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Small things

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I like the little things in life. Snowdrops. Daffodils.Good coffee. Ink pens. Pretty notebooks.

At Christmas, I love sourcing the childrens’ stocking fillers-the small surprises that don’t cost much.

Sometimes, with hindsight, little things aren’t so little after all.Small things can make a big difference. Small tweaks in our daily routine. Small adjustments in our attitude. Listening to seemingly small details relayed from our childrens’ days.

Sometimes it’s small conversations that encourage us most. It’s the depth rather than the amount of the words. I still smile when I think of the old lady saying, “Good to see you back!”as walked into work after almost one year off.

My mother-in-love can recall the midwife bringing a bag of jelly babies sixty years ago when her baby brother was born. This kind gesture had a lasting impact & influenced her own career choice!

‘Find beauty in the small things’

Make time :

*To star-gaze

*To go outdoors

*To chat to your children, no matter what age they are!

*To drink coffee by the fire

*To read a book

*To watch an old movie with popcorn

*To send someone a little gift for no reason

*To push the demands of work back to acceptable boundaries

*To carve out time for the little things that are actually important

*To create space to connect with others

*To be intentional

Small things are often bigger than we realize.

The prophet Zechariah urged God’s people not to despise small things, when the work to rebuild the temple was starting, ‘for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin’
(Zechariah 4:10 NLT)

In the Bible we can read of many small things:

*A tiny baby who was Almighty God

*Five stones used to slay a giant

*Five loaves & two fish used to feed a crowd of thousands

*A pearl to illustrate the priceless kingdom of God

*An ant -a creature of little strength, yet it stores up its food in the summer (Proverbs 30:24-25 NIV)

*A small seed that highlights the potential of even little faith:

Jesus replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.””
(Matthew 17:20 NIV)

It’s sometimes little things that cause trouble.

‘Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.’
(Song of Solomon 2:15 NIV)

*A small pin can burst a balloon

*A small piece of grit can irritate our eye

*A small part of our body- the tongue can cause infinite damage
(James 3)

Words spoke in anger, pride, jealousy & hurt can cause damage like a forest fire.

We can feel small in our weaknesses & failings.

Occhiolism is the awareness of the smallness of our perspective. I feel this when I gaze into the galaxy on a star filled night, or when I’m walking through a large airport- through crowds of people in transit.

Yet, God uses the small things like us:
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
(1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV)

“Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
(Gandalf -J.R.R. Tolkien)

Small acts of kindness & love

Small acts may have a bigger impact than anticipated.

‘Great things are done by a series of small things brought together’
(Van Gogh)

Small acts of kindness might ripple across the pond of life.Small acts:

*Might scatter like dandelion dust

*Might bud into a blossom

*Might cause a spark to fan into flame.

I like that image of a flaming fire, & the warm feeling it evokes. The Danish word ‘hygge’,is the sense of cosiness you get from sitting in front of a roaring log fire .

Going the extra mile begins with one small step. We may have to take small steps every day.

This week start small, with little things. You never know what it’ll grow into!

‘Do small things with great love’ (Mother Teresa)

‘May we be marked more by our small moments than our fast movements’
(Emily P Freeman-Simply Tuesday)

Blessings,

Ruth x

The path less travelled

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I’ve been mulling over the thought of wandering along a path that’s less travelled since I read these words:

‘The road not taken

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.’
(Robert Frost)

The concept of choosing between two paths in life is not a new one:
This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”(Jeremiah 6:16 NIV)

Jesus Himself spoke of the narrow path to true life:
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)

On Jesus’ authority, there’s only one way to enter this narrow path that leads to eternal life with God:
‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”John 14:6 NIV)

The difference between the busy highway through life & the narrow path is the difference between trusting God & doing our own thing. It’s deciding to please ourselves versus living for God. This makes all the difference in the world ( & the next)

The most important decision we can make is the faith-filled declaration:
‘I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back!’

Of course we won’t always stay on track. We may go off the narrow path- wandering astray at times like sheep. But our Good shepherd will get us back on course.

He will guide us through lush green pastures & verdant valleys with pleasant vistas to the mountain tops where we gasp at the grandeur of grace.

It is not an easy path. It can be strenuous & challenging at times. It can lead to deep waters & fiery trials (Isaiah 43) & even through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23) At times we may not like the path at all. Oftentimes, we wouldn’t have chosen to go this particular route.

But,’Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations’ (unknown)

‘God takes us where we did not intend to go to produce in us that which we could not produce on our own. It’s called uncomfortable grace.’
(Paul Tripp)

Daily as we walk this narrow path, we need to channel our energies in their God-intended direction. We need to ask the Good Shepherd to guide us. For, there are questions that Google can’t answer, & places that sat. nav. can’t lead us to!

‘In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.’ (Proverbs 16:9 NIV)

I love the prayer of King David’s heart written centuries ago, as he walked the path of life:
‘Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish. (Psalm 25:4, 5, 17 NIV)

And God’s promise in response applies as much to us as we seek to walk with God today:
‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.'(Psalm 32:8, 9 NIV)

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)

If you feel as though you are standing at the crossroads of life today, the easy highway stretches in front, & the narrow gate may seem insignificant.

Although, ‘Normality is a paved road’ (Van Gogh),please, ‘Don’t squander your precious life’ (Proverbs 8:33 MSG)

If you decide to follow God’s Way that involves ‘A long obedience in the same direction’ (Eugene Petersen) you will be overtaken by blessings:
‘And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. ‘(Deuteronomy 28:2 ESV)

You will have the blessing of having your sins forgiven, & the assurance of a God who walks the path of life with you.

And the goodness & mercy of God will pursue us along the path:
‘Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, forever. ‘(Psalm 23:6 NIV)

At the end of the path we will be welcomed into everlasting joy in our eternal Home by our Heavenly Father, the Good Shepherd:
‘You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.’ (Psalm 16:11 NIV)
‘and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’ (Psalm 23:6 NIV)

As we travel along the path of life day by day to our destination,
‘The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.’
(Psalm 29:11 NIV)

Blessings,
Ruth x

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!

curlysue028

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