Weekend Words (Advent)

At this time of Advent, leading up to Christmas, I will include a post from my Our Daily Bread booklet: Christmas - Quiet Moments for the Season...

The Gift of Joy 

Read Luke 2:8-12, 16-20

During the Christmas season it's easy to be swept along by the flood of frenzied gift-buying.  Our motive may be commendable - we want to show our love for family and friends.  We may even argue that the exchange of expensive presents reflects God's gift to us of His Son and is a way to spread yuletide joy.

According to author Bill McKibben, though, we may be robbing ourselves and others of deeper and longer-lasting joy.  When the giving is over, we find that the gifts didn't bring the sought-after satisfaction.

McKibben and some of his friends began to encourage others to limit their total holiday spending to a fraction of what they had spent in previous years.  By taking the emphasis off gift-giving, they believe they will be able to concentrate more on the real reason for Christmas and to enjoy the season.

When the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds outside Bethlehem, he told them, "I bring you good news of great joy" (Luke 2:10).  The news that brings "great joy" even today is that the Savior has been born (v.11).

Have we lost sight of what's really at the heart of Christmas?  Let's take time this season to focus on God's gift to us, and to share that joy-producing news with others.

- Vernon Grounds

From Be Still and Know...

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." (Psalm 100:4)

The Thanksgiving season is a special time of giving praise and thanksgiving to God.  Once a year, a day is set aside for expressing thankfulness, but for the children of God each day is a day of thanksgiving.  The basis of our thanksgiving comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.   "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15).

As we enter into His presence we are to "be thankful" and "bless His name."  We are to come before Him with thank-filled and praise-filled hearts.  God's mercies are new every morning but it is easy to forget to thank Him.  A thankful heart is not dependent on the material things we possess but on the blessings that come from the Lord.

As we pause to thank Him for the blessings of the past year, we must not forget to thank Him for the lessons we have learned through our difficult times.  We are not to be thankful for just the pleasant, easy things, but ALL things.  "IN EVERY THING give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Our thanksgiving is to be continual, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but each day through the year.  "Giving thanks ALWAYS for ALL things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).

Thanksgiving expresses gratitude for what God does for us.  Praise is our attitude towards God because of who and what He is.

 It has been said, "We're so concerned about tomorrow that we fail to be thankful for today."  As we praise and thank Him at all times and in everything, the minor notes of trouble in our lives become major chords of triumphant victory.  May our lives be such a hymn of triumphant praise to HIM today. 

This video never ceases to bring a smile to my face :)

Weekend Words

 From A Year's Journey with God...

Enjoying a Worry Session

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.  The meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace." - Psalm 37:7,11

Moses and Jesus were both described as 'meek' but they were anything but wimps!  They were strong and courageous, yet totally submitted to God the Father in everything.  When Jesus said the meek are blessed (Matthew 5:5), He was referring to a quality that is totally opposite to arrogance, pride and self-assertion.  In the language of His hearers, meek would describe a powerful war horse that was totally under the control of its rider.  These days we prize self-confidence, but its roots are in pride, which says, 'I can manage my own life; I don't need God's help.'  Pride like that is a dangerous illusion: God did not design us to be self-sufficient.  Yet there are areas in all our lives were we secretly want to take control.  In this psalm David urges us to trust God to provide everything we need, and then to sit waiting for Him to act on our behalf.  That is extremely difficult, especially if you are a born worrier and a bit of a control freak.  The very best antidote to worry is to allow God to take control of every place in us where we are not being meek.  Then we'll 'enjoy great peace', which is far more pleasant than 'enjoying' a prolonged worry session!

Some people bear three kinds of trouble - the ones they've had, the ones they have, and the ones they expect to have. - Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909)

From Be Still and Know...

"For God has said, I will never, never fail you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5 LB).

The foundation of our faith is the Word of God.  In this Scripture verse God Himself speaks, "For God has said."  It is not what "they say," nor what "we say," but what "God says" that is important.

What did God say?  He promised, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  God always keeps His Word.  He can be trusted.

The word "leave" usually means "to depart."  In this verse it has a deeper meaning of "I will not let you go."

