My heart is re-learning a lesson, that nomatter what chaos, or storm is going on around me, I can know in my heart, in my Spirit, the Peace and the Joy of the Lord.
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit live in me.
The Kingdom of God is within me, so nothing can separate me from God’s love, peace, joy, and presence.
That is why I can always praise and thank God – in all circumstances. I don’t thank Him FOR all circumstances, but nomatter what the circumstances, I can still praise and thank God, who is always Lord of all.
I’m reminded of the powerful verse by the prophet Habakkuk, that says nomatter what – even if everything around me looks dire and everything seems to be falling apart, still I can praise the Lord.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.
Habakkuk 3:17 – 19
There’s a part of me that felt that this was somehow not-genuine, like it would mean I was in denial, or had my head in the sand, but the truth is that what we see just in the natural realm is not the whole truth.
The Power and Presence of God are often not seen with natural eyes.
What seems impossible to me, is not impossible to God.
And God’s promises are true. God will not abandon me.
So if God has promised something to me, or to you, then nomatter how it all appears externally, or with our natural eyes, God will still honour His promise.
He still lives within you. His Power, Love, Peace and Joy remain with you at all times.
I want to learn to sing, dance and praise God in the middle of the storm, trusting God to fulfil His promises
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
A botanical illustration of the fig. I’m verypartial to figs!
Most Fridays, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is MATTER
I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.
To read other FMF posts on this subject click BELOW.
These are the garden fruits that my husband and I have preserved in the last couple of years – mostly blackberry, blackcurrant and rhubarb – but the rhubarb has lots of ginger and whole lemon in it too and I named it jamolade. It is all delicious.
I was thinking how the boiling and the sugar would preserve the fruit – but of course sealing the jars is a crucial part f the preservation too.
Sugar, salt and vinegar are all used to preserve foodstuffs in the kitchen or larder. Back in my childhood, much garden and summer produce was pickled, preserved and bottled, or preserved in salt – especially meat and fish – and again, sometimes bottled or canned in salt-water.
Sugar, salt and vinegar are very powerful flavours and too strong to eat much of on their own, yet each of them can greatly enhance the flavour of foods and meals, when used in correct quantities.
As we are saying, when used in large quantities, they are successful in prolonging the shelf-life of a great many foods and, before the days of refrigeration, were widely used and relied upon to prevent food from decay.
Salt and vinegar have other wide uses – medicinally, for cleansing and healing, and in domestic cleaning – and, though the use of these went out-of-fashion over the last couple of generations, their excellent properties seem to have been rediscovered in recent years.
In ages past, salt was a very valuable commodity.
Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Matthew 5:13
Did he mean we are to add flavour in relationships and the world?
Or that we are to cleanse, heal and preserve all that is of God in the world?
Or that we are a very valuable resource?
Or something entirely different?
And how could we lose our saltiness?
I guess we could stop allowing God to use us to use these qualities He has put into us.
I don’t want to lose my saltiness. I don’t want to become bland and ineffective.
We are called to be salt and light.
May the holy Spirit show us how to be salt and light – to add light and flavour; to cleanse and preserve and heal – in those places and relationships where He has placed us. Amen
Most Fridays, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is PRESERVE
I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.
To read other FMF posts on this subject click BELOW.
Today I want to share a personal testimony to God’s healing and renewal – to the truth of His Word.
On Thursday, I wrote a post about ‘Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;’, for the ‘Five-Minute Friday’ blogging community., on the prompt: Youth.
A couple of hours later, God taught me the truth of those words I had written.
He taught me that those who hope in the LORD really ‘will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles’.
This is what happened: –
After writing the post, I did my usual quick exercise routine and a good stretch backwards, having spent many hours scrunched up forwards over the soil griddle.
As I was making my dinner, I had a sharp pain in my left ribs (like an intense ‘stitch’ pain, but higher up), but I carried on making and eating my dinner. The pain intensified on every in-breath until I was beginning to panic – I couldn’t breathe properly at all.
I kept expecting the pain to go away as quickly as it had come. I prayed and tried to relax, but no position was comfortable and the pain was excruciating.
I began to think morbid thoughts – that I was having a heart-attack – and if I died, nobody would know and who would feed the cat, etc.
My husband was away in London, so I rang him to ask what to do. He suggested I rang 111, which I did. They said they would get me an ambulance and I should wait by the door and unlock it…
I waited and paced around, crying tears of pain and crying out to the Lord. Then I rang 999 to ask about the progress of the ambulance and they told me it would be at least another 2 hours before an ambulance could come!
I sent a text out to my church pastor and to a couple of friends to ask them to pray for me.
Immediately came a knock on the door and my neighbour was there offering to take me to the hospital, which I accepted gratefully.
