Author: Ruth

Don’t take your eyes off what God is doing.

Posted on by Ruth

 

It is holiday time and my house has been taken over by teen and preteen boys! Argh!! It sure makes life interesting and the cupboards empty.

To get a moments peace to write is very hard. So…this blog is going to be very short this week, and you will have to forgive the grammer and spelling errors!

Some days I feel like I am everything to everyone. Yesterday afternoon I was fixing the wheels on my son’s scooter, as his new wheels and bearings had arrived in the mail. I had to do a lot of repair work because after assembly, the wheel bearings were coming out the “watcha-ma-call-it” and the wheel was scraping the side of the” thingy-ma-jig”. Do you get my point? Even though I have no idea what it is that I am fixing, it is up to mum to fix. So, I did this and I now have a happy son.

My hubby needed a pair of trousers fixed – I hate mending!! My eldest needed me to contact some parents so he could catch up with mates. I needed to get a nice tea ready for my hubby, as he is going away for a few days. My youngest son arrived home with his mates, and they were all “starving”. Just to add to that my computer was playing up and I am in the middle to putting together some very important documents for a huge event coming up soon. I desperately need to get the draft finished so that the editing can start.

So, in the middle of this I sat down to get this blog done. Yeah… well… there wasn’t a single thought that made any sense!! I tried a few times and gave up until this morning.

Everything is quiet this morning in my household. The “ever-hungry-ever-verbal-ever-question-asking” offspring have not vacated their beds and come to drape themselves across my shoulders and mumble in my ear – “what is there for breakfast?”. Yet the stirrings from the bedroom tells me that my peace of thoughts are about to be interrupted.

So here are my thoughts for the day….

It is really hard as a mum to keep your head and your cool, when life gets so busy. It is at these times I forget what God is doing, especially in my life. It seems that I am a never-ending “fixer-upper” and “conflict-stopper”, when I so want to be a miracle worker.  I forget that being a mum and wife is part of me… a big part of me. God is in the chaos and my quiet. I long to soar above it all and tell you that my life full of miracles and “God moments”. In reality, it is every day mercy and “God seconds”. In the middle of this God reminds me of where he is heading with His plans for my life… and the lives of women everywhere.

A few years ago, God gave me a page of words (one of many) that I was to share in my book. Last night, one of those words came drifting across my mind as I tried to make sense of my chaotic thoughts. I am going to share that vision with you…

 

“I see daughters of God who are rising out of that place of dimness. They are seeking God more and their lives are being directed and moved. The fire I see is real. I speak to some of these ladies, I see some of them from a distance and I hear of others. In every area of their lives I hear them say, “Father God, show me, teach me, direct my paths.”

They are seeking God for their families and how to bring up their children in the wisdom of God: their sons to be men of God … their daughters to be women of God. They see beyond the now and temporary.

They want to be the best mums, wives, sisters, daughters, friends, employees, employers and lights to a dark world. They want this not for themselves but for their Heavenly Father. They want Him to be glorified.”

God is with you in your washing and cleaning and cooking, (or in your workplace) as well as your time with Him. When we give Him our all, He is in our all. Even when our days are chaotic and we are at our unloveliest. Ultimately, our time on earth is about us walking daily, a life, that is His in a world that needs Him.

As we all start this new year (this new day, this new hour, and this new moment) can you see God in the moments and ask Him guide you in the coming year. Our world is not dim when we have a hold of who God really is and how much He loves us… and our everyday lives. Oh.. and don’t take your eyes off what God is doing.

 

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV)

 

Change

Posted on by Ruth

 

They say that a change is as good as a holiday. Winston Churchill was reported as saying that “ a change is as good as a rest”.

I find that around the end of a year, most people are talking about facing a new year with the hope of some type of change in either their circumstances or life. The old year is about to past over into a new one.

For most people, they are looking at new year’s resolutions, maybe a renewed desire for something different, or returning to something that once was better than the life they live now. Either situation brings a sense of hope that this one change, will bring the happiness that they hope will come.

Whether the resolution or change is a 5 degree deviation or a 180 degree about face, people hope that this will make the difference.

This year has been a difficult year for several people that I know. On Facebook, there are a lot of people that have expressed relief that this year is nearly over.  I have a few close friends who have experienced personal heartache and difficulties over this year.

The ability to be able to change something in our lives gives us a very satisfying feeling of new beginnings. Even the thought of change brings about the prospect of endless possibilities.

The chance of “burning bridges behind you” to leave behind the past mistakes and failures, gives giddy thoughts of new beginnings. All the while we soldier forward, hoping that the past never crosses the river without the bridge in place.

