Tag: journey

Rear view mirrors

curlysue028

I rarely look in a rear view mirror in our VW van. I never drive it at home or on holiday (Those who know me best know that driving or should I say parking isn’t a strong point!)

But for some reason, somewhere between Nenzing & Kitzbuhl, between tobogganing & Swarovski crystal (while Rob was driving in record breaking temperatures) I looked in the rear view mirror. In it I saw an Alpine mountain range that we’d driven by without realising it. I took the photo (above) but it doesn’t truly capture the grandeur of the scenery!

The rear-view mirror showed views that I would have otherwise missed. It gave a different perspective on the journey.

Oftentimes, we don’t realise how far we have journeyed till we look back. It’s never a good idea to dwell in the past (especially if hurt, regret & other damaging emotions live there) but looking in life’s rear view mirror can be positive & beneficial.

‘The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us, & we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, & we only know them when they are gone’
(George Eliot- Scenes of a clerical life)

Moments whizz by. Summer days go too quickly. Holidays are fading into the background behind us.

After happy times, we can look back at memories created & remember where we’ve been! As the saying goes, ‘Don’t cry because it’s over- smile because it’s happened!’

Even in challenging times, reflection brings clarity.

As teenagers await their A level results I was reminded again of that stage in my own life when things didn’t go as {I’d} planned. I ended up in Dundee- the right place for me to be, where I met great friends & my husband!

We can trace God’s grace as we look back:
“I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.”
(Philip Yancey)

Anniversary celebrations this week cause me to look in life’s rear view mirror back over two decades years of marriage. It’s a while since we’ve listened to ‘I could never promise you‘ by Don Francisco. This vintage Christian song was sung by two of our bridesmaids Sharon & Joanne on our wedding day:
‘I could never promise you on just my strength alone,
That all my life I’d care for you, and love you as my own.
I’ve never known the future, I only see today,
Words that last a lifetime would be more than I could say.
But the love inside my heart today is more than mine alone.
It never changes, it never fails, never seeks it’s own.
And by the God who gives it, and who lives in me and you
I know the words I speak today are words I’m going to do’

When I look in the rear view mirror, of a great marriage, I am reminded that we wouldn’t have got through sickness & trials, & the unexpected twists & turns of life without God. Promises & human love aren’t strong enough,but:
‘A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.’
(Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV)

In my Bible reading today, I read how Samuel led the Israelites in victory over the Philistines. He then paused & looked back.
‘Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”’
(1 Samuel 7:12 NIV)

We may not place stones along the wayside. But we can record God’s provision in a journal! We can pause & trace His grace along this journey we call life. We can cultivate a grateful heart.

Even when we don’t like the view in reverse any better than when we were living through it, we can pour out our feelings to God. Even if the rear view mirror smashes in frustration or anger,we can give all the pieces to God.

‘He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.’
(Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

Whether we are traveling through green pastures, by still waters or through dark valleys, if we gaze in life’s rear view mirror long enough, we will see the goodness & love of our Shepherd-God following us.

‘Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’
(Psalm 23:6 NIV)

‘I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side’
(Chris Tomlin)

Blessings,

Ruthx

Edited from original post at http://www.blessedme.co.uk

Decluttering our mind

curlysue028

Every week I see posts and advertisements about decluttering our homes

Marie Kondo’s book ‘Spark joy’ guides us to get rid of items that don’t.

Josh Becker ‘The more of less: finding the life you want under everything you own’ inspires us to clear the clutter.

It’s a good idea to get rid of unwanted items & sort the mess in our homes. But what about our minds?

My introverted mind is never quiet. There’s constant mental chatter. My mind rarely feels tidy or sorted.

Thoughts collide & merge like black scribbles in my brain.

There’s just so much to take in ..that I don’t actually have to!

‘Information overload keeps us mired in noise…. This saps us of not only willpower (of which we have a limited store) but creativity as well.’
(Daniel Levitrin)

‘We don’t have the capacity to handle all the input that’s catapulted at us day in and day out.’ (Marian Vischer)

Before long, distracted thinking leads to distorted thinking. Emotions like anxiety anger, resentment, regret compound the issue.

