Tag: Christian bloggers

Elevate your everyday

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January has been {unfairly} described as one long Monday. But it’s reinvented itself as a time of coziness with warm fires, favourite books & hot cocoa. And a time of re-setting – the rest & repair of wintering.

There’s a whimsical trend on social media to elevate our every day by looking for tiny joys & creating micro-adventures. And by cultivating meaningful moments with mindfulness or in conversation with friends.

We can elevate our daily fuel with barista-crafted coffee, artisan sourdough & nutrient dense meals. We can indulge ourselves with those top-tier toiletries received as Christmas gifts.

Romanticising our routine may help us through the dark days of winter. And while elevating our day can boost our mood, the Bible speaks of elevating our mind. 

We often focus on the microcosm of day to day life- homing in on us & ours. Yet God wants us to elevate our perspective. He says:

‘Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.’

‭‭(Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Or as The Message paraphrases this verse:

‘Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.’

‭‭(Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

Our priorities & thoughts should be on God’s Kingdom- on the Not Yet rather than merely the Here & Now. But it takes effort to cultivate this heavenly focus! We need to meditate on the truths in God’s Word the Bible.

We can elevate our days by gazing on God’s majesty & might, His grace & goodness. 

We need to open our eyes & hearts to the ways God is at work in our lives & in this world {now & forever}

Blessings,

Ruth x

Day by day

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2026 stretches out towards the horizon in front of us. Its days are as yet unlived; its paths untrod. The year ahead is  brimming with uncharted waters & unknown days.

There may be much to look forward to , yet I’m sure we all find aspects to be apprehensive, even anxious about.

The great reassurance is that we don’t have to face anything that happens alone. God will be with us through it all:

Our trials & the triumphs.

Our frustrations as well as the celebrations.

Our disappointments & the desires.

Our hopes & fears. 

Our burdens & blessings.

Our Father God deeply cares for our needs.

So, Jesus said:

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭34‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

The best thing about our future is that it arrives just one day at a time. We are designed to live in 24 hour chunks of time. We can focus on each day rather than worrying about tomorrow & tomorrow. 

Today is our precious gift from God. That’s why it’s called the Present. That’s where we dwell.

During the week, I read this paraphrase in the Message. May these words calm our anxious hearts:

“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 -the Message)

So, may we follow our Shepherd one day at a time. May we trust Him day by day this week & through 2026 & beyond.

Blessings,

Ruth x

Our God is Able

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At the beginning of another trip around the  sun, we may have a mixture of feelings- anticipation as well as anxiety, joy tinged with sadness. We may feel hurt & tired already. Life might feel heavy- turning a new year on the calendar cannot alter that  & doesn’t affect daily life much.

We need to focus on God instead of ourselves, His provision rather than our problems.

For, our Shepherd knows our heart & restores our soul.

As this year revolves into the next, our Father’s hand is upon us. Our Great & Mighty God is in control. Our Shepherd will guide us on & He is all that we need (Psalm 23:1)

For we are known & loved by Almighty God.

Our God is able to save us & to intercede for us day by day. (Hebrews‬ ‭7‬:‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Our God is able to do much more than we dare to ask, think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)

And when we make mistakes, our God is able to forgive our sins & cleanse our lives (1 John 1:9)

As we step into 2026, may we know our God is able & may we pray:

‘Father, let me hold your hand, 

and like a child walk with you 

down all my days, 

secure in your love and strength’ 

(Prayer of Thomas à Kempis, c.1380–1471). 

Blessings,

Ruth x

Tidings of comfort & joy

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‘Tis the season of tidings of comfort & joy from God Above. And His comfort doesn’t just soothe but strengthens & encourages us too. 

It’s the Good News of Great Joy- of the Great God of highest heaven coming down to earth to be among us, beside us, one of us, with us. Bringing:

Light to dispel sheer darkness

Hope in place of despair

Peace for our troubled souls

Joy to stream through our sorrow

Love for the unlovely 

Faith for the unfaithful 

Saving grace to redeem us

Jesus is the  Greatest Gift of all- the Indescribable Gift of God.

Blessings,

Ruth x

The Greatest Gift

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Tis the season…of giving gifts! We shop till we drop,grab a coffee to go, then shop some more! And everyday we’re bombarded on social media & TV with gift ideas. But what can we give to those who have everything?

While we endeavour to give great gifts, God is the ultimate Gift-Giver:
‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.’
(James 1:17 NIV)

The Greatest Gift came in unexpected wrapping. All the fullness of God- His grace & goodness, majesty & might, bundled in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The Greatest Gift-
The Hope of the world:
Planned by God,
Foretold by prophets.
Sent by Love,
Under a starlit sky,
Surrounded by angel song,
Wrapped in grace from above.

For, ‘Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.’
(C.S. Lewis)

As we grow older our Christmas wish list gets shorter & we find that the things we want aren’t things. Sometimes the best gift we can give to others is our time.

Someone once wrote that love can be spelt T-I-M-E. Jesus loved us so much that He gave up eternity to spend time on earth.

He came to earth & became flesh & blood so that we can be adopted into the family of God through faith. The Gift of God means that we can become children of God:

‘Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God’
(John 1:12 NIV)

God’s gift is a long lasting, never-ending present-eternal life.

Christmas is:
when God reached down,
when God became one of us,
with us in this journey of life.

‘Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!’
(2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV)

This Christmastime, if you haven’t already done so, will you accept this ultimate gift from God – the Gift of Himself, for now & forever?

