On the home front...

I hope you all had a nice Christmas!  I know some areas of the US and Canada are experiencing a severe cold snap at the moment (while we swelter in the heat), so stay safe and warm.

My 'plan' was to go to Marnie and Denver for Christmas lunch, but that abruptly changed when Marnie tested positive for Covid on Christmas Eve!  And since then, Denver and Sophie have also come down with it.  Thankfully they all seem to be improving now.

So Freya and I enjoyed our Christmas at home. I had a headache anyway (due to the hot weather), so wasn't even sure if I would have made it to them.  Thankfully the headache cleared around midday and as I had already cooked the turkey roast (and made the cheesecake), I added some roast vegies and greens and enjoyed Christmas lunch for one...

Marnie had the ham and pavlova, so they didn't go hungry either.  We'll catch up when they are better.

Consequently, no Christmas day photos!  I'm still waiting for the rest of the family to send me some, so hopefully by next post.  Marnie and I did take her neighbor out for lunch a couple of weeks ago, so this will have to suffice for now...

Jill, me, and Marnie

Have been doing some charity knitting over the last couple of months and have a scarf and 5 beanies to send off to Knit4Charities ...

Knitting a new blanket for Freya's bed now.  

And while we're on the 'Freya' subject...

She loves to be out and about during the day, and here she is in her bird hide...

waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting bird (or lizard)

On the odd occasion she is inside during the day (for her 'cat nap') she also likes to sleep in this random box (as cats do), that I had left on the spare bed, and (even more randomly) rip little pieces of cardboard off the edges... 

Also, finally sewing these 28 blanket squares together...

for Wrap with Love charity

A couple of weeks before Christmas I harvested my excess rhubarb...

And my excess of lemons...

and took them to the food bank at our local Neighborhood House

My reading has been a bit hit and miss.  Started quite a few books but was not inclined to finish them.  But I am reading these at the moment...

This year I've read quite a few of the Miss Read books, but thought for 2023 I would work my way through the Minack Chronicle books I have...

some bought new and some picked up at op shops over the years 

 

They are a lovely series.  Have you read any of them?

I'm going to start with A Gull on the Roof, because it is the first

I started my summer walk routine a couple of weeks ago.  Walking early, before breakfast, and before it gets too hot.  Here are a couple of early morning photos...

Well, that was a bit of a marathon post!  One of my new year resolutions is to try and get a home post up once a week. Then it won't take you three days to read it :)

Will leave you with this thought...

But I've generally found that if you plant kindness, that is what you reap.

So, get planting!!

xx

Weekend Words (Christmas)

From Seeds of the Kingdom...

Today's The Day

"Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." - Luke 2:11-12

Isaiah had prophesied that when the Messiah came His arm would rule for Him, but that He would also tend His flock like a shepherd.  In this prophecy (Isaiah 40:10-11) we see two different aspects of the character of Jesus - Jesus the King who will rule and Jesus the Shepherd who will care for the sheep.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Scripture tells us that there were two sets of unusual visitors - the first were the shepherds, who had both heard the angels telling of the birth of Christ and seen the host of angels praising God in thanksgiving.  Then there were the kings who brought their rich gifts and bowed before the baby who was also a King, but whose authority far outweighed that of any earthly king.  In a remarkable way, these two visitors to the baby Jesus reflected the prophecy of Isaiah; both the shepherds and the kings came and acknowledged that they were bowing before a far superior shepherd and a far greater King.

As we celebrate, with thanksgiving, the coming of the Messiah, the Saviour of the world, let us never forget that this baby grew to become that great 'Shepherd of the sheep' who cares deeply for every one of His lambs, even you and me.  But that He is also reigning as King of kings and that ultimately all authority rests in His hands.

So whatever the situation the world is in, He is ultimately in control.  And whatever situation you may be in personally, He is still the Good Shepherd.  Try and spend a few minutes this Christmas thinking about your life and choosing to let Him reign in your life as King and bringing to Him, as your Shepherd, all the concerns that are pressing down upon you.  He is sufficient for all these things.

Prayer: Thank you, Father God, for Jesus, the most amazing Christmas gift anyone could ever receive.  Help me to mark this Christmas season with a new understanding of how precious Jesus is.  In His name, Amen.

- Peter Horrobin

A Christmas Prayer for You! 

Bless us Lord, this Christmas with quietness of mind,

Teach us to be patient, and always to be kind.

Show us that in quietness, we can feel your presence near,

Filling us with joy and peace, throughout the coming year.

Weekend Words (Advent)

 Weekend Words on Tuesday, because my computer has been offline all week.  Finally, up and running again, so... better late than never!

From Be Still and Know…

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” - 2 Corinthians 8:9)

Another Christmas is almost here. Although we are caught up in the multitudinous preparations for the gala season, we need to take time to meditate on the real meaning of Christmas – remembering the birth of Jesus.