There’s so much mental clutter. I may resolve to sort things but it’s like I’m still carrying things around in mind. Like how black bags of charity shop donations stockpile in the corner- or in the boot of my car.

Worry & overthinking just adds more overflowing bin bags to the pile.

Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism says: ‘We need space to escape in order to discern the essential few from the trivial many. Unfortunately, in our time-starved era we don’t get that space by default—only by design.’

We don’t have the mental bandwidth to deal with everything. We have a choice & we need to curate our thoughts. We need room in our minds to think clearly.

‘The mind feasts on what it focuses on. What consumes my thinking will be the making or breaking of my identity’
(Lysa Terkheurst)

We need to focus on our thoughts.

‘We should start choosing our thoughts like we choose our clothes for the day.’
(Farnoosh Brock)

We always have a choice & we must choose wisely:
‘The soul becomes dyed by the colour of its thoughts’
(Marcus Aurelius)

‘Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.’
‭‭(Proverbs‬ ‭4:23‬ ‭NCV‬‬)

That’s too true.

Peter Pan urged ‘Think happy thoughts!’

If only it was as simple as that. Banish the bad thoughts & usher in bright ones!

We need to move from the mind candy of distractions & screen scrolling to nourishing brain food.

‘Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.’
(‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NLT)

We need to renew our minds:
‘Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.’
(‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬)

While it is God who can change our way of thinking, we can play our part:
‘You can be the air traffic controller of your mental airport. You occupy the control tower and can direct the mental traffic of your world!’
(Max Lucado- Anxious for Nothing!)

We can create mind space by shifting worrying thoughts- turning our cares into prayers:
‘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)

I love that image of Christ displacing worry in our life. He can settle our minds & calm our thoughts when we trust Him.

How can we declutter our minds?

*Create mind space- allow your thoughts to marinate- when it’s just you & your thoughts- no music/podcasts/radio/TV. Maybe go for a walk unplugged!

*Have a thought download -clear your mind by listing what thoughts are consuming it now. Write it down.

*Reduce input -unsubscribe & limit scrolling

*Anchor your distracted mind by reading truth- like the verses mentioned above.

Blessings,

Ruthx

Healthy body, healthy soul

curlysue028

When I’m running, I always wear ASICS trainers! ASICS are recommended by podiatrists & favoured by runners everywhere! (Apparently there’s been at least one pair of ASICS on the winner’s podium of every Olympic marathon!)

The brand ASICS is an acronym for the Latin phrase ‘anima sana in corpore sano’

It means a ‘healthy soul in a healthy body’

That sounds like idyllic perfection! But it’s not a new concept. In the New Testament John wrote:

‘I pray that you may prosper in every way and that your body may keep well, even as I know your soul keeps well and prospers’ (3 John 3 -AMP)

We are familiar with the concept of a healthy body. And, it is important to look after our bodies. Paul reminded Christians in Corinth ‘Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives among you?’ (1 Corinthians 3:16 NIVUK)

Just as we look after our bodies, we need to tend to our souls.

We expend a lot of effort & energy on our bodies-diet & exercise & of course clothes, hair & make-up . However, in our instant, modern world, a healthy soul is a somewhat more abstract, alien concept!

CS Lewis said, ‘You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body’

Our bodies are our outer wrapping. Our souls are the very essence of our being.

But truthfully, most of us spend very little time thinking about our souls. But we’ve missed the point if we focus only on our bodies, that last only for our brief lifetime of ‘3 score year&10’

Jesus said,
‘What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?’
(Mark 8:36 &37 NIV)

We cannot ignore & overlook our eternal souls. For nothing is worth more than our soul. Our soul is the part of us that goes on forever & ever. Our soul is immortal. It has everlasting, eternal value.

The Bible says ‘He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart’ (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

He has planted the seed of eternity in us. Our life & our time here on earth is like a water droplet compared to the vast ocean of eternity. After death, our soul lives on forever, either with God, in heaven, or without Him, in torment. That’s not a popular or PC statement, but it’s what God says in the Bible.

