Continuing in Quietness

John Calvin:

"When a fire is once kindled, it is not so soon quenched again. We imagine that when we throw ourselves into a fit of anger, we can come to ourselves very soon, and all will be calm and quiet again. But no! The devil so puts in his foot that the strife and contention turns to a deadly sting, so that men are envenomed with it more and more. Let us not think that when any trouble is stirred up, it will be pacified as soon as we could wish, continue in quietness and shun all strife and debate."

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peacably with all men. Romans12:18

Psalm 133

A song of degrees of David

--o--

1 Behold, how good a thing it is,

and how becoming well,

Together such as brethren are

in unity to dwell!

2 Like precious ointment on the head,

that down the beard did flow,

Ev'n Aaron's beard, and to the skirts,*

did of his garments go.

3 As Hermon's dew, the dew that doth

on Sion' hills descend:

For there the blessing God commands,

life that shall never end.

--o--

Scottish Metrical version

From Frog to Prince

...In twelve short years.Tomorrow is the birthday of my precious premmie boy. Actually, all of our babies were early. Our first was born at 28 weeks and died at eight days of age. The other three between 34 and 36+ weeks. But this little darling was born at 30 weeks gestation! He weighed 3lb 15oz which is pretty good for that age, and although my own health meant that his lungs were expected to be under developed, he breathed alone at birth. (later he had some dramas which meant he was ventilated for a short time) . He spent eight weeks in hospital. Took forever to get to full breast feeding. Gave us many heart stopping moments with his little seizures. We brought him home on Australia Day, 1998 and our little boy who started life like a tiny frog has never looked back.

In the picture above he is already nearly eight weeks. Don't you love his nappy? and his dear sweet face♥


Growing bonny in the first few months!

By 18 months he was as solid as a rock and already had a baby brother. He has remained a solid boy, and enjoys good health. Being born so early he has had a few developmental problems, but as a dynamic, basketball loving, PS2 playing lad, you would hardly know it.

His name means manly.

He is enjoying a wonderful weekend of activities to celebrate this birthday.

Unbelievably Easy No Fail Recipe!!!

This is one of those recipes which just always seems to come out well and the children love it! Since our home school group has swimming on Friday mornings and we have a birthday in the family this weekend I made it to share for morning tea after swimming. It is very big so ideal for the big numbers.

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Boiled Chocolate Cake

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3cups sugar

2 cups water

250g margarine

1 teaspoon baking soda

4 tablespoons cocoa

3 cups SR Flour

4 eggs, well beaten

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Boil the first 5 ingredients

Allow to cool

Beat in flour, then eggs

Bake in a LARGE cake tin in moderate oven for 40 - 45 mins

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(I actually use a baking dish or two ordinary tins)

Giving Thanks Today!

I thought today, being Thanksgiving Day for our friends in the US of A, would be a good day to ponder on the things I am thankful to the Lord for.

# My Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. ♥

# My husband, home and family.♥

#My two grandsons, my step grand daughter and the little baby soon to be born. D.V.♥

# That we live in a free country. While it seems to be becoming less and less based on a christian ethos, we still have the freedom to worship the one true God, assemble together and preach our message openly. May God continue to bless us and shed his light upon many in this dark nation.♥

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# An abundance of good gifts! More than food and clothing, God has blessed us with many material things. Help us to know how to abound and to use your provision wisely.♥

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# For both my husband's and my own parents, all of whom are living.♥

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# For wonderful family and friends. Especially for the household of faith. How much more difficult life would be if we were to travel this road alone.♥

# The end of another year of schooling. Thank you Lord, for health, strength and perseverance throughout this year. And for young boys who are progressing, no matter how slowly.♥

#For new found internet and blogging friends! Thank you one and all for your encouragement, your interesting reads, and your humour. ♥

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#For long awaited showers of rain recently fallen! May they deluge down.♥

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Praise ye the Lord,O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 106:1

Favourite Weekend Links

There were so many great posts up over the weekend and Monday to catch up on! Thanks everyone ♥


Here are a couple I recommend checking out:


At Challies I was amazed to read that Jerry Bridges, that wonderful author, is turning eighty. Say Happy Birthday to Jerry Bridges . He has many well known books of which I have read only a couple. Trusting God (Even when Life Hurts) was a great blessing to me at a very difficult time in my life.

