Weekend Words

 From Beside the Still Waters...

End-of-Year Reflections: Read 2 Samuel 22:1-30

"Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations." - Psalm 90:1

We have once again come to the close of a year and are about to cross the threshold into another.  It is a good time to reflect upon God's goodness and lovingkindness to us.  Certainly His mercies are "new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23).  How great is his faithfulness!  But how is it with us?  We know that our days are numbered, and soon we will take the last step of our earthly journey.  The passing of another year should cause us to stop and take inventory of our life.

Do our goals, decisions, and actions give evidence of a sincere desire to serve and glorify God?  Is the Lord Jesus first in our lives, and are we laying up treasures in Heaven?  Or has our vision become shortsighted, with our primary focus on the temporal, perishing things of earth?  We may look back with regret on our blunders and sins.  But when we repent of past failures, we can be assured of God's cleansing and forgiveness and we can go on with a clean slate, looking unto Jesus and living in victory.  We may also look back on our achievements or successes.  But instead of being proud and boastful, let us humbly acknowledge God as the One who gives us the strength and ability to accomplish our goals.

We do not need to be gripped with worry or fear as we face the uncertainties in the year ahead.  Though we live in troublesome times of turmoil and upheaval, or we may face daunting personal challenges, we can firmly put our trust in our unchanging God who has all things in His control.  His grace has been sufficient in the past, and it will continue to be sufficient for whatever lies ahead.

Mark Kropf - Cataldo, ID

"For this God is our God for ever and ever;

he will be our guide even unto death."

- Psalm 48:14

And for my final Weekend Words for the year, I want to share again some more lovely words from Teatime Discipleship...

"For as long as I could remember, in the dim, early morning light, I had prepared for the external pressures of the day and entered into a time just for me.  In this place, I had poured out lament to God, sought refuge from the storms of life, and found wisdom for my days.  I refueled my mind and heart, preparing myself to go back into the battle of life restored, better able to face the demands of my day.  Not a luxury, but a necessity for the many demands of my life through seasons...

Sitting down with a cup of tea, meeting God in my armchair, I am open to His leading...

The outer trappings of my teatime ritual - my teapot, candles, and soft music - showed that the sacred meeting place was still waiting for me, welcoming me into the rest and peace and deep joy I had experienced so many times before.

Once the stage is set, I'm ready for time with the Lord.  At first, sometimes I just sit and stare into the world around me, centering myself.  For me, my quiet time begins with my Bible.  Often I read a short devotional.  Sometimes, heartfelt prayers pour out; other times, gratitude abounds.  Often, I am distracted - but thousands of days spent meeting with Him, pondering His words, and pouring out my heart have built a haven of closeness and intimacy with Christ, my constant companion.  Journaling thoughts and prayers has given me a pathway into His presence.  This life-giving personal time prepares me for all that my day will hold..."

(Rhythms of Peace - Sally Clarkson)

The days between... (and family Christmas photos)

 I hope you all had a nice Christmas!

I enjoy the time between Christmas and New Year.  After all the busyness of the lead up to Christmas day, and before we launch into the new year, these 'between days' are a chance to rest, reflect (on the year just gone), refocus, and reset (our goals for the coming year). [I was having trouble finding a 4th r word, so had to resort to the dictionary (do people even still use dictionaries ?!?) for 'reset'].

But I want to tell you about my book I bought myself for Christmas: Teatime Discipleship...

I'm reading the chapter on A Decluttered Soul.  A new year is a good time to declutter; souls, minds, homes...  

Here's a snippet:

"In the real world, we can all see how too much clutter in our rooms and too many piles of things cause us to feel overwhelmed.  Slowly, I have learned to declutter, to simplify, as often as I can...

I have come to realize my brain and heart can be the same way - cluttered with worries, responsibilities, duties, finances, time constraints, expectations, disappointments, critical attitudes, resentment, and grief.  I have stored up distinct sadness, confusion, disappointment, and occasionally anger that needs to be dealt with.   All these added together tend to create soul piles and mind clutter.  If I don't take the time to sort the piles, my spirit becomes a mess and my heart becomes overwhelmed and weary.

