BUSINESS AS USUAL

Hi everyone,

If I ask you what the name Deborah from the book of Judges brings to mind, what might you say?

Mighty, Leader, Prophet, Courage, Anointed? 

Yes, and you would be right on all counts.  But this morning, as I read Judges 4, this verse really spoke to me.

"Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time.  And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment."
  (Judges 4:4-5)

She was someone's wife, which indicates she had domestic commitments, and she spent her days receiving those who came to her for counsel and judgment as she sat under her tree.

She's in the Bible because of the battle she helped to win, but her daily life was more mundane.

Our lives matter, not just in the big moments of major events, platforms and public profile. Our lives matter in the daily, 'business as usual'.  

I wonder if on some days, sitting under that tree, she didn't get to feel a little ho-hum about it all?

And I wonder if her faithfulness in that daily business-as-usual routine, both under the tree and doing life with her husband, didn't prepare her well when the big challenge came.  

If there is one thing I love about God, it is that ALL of our lives matter, not just the big ticket items.

May you and I be content with our business-as-usual days, and in our faithfulness be well prepared for the big moments that come now and then.

With love,

Lynda xx

WAGTAILS, EAGLES AND CHOOKS

Hi everyone,

We're currently away from home, looking after four of our grandchildren. What I imagined would be pretty tiring has filled my soul with deep satisfaction. I love the sounds of a houseful of young people and the satisfaction of cooking the big meals I used to.

They live out in the country, and our favourite spot is the verandah, from which we love to watch the birdlife.

I was out there the other morning, watching the wagtails jumping around the lawn, seemingly dressed for dinner and having a blast!

I have also been reading a great book, "What Christians Ought to Believe: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine through the Apostles Creed," by Michael F Bird. It is blowing my mind with the incredible majesty of God, the wonder of His grace and the awesomeness of creation.

This will bring context to what I am about to say.

Can you imagine the sense of humour and creative brilliance of God to create willie wagtails? Have you ever watched them?

Then I thought about eagles. They are majestic, awe-inspiring and are known to soar over raging storms.

Then I thought about chooks. I've heard it said, "Don't be like a chook, be like an eagle, because chooks just scratch around in the dirt and can't really fly.

Well, willie wagtails are entertaining, and eagles are awe-inspiring, but the chooks, which are earthbound, provide food. Imagine trying to find the eggs if they could fly like eagles?  

God, in His wisdom and fantastic imagination, has created all three.

Some of us are like wagtails, pretty happy with ourselves, and make others happy. Some of us are like eagles; we can go places many others don't.  

But I suspect many of us are like chooks and self-sabotage by comparing ourselves with shame to those who can make others laugh, and those who seem to be able to soar, forgetting, that if the chooks weren't pretty much stuck at home, the gift of their eggs would not be there for others.  

So, 

• If you're a wagtail, go ahead and strut your stuff; we all love to be cheered up.
• If you're an eagle, fly as high as possible; we need your perspective.
• And if you feel stuck at home, know that your contribution to those around you is priceless.

God has created all in His wisdom, love, humour and vast imagination.  

With love,

Lynda xx

PS... Michael Bird's book is highly recommended. :)

SAVED AND SURRENDERED

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing really well. We have now settled back into life at home and are pleased about that too!

Have you ever wondered why some people who identify as Christians seem to thrive and grow and have peace and settled faith, even when life dishes up some nasties?

And others seem to struggle?

Have you ever gone through a period of high stress and wondered why your faith isn't working?

Or have you noticed that some believers seem clear on God's will for them, and others are stumbling about in confusion?

Let me introduce you (and me!) to an 'S' word.  

Surrender.

If we look at what the Scriptures say, particularly the early preaching in the book of Acts, we find that Jesus isn't only presented as Saviour, but as Lord.  

In the very first sermon, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified". Acts 2:36 (ESV)

That's a pretty punchy declaration within weeks of the crucifixion, in the city where it happened.

We also find that surrender is a key to victory. It sounds counterintuitive, but we are safe when it comes to surrendering to the Lord Jesus Christ. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 (ESV)

I wonder if we sometimes turn that on its head by resisting God and submitting to the devil by fighting for our own way.

I have experienced this wrestle many times in my life. I can confidently tell you that I recognised the moment of surrender by the experience of unexplainable peace that filled my soul in those moments.

Surrendering to God also brings all of the issues and affairs of our life under His will, wisdom and care, and anything surrendered into His good hands can be safely left there.  

2 Timothy 1:12 tells us that God can keep what we entrust to Him, so surrender is the essential ingredient to a salvation that genuinely works for us, not just in the sweet by and by, but in the gritty earthly life we are living now.

It may be time to stop hanging on to our will and surrender to His.

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that for those who love God ALL THINGS work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (ESV)

So, can we encourage one another?  Let's surrender our lives to The One who proved His love for us by surrendering His life for us.   

Until next time,

Love, Lynda xx

THE TRAP AND THE PIVOT

Hi everyone,

I've just returned home from an amazing holiday with Jeff & Dad.  We did a tour of Southern Ireland and loved every minute of it.  One of the joys was seeing Dad have such a good time.  We flew out of the country on his 89th birthday, and it is a testament to his faith that he is so well.  