Carolyn at Restore the Ancient Paths has posted an oldie but a goodie. Gives me a giggle every time. Well, ain't it just like this at your place, Homeschooler?
The Homeschool Family


My Puritan Board and Blogging friend, Carol has launched her book ! Getting off the Niceness Treadmill. See an early reader's comment here at April Bought my Book! Good for you Carol. May God bless the book to his glory.

Lessons from a Hard Pew

Sometimes my "Sabbath Thoughts" wander well astray from the Pastor's sermon!

Although I am well short of fifty...well short you hear! I have a few "age" problems. Most diabetics develop some of the long term side effects of diabetes. One thing I have found in recent years is that my circulation is deteriorating. I get lots of cramps, especially in my back. Okay, scrap that, now I really sound geriatric! However, it is related tot he post.

Lately I have found it very difficult to sit through our church services without some discomfort, and sometimes pain. In the morning, the place where we meet has slightly padded seats with wooden backs, so not too bad. In the evening, our place of worship has very straight, hard pews which I do sometimes find very difficult to sit for the whole time. It is tricky. I have young sons in training! I try desperately hard to sit still and attentive, but especially in the evening I struggle with these stabbing cramps! I try to shift position imperceptibly....I try to flex the cramp with as little movement as possible. Alas, the last couple of weeks I have given in and we have all moved further back. {sigh} Here I feel a little more freedom to squirm! And have once actually gotten up and walked to the back to try to un-scrunch those muscles! Oh, the pain and indignation!

Last night, I was thinking about the day's messages and ruing my aging body and less than acute mind. Then I began to ponder how absolutely trivial those back pains are when I think upon the agony and suffering my Lord and Saviour endured for his people. How small an humiliation it is to be "well short of fifty" with an obviously deteriorating body, compared to the humiliation our great God endured to come to earth in a human frame. Despised and rejected of men.

I am not wanting to be a martyr and whip myself in order to worship God! But it did strike me that we very often whine and complain because we do not enjoy a life of ease. Yet, we so often take for granted the salvation we have in Christ without remembering the great price he paid.

Thanks and Praise be to God.

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Q. Where in did Christ's humiliation consist?

A. Christ's humiliation consisteth in his being born and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life,the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross, in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 35

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Meandering Monday thoughts!

Teaching Children

Lord, Who am I to teach the way

To little Children day by day,

So prone myself to go astray?

I teach them knowledge, but I know

How faint they flicker and how low

The candles of my knowledge glow.

I teach them power to will and do,

But only now to learn anew

My own great weakness through and through.

I teach them love for all mankind

And all God’s creatures, but I find

My love comes lagging far behind.

Lord, if their guide I still must be,

Oh, let the little Children see

The teacher leaning hard on Thee.

By: Leslie Pinchney Hill.

I have copied this lovely verse from MommaMindyMoments. She posted it recently with a great story of the woman who shared this wisdom with her. Thanks Mindy

Pumpkin Soup

1 kg (2lb) pumpkin

750g 1.5 lb) tomatoes

500g (1lb) onions

pepper and salt

water

2 chicken stock cubes

Peel pumpkin and cut into pieces; skin tomatoes; peel and chop onions. Put all vegetables in pan. Add water to cover, stir in crumbled stock cubes.

Bring to boil; reduce heat, simmer until pumpkin is tender. Puree or rub through sieve. Season to taste. (Refrigerate if serving cold) Garnish with a little sour cream and chopped chives.

Serves 6 to 8. We love this as a hot soup but is nice cold as well.

I usually put the ingredients into the crock pot, with a couple of peeled, diced potatoes and slow cook until soft.

(The picture above is not mine! I have never actually served Pumpkin Soup out of the pumpkin.)

for Aussie Cooks. I have used this basic recipe from the good old Australian Women's Weekly Cookbook for over twenty years!

Golden Childhood XIII

Do you remember ...

the first sound in the morning,

Dad shaking down the coals.

