let go and let God...

I am being taught, and I am learning (slowly), that dependence on God is the only possible way to have a close relationship with Him. What do you rely on? Your confidence in your abilities? Your family? Your job? Your spouse? You and the comforts you surround yourself with?

When we rely on ourselves and our own abilities, we have to carry our own burden too. We set ourselves up for failure. And yet God promises us so much more! He promises peace, rest and relief from everything this world throws at us.

What do you choose each day?

^'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'

Matthew 11:28-29

the wise and the foolish man...

'Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.'
Luke 6:46-49

What is your life based upon?

We heard an excellent sermon this morning at church based on this passage, with the main and very simple core of the message being, what is your life based upon? What will happen when things change, when people get sick, when things don't work out? Are you on sand, or rock? Are you putting God's word into action? Or is it falling on deaf ears?

Seriously...what is your life based upon?

be inspired...

Are you ever creatively inspired by something, or someone? You see a beautiful painting layered with colour and passion, you find a dusty old book in a charity shop with a wonderful story and stunning pictures, or you read a magazine which has such exciting new ideas and persuasive and pretty text you decide to redecorate...now! At 11pm!

I am inspired by so much, and when I'm not inspired, I can feel quite dull. An orange and pink sky, a beautiful store packed with treasures, the green country side, letters in the mail, other people's creativity...there is so much which triggers something inside me, I'm not even sure what. But it's magical! Praise God for making us who we are! For who you are! What inspires you? What moves you to create, or teach, or learn, or love?
What are your passions, your deep down desires that make you, you? Mine are just coming back to me, and it's wonderful.

'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.' Romans 12:2

image via dazeychic

your word is my joy...

a song...a prayer. listen here.

'May my prayer like incense rise before You
The lifting of my hands a sacrifice
Oh Lord Jesus turn Your eyes upon me
For I know there is mercy in Your sight

Your statutes are my heritage forever
My heart is set on keeping Your decrees
Please still my anxious urge toward rebellion
Let Love keep my will upon its knees
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You

To all creation I can see a limit
But Your commands are boundless and have none
So Your Word is my joy and meditation
From the rising to the setting of the sun
All Your ways are loving and are faithful
The road is narrow but Your burden light
Because You gladly lean to lead the humble
I shall gladly kneel to leave my pride

I will seek You in the morning
I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You'll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days'

Like Incense/Sometimes - Hillsong

apart from the world...

'The greatest single cause of athiesm in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.'

Brennan Manning

I realise I am not writing many original musings* here of late, for which there is an excellent reason. Excellent or non-existant, depending on how you look at it. There was one situation of a battery cord being left behind, one of extra work hours, but also one of being mystified as to what to do. Have you ever felt truly exhausted? In conversations words you used to use with much frivolity and secret fancy have completely escaped you? Climbing (yes, climbing) the stairs is a mammoth task? I have a holiday coming up next week (there are no words to explain the excitement!) and I shall use every second possible to relax and refresh (ie. sleep).

But there is one thing that has been keeping my mind restless, and that is how my life, and me being here in Scotland in a small country town affects anything. Is it by my grand gestures and mother's group attendance (I'm not a mother, my word but that would be speedy! I was a helper...just the once), or is it by having integrity in my job. By never complaining or by not swearing, by the conversations that I have, what I choose to laugh at...or not. How easily I get angry and how I react in situations. Is it in these small things that people will see a difference?

How much do you stand apart from the world? How much are you in it? An what do you do when you realise the line between the two is all blurry?

^'Why do you complain, Jacob?
   Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD;
   my cause is disregarded by my God”?
Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.'

Isaiah 40:27-31

image via dazeychic

 

* I do like to muse, and very much enjoy the word itself. It makes me feel literary...

how big is your imagination?

imagine if we completely trusted God, with all our heart, all our soul, and with all our mind. imagine if we sought after Him with everything we have, pursuing Him as we should. imagine if we had the right perspective, and could grasp how things should be, and could be. imagine if God was put first, how different our lives might be. imagine if instead of trying to please other people, we tried to please our heavenly Father. imagine if our joy, our hope and our peace was found in Him, through Him. imagine if we listened. imagine if we truly loved other people the way we should. imagine if the way we lived our lives caused those around us to consider.
imagine if instead of imagining, we just did.

image via weheartit