Tag: life

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

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.

One page at a time!

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This is a year where I plan to do less scrolling & more reading!

Yet I’m so guilty of tsundoku – the act of buying a book & leaving it unread- often stacked with other unread books!

Although I read a lot of posts and articles on the web, I was very disappointed with myself having only completed 10 books last year( especially since there’s plenty more still on the bookstack!)

Many find time to read so much more:

Claire Diaz-Ortiz can read 100+ books a year as well as looking after 3 tiny kids!

Of the books I read in 2017:

*My favourite non-fiction was Simply Tuesday by Emily P Freeman followed by Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

*My favourite fiction was All the light we do not see– a beautifully written story of a blind girl &Nazi boy in war-torn Europe.

The most difficult (though inspirational) read was The Hardest Peace by Kara Tippetts ( A young mum of four diagnosed with breast cancer- now at Home)

Out of sorts – making peace with an evolving faith by Sarah Bessey struck a chord with me.(And she’s speaking at the From where I stand conference in Bangor NI next month!)

I abandoned my Little book of Hygge after I almost cried in the downpours in Copenhagen last summer! I switched to Lagom -the Swedish art of balanced living. Just the right amount of everything!

The most enlightening book was The Road back to you – a painfully accurate path to self-discovery using the ancient wisdom of the enneagram. I’m a type 1 on a good day rapidly morphing into a badly behaving type 4 on a bad day- desperately hoping to become a better version of myself in 2018!

For inspiration of what (& what not) to read this year:

10 Fantastic books – Emily P Freeman

Best books of 2017 – Michelle Cushatt

The rights of a reader– illustrated by Quinten Blake

Reading better than before – Gretchen Rubin –

10 rules to read more books this year– Joel J Miller

How (not) to read next year-Jon Bloom

‘I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading. How much sooner one tires of anything other than a book!’
(Jane Austen)

‘You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.’ (CS Lewis)

So lets read through 2018 one page at a time!

Blessings

Ruth x

PS What’s on your book stack?

Be You!

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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

Not our home!

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“Farang!”

I jerked out of my jet-lagged stupor

“Farang!” the Thai lady repeated as she pointed to the passport queue in Bangkok airport.

Farang is the Thai word for foreigner. I’d heard it twenty years ago in a village off the beaten track near Manorom in Central Thailand. Back then cute Thai children smiled & pointed at my pale skin,freckles & curly hair & called out ‘Farang!’

In South-east Asia I was a long was from home & was definitely a foreigner!

Post-Brexit we are considering our nationality & citizenships -Northern Irish, British , European & the implications of each label.

Just after the apparent upheaval, of the Referendum, I read :
‘But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ’
(Philippians 3:20-NIV)

We as Christians need to shift our axis, for ultimately, our citizenship is in heaven.

So, let’s ‘Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.’
(Colossians 3:2 NIV)

As I followed my reading plan, I read these prophetic words:
‘They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings- and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.’
(Revelation 17:14 NIV)

Our God is still on the throne. He has always been in control. He is Lord of lords, & King of kings. He’s got the whole world in His hand- that includes you & me, our wee country , our malunited kingdom, splintered continent & the entire broken planet.

I was reminded of the Bible study of the book of 1st Peter last year. A central theme in this book is that God’s children are sojourners or temporary residents here. Aliens in a foreign land!

As Billy Graham said:
“My home is in heaven. I’m just passing through this world.”

In the Hall of Faith we read that Abraham lived as a stranger in a foreign country, ‘For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.’ (Hebrews 11:10 NIV)

Wherever we live here, whatever our country or city, we are eternal beings with body & soul:

‘I have found a desire within myself that no experience in this world can satisfy; the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.’
(CS Lewis)

Home is often more than bricks & mortar. It’s the place where we belong.

‘Home is a physical space; it’s also a state of mind’
(Gretchen Rubin)

I believe that home is not a place or space but a Person.

