Author: curlysue028

Troubled hearts

curlysue028

There’s plenty to trouble our hearts & disrupt our peace in this troubled world. Concerns & anxieties. Disappointment & discouragement. Sickness & strife. Apprehension & angst. Waiting & waiting {& waiting}

And often that’s just in our own lives before we absorb the news locally & across our globe.

Last week Pastor George preached on first few verses of John chapter 14. These are Jesus’ words to His closest followers the night before He was crucified.

Jesus said:

“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

Despite everything that was about to happen, Jesus urged His friends not to be troubled. ‘Troubled’ in the Greek implies being disturbed & shaken- like being tossed by the waves. And isn’t that just how we feel sometimes?

Later, in the same chapter, Jesus says:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Another version translates Jesus’ words this way:

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

The One who hushed raging tempests on the Sea of Galilee has the power to calm our troubled hearts & usher perfect peace into our lives. This mind-space of peace & heart full of calm is a gift that only God can give.

Through the dark storms of life, God’s love surrounds us, His grace sustains us & His hope is the anchor that holds us fast.

We can:

‘Keep calm & trust God’

May you know this peace from God as you step into a new week.

“May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

‭‭(2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭HCSB‬‬)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Pursued by Goodness

curlysue028

“God is good, all the time” he said, his ebony eyes shining.

“All the time, God is good” he continued.His voice was buoyed with hope, echoing around the packed church hall, then resonating in my heart.

I listened to this  African child speaking truth and my own eyes brimmed with emotion. For this child had been born into poverty in a land ravaged by war. Yet, he was declaring the goodness of God.

We may not experience extreme suffering and conflict, but sometimes life takes unexpected, unwanted turns. Difficulties, stresses & strains come our way. And life doesn’t feel good. Life doesn’t seem good.

Three years ago a phone-call burst into my day, interrupting a relaxing time on holiday. This led to a cancer scare and major surgery. Afterwards, a stressful return to work triggered spiralling mental illness,which cumulated in another admission to hospital.It felt like a whirlwind had wrecked my normal everyday life and it hurt.

Recovery was painfully slow and heralded an end to my much-loved career. There followed an ongoing season of disappointment, adapting to my new normal. Life felt heavy. Life was not as I’d anticipated or planned!

Yet I have learned, God is good when life is not.

A prophet wrote long ago:

‘The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him’

‭‭(Nahum‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Our God is good and He is an ever-present help in our dark chapters. He cares about us & what we’re going through.

The apostle Paul wrote these words in the New Testament:

‘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.’

‭‭(Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

If we love God, then all things-

Uncomfortable things,

Unexpected things,

Unfair things,

Difficult things,

Demanding things,

Absolutely everything!

All things that we encounter are crafted together by our Creator God for our ultimate good.

Psalm 23 is perhaps the most famous Psalm in the Bible- often read solemnly at funerals and quoted to bring comfort when life hurts. The last verse says:

‘Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Our God is a faithful, good Shepherd who is worthy of our trust as He leads us through this journey of life. And His goodness and mercy are like sheepdogs pursuing us relentlessly – protecting and guiding our precarious life.

Our God is the ultimate source of good. He knows us best and loves us most, and He is at work in our everyday life for our good and His glory.

Today, whatever hard things are surrounding you, pause and catch a glimpse of God’s goodness pursuing you relentlessly all of your days. Even in the difficult days- especially in the difficult days remember:

God is good when life is not

{Today and always}

‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭107‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Letting go

curlysue028

I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers” said Anne of Green Gables (by L.M. Montgomery)

Autumn is my favourite time of year. I love seeing nature’s rich kaleidoscope of colour blowing in the breeze. I like crisp mornings & cozy evenings. I love the sentiment of change- of endings so we can begin again.

At this time of year, the trees show us how beautiful it is to let things go.

Just as the trees let go of their leaves & let them fall to the ground to create a beautiful patchwork carpet, so we need to let go.