He is always near to come to our aid when we are in trouble.  His promise gives us confidence.  "That we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper."

Has there been a time in your life when you were overworked, when you had more to do than you could do?  You were weary and discouraged almost to the breaking point.  You were ready to give up.  Suddenly a friend came, saying, "I have come to HELP you."  How your spirits were lifted and the burden was eased.

The LORD is such a helper, One who is always near to give needed help.  The Lord IS our helper.  He is a present helper, even for today.  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

His help is for us personally.  The Lord is MY helper.  "MY help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2).

There are times when friends cannot help, but the Lord can; when money cannot help, but the Lord can; when social position cannot help, but the Lord can.

We can depend on His help, for we have His promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

David Livingstone, when sailing for Africa the first time, was accompanied to the dock by some close friends.  Concerned for his safety, they reminded him of the dangers, hoping he would yet turn back.

Livingstone quickly opened his Bible and read, "Lo, I am with you always."  Then he said, "That is the word of a Gentleman.  Let us be going."

On the home front...

Recently I heard an older man say that the reason he is so busy is because it now takes him four hours to do what he use to do in two!!

I guess that's my excuse too :)

But her I am, finally sitting down for a catch up...

The annual Tasmanian Craft Fair was on recently.  I met up with Marnie and Tom and we did the rounds of the various venues...

she actually made a little video of us at the lunch venue, but I can't get it to load here, so you will have to be satisfied with a photo

I bought a couple of things (not the seashells) ...

some lovely wool/alpaca yarn from Great Ocean Road Woollen Mill and a scented soy candle from Bee Native 

I've done a bit of online Christmas gift shopping from Bee Native, and also ordered a couple of packs of Hayley's cute Christmas cards from her Averilda Haze Etsy store...

Picked up some pretty buttons to finally finish Hazel's yellow cardigan...

I'm on to the sewing up and front bands, the (not) fun part

Knitting a scarf for charity...

it's actually finished now

Dipping into this interesting book (Writing Wild) from the library...

Baking date and sultana scones...

And sprouting seeds...

Still getting out for my walks most days despite quite a bit of rain...

And I'm so excited that the first issue of my subscription to Taproot Magazine arrived a couple of days ago...

Here's a peek inside...

Lots of crafts, recipes, and lovely words and illustrations/photos

Read this quote recently...

"The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail.  Travel too fast and you miss all you are travelling for." - Louis L'Amour

And remember this quote (attributed to various sources) ...

"Every ending is a new beginning..."

xx

Weekend Words

 From Amish Peace...

God-Breathed

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." - 2 Timothy 3:16

Many people are at least somewhat familiar with the Amish and Mennonites, but another Anabaptist group, established in Europe some two centuries ago, is River Brethren.

Jacob Engel separated from his Mennonite congregation, wishing only to be baptized in a scripturally correct mode...

Given Engel's understanding of Christ's scriptural baptism as face-forward, [triple] immersion, he and the other dissatisfied Mennonites in his society were left with no other alternative than to begin a quest to secure baptism either by a minister of an existing religious group or by mutual baptism.

The River Brethren are a small group (2010 figures indicated fewer than one thousand), and they baptize by total immersion.  They live plain lives and believe in foot washing.  They oppose involvement in the military, the use of alcohol and tobacco, and worldly pleasures.  They also carry out missionary work in Asia and Africa.

How do people reading the same Bible have such varied means of living it out?  I strive to follow God's Word, but I don't live like the Amish.  The Amish, the Mennonite, and the River Brethren strive to live it out too, yet they do so in different ways.  

God's Word is inspired.  His Spirit breathed the Scriptures into His scribes.  It's profitable, which means we benefit when we follow it.  It convinces us of the truth and corrects us.  And above all, it reveals God to us and points us to Christ.

Men and women may focus on various Scriptural teachings, but we can be all united in God's body when we choose to "major on the majors."  What are those?  God's creation of this world and men and women; human sin, which leads to death; and Christ's death, which leads to life.

The body of Christ may look different, and even live and worship differently, but those who focus on the big issues of God's Word can find common ground with those who look and live differently.