"Hup hey! Hup hey!"

Thud of the engine

chips flying,

The ABC news music as we scrambled for the bus?

Don't you remember...

the monotonous "Ark, ark" of the crows,

on hot summer afternoons.

Wonderful riverlets of red

and going to the gate on the tractor

when Januarys used to be wet.

And the velvet nights, crystal clear,

silent after the engine stopped,

Just the creaking of the mill

as we drifted off to sleep.

Remember endless games in the "Two Trees"

and around the tank behind the kitchen

where a huge carpet snake lurked?

The same was my dread

if I had to go to the laundry

or turn off the engine.

Remember the swing and the big fig tree

How its roots jutted out

just where we jumped off?

I remember...

my Summer of dreadful thirst.

Hospital, needles, diet, fear.

Dad giving my morning injections

and how I began to ride Kimber

young and newly broken

and falling......

How many alarms we gave them

our dear Mum and Dad!

And don't you remember...

away at school,

the lurch in your stomach

when you saw their beloved faces
and the sinking as you waved goodbye.
Homesick....
Driving home,
Tears along the Rannes road,
a lump in the throat.
Dad on the patio
peels at his feet.
Mum running from the kitchen
wood stove warm and inviting.

Try to remember...
Rannes 15D
History lessons as we trudged along fencing,
whinging as we picked sticks.
Mustering, branding, pitching in.
Hot and dusty but content
and how Dad peered out his office window
looking for lights in the lane
when the older ones were coming home.
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Waves of nostalgia,
jumbled recollections
but of course you remember!
It was only yesterday....

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August 2004

To my family on the occasion of Dad's 80th birthday.

♥♥ Sweet ♥♥

Putting their heads together!

Whatcha lookin' at?

Snips and snails and puppy dogs' tails,
that's what little boys are made of!

♥♥

Where is your Treasure?

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21

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Matthew Henry: "Where your treasure is, on earth or in heaven, there will your heart be. We are therefore concerned to be right and wise in the choice of our treasure, because the temper of our minds, and consequently the tenor of our lives, will be accordingly either carnal or spiritual, earthly or heavenly. Where the treasure is, there the value and esteem are, there the love and affection are (Colossians 3:2), that way the desires and pursuits go, thitherward the aims and intents are levelled, and all is done with that in view. The heart is God's due (Proverbs 23:26) and that he may have it, our treasure must be laid up with Him, and then our souls will be lifted up to Him."

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While it is good to plan for the future, our priority should be for the eternal things. Laying up and choosing heavenly things rather than the things which pertain to this fleeting world.




What direction is my heart going? What are my thoughts filled with? What excites me? That is my treasure... Do I put all my strength and energy into the things of God? What is my life's purpose? If the Lord is the treasure of my heart then all my thoughts, efforts, worship and witness are directed toward him.

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In what direction is your heart going? ♥

The Friendships of Women

I really appreciated the award from Jillian, HomeSchooling4Christ, last week. I had posted this blurb in another place, early last week, before that lovely award and got to thinking about the difference between "blog friendships" and the teaching type sites. I'll let you read my thoughts, (sorry, it is longish) and I hope you will see the difference. I do think we glean a lot from our interaction over the net and make many like minded friends who build us up. Thanks to all of those who have encouraged and sharpened me.

Here is the post "The Friendships of Women" from my Jewelry Box blog in entirety.


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A lot of the blogs I read use Proverbs 31:10 - 31 or Titus 2: 3 -5 as their header or reference verses. These are such special passages to us as Christian women. We can study and experience all our lives through and still not plumb the depths of these passages, joined with many others which make special reference to christian woman hood.

If you google either of those references you come up with an endless supply of sites to examine. You can learn a lot from the wisdom recorded there in. But I have been thinking about the mentoring of women in the christian faith and the internet, lately.

I was blessed to be brought up by very traditional and conservative parents. I had the early influence of relatives and friends who were married for life, where dads were the head of the house and mums were joyful mothers of children, looking well to the ways of their households.