What do we need to let go of ?:

*Past failures
*Regrets
*Selfish ambitions
*Choking Fears
*Broken dreams
*Emotional baggage
*Pet sins
*Unrealistic expectations
*Pride
*Harmful relationships

*Disappointments
*Over-thinking
*(False) Stories told only to ourselves

{And whatever other personal hindrances come to your mind.}

How can we let go? 

We need to bring these things to God. We can pour out our hearts to the One who knows us best. Let go of the things that are troubling us. And most importantly leave them with Him. We can release  our burdens to God’s care, seek His forgiveness if required, then walk in the freedom of His grace.

It is a time of endings, so we can begin again. For, ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens’
(Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV)

Our Creator God can bring beauty from brokenness ,when we let go & leave our greatest fears & biggest burdens with Him.

‘He has made everything beautiful in its time.’ (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

Letting go is a necessary step for growth to take place.

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

Blessings,

Ruth x

Whatever!

curlysue028

Sometimes Bible verses become too familiar, even over-familiar. Then their truth simply washes over us, rather than seeping in deeply to affect our heart & mind.

For example, this verse has been adapted into childrens’ songs, & I’m sure many of you have learned it as a memory verse:

‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’

‭‭(Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

But what does that mean in our day to day life? Maybe we need to read it in a different translation or paraphrase to grasp its truth:

“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

‭‭(Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

We can rely on God’s strength within us to get through the trials of life!We may be facing insurmountable mountains or trudging through dark valleys- but we can know our Almighty God’s help & strength. We can be confident & courageous as we press on. 

We can be sure & steadfast in Him:

‘Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am’
(Philippians 4:13-MSG)

We can do all things in Jesus’ strength.

Difficult things. Unexpected things. Things we face at home, or in our work. Things we encounter in this turbulent world.

We do not need to fear. We can place our trust in God- whatever happens.

‘When you go to God,
He will infuse you with
The strength you need
To do that which He has asked you to do!’
(Patsy Clairmont)

Blessings,

Ruth x

To know Him

curlysue028

We make  thousands of seemingly small choices everyday. Many of our decisions seem inconsequential at the time. But, when we string these decisions together, they determine how we spend our days, & ultimately how we spend our life.

We have many considerations, responsibilities, challenges & distractions. 

Each day, we cram our lives & minds with many things (There’s a new word for that-stuffocation!)

But the Bible shows us that a crucial part of our life is to know God (& make Him known)

God created us & knows us. And He sent Jesus to bridge the gap caused by sin, so that we might know Him too. He made it possible for us to know Him with our heart & mind.

When He walked this earth, Jesus said:

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

True,everlasting life means getting to know our Creator God.

Read these beautiful words written many centuries ago by the prophet Hosea:

“So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] Lord [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, And He will come to us [in salvation] like the [heavy] rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”

‭‭(Hosea‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

Hosea wrote of the unwavering commitment of God to His people, despite their unfaithfulness to Him.

We need to actively pursue & cultivate a relationship with God, trusting in Him. We ought to recognise & accept His greatness. And He will respond to us.

When we have a personal relationship with God, He will refresh our lives, just as the heavy spring rain soaks into the earth, nourishing it to bring forth life.

We are blessed to have God’s presence in our lives, while we wait & long for Him.

In our noisy world that incessantly clamours for our attention, we can choose moments of stillness before God. Then we can know God’s lovingkindness & His awesome power, His perfect peace & daily companionship.

Each day, we should create space for God- to walk with Him, grow into Him & fill our souls with His goodness & grace, His mercy & majesty.

Long ago, the Psalmist David urged us to do this:

‘Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength [His power, His might]; Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭4‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

Our Father, Saviour, Maker, Shepherd, Redeemer, Almighty God is beckoning us into a closer relationship with Him. If we seek Him first, we will find Him- & the tranquility & purpose He brings.

