Therefore, brethren, since we have
confidence to enter the holy place by
the blood of Jesus, by a new and
living way which He inaugurated for us
through the veil, that is, His flesh,
and since we have a great priest
over the house of God, let us draw
near with a sincere heart in full assurance
of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled clean from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with
pure water. Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is
faithful; and let us consider how to
stimulate one another to love and good
deeds, not forsaking our own assembling
together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another; and all
the more as you see the day drawing near.
Cloudless
Ah what a gorgeous day this is!! Just got finished making a mammoth salad for my dinner(probably enough for another few dinners too..) and enjoying feeling the spring breeze waft through the windows. After walking back from church(where a good haggis/neaps/tatties lunch was enjoyed by all), the springtime sun shone down so brilliantly on me that I couldn’t help but immediately change into my shorts and t-shirt and dash back outside again! Went for a Sunday drive to the store to pick up my salad ingredients, enjoying seeing the blossoming trees and yellow tulips sprouting everywhere! About 70 degrees here. Love it. It should stay this weather for every day here, ever. I so decree.
And that’s enough about the weather, just couldn’t help but glory in the beauty of it all!! Now I think I’m going to enjoy eating my salad before going out again to walk to evening service! Enjoy this day of rest, you all.
Be not dismayed
And another week slowly rolls to a close. This has been a long intense week at work, but as always, God is oh so gracious! And as I drove home from work in the softly fading sunlight, I couldn’t hope but glory in the God who has blessed me so!! Oh why does He love me so?? I feel so at peace in the beauty of His love, I could weep.
Ah Lord God, how great your lovingkindnesses; how magnificent your faithfulness! Never failing is your goodness to us, your sons and daughters. Always abounding are your mercies. My heart sings – oh to play the lute of joy in your presence, my Lord and my God! Oh to sit down and dine with you in your courts above, my Jesus!
Ah…and now it is time to read, I say. Tonight will be a nice dinner of burgers, green beans and baked potatoes – a good Friday night dinner, I do say! Just going to rest and read tonight, I think. Oh rest is ever so needful at times.
Love to you all, my dear friends.
Carnations and Roses
As my burritos finish heating up, I thought I’d write a quick post, despite my weary eyes’ feeble protests. Had a rather late night last night, out celebrating Beth’s final days in Aberdeen!
And so now I just thought I’d, once again, say my farewell to a dear friend. Beth came over last July…and indeed her friendship has been such a treasure to me. Work is full of long days and stressful moments…but God has blessed me oh so abundantly with Beth!! Her words of encouragement and smiles of joy…what can I say, God knew I needed such a one as her. As she now travels back to Houston to continue her training, I can only say – while her absence from Aberdeen will be keenly felt, I know that the blessings of the Lord still will flow unceasingly, both to her in her new job and new home…and to me as well. As always. It’s been real, Beth. Our Father will continue to watch over you and His love will never cease to surround you. Always.
Springtime
As I soak in the sunlight
and gaze at the
cloud-speckled blue above,
As I look out over the city
and ponder the
great sea stretched
to sky beyond,
As my green pen traverses
the paper and uncorks
my thoughts to
the wind,
As my hair tosses slowly
and revels in spring’s
gentle kiss,
As my heart is still
in the quiet of
this moment,
I feel bliss,
I feel joy,
I am loved.
Very rough yet very real. Enjoy for what it is.
Oh what a gorgeous day this is!
Now time to walk again in the light of this fading day.
Molten chocolate
Good morning!!
I shockingly slept in quite late this morning…I first woke up around 7, but the state of my head informed me that today would most definitely not be a church day. Tried to get up before falling dizzily back into bed. So, slept a few more hours before waking up again, feeling considerably better. I needed the sleep, methinks.
And now I’m enjoying a delightful breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast and hot cocoa…
While I’m saddened I wasn’t able to be at church this morning, there’s nothing stopping me from my own worship! And it’s an outrageously gorgeous day outside, so I’m thinking it shall soon be time for a walk.
And last night was a bittersweet riot of dagger thoughts and liquid poetry…maybe I shall share some of it with you later. Maybe.
Have an amazing rest of the day, y’all! As for me, I am back to breakfast and worship. Sing to the Lord a new song!!!
