My Robin

I have a robin in my garden, a cheeky little thing but the friendliest and bravest bird. It seems unafraid of me and will hop close, looking at me as though checking out whether to come even closer. It sings so loudly and beautifully puffing out it’s chest with gusto knowing with assurance that there is nothing better in the world to do than create wondrous and joyful sound.

How free a robin seems to me. How little to worry about or plan for. Life may have its perils but it is simple.

I’ve been considering simplification recently and as a home group we took a week to discuss it (there is a chapter headed ‘Simplicity’ in the book ‘100 stand alone Bible studies). In the commentary the writer says “the practice of simplicity is a matter of watching our boundaries to see that our lives are protected for God … in a high tech world … where multi-tasking is admired … maintaining a discipline of simplicity is foreign territory”.

Let’s face it, there is so much to do in a day! Many of those ‘things’ are ok and necessary but there are a lot which if we’re honest, are distractions and certainly not necessary. There are also things that can be delayed in order to create space and time within the current day. It may require organisation, lists and consistent commitment to some change, however the de-clutter of our physical space and our schedule gives way to greater opportunities for good … and what a lovely feeling … to have less fog and cobwebs; less rush and stress; less to assault the visual sense and demand action. A calmer energy creeps up, a smoother brow with more space to breathe freely. Remember, your ‘no’ creates room for your ‘yes’. 

No to clutter (in whatever form affects you); no to high anxiety; no to rushing; no to snapping and anger; no to taking on anything more unless you have created space and time for it; no to busyness for the sake of external appearance and performance; no to invites just so that you don’t offend, or are desperate for acceptance. These ‘no’s’ will provide new space … it is how this newly created space is used which will transform your outlook and daily composure.

Yes to calm; yes to meditative time; yes to lists and organisation; yes to new ventures thought through and you have enough regular time to take on;  yes to social activities that bring you joy and not the anticipation of exhaustion or fear around acceptance; yes to time spent appreciating nature; yes to time focused on those you love without your phone nearby to distract your gaze.

It is in this new found and protected space that we can peacefully and meditatively ponder God and his creation. Even if for a few minutes I can guarantee that your calm considerations will lead to worship. What a wonderful place to end up in. It is all about him, not us, and to dedicate time for this at whatever time of day suits you best, is the best change you could make right now.

The birds have it right.

“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds”. (The Message)

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they”? Matthew 6v26

By ‘sacrificing’ this time and potentially re-organising our lives to accommodate this worshipful place, we will never ever regret it. Why? Because our Heavenly Father provides and protects. We are of more value, we are precious beyond our comprehension, therefore he will give far more abundantly, above all we ask or think (Eph 3v20).

Peaceful ponderings

Calm considerations

Mindful meditations

Your simplifying will make space for your glorifying. 

Ingrid x

Midweek Thought ~ Eternal Timeline

Of course it’s necessary and very easy to get caught up with the daily demands of time keeping and scheduling … planning ahead, booking things in and aiming for targets. We have to do these things at home, in work and also for leisure. It is however, very easy to keep the focus there and never step out into the greater timeline of our lives where the higher purpose and true meaning lie.

I (yes me), was thought about before the foundation of the earth! What?! Seriously ponder that … honestly! If I was, then so were you and every other person ever to have life. How is that really possible? And if it’s true, then it provides a huge dimension to our existence and the definition of life on earth. If I was thought and known about in eternity past, then my passage of time here has meaning and is planned, not only for now, but for the continuance of time into eternity.

It kind of gives sense to life doesn’t it? There is a bigger timeline and tapestry of all eternity that we’re each amazingly a part of.

Take a moment or two to rest your head and close your eyes. Think of the vastness of what we do know, for example the galaxies of space … the unfathomable depths of an ocean … the intricacies of human DNA … big stuff, really big stuff. Yet what about the things beyond our human reach, understanding or even remote awareness! We are small and limited, temporarily here, but planned, considered, created and will continue forward into eternity.

My current circumstances, issues and immediate emotions are valid yet fleeting … may require attention and time, yet are not to be obsessed over to the detriment of the wider lens of life.

As much as it may seem daunting and mind boggling to think of our present existence being a wilting speck of time, it simultaneously equates to value of epic proportions as far as God is concerned … so whilst fleeting, every moment here has eternal value and perspective. Wow.

God designed each one of us individually therefore he must have a specific use and ideal plan for us. Listen to the psalmist: “for you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (139v13). God spoke to Jeremiah saying: “before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (ch1v5).

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes” (Eph 1v4). Before he made the world!!! So before he even made Adam, he had thought about the creation of me and what he hoped for me. Truly makes me shake my head in wonder and bafflement.

Yet for now I am simply going to take great comfort in the fact that my every moment is cherished by my father God who took great delight in planning and creating every aspect of my very being. I have a purpose in my short existence here on earth which will have eternal consequences. I am valuable and of great worth. My past is exactly that, past … but with every breath I take I am entering the future and must chose to see that who I am, what I do, how I show love amongst many others things, will be threads in the most beautiful timeline tapestry from eternity to eternity, woven by God himself. I hope my threads are strong and honourable, able to add beauty, colour and compliment to all those other threads around me.

Ingrid x