Each day brings an opportunity to make a new plan, to simplify the mind messes.  In the same way that clearing out closets brings me relief, soul and mind decluttering brings me rest, equipping me to face each day in peace.  So I come to the place where I know I will find the help I need.  I come to God and ask Him to help me, His child, and ask Him how to clean out and organize my soul.  He can help me get rid of the junk that is unnecessary, that burdens my thoughts and feelings and leave peace in its place..."

it's a lovely read 

And here are the family photos from Christmas around the world...

American Christmas...

Oli, Dylan, Patrick, Natasha, Zak

Canberra Christmas...

Jaya and Jefferson

South Australian Christmas...

Hayley, Hazel, Ben

Tasmanian Christmas (at Marnie's)...

Tom, Denver, Marnie, Sophie, and neighbor Jill

Tom and Marnie

Denver and Sophie

Denver made a Lego nativity scene...

I was mostly taking the photos, but...

here's one of me with Marnie

I'll leave you with this prayer that someone sent me many years ago...

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.

This is my prayer for you!

xx

Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters...

 The Spirit of Christmas - Read: Luke 2:1-20

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" - John 3:16

Long ago the Father sent His Son away on the most difficult mission that has ever been undertaken. This mission would require the Son to live and labor among those who would despise and reject Him.  He would face every temptation that is common to mankind.  There would be sleepless nights of toiling in prayer and chaotic days of ministering to the multitudes, which would cause Him to grow weary.  He would not even have a place to call His own or to lay His head at night.

Ultimately, God's Son would surrender His life in the greatest sacrifice the world has ever known.  By His death on the cross, the sinless Lamb of God would redeem humanity from the curse of Adam's fall.  Surely God looked down with an aching heart at the infant Jesus lying in a manger, even as the angels announced the tidings of great joy to the shepherds that first Christmas morning.  God already knew every step of the difficult journey to Calvary that lay ahead for His beloved Son.

Each year, immediately after Thanksgiving we see a "spirit of Christmas" reflected in the actions of society.  Twinkling lights, jolly Santas, ringing bells, busy merchants, weary shoppers emptying their wallets - and all the while, nostalgic strains of "O Holy Night" waft through the corridors of shopping malls.

Without a doubt, there is a spirit that pervades our land this season, but is it a spirit in harmony with heaven?  As we consider the heart of God, and we ponder the tremendous sacrifice He made on our behalf, we should be inspired to commemorate Christ's birth in a way that radiates God's amazing love to everyone around us.

Gary Miller - Pantego, NC

God gave His son, His only One, a sacrifice for sin;

When we commemorate His birth, in all let's honour Him.

From Be Still and Know...

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)

Christmas is a special time for celebrating the birth of the One who came to bring joy.  We sing, "Joy to the world!  The Lord is come."  The greatest "birth announcement" the world has ever known contained a message of joy. 

What excitement goes into the planning and preparation for Christmas!  Yet underneath the glitter and glamour of the holiday season all is not happy and joyful.  We acknowledge that happiness is not found in the packages we open, the cards we receive, or in the entertaining we do.  Underneath all the wrappings of the joyful holiday season our lives may be filled with heartache and sorrow.  There may be emptiness and loneliness.

But there is a joy we can have, a joy within that completely satisfies.  It is not dependent on outer circumstances, what we have or what we do.

This was the message of joy that God sent.  "For unto YOU is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2;11).  Real joy comes from knowing Jesus Christ.  It is a personal message.  The angel said, "I bring YOU."  It is universal; "Which shall be to ALL people."

God's joy comes from within; the world's from without.  God's joy has deep roots in Himself; the world's only on the surface.  God's joy is unending; the world's soon fades away.  God's joy fills us completely, the world's in on the outside.  God's joy satisfies; the world's cannot.

