From Oasis of Hope (a devotional) ...

"In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." 

- Isaiah 30:15

Several years ago I was surprised to discover that during the seven years Solomon built the house of God, no iron tool was used or heard at the building site.  The temple was built in reverence and quietness, without the usual construction sounds of saws and hammers.  It reminded the people that God is to be revered, and quietness is a part of reverence.

A quiet spirit is a spirit at rest.  Even when we need to speak out or when we are surrounded by noise, our inner spirit can reflect a certain quietness and peace.  When we feel distraught or wounded, we can find healing by becoming quiet and communing with Jesus.  If we have been slighted or misunderstood, our strength lies in quietness.  We can live in humility, knowing that we do not need to right all that is wrong.  Rather, we can simply give the threads to Jesus and let Him untangle the maze.  

Sometimes we have too much to say.  Like Job, we should at times lay a hand upon our mouths.  True strength is shown, not by forceful language, but by quiet understanding and thoughtfulness. 

Are You Blessed? (A poem) ...

ARE YOU BLESSED?

If you own just one Bible, you are abundantly blessed.  One third of all the world does not have access to one.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the one million who will not survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married, you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are more blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them, or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.

If you prayed yesterday and today, you are in the minority because you believe God does hear and answer prayers.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Spring has arrived!

 

The first day of Spring here!

and the rosemary is blooming!

Life continues to be busy.  Building work going on as Marnie has the double garage here fitted out for her to stay in.  Her health is still not good after 4 months and she has been staying here as she is not well enough to stay at her rental on her own. So she will let her rental go and stay here for now.

My cat Freya has a sore eye.  Three vet visits and she still doesn't know what the cause is.  Trying some different eye drops but not sure if they are helping yet.

The latest baby photos...

Hayley, Hazel and Ben, with baby Benny

Hazel feeding her baby brother :)

Reading the second (No Ordinary View) of these books by Australian Naomi Reed...

She and her family were medical missionaries (physiotherapists) with International Nepal Fellowship for 6 years between 1993 and 2006.  Seems strange to be reading books set in the areas of the recent flooding disaster in Nepal/Tibet. So much loss and devastation.  And sadness.

I came across this poem recently...

God is Good

"How can our God be good?" you say,

When shadows dark may cross your way.

How can He have our good in mind,

When trials come of every kind?

Oure God is good, the Scriptures say,

His mercies new come every day.

It's man who sinned, not God, you see,

A fallen world then came to be.

Our God is love; He gave His son,

To save and ransom everyone.

His grace, when claimed by fallen man,

Brings hope in Christ and peace again.

Yes, life will bring hard times, we know,

The fall of man has made it so.

But God is good and still will be,

On earth and in eternity.

by Amy Yoder

I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 34:1-3

It will be a quiet afternoon as I have a headache.  Maybe I can get some of my unfinished knit/crochet projects sewn together.

But first coffee ...

Have a good week!

And count your blessings :)

xx

It's been awhile ...

Sorry it's been so long since my last update post.  Life is still busy here, but I seem to be catching up slightly, so taking time this rainy Sunday afternoon to do a post.

I had a trip to Deloraine recently and was able to enjoy a walk by the Meander River.  It was a lovely sunny winter's day.  I had forgot how pretty it is there...

And a short visit from two of my 'American' grandson's.  Dylan was here for Denver and Sophie wedding, but I hadn't seen Zak for about 8 years!

Zak, Dylan, Marnie and me, on the sofa

Denver, Sophie, and Toby the cat, on the floor

I've been browsing some old Grass Roots magazines while eating my lunch and came across a yummy slice recipe.

So I made it...

Here here's the recipe.  I hope you can read it...

I used a bit under half a cup of brown sugar, added some chopped dried apricots to the mixed fruit, and a dash of mixed spice and nutmeg.

