Ten things that make me happy

The lovely Ali has tagged me.  The brief - to list ten things that make you happy.

1. Living life secure in the knowledge that Jesus died for me.  This glorious hope undergirds all else.

2. Sharing life with the three gorgeous people in this photo.

Being on holidays at the beach with them is pretty good too. 

3. Reading the Bible first thing in the morning, cup of steaming hot tea by my side, while the house is still quiet.  (The house is quiet but that doesn't mean everyone is still asleep.  Small people get to stay in their rooms until 7am and that is what makes this possible.)

4. Letters - writing them, sending them, receiving them.  Epistolary novels make me happy too.

5.  Speaking of books...reading, time to read and as of recent times, receiving a book in the post from The Book Depository.  (Gilead by Marilynne Robinson awaits me for holiday reading.  October can't come too quickly!)

6. Listening to this CD - especially the first disc.  Loudly if possible.  And singing along with it. 

7. Praying with other people.  Especially precious is time spent praying with my prayer triplet - a group of eight (counting is a small problem...but we are good at praying) who have been praying together in some formation or other depending on who is in town since 1997, at first weekly, then fortnightly and now monthly.  Always special.

8. Flowers.  Especially of the cottage garden variety.  Nice in a vase.  But even nicer in a garden.

9. Cups of tea shared with friends.

10.  Blogging.  And being tagged.  Thanks Ali!

What makes you happy?  I tag Sarah, Helen and Jean.

God is always good

Yesterday I was reading the beginning of Job and lingered over a comment he made to his wife.

"Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10) 

It reminded me of a time when I learned an important truth about God - that God is always good.  Thankfully at the time I learned this lesson I was spared trouble, save a small amount of embarrassment. 

It was a time when I was asked to give a testimony at a church event, with the aim of being an encouragement to the church family and maybe sparking some interest in God for those who came as guests.

I had decided to talk about how God was at work in my life at that time, rather than describe how I became a Christian, but on the morning of the event I still had no idea what I would say.  As I drove to work I prayed earnestly that God would give me some direction - I was running out of time!  And pretty soon that prayer was answered. 

As I sat at the traffic lights, waiting for them to turn green, I heard the screech of brakes, the sound of metal hitting metal, the tinkle of smashing glass.  Once, twice, three times.  A four car pile up and had there been sufficient momentum, I would have been the fifth car, but by God's grace, my car remained untouched.  The lights turned green, I drove off (that sounds a bit irresponsible as I write it now...I wonder if I should have stayed at the scene??) and praised God that He had spared me from being involved in that traffic accident - and praised God that I now knew what I would talk about that evening.

As I spoke that evening of the morning's traffic accident, I kept using the phrases, "God was good" and "God was with me."  Over and over.  And eventually I brought my story round to the goodness of God, that He should send His Son to die for me that I might have eternal life in Him. 

At the end of the evening, as I walked back to my undamaged car, a dear woman approached me and said, "Meredith, that was a great talk.  But I have a question for you.  If your car had been hit this morning, would God still be good?  Would God still have been with you?"

I still wince at that oh so gentle rebuke.  Because she is right.  God is good.  Even if my car had been the fifth car in that pile up, or even the first to be hit and so sustaining the greatest amount of damage, even if I had been injured or even killed that day - God is good.  Because trouble of one sort or another WILL come.  Traffic accident.  Ill health.  Fractured relationships.  Unemployment.  Poverty.  Death.  But for those who love Him, life with all its goodness and troubles, is lived upon the foundation of hope - that God will bring them home to Himself through the work of His Son on the cross.  That is the good constant with which we live, despite what happens to us in our day to day lives.

God is always good.

