unfurls.

We can choose to trust God to deal with our past, to cope with the present & to rely on for the future!

We can trust Him for everything, for He is our Rock to lean on:

‘Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.’(Psalms 62:8 NIV)

God is good & He cares for us as we trust in Him:

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.’ (Nahum 1:7 NIV)

We can trust God with all that we’ve got:

‘Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.’

(Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG)

Just trust

This year

& always!

Blessings,

Ruth x

Peace for the year ahead

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As 2023 draws to a close, the new year looms ahead. Untouched. Unknown.

Thinking ahead can induce anxiety. But we don’t have to face 2024 alone:

‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.’ (Proverbs 16:3 NIV)

We can trust our God:

‘But I trust in your unfailing love’ (Psalms 13:5 NIV)

We don’t have to worry:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

(Matthew 6:34 NIV)

As the year unfolds, God is watching over us:

“The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalms 32:8 NLT)

We can trust God for the year ahead:

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” (John 14:1 NLT)

We are held by Him:

“For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” (Isaiah 41:13 NLT)

We can trust Him when fear rises up:

‘But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.’ (Psalms 56:3 NLT)

We can trust Him at all times:

‘O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.’ (Psalms 62:8 NLT)

He gives us His perfect peace:

‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.’ (Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV)

He is by our side:

‘Because God will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound.’ (Proverbs 3:26 MSG)

Our God goes beside us & before us:

‘You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.’

(Psalms 139:5 NLT)

May you know God’s peace & presence in the year ahead.

May our prayers dispel anxiety & fear give way to faith.

Blessings for 2024,

Ruth x

Be the light!

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The prophet Isaiah wrote these words hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus:

‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.’ (Isaiah 9:2 NIV)

Over two thousand years later & the darkness seems deeper today.

‘This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.’ (John 3:19 NIV)

God sent His light into our deeply dark world:

‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (John 1:5 NIV)

‘… the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.’ (1 John 2:8b NIV)

God sent light into the world in the form of a Person:

‘Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”’

(John 8:12 NIV)

God spoke light into being in the beginning:

‘For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.’ (2 Corinthians 4:6 NLT)

‘In your light we see light.’ (Psalms 36:9 NIV)

God has called us:

‘that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’

(1 Peter 2:9 NIV)

At Christmastime there’s light all around us-

Candle light

Sparkling fairy lights

Twinkling star light

Streetlights

Lightbulbs in our homes

Lights decorating trees inside & out

All dispelling darkness in their own way!

God wants us to be light in this dark world too:

‘You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.’ (Matthew 5:14 MSG)

May God’s Light brighten your hearts & home this Christmastime. And may you be light shining in the darkness too!

Blessings,

Ruth x

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

curlysue028

I put the Christmas tree up last weekend – on the first Saturday in December, as is our tradition.

I got nostalgic- missing yesteryears when the children were little & we decorated the house to the tune of Frank Sinatra’s Jingle Bells! Those Saturdays were typically Pyjama Days for the kids & the stockings were hung up on the inglenook fireplace. And the Little People Nativity Set took over the coffee table.

I put up my Christmas pallet that says ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year!’

Except sometimes it’s not. I mean it doesn’t feel wonderful. There’s so much going on in our own world & across the globe that is the opposite of wonderful. There’s dreadful, terrible news.

War.

Earthquakes.

Sickness & sadness.

Death & Depression.

Dysfunctional families.

Increased cost of living & poverty.

So, what makes our life wonderful?

Or rather Who turns our life wonderful this Christmas time?

The prophet Isaiah foretold the event that makes the difference:

‘Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.’ (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)

Immanuel means God with us.

God with us in our struggles.

In our sadness.

In our sickness.

In our stresses.

God with us through it all!

Our Almighty God took on flesh & bone & became a baby. He moved among us & went through day to day life on planet earth. So we can be saved. So we don’t have to face anything alone.

‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)

‘Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.’ (Psalms 9:10 NIV)

We know the Name of our Almighty Everlasting God who stooped from eternity into time {to be with us}

He is the Wonderful Counsellor:

‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.’ (Psalms 32:8 NIV)

He is Mighty God:

‘For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.’ (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)

He is our Everlasting Father:

‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,’ (Matthew 6:9 NIV)

May you know the Prince of Peace, especially at this time of year.

‘Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.’ (2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Held again!

curlysue028

Bad news bursts into our lives in letters, phone-calls, emails or face to face when we least expect it. It arrives unannounced & changes the trajectory of our lives.

Of course, no one is exempt from bad news- but we Christians can have a different outlook:

‘They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.’

(Psalms 112:7)

My bad news came last September when I was in a Riad ( traditional hotel) in Marrakesh. I’d just posted a photo of the pool on Facebook, when my mobile phone rang. It was my Consultant with my biopsy results. It showed cancerous cells- there was no doubt as it had been reported by one of the top histopathologists in Europe!

My relaxation vanished.My thoughts went into overdrive- all over each other! He explained I would have an urgent MRI as soon as I came home.

I couldn’t sleep that night but next day Rob, Ethan & I traveled in a minibus over the High Atlas Mountains to the Zagora desert. After a camel trek, the sun set & suddenly thousands of stars appeared twinkling in their place.

