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What’s in your hand?

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Moses was going about his usual day to day business,looking after sheep at the ‘backside of the wilderness’, when God spoke directly to him (Exodus 3& 4)

After God told Moses to go to Pharaoh, & promised that He (the Great I AM) would be with Him, God asked, “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2)

“A staff,” Moses replied.

God told Him to throw the staff on the ground & it became a snake. And so, the shepherd’s crook Moses used everyday, became a sign & wonder that He could take into Pharaoh’s court, as he stood before the most powerful man in Egypt on behalf of God & His people.

So,today “What is that in your hand?”

-A pen?
-A hammer & nails?
-A stethoscope?
-A bottle,a toy & a blanket & 101 other items recently gathered from the four corners of the house?
-A pile of laundry (clean or dirty!)?
-A mouse? (ie the sort connected to a computer rather than a fast furry ‘friend’!)
-A box to pack out on the shelves?
-An iphone/Samsung Galaxy/ Macbook/lap top?
-A handful of coins or a fistful of dollars?
-A Bible?
-A textbook or two?

God can take those objects & how we use in our everyday life, as a sign & wonder to point others to Him, when we offer our lives to Him. If we can give ourselves first to God, He can use us to bless others.

‘You can invite the glorious into the mundane’
(Christy Nockles)

Yet sometimes we are so busy waiting to do some big, great thing that we miss God-given opportunities in {seemingly} small things.

‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

Though we are saved through faith, there are good works planned for each of us to do.

It’s all about giving- first to God, then others.

As Winston Churchill said:
‘You make a living by what you earn
You make a life by what you give’

‘You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” ‘(Acts 20:35 NLT)

It’s a matter of wherever & whatever:

‘Wherever you are, be all there!’
(Jim Elliot)

‘Whatever you are be a good one!’
(Abraham Lincoln)

‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might’(Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV)

‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord’ (Col 3:23)

So,
‘My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him.’ (Colossians 2:6MSG)

‘So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.'(Romans 12:1, 2 MSG)

And,
‘Make today your masterpiece’
(John Wooden)

Blessings,

Ruthx

Be a good one!

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As you may recall from my post ‘Be all there’ I collect quotes. Another of my favourite quotes is:
‘Whatever you are be a good one’
(William Makepeace Thackeray)

Note the words read ‘Whatever you are‘ – not whatever you do.

So,what are you?

At a fundamental level:

‘You are more than dust & bones
You are spirit & power & image of God
(Shauna Niequist)

We are designed by God & carry His imprint in our daily lives.

We are His workmanship:
‘For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship),
recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew]
that we may do those good works
which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us
[taking paths which He prepared ahead of time],
that we should walk in them
[living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
(Ephesians 2:10 AMPLIFIED)

Being good at what we are does include our occupation- those jobs that take up the bulk of our time & use most of our energy.

In our employment we are to have a good attitude that is counter-cultural:
‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord’
(Colossians 3:23 NIV)

‘The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.’
(Martin Luther)

To be good at our our vocations, we need to focus on our audience of One.
‘Integrity is doing the right thing when no-one else is watching’
(CS Lewis)

We will also have a lofty aim:
‘The smile of God is the goal of your life’
(Rick Warren)

But being a good one goes beyond our formal employment to reach into our multi-faceted lives, including our relationships. We are to be good wives, mothers, friends,encouragers,writers & members.

And especially today on UK Mothering Sunday, we need this reminder:
‘There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.’
(Jill Churchill)

I’ll admit there are many days when I don’t feel good at anything at all- & on those days I feel blessed to remember that I am not trying to earn God’s forgiveness by being good. Rather I am trying to walk worthy of my calling, in a life of gratitude for the forgiveness He has already given.

With God’s help we can be the best version of our imperfect selves- becoming all that He created us to be.

These words encourage me:
‘You can be much more for God than ever you know by just being yourself & relying on Him
Keep praying & playing & being yourself’
(Oswald Chambers)

Be yourself! Be the best you that you can be (with Your Designer’s help!) We don’t have to contrast our efforts to other’s attempts at being good ones (though comparison is our default setting)

‘We do not and will not all look alike. There is no cookie cutter mould for how we as women will serve our God. We each have our own story from where we came, where we are today and where we are going tomorrow.We are journeying together in this thing we call life.’
(Courtney Joseph)

We cannot be good at everything & we are not expected to do everything. We are called to do our best & be good at those things God has gifted us to do & planned for us.