However, when I became a christian I was desperately looking for older women in the faith to be mentors to me. I began to read extensively and form many opinions about marriage, children, education and so on. I started to make friends, around my own age and also lacking in experience and wisdom and we talked extensively on these important matters. We subscribed to various magazines and exchanged the good, informative books we were reading. Eventually, a group of us got the idea to have regular meetings, I seem to recall it was Tuesday nights, once a fortnight. We did glean a lot from reading and discussing scripture and praying for one another's needs, but generally I look back and we were pretty much pooling our ignorance!

This little group didn't last long. Most of us remained friends, but we had so many children, husbands to attend to , busy households, home schooling that it was not very practical. We also found that though we were friends our differing doctrinal beliefs and the various wishes and opinions of our husbands, lead to a lot of difficulties.

This is going back 15 plus years ago. Since then, the Lord has brought many trials in my own life. Some of those same ladies are still my close friends. But during the hard years of pregnancies, babies, schooling, marriage, family and church hurdles I began to see that the Titus 2 women in our lives are those that God has placed in our own sphere as mothers/ mentors in faith and life. Loving our husbands and children is not something learned in a discussion group, or from an internet or magazine article, though these may help us. These, and other godly qualities are learned as we observe the godly older women in our circles and seek the Lord with our whole heart.

I was young, opinionated and clueless! (Now I am old but still probably much the same!)

I thought my ideas were so superior to the older women in my church circle who had not home schooled, or perhaps they worked, or......... any number of other things.

I was idealistic but I did not have the years of experience of walking with the Lord that some of these ladies did. As trials set in, my lack of experience began to show. I had made an idol of my family and suffered terribly because of it. It was then that these gracious older, and not so much older but much wiser, godly women, began to shine.

Were it not for the love, patience and kindness of these and the openness and willingness to learn of some of my other friends, I might well have travelled a much more rocky and painful path. They came along side. They listened and they loved. They led by example.

I remember once having a good whinge to a friend about something - someone. She listened, she nodded and hugged me. Then she looked at me ever so gently and said, "I know I would feel that way too, but what you have just said is sinful and you need to forgive and change your attitude."

Faithful are the wounds of a friend.

I think we need to read with a lot of wisdom and discretion when we use the net as our "Titus" teaching tool. We cannot observe the home lives, the marriages, the relationships of the people we read about. I know my own life is a far cry from the ideal example I might wish to be. There are many lovely families using the internet as their "ministries" but sadly, like some preachers, there are also those who have set themselves up as an authority and fallen very publicly. Falls are part of the Christian walk, but sometimes followers can be severely shaken in the fall out if their faith and trust is depending on a man/ woman rather than on the Lord.

Sometimes the financial side of the "business" eg with magazines and home based businesses, or the pressure to publish, become more pressing and important than the souls which are looking in hunger and thirst for biblical teaching. While relationships are formed through the internet, they do not have the same depth and day to day reality of real friendships. We can log in each day to a favourite blog site or teacher, but we would never visit our real friends every day nor hear one mans sermons every day. Some of our reliance on the Lord can be lost and the zeal to "search the scriptures to see whether these things be so", if all the research and hard work is done for us.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 are very special portions of scripture for us women. At the time they were written there were no computers, blogs or emails. Women lived and worked closely together the older teaching the younger. Times have changed and we appreciate all the conveniences we have at our finger tips, but it seems the time honoured and biblical methods are still the best.

ooOOoo

Just some thoughts. I love some of the sites I visit regularly on the net and have made friends with a number of folk. Likewise I love my books and magazines that edify and encourage. But only God's Word is perfect and His Spirit our teacher and comforter. Only those God has placed in our real life community of believers can know us, love us, joy and grieve with us. May God bless you with many such Godly examples to help as we grow in grace.

A Special Birthday!

My little princess♥

12 November, 1990

On this day, nineteen years ago, my third child and second daughter was born. Like her siblings she was born prematurely at 35 weeks but she weighed 7lb 3oz and was fairly healthy from the get go. I spent one week in, one week out alternately in hospital from 9 weeks during her pregnancy, due to complications in my diabetic control. We considered her our special miracle, as at eleven weeks my condition was so poor it looked unlikely I would get through the pregnancy to a viable age. But our great God answers prayer! We took her home on day ten and Daddy and big sister were very pleased to finally get us home again.

