Up to speed

Cha.
It's been six years since setting up this quiet corner of the internet! Life remains simple and slow.
It's a public holiday today in this beautiful island of mine. It's also hot and dry and brown and dusty from a drought we are experiencing.
Sunning the pillows today. Ate a simple meal and am now thinking of making some muffins a little later on. Choices. Some people in this world have very little room to play around with decisions. Still.
So what's been up? Too many things. Yet, I'm still thankful.
Church is still beautiful; or more beautiful now that I am getting older. If I could only make people see how good being a part of the body of Christ is! Still, I will try to shine what light I have so somebody may be caught in its beam.
I'm enjoying life; not work, but life. I was transferred nearly two years ago and I haven't adapted up to now. It really isn't what I would have wished for in many ways, yet in others it can be quite enjoyable.
My immediate neighbourhood remains unchanged; no deaths or additional families. Thank you Lord that life is still the wonderful gift it ever was.
Still, looking on at the situation in the world makes me wonder how long we can go on like this: war, climate change. Scary. Still, the universe is unfolding as it should.
Catching up is good, but I still don't know how some people manage to write so often.
Maybe I will find out one day.

A testimony
An appreciation service
An avoidable problem
Expensive convenience
Fatigue
Normalcy 

Today
A father's decline
Memories of childhood
Reflections on what this living thing is all about
Communion
An old man's tears
A daughter's dutiful care
A wife's witnessing
A faithful God
Comparisons
A thankful child
A friend's offer
A thought
Things that make for peace
The graces and blessings of being family
Deep breaths
Thanksgiving always

Vacation nearly ended.
Time well spent.
Hedge all shaped and in order.
Friends revealed, friends refreshed.
Baking bread and cooking good food.
Sitting in the wind with nothing between me and the sea.
Childhood friends on visits.
Driving many miles.
Venturing opinions in public spaces.
Searching and searching all the time.
An old woman's depression.
Hope.
Helpful customer service reps.
Seeking simplicity and peace.
Joy always, ever since the choosing.
A paltry few posts in nearly three years; hilarity.
Blessed days; beautiful days.

Arguments about playing video games. Tired eyes. Resting.
Jehovah's witnesses calling.
Being challenged to write every day.
Trusting in God's promises. Learning important lessons; listening and leaving things be.
Grateful for family and friends. Thankful for the rainfall of late.
Shaking my head with wonder at this one, beautiful, grace touched life.
An open door.
Anything for the peaceful life eh!
Changes.
Mindfulness and contemplation.

Wow! It's been more than a year since I even looked here! Can I try again?
Been writing in my journal all this time and growing. I hope.

I've been thankful for sure. Every day I give thanks for something or someone; a truly life altering attitude.

Struggling with the vegetarianism of late but hoping to come back on stream for this Lenten season. Forty days ought to be a good target for setting in place some better eating habits again.

It's also Election time in my country right about now. Not terribly interested. Off tomorrow on a vacation day. Too many things to be accomplished and there is to be no rushing about to accomplish them.

I do like this little corner of the internet where it is quiet and peaceful. I really do.

Embracing the new life

For years I have struggled with socialising. Just not good at it. Introvert at heart I am. But somehow since I started following Christian websites and blogs over three years ago I find myself slowly opening up. I'm not tech savvy so I can't do anything fancy with  this blog.  But I suppose I will come on from time to time and write something which might make sense or at least be interesting. So far I have just been musing; not trying to write anything really. Maybe I'll post my sometimes sermons here with a little editing for length to provide something somebody might want to read. Maybe.

It's been ages since I wrote on here. Guess I have a love hate relationship with exposure. I read other people's blogs every day and wonder how on earth they can divulge so much. Guess it was my rearing; best seen and not heard.
Found out about an hour ago that one of the bloggers I follow has gone into hospice care. She had AS and was so bold and brave. I am mostly healthy and not so bold or brave. Tears fell for a near total stranger. Unless following her blog made us friends. I felt as though I knew her and was sharing her life.
A lot has changed around here though, even though I am still inching along. And still many things remain the same. God's love is still palpable. I asked the lover of my soul to create a new heart in me almost two years ago. I am beginning to think that it really has happened. Can't say that it is a finished product, but there's lots of new stuff going on with it. For sure I am guarding it too.
Some days I am so grateful that He knows my name that I can't stand myself. I am learning to number my days.

Latest news.

It's been months since I've written anything here. Guess my head just wasn't in that kind of place.
Still following a vegetarian lifestyle. Lost 20 lbs easy as pie. Feel great. All round I'm really positive about life. Lord, I'm thankful that you know my name.

A new/ different life

I became a vegetarian overnight. Twenty days ago! A health challenge has brought me to this new place.

I asked God to renew my spirit over one year ago and it seems he has included my body and my mind at the same time. My life as I knew it has been turned upside down.

If I had known would I have asked? Yet I inch along knowing that God cares for me and wants the best for his child. Actually that is the only thought I have been hanging on to for a very long time.

When I wrestle and question why did this happen or the next happen, it comes right back to Jeremiah 29:11; my Heavenly Father has plans to prosper me and not to harm me. Then I go to Proverbs 3 and I am told to lean not on my own understanding but acknowledge Him in all my ways and He will direct my paths.

I wrestle with my shortcomings and pray every time that God would just move me from the place where I am. Then I remember that struggling is how a butterfly strengthens its wings coming out of the cocoon.

Lord I thank you for your loving tender care. You didn't bring me this far to leave me and neither did you teach me to swim to let me drown. 

It's Saturday morning and it is shaping up to be a beautiful day. The Sun is in its glory and the grass is looking lush and green again after so many months of being brown and dry.

What's on my mind? Seems nothing at all lately.

I try to keep away from bad news since it is mostly unhelpful. Hardly read newspapers and stopped watching TV a while ago.

Did my devotions this morning but forgot to pray. That happens a lot.

I write my prayers down since I forget stuff, but then I get tired of repeating them. I am thinking about trying cue cards. There has to be an easier way to be an intercessor.


I am toying with an idea: should we pray for specific things or just that God's will be done? Or should we mix it up? Should we pray for causes or persons? Or again mix it up?

Did some reading online today and got to thinking. How come my church does not pray for anything or anyone specifically on an ongoing basis? We pray every Sunday for our country's leaders and our bishops and priests etc, but this seems to be insufficient.

Are we supposed to pray for those in the world, or only those in the Household of faith? I get the feeling we are supposed to pray often and for much. But this area seems blurry. 

I mean, when we look around we can see evidence of the broken state we are in as a planet; environmentally, financially, morally and so on. The question may very well arise, what is the Christian mandate when looking at this?

Is it to preach the Gospel? Or will the words 'love your neighbour as yourself' compel us to get on our knees and intercede for a world which is deluded? And how will we really do that when the church itself seems to be in need of intercession as well?

Too many questions it seems.

Just wondering out loud.

As I set this up this blog, I am wondering if I really want to do this. These things can be so public.
 
Yet it is an attempt to work out my salvation in the Lord. To reflect, muse, or ramble as often as I need to on anything going on in my head.

Well for starters, it is a sunny day in my neck of the woods. It is also very quiet in the neighbourhood; no vehicle horns blaring; not even a bird chirping.

Seemingly started the day off on the wrong foot since up to now I have not completed my morning quiet time. Too many things going on all at once I suspect.

Let me go and correct that.