Blessings,

Ruthx

Thrive where you’re planted

curlysue028

‘You may not be everything
you thought you’d be by now
But you can be the one who loves,
serves & gives her all,
& waters & nurtures
every plant in the garden
that God has already given her’
(Morgan Harper Nichols)

I love those words- partly because I can easily identify with the sentiment that I’ve fallen short of my own ideals (never mind anyone else’s) But I also love the sense of place and space. There’s a boundary-a limit to what we have influence over. Although there’s a whole wide world, God has gifted each of us a garden to tend to.

That’s especially important to reflect on in days like today- on days with frightening headlines- assassinations, wars & earthquakes.

While it feels like this planet we call home is careering out of control, 

while the gravity of situations weigh heavy on our hearts,

& while we can pray for our whole wide world (which is all under God’s care)

God gives each us our garden to look after.

Our patch of Earth- that only we can tend to.

Our home- more than just the bricks & beams, but our family & friends that bring it to life- the children that grow before our eyes.

Our neighbourhood where we do life & meet others day by day.

Our church where we can thrive together

In our garden, the soil can be a dark seemingly lifeless place. But new life starts in dark places- even in this world where truth is despised & chaos seems to reign.

We are placed by God, for His purposes:

‘Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there.‘

‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭17‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

So let us hold on to the truth. And focus our eyes on our Creator God who gives us His fresh perspective on things. He causes the sun to shine & the gentle rain to fall to encourage us to flourish.

So we can say:

‘I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.’

(Psalm 131:1 NIV)

We can trust God & His Word:

‘So In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.’
(James 1:21 MSG)

As we look after our garden that has been gifted to us from our Gardner God, we can only do it with His help. When we draw near to God,His Spirit works in our hearts & helps us cultivate fruit in our lives. 

‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.’
(Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)

God will water our gardens & produce fruit that we cannot grow on our own. So let us remain close to our Creative Gardener God.

Sometimes we are overwhelmed & don’t know what to do in our garden:

‘Sometimes life is so hard you can only do the next thing. Whatever that is just do the next thing.  God will meet you there.”
(Elizabeth Elliot)

*What is our next thing to tend to in the garden we have been gifted?

‘Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.’
(Matthew 6:34 MSG)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Autumn assurance

curlysue028

It feels like the seasons switched from summer to autumn overnight. The temperature has dropped & auburn leaves are swirling downwards.

It might be a changing season in your life too- a different role, a new situation or an unexpected set of circumstances.

It’s so good to know that through all changes, our God is constant, dependable & present:

‘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)

Our God is Lord- the Creator Yahweh, Mighty & Almighty- the God of Angel Armies. And He is with us- step by step, moment by moment, through every season of life.

Our God is our Saviour, as Zephaniah reminds us. He saves us from sin- & ourselves.

God delights in us & we are beloved & blessed. His great love calms our deepest fears & dispels our anxieties.

And if we’re still enough, we will hear His gentle lullabies over our lives. He holds us in His arms & declares His love.

We can be eternally grateful {today & always}

‘Praise the Lord! 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! 

His faithful love endures forever.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭106‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Between awe & atrocity

curlysue028

It’s hard to believe that autumn is on the other side of the weekend! We have spent the last days of summer in Austria & Bavaria, Germany. We’ve been surrounded by Alpine peaks & strolled along impossibly turquoise lakes & tumbling rivers.

One morning I read these apt verses:

‘God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.‘‭‭ (Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭31‬a NIV‬‬)

Yet one place that deeply affected me was Kielstein otherwise known as Eagle’s Nest, near Salzburg.At 1834m it’s a historic mountain lodge with a beautiful Alpine panorama of peaks & meadows as far as the eye can see. It’s a travesty that it was a 50th birthday present for Adolf Hitler from the Nazi Party in 1938. Here in this Alpine retreat Hitler partied & plotted.

The juxtaposition is stark: awe-inspiring, created scenery, yet also a place of dense darkness and pure evil, where atrocities and genocide were planned. Horrors lurked behind this idyllic place.