Although we are different, we all have this in common:
‘We all have 168 hours in a week and one life to live.’
(Jessica Turner)

One life to live.

‘You don’t have a public life and a private life, you have one life, and it’s to be found in Christ’
(Christine Caine)

There’s no split between sacred & secular. In God’s eyes our life is undivided & unbroken. There is no segregation. He has given us the gift of one life, & the opportunity to live it well.

As we live to be good at what God created us to be, contemplate the words of A Worker’s Prayer:

‘Before You we kneel, our Master and Maker;
Establish the work of our hands.
And order our steps to seek first Your kingdom
In every small and great task.
May we live the gospel of Your grace,
Serve Your purpose in our fleeting days,
Then our lives will bring eternal praise
And all glory to Your great name.’

(Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, Jeff Taylor, and Stuart Townend; © 2012)

Blessings,

Ruth x

All we need is love

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–Thirteen quotes to ponder

1.’How much we know and understand ourselves is critically important, but there is something that is even more essential to living a Wholehearted life: loving ourselves.’
(Brene Brown)

2. ‘God loves you unconditionally, as you are and not as you should be, because nobody is as they should be.’
(Brennan Manning)

3 ‘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)

‭‭4‘God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.’
(Romans‬ ‭5: 5NIV‬‬)

5 ‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’
(‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

6. ‘You are given love & this love is so extreme that it will take you all eternity to begin to understand it’
(Edward T Welch)

7. ‘Though our feelings come & go God’s love for us does not’
(CS Lewis)

8. ‘You are so very loved.I pray that you would remember it,know it,live it,breathe it,rest in it: beloved’
(Sarah Bessey)

9.‘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.’
(Zeph 3:17)

10. ‘And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.’
(Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-19‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

11. ‘The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,” your love, GOD, took hold and held me fast. When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up.’
(‭‭Psalm‬ ‭94:16-19‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

12. ‘And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.’
(1 John‬ ‭4:4)

13. ‘May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.’
(2 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:5‬ ‭MSG)

Be all there!

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‘Wherever you are be all there.’

I collect quotes- & this is one of my favourites! It was written by a young missionary  named Jim Elliot- in the 1950s. It was written before mindfulness was a trendy concept, before digital distractions & social media.

He exhorts us to be fully engaged in the moment wherever we are, whatever we’re doing.

This very moment is where past, present & future intersect! Moments like these weave together to make the fabric of life.

If we aren’t ‘all there’ we can become oblivious to the important things in life as it rolls by. We can miss the daily blessings of the longest days & shortest years.

‘The past is frozen & can no longer flow. The present is lit up with eternal rays’
(CS Lewis)

How can we be ‘all there’?

We need to stay tuned in.
Focused.
Undistracted.
Engaged.
Intentional.

It’s relatively easy to think of examples when we aren’t all there:
*When we check & re-check our smart phones when we’re out for coffee/dinner with friends or family.

Nowadays we are always switched on & never unplugged!

The average smart phone user checks it 186 times a day. I read that checking our phones is as contagious as yawning!

*When we’re not really listening when someone is talking because we’re planning how to interject with our news at the next pause

*When we scroll down Facebook/Twitter/emails while our child talking is talking to us

Chances are, we won’t remember what we were reading but our child may recall later that we weren’t listening & how we made them feel. We need to give undivided attention to our children –especially when they interrupt us

*When we think about week ahead sitting in church rather than focusing our minds on meeting with God.

We need to train ourselves to block these distracting thoughts & listen to what God is trying to say

*When we ‘dual screen’ – eg scroll through e-mails or social media while watching TV.

Just focus on the story line & enjoy the movie. You’ll feel less frazzled!

To be ‘all there’:

*Don’t let the urgent squeeze out the important

*Don’t let the trivial impact the important

*Don’t let digital displace reality

To fully engage in this adventure called life we need to unplug, get off line & ‘out of office’

We need to appreciate the moment & savour the little things. For sometimes little things are actually big things in disguise.

And, you never know the last time you’re going to see a person or place.