Something to do when you're not feeling well

The following is today's reading from  Morning Thoughts by Octavius Winslow.  In some ways it seems almost preposterous and insensitive to post it, sitting here in fine health.  It is one of those "easier said than done" things.  And yet I think they are wise words - the sort of passage to reflect on during the good times and tuck away in your heart against the day when ill health will surely strike.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” 3 John 2

Is it true that God, by setting you aside from active engagements, has set you aside from all duty and labor? We do not think so. Is it too much to say, that He is now summoning you, though to a more limited and obscure, yet to a higher and holier, because more self-denying and God-glorifying, sphere of duty? Your present loss of health has brought with it its high and appropriate duties, obligations, and employments. It bears an especial message from God to you, and through you to others. Contemplate the work to be done in your own soul, and the testimony through this which you are to bear to the power of Divine grace, to the sustaining energy of the Gospel, and to the character of God; and I ask if the lone chamber of sickness has not its special and appropriate duties, responsibilities, and work, equally as difficult, as honorable, and as remunerative as any which attach to the sphere of activity or to the season of health?

You are called upon now to glorify God in a passive, rather than in an active consecration to His service. Graces hitherto perhaps dormant, or but feebly brought into play, are now to be developed and exercised to their utmost capacity. Patience is to be cultivated, resignation is to be exhibited, faith is to be exercised, love is to be tried, and example is to be set; and are not these great, holy, and sublime achievements? Who will affirm that there is no sermon to be preached from that languid couch, that sick-bed; yes, and it may be more solemn, more searching, more full of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, than the pulpit ever preached.

The Church and the world have now the testimony of one passing through the present and personal experience of what he speaks. A sick-room is not the place for theorizing upon truth and eternity. All transpiring there is stern reality. The dust of human applause is laid aside, the breath of adulation is hushed, the flush of excitement has faded, and the delirium of an admiring throng has passed away; the artificial gives place to the true. All is as real and solemn as eternity.

Deem not yourself a useless cumberer, because sickness has incapacitated you for active labor. God has but changed your sphere of duty, transferring you, doubtless, to one more glorifying to Himself. Receive, then, with meekness your Heavenly Father’s dispensation, which, while it has set you apart from the Lord’s work, has set you apart more exclusively and entirely for the Lord Himself. Your great desire has been to glorify Him: leave Him to select the means which may best advance it.

You have thought of health and activity, of life and usefulness; of being a champion for the truth, a herald of salvation to the ignorant and the lost, a leader in some high and laborious path of Christian enterprise; but He has ordained it otherwise. And now by sickness and suffering, by silence and solitude, He is giving you other work to perform, which shall not the less secure your usefulness, and promote His glory.

Preparing for the Prophets

About fifteen years ago I was the co-leader of a Bible study group for the very first time.  One of the things we did that year was an overview of the Bible.  While the other leader (my minister, who was teaching me the craft of leading Bible studies) and I were planning these sessions I remember declaring, "I will do ANY section of the Bible for these studies but please don't make me do the Prophets." 

The troubles I have grappling with this section of the Bible are not new!  In just over a month's time I will be up to the Prophets (major and minor) with the Bible reading plan I have been using this year.  In order to finally have some success understanding in this part of the Bible, I have done some preparatory work.  Actually understanding the context of these books is likely going to be a key ingredient to understanding!!  Should have done this years ago!!  So below, some basic contextual information for each of the Prophets, major and minor, with thanks largely to The Lion Handbook to the Bible.

First though, some key dates.

The schism between Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and Israel (the Northern Kingdom) - 922BC

Israel carried off into exile to Assyria - 722BC

First deportation of Judah to Babylon - 597BC

Second deportation of Judah to Babylon - 586BC

Edict of return by Judah to Jerusalem - 538BC

Isaiah
with a message to - Judah
during the reigns of - Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah
when - 740 -700BC
Summary of message - Isaiah speaks to the nation under the threat of Assyrian invasion, preaching of God's righteousness, warning of the judgment on sin and comforting his people with the knowledge of God's love, His longing to forgive and telling of all the glories in store for those who remain faithful.

Jeremiah
with a message to - Judah
during the reigns of - Josiah through to Zedekiah
when - 627 - 580BC
Summary of message - Jeremiah speaks to Jerusalem as they face the Babylonian invasion, warning them of the coming disaster and appealing to them to turn back to God.