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now you see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with JOY unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter1:8).

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

2 Corinthians 9:15

O Holy Night is my favorite Christmas carol, and I found this beautiful rendition.

Enjoy! 

xx

'Twas the week before Christmas...

Last week was not a good week for headaches. Hot weather + strong winds = headaches.  But I've been ok since yesterday and catching up with things...

Saturday I'll make the cheesecake I'm to take to Marnie's for Christmas lunch.

And today I made the Christmas cake, which also doubles as Christmas pudding...

step one

step two

all done

Working on my blanket for the fistula hospital patients in Ethiopia...

5 strips of six colors.  One strip done

And rather than start the book I mentioned in my previous post, I decided to re-read some Miss Read.  Her books are always lovely easy reads when life is busy.  I did buy myself a new book for Christmas, but I'll tell you about it in my next home post :)

Here's a snippet from Miss Read...

"The round table in the window had already been set.  The best china, sprigged with violets, the silver teaspoons, thin with age, and bread and butter cut wafer-thin awaited us, with a splendid sponge cake of Miss Clare's own making.

One always sat up to table at Dolly's house.  Only the odd cup of coffee was partaken of in an armchair, and even when she was alone the mistress of the house set the solitary place and dined, as if she had friends present, with simple dignity.

I spread some of our vicar's honey on my bread and butter, and thought how marvelous it was that dolly Clare, despite her age and physical frailty, had never lowered her standards.  My own casual meal arrangements seemed positively slatternly in comparison.

I said as much to Dolly.  She looked somewhat surprised.

"I suppose early training had something to do with it," she said.  "My mother was a stickler for having things just so.  And then, when you are as old as I am, you wonder if you might be taken suddenly, and it would be so dreadful if you were found in squalor, wouldn't it?

"I hadn't thought of that."

"You see, I now look upon each day as a bonus.  When I wake in the morning I think how lucky I am to have yet another day to spend."

and an illustration from the book

I bought a Christmas wreath, the sum total of my Christmas decorating...

It now hangs on the front door, but it looked so pretty on the hall stand (while waiting for me to hammer a nail in the door) that I think I'll put it back there after Christmas is over, so I can look at it all year

Freya is off to the vet on Friday for her annual vaccination and worming...

shh ... don't tell her

And after the overnight rain, some pretty flowers on my walk this morning...

The Baptist church here in Latrobe is having a Christmas morning service which I hope to get to before going to Marnie's for lunch.

I hope your Christmas preparations are going well.  But don't get so busy that you forget the real reason for the celebration :)

xx

Weekend Words

From Our Daily Bread...

Appetite for Distraction - Read: Psalm 131

"I have calmed and quieted myself ... I am content." (Psalm 131:2)

I set my phone down, weary of the constant bombardment of images, ideas, and notifications that the little screen broadcasted.  Then, I picked it up and turned it on again.  Why?

In his book The Shallows, Nicholas Carr describes how the internet has shaped our relationship with stillness: "What the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation.  Whether I'm online or not, my mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles.  Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words.  Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a jet ski."

Living life on a mental jet ski doesn't sound healthy.  But how do we begin to slow down, to dive deeply into still spiritual waters?  

In Psalm 131, David writes, "I have calmed and quieted myself" (v.2).  David's words remind me that I have responsibility.  Changing habits starts with my choice to be still - even if I must make that choice over and over again.  Slowly, though, we experience God's satisfying goodness.  Like a little child, we rest in contentment, remembering that He alone offers hope (v. 3) - soul-satisfaction that no smartphone app can touch and no social media site can deliver.

-Adam R Holz

How does technology influence your ability to rest quietly before God?  Does your phone contribute to your contentment?  Why or why not?

Father, the world is awash in distraction that doesn't satisfy my soul.  Help me to trust You to fill me with genuine contentment. 

From Be Still and Know...

