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I read a heartfelt blog post last week about a Grandfather who sent flowers every Valentine’s Day

It instantly reminded me of my Granda Murphy who sent me a Valentine card every year in my teenage years!

One of my earliest memories is sitting on the doorstep in Lawnview Street watching rain ‘dance’ on the pavement (im)patiently waiting for him to come home from work.

Granda worked as a painter at Harland & Wolff. He painted my brother & I matching sleighs for unexpected heavy snow. And colourful bird boxes to hang on our garden fence.

He took us to Portstewart in the summer, & each time I walk along the Coastal Path by the convent I’m reminded of him.

Granda Murphy also sent birthday cards & congratulations cards.

He wrote the same verse in the cards-Proverbs 3:5&6. These are verses to live by- here & now as much as back then:

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.’
(Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV)

‘Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track’
(Proverbs 3:5-6MSG)

We can trust God deeply because He knows us fully & loves us the most.

‘For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.’
(John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

On Valentine’s Day & everyday:

‘You are so very loved.
I pray that you would
Remember it,
Know it,
Live it,
Breathe it,
Rest in it:
Beloved’
(Sarah Bessey)

Blessings,

Ruthx

It’s just a week since we celebrated Christmas.The decorations are packed away till next year along with the Christmas playlists.But the melodies & words of some songs linger on. Like Pentatonix:

‘Mary did you know…
That your Baby Boy has walked were angels trod?
When you kissed your little baby you kissed the face of God?’
(from a song by Mark Lowry & Buddy Greene)

Mary, did you know?

After centuries of silence from God, He sent His angel Gabriel to appear to this teenager.

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”
(Luke 1:30-32 NIV)

This fulfilled the ancient words of the prophet Isaiah:
‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means “God with us”’
(Matthew 1:23 NIV)

Even while Mary was pregnant, she grasped her place in the immense plan of God. She said:
‘From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-holy is his name.’
(Luke 1:48-49 NIV)

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary declared.
(Luke 1:38)

Mary’s obedience led to a lowly stable in overcrowded Bethlehem. And there, God stepped into time, wrapped in skin & swaddling cloths.

‘Within moments the hand of the Star Hanger clutched Mary’s finger.The feet of the Sky Walker lay in Joseph’s palm’
(Max Lucado)

It was clear that Jesus was no ordinary baby. Mary & Joseph were visited by shepherds who spoke of angelic choirs, & astronomers from the East who spoke of a guiding star.

‘Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.’
(Luke2:19)

There were many divinely orchestrated extraordinary events to ponder. There must have been so many thoughts in Mary’s mind as she touched her firstborn’s tiny hands & feet & kissed His face. Though she may not have fully comprehended the enormity of God’s plan I think she knew that Jesus was:

Human & divine
Word & flesh
Her son- & God the Son

For Mary, the Christmas story wasn’t just something to be painted on cards or acted in school plays. It was the narrative of her family life, just the beginning of ordinary days with her unique son.

Most of Jesus’ childhood was unrecorded. But when He was twelve, He went missing in the Temple, but was discovered teaching the Teachers ‘in His Father’s House’

‘Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.’
(Luke 2:51-52 NIV)

Mary was there too when Jesus’ ministry began. She was a guest at the wedding in Cana when he performed His first miracle tuning water into wine.

As Jesus performed signs & wonders, healed & preached, opposition grew. Perhaps Mary pondered the ominous words Simeon had prophesied when Jesus was a baby:
‘And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
(Luke 2:35 NIV)

In chapter 19 of His Gospel, John records that Mary was at the cross. The Son she had bore & raised & nurtured was hanging, crucified- the most shameful death for her perfect son.

And even while dying, he was concerned for her & asked John to take care of his mother when he was gone

Mary did you know at this darkest hour God was at work in history redeeming His people?

Mary’s heart must have broke & her soul was pierced, as she watched the blood stream down His face. Those hands & feet that she’d caressed were nailed to the cross.

Mary, did you know what held Him on that cross?

It wasn’t the nails driven deep.

It was love deeper still.

It was sin – the deepest need of each human soul to be forgiven.

The shocking reality is:

‘It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished’
(Stuart Townend)

‘When every unclean thought,
And every sinful deed
Was scourged upon His back
And hammered through His feet.
The Innocent is cursed,
The guilty are released;
The punishment of God
On God has brought me peace.’
(Stuart Townend)

The punishment of God
On God has brought me peace.