Lamentations
Not one of the prophets, but a book found in their midst.  Probably written by Jeremiah.  The first four poems are written by an eye witness to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army in 587BC.  The laments express a grief not simply over the suffering and humiliation of his people but over something far deeper and far worse, that God has rejected His people because of their sin.

Ezekiel
with a message to - Judah
during - the period of exile
when - 593 -570BC
Summary of message - Ezekiel inspires the Judean exiles in the plains of Babylonia.  He sees God in all his awesome majesty, all seeing and all knowing and people's sin in all its blackness.  He carries the weight of one who must give warning to the individual concerning the danger of sin or else be held accountable - that we have individual accountability before God.

Daniel
with a message to - Judah
during - the period of exile
when - 605 -530BC
Summary of message - Daniel serves God before the kings of Babylon and records a series of visions of future events.

Hosea
with a message to - Israel
during the reigns of - Jereboam II until just before the fall of Israel to Assyria
when - 760 -730BC
Summary of message - Hosea expresses God's love to his faithless pople.  What Israel's idolatry means to God - how He continues to love and long for His people to return to Him - Hosea learns through bitter personal experience, as his own wife betrays and deserts him.

Joel
with a message to - Judah
during the reign of and when - unknown.  Dates range from the 8th century BC through to the 4th century BC, which is quite a range!
Summary of message - Joel picks up the theme of "the day of the Lord" when God will finally judge the world and its people.  It is a message of devastation and new life - a timeless message for all generations.

Amos
with a message to - Israel (Interestingly Amos was from Judah but sent by God to speak to Israel)
during the reigns of - Jereboam II until the fall to Assyria
when -  760BC
Summary of message -  Amos denounces the social and religious corruption present in Israel and warns of God's impending judgment.

Obadiah
with a message to - Edom
when - 500BC
Summary of message - Obadiah prophesies against Edom's pride.  Edom regards its strongholds as invincible.  Obadiah foretells the return of Israel to possess a greatly extended land including Edom.  (The Edomites are the descendants of Esau.)

Jonah
with a message to -  Ninevah (in Assyria)
when - possibly 770BC
Summary of message - Jonah takes God's message to Ninevah and records the city's reprieve.

Micah
with a message to - Judah
during the reigns of - Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah
when - 737 - 690BC
Summary of message - Micah denounces Samaria and Jerusalem - the rulers, priests and prophets and also the corruption, dishonesty in business and religious sham present.  God's judgment will fall on Samaria and Jerusalem but Micah sees a glorious future when Jerusalem will become the religious centre of the world and Bethlehem will see the birth to a great David to rule over God's people.

Nahum
with a message to - Ninevah (in Assyria)
when - 593 -570BC
Summary of message - Nahum prophesies against Ninevah and predicts its destruction.

Habakkuk
with a message to - Judah
when - not entirely clear but close to the Babylonian invasion
Summary of message - Habakkuk debates God's justice, battling with the problem that while God's people seem to suffer, the wicked go free.  Current events face him with this problem in a particularly acute form.  God had announced that he will use the Babylonians - a far more wicked nation - to punish his own people.  Habakkuk, a man of faith, questions God.

Zephaniah
with a message to - Judah
at the beginning of the reign of - Josiah
when - 627BC
Summary of message - Zephaniah pronounces God's judgment on Judah, prophecying immediately after the reigns of evil Manasseh and Amon and before Josiah launches his great programme of reform in 621BC.

Haggai
with a message to - Judah
during - the return to Jerusalem after the exile
when - 520BC
Summary of message - Haggai gives encouragement to rebuild the temple - but it has permanant relevance because his concern is not only with the physical rebuilding of the temple but with restoring priorities.

Zechariah
with a message to - Judah
during - the return to Jerusalem after the exile
when - 520 - 518BC
Summary of message - Zechariah presents visions of judgment and glory.  He distils the wisdom of many of the earlier prophets and brings the events of the far future into sharper focus, including references to the Messiah (which are fulfilled in the life of Christ.)