‘We have this moment to hold in our hands
and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand;
Yesterday’s gone and tomorrow may never come,
But we have this moment today.’
(Bill & Gloria Gaither)

Where ever you are :

*Pursue beauty
*Embrace grace
*Find joy
*Shine light
*Show hope
*Share peace

‘Wherever you are- be all there!’

God has dealt with your past, He’s in control of your future & He’s given this moment as a gift. Now is the present.

So,
‘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

PS Jim Elliot also wrote these powerful words:
‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot loose’

He was martyred by Auca Indians in Ecuador in 1956.

San souci {no worries!}

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Last summer we strolled around the grandeur of San Souci- in Potsdam outside Berlin. San Souci was the summer palace of Frederick the Great (King of Prussia)It’s just a short carriage ride away from his New Palace where he could showcase his wealth & power to the world.

Sans Souci is a French phrase meaning without worries or concerns. King Frederick planned to reside here carefree -leaving worries behind.

If only it was as easy as that! You & I know that worries can cling to us & fester in our minds -whether at home or on holiday.

Wherever we are, worry can overwhelm us & strangle our growth – as Jesus said in the parable of the Sower:
“The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.”
(Mark 4:18-19 MSG)

Worry can unsettle & distress us. We can be tossed & turned by the storms of life. Jesus knows us so well & still loves us.

He gently asks,”You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Matthew 8:26)

When we’re stressed by worries, we can forget that the Controller of the cosmos is so close. With just a word He calmed the chaos:
“Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”
(Matthew 8:26)

The One who quietened the waves can quiet us:
‘He will quiet you with His love’
(Zeph 3:17)

‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.’
(Isaiah 26:3 NIV)

We can breathe deeply & declare:
‘You are with me’
(Psalm 23:4)

Trusting in Him, we can live sans souci:
‘Don’t fret or worry.
Instead of worrying, pray.
Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers,
letting God know your concerns.
Before you know it,
a sense of God’s wholeness,
everything coming together for good,
will come and settle you down.
It’s wonderful what happens
when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.’
(Philippians 4:6-7 MSG)

In contrast to the smothered seed, we can be nourished & flourished:
‘But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.’
(Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT)

So,
‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’
(1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

‘Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.’ (1Peter 5:7 MSG)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Love made me do it!

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I’ve been brewing some perspective- one coffee shop at a time. A visit to Slim’s Healthy Kitchen on Belmont Road Belfast added more perspective. It’s a great place to get healthy food- like tuna steaks & quinoa with the option of finishing off with an enormous brownie (for those of us with chocoholic tendencies!)

As we waited on our food, the writing on the wall said:
‘Love made me do it’

I would have taken a photo but I would have had to stand at an awkward angle!

Love made me do it. Or to transpose it into Biblical language, ‘Christ’s love compels us’ (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV)

Or to paraphrase:
‘Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.’
(2 Corinthians 5:14 MSG)

The Bible speaks eloquently of the ubiquitous love of God. Indeed, in 1John 4:17 it declares ‘God is love’ Love is the very essence of God.

Throughout life we waste time looking for love in the wrong places-especially when we are feeling insecure within ourselves.

‘You are uniquely loved known & called by God.This is the bedrock of your security in the world.’
(Ken J Costa)

St Therese of Liseux stated, ‘It isn’t enough to love; we must prove it’

God has proven His everlasting love for us:
‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’
(Romans 5:8 NIV)

‘God loves us as we are, not as we think we should be’
(Dr Michelle Bengston)

We are made in God’s image & He is love. Furthermore, He poured his love into our hearts (Romans 5:5 NIV)

We need to soak in this deep truth & what it means.

‘You are loved. Rest in your God-breathed worth’
(Sarah Bessey)

What a huge difference it makes when we can live like we are loved by the Most High God!

‘Live loved!’ Lysa Terkheurst wrote. Two little words with life-altering meaning.

We can never fathom the utter dimensions of God’s love. But if we grasp even a small amount of His love for us, this will make us love others.

When we ‘live loved’ we will realize that we will never lock eyes with another human who isn’t loved by God or made in his image.

