Refiner's Fire

Many people claim that there is no God or that He is a cruel and uncaring God when they are afflicted or suffer. Whilst God does not wish us to suffer, suffering does have a purpose. Most suffering comes from our own foolish choices or the agency of others who care more for the things of this world than for people. But the Lord also allows suffering as a teaching and a refining. In all cases of suffering, whether it is as a result of our own choices, the agency of others or for His wise purposes, the Lord is with us and bears most of the suffering. He never abandons us. The things I have suffered in my life have served to cause me to know more fully that there is a God and that He is all loving, merciful and wise.

 I foolishly worshiped the 'golden calf' whilst still professing love of God. What followed was a long period of wandering in the wilderness. A time of grief, despair, fear, loneliness and pain. I came to learn through this period, as a passed through the 'refiner's fire' that nothing here on earth, no possession, emotion or status, has any real value or power and only the Lord God is worth worshiping.

Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Isaiah 48:10

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.
Zechariah 13:9

And when we cried unto the Lord God of our fathers, the Lord heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression
And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:
And He hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.
Deuteronomy 26: 7-9

For He hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath He hid His face from him; but when he cried unto Him, He heard.

Psalm 22:24

Deep roots.

I know the gospel is true. I can't explain why I have such a deep testimony; it is a gift from God. I know that this life is neither the beginning nor the end. I have experienced much heartache and affliction in this life including divorce from the man I love very much, financial losses that caused me to lose my home many times, severe ill health with depression and MS-like symptoms where I was going blind and deaf and losing the ability to function or look after myself, and being on suicide watch over my son who was struggling with depression. But despite, or maybe because of, these things, my testimony of God and His plan for us, His children, has gone deep. Like roots searching for water, my testimony has become deep and strong.

I do not think my times of trial are over but I do know that the Lord is at the helm and whatever He sends into my life is for a wise purpose, even though I often cannot see what it is at the time:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

In our weakness, we come to know the power of the Lord, if we will be humble.

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge is a beautiful story that has this thread of truth running though it.

Messages of God's Abundance

Corrie Ten Boom was a great lady who loved the Lord and served Him. She was imprisoned in Ravensbruck during WWII because of her work helping those the Hitler Regime wished to destroy. She lost many of her family members and witnessed much evil and suffering. Yet she emerged from these experiences a warrior for Truth and Light.

After the war, she gave a series of radio talks, thanks to Trans World Radio, which were beamed across Europe and into Germany, using the very transmitters that the Nazi's built, but never used, to spread their propaganda. Some of these talks have been published and here is an extract from one:

'When I was released (from Ravensbruck) and went back home, my body carried the scars of the camp for a long time. My friends were afraid I would say: "The greatest reality in life is human cruelty." But through God's grace I was able to say: "There are three great realities in life. The first is the ocean of God's love in Jesus Christ, second, God's promise's, and third, God's commandments."

Messages of God's Abundance: Corrie Ten Boom.

Nature bears winess of Heaven

Many people discount God in the wonders of nature, never realising that nature itself bears clear testimony of God and that if we will look with open eyes nature declares the workings of Heaven.

All things have been given unto man to comfort, support, nourish and strengthen him, but with a responsibility attached. We have been given dominion but we are to use this power wisely, benevolently, and generously.

From the majestic mountains, the rushing rivers, the flowering fruitful tree, the bounty and variety of nature, we see His hand, His laws and commandments and His love.

'she could distinguish the heavenly music of the seraph thrush singing in the copse, and when the blackbirds paused for a moment she could her a lark singing high overhead and the cuckoos calling in the distant woods.
These songs woven together were an almost visible web of music lifting the earth from darkness to light.'

The Scent of Water: Elizabeth Goudge

 

 

 

Gutenberg Press:Free e-books

I love to read a lot of books that are now out of print, but thanks to the efforts of the volunteers at Gutenberg Press, many of my favourites are there for downloading free.

http://www.gutenberg.org/

I am currently reading Charlotte Yonge and also doing research on Wales through the books I find on this site. Please go an use the site and support it by donation if you can. As I find I book that I feel is noteworthy I will post it's link under this posting.

Chariots of Fire

This is the profile picture on my Facebook. I found this many years ago and instantly loved it. It expressed for me how I felt as a lone woman in the world. Even though I am alone, the King of Heaven and His armies are always ready to defend and protect me.