‘Life is the soul’s nursery, its training place for the destinies of eternity’ (William Makepeace Thackeray)

Each of us are created for eternity. CS Lewis wrote ‘If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world’

We are made in God’s image. Each of us have a God shaped hole at our core, in our souls- a space that only He can fill. Deep within us all there is a longing, a restless yearning, that nothing or no-one but the Eternal God can satisfy.

St Augustine said,‘ Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee’

In the beginning we were created perfect in body, mind & soul. The world was an idyllic perfect paradise. But our human souls were darkened, forever tainted & stained by sin, back in the Garden of Eden, as a result of disobedience. Only God redeem & restore our soul.

God said,
“Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.”
(Isaiah 45:22)

The Bible says ‘Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’ (John 17:3 NIV) For, God wants us to ‘seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.’ (Acts 17:27 NIV)

Maybe in the past, you did turn to God in faith. Maybe over time, life has got cluttered, your soul has been distracted. God desires to have a close relationship with you again:

God says ‘I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:22) So, ‘Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.’ (Lamentations 3:40)

But once we have turned, or returned to God,how do we nourish our souls?

‘Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them’ (Mahalia Jackson)

In Jeremiah 17:7-8 the Bible says:
‘But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’

What a lovely picture of vitality! If we nourish our souls, our whole lives will flourish from the core of who we are, from who we were created to be!

Jesus said in John 15, “Remain in Me” or “Abide in me” –like the vine & its branches. Staying close to God is the key to a healthy soul.

Close to Him, our soul flourishes & we are vibrant & fruitful.

Apart from Him, we can do nothing- like a dry twig lying on the ground, separated from the main plant.

Jesus also said, “Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matt 11:28-30 MSG)

Those soothing verses are like a spa for the soul!

We can make our own individual choices for a healthy body, but a healthy soul comes from turning to God, abiding in Him & finding true rest there. God alone can restore & redeem our souls-after all it was He who created us & planted eternity within.

‘The soul, like the body, lives by what it feeds on’ (Josiah Gilbert Holland) So, we need to make time, & spend time feeding our souls. For, ‘Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul’ (Dorothy Day)

Psalm 1 echoes the sentiments of the verses in Jeremiah. It mentions those ‘whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night’ (v2) ‘That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.’(v3)

We need to ‘delight’ in God’s Word- to soak in His truth & replenish our spiritual energy by faith & prayer. If we nourish our souls by being in a relationship with God, our whole lives will flourish. We will be the person we were created to be.

So,‘I pray that you may prosper in every way and that your body may keep well, even as I know your soul keeps well and prospers’ (3 John 3 -AMP)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Fashionably Busy

curlysue028

Have you noticed “busy” is the new “fine”?

People ask “How are you?” We answer “Busy” or “Busy as always!”

And it’s true- we’re busier than ever before. Even before the school routine is up & running after summer, I feel like I’m scrambling to keep on top of work responsibilities. Time spent working is mushrooming out of my control. Like many, I’m drowning in a sea of paperwork! We often are so busy we feel dizzy & weighed down by pressure!

‘Beware the barrenness of a busy life’ urges Socrates

‘Busy is not the same as productive’ states minimalist Joshua Becker

We’ve got to face facts-there’s never going to be more hours in the day.Twenty four hours are available, & that’s it.

The challenge is to re-orientate our days & maximise our time.

We crave the utopia of life-work balance. To achieve it, we must look to the One who keeps planets in orbit -our Creator God who made the world then rested.

How can we maximise our time?

Seek God first

‘Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.’
(1 Chronicles 16:11 NIV)

In quiet moments with God, consider:
*What has God given you to do?
*What is your assignment from Him?
*Are you where God wants you to be?

If you honestly answer these questions, I suspect you’ll either feel a calm assurance or an unsettling realization that something has to change.

At the Worldwide Convention, I heard Jamie Taylor (great-great grandson of Hudson Taylor) ask:
‘How is God using your profession as a profession of faith?’