At an OMF Conference in 2013 the speaker concluded:
‘Our lives are a journey & God is our home’

He echoed these ancient words of truth:
‘Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.’
(Psalm 90:1-2 )

The Eternal God is our heart’s true home, our dwelling place, our refuge

The cross is our only way home. The only way to ‘the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time’
(Titus 1:2 NIV)

‘Though I am broken
Grace is my welcome home to You’
(Rend Collective)

‘Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
(John 14:23 NIV)

‘Home is where Jesus is’ was the slogan written on the roof of a makeshift home in a refugee camp photographed by Open Doors

In Him we have ‘Never-ending joy, never-failing love.’
(Rend collective)

In this journey we call life,

‘Our father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns
but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.’
(CS Lewis)

For,
‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’
(1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT)

‘We were made to run through fields of forever
Singing songs to our Savior and King
So let us remember this life we’re living
Is just the beginning of the beginning
Of this glorious unfolding

We will watch and see and we will be amazed
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over
And hold on to every promise God has made to us
We’ll see the glorious unfolding’
(Glorious unfolding-Stephen Curtis Chapman)

Life here is as restrictive as the bud before the blossom, as limited as the cocoon before the metamorphosis into a butterfly!

This world is not our home- we’re just passing through. There will be trouble & tears, illness, disappointments, upheaval, wars & rumours of wars.

But, ‘Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.’ (Thomas Moore)

For, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’
(Revelation 21:4 ESV)

This world that we’re passing through is ultimately passing away:

‘The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace’
(Chris Tomlin -Amazing Grace)

As we journey through life:
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.’
(John 14:1-3 NIV)

‘You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.’
(Psalms 16:11-ESV)

Don’t ever forget:

*‘Our citizenship is in heaven.’ (Philippians 3:20-NIV)

*‘Our lives are a journey & God is our home’

Blessings,

Ruthx

Get a life!

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-i.e. live the life you were designed to live!

Life.

Sometimes all IS calm, all IS bright.
Sometimes life is wonderfully beautiful.
Sometimes it doesn’t feel remotely wonderful or beautiful.
Sometimes I feel like life is like being a hamster on a wheel – moving frantically but getting nowhere fast.

We work harder & harder, & the wheels turn faster & faster.

This frantic existence is sustainable short term. Trying to do it all. Trying to do more . Trying to do it all better.But unexpected circumstances or pressure knocks us sideways.

Sometimes we can anticipate a trouble looming. Sometimes we feel like we’re tossed right into a storm. Sometimes an avalanche of responsibility crushes our optimism.

Our life can feel satisfactory- acceptable though not outstanding. We can feel disconnected & flat. Like we’re living in black & white rather than true colour. Like we’re surviving not thriving. Coping-just about

Donald Miller wrote ‘Stop reacting to life & start living with intention’

And if we live intentionally -it often means deliberately choosing to do less-rather than more

There’s a German phrase weneger aber besser . The English translation is less but better . Quality, not quantity.

Greg McKeown wrote a book entitled Essentialism:
‘Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done.’

‘Doing the right thing is far more energizing than simply doing anything and everything. We only have one life and this life is too important to waste by being busy.’ (Christine Caine)

So how can we redeem our one,solitary, precious life from the default setting of busyness?

*Recharge

When we’re feeling overworked & overwhelmed the best thing we can do is slow down & stop.

‘Just as our phones have a certain capacity, we each have a unique capacity level. Our capacity depends on our personality, our experiences, and our seasons of life. People and events are constantly draining us, and we must recharge and off-load our excess or risk shutting down altogether.'(Alli Worthington-Breaking Busy)

‘Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a while… Including you’ (Anne Lamott)

We need to unplug & unwind. To create space in our days in our minds & margin in our lives.

In our Maker’s instruction book He decreed that we should have a day of rest in every seven- not as a luxury but as a necessity for us to function. Quality downtime is not wasting time.

*Reflect

When you’re unplugged & unwound, consider these questions. Write down your answers for future reference.

(1)What has God entrusted to me?

What are the things only I can do?

I think this is a very useful question.I’m recognise that I have been entrusted with the task of nurturing my children. I also need to be the life-partner my husband needs me to be.

You may have been given a career or a role in church that you know is a God-given assignment. Not everyone has the gifts, talent, experience or qualification needed.

Though I may not have chosen to be work full-time in previous seasons, currently using my training & degree in the practice entrusted to me is something only I can do.

Writing to try to encourage others on this journey of life is also something I’m meant to do.

What are the things in your life that only you can do?

(2)What things should I stop doing?

Purposely edit your life-don’t drift along. We have the choice to say yes to the things we are assigned to do, & no to other non-essential things.

