They make me smile.

My daughter was telling me how her four year old has taken over giving thanks before meals since they moved out from here.  He is a great talker and uses the opportunity to be thankful for a long list of things each night :-)  When he finally winds up the three year old groans dramatically, "The End"!!!!

The same little four year old has been regaling his kindy teacher and the class, and us, with his dinosaur knowledge. When questions are put to him regarding a name or information he stands astride and declares, "I am a dinosaur expert."

Anyone with little people around will agree that the funny little ways they say things makes you smile.  Children seem to make you smile just for no real reason. Adults can use some lessons from those uncomplicated little beings!

We don't celebrate saints feast days here so last Thursday passed mostly unremarkably.  The teenagers being the only ones slightly interested :-) Seeing something on TV on tonight (Saturday) my hubby asked, "Oh, when is Valentine's Day?"  Haha.....he's a keeper all right!

I actually read a number of good, thought provoking posts around the blog world on husbands, wives and "love" in general.  In this age when many relationships are short lived it is encouraging to read the "good news" stories of lasting love and life time commitment. 

This clip has been doing the rounds but in case you haven't seen it I'm linking it.  I thought it was very special. ♥


What is real love?

He gives us beauty for ashes.

"It is said that in some countries trees will grow,
but will bear no fruit because there is no winter there."

John Bunyan

"Humility is a strange flower; it grows best in winter weather,
and under storms of affliction."

Samuel Rutherford

"After winter comes the summer. After night comes the dawn.
After every storm, there comes clear, open skies." 

Samuel Rutherford


(Thank you to Stefanie at Stefanie's Pleasant Places for these quotes.)

Some quotes from respected men of God of the past.
When we experience these hard trials and periods of
 affliction, a winter in our soul, it is good for us to
remember that our fellow believers have and still do
endure the same,
if they are being sanctified by the Lord.

May you know the joy which comes in the morning,
in the Spring and let us praise and magnify the Lord.

"For whom the Lord  lovest He chasteneth"
Hebrews 12:6

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:

 weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm 30:5

Thoughts to take into the New Year

The Duty Man Owes to God

Thomas Boston:

"Let us consider the duty which man owes unto God.  this is obedience.  We are in a state of subjection to God.  He is our superior, and His will we are to obey in all things.  He is our King, and we must obey Him as His subjects, by complying with all His statutes and ordinances.  He is our Father, and we must show Him all respect, reverence, and affection, as His dutiful children.  He is our Lord and Master, and we must yield Him the most cheerful and unlimited service, as is our reasonable duty.  He is our supreme Lawgiver, and we must receive the law at His mouth, every law and precept, every ordinance that is stamped with His authority, whatever is subscribed with a "Thus saith the Lord, " readily obeying it."

It is difficult to fathom that the year can have passed so quickly.
It is convicting to think about just how much time has been frittered away on the frivilous things of this world.  Let us purpose to walk, no run! after the Lord in renewed obedience  in the year ahead.

Make Secular Things Sacred

.
We shall be wise to make secular things sacred by trusting them with God. Faith is not for eternity alone but for this fleeting hour also. It is good for the shop and for the market-place, for the field and for the domestic hearth. For the cares of the moment, as well as for all else, we take refuge under the wings of God. There shall we be blessed for Christ's sake.

C.H Spurgeon

Humble Servants

"The pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both." — John Calvin

I read this recently at a blog I was visiting and Calvin's quote came back to me as I was pondering the role of the Pastor (Teaching Elder) in our congregations. I have previously discussed the Pastor here. In that post I was pondering what our responsibilities are toward him and about the great stresses and pitfalls which men who are called into the ministry encounter.

Just now I am thinking about the Minister and his position in relation to his congregation. He is an elder, but one by reason of his calling by God to preach the gospel . He has authority and great responsibility in expounding God's precious Word to the people. This is the voice Calvin referred to as gathering the sheep, He teaches, exhorts and Lord willing unites the flock.
In his preaching and teaching he also has the difficult task of admonishing and warning the people. Driving away false teachers and those who would draw the people into false doctrines and practices. Again, it is a reminder to me to constantly pray for the Pastor, his labour in the Word of God, his family and that Satan would not get a foot hold. It seems that this is the devil's delight ~ to strike the (under) Shepards and scatter the sheep.