Malachi
with a message to - Judah
during - the return to Jerusalem after the exile
when - 460 - 430BC
Summary of message - Malachi recalls the people to right priorities, written either just before Nehemiah is made governor or during his absence later on.  Times are tough and the promised prosperity has not been realised.  The people feel let down and are showing an increasingly casual attitude towards worship and to the standards God has set.

[Photo from Microsoft Office Online Clip Art]

But the older men wept

This week I have been reading Ezra.  The exiled Jews are returning to Jerusalem.  The first thing to be done is to rebuild the temple that was destroyed so that their worship of the LORD, as laid down by Moses, can recommence.   Once the foundation has been laid, Ezra describes the scene.

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD :

"He is good;

his love to Israel endures forever."

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away. 

Ezra 3:10-13

That very tender verse of the older men weeping always stands out to me.  I looked in a few commentaries and there isn't a great deal written about it.  Mainly some thoughts that this verse brings into question the dating of Ezra.  And the fact that the men were not weeping for joy.

It could simply be that they were grieving the fact that this temple would never be as grand as the original.  The former temple that King David so dearly wanted to build for his LORD but didn't because God said, "No David, you have shed too much blood in your lifetime.  But I will grant your son a reign of peace and he can build it for me."  The temple that David carefully planned and for which he painstakingly gathered all the materials - timber from the cedar forests of Lebanon as well as gold, silver, iron, bronze and stone in incalculable quantities - and amassed workmen, craftsmen and artisans and all the money needed to see it built, ready for his son.  The temple that took Solomon seven years to build - the glory and splendour of which was renowned in all the lands.  The temple that was used as a place of worship but at other times was sickeningly defiled. The temple that was vilely desecrated and then tearfully, earnestly and reverently restored, time and again. The temple that was finally pillaged, burned and destroyed as the people of Judah were carried off into exile. 

Were the older men weeping because they could remember the old temple in all its glory?  Weeping because they knew the new temple would never match the grandeur of the former one?

Or does it go a little deeper?  Is it more than just about the building?  Are they weeping because this seemingly feeble attempt will not come close to the glory of the former temple - and therefore will not be worthy of the LORD they desire to worship within its walls?  Is there a heartfelt, conscience stricken grief that goes deeper than aesthetics?

A little time after the foundation is laid, Haggai the prophet comes to the people with a message from God, one that initially reflects the grief of the older men.

Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 
Haggai 2:3

But then he says,

'But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty. 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'
"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty." 
Haggai 2:4-9

This "present house" is not a building, grand or otherwise, to be found in a city.  This "present house" is Jesus.  It is good to be reminded how deeply blessed we are to live this side of the cross - to know what happened next and how ultimately it didn't matter that the new foundation was built with smaller and inferior blocks of stone.  But as I draw close to the end of the history books in the Old Testament for this year, how very moving it is to picture the older men who had seen so much - the destruction of the temple, the exile, the return to Jerusalem and now the laying of a new foundation - standing there weeping in the midst of great rejoicing.

Maybe tomorrow...

So much to say.  So little time to write anything down.  Maybe tomorrow.
But in the meantime, just letting you know that I have turned the comment moderation back on.  It isn't that I don't trust you.  You have all been very well behaved.  But I like to try to reply to most comments and it's just easier to keep track of them this way.

The Garden and the Roast Dinner

Last year was The Year of the Garden. 

This year is The Year of the Roast. 

I thought it was about time I gave an update on both.

Almost exactly a year ago, amidst great fanfare, I put six plants in the garden bed.

I did a few other small bits and pieces but basically more plants were needed and that budget item never seemed to rise to the surface again.  The days turned to weeks.  The weeks turned to months.  And then it was Christmas.  And then it was the LONG, HOT, DRY summer.  Not a time to be establishing plants.  Then the rain came down.  Too wet to be outside.  Then the cold weather came.  Too cold to be outside. 

And all of a sudden a year had gone by!  However all six plants are still alive, with a few vincas on the edge and some winter weeds for good measure.

