strength...

being still...

Whilst running up the very steep hill which leads to our church last Sunday night, I knew I'd be puffed at the top. Sweaty too. There's been a heatwave* here, and it's been WONDERFUL! But I knew that walking into the quiet auditorium I would be hot and bothered. Back in Australia, this wouldn't have been unusual, being warm and all, and I've learnt that the best way to cool down is simply to be very still. Being still means when the soft, cool breeze comes, you can feel it, appreciate it, and let it do it's job.

I was reading this week about how we need to be still for God to speak to us, and show us His ways. I know when I'm warm I need to be still to let my body cool down. How much more should I be aware that in order for me to hear God's voice, I need to be still? I wonder how much more obedient and willing I am to still myself and listen to God, than I am when I'm trying to cool down?

'This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength...'

Isaiah 30:15

* heatwave = 18-22 degrees.

'You will go out in joy, and be led forth in peace...'

I am weary today, and currently thanking God for a husband who tells me to sit down while he gets dinner. Last month I went to Colour conference in London (after going in Sydney in March - yep, I'm a lucky girl!), and there was so much scripture that came alive for me! How blessed I was (am) to be in that place, hearing these words come alive. There are a LOT of verses I now call my favourites, and Isaiah is now a favourite book, but this verse is one I now hold very near to my heart.

'For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. 
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands. 
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

Isaiah 55:8-13

Cross references:

1. Isaiah 55:1 : S Pr 9:5; S Isa 35:7; Mt 5:6; Lk 6:21; Jn 4:14; 7:37
2. Isaiah 55:1 : Jer 2:13; Eze 47:1, 12; Zec 14:8
3. Isaiah 55:1 : La 5:4; Mt 13:44; Rev 3:18
4. Isaiah 55:1 : S SS 5:1; 1Pe 2:2
5. Isaiah 55:1 : Hos 14:4; Mt 10:8; Rev 21:6; 22:17
6. Isaiah 55:2 : Ps 22:26; Ecc 6:2; Isa 49:4; Jer 12:13; Hos 4:10; 8:7; Mic 6:14; Hag 1:6
7. Isaiah 55:2 : S Isa 1:19
8. Isaiah 55:2 : S Isa 30:23
9. Isaiah 55:3 : S Ps 78:1
10. Isaiah 55:3 : S Lev 18:5; S Jn 6:27; Ro 10:5
11. Isaiah 55:3 : S Ge 9:16; S Isa 54:10; S Heb 13:20
12. Isaiah 55:3 : S Isa 54:8
13. Isaiah 55:3 : Ac 13:34*
14. Isaiah 55:4 : Rev 1:5
15. Isaiah 55:4 : S 1Sa 13:14; S 2Ch 7:18; S Isa 32:1
16. Isaiah 55:5 : S Isa 49:6
17. Isaiah 55:5 : S Isa 2:3
18. Isaiah 55:5 : S Isa 12:6; S 54:5
19. Isaiah 55:5 : S Isa 44:23
20. Isaiah 55:6 : S Dt 4:29; S 2Ch 15:2; S Isa 9:13
21. Isaiah 55:6 : Ps 32:6; Isa 49:8; Ac 17:27; 2Co 6:1-2
22. Isaiah 55:6 : S Ps 50:15; Isa 65:24; Jer 29:12; 33:3
23. Isaiah 55:7 : S 2Ch 7:14; S 30:9; Eze 18:27-28
24. Isaiah 55:7 : Isa 32:7; 59:7
25. Isaiah 55:7 : S Isa 44:22; S Jer 26:3; S Eze 18:32
26. Isaiah 55:7 : S Isa 54:10
27. Isaiah 55:7 : S 2Ch 6:21; Isa 1:18; 40:2
28. Isaiah 55:8 : Php 2:5; 4:8
29. Isaiah 55:8 : Isa 53:6; Mic 4:12
30. Isaiah 55:9 : S Job 11:8; Ps 103:11
31. Isaiah 55:9 : S Nu 23:19; S Isa 40:13-14
32. Isaiah 55:10 : Isa 30:23
33. Isaiah 55:10 : S Lev 25:19; S Job 14:9; S Ps 67:6
34. Isaiah 55:10 : S Ge 47:23
35. Isaiah 55:10 : 2Co 9:10
36. Isaiah 55:11 : S Dt 32:2; Jn 1:1
37. Isaiah 55:11 : Isa 40:8; 45:23; S Mt 5:18; Heb 4:12
38. Isaiah 55:11 : S Pr 19:21; S Isa 44:26; Eze 12:25
39. Isaiah 55:12 : S Ps 98:4; S Isa 35:2
40. Isaiah 55:12 : Isa 54:10, 13
41. Isaiah 55:12 : S Ps 65:12-13; S 96:12-13
42. Isaiah 55:12 : S 1Ch 16:33
43. Isaiah 55:12 : Ps 98:8
44. Isaiah 55:13 : S Nu 33:55; S Isa 5:6
45. Isaiah 55:13 : Isa 41:19
46. Isaiah 55:13 : S Ps 102:12; Isa 63:12; Jer 32:20; 33:9

