Wednesday 31 August 2011

Throw away conversation


The other day I saw a woman pick out the bin the finished water bottle I had just put in it. On asking her why she had taken it out agin she told me that she would take it home for recycling as this was her religion her part to "save the world". I smiled and told her that my faith was one to save the world too and one that had saved me. We had an easy conversation about God , his plan for us to love our world and of his love for us. I thanked her for reminding me of the bigger picture of caring for the planet by recycling then off she went with my empty bottle.
Im reading a book about mission just now it is full of new jargon words which Im finding irritating because Jesus did not need jargon or sociology to give himself to others in conversation or prayer

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

They told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.

He called out, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!

Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me!

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,

What do you want me to do for you? Lord, I want to see, he replied.

Jesus said to him, Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

No jargon just giving!!

Saturday 7 May 2011

God's Wonderful Creation


Psalm 104


1 Praise the LORD, O my soul.
O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendour and majesty.

2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent

3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.

4 He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.



5He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.

6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.

7 But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;

8 they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them.

9 You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth.



10He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.

11 They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

12 The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.

13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.

14 He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth:

15 wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.

16 The trees of the LORD are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

17 There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the pine trees.

18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the conies.



19The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.

20 You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl.

21 The lions roar for their prey and seek their food fromGod.

22 The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens.

23 Then man goes out to his work, to his labour until evening.



24How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

25 There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small.

26 There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.



27These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time.

28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

29 When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.

30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.


31May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; may the LORD rejoice in his works—

32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.

35 But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more.

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Praise the LORD.

Friday 6 May 2011

Friday Five


Im taking part in RevGals friday five giving me a break from reading for one of two essays due this week.
So its friday five word association this week, here goes!


1) Airport- not been on a plane too often but Iv a memorable airport memory. My hubby and I were returning from a holiday/late honeymoon. We had ran out of money on the last day, not enough to buy a bottle of water. The flight was 3am and by then I was so very very thirsty. We sat waiting in the airport for our flight to be called and I longing watched a man drink a bottle of coke then he place it half full in the bin!! I looked at the bin.... and then to my hubby, who obviously knew my thoughts "dont do it Andrea" he said in an understanding voice. I was so thirsty...but I didnt go to the bin. I did however have several tea refills on the plane.

2) Baseball- makes me think of 'rounders' and hours of playing with friends at the park as a kid. Screaming at each other ruuuuuun!! and using our jackets for the bases.

3) Art- drawing, painting , chalks. I love to draw but due to study Ive not done anything for a year or more. It the first thing to do on finishing my course.

4) Chocolate- yum! Cake, bars, buttons all things chocolate I love! Just now I find Im eating more of it with every essay I write so hoping to loose a few pounds after my last essay. I think I will associate chocolate with essays forever now!

5) Grill- well its food again this time grilled bacon sandwiches on a saturday morning.

Wednesday 27 April 2011

Brief Contemplation on Motivation and Procrastination

Only 5 week untill the end of term and I noticed I dont have one quote on motivation given to me this year! So if you pop by please feel free to leave me one or an encouraging bible verse.

Now here's a clip on procrastination, why is it there is always somthing else to be done when an essay is on the go?

Monday 25 April 2011

Justice and Mercy

Listening to the radio tonight and heard this song...its new to me so sharing

Great Grandfather


Having had the most wonderful Easter day I am now feeling a little weary but more anxious as I try to complete my dissertation for this coming thursday.
I sit on the floor to do my work as I find it more comfortable that a desk and chair but tonight my back started to hurt as I lent over the laptop. I remembered the small yellow stool my mum had given me, made by her grand father for her as a child. It is the perfect desk for a floor dweller like me and it could have been made for my laptop, no more leaning over.
I never met my great granfather but it made me smile to think he is now giving me the means of support I need to get on with my work. Ive been told he was a man of great faith it has reminded me of Hebrews 12 which is just the encouragment I needed tonight.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Sunday 24 April 2011

He is Risen




For he lives, Christ has risen from the dead

Friday 22 April 2011

Amazing love



Lord Jesus, on this Good Friday we remember your amazing love in repentance, in gratitude, the agony and the shame, the darkness and desolation, that you endured on the Cross for us and for the salvation of humanity .
under the shadow of the cross we ask you to help us to understand something more of what it cost you, the Holy One, to bear away our sin, that we may love and serve you better, our Lord our Mediator , most merciful Redeemer.
Amen.