  100% of plants still alive after a whole year has to count for for some sort of gardening success. 

As for the pots of herbs...well, they didn't survive the LONG, HOT, DRY summer.

Feeling inspired last weekend with a free afternoon, a sunny winter's dayand  the promise of evening showers, it was off to the nursery to buy the next instalment of plants.

More daisies, more geraniums (can't believe I actually paid good money for geraniums...but I did get three different varieties and they look just lovely), lavender, rosemary and some new herbs.  And two strawberry plants chosen by the boys.

So the pots of herbs are reorganised and the garden bed is more fully planted out.  There's not much to see as yet.  The new plants are all pretty small.  Come back in spring for a peek when things are a bit more established.

As for The Year of the Roast, that has been humming along quite well.  I feel like I have the confidence to prepare and serve a roast dinner now however I have become convinced that it is not actually worth the bother my preferred style of cooking.  I like roasts - the veg and the meat.  But I'd be just as happy with roast lamb served with steamed veg and a baked potato.  And I quite like roast veg served alongside steak or chops.  But doing both together means getting started on dinner preparations at 4pm or earlier and that just doesn't fit in with our life here at the moment.  Or the fact that for almost all my entire adult cooking life, my cooking motto has been IF IT CAN'T BE COOKED AND ON THE TABLE IN UNDER 30 MINUTES IT WON'T BE HAPPENING IN THIS HOUSE.  So while I have worked out that I CAN do it, I don't think I'll be putting on too many roast dinners in the future. 

  

Interestingly, as I was reaching this conclusion just this week, I decided on one last tilt at the old roast dinner with a roast chicken - I've roasted chickens many times in the past and hey, roast chicken is the "bread and butter" of the roasts - but after the event I declared that I would never roast a chicken ever again.  Well, not while I live here anyway.  The end result was fine.  But I was reminded that I really don't like handling whole raw chickens with all that loose, flappy chicken skin where their necks used to be and having to deal with the stray feathers.  It turns my stomach just thinking about it.  (Sooky sooky la la, I know.)  And you see, we have a shop around the corner from us that cooks decent sized chickens over a wood fire.  They are the same size as home roasted ones, delicious, carve beautifully and come in at about the same price as roasting one at home.  It's a no brainer.

Really, to my mind, the best sort of roast dinner is the one that someone else cooks.  So it seems that The Year of the Roast has become The Six Months of the Roast.  And now I may just need a new project - but no, sweet Helen, it won't be quilting!

Do not fight against the Lord

First there was King David - and God promised to David that his kingdom would reign forever.  David was followed by his son Solomon.  Then came Solomon's son Rehoboam, whose very early actions resulted in the splitting of Israel into two kingdoms - Judah and Israel (all of the tribes of Israel other than Judah...and David came from the tribe of Judah.)  Rehoboam's reign had mixed success - at times he humbled himself before the LORD and at other times he worshipped other gods.  Notably though, his reign was marked by constant warfare with Jereboam, the king of Israel.

After Rehoboam's death his son Abijah became king and he picked up the mantle of being at war with Jereboam.  So there stands Abijah, new king of Judah.  He has an army of 400 000 fighting men.  That's quite a lot, except that Jereboam has an army of 800 000 able troops.  What is Abijah to do?  He stood on Mount Zemaraim and made this magnificent speech, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 13:4-12.

Jeroboam and all Israel, listen to me!  Don't you know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?  Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, an official of Solomon son of David, rebelled against his master. Some worthless scoundrels gathered around him and opposed Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young and indecisive and not strong enough to resist them.

And now you plan to resist the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hands of David's descendants. You are indeed a vast army and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods. But didn't you drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods.

As for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. Every morning and evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the LORD. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the LORD our God. But you have forsaken him. God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you.  Men of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.

Men of Israel, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your fathers, for you will not succeed.  And succeed they did not.