In A&E the situation was quite ugly and distressing – people were throwing up, screaming, coughing and moaning. I was struggling to breathe.
Almost immediately after registering myself at the reception desk, at about 9:30pm, I was called in to see the triage nurse who sent me for an ECG, a scan and ‘bloods’. Then, instead of sending me back to the waiting room, they asked me to wait in their little, quiet waiting room, where I was able to stay all night!
He gave me His peace!
To cut a 14 hour story short, after paracetamol, codeine, anti-inflammatory medication and ‘oral-morph’ and about 6 hours resting in their generous care, the pain began to lessen – from a 9.5 pain to about 3.5 – and my breathing became much easier.
It was nearly 9am before a doctor could see me, by which time my pain was almost gone. They confirmed that my ECG, bloods and scan showed perfect working of the heart and lungs. There was nothing wrong with me and no explanation for my pain.
I can only assume that the human explanation might be that when I stretched backwards, to counter-balance the curled up time of working the soil, I might have torn some muscles between the ribs, which could have inflamed and constricted and pressed in on my heart and lungs on the left side.
I think I had over loaded my capacity!
I had not understood my limitations.
But the other explanation is that the LORD worked a miracle – a series of miracles – for me.
Though I had stumbled and fallen, I did hope in the Lord and He did rescue me and renewed my strength and restored my health. He filled me with his peace – a peace which defies understanding.
And in so doing, the LORD also showed me His faithfulness and His love, care and favour for ME. Not a theoretical care and favour for everyone except me (which is what my heart sometimes believes!) but He truly did protect and show me His love for me.
He got me to A&E through the kindness of a neighbour. He put me into a quiet waiting room. He gave me the pain-relief that I needed. He caused me to meet and pray for some other beautiful souls suffering in A&E. He even put a lovely lady nurse, whose language I have been learning, to look after me and even provide me with a cup of hot coffee when I needed one! God showed me that He loved me during that precious night in A&E. He also showed me that others do love me too.
At midday on the Friday, I left the hospital full of thanksgiving, with joy in my step, as I stepped into the warm sunshine of an early Autumn day and took the first bus back home.
I have to also acknowledge my gratitude to the beautiful nurses and staff that worked tirelessly throughout the night shift to ease and comfort the patients passing through their care. They were sensitive, generous and kind and worked wonderfully together as a team, bringing joy and comfort to each person, regardless of their condition. I honour them and thank them.
I give God all the glory. His Word is true.
I now know without a doubt, that He is faithful and takes care of those who hope in Him.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:30 -31
All praise and all glory to our God, my LORD and the King of Kings.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
Isaiah 40:30
Thorough, but back-straining processes to prepare a vegetable garden
I have just spent several hours digging in the garden and now I’m walking like I’m an old woman! Some may argue that I am an old woman, but – What I am not, is a youth!
I’m trying to create a vegetable garden, but first I need to dig, loosen the soil, untangle and eliminate all the ground elder roots (and all other roots) and take out the big stones.
I am digging, sifting and putting the soil through a griddle/seive type contraption and mixing it with fresh compost.
I started the job a few weeks ago, but it is slow work to do a thorough job, and I haven’t had any spare daylight time to go into the garden in the last 2 weeks.
But now my back is hurting.
I know that I should only do a couple of hours and then take a break, but I’m not very disciplined and want to carry on and get more done.
I like it, you see; and I want to accomplish the goal and start growing some fresh vegetables again.
I forget that I am not a youth.
A youth is in their prime in terms of energy, strength, optimism, speed and many other physical attributes. If they use and hone these train these energies, they can become talented and strong individuals. But –
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
As human beings, even the strongest of is still only human and has limitations. There are many things which cause us to stumble – physically, but more often we stumble emotionally, morally and as persons. We stumble and notice our weaknesses in how we do not live up to who we believe we should be.
As much as we might fancy ourselves as super-heroes as children, and secretly believe we are invincible even as youths, the reality is that we are fallible, mortal and even the strongest of us have weaknesses.
There is a solution to this. His name is Jesus.
As I try to be super-woman/super-mum/ super-nan/ super-gardener, I’m encouraged by this verse.
I do grow weary and tired, but so does the strongest among when we overload our capacity.
I have to push myself to keep my strength and fitness, fight against lethargy and apathy, but honour my limitations and look after this temple, which is my body and soul and mind.
I love the following verse in its proper context, which shows how to honour this temple and not to overload.
Whilst I stretch and rest my weary body, I will remember and hope in Him who renews me and allows me to soar on wings like an eagle! Alleluia!
Let it speak to you from Holy Spirit to your own heart.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;
Most Fridays, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is YOUTH
I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.
To read other FMF posts on this subject click BELOW.
Thanksgiving for answered prayer in July and August.
