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Living in tough times

  I am grateful every day, that I live in a country that is not at war; that I live in a country where it is safe to walk through a nearby park; that I live in a country where there is no true poverty and no famine; that I live in a country where the jobless are supported. I am grateful that God has provided everything I need. I have a great husband who cooks for me. I have wonderful friends who are there for me, I have a lovely home and a vehicle to drive. Even though I am on a pension, I have enough to meet friends over coffee, a couple of times a week. I have so very much. I often think of those who struggle to make ends meet. I think of those in countries where there is terrible poverty. I think of those trying to stay alive in war-torn countries and the constant stress they are under. I think of those who are sold into slavery. I think of those who have experienced floods, wildfires, and severe earthquakes. I especially think of persecuted Christians. I often get emotional w...
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Recent posts

How's your attitude?

  I realized today that I need to work on my attitude. I am highly organized so do not react well when my day is disrupted. My darling hubby asked me to attend a hospital appointment with him the following day, in a city around half an hour away. I already had my day planned but also wanted to support him; besides, he said we would go for coffee afterwards! So, that morning, while he visited a friend I walked two kilometers to the gym, completed a half hour workout then walked home. I then rushed to get all my housework done, made a sandwich and had quarter of an hour to rest and eat before folding towels out of the drier after which I needed to get ready. Once there, I waited, reading, in the waiting room while he attended his appointment for an hour. The chairs were uncomfortable and my back was aching. Finally, it was all over. As we drove out of the hospital grounds he turned in the opposite direction to the coffee shop he was going to take me to. When I questioned him, he sa...
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After the celebrations

  I hadn’t intended to write for a couple of weeks but found myself looking for something to do. After the December madness and travelling away for Christmas, I gave myself a couple of weeks to relax and enjoy our (mostly) lovely weather. Today, I had lunch out with my husband, sorted some washing, and played the piano which I haven’t done for a while. I love my music but must admit I was a bit rusty. It is one of those things that I find hard to fit into my life. Then I thought of sitting down to read a book! I felt guilty at spending too much time reading, so I need to work on that! However, I do enjoy writing my blog as well, so here I am. I am excited about the coming year. I feel like God has given me some direction about my writing and I am excited about it. My book sits awaiting substantial editing, yet I feel no desire or pressure to work on it. After all this time spent on it, I am feeling God saying ‘no’ or ‘not yet’. So, I trust Him and am happy to leave it on a shelf. M...
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An individual perspective

  I had lunch with a friend today and we were talking about spiritual matters. We had different perspectives on some of the things we talked about. We talked about reading the Bible. She says she has a simple faith, that if she has received Jesus as her Saviour and repented of her sins, she doesn’t need to know all that is in the Bible. I remember another very good friend who trained in the Ministry saying something similar. She found parts of the Bible hard to read and hard to understand but all she needed to know, was that she was saved. I just happen to love studying the Bible and feel it important to do so. I love it! I find it fascinating! Does this make me better than my two friends or more ‘saved’? No, we simply have diverse ways of approaching our Christian walk. My friend and I also had different views of what hell looked like. Does it matter? No, it simply matters that we understand hell is real and that we pray for all our unbelieving family and friends. I belong t...
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Interruptions

  I am a very organized person as you are probably aware of. So, my diary outlines everything I need to do in the day. I try and be flexible if the need arises, but I was contemplating a few days ago about the importance of being obedient to God’s plans at the expense of my own.   So last Tuesday morning, during my devotional time, I prayed for God to be with me in all that I had planned for the day. I did in fact have a very busy three days lined up. But I went on to ask God to let me be aware if He had any plans for me and to be responsive to Him. The afternoon, as I was completing my week’s grocery shopping, I received a phone call from my oldest and dearest friend who lives around four hours away. She and her husband had navigated an extremely difficult year and needed a break away from home, as well as the opportunity to talk things through with us. They were on their way for a surprise visit. My mind immediately went to all the tasks lined up over the next few days. I ...
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Overwhelm

  Christmas is coming! I have my list! Somehow, it seems longer than usual. Preparing for Sunday School end-of-year celebrations, preparing for a family wedding in another city, and being sick for three weeks, have meant many things were left undone. Now they’re on the list. I read the list and already feel burned out. When did it get to be this way? Why do we have all these expectations of ourselves? Everything must be perfect – which of course it never is! However, I am determined to try and do something about it, even if it means crossing only one thing off my list, so I can spend some more time with Jesus.   As I do so, may I be refreshed and restored in the hope of Christ’s birth, and of his second coming; the peace of the Holy Spirit dwelling in me; the joy that has nothing to do with my circumstances and everything to do with Jesus; the amazing, deep, all-encompassing love God showed for me by sending his son to take my sins upon his shoulders.   May I relax an...
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The best gift ever

  Each year in December we give the Sunday School children a small gift as an acknowledgement of our love for them as a church family. This year, we have only had around four to six children attending Sunday School as we currently have very few families participating in our morning church services. Today, I met with our Corps Officers (the Salvation Army name for ministers or pastors), to discuss what the children’s slot in the church service might look like. Each child will be invited up for their gift, plus I have a special extra gift which is a name plaque with the spiritual meaning of their names. I will give a brief talk on the importance of names, present the plaques then pray for the children. We will also recognize a group of neurodiverse children who are brought to church with the couple who care for them. They do not attend Sunday School but are an important part of our church family. Then the Corps Officers mentioned they would be inviting families from Recovery Ch...
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