Happy Sunday, dear friends!! As is my Sunday tradition of late, I am enjoying a nice dinner(chicken parm, tomato salad, etc!!) while I watch the Sunday night football game(Texans v Colts. Go Houston!!!). Also, today I was beautifully encouraging by the family of God at church. Singing heartily in worship, hearing a powerful message on the Word of God and being blessed by good words from dear friends. May I bless others and honor God in all I do.
Now, my friends, ’tis dinner time. Peace, always.
A quiet night. A beautiful night, this fine Sunday. And oh how wonderful it is to have this night of rest! A simple night awaits. A spinach salad, a few slices of yummy pizza and some football on TV. So so thankful for this night I have been given. A quiet night.
Hello friends!!! This fine Thursday evening, just thought I’d write a very few words(truly!). The rice is currently simmering on the stove and once that’s done, I’ll add it to my chicken and pineapple curry and have a fine meal to enjoy!! Besides all that, just wanted to say how wonderful of a day today has been. Did anything special happen? Not particularly, no. I worked all day, went to the store following, came home and did my workout. And now making dinner. A very…normal day, all in all. But I think normal days are to be enjoyed. And we should be thankful to God for them – for carrying me through this day and enlivening my heart as I take each breath. How precious is it to rest in the arms of my Saviour!!! And so does my heart rejoice this day. Be at peace, dear friends. Love, always.
So I may have just done something rash.
I purchased tickets for a holiday to Aberdeen this September. Should I have?? Maybe not, but well…I really craved a decent holiday in some far off country among dear friends. And I have not seen my friends in Aberdeen in far too long. So. It is time to return. Maybe I shall rue this decision in the next few days, but I don’t think so. I see the friends the Almighty God has blessed me with and I wish to see their faces again. Oh how lovely will it be to talk with all of them face to face!! Chris and Jo, Rose, John, Ruth, Graham and Tineke, Joel…and so so many others I won’t mention here now. I’m really rather excited just now – it has been too long Scotland. And I planned it well enough that I will celebrate my three-year anniversary of leaving Scotland…in Scotland. September 11th, 2013. And it is now 2016. How the years do tick by, methodically and unhindered by any desire on our parts for time to stand still. There’s only one person who’s ever gotten God to stop time, and my name is not Joshua!! But before I start rambling further…maybe I should sign off and walk off into the bright Texas sun. Thinking of a chicken/broccoli/mushroom stir fry dinner for tonight. Yes? Yes.
Also, I lied. I do sort of want to keep rambling. Been thinking about my walk with God lately, and how precious it is to know Him, deeply and intimately. Too often do we talk of the externals in our life, of our living situation, our delicious home cooked meals, our fun adventures around town, our pleasant diversions. And none of these things are bad in and of themselves, I think we can agree. But in the end of all things, are we letting ourselves be too diverted by the things of this world? Possibly. I know I fall into the trap of living in the world without remembering often enough that I am not of this world. And so do we get swept up by the torrents of the Charybdis of this life in the flesh. Let us remember that the pleasant things of this world are just that – of this world. And that our true joy should come from the knowledge that we are known by God and part of His family. Let us utterly delight in the communion we have with God through the indwelling of His Spirit in us. Imagine that – God’s Spirit – in us! What foolishness it sounds. Yet most profoundly and shockingly true!! And so I urge you all, my most dear and gentle readers, to think on the simple wonder and grave truth of God’s hand upon us as we walk through this earthly life. The sirens of earthly delight wail on every side, yet plug your ears to their call and remember the most pure and heavenly music that is God’s covenant with us. Think on that far country where all songs rise to the One who sits on the throne. Meditate on the delightfully sweet fruit of communing with Christ our Saviour. Fall on your knees and pray to the Lord and blissfully think on who God is. Sweetly rest and delight in this God. The God. My Lord and my God.
And let the homeward call of the Spirit ever resound in your hearts.
Peace, my friends. Peace and love. Always.
Hey friends!! It is Thursday afternoon and I am enjoying my post workout yogurt…as I read a bit of Owen’s Communion With God. Oh so encouraging. How wonderful it is to relax and enjoy this spiritual consolation God has given me as I think and ponder on the great love and grace of Christ!! In a few minutes, I will shower and start dinner up(turkey burgers, green beans and a baked potato – what can be better!?), but for now, going to read…just a few more minutes…
What a lovely lovely day. And shall I waste it adding words to the ever growing clouds of data spinning through this world? May it not be so! So briefly….