And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

2 Kings 6: 16-17

 

The above scripture refers to this belief of mine, and also to 'chariots of fire'. The movie, 'Chariots of Fire' has long been a favourite movie of mine. If you haven't seen it, you have missed something special. The great Eric Liddell is portrayed in the movie and his faith. He ran in the 1924 Paris Olympics but rather than break his faith with God, he refused to run in the heats for the men's 100m because it was scheduled on the  Sabbath day. This was his favoured distance and opted instead to run in the 400m. He not only took the gold medal for this race but he broke the Olympic and World records of the time. What an awesome testimony to the truth.

 

For them that honour me I will honour

1 Sam 2:30

 

He went on to serve as a missionary in China. He could have left China when WWII broke out but chose to stay, sending his wife and children to Canada for safety. In 1943 he was captured and interned at the Weihsien Camp. He died there on 21 February 1945, five months before liberation.  He served as a leader and organiser to the internees and was greatly mourned.

 

Prior to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, it was revealed by Chinese authorities that Eric was given an opportunity to leave the camp, and selflessly gave his place to a pregnant woman.  This final and supreme act of sacrifice was not known by even his family members until this announcement was made.

 

A memorial plaque to him has been placed on the site of the former internment camp and inscribed on it are these words:

 

They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary

Isaiah 40: 31

See the life of this extraordinary man on youtube:

http://youtu.be/h-qA6GjRPLg

Also a video by one of his daughters:

http://youtu.be/5inAjERMZ0E

 

 

Mindful Compassion.

We are all on a journey. No one can stand still. We are either moving forward or backwards but not moving is not an option. The journey I am pursuing is one of healing and enlightenment. It is partly to share this journey that I write this blog.

I came across this book, Mindful Compassion by Paul Gilbert and Choden. It is based on Buddhist philosophies and whilst I am not a Buddhist, being most decidedly a Christian, nevertheless I recognise that people of other faiths have things to teach me and that there is great worth in respecting and considering other people's thoughts and beliefs. The book states that it's purpose is to share 'how the science of compassion can help you understand your emotions, live in the present, and connect deeply with others.' That is something I would like to learn.

As I study this book I will share what I read and discover but for a starter here are a couple of websites;

www.compassionatemind.co.uk

www.compassionatewellbeing.com

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and full of mercy
Psalm 145:8

Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, Execute true judgement and show mercy and compassions, every man to his brother.
Zech 7:9

Stand Fast and Keep Praying.

Yet another murder has been committed in a near by city and home to my children. That is several in the past little while. What is happening in the World? Where are we going wrong?

I read the book, Green Dolphin Country by Elizabeth Goudge. In it, one of two sisters becomes a nun and dedicates her life to prayer as well as service. She prayed every day for the world, for those that she felt needed prayer, and for those who came to her mind through inspiration.

This is just a story but really it isn't. I have also in my life prayed for people and seen wonderful things. I know others have prayed for and continue to pray for me. There is great power in prayer. Let me say this again. There is GREAT POWER in PRAYER.

Many good people feel overwhelmed and even wonder if they can continue to live or should live. But I say, for yourself live but even more so, for the World live. Because the World needs prayers like never before.

When you feel oppressed and overwhelmed remember that as long as there is one person praying, darkness can never win. And if there are many praying, then it will be overcome all the quicker.

Stand fast my friends and pray like the World depends on it, because it really does.

The Wonderful Books of Elizabeth Goudge

A lot of people have heard about Elizabeth Goudge because of the mention J K Rowling made to her book, The Little White Horse, as being her favourite book as a child. What people don't always know is the Elizabeth wrote many books for adults as well as several for children. Her books are filled with her Christian faith and also her love of the natural world and her child-like wonder of things that often go unseen. I love her books for all these things.

Elizabeth talks in her autobiographical book, The Joy of the Snow, openly about her lifetime struggle with the blackness, the 'bat-like' thing (she mentions in The Heart of the Family). In other words, with depression and anxiety. I also have had an adult life time struggle with this and it is comforting to me to read Elizabeth's words. She describes a time when she felt oppressed to write and then overcame it and wrote again; and I believe this happened more than once. I am so grateful for her valiant fight. She may not have known those souls her words would reach out to but I am one of them. Often in my own struggles Elizabeth's books have reached out to me and lifted me. She is a warrior against the powers of darkness. I say is, being a Christian and believing that her spirit is present and alive not only in her words but in very truth when I read her books. Did this quiet almost retiring woman ever realise that by sharing the wonders she carried in her heart that she would shine light and hope into the lives of others who equally struggle in their own small corner?