"And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth" (Genesis 1:17).

The southwestern area of our country has a lovely custom for outdoor lighting at Christmas time.  The people make luminarias by placing sand in large paper bags.  Candles are then placed in the sand.  When the candles are lighted, the sacks glow with a soft light, giving a beautiful effect as they are placed along sidewalks, doorways and porches.

To fulfill their purpose, not only must the luminarias be placed where they are to shine; they must be lighted as well.  Their beauty is not in the paper bag, the sand, or even the candle; but in the warm glow of the candle after it is lighted.

In Genesis 1:17 we read that the moon and stars had a special place in the heavenlies, for a special purpose.  They were placed "in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth."

Our lives are to be shining lights for the Lord, reflecting His glory upon the earth.  The Bible compares us to candles.  "For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness" (Psalm 18:28).

There are many ways of letting our candle glow - a letter of encouragement, a friendly phone call, a cheery smile, a kindly deed.  Perhaps we are missing opportunities to shine for Him because we are looking for big places of service instead of taking advantage of the ones He has placed about us.  "Don't hide your light!  Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:16, LB).

As you place Christmas candles around your home this Christmas season, take time to check the candle of your life.  Is it shining brightly?  Or has it become dim by busyness, indifference, carelessness, or self-will?  Perhaps the wick needs to be cleaned and trimmed so our light will shine more brightly.

At this Christmas season, may the world not just be aglow with the lights of candles and Christmas lights, but with the heavenly Light of the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, shining through each of our lives. 

If I could turn back time...

Started this 2 weeks ago (where does the time go!!!), but I will leave it as is, and update at the end...

We've had some slightly cooler weather, but the wind picked up again this morning...

A trip to Launceston on Friday with Marnie and a stop off at the big Mission/op shop at Youngtown.  I picked up this cane chair for $40...

I've been looking for one for quite a while for my bedroom, but they are too expensive to buy new, so I was pleased with my bargain find

And these books too...

for a couple of dollars

I've made 3 little jumper and beanie sets for K4C...

I will mail them off this week.  They will then be sent to PNG and Timor

And I also have these beanies and a scarf to go to another of K4C's charities.  They are for their December charity, so won't be mailed off till the end of December...

but I had made them earlier in the year and put them away

And now I'm ready to start another project!  A blanket for the Fistula patients at the Hamlin Fistula Foundation.  I used to knit blankets for them years ago, but they stopped requesting them.  Now I see we can knit for them again.  The instructions are HERE if you'd like to knit one...

they asked for bright colours.  I already had these so I can make a start, but will probably get a few more 'brights' to add in

 

I'm still making slow progress on my cardigan/jacket, but I won't need it till next winter...

probably just as well at the speed I'm going :)

It's now 2 weeks later.  I'd been trying to get back to this but to no avail.  Determined to get it updated and posted today...

A couple of other op shop finds.  I'm enjoying Still Life...

will read The Runaway Quilt next.  There are a whole series of these 'quilt' books, but I've not read any of them, so will see what I think.

I'm working on the fistula blanket but decided to do it in strips instead of squares.  Less sewing up that way...

 I bought a ball of pink and purple yarn to add to the colours

And this was last night's sunset...

"The heavens declare the glory of God..." 

(Psalm 19:1)

xx  

Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters...

What do You Need? - Read Isaiah 58

"There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt." (Ecclesiastes 5:13)

What do you really need, (not want), that money can buy and that God has not already given to you?  The Bible says, "Having foods and raiment let us be therewith content" (1 Timothy 6:8), but the majority of us have far more than this minimum, and too often we still are not content.  What about my neighbor who does not have all he really needs, not even food and raiment?  He may live in India, Syria, or the Congo, but he is still my neighbor.

I first met little Nguyen Quang when her mother carried her into the Mekong Delta village where our team was conducting a medical mission.  About 6 or 7 years of age, she weighed only 14 pounds and was in such a desperate physical condition that we decided to immediately medevac her by our river boat to the nearest hospital.  When we later returned there, the hospital staff informed us that they had discharged Nguyen Quang shortly after her admission.