‘Your career is what you’re paid for.
Your calling is what you’re made for’
(Holly Gerth)

Once you discover your God-given assignment, don’t hide from it (like Saul who hid in the baggage when Samuel was choosing the first king- see I Sam 10)

Samuel later urged Saul:
“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.”
(1 Samuel 12:24 NIV)

Whatever you do pray

Samuel’s challenging last words to Saul were:
“As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you”
(1 Samuel 12:23 NIV)

We can pray about our day ahead, our family, friends & co-workers. We can talk to God about our pressures & frustrations.

Make good choices

In her devotional book Savor, Shauna Niequist encouraged me to make a list of things I do & things I don’t do. This helped bring clarity to what I should agree to, & things I should decline.

‘Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t matter’ (Francis Chan)

Make time for healthy habits

If we are to stay well enough to accomplish what we’re meant to, we need to eat well & get adequate rest. We need to carve out time for exercise. For me- preferably in the great outdoors. There’s nothing like connecting with creation to clear the mind!

Cut out distractions

“It is impossible to do everything people want you to do. You have just enough time to do God’s will. If you can’t get it all done, it means you’re trying to do more than God intended for you to do (or, possibly, that you’re watching too much television.”
(Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life)

We all need to relax & unwind at times. But, we all waste time. Maybe you binge-watch TV? Perhaps, like me, you’re busy surfing (the net) On 24th August 2017,there were 1 billion Facebook users in a single day!

“One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time.”
Hard hitting words from John Piper

Like David, we can pray:
“Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”
(Psalm 119:37 NIV)

Just do it!

So, as we start another week, in our unique God-given assignments :
‘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. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.’ (Colossians 2:6, 7 MSG)

And remember, you don’t have to complete your assignment alone, God is with you & will give you the strength you need:
‘We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.’
(Colossians 1:12 MSG)

Blessings,

Ruth x

The adventure begins

curlysue028

Adventure– definition: ‘an unusual and exciting or daring experience.’
Synonyms: exploit,escapade,experience,
‘but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.’
‭‭(Daniel‬ ‭11:32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

I was walking across Conway Square en route to Caffè Nero for a caffeine boost.

I glanced to my right. A t-shirt in the shop window said ‘It isn’t an adventure till something goes wrong!’

I smiled. It’s true! I smiled more as thoughts of real life examples proved its truth.

Like the time Before Children when our hired car suddenly started smoking like a dragon – in the picturesque village of Macugnaga near Monte Rosa in the Italian Alps. Right in front of their annual parade. ‘Rapido! Rapido!’ the Italian police man roared- his main concern was clearing the obstruction rather than our safety the smoking car! The parade was interrupted for a few minutes- our holiday was interrupted for a few days!

A hitch hike down the valley, a train journey to Orta followed by a 2 mile walk to the villa ended the day. Then a few days of negotiations with the hire car company!

Or the time we were travelling to Eilean Donan castle. We stopped at a picture-perfect Inn complete with a majestic stag & snow-capped mountain outside. We ordered breakfast & without any shaking or warning Ethan’s ketchup exploded over his face & the walls & curtains of the dining area.

Or last year when the aircon in our campervan broke right at the start of our summer road trip. Instead of driving south toward Italy we turned left & kept going to Copenhagen! Sometimes you have to embrace the detour!

Yeah- it’s not an adventure till something goes wrong!

When I was a student in Dundee, I used a devotional book called ‘Adventure with God’ I liked that idea- doing life as an adventure with God. Back then life was ordered & contained. Studying & time with friends. Minimal responsibility ( though I don’t think I appreciated the lightness of this) Days were bright & carefree

Steven Curtis Chapman wrote this song –The Great Adventure:
‘Saddle up your horses
We’ve got a trail to blaze
Through the wild blue yonder of God’s Amazing grace
Let’s follow our leader into the Glorious unknown
This is the life like no other
This is the great adventure’

I’ve heard him sing it in concert- it’s got a feel-good country n western vibe. I was reminded again of the song as I’m reading his biography Between heaven & the real world.And it’s a great image- trail-blazing through life in God’s amazing grace.