This is what it cost to save & redeem us. This is why He was called Jesus

‘She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’
(Matthew 1:21 NIV)

Yes, our deepest need is a Saviour. So, at just the right time, God sent His One & Only Son- that we may be forgiven children of God:
‘But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.’
(Galatians 4:4-5 NIV)

Jesus was born to Mary:
‘Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the son of earth,
Born to give them second birth’
(Hark the herald- Mendelssohn)

Mary did you know?

We’ll never truly know what Mary knew. But we know that she believed.

‘Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!’
(Luke 1:45 NIV)

We are blessed too when we believe!

Blessings,

Ruth x

‘There’s only one month left of the decade- make it count!’

I read that sentence last week & had two thoughts:

1. I’d forgotten that we were about to start a new decade (doh!)

2. It’s the month of December between now & then & between work & festivities most of the time is accounted for- never mind the pressure of making it count!

When we contemplate a new year ushering in a new decade,

‘Isn’t it funny how day to day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different’
(CS Lewis)

I agree that
‘The days are long but the years are short’
(Gretchen Ruben)

But between now & the start of 2020,
‘All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.‘
(JRR Tolkien)

Of course between now & then, there are the red letter days of Christmas (&Thanksgiving) but,
‘Time stands still best in moments that look suspiciously like ordinary life’ (Anon)

‘Perhaps the most important moments of all turn out to be the ones we walk through without thinking, the ones we mark down as just another day. Just another day we have to get through before something interesting comes along. We benchmark our lives with birthdays & Christmases & holidays, but perhaps we should think more about the ordinary days. The days that pass by & we don’t even notice’
(Joanna Cannon-Three things about Elsie)

And even on days we don’t notice, there’s much awe & wonder (if our eyes weren’t wide shut!)

‘I think life is staggering & we’re just used to it. We are like spoiled children no longer impressed with the gifts we’re given- it’s just another sunset, just another rain loud over the mountain, just another child being born, just another funeral.’
(Don Miller– A million miles in a thousand years)

It’s so true:
‘The beauty of the gospel is all around us, in the parables of our lives, in the hearts of those who believe, in the graces that seem so common but really aren’t common at all. God has filled his people and his world with his glory. Blessed are those who actually look for it. Even if it only looks back at you a few fleeting seconds at a time.’
(Chris Tiegreen)

‘Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; And only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.‘
(Elizabeth Barrett Brown)

‘I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness. It’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention & practicing gratitude
(Brene Brown)

It’s true at Thanksgiving & any time of the year:
‘Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.’
(William Arthur Ward)

All we have is now.

Be present (rather than stress about buying presents)

Spend time (rather than money)

I like the words & the sentiment conveyed by this song ‘We have this moment‘ by the Gaithers:

Blessings,

Ruth x

‘If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour.‘ (Victoria Erickson)

Each year I fall in love with autumn again. There’s no doubt that it’s my favourite season.

So what has autumn taught me this year?

🍂Creation-therapy rejuvenates the soul!

Kicking autumn leaves at Stormont was a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon!And a road trip to the West of Ireland reminded me that wee island is jam-packed with awesomeness waiting to be explored!

I was awestruck in County Mayo watching the Atlantic waves crash into Downpatrick Head.As we stood on the cliff edge, I was reminded of the words of an ancient poem:
‘Mightier than the thunders of many waters, mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!’
(Psalms 93:4 ESV)

🍂Stresses aren’t going to disappear

Trials & troubles are part of life. There’s no escaping them. But we can alter our perspective.

Jon Kabat-Zin notes:
‘You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.’

🍂Joy is a choice

When we studied James 1 last week Pastor George spoke of the phrased ‘Consider it pure joy.’

Joy is a choice. Yet often, despite my blessings & privileges, I’m more Eeyore than Tigger. I’m gloomy rather than bouncy. The glass is half full dwindling toward empty.

Autumn reminded me of this verse:
‘The joy of the Lord is my strength’*
(Nehemiah 8:10)

And David’s prayer in Psalm 51:12
‘Restore to me the joy of your salvation’

*I love Rend Collective’s song based on these words of truth.

🍂Human life is sacrosanct
{no matter how much popular opinion disputes this}

Life is sacrosanct-too valuable to be interfered with. We are hand-designed by God, made in His image with eternity at our core.

‘May you realise that the shape of your soul is unique,
that you have a special destiny here,
that behind the facade of your life
there is something beautiful & eternal happening’
(To Bless the space between us- John O’Donohue)

Our Maker knows us yet still loves us & wants us to know Him more.