"The child's problem is a dietary one not a medical one.  She is simply starving.  We can only treat medical problems, not nutritional ones."

"But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion, from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:17).  Will I stand guilty before the Lord because of indulging myself with the material and spiritual blessings He has entrusted to me, instead of using them for the relief of the poor and the lost?  An estimated160-180 million people have no Scripture in their native language.  About 854 million people go hungry each day, and 21,000 die of hunger.  Especially in this season of widespread gift giving, let's ask ourselves: What do we really need? 

Pete Lewis - Halsey, OR

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." - James 4:17

From A Year's Journey with God...

Almighty

"I am the Alpha and the Omega ... the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8

Can you picture a lonely prisoner in his cell?  His mind is full of memories of the past - but the worst one returns often.  He is standing by a cross, watching his best friend die in agony.  Suddenly the terrible memory is replaced by something amazingly different!  He gasps as a vision of the future floods his mind with glory.  He sees the friend, whom the world has rejected, coming back again surrounded by angels and golden clouds.  This time no one could ignore Him, and the soldiers who callously tortured him quake in terror.  As the Holy Spirit pulls back the curtains of time, John glimpses the carpenter, who had been his friend, gloriously transformed, enthroned forever in heaven.

At this time of year, which the church has christened Advent, we are not only preparing our hearts for the coming of the baby in a manger; we are also focusing our eyes of faith on the second coming of our King.  This amazing event was not just an old man's imagination - it is real (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).  Most of us probably wish we could have been in that Bethlehem stable on the first Christmas Eve, but nothing is going to stop us being present the next time Jesus comes!

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Therefore comfort one another with these words."

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Weekend Words

 From Be Still and Know...

"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

It has been said that the thought life is the gateway to the soul.

Each thought that approaches the mind for entrance should pass inspection.  Before we board a plane, each passenger has to pass through a security inspection.  Either security officers must check the on-board luggage, or it is put under an x-ray machine before the passenger can carry it on the plane.

As thoughts come to the door of our minds they need to pass inspection before being allowed to enter.

Paul enumerates some inspection standards for our thoughts: "Whatsoever things are true."  Jesus said, "I am the truth."  In Him is revealed the truth about God.  God has made the truth available to us in the Bible.  As we fill our minds with Bible truths, our thoughts are centered on that which is true, genuine, and real.

We need to open our minds to "whatsoever things are honest," those things that claim respect.  We need to think on "whatsoever things are just," that which is right.

Thinking on "whatsoever things are pure" gives purity to our thought life.  We are to fill our minds with "whatsoever things are lovely," things that give beauty of character.

"Whatsoever things are of good report" are the things that are worth talking about.

It is important to saturate our minds with the word of God.  We should fix our thoughts on these God-given standards which motivate us to a more Christ-like living.  Our inner attitudes affect our outer actions.  "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7).

Today if we were to take the thoughts of our minds to God's inspection centre, would they pass inspection, or would some of them need to be removed?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts.  Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life (Psalm 139:23-24, LB).

From Faith's Checkbook - Charles H Spurgeon...

Our Holiest Example

"I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved." - Psalm 16:8

This is the way to live.  With God always before us, we shall have the noblest companionship, the holiest example, the sweetest consolation, and the mightiest influence.

Always to have an eye to the Lord's eye, and an ear to the Lord's voice - this is the right state for the godly man.  His God is near him, filling the horizon of his vision, leading the way of his life, and furnishing the theme of his meditation.  What vanities we should avoid, what sins we should overcome, what virtues we should exhibit, what joys we should experience if we did indeed set the Lord always before us!

The Lord, being ever in our minds, guides and aids us, and hence we are not moved by fear, or force, or fraud, or fickleness.  When God stands at a man's right hand, that man is himself sure to stand.