Living loved leads to living a life of love:
‘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)

What does love look like?
‘Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
It does not demand its own way.
It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

Love never gives up,
never loses faith,
is always hopeful,
and endures through every circumstance.’
(1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT)

The following words also challenged me when I read them in a devotional:
‘God’s love is unconditional, and He calls us to love with that same kind of love … even when it is not returned.
We cannot manufacture this kind of love. It’s a fruit of God’s Spirit. It dwells within us because God indwells us.’
(Wendy Blight- First Five)

Clearly, love is not just a feeling or airy emotion. Love is a verb!

I fall so short of what I should be, of what I’m commanded to do. I find it difficult to love many of those whose paths cross mine on this journey. At times I’m so wrapped up in my own issues that I find it difficult to love full stop.

Yet, the Word of God says:
‘Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.’
(1 John 4:7-8 NIV)

‘Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.’
(1 Peter 4:8 NLT)

‘Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.
(1 Peter 4:8 MSG)

This brand of love comes from God alone who pours it from His heart to ours.

Only With His help can we live loved & live a life of love in return.

‘May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.’
(2 Thessalonians 2:16,17)

‘And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.’
(1 John 4:16 NIV)

Blessings,

Ruth x

One page at a time!

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This is a year where I plan to do less scrolling & more reading!

Yet I’m so guilty of tsundoku – the act of buying a book & leaving it unread- often stacked with other unread books!

Although I read a lot of posts and articles on the web, I was very disappointed with myself having only completed 10 books last year( especially since there’s plenty more still on the bookstack!)

Many find time to read so much more:

Claire Diaz-Ortiz can read 100+ books a year as well as looking after 3 tiny kids!

Of the books I read in 2017:

*My favourite non-fiction was Simply Tuesday by Emily P Freeman followed by Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

*My favourite fiction was All the light we do not see– a beautifully written story of a blind girl &Nazi boy in war-torn Europe.

The most difficult (though inspirational) read was The Hardest Peace by Kara Tippetts ( A young mum of four diagnosed with breast cancer- now at Home)

Out of sorts – making peace with an evolving faith by Sarah Bessey struck a chord with me.(And she’s speaking at the From where I stand conference in Bangor NI next month!)

I abandoned my Little book of Hygge after I almost cried in the downpours in Copenhagen last summer! I switched to Lagom -the Swedish art of balanced living. Just the right amount of everything!

The most enlightening book was The Road back to you – a painfully accurate path to self-discovery using the ancient wisdom of the enneagram. I’m a type 1 on a good day rapidly morphing into a badly behaving type 4 on a bad day- desperately hoping to become a better version of myself in 2018!

For inspiration of what (& what not) to read this year:

10 Fantastic books – Emily P Freeman

Best books of 2017 – Michelle Cushatt

The rights of a reader– illustrated by Quinten Blake

Reading better than before – Gretchen Rubin –

10 rules to read more books this year– Joel J Miller

How (not) to read next year-Jon Bloom

‘I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading. How much sooner one tires of anything other than a book!’
(Jane Austen)

‘You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.’ (CS Lewis)

So lets read through 2018 one page at a time!

Blessings

Ruth x

PS What’s on your book stack?

Be You!

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Another Royal Wedding is just around the corner. An estimated 2 billion people around the world watched the best of British pomp & ceremony when Prince William married Kate in 2011.Several commentators remarked that Prince William’s bride walked up the aisle as a ‘commoner’ -Catherine Middleton, but emerged as future Queen of England.

One thing that struck me, was the opening quote during the wedding address by the Bishop of London:
‘Be who God meant you to be & you will set the world on fire’ -St Catherine of Siena

Powerful words for anyone, on any occasion!

Powerful words because they are true, echoing several Bible verses:

‘Let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t’ (Rom 12:6 MSG)

‘Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself.Don’t compare yourself with others.’ (Gal 6:4 MSG)

Yet, so often we DO compare ourselves with others- & we are so pre-occupied with trying to be like them, that we are not doing what God has designed us to do.

We are hand-made with love by God, & ‘It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for’ (Eph 1:11 MSG)

And when we think of who we truly are in Christ, we realise that we are no longer ‘commoners’, but children of the King of kings (Wow!)

Often I get frustrated by myself – when I look inside, I am not who I want to be & fall short of what I hope to be.

‘We are all a little broken. We don’t need more varnish. We need a carpenter’ (Bob Goff)

‘God loves you unconditionally, as you are and not as you should be, because nobody is as they should be.’ (Brennan Manning -Ragamuffin Gospel)

So, ‘Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion. God’s love for you and his choice of you constitute your worth. Accept that, and let it become the most important thing in your life.’
(Brennan Manning)

Blessings are ours because we are His!