‘In the surety of God’s love we can let up on the reins of our everyday, and enjoy the panoramic view of his covenantal faithfulness, stretching as far as the eye can see’ (Amanda Bible Williams-She Reads Truth)

As we travel along this journey called life, God will guide us through lush green pastures & verdant valleys with pleasant vistas to the mountain tops where we gasp at the grandeur of His Grace.

But it isn’t an adventure until something goes wrong!

‘All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong’
(Scott Krippayne)

During halcyon days disaster can strike.
An unexpected phonecall.
A sudden illness.
An unwanted label.
The end of a relationship.
Bad things happening to good people.
Life interrupted.

Storms can hit our life in different ways at different times- altering its course but ‘Smooth seas don’t make for skilful sailors’ (African Proverb)

In this adventure called life, God never promised to take away the storm but to be with us in it:
‘Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will’
(Scott Krippayne)

‘Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty.’
‭‭(Psalm‬ ‭93:4‬ ‭NIV)

‘Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child’
(Scott Krippayne)

In the dark days, in days of difficulty & lament, in this life we live as an adventure with God, we can declare:
‘This is not where we planned to be
When we started this journey
But this is where we are
And our God is in control’

Steven Curtis Chapman wrote these poignant words after his daughter Maria died in a tragic accident at their home:
‘This is not how it should be
This is not how it could be
This is how it is
And our God is in control’

No matter what, God is Sovereign. He is in control of our adventure with Him. He is with us in the trials & these may even bring us closer to Him.

Charles Spurgeon wrote “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.”

Painfully challenging words.

Dave Furman has written a book entitled ‘Kiss the wave: Embracing God in your suffering’ He is a pastor in Dubai who has suffered debilitating nerve pain for years. His wife Gloria wrote this blog. Watch this short video about Dave’s story.

In our adventure with God, He is present with us in the dark chapters.
‘Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.’
(‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:4 NLT)

‘Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.’
(John Newton)

‘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)

In this great adventure called life we are never alone. It might not feel OK (it might never feel ok) but He is there.

‘God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’
‭‭(Hebrews‬ ‭13:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

No matter what chapter we’re in – still waters, green pastures or the valley of dark shadows He is with us.

As we trek through this adventure called life, God says:
“Don’t be afraid,
I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called your name.
You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end— Because I am GOD,
your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.”
(Isaiah 43:2-3MSG)

‘Maybe it’s here in the waiting
that you learn to get lost:
lost in the adventure of learning to know Him more
because you know that whatever happens,
He has wonderful things in store.
And even when it’s hard
It’s worth waiting for’
(Morgan Harper Nichols)

‘Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations’ (unknown)

Blessings,

Ruthx

Believe

curlysue028

Believe
verb– accept that (something) is true, to have confidence in the truth

‘Be who you are, and not who you think you cannot be.’
(Claire Díaz-Ortiz, The Better Life: Small Things You Can Do Right Where You Are)

Maybe you are different to me & made of stronger stuff. But my mind gets clouded quickly.I can forget easily.

I mean, I can accept this as fact on a mellow Sunday afternoon:

I am a child of God. Abba’s child.

But the truth can evaporate quickly when the reality of a Monday morning kicks in before my coffee does. Or when I’m triggered & my short fuse blows. Big time.When I’m the worst version of myself. When I fail even by my standards. When can’t even love me- let alone anyone else.

Yet, even when I think I’m doing well, my efforts will never be good enough- ‘for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬) ‘We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags’
‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭64:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

The only thing we bring to the equation of salvation is our sin.

But God… {perhaps the biggest BUT in time & eternity}:
‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’
(‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NIV)

‘It’s not about our character- it’s about His’ (Michele Cushatt)

We need to preach this Gospel to ourselves- often.

‘God loves you unconditionally, as you are and not as you should be, because nobody is as they should be.’ (Brennan Manning)

‘God’s love is not based on you but placed on you’
(Lysa Terkheurst)

Thankfully our relationship with God is based on His eternal love, amazing mercy & audacious grace.