A day of rest, a day of joy. Finally home with my Bethel church family, loving each other and loving God, lifting our voices in worship sweet and listening to the Word expounded. And lunch with friends(chicken curry is always a quality meal, more so when eaten over good chat and sweet communion with my dear friends). Back at my flat and poring over the Word for community group(Colossians 3:15-17…)…And then vacuuming and a quick workout and then out into glorious brilliant afternoon sunshine reading The Silver Chair by the side of the pool…And back inside and now potato is in the oven and I will soon enjoy it hot and freshly buttered along with some plump turkey burgers and green beans but now I sit on this couch and read a bit of Owen’s Communion With God and while I could say that there is nothing more to be said, suffice it to be said that my heart is full this day. Afternoon sweetly passing by, eyes brighten, lips part, heart sigh. A touch of honey on the bread, one last morsel achingly read, truly nothing more to be said.
Hello friends!! I write this from Starbucks this happy Saturday afternoon and while I shall not write long, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to put a few words to page. Today has been a somewhat productive day so far(got my car’s oil changed, some errands, etc!) and it will continue once I get back home – need to do some cleaning of my apartment! Fun times eh? Now though, just been reading a bit in preparation for Tuesday night’s study(“Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord.” How often do I fail at that. How much do I need to be reminded!) and also sending a few emails out. Also a very nice benefit to having internet access here…downloaded a bunch of Dominic’s sermons from SermonAudio and I shall later on burn these to CDs for commute listening. I am very pleased with my many new sermons and the much encouragement and conviction I’m sure they will provide. Again from Colossians – may the Word of Christ richly dwell within us.
Now, I’m off, mostly because I want to get home and start my chores. Also need to start dinner at some point – tonight’s a chicken parm night…just been craving that this morning, so suppose I shall make it(complete with tomato salad *of course*). I have far more I could write about, but for now, just grateful for a day of rest that my God has granted me. May I spend it pondering the goodness and glories of my God and meditating on the beauties and wonders of knowing Christ. I do not want to waste this day or this life thinking about that which does not matter. Peace and love, my friends – hope you have a beautiful day and are as encouraged as I am!
I am overwhelmed by the goodness of the Lord.
I shall not write long now, as the evening light fades as this day comes to a sweet closing, but I cannot help but write a scant few words. This day I turn twenty-nine, not a momentous day in and of itself, but it is indeed a good time to sit and ponder and recall the glorious wonders of my God and the many bounties He has granted me. And so this day has been a calm one, a normal day of work and a quiet evening now. But all day today, as I received numerous messages of love and encouragement from my friends, I felt myself a bit taken aback by the far too kind words from my friends and family dear. I am most unworthy and I feel that it is only the grace of my God and Father that I am who I am this day. Oh my Father keep me humble and full of love as I walk before You!
And now I am going to have a beautiful and most perfect birthday dinner of lasagna and tomato salad and possibly some chocolate cake!!! And once again, I offer all thanksgiving to my God and Father who has given me much these past twenty-nine years. He has given me abundantly more than all I could ask or imagine. He has forgiven me much. My God has forgiven me everything. And in that great beauty and profound love i rejoice!
Peace, my friends. Peace and love. Always.
Happy Friday, friends!!! I’m sitting here at my desk at work, about ready to begin another day and end another week in fine style – it’s been a bit of a slow work week here, but no complaints, just been steadily working away. Also been recovering my sleep all week after an awesome weekend in Canada with Robbie, Ryan and friends! I wish I had more time to describe the vacation, but alas, I do not. Anyways, a relaxing night was had last night – ate my dinner(fish, chips and peas!) and watched an episode of Angel. Also read a little more of Communion with God by Owen. I always forget how good and encouraging that book is. At some point, I’ll try to post another excerpt, but right now read about how deeply important the Holy Spirit is to our lives as Christians – and how we should seek the comfort and encouragement and sanctification and gifts that He brings – do not understate the importance of the Spirit in our everyday lives as we seek to glorify God in all that we do. And wow, that was said so much more poorly than Owen stated it. Still hopefully you get the idea!
Now, I’m off. Going to continue drinking my yummy peppermint mocha and dominate this work day and then…drive up to Dallas for a weekend with Mikaela. Y’know. A good weekend is at hand – but first, going to enjoy the Lord in His work this day! Peace, my friends. Peace and love.
Morning friends!! Just about to start work here…but thought I’d say hi quickly! It’s the middle of the work week and I’m already starting to get a bit worn out(guess waking up at 4:30 will do that to a person…). Tonight is planned to be a quiet night in(complete with delicious chicken/leek/potato dinner and most certainly an episode of Angel!)…because tomorrow night I know is going to be a late one, me and James going to go to the Rockets-Warriors playoff game. I’m sure the Rockets will get utterly destroyed, but it’s still always fun to see some playoff basketball!! This weekend is also planned to be a quiet one…especially since it’s going to be my first weekend in Houston in a month. Shocking, I know, but that’s what happens when I spend the last three weekends in either Dallas or New Orleans. I am very very tired of driving. So this is a super random post and I really do need to start work, so I’m off! May your day be full of light and love, my friends.
