From Oasis of Hope (a devotional) ...

 Finding Hope in the Silence

"My soul. wait in silence for God only. For my hope is from Him." - Psalm 62:5

When Jesus was on earth, multitudes of people often cried out to Him for healing or for other requests.  He frequently left His trusted disciples to seek out a place where He could be alone to talk with God.  If Jesus needed to get away from the noise, how much more do we?

Sometimes we need to find a place to be still and quiet.  We don't need a cacophony of voices.  We only need God's, and we often hear Him best when we are silent and alone.

The last part of today's verse tells us where we can find hope.  It isn't the type of hope a friend might say, such as, "I hope you feel better."  But rather, this hope is a deep, calm assurance God gives us.  It comes from knowing He has everything under control and we don't need to worry.  All other voices are quieted when we place our hope in Him.

What noise is causing you distress?  Are there too many tasks you're trying to accomplish?  Are there too many voices clamoring for your attention?

Do you have a special place you like to go to find quiet and peace?  Get away with God in prayer.  He will give your heart and mind peace.

-Julie Wilson Smith

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

no merit of my own I claim, but wholly trust in Jesus' name.

When weary in this earthy race, I rest on His unchanging grace;

in every wild and stormy gale my anchor holds and will not fail.

His vow, His covenant and blood are my defense against the flood;

when earthly hopes are swept away He will uphold me on that day.

When the last trumpet's voice shall sound, O may I then in Him be found!

clothed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand -

all other ground is sinking sand,

all other ground is sinking sand.

- Edward Mote (1797-1874) 

Not just clothing...

My blogger friend Pen and I have had similar 'plain' clothes journeys over the years.  HERE is a post she wrote recently to do with modesty. She said she would be interested to read about my journey.  So here is a peek into part of it, but not just clothes ...

Although I've been a Christian for 40 years, my 'plain' journey started about 25 years ago, when I 'met up' with some conservative/plain head covering Christian ladies through a yahoo group, most of whom were in the USA.

If you would like to read what the Bible says about head covering, it's in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Head covering is not taught in the churches here, or none of the many I have attended over the years, except for the Mennonites.  But they are relatively new to Australia, the first conservative Mennonite church starting up in Deloraine, Tasmania around 15 years ago.

I was with them from the beginning (although I did not join the church), and have been with them on and off since, but now that I've moved further away it's not easy to get there each Sunday, although I do try to at least attend their annual conference weekend.  

Early in my journey I discovered this lovely little magazine....

Not all plain folk, but mostly modest dress and many wore head coverings

I sent a letter and photo of me to the magazine requesting pen pals :) 

in my crocheted headscarf in 2003 :)

This is some of a family in the south of the state who were trying to set up a Christian community.  I visited them a few times when I was down that way.

that's on the left nearly 20 years ago :)

And I guess you know what Amish clothes look like, although I was surprised that many people here in Australia don't know of the Amish, and even less have heard of the Mennonites!

The couple in the centre of the photo, came from Canada with their family (that is one of their daughters in the brown jacket) and a few others to start the first Conservative Mennonite church here in Deloraine.  There is also one in New South Wales now, but as far as I know they are the only ones in Australia.

in typical Mennonite cape dresses

Over the years my dress 'style' has evolved, and I now mostly wear plain (as in not patterned) coloured long skirts and shirts, although I do still have a couple of dresses.

What I wore to church a couple of weeks ago...

the skirt was too short (I like mine ankle length) so I added a strip of denim to the bottom

And in my 'at home' work clothes...

 I always wear an apron at home

This is Michaela.  The photo is from her Etsy clothing store.  I have bought some of her skirts, shirts and head coverings... 

I particularly like her denim shirts and wear them a lot

Here she is again in the skirts and shirts she sews...

And these are some of her head scarfs.  I mostly wear mine as in the photo on the left...

Her Etsy shop is HERE.

But I'm still experimenting with how to wear my headscarf.  Do you know of Tasha Tudor...

I love her 'style'.  I already have her hands, and my hair is whiter than hers, and I'm working on the wrinkles :))

I have this book of hers, picked up at the op shop recently for $4!!

I'm practicing wearing my scarf like hers. But I think she has more hair than me, and I don't know how she gets it to stay on without hairclips.  I prefer my hair up and off my face like this, especially when I am working...

And although I said I prefer plain/solid colour fabric, I do also like small prints and plaids in 'antique/vintage' look fabrics.

Like this...

Unfortunately, my garden looks nothing like hers (sigh)

But I do have a small patch of spring colour...

pink pig face and white daisies

And also, I have these pinafore dresses.  I used to wear them a lot when I was fellowshipping with the Mennonites, with dresses or skirts and tops underneath. They are a bit wrinkled as they were in the back of my cupboard, but maybe I'll give them an iron and wear one of them to church tomorrow :) 

they are cotton.  I like natural fibres.  Marnie got them online for me.

Going to leave it here.  It's rather a mish mash of thoughts as they came to me.  

We've had really windy weather, and I've had lots of headaches (one starting to come back now), but I've been working on this for a couple of weeks and wanted to get it up on the blog.

Time for a cup of tea and a piece of orange cake (will save the recipe for another post).

Have a blessed day and week!

xx

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.