Lynda's Blog

  I often wonder if anyone will ever read these blogs. I enjoy writing them and it helps me to feel more confident about my writing and about editing. They are for my learning, as much as anything. But I would love it if I could build a following—not for myself but to be an encouragement for others, especially other Christians. What started as a light-hearted look at retirement, soon became documenting my journey with God. As issues arose, or life became a little difficult or frustrating, so I learned spiritual lessons. I would still like to write some funny or light-hearted posts and maybe something will occur to me as I sit down to write. I never know in advance what I am going to write until I sit before the computer. I can’t help but think of my latest foray to the local supermarket. You will gather from my earlier posts that grocery shopping is one of my least favourite weekly chores. I tend to hurry to get through it as soon as possible, but this doesn’t always work out dep...

  Today I am remembering how faithful God is. My husband and I were scheduled to spend a few days away visiting friends who live several hours away, then spend some time with our children and grandchildren before travelling home. I was so looking forward to it. Then three days ago my husband developed severe pain which meant a visit to the doctor for a diagnosis and a referral to a specialist and some tests—all of which he was told would take several months in the public health system. He was also told that even if he was placed on a waiting list it was likely to be years if at all for surgery, as it wasn’t considered life-threatening. In the meantime, my husband has to live with this pain. He is unable to enjoy life, unable to do much with his hobbies and unable to do some of his work around the house. It also impacts his mental health. Needless to say, it also impacts me to a lesser degree. We have booked in for private tests at some expense, and will also pay for a private v...

  I was reading my New King James Version of the Bible and reflecting on scripture, when something jumped out at me. I was reading Matthew 25, the parable of the talents. God gives us all gifts and talents to use for the Kingdom and we need to be using them to invest in others while we wait for Jesus to return. What are my gifts and talents I wondered? Well God gave me a gift or administration. I am organised, detail focussed, task oriented and I get things done. I believe I still use this. He also gave me a gift of teaching and a special passion for children; I still work in children’s ministry in my local church even though I am past my three score years and ten. I use my writing gift for the edification of the church in my spoken word. However, I feel convicted to use this for a wider audience and am working on this. So I pray that when I face judgement, I will be found to have used the gifts and talents God gave me. Are you using yours? I then read on to the parable of the te...

  This week, as I have been spending time in the Word, I have been increasingly convicted to share the gospel in a straightforward and simple way. In the past as I have tried to share the gospel I have felt clumsy and ill-prepared. I have felt as if my efforts may have actually hindered the acceptance of Jesus as Saviour. So instead of using words, I have endeavoured to use actions to show who I am and whose I am. I have used the written word when giving cards throughout the year to those I interact with regularly also, using scripture to speak for me. However, I feel it is time again to witness verbally to the saving faith of Jesus. Time is getting short and it is getting urgent to spread the gospel.   I remember that it is my work to share the Word with others, it is God’s work to save them. I still have difficulty in how best to witness, as the people I have been building relationship with and trying to show His love through my actions are all working at paid jobs (e.g. ser...

  Happy New Year! Entering a new year may bring various thoughts and emotions but I am excited for what is to come. I’m excited about my goals for the year. I’m excited to see where God takes me. Last year was busy and stressful. With the ongoing frustrations of renovating, being on an organizing committee for an extra event and my husband’s health problems including a trip to hospital for emergency surgery, plus keeping up with my volunteering and day to day chores, it has been exhausting. As I reflect on lessons learnt last year, I realize that to a certain degree my time with God suffered as there never seemed to be enough hours in the day. Being very organized and task-oriented, I have a diary to help me remember all I have to do and this allows me to accomplish a huge amount in a day. However, this same diary can be demanding, inflexible and energy-sapping. So some goals for this year include getting priorities right! This will include: ·      ...