Everyone looks for a change, everyone wants rest from something. What most people forget is this – sometimes the only thing that needs the change is the change in their heart. Is it possible that this is the only change and resolution that needs to happen?

It takes very little to realise that a resolution or new city has one same thing – that heart goes with them to the new scenario. It goes with them into the new year and continues to make decisions for them regardless of the new resolution.

I have had people say that they are giving up on God, on their spouse, on life or on a fight. They forget that their own heart goes on with them into the next change.

If the heart has not changed; if the attitudes are still the same; if we haven’t learnt from our old mistakes, then nothing is new.

Change is good… rest is good. But it will not be a true change and a true rest, if your heart has not changed.

When the Israelite people went into the desert, after leaving Egypt, they anticipated change. They walked away from slavery and tyranny, but because their heart had not been renewed, they brought their old life into the new. God wanted to change that, to show them He was real and that He loved them. He also wanted a changed heart, a different spirit. They just wanted new land without a new heart.

Can I challenge you as the new year starts, to ask God for a new heart? One that is open to His leading a direction. Ask God for the strength to fight, to stay, to change and ask Him to help you face the new year with one thing – a new heart for God.

Remember that a change is a s good a rest. God’s rest is better than a human rest…it settles our restless and wondering soul. The change that God makes, is good.

I too have faced an…um… interesting year. I am yet to face a few difficulties that are up ahead and it will be a few months before we see the backside of them. My hope for a change is not about to come with a new year starting. I have faced the end of this year physically exhausted and emotionally weary.

At the moment, I am taking time to rest every day until I the future complications are less. I am leaning on God and leaning into Him for the strength that I need, daily. I am thankful that He has given so much so that when I am able to look back, I know that in this time God has changed my heart. This change has caused me become…well… more. I know that if this new year turns out the same or worse than last year… I am ok with that.

The new, is every morning. For me, I don’t have to wait for a new year. Every morning has its own beginning. Not only can I have a change that is new, my mornings are a time for the “new”. For this I am grateful.

 

My favourite verse of scripture is this –

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.

So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.

Lamentations 3:23-26 (NLT)

 

My prayer for you is this – May God strengthen you in your inner being and give you the desire to change. May this change give you the rest you so desire. May God bless you in the new coming year and pour our His love into your heart. God Bless you in every new morning.

 

Happy New Year to each and every one of you.

 

****

 

“May the Lord bless you and protect you.

May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord show you his favour and give you his peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)

 

Love

Posted on by Ruth

 

Love is beautiful.

There was a saying that said, “love makes the world go ‘round.” Franklin P Jones made an amendment to this and said, “Love doesn’t make the world go. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile”.

Still another man, a bit of a larrikin, said, “Love is what makes the world go around. So does a bump on the head.”

In fact, if you study the word “love” there are so many varied beliefs about what love really is, that you could fill a couple of encyclopedias. Everyone is an expert on love, what it is, and what it looks like.

For me the true definition of love is this – Almighty God. There is nothing greater than the love of God. It is love in the purest form.

God loved the world (and all its people) so much (more than we can think or imagine) that He gave (willingly and completely) His only Son (Christ Jesus). He loved so completely that there is no one that could give as much as God gave.

When people think of God, they rarely think of love. They might think of God as being harsh, unfair, judgemental, and quick to punish. Yet if God was truly like this, he would not have sent His Son to die for you and me before we even knew. There is no greater definition of love then someone giving their best for those who do not deserve it, see it, or acknowledge it. Yet He did it for you and me anyway. The moment we see how much God loves us, is the day we are changed forever.

The love that God gives, the love that we show others, and love in action is the type of love that is eternal.

1 Corinthians 13 is known as the “love chapter”. Take time to read it. It is the final words of that chapter that reaches my heart – “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” (verse 13)

This Christmas, I would like for you to think on the following song and believe in the One God who loves you now, even while you read these words.

 

The Love of God  – by Frederick M Lehman

 

The love of God is greater far

Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star,

And reaches to the lowest hell;

The guilty pair, bowed down with care,

God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled,

And pardoned from his sin.

 

Refrain:

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure—

The saints’ and angels’ song.

 

When hoary time shall pass away,

And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,

When men who here refuse to pray,

On rocks and hills and mountains call,

God’s love so sure, shall still endure,

All measureless and strong;

Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—

The saints’ and angels’ song.

 

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

And every man a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky.