And remember I mentioned I might add a green border to these squares (left over variegated yarn from the fistula hospital blanket)...

and speaking of the fistula blanket, it is still being sewn together (not my favourite part)

The green colour is called 'leaf green' :) ...

They are all finished now (7 x 7 = 49 squares), and because I don't have anywhere I can leave them out to sew together, I pinned them onto a blanket and can roll them up and put away in between times...

although I just placed them randomly, I made sure I didn't have any two the same together :)

But I've put both projects aside to get this blanket finished...

for a lady from church who is going into hospital in a few weeks for a knee replacement operation

I'm between books at the moment.  I had been reading The Hawk and The Dove series, but the last one was a bit intense and because there was a lot going on here, I wanted something a bit 'light', so I've been reading this...

Here's a little snippet...

From Amish wide-brimmed straw hats to fine china, the shelves at Dorothy Mast's Community Country Store burst with everything an Amish family doesn't make at home.

Even though it's only a few weeks before Christmas, my companions, Kathryn and Sharon Kauffman, ages 14 and 6, are not thinking about Christmas shopping.  Nor are they thinking about the gifts they will receive.  In their Amish home, the birth of Christ is celebrated as a day for spiritual renewal, and presents are not emphasized.

"Usually, if we get a gift from our parents for our birthday, we won't get one for Christmas," says Kathryn ...

Today Kathryn and Sharon wear matching light blue dresses.  A black woven shawl protects Kathryn from the December wind; a black wool jacket shields Sharon.  Both wear black Amish bonnets, black stockings, and sturdy black shoes shining with polish.  Amish girls and women often dress this way when they go to town or to church ...

And yes!  My grandson was born a week ago!! 

unfortunately, he had an infection so had to stay in hospital for a few extra days, but he is fine now and home and happy :)

Hazel meeting her new baby brother for the first time...

He was born 3 days before her 8th birthday

baby Ben David 

And on that happy note I will go and cook some dinner...

Have a blessed week!

xx

From Amish Peace (a devotional) ...

 Unchanging

This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow." 

Isaiah 48:17

How different is your life today than it was five years ago?  Ten years ago?  Though my job as a writer is the same, I go about it differently because of technology.

Most of us embrace technology, but what do we lose with the constant change?  When our eyes are consistently focused on the "next thing," we can lose our contentment.  When we are constantly upgrading technology that still works perfectly well, we lose our dollars.  When we spend time connecting with others "out there," we lose our connection with those who are physically present.  When do we say, "Enough is enough" and mean it?

The Amish take the long view.  They ensure that family togetherness, community support, and faith are the cornerstones of their daily lives.  They aren't concerned about what the world says is important or necessary.  They look back - not forward - to establish their way. 

Peace comes when you are thoughtful about what you choose to change.  When you ask yourself, Do I really need an upgrade? and What will I be sacrificing if I get one?

We can be thankful that God is available to teach us and lead us.  He wants us to turn to Him instead of running to keep up with the fast-paced world.

Isaiah 30:21 says, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it'" (NIV).

There are some aspects of our lives that need to change, but two things should hold true: (1) that we seek the Lord and let Him direct our paths, and (2) that we don't get swept away with the changes of life but instead allow God to set the pace.

Winter sunshine ...

 After quite a lot of rain, we are having some clear days and winter sunshine (and very cold nights!)

We stopped off by the Mersey River on the way back from Devonport to join the sea gulls enjoying the blue skies and sunshine ...

The baby quilt is finished...

and not before time, as baby is due in a couple of weeks.

The squares for the fistula hospital blanket are also finished...

I've started sewing them together...

Decided to crochet up some granny squares with the left-over yarn...

while enjoying a cup of tea on the porch

And to tone the colours down a bit I'm edging them in beige yarn...

I think I might add another edging colour too, possibly a sage green, to make it big enough for a small lap blanket

Almost finished Book 4 in The Hawk and The Dove series...

really enjoying them!