‘The decisions remake determines the schedule we live’
‘Today’s choices become tomorrow’s circumstances’
(Lysa Terheurst-The Best Yes)

I need to stop wasting time eg limit time on social media.
I may need to say no the good things in order to have time to do better things.
I need to stop expending energy on negative relationships.

What do you need to stop today?

(3)What brings joy & encourages me to live well?

Carve out time with those you love.
Do more of what makes you happy.

That’ll look different for each of us. For me that means being in the great outdoors with my family, running, reading & writing .

How can you thrive?

*Reconnect

Reconnect with your Designer

‘Sure-the world says you are what you do. But the Word says you are Whose you are. And what we do ultimately flows out of who & Whose we are.’(Ann Voskamp)

The life we were designed to live has God at the centre. He is our source of strength, our Grand Designer & Saviour of our soul.

The way to truly get a life is to surrender it to the One who created your life & sustains it.

Let Him take control:
“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”
(Matthew 10:39 NLT)

Jesus said, ” I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
(John 10:10 MSG)

‘It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.’
(Ephesians 1:11 MSG)

‘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 MSG)

Whatever else you do, carve out time to recharge,reflect & reconnect this week

Blessings,

Ruth x

Nourish your soul

curlysue028

At last year’s Worldwide Convention in Bangor, Sue Trenier spoke about her work as a missionary in Papua.For 25 yrs she had worked translating the Bible for the Hupla people.She showed a video of the great celebration on the day this tribal people received the completed translation of God’s Word.

There was dancing & feasting & drums. And tears of joy. Overwhelming joy & uncontrollable delight at having God’s Word in their own heart language.

My eyes brimmed.When was the last time I had expressed uncontainable joy about God’s Word?

There were also tears as Sue recounted going into a Christian Bookshop here & seeing the Bible in so many translations while it’s estimated that 1.5 billion people are still waiting for the Bible in their own language.

The Bible is a truly precious book:
‘The words of the Bible are the very words of God our Creator speaking to us. They are completely truthful; they are pure; they are powerful; and they are wise and righteous. We should read these words with reverence and awe, and with joy and delight.Through these words God gives us eternal life, and daily nourishes our spiritual lives.
(Preface to Daily Devotional New Testament)

I needed to read that again to let the truth sink in.

I have the very Word of God in several translations in my bedroom- yet how often I do not see this as the Treasure that it is! Being honest, I often choose to read Facebook newsfeeds or emails instead.

Yet,God has given us this amazing life-changing gift for our spiritual transformation & health.

In my New Year mindset I’m determined to get healthier & run more. My ASICS trainers are already pounding pavements & trails.

The brand ASICS is an acronym for the 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)

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.

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

How do we nourish our souls?

Psalm 1 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)

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!

We need to ‘delight’ in God’s Word- to soak in His truth & replenish our spiritual energy.

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- separate from the main plant.

We can make our own individual choices for a healthy body, but a healthy soul comes from abiding in Him & finding true rest there.

‘Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.’
‭‭(1 Peter‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

How often I’m content with ‘junk food’ (eg reading Christian books or blogposts)rather than ‘pure milk’ of God’s Word itself. I am distracted.

‘We can become so unfocused in life that we get lost in the unforgiving wheel of daily tasks & fail to listen to the voice of Christ. We fail to pray/fail to see him as intently listening & drawing near to us. God feels distant because we are distracted. Yet he seeks us’ (Reinke)

God wants to meet with us & shape us .

He wants us to truly be there {undistracted} when we read & enjoy spending time with the Author

Whatever plan or devotional we’re using this year, God wants us to slow down enough to hear Him speak into our lives,to allow Him to minister to our soul.

Spending time with God & His Word can have eternal impact on our daily lives.

‘By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything’s falling apart on me, GOD; put me together again with your Word.’
‭‭(Psalm‬ ‭119:105-106 MSG‬‬)

‘Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.’
‭‭(2 Timothy‬ ‭3:14-17‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

Blessings,

Ruth x

PS

I found these posts helpful {though I know there’s no substitute for just reading the Word!}

What God can do in our daily devotions

Deep Bible Reading Strategies for the tired & busy

Why I stopped reading the Bible alone

Why you need a ‘ Plan Be’ for your Bible reading this year