February 20, 2010

• Ponderings...

  
  

  It’s the day of rest

  Of peace

  Of re-creation

  The Sabbath

  My most favourite day of the week

  And it is quiet

  The rain is falling gently outside

  I am cosily tucked under my fluffy white comforter

  Enjoying the silence and the rest.

   

  
  

  It’s a time to reflect, to be thankful and a time to share…

  This week didn’t turn out as expected…do they ever?

  But it was full of unanticipated opportunities.

  One was to hear a four part series shared in the chapel across the way from our home by Scotty Mayer of  www.littlelightministries.com called “Battlefield Hollywood, “ – a revelation of the truth about how easily we are deceived by someone who has been on the inside and now has found a living Saviour…if you are interested you can watch it at www.weimartv.com   There truly can be and is no marriage between darkness and light!

  

   

  Another was unexpected time to rest…not because I wanted to but because it crept up on me and I found myself struggling with a really intense cold. It gave me time to think, to ponder, to plan, to pray.

   I read something that really leapt off the page at me and the main thought was this – we need to choose to be intentional – we will either know the pain of discipline or the pain of regret…which would you choose?  I certainly would pick the pain of discipline for with it comes the reward of success in the end.

  As I was given this time of forced rest, it was a time to ponder and be thankful for the many blessings in my life:

   

  The amazing man I am married to who came home over lunch to see how I was doing…seeing his smiling face looking at me right then was such  a comfort and joy to me…he has done so much to help take care of me and things around here while I have been sick.

   

  My  children who have willingly helped me and the moments of conversation that we have been able to share.

  Books that inspire me written by people who have travelled the path before me and that encourage me to focus on God and doing things His way.

  The warmth of a home, hot  tea, a cosy bed, comfortable pillows, warm clothes, hot showers, the fragrance of my favourite coconut body wash given to me by a sweet friend.

  A surprise gift in the mail from  another dear friend – a wonderful book on raw foods.

  The taste of sweet juicy mandarins given to us by our “American mom”.

   Simply delicious strawberries and crunchy apples.  

   I have done nothing to deserve these blessings and so many in this world know nothing of these things….I am grateful…Lord show me how to bless others who are in need…

  

  This morning early I slipped out of bed to make my dear husband a cup of ginger tea and myself a cup of hot lemon & pau de arco tea – not my usual choice but I am doing all I can to give my body the best chance of recovery.   I love the time that we share each morning studying His word together.  This morning found us in 1 Peter 5 and these are the thoughts that moved me…

  We need to do God’s work willingly and with eagerness and not because of any reward we might receive.  Our lives need to be an example to those around us.  God’s work? Everything I do I need to be doing for Him, to His honor and His glory.  To have an happy heart  because I have the opportunities that God has given me – whether I am folding washing or cooking – thank you Lord for my family – or taking the time to give attention to a family member who needs me now, even thought it  might be inconvenient to me.  That I when I am at work talking to people on the phone that I will take the time and care to encourage them in the same way that I would want them to have encouraged me had I been in their shoes.

  We need to be subject to eachother and clothed in humility – to respect others, their ideas and opinions even if you don’t agree with them.  Willing to realize that in the scope of eternity, does this really matter? Do they matter more to me than my being right or having my way matters to me?

  God gives grace to the humble…if I am not humble I am not in a position to be able to receive His grace….humility….that is a whole study on it’s own! Lord teach me to be humble…

  To be willing to submit to God’s plan for my life as that is the path to success…it’s not about what I think the plan for my life should be, but about His plan for my life and my heartfelt surrender to Him because I love Him and trust His judgement better than my own even though now the pathway  seems dark and I cannot see what the future holds….I just know that the safest place to be is holdng His Hand and following in His footsteps and letting Him lead me.  Casting all my cares on Him for He cares for me…He cares for me so much that He died for me on Calvary….if He loved me that much that He had to rescue me, surely He will provide for me.

  Suffering is the path to glory – He allows us to go through times of suffering that we may realize how much we need Him, that we may learn to depend wholly on  Him,  that our security will be found in Him alone – and in the process we become like Him – perfect, established in the truth, strengthened in our faith and settled in Him.

  In the words of one of my favourite authors: “Through conflict the spiritual life is strengthened.  trials well borne will develop steadfastness of character and precious spiritual graces.  The perfect fruit of faith, meekness and love often matures best amid storm, clouds and darkness.” Christ Object Lessons Pg 61.

  Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled….He is always faithful to fill my hungering and thirsting soul….to inspire, motivate and encourage me…

   

   

  As I am still not feeling that great and do not want to share my germs with others, we did not go to church this morning…I am always sad to miss out, but glad that my now grown-up children were able to go together and enjoy all the blessings of worshiping with others. 
  

  
  

  

  But we didn’t miss out altogether as we were able to go to church at Pioneer Memorial Church (www.pmchurch.tv) in Michigan via The Hope Channel (www.hopetv.org) which we get free via satellite and were able to hear Dwight Nelson speak about God being in the heavenly temple and how that is relevant to me in 2010…that will be another blog post another day.

   

  My husband made a wonderful suggestion that we take a drive up to Bear River as we have not been there in ages…a lovely drive along meandering country roads.  Being a cold day it was quiet at the river, the water flowing gently over the rocks and pebbles in the stream bed…and many things came to mind…a song that I learned in my childhood and then taught to my children in their childhood…”give said the little steam, give oh give, give oh give…” and of the part in Hinds Feet on High places where it talks of the steams that ever flow lower, always willing to give, bringing life to others….and of the water of life that God has promised to freely give to me that I might never thirst again. 
  

  
  

  

   

  

   

   

   
  

  I love being outside, and I love being in nature, and I love being with my best friend….it was fun recording the moment.  And then the rain started to fall, and so after exploring a few more country roads we headed for home.

   

    

  

  

   

  
   

  Surely His goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life!

   

  • 11:03 pm
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