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you that even though I live and serve differently from other Christians, You are the breath of inspiration who changes everything.

From Our Daily Bread...

Small Kindnesses 

Read Colossians 3:12-17

"Clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." - Colossians 3:12 

Amanda works as a visiting nurse who rotates among several nursing homes - often bringing her 11-year-old daughter Ruby to work.  For something to do, Ruby began asking residents, "If you could have any three things, what would you want?" and recording their answers in her notebook.  Surprisingly, many of their wishes were for little things - Vienna sausages, chocolate pie, cheese, avocados.  So Ruby set up a GoFundMe to help her provide for their simple wishes.  And when she delivers the goodies, she doles out hugs.  She says, "It lifts you.  It really does."

When we show compassion and kindness like Ruby's, we reflect our God who "is gracious and compassionate ... and rich in love" (Psalm 145:8).  That's why the apostle Paul urged us, as God's people, to "clothe [our]selves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12).  Because God has shown great compassion to us, we naturally long to share His compassion with others.  And as we do so intentionally, we "clothe" ourselves in it.

Paul goes on to tell us: "over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (v. 14).  and He reminds us that we are to "do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (v. 17), remembering that all good things come from God.  When we're kind to others, our spirits are lifted. 

- Alyson Kieda

When have you been the benefactor of someone's kindness?  How can you show kindness to another?

Jesus, thank you for showing me overflowing, unlimited kindness. Help me to find joy in doing kind acts for others.

Weekend Words

From Our Daily Bread Classic Gems...

Looking for Comfort 

 Read: Psalm 27

"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." - Psalm 27:13

I often quote Psalm 27 to encourage people who are going through a difficult time.  The psalmist was living in very unpleasant circumstances, yet he expected to "see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living" (v.13).  But I now have many friends who are ill or bedridden, with no prospect of getting better.  How can they find comfort in these words?

We could emphasize the truth that our ultimate hope resides not in this present life, but in the world now unseen, our future home in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:18; 5:1-8).  That is true, but here it seems that the psalmist was speaking of an expectation in this present world, "in the land of the living," rather than the next world.  

So let's look more closely at the psalmist's hope.  His expectation was not necessarily deliverance from bad circumstances, but the hope of seeing "the goodness of the LORD."

When my friend Maurice was in hospital after a stroke from which he may never totally recover, he told me: "While flat on my back, I have been thinking about God.  I sense His goodness and greatness as never before."

No matter what your situation, you can find evidence of God's goodness - so keep looking for it with hope.

- Herbert Vander Lugt

Reflect and Pray

As endless as God's blessings are,

So should my praises be

For all His daily goodnesses

that flow unceasingly! - Adams

From Be Still and Know...

"When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (Psalm 61:2).

This Psalm was the cry of David's heart when he was fleeing from his son who was trying to usurp his throne.

His heart heavy with sorrow, he cried to the One who could meet his need.  "Hear my cry. O God" (Psalm 61:1).  Immediately he had an audience with the King of Kings.  He continued, "Attend unto my prayer."

When he was almost overwhelmed, with the waves of trouble rolling over him, he said, "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I" (v.2).

This is the cry from many hearts today.  As the storms of life sweep over us we cry, "Lord hear me: Lord, lead me to the Great Rock of Safety, Jesus Christ Himself."

I recall a day when my life was overwhelmed in the midst of a storm.  I felt myself almost sinking under the fury of it.  I received a card from a friend that day.  She related how she had felt constrained to send me a verse of Scripture.  It arrived on the day I desperately needed it and it was this verse in the Psalms.  God's timing was so perfect.  He used it that day to remind me that He was with me in my storm and that He was allowing it to teach me some new lessons I needed to learn.

He gave me the assurance that He was lifting me above my circumstances to a place of safety and strength in Himself.

When troubles come, we can cry, "Lord, hear me!  Lord, lead me."  Our storms can become a time of victory as we let Him lift us up to the Rock that is above our storms, our Rock of Safety, Christ Jesus.

Is your heart overwhelmed today?  Let Him lift you up to your place of security in that Rock, Christ Jesus.