Once there was a king who wanted to really know his people. He wanted to know the conditions under which they lived, that he might better understand their problems. So he removed his kingly robes and crown and put on the dress of his people. He left the magnificence and splendour of his palace, travelling incognito across his kingdom. Although he had laid aside his riches, assuming the poverty of his people, this did not change his position as king.

This is a picture of what the Lord Jesus did for us. He had lived with His Father in heaven. All the glory of heaven was His, and all the riches of heaven at His disposal. He, the Son of God, was willing to leave it to come to earth as a human being that He might identify with us and experience life as we do. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:15). Yet His real purpose was to become our Saviour, making possible eternal life for us, and making available all the riches of heaven.

He became poor, that we might become rich.  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).

Through our relationship with Him, all the riches of heaven are available for our use. May we not live in spiritual poverty today because we have failed to claim all He has provided for us!

From Christmas: Quiet Moments for the Season…

The Real Christmas

Read: Luke 2:25-35

A quotation in our church’s Advent devotional guide caused me to rethink my approach to Christmas:

“Let us at all costs avoid the temptation to make our Christmas worship a withdrawal from the stress and sorrow of life into a realm of unreal beauty. It was into the real world that Christ came, into the city where there was no room for Him, and into a country where Herod, the murderer of innocents, was king.

He came to us, not to shield us from the harshness of the world but to give us the courage and strength to bear it; not to snatch us away by some miracle from the conflict of life, but to give us peace – His peace – in our hearts, by which we may be calmly steadfast while the conflict rages, and be able to bring to the torn world the healing that is peace.”

When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus to the Lord, Simeon said to them: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34-35).

Christmas is not a retreat from reality but an advance into it alongside the Prince of Peace.

- David McCasland

Weekend Words (Advent)

 From Seeds of the Kingdom...

Happy or Joyful Christmas?

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people." - Luke 2:10

I love Christmas!  I love everything about it.  I love the decorations, the gifts, the food, the fun, the time with family, the laughter, the cooking.  I love it all!!  For me, Christmas is a precious time of year.  Yet it occurs to me that Christmas is not a happy time for everyone.  Many are alone, having to do without necessities (let alone luxuries), missing a loved one for the first time, or not in a place within themselves to celebrate anything.  For some, Christmas is a struggle.

I know that my enjoyment is temporal.  It doesn't last forever.  A time will come when the festivities will come to an end, the decorations will be put away, the food will eventually diminish, and we will return home from spending precious time with our families.  My happiness will dwindle with the ending of the festivities.

Yet, the joy of Christmas is free for us all and is eternal.  It's the joy of the knowledge that God himself entered our world to meet with us and to save us.  He came to us as a baby - vulnerable, shamed by gossip surrounding His very existence, His life under threat from those who feared for their position in life.  Our God came down to this and was born into the dirt and squalor of a stable.  He wasn't born into a clean, safe environment.  His first hours were hours of dirt, mess and fear.  He entered our dirty, messy, fearful world to save us from the grip of the enemy.  He came because he loves us and wants to draw us back to Himself.

This is the Christmas joy we can all celebrate.  This isn't temporal; it's eternal.  It will last forever.  My prayer this Christmas time is that we all find that joy - a joy that deepens as we look at our Saviour and celebrate all that He has done for us.  If you're struggling with Christmas this year, I pray this unfathomable joy will be your strength.  For those of us who have much to enjoy, I pray that we won't lose sight of the deep joy that surpasses our understanding.

Prayer: What can we say to our Saviour who came to this earth to save us?  'Thank You' doesn't seem enough but it's all we have.  Help us, Lord, to know the joy that is ours for free and is eternal, and help us not to lose sight of this truth as we celebrate Your birth.  We especially pray for those who are struggling this Christmas time.  May You give each one of us the only gift that matters this year: may Your love penetrate our hearts in a deep and precious way.  Amen.

From Christmas: Quiet Moments for the Season...

Born to Die

Read: Matthew 1:18-25

Although millions celebrate Jesus' birthday, few seem to be aware of its real significance.

We recognize that His birth was unusual because He was born of a virgin.  His life was unique too, for He was the only one who lived without sinning.  His death was also unusual.  Jesus was not a martyr.  He was not the victim of unfortunate circumstances, dying for a worthy cause.  Nor did He lay down His life just to set a good example.  There's much more to it than that.  The Lord Jesus came into this world to be our Saviour!

Jesus Himself said that He came "to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10).  Who are the lost?  The Bible tells us that "all have sinned" and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 3:23; 6:23).  In order to save the world, Jesus had to die for it.  He came and lived the perfect life and then died the death we should have died.  The true meaning of Christmas is that Jesus was born to die.  Because He was crucified and then rose again from the dead, forgiveness of sin and assurance of heaven is now offered to all who believe (John 1:12)

Have you accepted God's gift of salvation?  If not, do so today, and this will be your most meaningful Christmas ever.