Abijah and his men inflicted heavy losses on them, so that there were five hundred thousand casualties among Israel's able men.  The men of Israel were subdued on that occasion, and the men of Judah were victorious because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers.  (2 Chronicles 13:17,18)

I am humbled by Abijah's faith and complete confidence in God and by God's power and might to see His will done.

The Parents' Prayer Programme - Take Two

So, the other day I particularly enjoyed one of the prayers on the Parents' Prayer Programme and thought I would make mention of it here on the blog.  However when I returned to my post featuring this programme I discovered that Bob Hostetler's original was ordered and worded slightly differently - and if you were following along using that programme, it would bear no resemblance to the prayer I prayed this particular morning.  Which just goes to show that you should never blindly cut and paste without doing a little proofreading!!  So below is the version I use and have used for the last ten or so years.  To my thinking, the language in the version presented below is a little easier.  Maybe that's just because I have been using this tool for so long.   Either one will provide you with a good solid set of prayers to pray for your children, your loved ones or yourself.  Using either one in prayer will be time well spent.  But just for the record, the one I use is this one, not the other one.  Happy praying!!

1. Salvation
Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
(Isa 45:8, 2 Tim 2.:10)

2. Growth in Grace
I pray that they may “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
(2 Peter 3.18)

3. Love
Grant, Lord, that my children may learn to live a life of love through the Spirit who dwells in them.
(Ephesians 5.2,Galatians 5.22)

4. Honesty and Integrity
May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection.
(Psalm 25.21)

5. Self-control
Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be “alert and self-controlled” in all they do.
(1 Thessalonians 5.6)

6. A love for God’s Word
May my children grow to find your Word “more precious than gold, than much pure gold; [and] sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.”
(Psalm 19.10)

7. Justice
God, help my children to love justice as you do and to “act justly” in all they do.
(Psalm 11.7, Micah 6.8)

8. Mercy
May my children always “be merciful as [their] Father is merciful.”
(Luke 6.36)

9. Respect (for self, others, authority)
Father, grant that my children may “show proper respect to everyone” as your word commands.
(1 Peter 2.17)

10. Strong, Biblical Self-esteem
Help my children develop a strong self esteem that is rooted in the realisation that they are “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2.10)

11. Faithfulness
“Let love and faithfulness never leave [my children],” but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts.
(Proverbs 3.3)

12. A Passion for God
Lord, please instil in my children a soul with a craving for you, a heart that clings passionately to you.
(Psalm 63.8)

13. Responsibility
Grant that my children may learn responsibility, “for each one should carry his own load.”
(Galatians 6.5)

14. Kindness
Lord, may my children “always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”
(1 Thessalonians 5.15)

15. Generosity
Grant that my children may "be generous and willing to share [& so] lay  up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.”
(1 Tim 6.18-19)

16. Peace, peacability
Father, let my children “make every effort to do what leads to peace.”
(Romans 14.19)

17. Hope
May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15.13)

18. Perseverance
Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to “run with perseverance the race marked out for [them].” (Hebrews 12.1)

19. Humility
Lord, please cultivate in my children the ability to “show true humility toward all.”
(Titus 3.2)

20. Compassion
Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion.
(Colossians 3.12)

21. Prayerfulness
Grant, Lord, that my children’s lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
(Ephesians 6.18)

22. Contentment
Father, teach my children “the secret of being content in any and every situation ... through him who gives [them] strength.”
(Philippians 4.12-13)

23. Faith
I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them.
(Luke 17.5-6, Hebrews 11.1-40)

24. A Servant Heart
Lord, please help my children develop servant hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly “as if [they] were serving the Lord, not men.”
(Ephesians 6.7)

25. Purity
“Create in [them] a pure heart, O God,” and let their purity of heart be shown in their actions.
(Psalm 51.10)

26. A Willingness and Ability to Work Hard
Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work hard at everything they do, “as working for the Lord, not for men.”
(Colossians 3.23)

27. Self-discipline
Father, I pray that my children may develop self-discipline, that they may acquire “a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.”
(Proverbs 1.3)

28. A Heart for Missions
Lord, please help my children to develop a heart for missions, a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvellous deeds among all peoples.
(Psalm 96.3)

29. Joy
May my children be filled “with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.”
(1 Thessalonians 1.6)

30. Courage
May my children always “be strong and courageous” in their character and in their actions.
(Deuteronomy 31.6)

The Uncommon Reader - However...