Lute-song
Another update – same day? Shocking I say!
But just thought I’d write a brief few words as my dinner(stir fry of beef, peppers, broccoli, awesome much?) cooks. I’ve been feeling a bit sick all day, so decided to stay in tonight and try to regain my strength. Looking forward to a relaxing evening of reading, maybe calling a friend back in Florida, and an early bedtime…ah the simple pleasures of life.
Sometimes I long for what I do not have. Then I consider what I do have, and feel so silly! Today is one of those days.
Now, the aroma of spiced beef and noodles fills the flat. Dinner time, y’all.
Strings of beauty
And I sit peacefully in Starbucks here in Aberdeen this Saturday morn…
I’ve been here for a few hours now. Successfully got some work done(although there is always more to do…) and now relaxing with my mocha and my reading. Mmm. I think I’ll stay here another hour or so, and then away home! I’m planning on going to David and Rosie’s tonight for dinner/gaming, but been feeling sick last night and this morning…so I may have to settle for a quiet night in instead. We shall see.
This girl at the table in front of me has been intently reading this book for the past hour or so and I’m tempted to ask her what it is…think that would be weird? Yeah, probably.
This week has been intense, but not always the bad kind of intense. Emotionally draining and anxiety-heightening? Yes. But still, the Lord does provide, always.
As I read today,
More than the sounds of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty. Your testimonies are fully confirmed; Holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.
Mm, yes.
And now before my mind wanders and my pen strays, I shall cease this writing and leave you all to your day. I say it’s time for some classic Isaiah for me. Yes?
No matter how your emotions dip or rise, no matter the wild desires of your heart, no matter your love-fueled dreams or woe-filled cries – set your gaze on our Jesus above. Seek for His beauty. Long for His love. Worship Him as Lord and God. Forever and always. Jesus. Rejoice with me!!
Joy Inexpressible
And another Sunday evening rolls slowly on..
I meant to write a longer entry tonight, but I am getting a reading craving right now(first Ted Dekker’s Blink, then I’m thinking some classic John 17…oh yes) so thinking this will be pretty short. Famous last words.
Anyways, this day’s been simply lovely…despite waking up feeling severely under-rested. Played RISK at Ruth’s place last night with her and David and Rosie – epic game! Of course, I was eliminated first…but thus is war. Didn’t get to sleep until late, and then this morning woke up a bit early, since I was preparing to speak at the local Woodend hospital church service. I won’t dwell too long on that, except to say that God gave grace abundantly. (In case anyone’s interested, spoke on 1 Peter 1:3-9, our ever increasing joy as we love Christ more)
Then this afternoon, after church, came back and had a quick lunch before being overcome by my exhaustion. Did I have a two hour nap? Just possibly, yes. I feel asleep practically before my head hit the pillow and slept like a log. Woke up feeling simply amazing! You know those naps where you wake up feeling worse than when you lay down? Yeah, definitely wasn’t one of those.
And did I just spend a paragraph on my Sunday nap? Oops. Anyways! This evening was a lovely service at church, dwelling on John 21 and the restoration of Peter. Oh I wish I could have breakfast with Jesus!! Someday. Someday.
And now I feel it’s reading time, before my cocoa gets cold. Have a lovely week, y’all. My prayers and thoughts are with you. You who are far away(you know who you are!), oh how I long for the next time we can speak face to face!
G’night all – and sweet dreams.
A softer silence
“Nothing renders us so like unto God as our love unto Christ Jesus, for he is the principal object of his love;-in him doth his soul rest – in him is he always well pleased.”
-John Owen, The Glory of Christ
Just some brief musings as I read…truly, as difficult as Owen is to read at times, reading his writings on the glories and beauty of Christ is honey to my soul. Ah what longings it arouses in my heart, to read such sweet words on the nature and majesty of Christ and of the Father and of the Spirit and of their divine love and incomprehensible wisdom. As many good books as may be out on the bookshelves of this world, the ones I love reading the most are the ones that stir my passions for Jesus and let me see His face a little clearer. When a book brings me such joy, as to ponder on the ineffable Christ…this is when I know I’m reading the right book.
Oh my brothers and sisters, rest in peace tonight, knowing that our Savior is with us, always and forever.
Something Weird 