Tag: Christian faith

We make  thousands of seemingly small choices everyday. Many of our decisions seem inconsequential at the time. But, when we string these decisions together, they determine how we spend our days, & ultimately how we spend our life.

We have many considerations, responsibilities, challenges & distractions. 

Each day, we cram our lives & minds with many things (There’s a new word for that-stuffocation!)

But the Bible shows us that a crucial part of our life is to know God (& make Him known)

God created us & knows us. And He sent Jesus to bridge the gap caused by sin, so that we might know Him too. He made it possible for us to know Him with our heart & mind.

When He walked this earth, Jesus said:

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

‭‭(John‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

True,everlasting life means getting to know our Creator God.

Read these beautiful words written many centuries ago by the prophet Hosea:

“So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] Lord [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, And He will come to us [in salvation] like the [heavy] rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”

‭‭(Hosea‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

Hosea wrote of the unwavering commitment of God to His people, despite their unfaithfulness to Him.

We need to actively pursue & cultivate a relationship with God, trusting in Him. We ought to recognise & accept His greatness. And He will respond to us.

When we have a personal relationship with God, He will refresh our lives, just as the heavy spring rain soaks into the earth, nourishing it to bring forth life.

We are blessed to have God’s presence in our lives, while we wait & long for Him.

In our noisy world that incessantly clamours for our attention, we can choose moments of stillness before God. Then we can know God’s lovingkindness & His awesome power, His perfect peace & daily companionship.

Each day, we should create space for God- to walk with Him, grow into Him & fill our souls with His goodness & grace, His mercy & majesty.

Long ago, the Psalmist David urged us to do this:

‘Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength [His power, His might]; Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually.’

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭105‬:‭4‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

Our Father, Saviour, Maker, Shepherd, Redeemer, Almighty God is beckoning us into a closer relationship with Him. If we seek Him first, we will find Him- & the tranquility & purpose He brings.

Blessings,

Ruthx

‘You may not be everything
you thought you’d be by now
But you can be the one who loves,
serves & gives her all,
& waters & nurtures
every plant in the garden
that God has already given her’
(Morgan Harper Nichols)

I love those words- partly because I can easily identify with the sentiment that I’ve fallen short of my own ideals (never mind anyone else’s) But I also love the sense of place and space. There’s a boundary-a limit to what we have influence over. Although there’s a whole wide world, God has gifted each of us a garden to tend to.

That’s especially important to reflect on in days like today- on days with frightening headlines- assassinations, wars & earthquakes.

While it feels like this planet we call home is careering out of control, 

while the gravity of situations weigh heavy on our hearts,

& while we can pray for our whole wide world (which is all under God’s care)

God gives each us our garden to look after.

Our patch of Earth- that only we can tend to.

Our home- more than just the bricks & beams, but our family & friends that bring it to life- the children that grow before our eyes.

Our neighbourhood where we do life & meet others day by day.

Our church where we can thrive together

In our garden, the soil can be a dark seemingly lifeless place. But new life starts in dark places- even in this world where truth is despised & chaos seems to reign.

We are placed by God, for His purposes:

‘Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there.‘

‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭17‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

So let us hold on to the truth. And focus our eyes on our Creator God who gives us His fresh perspective on things. He causes the sun to shine & the gentle rain to fall to encourage us to flourish.

So we can say:

‘I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.’

(Psalm 131:1 NIV)

We can trust God & His Word:

‘So In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.’
(James 1:21 MSG)

As we look after our garden that has been gifted to us from our Gardner God, we can only do it with His help. When we draw near to God,His Spirit works in our hearts & helps us cultivate fruit in our lives. 

‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.’
(Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)

God will water our gardens & produce fruit that we cannot grow on our own. So let us remain close to our Creative Gardener God.

Sometimes we are overwhelmed & don’t know what to do in our garden:

‘Sometimes life is so hard you can only do the next thing. Whatever that is just do the next thing.  God will meet you there.”
(Elizabeth Elliot)

*What is our next thing to tend to in the garden we have been gifted?

‘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

‘Wherever you are be all there’

(Jim Elliot)

How can we be ‘all there’?

It’s relatively easy to think of examples when we aren’t all there:

*When we check & scroll down our smart phones when we’re out 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 think about week ahead as we sit 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 are consumed with worries about tomorrow & it hijacks today.

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

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

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 our everyday life.

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

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