It reminded me of the old stories in Genesis where God met with Abraham beneath the star-filled sky.

Standing beneath the stars gave me a deep sense of peace.

‘Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.’

(Isaiah 40:26 NIV)

‘There is something beautiful about a billion stars held steady by a God who knows what He is doing’

(Don Miller)

The words of this song reminded me:

‘Creator of the stars

My only hope is you’

(Hope Song-Impact)

I knew deep down that just as God is holding the sparkling stars in place, He is holding us in place too.

‘I am dearly loved and deeply held by the most powerful being in the universe.’

(Pete Grieg)

Our Pastor gave Rob & I this verse:

‘The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.’

(Deuteronomy 33:27 NLT)

We felt held in those eternal arms of God.

‘O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!’

(Jeremiah 32:17 NLT)

After returning from Morocco,in the difficult times of waiting, God gave me His hope & peace.

‘Hope is more than wishing things will work out. It is resting in the God who holds all things in His wise & powerful hands’

(Paul Tripp)

I felt as though God was holding me by the hand as I trusted Him day by day, as I went for scans & surgery.

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble,

they will never fall,

for the Lord holds them by the hand.”

(Psalms 37:23-24 NLT)

After waiting & praying, I had surgery in November, & then got good news that everything was clear.God had answered prayers & given me good news this time!

We don’t know what news a day will bring:

‘Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.’

(James 4:14 NIV)

Whatever we’re facing, whatever lies around the corner, even if it’s just an ordinary day, if we know God, we are held by Him again & again! And underneath us are His Almighty, Everlasting arms!

Blessings,

Ruthx

Our Christmas Lamb

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This Christmas, I’ve been following the She Reads Truth Advent Plan- ‘Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus’ The plan directs us to both Old & New Testament passages each day.

One day’s readings earlier this month stands out in my mind:

The first reading was from Genesis 22. It’s a difficult passage where God challenges Abraham to bring his one & only son Isaac as a sacrifice. Yet,instead, God Himself (Jehovah Jireh) provides a sheep to be sacrificed on the altar.

The next passage was from John 1, where John sees Jesus coming toward him & declares “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
‭‭(John‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

I only discovered this year that outside Bethlehem where Jesus was born, was also where lambs were raised for the Passover sacrifices. Indeed these lambs were also wrapped in swaddling cloths too- to protect from danger & blemish.

At Christmas time, we remember that Jesus, God’s one & only son, came to earth as a baby. This Baby Jesus, who was God the Son was later called the Lamb of God.

‘The baby in the manger is more than a symbol of love. He’s the Savior who is love who’s come to lay down his life as the redeeming sacrifice of love.’
(Paul Tripp)

The prophet Isaiah foretold Jesus’ birth in many ways:
‘It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (Isaiah 25:9)

Jesus’ coming to earth as a baby was part of God’s plan- the great exchange where He took our sin to make us right with God:
‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’
‭‭(2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

‘What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?’
‭‭(Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

‘Behold Him there, the Risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I am
The King of glory and of grace!’
(Charitie Lees Smith)

Blessings,
Ruth x

That Tuesday morning

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It started off like any other normal day. It was Tuesday, the most ordinary day of the week. The sun was shining & the sky was clear blue.

Our family was burying my husband’s grandfather. We were at the graveyard when the first reports of hijacked planes started coming through.

Caris was just 6 months old & I wondered what sort of a world she had entered.

9-11. The unthinkable happened. Sheer terror was broadcast on our TV screens.The world seemed to shift on its axis. Things seemed to spiral out of control.

Yet God was in control.

‘God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.’

(Psalms 46:1-2 NLT)

It’s hard to believe that twenty years has elapsed. The threat of evil & ever present danger continues.

Yet our world keeps spinning & God is in control.

‘For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”’

(Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT)

Blessings,

Ruthx

Help!

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We can get overwhelmed quickly. Such a lot can be going on around about us & in our hearts & minds.

‘In this world you will have trouble.’

(John 16:33)

There’s no doubt there will be trouble, yet we have God’s promises to lean on:

‘For he has said,

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”’

(Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV)

God is our Helper!

There’s nothing God & you can’t do together

Whatever we’re facing, God’s got this!

We can pray to God about whatever we’re facing:

‘Nothing is too great for Your power,

Nothing is too small for Your love’

(Corrie Ten Boom)

‘Prayer connects our overwhelming anxiety to God’s overcoming power’

(Lysa Terkheurst)

Our help comes from the Creator God:

‘I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’

(Psalm 121:1-2 ESV)

Our Helper is our strength:

‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’

(Psalm 46:1 )

‘We can simply want our situation solved — when God simply wants to be our answer.’ (Ann Voskamp)

Our Helper will go with us:

“The Lord said, “I will go with you and give you peace.””

(Exodus 33:14 CEV)

‘Even when we don’t have the capacity to calm our hearts and minds because of the chaos around us, God’s promised peace holds and carries us. (Lucretia Berry- incourage)

May we know the peace of God, & His help today & always.

Blessings,

Ruth x