Not our feelings & failings.
Not our best efforts.
But God stepping in with love,mercy & grace.

I am His & He is mine

Fully known yet forever loved

I am a child of God.

Abba Father, I do believe. Help my unbelief.

For, ‘faith is the art of holding on to things in spite of your changing moods and circumstances.’
(CS Lewis )

Abba Father, we trust in You. It’s all about You:
‘Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.’
‭‭(Romans‬ ‭3:23&24‬ ‭MSG)

‘Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power].’
(ROMANS‬ ‭5:2‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

We are truly loved by God‬‬. If we began to grasp & believed the enormity of this truth, it could make all the difference in the world.

‘Sooner or later we must distinguish between what we are not and what we are. We must accept the fact that we are not what we would like to be. We must cast off our false, exterior self like the cheap and showy garment that it is .We must find our real self, in all its elemental poverty, but also in its great and very simple dignity: created to be the child of God, and capable of loving with something of God’s own sincerity and his unselfishness.’
(Thomas Merton)

‘You have stories worth telling, memories worth remembering, dreams worth working toward, a body worth feeding, a soul worth tending, and beyond that, the God of the universe dwells within you, the true culmination of super and natural. You are more than dust and bones. You are spirit and power and image of God.’
(Shauna Niequist)

‘You are who God says you are’
(UCB)

‘In your greatest moments,
you are never more than a sinner embraced by the love & mercy of God, forgiven at the expense of the death of His Son.
And in your most broken times,
you are never less than a daughter of the king,
a chosen child of the Father,
& an inheritor of every blessing in Christ’
(Valerie Murphy)

And in the good times and the bad, our Abba Father draws near:
‘He comes to me where I live and loves me as I am.’
(Brennan Manning)

Jesus said, “Make yourselves at home in My love”
(John 15:9 MSG)

Abide
Dwell
Remain in His love

Feel at home in this love.

Home is where the heart is

Believe in your heart, not just your head.

Believe you are who God says you are.

‘You were only meant, created, commanded to be who you are’
(Shauna Niequist)

‘I’m not looking for a better version of myself, but a truer version of who I have always been: loved, cherished, beautiful, strong.'(Alia Joy)

I am a child of God. Abba’s child.

Believe:

‘It is enough & everything to belong to God & know it’
(Dale Hanson Bourke)

Blessings,

Ruth x

Abba’s child

curlysue028

‘One of the tragedies of our life is that we keep forgetting who we are’
(Henri J M Nouwen-Here&Now)

‘Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is an illusion’
(Brennan Manning)

Many of us struggle with identity- who we are & where we fit in this planet. We can become distracted & develop spiritual amnesia, forgetting who & Whose we really are

If we have turned to God & trusted in Him for forgiveness, we are now a child of God:
‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.’
(‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

‘See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are!’
(‭‭1 JOHN‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

Back in Easter 1988 I trusted in God as my Saviour- I was adopted into the family of God, along with countless others who have called to God in Jesus’ Name through the years:

‘But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.’
‭‭(Galatians‬ ‭4:4-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

We can call God our Father in heaven. Or “Abba!” (Daddy) We are adopted.

“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
(‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

“I have called you by name- you are mine!”Isaiah 43:1)

Adoption was once a somewhat abstract concept to me. But this Easter changed that- as I met for the first time three children adopted into the Canez branch of the Coulter family tree!

One photo taken to celebrate their adoption contained a chalkboard with four words written on it:

*Wanted
*Chosen
*Loved
*Adopted

The Bible uses these words to describe our relationship with God:

‘just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will– to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].’
(‭‭EPHESIANS‬ ‭1:4-6‬ ‭AMP‬‬)

We need to read & re-read these deep truths & embed them into our hearts & minds.

‘So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.’
(‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:15-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

We are no longer a slave to fear- we are children of God. Speak this truth to yourself again & again.

The only Perfect Parent is God our Heavenly Father. He can be trusted. He is a Good Good Father. He is love & He loves us.

‘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.’
‭‭(Zephaniah‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Yet, we can forget Whose we are. Over years, our close relationship with God can drift.We can turn away from Him & chose to go our own way.