So,‘Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can do with your own life’ (Gal 6:5 MSG)

‘Be yourself-everyone else is taken!’ (Oscar Wilde)

‘Be you- the world will adjust!’

‘Be who you are, and not who you think you cannot be.’ (Claire Diaz-Ortiz)

Let’s be who God created us to be.

Let’s be focused on that truth rather than getting distracted by damaging comparisons to others!

Why?
Because ‘the smile of God is the goal of your life’ (Rick Warren)

‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.’
‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

‘How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.’
‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭1:3-6‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Not our home!

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“Farang!”

I jerked out of my jet-lagged stupor

“Farang!” the Thai lady repeated as she pointed to the passport queue in Bangkok airport.

Farang is the Thai word for foreigner. I’d heard it twenty years ago in a village off the beaten track near Manorom in Central Thailand. Back then cute Thai children smiled & pointed at my pale skin,freckles & curly hair & called out ‘Farang!’

In South-east Asia I was a long was from home & was definitely a foreigner!

Post-Brexit we are considering our nationality & citizenships -Northern Irish, British , European & the implications of each label.

Just after the apparent upheaval, of the Referendum, I read :
‘But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ’
(Philippians 3:20-NIV)

We as Christians need to shift our axis, for ultimately, our citizenship is in heaven.

So, let’s ‘Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.’
(Colossians 3:2 NIV)

As I followed my reading plan, I read these prophetic words:
‘They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings- and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.’
(Revelation 17:14 NIV)

Our God is still on the throne. He has always been in control. He is Lord of lords, & King of kings. He’s got the whole world in His hand- that includes you & me, our wee country , our malunited kingdom, splintered continent & the entire broken planet.

I was reminded of the Bible study of the book of 1st Peter last year. A central theme in this book is that God’s children are sojourners or temporary residents here. Aliens in a foreign land!

As Billy Graham said:
“My home is in heaven. I’m just passing through this world.”

In the Hall of Faith we read that Abraham lived as a stranger in a foreign country, ‘For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.’ (Hebrews 11:10 NIV)

Wherever we live here, whatever our country or city, we are eternal beings with body & soul:

‘I have found a desire within myself that no experience in this world can satisfy; the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.’
(CS Lewis)

Home is often more than bricks & mortar. It’s the place where we belong.

‘Home is a physical space; it’s also a state of mind’
(Gretchen Rubin)

I believe that home is not a place or space but a Person.

At an OMF Conference in 2013 the speaker concluded:
‘Our lives are a journey & God is our home’

He echoed these ancient words of truth:
‘Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.’
(Psalm 90:1-2 )

The Eternal God is our heart’s true home, our dwelling place, our refuge

The cross is our only way home. The only way to ‘the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time’
(Titus 1:2 NIV)

‘Though I am broken
Grace is my welcome home to You’
(Rend Collective)

‘Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
(John 14:23 NIV)

‘Home is where Jesus is’ was the slogan written on the roof of a makeshift home in a refugee camp photographed by Open Doors

In Him we have ‘Never-ending joy, never-failing love.’
(Rend collective)

In this journey we call life,

‘Our father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns
but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.’
(CS Lewis)

For,
‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’
(1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT)

‘We were made to run through fields of forever
Singing songs to our Savior and King
So let us remember this life we’re living
Is just the beginning of the beginning
Of this glorious unfolding

We will watch and see and we will be amazed
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over
And hold on to every promise God has made to us
We’ll see the glorious unfolding’
(Glorious unfolding-Stephen Curtis Chapman)

Life here is as restrictive as the bud before the blossom, as limited as the cocoon before the metamorphosis into a butterfly!

This world is not our home- we’re just passing through. There will be trouble & tears, illness, disappointments, upheaval, wars & rumours of wars.

But, ‘Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.’ (Thomas Moore)

For, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’
(Revelation 21:4 ESV)

This world that we’re passing through is ultimately passing away:

‘The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace’
(Chris Tomlin -Amazing Grace)

As we journey through life:
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.’
(John 14:1-3 NIV)

‘You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.’
(Psalms 16:11-ESV)

Don’t ever forget:

*‘Our citizenship is in heaven.’ (Philippians 3:20-NIV)

*‘Our lives are a journey & God is our home’

Blessings,

Ruthx

Get a life!

curlysue028

-i.e. live the life you were designed to live!