 

May God bless you and keep you. May His love surround you, and give you peace and joy.  May His wonderful message of love give you the understanding of how much He wants to be apart of your life. The relationship you can have with God was only brought about through the life and death of His Son.

– Ruth Lindsay

christmas-2016

Peace

Posted on by Ruth

 

At Christmas time, you see the word “peace” written a lot. It is written on cards, you see it in shopping centres and in the community. It is often the time when people talk about peace in this world ..or the lack of.

Is peace just one thing, or it is many things to many people?

Ask those in war torn areas of the world – they would say that peace is the absences of war, the ability to have freedoms that should be the right of every human on the face of this earth.

As a businessman/woman – they would say that peace is the stock market steady and income coming in. They would also say that peace is happy customers and happy staff.

Ask a man or a father – they may say that peace is sitting quietly with no interruptions, or pottering in the shed with their own thoughts. They could also say that a having a happy wife is peace.

Ask a mum or a woman – they may say that peace is when the children are asleep of a night. Or when the house is clean and tidy and there is some quiet “me time”. They might also say that when hubby and children are fed, then peace reigns.

Ask a teenager what is peace – They may say that it is when they can stay in their room and not get annoyed by younger siblings, parents, teachers …or life.

Ask what peace is to those that protest for the rights of others – they would say that having rights is peace, or the removal of dictatorial governments, or even the rights of animals will bring order and peace.

Is this the peace of Christmas?

I have 5 teen and pre-teen boys in this house at the moment. They are asleep. It is peaceful at the moment and soon it won’t be as they wake and look for food. One might say that I have peace at the moment, but soon voices will interrupt my peace and my thoughts and I won’t be able to finish this piece of writing.

Is peace so temporary that we think of it so elusively? Is this the peace that God offered to us?

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14

Isaiah in his prophecy about Jesus referred to the coming Messiah as the “Prince of Peace”. Is 9:6

So, what is this peace all about.?

A lot of people think that if God were truly God then peace would be  on this earth, that babies would not die and people would not suffer. I have met a lot of Christians who think that Christ came to make their world better. That He came to make their world a more peaceful place to live. That God would miraculously change the world simply because there are now Christians on this earth. Is this how we really think?

Why would God send His Son and not change the world? Why wouldn’t a God of peace cause enormous amounts of peace to an unpeaceful world?

Let me create a scenario for you – Jake and Jack are two neighbours in a little town called Horseshoe Bend. Jake loves animals and he has 5 acres of land to which he made into a sanctuary for himself and his wonderful animals. Peace is over all and Jake is at peace. Jack moves next door. Jack loves his vegie garden. He has bought his 5 acers for the ability to grow hydroponics. He busily starts building and making and doing stuff, all the while singing and whistling. Plants start to grow and Jack is happily in garden paradise. Do you get where I am heading?

Jake’s peace s destroyed. His dogs are not a peace over the whistling and singing. The terrified animals do not like the sawing and hammering. The snakes and lizards that were living in the former bushland have now taking up residence in Jakes back yard and bushland. Jake is no longer at peace, and he resents Jack for destroying his peace.

Jack on the other hand knows nothing until a letter comes from his local council, and suddenly realise that his crops are dying for not reason. Jack is now not at peace and he seeks to do something about it.

Jake receives and letter from the council and get a visit from the RSPCA. Next come a visit from the police and guess what…

A war has started over the lack of peace, and the Horseshoe Bend will be the place for the struggle for the right to have…peace.

While you may smile at the scenario we could use this type of scenario in relationships, workplaces marriages and churches (surely not!!)

The peace we often seek is both self-serving and external. It is peace at all costs and superficial.

Peace that only reigns at Christmas is not peace. It is only a temporary ceasefire.

Is this the peace that is the awesome promise of an Almighty and loving God?

I think not.

God never intended that His Son should come, live and die for so little. Did God do so much so that I, and I alone, would be at peace? Did He live and died for only me, so that I alone should have peace and life? He didn’t bring peace just for me so that I could be at peace. So having peace around me is not what God intended.

This world is becoming worse, not better. People love war and fighting, especially if it is to get what we think is best. Even in Jesus day they hated Him. They despised what He was trying to do – He was trying to tell the world that God did truly love the world and each and every one of us could change. Jesus was the testimony of that.

Later, the disciples told the world that Jesus had come to bring life and peace to the hearts of man. They hated them too.

This world is made up of hatred, greed, sin, and sorrow. Did God mean for this world to be so hard on the very concept of peace?