Wednesday 20 April 2011

Feet Thoughts

feet of jesus
Feet
that walked in scorching sand
away from all temptation
Feet
that walked in humility
to heal, to love, to bring salvation
Feet
Dusty, tired, worn
washed in water, tears of love and
sweet smelling oil
Feet
clasped in joy, in worship
Kissed in the wonder and thankfullness of all
Feet
Broken,worn and bleeding
this is the feat of King Jesus over sin
at His feet every knee shall bow
every tounge confess in Him
that
He is Lord

Saturday 9 April 2011

Friday 8 April 2011

Meaning and Authenticity



thought provoking and well worth a watch

RevGalpals Friday five



so this week the five are your thoughts on that movement from darkness to light. Tell us five ways in which you are anticiping, or your life is moving towards light, joy, hope--new things: new ideas, new hobbies, new people...and so on.

1 the end of Honors yr at uni and the hope of passing all thats needed
2 Looking to Summer and the new people I will meet on placement and sharing in Christs light
3 Looking forward to a summer with our boys, cycling, painting and exploring in the freash air
4 Starting probation at Ness Church and knowing their joy of faith
5 Exploring differnt ways to worship in my life and a closer time in Christ.

Mhairi and Larry the Sheep



For 10 days now we have had 2 sheep (Larry and Mhairi) in our garden and I couldnt get in touch with the farmer, then yesterday a few of their family turned up too. Ive enjoyed having them in the garden hearing them bleeting and eating the grass which is sprouting up. I was a little concerend they would lamb what would I do? even the info google gave me didnt really reassure me.
Anyway, today the farmer and his dog arrived and after a bit of a chase around the garden, then through the woods and paddock soon the 7 sheep were on their way back home. I was impressed which the farmers ability to calmly get them back, carrying one in his arms that was not sure which way to run and still all the while whistling to his collie. I really enjoyed watching every minute and I told the farmer they were welcome to the grass here anytime.

It all reminded me of the parable of the lost sheep. what really struck me was how this farmer had searched, woods ,fields and paddocks to find these sheep to carry then to saftey, good grass and his watching care again. I had thought the farmer had not bothered looking. So if this is what the farmer does to look for his sheep how much more will our Heavenly father hold out, watch and go out for us. so it helped me today to remember Im never forgotten perhaps I go off to other distracting places, not in my fathers presence.

Oh it turned out it was 2 girls we had with lambs on the way!!

Thursday 7 April 2011

Words


Words take on a different meaning than perhaps they were first intended.I read this in exploring christians spirituality class yesterday.


I don't know where I'm goin
but I sure know where I've been
hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday.
An' I've made up my mind, I ain't wasting no more time
but here I go again, here I go again.

Tho' I keep searching for an answer
I never seem to find what I'm looking for.
Oh Lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on
'cos I know what it means to walk along the lonely street of dreams.

Here I go again on my own
goin' down the only road I've ever known.
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone.
An' I've made up my mind, I ain't wasting no more time.

Just another heart in need of rescue
waiting on love's sweet charity
an' I'm gonna hold on for the rest of my days
'cos I know what it means to walk along the lonely street of dreams



I explained that times are longing for God , for his strenght as I know the road alone without Christ. Waiting on Loves sweet charity?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16...what love

So I was asked who wrote the words Id read and I said Whitesnake a rock band ..are they a christian band? erm no I really dont think so. Its all about stepping along in faith really.

Tuesday 5 April 2011

Education, Education, Education

Today has not been a good day for me. I have spent the day between feeling angry and crying because of an essingment result! Im annoyed as I had worked hard on this report and for the first time in a while had enjoyed an assingment, thinking it was a good piece of work. Im discovering Im not an academic as my grammar is not up to it and for now my heart is not in it. I miss painting ,I miss getting chalk under my fingernails and mixing worderful colours.

Tonight I am thankful to God that he loves me "the average" and I give thanks to God that I still look and see his colours in nature that remind me Im loved and makes me yearn to lift my chalks.(dissertation first!)