Blessings,

Ruthx

Making room

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December starts with good intentions of organization & calm & cards posted on time. Yet as the month rolls on, it gains momentum like a giant snowball gathering more & more festive events & shopping.

In the past I have identified with Bilbo Baggins who said, “I feel thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.” (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring)

We need to create margin in our days as we approach this time of the year. Our diaries may be jam-packed already but it’s in the quieter moments that the true meaning of Christmas is found.

There are choices to be made to make space in our schedules.

Especially in this season, we need to prepare room for the One who became one of us. In the quiet, we can connect with God. We can make room to  marvel & wonder at the miracle of Christmas, that God is with us – Immanuel.

We can identify what recharges us & spend time doing what brings light & restores our soul.

We can read God’s Word & devotionals that refresh the richness of the Christmas narrative again.

We can pray for our family,our community & our broken world.

We can listen to Christmas music-traditional carols blended with contemporary worship.

We can quiet ourselves on the inside to make room for God to speak to us- to whisper to our weary souls.

We can explore!Wrap up warm & escape into the great outdoors to  breathe deeply, clear our minds & star gaze.  Spending time in creation is one of the best ways to unplug & connect with the One who made it all!

We can also make room for others- not just our friends & family. We can give the gift of time.

As we step into another December week, carve out time & make room for the Baby born in Bethlehem, Who is Lord of All.

‘Let every heart prepare Him room’
(Isaac Watts-Joy to the world)

Blessings,

Ruth x

The gift of time

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The evenings are dark & Christmas is approaching. It’s that time of year again – to watch Christmas movies. In our house, Lord of the Rings is on the watch-list. 

A favourite character in this Tolkien classic is Gandalf the wizard. Gandalf said, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

We have all been given the gift of time. How can we spend our time in this busy season of shopping, eating, hustle & merriment?

God gives us an answer in His Word:

‘Rejoice always, 

pray continually, 

give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’

‭‭(1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

We can spend this gift of time:

Rejoicing -expressing delight & deep happiness- even when life feels hard & when things don’t seem to be working out as we anticipated.

Praying – this means more than talking to God- but also listening for His response. We can become the answer to our own prayers as we seek God & His best for us.

Giving thanks means paying attention to what is happening in our days. It means noticing what God is doing in our lives- in the highs & lows, the ebb & flow of our day to day {& being grateful}

As we step into December & as the month gains momentum, we need to carve out time to contemplate God:

Rejoice in awe & wonder of God with us. Our Eternal God stepped into time as a tiny baby in a manger, becoming flesh & blood {yet remaining fully divine}

Pray for love & peace in our hearts, homes & world. And how we can share these God-given gifts.

Give thanks for true joy & hope found only in Jesus. And look back with hearts shaped by gratitude on this year that’s almost through.

Blessings,

Ruth x

Living letters

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In this age of texts & e-mails, I still like to send &  receive old fashioned cards & letters. There’s something special about paper & ink! (Despite the cost of postage!)

 The Apostle Paul wrote many epistles to the early church. Yet he wrote these words about the church at Corinth:

‘You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.’

‭‭(2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

The Corinthian’s testimoney & the visible God-inspired transformation in them meant that others could read the message of Good News in their lives.

As we live with hope in God’s Word, we too can be living letters that the world around needs to read- the Gospel for now & forever.

Paul also wrote that we should do everything without grumbling or bickering, as we hold onto the word of life. (Phil 2:14-16)

As we live for God daily, we should:

‘Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night’

‭‭(Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

We are God’s special possession, that we ‘may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’

‭‭(1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

As we enter into the Christmas Season, we can be messages of hope & light, of grace & truth & love.

Blessings,

Ruth x

Surrounded

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I read these ancient words during the past week in Kendal:

‘As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭125‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

We may feel overwhelmed with struggles & pressed down by stresses. Yet, we are surrounded by our Mighty, Majestic God, & encompassed by His love & power.

Psalm 125 was one of the Psalms that Jewish pilgrims sang as they journeyed toward Jerusalem. As the Psalm states, the city of Jerusalem is encircled by mountains (including the Mount of Olives)

We are protected by the mountain Maker- the One who was the Everlasting God even before the mountains were formed (Psalm 90)

As Moses wrote when He blessed the tribes of Israel:

‘The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.’

‭‭(Deuteronomy‬ ‭33‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

We are safe & secure, for we are surrounded by God & kept in His arms {now & forever}

Blessings,

Ruth x

Love like bread

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As we’ve travelled round the Lake District on these auburn autumn days, we’ve ate bread in Ambleside, Grasmere & Kendal. Crusty sourdough & fresh tin loaves. One local bakery is aptly called Lovingly Artisan. As I savoured the hand-crafted loaves, I thought of a poem I read long ago:

‘Love doesn’t just sit there,

like a stone,

it has to be made,

Like bread;

remade all the time,

made new’

(Ursula K Le Guin)

Making bread requires effort- kneading, stretching & folding the dough.

In the same way our love should be intentional. Love needs to be nurtured – just as a sourdough starter needs to be fed.

It’s been said that love is a verb. Love is dynamic.

The Apostle John wrote:

‘Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.’

(‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Human love may go stale-yet God’s lovingkindness remains fresh- it’s new every morning! God’s ubiquitous love is the Truest Love of all. It is the starter from which all love flows:


‘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)

Time moulds & kneads life into different shapes & directions as we move along in life. But whatever our circumstances, we are urged to follow God’s way of love:

‘Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.’

‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

As we journey through this week, we can trust in God, the Master Maker & His love:

‘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