Please consider searching out the books of Elizabeth, some of which are back in print. I believe you will be wonderfully rewarded.

www.elizabethgoudge.org

Also there is an Elizabeth Goudge group on Facebook.

Happy Reading.

Blessings...

Mental and Emotional Health.

I would like to share the impact a micronutrient called Q96 has made on me and my family.  I  was taking an antidepressant called Effexor for 9 years and had suffered all of my adult life with depression and anxiety. I am now down from 300mg to 75mg thanks to Q96 and withdrew without the horrendous withdrawal symptoms that are now well known with these medications. The last time I felt this well mentally and physically was when I was in my late teens.  I still have some healing to go but in this short time, about 6 months, I have covered I believe a good 50% of the distance.

Choices in life are often between weighing options. My first choice would always be to eat well and live well, and let that be the means by which a person heals. But as the quality of life and nutrition to heal and sustain mental and emotional health declines, then other options also have to be considered. These are truly the last days and there is a war being fought for minds and souls. So my second choice is for a man made alternative that helps replenishes the body, alongside the best of food and a life of simple and gentle living.

 

Here's to life, and being well to do all that we came to do and be.

 

God bless.

www.trbqhelps.myqxlife.com



 

             

A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit

There is a huge weight on people of these days to strive to succeed at everything, to make themselves perfect. I gave a talk on this subject to a group of wonderful and yet overwhelmed women. I expressed my understanding that the Lord does not ask for our exhaustion, only our hearts.

I try to help Christian women every where  to see that they are good enough if they love the Lord and are trying to do good. We are good enough then because He is Excellent and through His grace we become clean and perfect. It is His work not ours; we are just along for the ride if we are humble enough to accept this generous offer.

The Only Reality.

Love. The only indestructible thing. The only wealth and the only reality. The only survival. At the end of it all there was nothing else

The Dean's Watch: Elizabeth Goudge

In the Love and Service of God: Part 2

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

These things I command you, that ye love one another

John 15: 13-14,17

 

 

We are commanded to love one another and the greatest love we can show is to lay down our lives for our friends. Jesus is commanding us to lay down our lives for each other in His command to love one another.

What does this mean? At it's simplest it means to die for one another physically if needed. But on a higher level is means to die each day to our own desires for our self in this life and to take up the 'cross of Christ' instead. The 'cross of Christ' is to do the will of the Father no matter where that will takes us or what it costs us. And it will probably cost us dearly.

 

The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

John 15:20

 

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 

John 16:1-3

 

How shall we know the will of the Father?

 

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 16:13

The Lord has promised us the spirit and it will guide us is we truly seek to do the will of the Father through and in the name of the Son.

And this promise is to us today as it was to the disciples of old:

 

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

John 17: 17, 20

Always remember, who Jesus is, He is the Word and the Truth.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6

If we will search His words, truly take them to heart, and pray to understand them and do the works Jesus showed us, we will find the Lord's direction for our life.

We are not only commanded to love one another but it is why we are here.

May God bless, lead and keep you, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
 

 

The path I trod for thee

And he rode alone because the huntsmen of the unknown must follow a path narrow as the confines of his own body, lonely as his own pain, dark as his own ignorance, and his way is his own way and cannot be shared with another.

The voice came again, the words this time spoken very low in his own soul, as though in warning,
'Many sorrows shalt thou endure for my sake, many temptations will assail thee, but be of good courage, I will always be with thee.'

Pilgrim's Inn: Elizabeth Goudge

Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world
Matt 28:20


Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace,
To look through and behind the mask of me,
(Against which years have beat thus blenchingly
With their rains), and behold my soul's true face,
The dim and weary witness of life's race,-
Because thou hast the faith and love to see,
Through that same soul's distracting lethargy,
The patient angel waiting for a place,
In the new Heavens...

Sonnets from the Portuguese: Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The Bread of Life.

Bethlehem means, Home of bread.

 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger;
John 6:35

Jesus was born in a manger, literally a place to eat. Only two classes of people found the babe; the shepherds and the Wise Men; the simple and the learned; those that knew they knew nothing, and those who knew that they did not know everything.

The Life of Christ: Fulton J Sheen

Identity

The Greeks had a word for ultimate self-consciousness; hubris: pride: pride in the sense of putting oneself in the centre of the Universe. The strange and terrible thing is that this kind of self-consciousness invariably leads to self-annihilation.

