Tag: Christian faith

Forever blessed…because of Him

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‘What’s so good about Good Friday?’ asked my young son after first reading about the suffering of Jesus for himself.

In most religious imagery Jesus is depicted as blood stained & thorn crowned- suffering & in anguish. We need to look beyond the narrative using the wide angled lens of God’s eternal perspective to see the ultimate good in Good Friday.

On that day eternity’s plan & Satan’s schemes intersected. Heaven & hell collided (not by chance but by Grand Design) On the cross wrath & mercy mingled like Jesus’ sweat & blood. And as love & grace flowed painfully, yet freely, the course of the cosmos shifted for all time & eternity .

On the cross we
‘See God’s salvation plan
Wrought in love
Borne in pain
Paid in sacrifice’
(Keith Getty)

The cross dissects history in two-before & after Christ. At the centre of history stands Jesus on the cross for, ‘in Him all things hold together’ (Colossians 1:16,17)

The cross is the pivotal point of the cosmos- everything in history & eternity revolves round Jesus who was there in the beginning with God & is God (John 1) It hinges on the fact that Jesus, the Lord of the universe & Lord of all was the Messiah-the Chosen One. Jesus was the Lamb of God- born in a manger & slaughtered on the cross.

He died that we might live.
He suffered that we may be healed.
His body was covered in midday darkness – so we could walk in His light.
He was separated from His Father God (Matthew 27:46) so that we don’t have to be.

He took our sin that we would have his righteousness. In this unthinkable exchange ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

‘Jesus was made sin, not a sinner but sin-a sin offering & a sacrifice for sin’ (Matthew Henry)

The wide angled lens of God’s sovriegnty captures all the pathos of the day – the awful, awesome, shocking fact that ‘God Himself gave Himself, to save us from Himself’ (John Stott)

Read that profound truth again:
‘God Himself
gave Himself,
to save us from Himself’

There are no words to follow on from that profound truth.

If we truly grasp the outrageous grace & audacious love of God, we are speechless:

‘Undone by mercy & left speechless
Watching wide eyed at the cost
May I never lose the wonder
The wonder of the cross’
(‘The Wonder of the cross’-Vicky Beecher)

The cross symbolises the immensity of pure grace and the dimensions of God’s amazing love. Its breadth flows from one nail pierced hand to the other. Its height stretches from earth to sky-from hell to heaven.

Yet,
‘We live our lives & never really know
How loved we are, or how far love will go’
(Andrew Peterson)

So,tonight,
‘I pray that you may have the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ’ (Ephesians 3:17,18)

And that you would respond to the amazing love in faith.

For, we are forever blessed because of Him, because of what He has done.
And that makes today & everyday truly, deeply Good!

Amen!

Blessings,

Ruthx

The colour of Easter

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We made an Easter tree & hung pastel coloured eggs on its branches -& Caris added a gingham bird cut from a Cath Kidston template & hand-sewn with love!

Last week, I stopped to look at some Easter cards en route to do some grocery shopping. Fluffy chicks & bunnies, cuddly bears with rabbit ears- on pastel green & pale yellow cards, with warm & cosy sentiments written on them.

I smiled at the cute pictures, then stopped & stepped back to do a quick reality check. These are not the real colours of Easter!

In the Wordless Book that we shared at Whizz Kidz, the colour of Easter is red.

Deep red. Crimson red- the colour of blood.
For, the real Easter is not fluffy & cute.
It’s torture. Brutal. Real.
Nails hammered deep.
Love deeper still,
Keeping Him on the cross.
Creator tortured by His creatures,
That he might bridge the chasm made by sin.
The Light of the World, totally eclipsed by darkness,
as the midday sun fell from its orb.

‘Hands that flung stars into space, to cruel nails surrendered’(Graham Kendrick)

The Good Shepherd became the Lamb:
‘But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all’
(Isaiah 53:5&6-MSG)

On Good Friday, consider the only One good enough to pay the price for our sins.

He was punished that we may go free.
He died that we may truly live.
He took our sin,that we might gain His righteousness.
He took our shame, that we might know the hope of glory.

On this day, remember, because of Jesus, because of the cross:
‘He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west’ (Psalm 103:12-MSG)

And as the Casting Crowns lyrics say:
‘Tell me just how far the East is from the West –
one scarred hand to the other’

Blessings,
Ruth x

Glimpses of God

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It’s felt like a long winter. But now, there’s daffodils in the vase, tete a tete on the doorstep & crocuses creating colour on local roundabouts. It’s that time of year when new life bursts from the dark ground & seemingly lifeless twigs.

In spring,more so than during other seasons, creation tells our Father’s story. For,

‘Our Lord has written resurrection not in books alone—but in every leaf in springtime.’
(Martin Luther)

The Greatest Artist’s brush strokes are majestically displayed at sunrise & sunset- from dawn to dusk.

In our simple daily life, God is closer than we think. Closer than we realise. As close as we want Him to be.

One night last year, sleep had eluded me. I was trying not to be anxious-especially as the preacher had proclaimed that worrying is a sin. Yet, as is often the case, God met me in my weakness, & gave me grace for that moment.

I looked up above through the velux window. The clear night sky was scattered with stars- the Milky Way twinkled right above our house!

I stargazed for a moment, & recalled a quote:
‘Don’t wish up on a star- pray to the One who made them!’

I smiled, grateful for the reminder.
‘He counts the stars and calls them all by name.’
(Psalms 147:4 NLT)

He also knows our names, our story, our joys & our troubles.

We have glimpses of God when we need strength, when we calm our troubled souls enough to see.

Two years ago I attended the Kingdom Women Conference at Willowfield Parish. Sunlight cascaded through the stain glass window as we began to praise. Powerful words that were new to me retold the familiar story & I caught a powerful glimpse of the God of Easter:

‘I cast my mind to Calvary
Where Jesus bled and died for me.
I see His wounds,His hands, His feet.
My Saviour on that cursed tree

His body bound and drenched in tears
They laid Him down in Joseph’s tomb.
The entrance sealed by heavy stone
Messiah still and all alone

O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

And then on the third at break of dawn,
The Son of heaven rose again.
O trampled death where is your sting?
The angels roar for Christ the King

O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise His name forever more
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

He shall return in robes of white,
The blazing Son shall pierce the night.
And I will rise among the saints,
My gaze transfixed on Jesus’ face’

{O Praise The Name (Anástasis)-by Hillsong}

Anastasis is the Greek word for resurrection – the audacious truth that Jesus died, trampled death, rose to life & will return one day soon.

Our God is God of life & death, Creator of resurrection & rebirth, Giver of Truest life- turning even the darkest winter of the soul to spring eternal

When we catch a glimpse of God, when we gaze into the truth of His Word, we find hope when things seem hopeless. We can grasp God’s unending love, no matter what:

‘And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—
not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—
indeed, nothing in all creation
will ever be able to separate us from the love of God
that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
(Romans 8:38-39 NLT)

Blessings,

Ruthx

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