I spent the last couple of nights listening to Havilah Cunnington speaking, learning more about God’s purpose for us now in this moment of time, and the logos and rhema Word.
Here are three songs we sang over the two nights…
🙂
The Blue Blueness
Went for a long rambling walk this morning, with the blue skies arching above, and the weather unsure of whether it wanted to be cold or warm. I’ve been on progressively longer walks lately, revelling in the fresh air and sunshine.
Took a photo of a flower, because it was smiling at me.
It wasn’t quite the crisp clear image I was aiming for. The sun was on the screen, so I couldn’t quite see what was there – I just pointed and clicked. Also, the people who lived in the house had just come back from somewhere and seemed unsure as to why I was crouched by their fence… I smiled, waved, and then moved on. They seemed OK with that.
On the route I took today there is a big old Queensland nut tree, so I spent some time foraging on the footpath. Here’s my harvest.
The nuts themselves seem larger than the other trees I’ve tried – not sure if that’s to do with the age of the tree?
I enjoy walking. It’s invigorating, and always interesting. The only problem is that it can take time out of a day that may not have much left over. I never regret going. It’s easier to sit on the patio and drink coffee, but not as rewarding. Doesn’t it feel sometimes like there’s always something left to do? Even when deadlines are met, there’s still a lingering feeling of…something. In reality, of course, there always is something unfinished, or waiting to be taken care of. It’s important to take time out and still your soul. That can be with coffee on the patio, or with a long walk.
Balance…
Today the sun shone like it was summer, and the skies soared into the bluest of blues. The sort of day where you breathe in inspiration, and remember how beautiful life is…
Sing!
😀
Drifting, Ready To Land
Lovely and sunny today, after grey skies and rain yesterday. I enjoy both, and have been taking it easy lately with some sort of virus – thankfully not too bad, but lots of coughing leading to muscle pain in places I’d forgotten I had… More chances to chill out on the patio with coffee/tea in my new cup.
I’ve not been getting much work done, but have been sorting out some loose ends. There are decisions to be made, which will be hard to make but hopefully lead to peace. Nothing too drastic – just one of those necessary changes life brings.
I’ve been reading a lot. A couple of my recent books come from a series I enjoy – the Sisterchick books – about women around middlish age, faced with various decisions and changes, travelling together and learning about themselves and others. It’s a Christian series, but not “preachy” – I’ve tried a few Christian books in other genres (mysteries etc), and have not really enjoyed them. They often seem to be mediocre stories with a bit of “God” attached. The mysteries are often too mixed with romance, and I don’t like “Christian” romance books at all… The Sisterchick books are gentle but funny and thoughtful.
My favourite is the one set in Venice – it spoke to me as I am right now, and provided encouragement.
Life changes with each new season – sun or rain.
There’s always good – and always hope.
Live.
It’s worth it!
❤
Dance!
“Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did.” Romans 6:8-11 (The Message)
Stand…
“The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.” Romans 8:23-25 (The Message)
Real
Today is Good Friday, a day to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
We have no trouble visualising the “Jesus as God” part of the equation – there are so many paintings across the ages that give an ethereal depiction – but we sometimes find it harder to remember the human side of Jesus. He was fully God, but also fully Man, able to identify with us and reconcile us to God. He is not remote – He knows our weaknesses, and has compassion for our frailties.
I came across this song recently, and thought it was a reminder of the man Jesus – the one who had a real, flesh and blood body, who lived a real life and took on real suffering for us, bled real blood for us, who had a real mother he loved as a son.
Real pain.
Real blood.
Real love.
For us.
Perhaps we gloss over the real story because it’s easier to distance ourselves; to not have to engage our emotions or think about what it really means for us.
If tradition is right, both about Mary’s age when Jesus was born, and Jesus’ age at his crucifixion, I am now about the same age she would have been when she watched her little boy die, in blood and pain.
I don’t know how I could have handled that. But it makes it seem more real. And it compels a response, one way or another.
A Blessed Heart
As a reminder of God’s blessings to me, I found this stone on my walk today…
… while listening to this song.
May you be richly blessed!
1000 Fields of Roses 