So that was my day, then once home and had a look at Hilton Church's Blog and this was posted...its cheered me up that Im not the only person who is thinking about the pitfalls of acedemia.


Sunday 3 April 2011

Happy Mothers Day !?!

Its been a good mothers day chocs, flowers and the dishes done what more could I want? So I think this video is guite appropriate for today, you have probably seen it but it does make me smile for the things I say to my children and the things I can hear in it my mum said to me.



Mothers day is mostly a day of celebration of the care and love that a mother has shown to her child.However, for many people this is not day of celebration, because mum has left or died or been too ill to be there or a mum who has been unable to know how to love.
Perhaps as a church family it would be loving and healing to consider all kinds of mothering and grieve with those who are hurt because of the mothering lost or being unable to become a mum, alongside the thanksgiving for love recieved

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another,even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Friday 1 April 2011

Friday Five


Over at RevGalPals Blog they always have a friday 5. This week its 5 things that are good in my life and 1 thing I can do without, so here goes

The good
the quite times with God
a patient hubby who makes me laugh
a friend that I can share anything with
children that make life full
looking out the window to fields,hills,trees and sun (well this morning anyway)

The thing I could do without
the housework !

Thursday 31 March 2011

Splash!


On getting home last night I was excited to open the a birthday parcel from amazon, it was a good end to the uni day and a good start to the evening. The decision after dinner was, do I read what I have to read for uni? or do I open the new book "Barefoot Disciple by Stephen Cherry"? I went to my room feeling a bit naughty to read the first chapter Christlike wisdom. Id been reading at uni most of the day ,pages of words that I couldnt pronounce and with dictionary at hand but this book was like jumping into a paddling pool on a hot day.
The first chapter is on humility somthing I stuggle with taking the self out of decisions.
Here's 4 points I soaked in, in my 20 minutes of splashing in that pool


"the journey of discipleship involves crossing the boundaries of our comfort zone again and again"

"we are true disciples when we latch on to Jesus way of life by being open to the adventures that God has given us"

"learning from scripture, learing from Christs traveling companions and learing from our own experiece on the journey, that we open ourselves to being constantly renewed"


and on being humble Cherry quoted Wothington

"Being humble, then, is like trying to catch air in our hands. The faster we close our fingers around it,the faster the air spurts away. The slower we close our hands , the slower the air spurts away. But if we hold our hands, palms up, arms out streached , then the air will come and rest on them. To experience humility, then is not to grasp or strive towards it , but to rest as we seek to bless others. When we are moved from within, a humble spirit can descend upon us like air on the open hand."

Saturday 26 March 2011

Earth Hour Tonight

The lights will be off in the Boyes house tonight wonder what conversations we will have ??



Friday 25 March 2011

Wednesday 16 March 2011

Music

In exploring spirituality class today we watched Jonny Cash video Hurt before a seminar on Reformed and Evangelical spirituality. Ive heard the song before but never focused on the words. I was moved as he sang about giving the pile of dirt giving his all and it reminded me of life being that puff of smoke in Ecc what meaning does life have if it is not lived for God. Anyway heres the song and words




Tonight Im still working on a seminar for tomorrow on Calvins Institutes. Im surprised at the spirituality, the words have given me cause for some self-examination, but Ill post more on this at the weekend.

Monday 14 March 2011

This day!

One radio programme I listen to often cooking the dinner or studying is Bryan Burnet on Radio Scotland. The programme is a request show with a new theme every day and todays theme is :What kind of day have you had? Bryan's looking for a track that sums up your day. I might make a couple of suggestions and here they are

and here


Hows your day in song?

Thursday 10 March 2011

Class work

As Im really pretty awful at keeping this blog. I thought Id post some of my semminar work for my final term classes: Exploring Christian Spirituality,Quest for the Historical Jesus , Worship, Reformed Theology and my disertation. So last week I spent way too much time preparing a powerpoint to lead the Spirituality class. We are looking at the christian traditions in spirituality. One part of the class Im really enjoying is at the begining one person shares a video, music, poes, picture or story that has helped them in spending time close to God. Anyway heres the powerpoint with some good pictures
A brief history of spirituality
View more presentations from pollydoodle.
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Polly and I

Polly and I