- Richard DeHaan

Weekend Words (Advent)

From Christmas: Quiet Moments for the Season...

The Main Event

Read Luke 1:30-38

During the Great Depression that hit the United States in the 1930s, a family in the Midwest struggled to put food on their table.  They had no money for luxuries.

One day, posters all over town announced that a circus was coming.  Admission would be $1.  A boy in the family wanted to see the show, but his father told him that he would have to earn the money on his own.  The youngster had never seen a circus before, so he worked feverishly and was able to buy a ticket.

On the day the circus arrived, he went to see the performers and the animals parade through town.  As he watched, a clown came dancing over to him, and the boy put his ticket in the clown's hand.  Then he stood on the curb and cheered as the rest of the parade moved by.

The youngster rushed home to tell his parents what he had seen and how exciting the circus was.  His father listened, then took his son in his arms and said, "Son, you didn't see the circus.  All you saw was the parade."

That story is a parable of Christmas.  Many people get excited about the festivities but miss the main event.  During this season, let's remember what happened in a humble stable and what Jesus' birth means to us.

- Haddon Robinson

Artwork by John Sloane

From Seeds of the Kingdom...

Immanuel - God with Us

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel - which means 'God with us'. - Matthew 1:23

In the small lounge at Ellel Grange we have a beautiful Christmas decoration.  It is very simple, but also profound in the message it speaks.  It consists of a row of red candles spread across the width of the mantlepiece with beautiful carved letters spelling Immanuel, spanning the candles.  It is a vivid reminder that Jesus, the light of the world, comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness of life and hope and that His name speaks of His character.

For many people Christmas is a happy time, but for others it can be one of the hardest times of the year.  It may remind them of a loved one who has died, or some other sad loss that they have been through which has accentuated their sense of loneliness.  But what is the essential message of Christmas?  It is that Immanuel has come, and God is with us.  Christmas is about undoing loneliness.  The message of Christmas is that none of us is alone.

The birth of Jesus is set in history.  They will call him Immanuel.  To be called, according to Hebraic understanding, means that the person spoken of will in reality be what he is called and actually fulfill that title.  Thus the name Immanuel points to the nature of the One who bears the name.  He is God incarnate - God coming into human flesh - and dwells by His Spirit in the hearts of His people.

Jesus Christ - God's Son - God with us.  What a comfort, what a joy to know He will never leave His own.  The wonder of the incarnation is that the baby in Bethlehem grew to be the man who died on Calvary, taking our punishment, our guilt, and our blame, that His life might be ours.  

Reflect today on how God is with you, and let the wonderful word 'Immanuel' come alive in your spirit as you contemplate the true meaning of Christmas.

- Margaret Silvester

On the home front...

I've been working on this post all week (due to a number of headache days), and finally got it finished today.  Enjoy!

You might remember that I mentioned Natasha took three of my blankets back to the USA when she visited in July, but I forgot to take photos.  Well, she's sent me photos of them in their new home, and it seems Ghost, their cat, is more than happy with them...

I need to get busy now and build up supplies for the next family visits :)

Finally finished Hazel's cardigan...

A trip up to Latrobe on Monday, and I was able to pick up a couple more balls of yarn to finish this blanket for Wrap With Love...

need to do 5 more squares

Back in the kitchen, and I baked more bread...

And also a fruit cake...

I've been doing a bit of Christmas shopping, mostly online.  I try and support small businesses and charities, and this is what I've come up with so far.  (Have one more 'gift' on the way) ...

Aussie themed Christmas Cards from Hayley's Averilda Haze Etsy store

Botanical soy candles from Bee Native products

Felt Christmas angels and 'gifts of love' from The Leprosy Mission

'Gifts of love' Christmas packs from Voice of the Martyrs

And in case you don't know what 'gifts of love' are, it's where you purchase a particular product (chickens, school supplies, a goat, etc.) from the charity and that particular purchase is then gifted to the recipient in the various countries. You can also choose to receive a card to send on to someone stating you have bought a gift on their behalf.  I usually do this with my family, but so they don't feel left out, I also buy them a small gift too :)

This is what is in the Voice of the Martyrs 'gift' card...

Picked up this book from the library this week...

it's very interesting!

They finally reopened one of the bridges over the river this week, which had been closed since the big flood back in October...

the other bridge is still being inspected for structural damage

Here are some photos from this morning's walk...

And these lovely red roses that are growing by the walk path...

there are white ones too, but they are not flowering yet

This week I read...

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 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 overhead, 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 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 prayer.

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

- Selected

So, if you are one of the blessed...

Pass it on!

xx