Life.

Sometimes all IS calm, all IS bright.
Sometimes life is wonderfully beautiful.
Sometimes it doesn’t feel remotely wonderful or beautiful.
Sometimes I feel like life is like being a hamster on a wheel – moving frantically but getting nowhere fast.

We work harder & harder, & the wheels turn faster & faster.

This frantic existence is sustainable short term. Trying to do it all. Trying to do more . Trying to do it all better.But unexpected circumstances or pressure knocks us sideways.

Sometimes we can anticipate a trouble looming. Sometimes we feel like we’re tossed right into a storm. Sometimes an avalanche of responsibility crushes our optimism.

Our life can feel satisfactory- acceptable though not outstanding. We can feel disconnected & flat. Like we’re living in black & white rather than true colour. Like we’re surviving not thriving. Coping-just about

Donald Miller wrote ‘Stop reacting to life & start living with intention’

And if we live intentionally -it often means deliberately choosing to do less-rather than more

There’s a German phrase weneger aber besser . The English translation is less but better . Quality, not quantity.

Greg McKeown wrote a book entitled Essentialism:
‘Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done.’

‘Doing the right thing is far more energizing than simply doing anything and everything. We only have one life and this life is too important to waste by being busy.’ (Christine Caine)

So how can we redeem our one,solitary, precious life from the default setting of busyness?

*Recharge

When we’re feeling overworked & overwhelmed the best thing we can do is slow down & stop.

‘Just as our phones have a certain capacity, we each have a unique capacity level. Our capacity depends on our personality, our experiences, and our seasons of life. People and events are constantly draining us, and we must recharge and off-load our excess or risk shutting down altogether.'(Alli Worthington-Breaking Busy)

‘Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a while… Including you’ (Anne Lamott)

We need to unplug & unwind. To create space in our days in our minds & margin in our lives.

In our Maker’s instruction book He decreed that we should have a day of rest in every seven- not as a luxury but as a necessity for us to function. Quality downtime is not wasting time.

*Reflect

When you’re unplugged & unwound, consider these questions. Write down your answers for future reference.

(1)What has God entrusted to me?

What are the things only I can do?

I think this is a very useful question.I’m recognise that I have been entrusted with the task of nurturing my children. I also need to be the life-partner my husband needs me to be.

You may have been given a career or a role in church that you know is a God-given assignment. Not everyone has the gifts, talent, experience or qualification needed.

Though I may not have chosen to be work full-time in previous seasons, currently using my training & degree in the practice entrusted to me is something only I can do.

Writing to try to encourage others on this journey of life is also something I’m meant to do.

What are the things in your life that only you can do?

(2)What things should I stop doing?

Purposely edit your life-don’t drift along. We have the choice to say yes to the things we are assigned to do, & no to other non-essential things.

‘The decisions remake determines the schedule we live’
‘Today’s choices become tomorrow’s circumstances’
(Lysa Terheurst-The Best Yes)

I need to stop wasting time eg limit time on social media.
I may need to say no the good things in order to have time to do better things.
I need to stop expending energy on negative relationships.

What do you need to stop today?

(3)What brings joy & encourages me to live well?

Carve out time with those you love.
Do more of what makes you happy.

That’ll look different for each of us. For me that means being in the great outdoors with my family, running, reading & writing .

How can you thrive?

*Reconnect

Reconnect with your Designer

‘Sure-the world says you are what you do. But the Word says you are Whose you are. And what we do ultimately flows out of who & Whose we are.’(Ann Voskamp)

The life we were designed to live has God at the centre. He is our source of strength, our Grand Designer & Saviour of our soul.

The way to truly get a life is to surrender it to the One who created your life & sustains it.

Let Him take control:
“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”
(Matthew 10:39 NLT)

Jesus said, ” I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
(John 10:10 MSG)

‘It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.’
(Ephesians 1:11 MSG)

‘So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.’
(Romans 12:1 MSG)

Whatever else you do, carve out time to recharge,reflect & reconnect this week

Blessings,

Ruth x