A cute baby at 18 months of age.

This daughter was a fashion coordinator from a young age! She had clear ideas on what she liked and disliked and would assist me with my wardrobe. "Mummy, that shirt would look nice with this scarf." And to big sister, "You should wear these shoes with this dress." Today she still has great taste in clothing and interior decoration. Big Sister and I missed out a little in that department.

Once a princess, always a princess!

Still loves to dress up!

Both my daughters were great little house keepers. The older would do what ever was asked of her, but this daughter was always able to see what needed doing and just do it. And she did it thoroughly. Today she is just the same and keeps her own home spotless.

Today we spent a lot of the day together which was lovely. Tonight, we had a barbecue tea with her and her partner and their little son. As one of my blogging friends wrote recently, don't blink or you will miss it. (Our children's lives) Where have the years gone? Where did my baby go?

God bless you, my precious baby...

Acknowledging Friendship♥

Jillian from Homeschooling4Christ, along with her son, has cleverly designed this blog award. It is two carrots which have grown intertwined together. She uses this as a lovely analogy to her friends made through blogging. Go over and check her out and the story of the logo.

Thanks Jillian!

A Poppy for Remembrance

We don't commemorate Remembrance Day in the same way we do Anzac Day. My boys do love to go through my albums and learn more of their ancestors who fought in the various wars. They have also spoken a lot to my parents, who were teenagers at home during the Second World War, about life during war time. They are like a lot of young boys, very interested in makes of guns and tanks etc. but we try to temper that with a healthy respect for the brutality of war. My Grandfather, like many veterans, rarely spoke of anything awful from his war experiences but we got the occasional glimpse of the horrendous conditions. He had a few obvious physical scars but the emotional scars were so much deeper. In those days no one spoke of Post Traumatic Stress. You were expected to go home and get on with life.

My Grandad, being wounded twice in France, was convalescing in England when the Armistice was signed. He was able to come home shortly afterwards. Here is my Anzac Day post

Here he is back home in the 1920's.

I've posted this photo because it shows him operating a cream separator.

(That's for you Jillian!)

11 November, 1918 Armistice Day

LEST WE FORGET...

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Click above for information on the observance of Remembrance Day

Judge Gently

Pray don't find fault with the man that limps,

Or stumbles along the road,

Unless you have worn the shoes he wears,

Or struggled beneath his load.

There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt,

Tho' hidden away from view;

Or the burden he bears placed on your back,

Might cause you to stumble too.

Don't sneer at the man who's down today,

Unless you have felt the blow

that caused his fall, or felt the shame,

that only the fallen know.

You may be strong, but still the blows

that were his, if felt by you,

In the selfsame way, at the selfsame time,

Might cause you to stagger too.

Don't be too harsh with the man that sins,

Or pelt him with word or stone,

Unless you are sure, yea doubly sure,

That you have no sins of your own.

But you know, perhaps, if the tempter's voice,

Should whisper as soft to you,

As it did to him when he went astray,

It might cause you to falter too.

Author Unknown

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness - considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted: " Galatians 6:1

I had plenty of food for thought from our sermons yesterday, but the thing I have been pondering most and wanted to share was this little poem which we read from one of the boys Sabbath books. It gave us lots to talk over. I always enjoy delving more into the practical outworking of our christian lives, as we seek to follow Christ and what His precious Word teaches us.

Macaroni Beef

This is another of my families favourites. At first glance there do seem to be a lot of steps but once you've made it, it is quite easy. This is one of standbys for a meal when families have a need or a new baby, you can make the quantity as huge as needed. It also freezes well so is ideal to make in bulk. Also known as Poor Man's Lasagna. Macaroni Beef

Meat sauce

1kg mince

2 x 240g cans Tomato Soup

2 small onions finely diced

1.5 cups grated carrot

1.5 cups grated zucchini

1 cup frozen peas

4 level tablespoons tomato paste

4 level teaspoons beef stock powder

6 cups cooked macaroni noodles

a pinch of salt (optional)

Topping

2 level tablespoons butter or margarine

6 level tablespoons plain flour

3 cups skim milk

1.5 cups grated cheese

Preheat oven to 180 C

Meat Sauce: Cook mince in a large non stick saucepan. Drain liquid then return mince to pot. Add in carrots, zucchini, onion, peas and soup. Cook 2 mins stirring continuously. Add stock powder, tomato paste, and salt , cook a further 5 mins stirring frequently. Fold in cooked macaroni noodles and mix together well. Pour mixture into 2 large oblong dishes.

