I originally chose this clip to bring some cheer… which of course it does. Just not the way I thought it would đ
We were entering the finish line for Christmas, before the wheels came off. Or, the car broke down. Last week, just before a block of events and obligations that had to be reassessed to find other methods of transport. We hoped it was a minor fix, but it seems that fixing the faults would cost more than the car is worth. So, here we are. Looking for a value priced, reliable, not too old car. Just before Christmas.
This year seems to have gone very quickly. Good things happened; bad things did as well. I had hoped to overhaul my health issues and get them on the way to “better”, but that still needs work! My boys are both adults now, though, and Sweet Bean has been forging ahead into becoming a grown up – changing accounts, looking for work, basically separating himself from us as much as possible (in a good way – not emotionally đ ) We will have a good Christmas, whatever happens. Life still has many beautiful surprises in store. â¤
But here is a song for the sad places in our hearts, where we feel lonely and unheard.
Be blessed. Be merry. And know that there is still the possibility of light.
Easter morning, and we’re off to a (virtual) service soon. There’ll be communion, and we will reflect on Jesus’ resurrection – so long ago, and yet echoing throughout the ages.
As a Christian, I believe many things that fit within the traditional Christian framework. I probably also believe many things that may not fit – there’s a lot on the periphery that’s been debated over the years, and perceptions of what scriptures mean can vary according to our understanding.
There’s one thing that we all can agree on, though – Jesus Christ, and Him crucified!
It’s the basis of our faith, wherever we land on other issues.
Why? What happened then?
“9 For he is the complete fullness of deity living in human form. 10 And our own completeness is now found in him. We are completely filled with God as Christâs fullness overflows within us. He is the Head of every kingdom and authority in the universe!
11 Through our union with him we have experienced circumcision of heart. All of the guilt and power of sin has been cut away and is now extinct because of what Christ, the Anointed One, has accomplished for us.
12 For weâve been buried with him into his death. Our âbaptism into deathâ also means we were raised with him when we believed in Godâs resurrection power, the power that raised him from deathâs realm. 13 This ârealm of deathâ describes our former state, for we were held in sinâs grasp. But now, weâve been resurrected out of that ârealm of deathâ never to return, for we are forever alive and forgiven of all our sins!
14 He canceled out every legal violation we had on our record and the old arrest warrant that stood to indict us. He erased it allâour sins, our stained soulâhe deleted it all and they cannot be retrieved! Everything we once were in Adam has been placed onto his cross and nailed permanently there as a public display of cancellation.
15 Then Jesus made a public spectacle of all the powers and principalities of darkness, stripping away from them every weapon and all their spiritual authority and power to accuse us. And by the power of the cross, Jesus led them around as prisoners in a procession of triumph. He was not their prisoner; they were his!”
“Christâs resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for thatâs where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority! 2 Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.
3 Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away in God in Christ. 4 And as Christ himself is seen for who he really is, who you really are will also be revealed, for you are now one with him in his glory!”
13-14″Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, âCursed is everyone who hangs on a treeâ? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abrahamâs blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive Godâs life, his Spirit, in and with us by believingâjust the way Abraham received it.”
In chaos, in trouble, in uncertainty, He is still in control.
And His Name is power!
We’ve been staying home lately, and mostly pottering round doing this and that… I’ve still been getting dressed each morning and keeping (fairly) normal hours. Today I thought I’d embrace the home-bound experience and stay in bed in my pyjamas đ
I had been planning to do this anyway – it’s Saturday. I’ve not been well today, though, so it seemed an obvious choice. My Babe has been doing the shopping trips on his own, as we want to help reduce the number of people out and about as much as we can. I went to help yesterday morning (those Aldi carts are easier to unpack with two, and the scanning is usually done at warp speed…) and this morning I felt like I’d been hit by a truck.
Coincidence?
Well, yes, probably.
Nevertheless, it’s been nice to do nothing much but read, despite a massive headache making it hard to concentrate. I think I’ll probably get dressed tomorrow, though…
I’ve been reading again!
Over the holidays I binged on cozy mysteries, so now it’s time for more educational and inspiring books (not that I’ll give up on my mysteries!). I have lots of books in my bookcases that I haven’t read, and I’m working my way through those.
Our library also has new books coming all the time – I can usually go in each week and find something I haven’t seen before.
I’ve just finished a book called “Bare”, by Susan Hyatt. It’s got a lot about weight loss, but coming from the perspective of loving yourself where you’re at, and finding out what you’re actually feeding when you binge eat (or over work, over exercise… add your particular excess here…) One section is about what to do with the hectoring voices in your head. There are a few different options; this is one of my favourites.
Another that I quite liked has to do with reacting to the rogue thought as a bouncer would – (Scenario)
Thought – “You’re useless/ugly/horrible” etc…
Mental “bouncer” – “What!! You again! Trying to sneak past me – get out of here!”
What else have I been reading?
My devotional reading this morning lead me to John Donne’s Holy Sonnet XIV –
“Batter my heart, three personâd God; for, you As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend, That I may rise, and stand, oâerthrow mee,âand bend Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new I, like an usurpt towne, toâanother due, Labour toâadmit you, but Oh, to no end, Reason your viceroy in mee, mee should defend, But is captivâd, and proves weake or untrue. Yet dearelyâI love you,âand would be loved faine, But am bethrothâd unto your enemie: Divorce mee,âuntie or breake that knot againe, Take mee to you, imprison mee, for I Except youâenthrall mee, never shall be free, Nor ever chast, except you ravish mee.”Â
Another rainy day, which I love.
It also has the element of gloom, though – perhaps things seem closer and darker.
There’s injustice and pain going on in the world, as well as just bouts of petty sniping, and sometimes it can feel a bit hopeless… I tell my boys to keep on moving forward, and do what you can do.
There are times to just stop, take care of yourself, and breathe. There are times to take a stand and put yourself out there.
And there are times to put your head back and SING!
“Fill our hearts with a holy danger
Lead us beyond our fear of failure…”
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…
a bit of creativity, a bit of eco consciousness, a bit of inspiration.... hopefully not a lot of pompousness and blathering :D
i'm not entirely sure what's going on here... let's travel along and see...
1000 Fields of Roses 