A Circle of Quiet: Madeleine L'Engle

He lives

The Lord is risen indeed
Luke 24:34

He has risen and death is no more.

I have believed in God my whole life. My earliest 2 memories are when I must have been about 3 or 4 years old. I am standing before the lupins in our garden. They are taller than I am at that young age and I touch them gently with a finger and laugh to myself. My Father God made these; I know it is so. In the second memory, I am walking hand in hand with my Dad across a meadow. A lark is high in the blue summer sky, birds are singing, the air is sweet, the meadow is covered with buttercups. I must have laughed to myself as my Dad looking down at me says, "You happy, little 'un?" I look up at him and smile. "This is God" I say to him. I don't know what he thought of that statement and being so young I didn't consider his thoughts, neither did I have the means to express myself better.  But what I meant is as clear to me now as it was then; that this wonder, this love, between me and my Dad and between me and nature, was God. It was of His making and His love. Clearly I was still surrounded by 'clouds of glory.'

I have wandered far since those days. I have wandered into dark places and at times have lost my direction. I have been sick in heart, in mind and in body. I have been accused and betrayed. I have stumbled over my pride and thus suffered more. But even in these darkest moments, I have always known that God was there and that all things beautiful, full of love and goodness, is He.

Today, when I am closer to the end of my life than the beginning,  I can claim that He lives. I know this to be true. He lives, and I rejoice that He lives. For with Him will live all that is the best of me, and all of true Creation.

How ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
And to wait for His Son from heaven whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus
1 Thes. 1:9-10

Good Friday

On this day, Christ had the victory over sin.  Now death and sin are under His feet. He is victorious.

I am thinking of all my friends and family this Easter. But my thoughts and prayers are especially with anyone who is grieving. My prayer is for the love of God and the hope in the resurrection will bring healing. Every tear will be wiped away in that glorious morn when loved ones will be reunited.

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces
Isa. 25:8

In the love and service of God part 1

If you desire to serve the Lord, to make a change in the world, to live in light and spread that light for others.;then the first step is to start with trust in the author of love, goodness, peace and life.

I believe the Lord helps those who set out to do great things for His sake, and never fails those who trust in Him alone. This does not mean I am excused from seeking to help myself, only that by trusting in Him I will be free from anxiety.
Teresa of Avila


Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path.
Prov. 3: 5-6

The Search for Peace.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27

We hear the Lord calling to us and promising us His peace. So desirous is the Lord that we should seek Him and enjoy the peace of His company, that in one way or another He never ceases calling to us.
Teresa of Avila

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace
1 Cor. 14:33

However long we live, we could never wish for a better friend than God. If you desire peace in this stress filled, materialistic, egotistical world we live in, seek Him and be refreshed with living water.

Palm Sunday and welcoming the light

All ye who enter here, abandon hate
Thus freedom comes, thus peace
Uncelestial City: Humbert Wolfe

Took branches of palm trees, and went forth and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
John 12:13

Fear not, daughter of Sion; behold, they king cometh
John 12:15

I am come a light unto the world, that whosever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
John 12: 46

It was in a place of supposed darkness that she found not only a turning, but a healing.

Man's absurd desire to replace God is matched only by his inability to learn from his past.

So long ago we don't even know when the practice began, people saw the need for regular prayer. People from all walks of life halting every hour to give a short prayer. Only a few brief words, but every hour they took time to turn to God.
The Book of Hours: T. Davis Burns.

Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you
Zech 1:3

New thoughts for common experiences.

I have been putting together a book list for this year's study believing that the best of literature has value to any who take the time to read and study it. My lists are really for myself but anyone can use them if they wish. I have found that merely the process of starting brings into my life the things I need. So with a book list I start and find that the very book I am reading is speaking to me of the things I need to consider and hear at that time. This has happened too many times to be mere coincidence in my opinion. But whatever it is, it works. So I encourage others to start filling their thought and heart with the best there is and follow the path that opens up for you. The destination for all of us I believe is the same; the pursuit of abundant life. The journey varies and surprisingly is adapted specifically for the individual. Life is indeed an amazing journey full of wonder and at times almost heart breaking tenderness. The most tender moments are often found in the darkest and most painful of 'adaptions'. Oh, to live a life without pain, travail and loss. We often want it but thankfully our wants are ignored in favour of our very present needs if we are to reach the object of man's eternal desiring.