We read this verse in Calvary Church near Seattle in the summer:
‘With your very own hands you formed me; now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you.’
(Psalm 119:73MSG)

🍂Autumn is a Season of change.

This Autumn our family rhythm has changed more than before. My daughter has started uni. My husband has switched careers after 20 years in teaching. Everything feels in flux. Nothing stays static in the natural world- or in our daily lives.

But,’Sometimes, the good has to end before the better can begin.” (Jeff Goins)

‘Winter will one day turn into spring, but it requires the autumn of letting go in order for it to blossom as it should.’
(Catherine Campbell-Journey With Me)

🍂Tis the season for letting go

The trees demonstrate how beneficial {& beautiful} it is to let go. We can’t hold onto everything- we can’t do it all.

‘Our assignments have been prepared for us ahead of time. We don’t have to do the impossible. We just have to listen to the voice of our Shepherd moment by moment’
(Rebekah Reynolds)

As we fall into winter & roll toward Christmas, may we pause long enough to connect with our Designer & those we love.

‘May all that is unlived in you
Blossom into a future
Graced with love’
(To bless the space between us-
John O’Donohue)

Blessings,

Ruth x

God’s laundry room

Reading: Psalm 51

Nothing prepared me for the amount of laundry a tiny newborn baby can generate! They go through so many little vests and sleep suits that the washing machine has to go on overdrive! And it just gets worse and worse, as they get older!

I suppose we shouldn’t complain – at least we have washing machines! And there is a certain amount of satisfaction in seeing their little clothes clean and freshly folded.

But I wonder how many of us need a trip to God’s laundry room. The psalmist David wrote:
‘Generous in love – God, give grace!
Huge in mercy-wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I’ve been;
my sins are staring me down’
(Psa 51:1-3 The Message)

‘Soak me in Your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life’
(Psa 51:7-MSG)

For in God’s eyes,the sin in our lives is much worse than the dirtiest of soiled baby clothes:

‘We’ve sinned and kept at it so long! Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved? We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags’ (Isa 64:5&6 – The Message)

‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’
(Rom 3:23 – NIV)

When we come to God through Jesus and trust Him as our Saviour, He has promised to remove our sins:

‘He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.’(Psa 103:10-12 – NIV)

All our sin, our failings and shortcomings are forgiven and forgotten because of God’s great love for us.  

Our God says:
“I have swept away your offences like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you”
(Isa 44:22-NIV)

‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool’ (Isa 1:18-NIV)

No sin,no matter how big it appears to us is too big to be forgiven.

David wrote Psalm 51 after committing adultery with Bathsheba, then having her husband killed.  (See IISam ch 11 &12)

If we pour out our heart to God, ‘if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9 – NIV)

I like the start of a new year-a fresh start;a year as yet untouched and unblemished-like freshly fallen, pure white snow covering the ground. Yet God’s love gives us so much more than a new start in life – it gives us a new life to start when we trust in Him. We are new creations. We ‘are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!’ (II Cor 5:17 – NLT)

As we all know from experience, we don’t stop falling short and messing up once we become Christians. We all have days when we feel like lousy parents and lousy Christians. ‘I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.’ (Rom 7:15 – NIV)  

Just like our children’s clothes, our lives get dirty again and we need many, many trips to God’s laundry room to be cleaned – to be steeped in His awesome loving grace and mercy.

Again and again we need to come before our God and ask for forgiveness.

‘God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me’
(Psa 51: 10 &11 – The Message)

May David’s prayer be the prayer of our heart today:
‘Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a right spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me again the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you’
(Psa 51:10-12 –NLT)

‘Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered’ (Psa 32:1-NIV)

Blessings,

Ruth x

#itsallaboutlove

Father to child

Why are you so sad and troubled,

Discouraged and in a muddle?

Why do you try to cope on your own?

You don’t have to do anything alone.

My child, come to me.

Stop struggling, I’ll set you free.

My child, just ask.

My peace is within your grasp,

My arms are all around.

Seek me in prayer- I will be found.

I’m Your Father, Best Friend and though Lord of All,

I’m interested in you- things both great and small.

I want to share in your hopes and fears,

Be with you in joy, wipe away your tears.

So, why do you sink in cares and worry?

I’ll take them from you, if you give them to me.

I am with you constantly,

You cannot run away from me.

No-one can snatch you out of my hand,

Safe and secure with me you stand.

Nothing can separate you from my love,

Nothing in earth or heaven above.

I love you because you re precious to me.

Stop struggling. Just stop. And trust in me.