Topping: Melt butter in saucepan, add flour, cook 1 minute. Slowly add milk using a whisk to avoid lumps, stir continuously. Pour sauce over the meat. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake 25-30 mins or until golden brown.

Serves 12

Good with some crusty bread and a salad.

I confess my topping is always lumpy when I use this recipe so I substitute my usual white sauce using cornflour and always get a good smooth consistancy.

Wisdom from my Kitchen

This gem was at the bottom of the page of this recipe. I think it is worth sharing!

HOW TO PRESERVE A HUSBAND

Be careful in the selection. Do not choose too ripe or too old. Best results if he has been reared in a healthy atmosphere. Some insist on keeping him in a pickle, others prefer to keep him in hot water, such treatment may make husband sour, hard and sometimes bitter. Many housewives have found that even poor varieties can be rendered tender and good by a garnish of patience, the sweetening of a smile, and the flavouring of a kiss to taste. Wrap him in a mantle of charity, place him over a warm steady fire of domestic devotion and serve with peaches and cream!

When thus preserved a husband will keep for years!

Abigail

Ah... Abigail! Her name evokes a picture of wisdom, humility and kindness. Lord, for the wisdom and faith of Abigail, who recognized your anointed king and risked her own life for the sake of her foolish husband and the lives of their household.

In a day and age where submission is a dirty word in most circles, it can be difficult for christian women to buck the system and live godly, biblical lives. We see Abigail was not the door mat which christian women are sometimes portrayed as. She was willing to obey God rather than men. She was discreet and wise in dealing with Nabal. (God dealt with him in his own way and time.) What a wonderful example to us is this woman of scripture!

I love our fortnightly Tuesday afternoon meetings. I feel truly blessed to be given my dear sisters, who love the Lord. We love, encourage, sharpen one another.

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." Proverbs 31 :30

Poetry Books

I found a number of my old favourite poetry books in the purge of the school room last week. NONE of these have been tossed out! I love poetry, especially old ballads which tell a story of Australia. Do you recognize any of these books?

A favourite from my childhood. Verses for

Young Australians. Written and illustrated by Ruth Jenkins. Inside this book I have kept a number of handwritten pages of children's rhymes which mum used to sing with us. Above we have "Engines" and "Elephant" but you will know them by other names.

Off the Shelf

Compiled by A.K. Thompson

First published 1960

Lest We Forget. Poems of the Dawson Valley by Mary House 1946

Poems of Queensland by Constance Gittins.

And sorry they came out a bit wonky! I am not always sure how they will publish!

Glory in the Lord!

26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1: 26 -31

How comforting and encouraging for us who are just everyday joes, that not many wise, mighty or noble shall be called. It gives us regular plodders - farmers, builders, labourers, wives, stay at home mums, a lift to know that God is no respecter of persons. I think myself, it is better/ easier to be quietly in the background, leaning on the Lord, loving the brethren. How much more difficult it must be for the few who are wise (according to this world), mighty or noble, in positions of earthly power and influence. How much more is expected of them, how many more temptations they face.

But God...

Some say "I" did such and such, "I" chose Christ, "I" brought this one to Christ. I...I...I...But Salvation is of the Lord. He has called us. He has given to his people the gift of faith. All of grace. To God alone be the glory!!

"Let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord. Hath any man hope that he is converted, and sanctified, and that his mind is endowed with true excellency and spiritual beauty? that his sins are forgiven, and he received into God's favour, and exalted to the honour and blessedness of being His child, and an heir of eternal life? Let him give Gold all the glory, who alone makes him to differ from the worst of men in this world, or the most miserable of the damned in hell." Jonathon Edwards

Have a wonderful week!