All that God did for us by sending His Son to this earth as a babe, was to give to each one of us a peace of heart that is with us no matter what is around us. It is the “peace that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) You cannot explain it, you can’t bottle it and drink it when needed and it is seen in it’s true light during the hardest times in our lives.

Yet there is this. If every man, woman, and child on this earth had the true peace of God, loves others and loved God… then peace would truly be on this earth. Isn’t that the good tides that Christ’s birth announced?

Peace could come to you and me… in our hearts. Deep down inside us. And from this should flow out to others around us. Not seeking to change them, but being a light and a movement and a change for the better in a world that does not seek peace.

Religions says go and find peace and there you will find God. God says come to me and I will give you peace. Religion may also tell you that if you don’t have peace, you don’t have God.

I have been through some battles and still have many to go. The peace that I have had during those times can only be of God. Just like being in the boat with Jesus the disciples learnt that they could trust the Master. I am learning that the peace that God brings sometimes requires me to trust Him until He stills the storm, or to hang on to Him if He doesn’t.

Peace should not only be for after the storm, but in the storm. This is the promise of God.

The tiny babe of Christmas, Jesus Christ, was to allow the hearts of man to have peace not influenced by circumstances, not because of where I live, not because of the “I-am-better-then-you-therefore-I-have-more”. It is not conditional, cannot be bought and cannot be sold.

God gave His best, so that we could have the peace that we really crave.

There are so many wonderful scriptures in the bible that tell us what peace is…even peace with our neighbours. Peace is a good subject, even when it is not Christmas. It is even a better if we have peace with others and with God.

God gives peace. He is peace. It is another facet of God that He is. There was a little ditty I read once – “Know God, know peace. No God, no peace.”

I have heard so many testimonies on this very subject of peace, a peace that is far above our own understanding or eyesight. If you tried to explain it, people have trouble understanding it. My testimony is the same. God is good.

God gives peace when your marriage falls apart, God gives peace when someone close to you leaves this world, God gives peace when people accuse you and tell lies against you, God gives you peace when everything seems to go wrong. God is peace, He gives peace. Do you believe? Then ask for it and accept it.

My prayer for you this Christmas is this. That the peace of God may be given to you in your hearts and that God would strengthen you in your inner being.

Be blessed.

**************************

If you don’t know this Jesus of our Christmas, and would like to, then say this prayer –

“Jesus, I don’t know you, but you know me. I am sorry for the way I have lived my life and I cannot do this anymore. I give you my life, forgive me for my sins and take them from me. Thank you for saving me, thank you for the change you will make in my heart. Bring your peace and joy to me and make yourself known to me. Thank you. Amen”

Please go and get a Holy Bible and read it, start with an NIV version or a NLT version (as these are easy to read). Start it by reading about Jesus, can I encourage you to start with the book of Luke in the bible and the book of Psalms. Start to find a church family where you feel comfortable and that teaches the Word of God. Ask God to show you where to go.

 

Joy

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

Joy is an incredible experience. To have joy is wonderful, to experience joy is …well… joyful. To have it as a feeling or emotion is almost to be euphoric.

If you were to look up some synonyms of the word “joy” you would find such words as:

happiness

bliss

pleasure

delight

and

enjoyment

I find those words to be bland compared to the word – joy. It is just a small word…just three letters, but it packs quite a punch when you say it….joy…JOY!! It seems to suggest merriment, like a tickle in your tummy about to burst forth from you in something like a giggle.

Actually, when I think of joy I think of young children.

Their faces alight with happiness, a small giggle escapes from their lips as their eyes sparkle with merriment. Every fibre of their being is excited and their little bodies move to the excitement they feel.

As adults we say we are excited, happy… maybe? But how long has it been since we really felt joy in the measure that children feel joy?

As we come up to Christmas we see the word “joy” written and spoken aplenty. We adults seem to think that this means doing something that will make us feel glad. Mmmm… that seems so bland.

When they were young, both my sons loved Christmastime, going places, swimming, playing, eating (except vegetables), seeing their friends, having a bath, story time at bedtime, walking running… well do you get my drift? They danced and jumped about with everything. Their joy for life was part of their thinking, part of their movements. And everything was an adventure!!

As my children are now teenagers, to get an “all-over-body-can’t-control-the-excitement” thing is very rare. And giggling is less… except at the meal table when they both giggle uncontrollably over something that they can’t remember, but can’t seem to stop either. The thing is – I like to see them laugh without restraint.

The joy of a child is a little bit contagious, and to see their happiness brings a deep satisfaction.