Many of us are prodigals. Of course, we’re still our Father’s children – nothing can change that. But we’re certainly not close to our Father- we’re living in a distant land, far from the Father’s house. We’ve squandered His riches, freely given to us. We’re missing out on the privileges of His children – we’re searching for scraps in the pigsty when we could be feasting at His table.

Maybe today, we need to come home, to return to our Father’s house, to feel the warmth of His embrace and the unspeakable joy of a restored relationship. There’ll be no anger, or awkward questions, just His tender voice saying, “Welcome home” and His deep unconditional love- the love that He’s been aching to show us while we were apart. And we’ll wonder why we were away so long – away from our Father’s house, but we’ll realise that we were never, never away from our Father’s love.

‘You may go through seasons
Of sun & wind & rain.
You may tread the desert
And in out of pain.
You may run through years
Wondering if you’re good enough,
But you will never run too far
That you’re outside of His love.’
(Morgan Harper-Nichols)

We may be unlovely at times but we are never unloved!

‘If we were all to live as how we are loved – everything would change’
(Sarah Bessey)

‘How glorious the splendour of a human heart that trusts that it is loved’
(Brennan Manning)

Blessings,

Ruthx

PS ‘Abba’s child’ is the title of a book:

*Abba’s Child:the cry of the heart for intimate belonging- Brennan Manning 1994

Photo by Liane Metzler on Unsplash

Easter 1988

curlysue028

Easter 1988. It’s over 30 years ago now, yet happy memories are etched forever.

Fun & fellowship at the Immanuel Church Easter Youth Weekend.

There was friendly banter & deep chats. There were campfires on the beach under star studded skies.

And on the Sunday night our speaker- Gerald Titmus spoke. I don’t remember what he said but as he spoke, the Spirit moved in at least eight lives.

One thing I recall was Gerald saying that in God’s eyes there were just two categories of humans- those who are trusting in Jesus to forgive their sins & those who are not. Race, colour, gender, religion & good works are irrelevant in the big picture. Just going to church wasn’t enough. We were all sinners in deep need of a Saviour.

Instantly I realised which category I was in & I wanted to change it. I prayed a simple prayer- & asked God to forgive my sins & come into my life. And He did.

The next day our youth leader Ivis shared this promise with me:
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
(‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

It’s a beautiful picture- Jesus knocking & waiting for us to respond to His offer of forgiveness. Yet, He also said:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last”
(‭‭John‬ ‭15:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

‘None of us is the leading character in the story of our lives. God is the larger context and plot in which all our stories find themselves.’
(Eugene Petersen)

God is at work in our broken sin-stained lives. He is our Creator & Recreator when we turn to Him in faith:

‘GOD made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him’
(‭‭Psalm‬ ‭18:20 ‭MSG‬‬)

‘God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.’
(Psalm 18:24 MSG)

For me, responding to Jesus’ invitation that night was like a light switch. For others the realisation of truth is more gradual- like the sunrise. The dawning of the truth of knowing. God rather than merely knowing about Him. This makes all the difference in the world -for time & eternity

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
‭‭(John‬ ‭17:3‬ ‭ESV)

Before we left Ballycastle to go back to ‘normal’ life in Belfast, Ivis shared another verse. Another promise from God:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
(‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

God is our Help & Strength through life-no matter what.
Before He died,Jesus promised a Helper within:

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,”
‭‭(John‬ ‭14:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

As believers, we have the Spirit of God within. So,
‘What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.’
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

At the campfire we praised the Creator of the ocean crashing on to beach beside us- the same One who had scattered those stars above us. We worshipped our Heavenly Father who sent His Son to die in our place & gave His Spirit to endue us with everything we need in this journey called life.

We sang:
‘Jesus my Saviour is alive
And I can feel His power
He guides each step & holds my hand
And I know He understands’

And those words are as true now as they were then:
‘For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.’
(‭‭Psalm‬ ‭48:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Blessings,

Ruth x

The path less travelled

curlysue028

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

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