As good as it was, we are all happy to be home and looking forward to a settled routine, which for me will include a return to regular writing!

I revisited a recent journal entry this morning and was prompted to share it here, so here we go!

Have you ever found yourself discouraged because other people seem to be doing better than you?  We all know that comparison is a trap, and particularly when we feel like we deserve better!

 "For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness" Psalm 73:3. Here is the trap.  Envy, and may I point out, a judgmental attitude to boot!

Anxiety and depression are guaranteed companions to envy.  Envy is the trap.  And judgment hardens our hearts and closes our minds.

So, what is the pivot?  How do we release ourselves from this trap?

Drop down to verses 16-17 of Psalm 73... "So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God......"

17 The pivot point is getting ourselves into the Presence of God.  If envy and judgment bring anxiety and depression, the Presence of God brings peace.   The sanctuary of God is not limited to a Church gathering. It's that personal space where we meet with God on a regular basis.  The place where we
worship, where we cry, where we wait, where we pray.  

Let us avoid the trap of envy and judgment, and allow the Presence of God to wash over our weary souls.  Better still, make time in The Sanctuary of His Presence a regular part of our life; it might just help to keep us away from that nasty trap of envy!

Until next time,

Love, Lynda xx

PRESENT, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Hi everyone,

I hope you are well, and if you are in Queensland, high and dry, and have suffered no damage from Cyclone Alfred.

I have been home just over a week after a month in Thailand, helping out at a Bible College.  I have met the most amazing people, and from the first day, I was aware of the grace of God in my life.  

Thankful is to light a word to express for all that He has done for me.  This time last year, I was unwell and looking at a bleak future.  Twelve months on, God opened this door, and I couldn't have been in a more different place, both geographically and in my own well-being, if I tried.  

Some things only God can do!

On returning home to 'normal' I can find myself asking what my next big step of faith is.  "Where next, Lord, do you want to use me?"

This morning I was reading the following verses....

"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise." Psalm 51:16-17

At the time this psalm was written the activity of bringing sacrifices and burnt offerings were a very public activity.  

I read somewhere this week that it is easier to serve God than to worship Him because in serving Him, we get to use our skills, but in worship, we get to open our hearts. Sometimes it is easier to be busy 'sacrificing for Him' than opening our hearts to Him.

In my personal 'debriefing' with The Holy Spirit, I needed to clean up some attitudes, repent for some words spoken, and not take off on another faith adventure!  

It is fine for me to enjoy the comforts of home, He is not asking me to 'step out' in faith anywhere.  He wants me to be fully present with Him in the Secret Place, so my heart can be cleaned up, renewed and readied for whatever He would have me do.

It takes humility to be fully and honestly present with God at home.  Going out and offering our lives as 'sacrifices' can look good, but what good is that if, in the sanctuary that is our heart, there is unfinished business?

I know there will be many more 'faith adventures', but right now, I'm free to be home, be rested, and be fully authentic in the Presence of my Saviour!

Can I encourage you to read Psalm 51 in its entirety?  It is such a beautiful, safe place in which to come to God.

Happily, back home,

With love,

Lynda xx

SAY IT SLOW .... K I N D N E S S

 SAY IT SLOW ..... K I N D N E S S

Anyone who knows me well knows I'm inclined to say to myself, "LYNDA, GET A GRIP!" I prefer Jane Austen's, "I will be calm, I will be mistress of myself". But I never remember that one as easily! (I dug it out of "Jane Austen's Little Book About Life" just now.)

This week, I have read two passages about kindness, gentleness, and patience. 

Matthew 12:7: "But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless."

Matthew 12:20a "A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench,..."

Proverbs 15:4 says, "Gentle words are a tree of life;..."

Have you ever thought that these are not just encouragements to be gentle and kind but words that express who God Himself is towards us?

He is kind, patient, gentle and faithful.

Our words and our natures are harsher than He is.

Our words and our natures are harsher to the people around us than He would be to them.

Our words and our natures are harsher towards ourselves than He is.

I want to be gentler and kinder than I'm inclined to be, just like Jesus. 

Not be quick to write people off, my words withering people's souls. But be so kind and patient that the bruises heal and the fire burns brightly again.

I should do the same for myself...

You should, as well.

With love,

Lynda xx

ADAPTABILITY

Well, here we are in a brand new year!  The last couple of weeks has been a whirl of happy chaos mixed with the simple pleasures of family life. 

Now as I have come out of that in between zone between Christmas & New Year where I'm not sure whether its last year or this year, it is clear to me that one thing is not working well.

For many years I have had a favourite spot for morning prayer. Some of you will have heard of our 'green room'! 🤣  But as our lives have changed so dramatically and Jeff is retired, this space is no longer working for my morning prayer because it is an open space.  Instead of telling Jeff to leave me alone which isn't good for a happy marriage, I have set up in our spare room.  

It doesn't have the same chair, nor the ambience of being close to our back garden, but it is private.

Now I realize that many of you may not have the luxury of spare rooms, but my point isn't that.  

My point is that sometimes we hold on to our favourite way of doing things way past their use-by date.

Is there a 'one thing' that you need to change as you embrace the new year?

With love,

Lynda xx