Every so often I chop up a selection of whatever raw vegies I have, and store in the fridge for a few days.  For serving I add some protein (cooked red meat, chicken, tuna, hardboiled eggs, fetta cheese), a handful of pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and a drizzle of olive oil, cider vinegar and sea salt...

this time I chopped red and green cabbage, red capsicum/bell pepper, grated carrot, chopped broccoli.  I usually add chopped cauliflower too but didn't have any. You can add other seeds and nuts too, and dried fruits.  Whatever you like really. Very tasty and healthy :)

This afternoon I hope to work on my Bible word search for 'rejoice' and 'glad/gladness' that I mentioned in my previous post, and write the verses out...

I hope you are joyfully steadfast despite any trials you might be going through!

May the joy of the Lord be your strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

xx

Rejoice and be Glad... (two devotionals)

 From Oasis of Hope ...

Rejoice or Despair?

"Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say rejoice." - Philippians 4:4 NASB

Do you find it easier to rejoice when everything is going well or when things are falling apart?  It is much easier for most of us to be positive and praise God when we're content with our circumstances.

It's much harder to rejoice when a job has been lost.  It is also challenging when we or a loved one has been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.  Rejoicing in those times is much harder, isn't it?

Rejoicing in the Lord is not optional but is a command.  Even though Paul wrote this instruction, God told him what to write.  Paul didn't have an easy life.  He was imprisoned in a cold, damp cell on several occasions; yet, he chose to rejoice through it all.  We're not to rejoice just when we feel like it.  Through Paul, God said to rejoice in the Lord always.  We are to rejoice in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in.

How can we live this way with all the trials that beset us daily?  First, focus on God.  He is the One Who has allowed the trials into our lives for whatever reason.  His goal, once we have accepted Jesus Christ, is to conform us into His image.  Often, we learn deeper spiritual truths as we go through difficult times.  Second, choose to follow God's instructions.  We can choose to wallow in despair or choose to turn toward God, obey, and rejoice.

Notice Paul says "rejoice" twice for added emphasis.  When something is mentioned twice as this is, we should take special  note of it.  We are to rejoice always.  The good news is God will help us if we ask Him to.  As we choose to focus on God, our gratitude for Him grows.  Then it becomes easier to rejoice.

Which do you typically do, wallow or rejoice?  Has that choice helped or harmed you?  Try following Paul's instructions.  Ask God to help you to rejoice in everything.

- Julie Wilson Smith

From A Lamp Unto My Feet ...

Choose To Be Glad

The Bible is full of commands to be joyful.  the Lord commanded the people of Israel to set aside certain days for celebration, and on those days they were to rejoice.  There was no provision made for any who might not feel like rejoicing.  This was what they were to do, young and old, slaves and free, aliens, orphans and widows - in obedience to the command.  The pilgrim feast of Weeks was celebrated seven weeks after the time "when the sickle is put to the standing corn" (Deuteronomy 16:9).  The people were commanded to bring a freewill offering and to rejoice:  "You shall rejoice in the place which the Lord your God will choose.  You shall rejoice ... You shall keep the feast with joy" (vv. 11, 14-15).

The rhythm of life is one of God's mercies, meant to keep us from sinking into individual ruts.  We are called away from our personal inclination by the dawning of each new day; by the sun's going down so that we may cease from our work; by the changing seasons, which require changes of habit, work and dress; and by the regular occurrences of "feasts" when, without reference to how we happen to feel, we may join with others in purposeful rejoicing.  We may choose to be glad.

"Although the fig tree does not burgeon, the vines bear no fruit, the olive-crop fails ... and there are not cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord and rejoice in the God of my deliverance" (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

- Elisabeth Elliot

I just had a quick look in the concordance at the back of my Bible, and there are many verses that mention 'rejoice' and glad/gladness'. This week, I'm going to do a word search and write them out.

Care to join me?

Here are 2 to get you started...

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24 NKJV)

"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, because great is your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:12 NKJV).