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 136
For July and August I noted the following prayers answered by the Lord, and for these I want to give special thanks. I also thank God for all the blessings and answered prayers which escaped my notice – for keeping me and my loved ones safe and healthy and for working all things together for good for those who trust in Him.
I thank God in July for:
For E’s successful little farewell party before our trip.
A blessed time of ministry and setting me free from deep bitter lies hidden in my heart.
For safe, efficient travels, perfect packing, hasstle-free, smooth connections, lovely hotel and good relationships all throughout our wonderful family holiday.
For healing my legs, finding S’s wallet, finding my octopus card, and for getting us a taxi and the last ferry back from Macau.
For divine inspiration throughout the trip to Hong Kong and great choices.
For giving S the good rest that he needed and giving us all quality time together.
For the 2 days alone to recuperate from jet-lag and to potter and ponder.
For the invitation to W’s party and the opportunity to chat to her mum about you.
That Simon got home in time for us to enjoy three wonderful sleepover days with the children.
For the inspiration to buy the paddling pool in time!
For C, E and N visiting me and encouraging my heart that I’d been missed and valued.
For blessing and renewing our relationship.
Gratitude forfamily fun and new experiences together in Hong Kong
In August, I thank You especially for:
For guiding me with ideas for the shop and for the favourable response and encouragement.
For the opportunity and inspiration to invite Z to church and she came.
for courage to offer to pray for E.
For S’s safe and successful trip South.
For giving me 2 blog posts on the same day!
For helping me with patience and wisdom selecting and uploading 290 photos.
For blessing S’s trip, for fixing the car and for Your perfect timings in it all.
For giving Tammy her appetite back.
For the second precious 3 day sleepover and play with the children.
For 2 successful staff-meetings and improvements in communication, turnover and footfall.
That my trip South was efficient , smooth and blessed and that I read all of Natasha Woodcraft’s first brilliant novel on the trains.
That I could support D. and pray for her and speak to them both about Your goodness.
For inspiring me with the community development work being promoted in Southsea/Portsmouth.
That I am seeing healthier fruit in my relationships as a result of You smashing those bitter roots!
That the swollen throat and health attacks came to nothing.
For the encouragement and prayers from P. A. and L.
For safe delivery of E. and A’s baby boy and the opportunity to go see them.
For S’s second blessed travels and for speaking into her heart Your faithfulness.
For another precious sleepover and play with the children.
For 14 special people I made time to meet up with during August.
For amazing attendance by guests and the Holy Spirit at L’s funeral service.
For healing and restoring the cat without the need for the expensive treatments.
Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I love a good story. The best stories for me are true stories.
If you sit and tell me your story, or you write it in a letter, a blog, a book or have a film made of it, I am more than interested. I am interested in people – in all of us and how and why we think and act the way we do.
In films and books I especially love historical fiction. I like the idea of learning more about a time/place/person, whilst being fully engaged in a gripping story.
To me the historical accuracy does not depend solely on the fraction of details, but on conveying the zeitgeist and truth about the human condition in that time period and for that story.
When I wrote ‘Lost Down Memory Lane’, I was aware that I was writing our story (mainly about my mother and I, but obviously including all of my family), but writing it from my perspective. Had my sister, aunt, mum, dad, son, or friend written the story of the events I describe, the story may have been so different in emphasis as to be hardly recognised as the same story.
But in a very real way, my family history is my history and part of my story. The history of the UK is my history and my story. The history of humankind is my history and my story. We are individuals, but corporate.
So whether it is my-story or our-story, your-story or their-story, her-story or his-story, the variable factor is the person telling the story – the author, or narrator – and our unique perspective.
That is one of the things I love about the Bible. The Bible is God’s Story and His people’s story. It is their-story, our-story and truly His-Story.
God is the author, though those chosen to pen the story for God and for us, had their own perspectives. Hence we read about King David in so many books – in Kings, in Samuel, in Psalms, in Chronicles – all with a different emphasis and all of them true. The same in the Gospels accounts of the life of Jesus – each of the gospel writers had a different approach and a different audience in mind. But all of it is true.
My-story is also true, from my perspective, but true.
My story is also His-story.
Your-story is His-story.
For the children of Father God, He is the author and perfecter of our faith, as well as the author of our stories.
I want to play the role designed and written for me by my God.
We are all part of the corporate human-story and history, all part of His-story.
What an epic story!!!!
Most Fridays, I join an online Christian writing community, Five Minute Friday. We are given a one-word prompt and write – unscripted, unedited, pure free-write – for 5 minutes. The prompt this week is HISTORY
I do read through my script afterwards to correct my mistakes; to check scripture references and to find an appropriate image to illustrate the topic.
To read other FMF posts on this subject click BELOW.
dawnfanshawe 