Now at Kielstein there is also a large wooden cross standing above the lodge- a reminder to me that God came into the midst of our world to overcome evil. The cross where justice & mercy met, & love & grace dealt with the sin of the whole world.

Our world is ruined by sin- the headlines tell the facts. Our lives tell the story. Yet God’s fingerprints are still visible & His goodness shines brighter than evil.

‘For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’

(‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

God has created light out of darkness from the beginning of time & He illuminates our hearts for us to shine His light, as we gaze on Jesus’ beauty & glory.

We might feel insignificant-but it only takes a candle to dispel darkness from a cavern. And we are called to let God’s light shine brightly in the present darkness of our fallen world:

‘You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.’

‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬ MSG‬‬)

We see God-colours in the kindness of others, in their love & joy. And we are called to reflect the light of God’s love all around.

No matter how dark it feels, shine God’s bright light.

Blessings,

Ruth x

Unbreakable love

curlysue028

We visited Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany last week. It is the quintessential fairytale castle, inspiring Disney’s Cinderella Castle & featuring in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Last time we visited, Marienbruke (Mary’s bridge)was under renovation preventing the idyllic viewpoint of the castle.

This time however, the bridge was open & we queued to cross it & admired the enchanting view. As I gazed at the castle, I noticed that there were a few love-locks on the cantilever bridge (& many more at nearby Lech Falls.)

Love-locks are a growing tradition spreading across Europe of sweethearts attaching padlocks to bridges as a symbol of unbreakable love. Sometimes couples inscribe their names onto the padlock or throw the keys into nearby water as a symbol of their true love.

The Bible says:

‘Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.’

(‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Of course, human love is far from perfect. Relationships split. Hearts break. Love dissolves.

But God has declared:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love”(Jeremiah 31:3 NIV)

I ask myself, why does God love me? Why does He love you?

‘He loved us not because we are lovable but because He is love’
(CS Lewis)

We may be plagued by doubts that God loves us- but our unbelief doesn’t alter the fact that He does. God is love- & He really loves us!

And when we trust in God, absolutely nothing can separate us from His unbreakable love.

The apostle Paul declared:

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. 

Neither death nor life, 

neither angels nor demons, 

neither our fears for today 

nor our worries about tomorrow-

not even the powers of hell 

can separate us from God’s love. 

No power in the sky above or in the earth below-

indeed, nothing in all creation 

will ever be able to separate us 

from the love of God 

that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

‭‭(Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Our hearts are locked into the everlasting love of God forever! And His love never fails! 

 
Blessings,

Ruth x

Circle of calm

curlysue028

Once upon a time we may have banished worries from our life, but they tend to barge back in unexpectedly & uninvited- hijacking our brain space & diminishing our mental bandwidth. Then overthinking & overreacting invades our days again

When this happens {& it will!} it is such a blessing to stumble upon verses like this:

‘When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Or as The Message paraphrases it:

‘When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭19‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

Our imaginations go into overdrive conjuring up fearful outcomes & precarious situations. Our anxieties can feel relentless & heavy to carry. Yet, God is bigger than our worried heart!

For, true calmness isn’t found on-line in an app or on the pages of a book- but in God’s abiding presence. In him we find a cornucopia of deep peace & understanding, comfort & consolation.

God can create a circle of quiet calm in our heart & mind from the spiral of anxieties. He quells our fears in this tempestuous world. And he can make every tangle & twist beautiful in its time (Ecc 3:11)

The prophet Isaiah wrote these soothing words:

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

‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

When disappointments hurt,

When the unexpected happens,

When our heart breaks ,

When we feel crushed & overwhelmed,

When our foundations are shaken,

We’ll find God right there- in the middle of our troubles, heartache & despair.

And we can declare:

“It is well with my soul!”

Breathe in His presence- Know God & the peace only He can give. And deep joy & gladness will dispel the turmoil of life!

Blessings,

Ruth x