God’s will

Ok so I appreciate that the title of this blog is rather a huge subject and greatly debated with many schools of thought by those far more qualified and learned than myself.

So that being said, I’ll of course stick to my simple ramblings and musings.

Following a conversation with a new friend and realising that we both had big decisions to make this year, I was driving home asking God to make his will known and to show the way ahead to both her and myself. 

I struggle with the fact that it’s so hard to know what God’s will is for a certain decision when in fact it should surely be easy because after all He wants us to walk in His will, so why wouldn’t He make it clear for us … to help us avoid mistakes? As I questioned God again with this whole thought process I realised what I needed to do was to stop all trains of thought and clear the crazy chaos of cognition away. My jumbled thoughts racing in all directions just clouds and fogs up rather than bringing clarity.

At that point, God through Jesus simply said and says “Follow Me”. That’s it!

What better way to calm the soul and make sense of the scrambled egg mind. At the sound of those words from the one who holds my breath in his hands whilst upholding all things by the word of his power; the need to understand every detail relating to my options and plans just melts away. It’s ok. He’s got it.

All I need to do is to make sure I’m following Him. That’s it. 

I may not know what lays ahead. I may not understand the paths I could be asked to walk or decisions which will unfold, but I do know that if I am following God through His word (Jesus) then he will be the light, shining the exact amount needed for my next step. He will light the way and provide for the way … and it will be good.

Perspective and priority … first things first, just follow Him. All else will fall into place and be amazingly less significant than how it appeared prior to the re-shuffle in priorities and perspective.

Jesus wasn’t complicated or cryptic, he simply said “follow me”. There was no need for questions around provision or timings, location or salary. He was more than enough to satisfy any anxieties, and he still is.

Live in the moment and follow Him. No one has or ever will regret it.

Ingrid x

Peace, perspective and a prayer

Martha Washington once said “I’ve learned that the greater part of happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances”.

Now granted, our circumstances are often very likely to thwart bubbling happiness. A grief; a diagnosis; false accusation; injustice; heartache; conflict; war; debt … however it is our disposition when after the initial human response period has passed, which does in fact dictate our ongoing potential for happiness and peace. 

Each one of us would more than likely resort to some form of horror, shock or despair at unexpected and extremely challenging circumstances but it is the ability to then dig deep and tap into the bedrock of truth in our faith which gives that propulsion forward into growth, maturity, wisdom and acceptance. This can then lead to that peace we are told about in God’s word (so therefore it’s true) beyond human comprehension (Phil 4v7). Our dispositions change, becoming ones of light and happiness despite circumstances.

As Paul stated so simply to the Christian’s at Philippi … he was not at all worried about his circumstances but had learned within any given situation, to be content. There’s a inner peace needed when you’re content, truly content. It breeds a serenity and poise which elevates that person to a higher plane no matter how destitute their condition may seem to others looking on.

I’ve quoted before “Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties” (CS Lewis). I know having peace within doesn’t mean happiness without, but it does give a perspective from the divine. A knowledge of God’s working within will be noticeable externally and almost tangibly flow out to others … no doubt cascading an uplifting effect to any in its wake.

Let us prayerfully be those who despite the cares of this world, can trust that our God is big enough and cares enough to uphold us, give us peace and love through our circumstance so that others see that same love in our eyes for them and their own challenges. Let us be light, bright enough to dispel darkness.

Lord let me be your hands and feet

To show your love and mercy

Your wisdom and your tender heart

To everyone I meet.

Ingrid x

Rooks

Hello readers! It’s been a while. I’ve been convincing myself to stop writing this blog and call it a day. I’ve told myself that no-one would notice or miss it, which may well be true, but the fact of the matter is that I have missed it in some ways. When I used to write something twice or three times a week, I benefitted greatly in a personal way. So here I am … going to share my complaints about Rooks! 😠 🤦‍♀️

I think they are rooks at least, rather than crows, although I find it hard to tell them apart. Whichever they are they are immensely annoying right now.

To say I must look like some frantic maniac at the window may be an understatement if you ask my children! I would be too embarrassed to count the amount of times during one day that I rush up to the kitchen window, flailing my arms around and bashing, likely to put the wooden spoon through the window itself. 

These large birds just keep returning to hang off the feeders meant for the smaller species. There were 2 which would make their appearances at the back of the house and once scared off by this crazy human, would simply fly to the front of the house to access the feeders hanging from the apple trees! 🙄 Oversized pigeons would join them to make my infuriation levels reach fever point. To add insult to injury, there are now four of the dastardly birds … as though they’ve recruited reinforcements. 

1 Kings 17v2-6. God specifically chose the ravens (pretty much like the rook) to feed Elijah morning and evening with bread and meat during the time he hid in a ravine east of the Jordan river. Now why did God do that? Why didn’t he choose the mighty Eagle? Who knows. Maybe it was simply to acknowledge the fact that despite appearances and manners, everything God created has a purpose and is precious to Him. Maybe it was so that you and I are reminded of this fact every time we shoo away a rook!

God’s ways are higher and greater than ours. He values the ravens and the rooks. He takes note of every fallen sparrow (whom I much prefer seeing in my garden). He wishes us to mount up with wings like eagles. His creation is diverse and beautiful.

The rooks in my garden are more than likely just trying to feed themselves and in time, their young. My preference is for the smaller garden birds yet these cumbersome greedy black birds once took food to a prophet hiding by a river as directed by their creator. Amazing! It’s sort of beyond my comprehension to fully grasp that if God asked one of the birds in my garden to do something specific or go about a task, that they would have no choice but to fulfill it and obey. 

It’s a lesson I need to learn over and over, in fact more than one lesson … 

The first part is to not be judgmental based on appearances. In certain settings it could well be me who’s perceived as the rook! 

Secondly, to appreciate that everyone has a role to play and is of immense value to God no matter how I may feel or react. My annoyance could well be misplaced with the appearance of something masking the purpose beneath. 

Thirdly, no matter what we’re asked to do by God, the only sensible and wise thing to do is to obey.

I muse upon the fact that many lessons can be learnt from a garden. Mindfully spend time with nature and learn from her many profound yet simple instructions. You will grow wiser and nicer too! 😊

Ingrid x