Someone said to me that the Pastor is to be held in respect. I do believe and seek to do this as his office requires. I do think however that a minister can become haughty. Most of us who have been in the Church for many years will have seen men who have become so proud of their knowledge/ gifts etc that they loose touch with the people to some extent. Some times he goes off on a tangent on some doctrinal issue and maybe leads away a group of followers who have slavishly listened or causes members to leave the assembly because of his domineering tyranny. Often when splits in churches occur they are not even over an issue of doctrinal conscience but rather personality clashes. Unity is lost.

While we are all responsible to search the scriptures and test the teaching we receive, we should all be willing and teachable when we have been heading down a wrong path. We make the minister's job so much more difficult when we are dull of hearing and hard of heart. But we must also be wise as serpents, alert to false teaching and "hobby horses" being pushed. This means reading, praying, meditating constantly on the Scriptures.

I have been thinking of the Lord Jesus, our perfect example both in Christian life and for the ministry. Yes, he spoke boldly and always the truth. Not everyone listened or received his perfect teaching.
But he was also meek and lowly in heart. He was despised and rejected but he answered not again. He was a humble servant. He washed the feet of the saints. This is a picture to think upon and treasure. The good shepherd who would leave the ninety nine safe and go looking for one lost sheep.

I trust you appreciate and pray for your Pastor. May the congregation of the Lord's people be blessed by Godly servants, humble in their high calling to proclaim the Gospel. And with eager "Bereans" in the pews who gladly receive the Word and live it.
God help us.

1 Timothy 3
1This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Roots and Wings

"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings."



Roots, to be firmly established and grounded in love. and wings to fly and reach heights beyond your expectations.

Psalm 1 tells us that the man is blessed who does not walk in the council of the ungodly, nor stands with sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But rather delights in and meditates on the law of the Lord.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

The roots of a strong faith, a loving family, parents committed to one another,
enable a child to grow into a grounded and confident adult. To dare to dream dreams and know that the home team is cheering. Always supporting and encouraging. This child reaches for goals that we as parents may have never dreamed of.
WingsSee how the Eagle soars! Such grace, such freedom, such confidence! He has trust in his abilities, his skill and he knows he has a firm and protected base to return to. He dares to soar out beyond the line of vision and try new pastures.

As parents, though we have invested many years, many tears, many prayers into the raising of our children, our job is not done until we have rooted and grounded them firmly enough to let them go. They are going to make mistakes, they are going to make decisions we do not agree with. They know what we believe on things. that our life and faith is grounded in the Word of God, yet they will at times make contrary choices. But if they know that we are behind them, upholding them in prayer, loving them, then they will spread their wings and fly!

Ah, there are reams that could be written about the does and don'ts of child rearing. From catechizing to spanking, not supporting our children in sinful lifestyles, not holding on, not letting go,..... but just for now think of

Roots and Wings!

Waiting on God

God often keeps his people long in expectation of the comforts he designs them, for the confirmation of their faith; but though the answers of prayer, and the performance of promises, come slowly, yet they come surely.
Matthew Henry on Genesis 15:12-16



Psalm 130.

1 Lord, from the depths to thee I cried.
2 My voice, Lord, do thou hear:
Unto my supplication's voice
give an attentive ear.

3 Lord, who shall stand, if thou, O Lord,
should'st mark iniquity?
4 But yet with thee forgiveness is,
that feared thou mayest be.

5 I wait for God, my soul doth wait,
my hope is in his word.
6 More than they that for morning watch,
my soul waits for the Lord;

I say, more than they that do watch
the morning light to see.
7 Let Israel hope in the Lord,
for with him mercies be;

And plenteous redemption
is ever found with him.
8 And from all his iniquities
he Isr'el shall redeem.

Scottish Metrical Version