As much as I loved this book, there was a sad moment for me just before the end. It was just a moment. But for that moment my thoughts turned away from the delight of this tale to things more serious.

In the story the Queen has just turned 80 and is considering her mortality.

In the darkness it came to the Queen that, dead, she would exist only in the memories of people. She who had never been subject to anyone would now be on a par with everyone else. Reading would not change that...

In death, the playing field becomes level. It doesn't matter if you are the Queen or a commoner of any standing. At this point the Queen in the novel is thinking about how she will be remembered after her death. But I couldn't help thinking beyond reputation and remembrance to something much more significant - standing before God on the Day of Judgment. Death is THE equaliser. And it doesn't matter what we have read or not read, who we are (king, queen or commoner) or what we have done. We all stand before God having fallen short of His holiness. We are all equally made low. The only thing that truly matters is whether we have stood before God in repentance and confessed Jesus Christ as Lord.

Why do the nations conspire

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand

and the rulers gather together

against the LORD

and against his Anointed One.

"Let us break their chains," they say,

"and throw off their fetters."

The One enthroned in heaven laughs;

the Lord scoffs at them.

Then he rebukes them in his anger

and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

"I have installed my King

on Zion, my holy hill."

I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:

He said to me, "You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.

Ask of me,

and I will make the nations your inheritance,

the ends of the earth your possession.

You will rule them with an iron scepter;

you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

Therefore, you kings, be wise;

be warned, you rulers of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear

and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry

and you be destroyed in your way,

for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 2

The Uncommon Reader

One of the things I did during the holidays was read The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett.

Queen Elizabeth reads plenty - papers from Parliament, newspapers, briefing notes and the like - but never novels.  No time for such things.  But that all changes when she inadvertently stumbles upon the City of Westminster travelling library van parked outside one of the palace's kitchen doors while taking the dogs for a walk.  She pops her head in to take a look and then duty bound, feels she can't leave with out borrowing something.  She is given a novel and again feeling duty bound, reads it.  So begins her journey into reading.

She makes a slow start but soon picks up speed and it isn't long before her work begins to suffer.  While others around her manage her now less than diligent work practices, she travels through various stages in her own inner world - the delight of reading, the guilt of spending too much time reading, regret that she didn't start reading sooner, regret at being exposed to a new way of life that she can't properly access in all reality because she is the Queen, wondering if she should turn her hand to writing herself...

This is a gentle read, not unlike another favourite - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.  Along the way the names of authors and novels are dropped left, right and centre as the Queen is exposed to more and more literature.  As we, the readers, remember these novels and authors, and whether or not we enjoyed them, it is as though we join in a literary conversation with the Queen as she makes her comment on each.   In this way it's very, very clever and engaging.  Best of all there is the most delicious twist at the end. 

A fun holiday read.

During the Holidays...

In no particular order I...

Helped run a Holiday Bible Club.

Hosted lunch for 12 people the day the Bishop came to visit at church.

Read an absolutely delightful novel.

Visited the museum and city library with the boys.

Had friends and their children over to play a few times.

Watched Julie and Julia at long last. (Great movie for foodie blogging types!)

Attended a really beautiful wedding.

Celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary.

Binged on West Wing episodes.  (Several episodes in the later series mentioned blogs and bloggers in a none too complimentary tone...but I'm not deterred...it is still great viewing!)

Caught a cold.

Spent a day on a friend's farm.

Made this to display some special photos at my desk.

And missed blogging.  Had to have the break.  A matter both of survival and doing a good job of the holidays.  But glad to be back!

Apparently...

Coming out of holiday hibernation to let you know that apparently...

 

I write like
J. K. Rowling

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

That works for me.
Let me know who you write like if you do this too.

HT: Rebecca