Room in a Humble Sphere

 From In Green Pastures...

Artwork: Anna Ancher (1859 - 1935)

When you are tempted to chafe and repine at the narrowness of your circumstances and the limitations of your sphere, remember that Jesus, with all his rich life and all his great powers, for thirty years found room in a humble peasant home for worthy living and for service not unfitted to his exalted character.  If you can do nothing but live a true Christian life - patient, gentle, kindly, pure - in your home, in society, at your daily duty, you will perform in the end a service of great value and leave many blessings in the world.  Such a life is a little gospel, telling in sermons without words the wonderous story of the cross of Christ.

Let's talk about Headcovering.

This is Tanaya.  She is beautiful Christian lady. If you have an hour (or you can break the video up into shorter time slots), make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, sit down and enjoy.  Her thoughts very much line up with mine :)

Mother's Day

 We had our family Mother's Day lunch yesterday...

Sophie's mum came too

 

Marnie and me

Then Marnie, Tom and I went for a walk on Pig Island...

What Is a Mother?

It takes a mother's love to make a house a home - 

A place to be remembered no matter where we roam.

It takes a mother's patience to bring a child up right 

and her courage and her cheerfulness

to make a dark day bright.

It takes a mother's thoughtfulness 

to mend the heart's deep hurts

and her skills and her endurance

to mend little socks and shirts.

It takes a mother's kindness to forgive us when we err,

To sympathize in trouble,

and to bow her head in prayer.

It takes a mother's wisdom to recognize our needs

and to give us reassurance by

her loving words and deeds.

- Helen Steiner Rice

Simplify

 From A Celebration of the Simple Life by Wanda E Brunstetter...

"Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path." - Psalm 27:11

I love spending time with our Amish friends' children and grandchildren.  I find it refreshing to watch them at play.  I also enjoy watching Amish parents and grandparents visiting and working with one another.  Their simple dress and simple way of doing things awakens a desire within me to simplify my life.

I've noticed with a sense of sadness that many of us "Englishers" are so immersed in TV, computers, cell phones, and other electronic gadgets that we barely know how to communicate with each other anymore.  Even when we do visit, the drone of the TV or radio is often on in the background.  Is it any wonder that so many people feel uptight and stressed out?

We can always find ways to simplify our lives if we just eliminate some of the unnecessary things.  Consider some of the things that make up your day and ask yourself, "Is this really necessary?"  The Amish way of life reminds us that there is satisfaction and joy in simplicity.  God never intended our lives to be so complicated.  This week, carefully examine how you spend your time.  What are some ways you can simplify?

Heavenly Father, when I get caught up in "things", help me to redirect my focus.  Lead me in a plain, simple path that focuses on You and not on things.  Amen.

All images from The Plain Reader (Essays on Making a Simple Life) edited by Scott Savage

Autumn

First of May here today... 

And last official autumn month...

A rare foggy morning

Another outing with Marnie and Tom...

To the Cataract Gorge in Launceston...

Then on to the museum...

Tom was keen to see the dinosaur exhibition...

Remember this blanket I was working on...

It's finished...

Not sure if they'll give it back though.  They seem to be quite comfortable :)

And after reading an article that mentioned this book, I pulled it off my bookshelves and started reading it again.  Another one I read many years ago.  I have 2 copies both picked up second hand... 

I like the cover of this one better, but the print is larger in the other one...

And it has illustrations...

In reading through some of the Psalms it struck me how often the words "I will..." are mentioned.  As in "I will tell of all Your marvelous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High." - Psalm 9:1-2

So for a little exercise, and to challenge myself, I'm going through the Psalms and writing down some of the 'I will's' I find.

Does my life live up to these 'I will's'?

Does yours?

Do I "(I will) sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me." (Psalm 13:6)?

Sometimes I do.  But not nearly often enough :)

Be blessed!

See you next time...

xx