'When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.'

Psalm 94:18-19

I read this verse this morning, and it was like a balm for my soul. Praise the Lord that He cares for us! And praise Him, that He knows us better than anyone, and knows exactly what we need. Praise Him for His compassion, kindness and mercy. And praise Him, that in our difficult moments when we are slipping, He holds us close.

I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart, where?

Today, I hung my washing outside. To those who live far away in sunnier climes, let me assure you, this is a reason for GREAT excitement! The warm sun! The lazy breeze! Both culminating in crispy dry and sun soaked smelling clothes...*sigh*. 'Tis the small things after all.

And as I was sitting outside reading and sending my thighs into shock at their long time overdue reunion with the sun, I pondered. Are we excited about this faith we profess? If you are a Christian, are you excited about the faith which changes your day to day life? This faith which preaches unexpected and undeserved grace, overwhelming love, miracles, sacrifice and eternal salvation. Does this excite you? Does it excite me?

Because it seems to me, that if we have grasped this abundance? My gosh. We should be so joyful, it can not help but spill out!

What I really mean to say is this: Is your life any different (apart from going to church! And bible study!) because of what you believe?

'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.' 1 Peter 1:3-9

Is it worth it?

I don't know about you, but when I want something, I'm pretty capable of convincing myself there's a good reason for me to have it. If I want some chocolate, chocolate is made from beans, ergo, is good for you. And this evening, as I contorted my body to manage to poke my head out our bathroom window, I wondered how far we all go to achieve what we want. In Scotland, when it's been sunny, the evening is my favourite time of day. It's possibly the closest it will get to Australian weather, although in Australia this would be a lovely Winter's day, here, it's almost Summer. Out our bathroom window, it's fairytale land. And when the sun starts to wind it's way through the Birch trees and stretch itself out over the mossy green grass, and the sky turns almost cream and the mites in the air looks like gold dust floating around,  and the birds are singing their tinkling tunes, I will do what I can to be in that. Even if it means twisting my body and sticking my head through a velux window, with nothing to lean on but spiky toiletries.
I've been reading Priscilla Shirer's 'He Speaks to Me - Preparing to hear from God', and it makes about a bajillion excellent and life changing points. But what struck me today, from I had read previously, was the question, 'Is it all worth it?' Now, I know that poking my head through the bathroom window for 15 minutes was worth it, it was a beautiful moment. But a beautiful moment that lasted for 15 minutes. When we consider our circumstances at present, do we have in our minds eye the big picture? Do we get bogged down with the day to day, and the disappointments and frustrations? Or do we unknowingly decide to be a mediocre Christian, because we can't grasp the end point and therefore do not make the hard decisions (which effectively result in only good from God) along the way? When you decide to cut the bad language, step back from unhelpful or gossip-y conversations, refuse to watch or read certain shows and books, when you make the unpopular decision for the glory of God, do you think it will be worth it? Or do you know it will be worth it?
I am sure that when the end of the world comes, and when I kneel in front of my King and sing His praises, while I hope to hear the words, 'Well done, good and faithful servant', I will without a doubt know, it was ALL worth it.
Now the challenge is this: to remind myself of this, in every single moment, of every single day. When it's tough, and when I get to stick my head out the window for 15 minutes.