As a mum, I love to see joy in the hearts of my children, not surface pleasure, but deep down joy that bubbles forth. I know my children are happy, despite the fact that it is apparently uncool to smile a lot. Last night we were preparing a light tea in the kitchen and my eldest tried to have a battle of wits with me, which soon spilled over into uncontrolled laughter. Someone gets the tissues as tears rolled down our faces. We leaned against the kitchen sink, and tried not to look at each other as to start over again.

They are happy inside… do you know what I mean? Inside they are happy. Even when thinks don’t go their way they do not stay discontent. The words they speak and their actions…it comes from a place of happiness and simple joy. And…since they are teenage boys, the greatest joy comes from seeing food in the fridge or cupboard!! (joke)

It is not just the surface laughter that I look for in others. It is deep down joy that is there in the hard times and the tears. The gladness of heart that is there despite heartache. The joy that comes from deep within our inner being… where the Spirit of God resides.

God is joy.

Think about that…

Our God, who is the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, is joy. If He wasn’t joy, then the fruit of the Holy Spirit would not be joy. Gal 5:22 The Holy Spirit would not give us a fruit that was not totally owned and fully God.

Do you see God as joyous…or not?

Next question – Does God’s presence in your life bring a joy that does not come from the momentary situations and circumstances we find ourselves in?

Joy to each one of us is different, because we are all different. While some people seem to bubble, others have just a happiness about them. Likewise, the joy of God shines out of us differently, sometimes it glows, and for others, it is the light in our eyes.

Joy is not limited to one thing or and it is not necessarily an emotion. I also think, that joy is not always a feeling…more like a knowing. Emotions pass by, and feeling don’t stay forever.

Joy is not only outward, but inward. It often takes the form of the more “bland” words of happiness, contentment, calm, bemusement, gratitude, and thankfulness Those of us who are less exuberant are more like to have a more sedate form of “joy”.  Joy often takes a more sedate form when we are in pain or heartbroken.

I know that in the deepest darkest moment of my life, there was still a spark of joy. It was still there, but my focus was dark and my eyes saw only bleakness. When I came through that time, I saw that joy had never left.

Since then I have gone through some really tough times, those who know me have seen this private (and sometimes no so private) pain. Joy, like the faithfulness of my God, was always there. I could laugh through the tears, and smile… thought my heart was breaking. It was there because it was not of me, it was of God.

We have a time of celebration coming soon, a few weeks away when we remember the joy that came to this world in the form of a baby… God’s Son coming to earth for us and the angels rejoiced.

My prayer for you this Christmas is that you will find the joy that the Holy Spirit brings, despite the busyness of your life. May this joy be given to you in abundance and in full measure. Filled to the brim and running over, even in the presence of the enemy. Psalm 23:5

I know that their are many people where Christmas time is a time of loneliness and not joy. Joy does not come from others, it comes from within. I pray that God would bless you with the opportunity to bring joy to others as you reach out of that loneliness to find the needs of others.

I pray that for those suffering heartache and troubles that you will find joy amidst your grief and pain. That God’s presence would bring its own joy to your heart.

Be blessed.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,

which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

Message from Ruth –

Hi everyone, over the next two months there will only be one column/blog per week. I need to get some things done around the house and spend time with my children.

May God bless you and keep you as you celebrate God’s gift to you – Jesus Christ.

For those of you that have no one to celebrate this special time with, take time to remember that God is with us (Immanuel). He  is with you …no matter what you may feel. May God hold you in His hands. Our God is an awesome God.

imanual

 

“Operation Tangled Web”

Posted on by Ruth

 

“Operation Tangled Web”

I have confronted the evil masses within my walls with decisive force and bold determination. They had invaded my privacy and taken over my house. NO MORE!

First was the visit to the grocery shop to buy the best there was and then home to deal with the delinquents!!

I used that can of spray to deal with the main issue – the office ceiling and corners, the office windows, and doors and outside the office. Then came the main bedroom, kitchen and lounge… and yet I found none in the children’s bedrooms (huh!)

They all came scurrying out of their webs to face extinction and certain death and I bravely held my breath as the fumes and their glares threatened to rob me of life.

Then they started to fall…to the ground…at my feet!!! I held back the screams as I backed out of the rooms – to request my eldest son to deal with the dead bodies with the vacuum cleaner.

With trepidation, I dealt with their homes, babies and food sources which spoiled my home and peace. I pulled out windows and screens and sprayed more of the little blighters that were hiding like secret agents waiting for their not so clever comrades to fall. Then with unquestionable courage I finished off those that tried to flee.

Armed with wash clothes, warm soapy water, a bit of elbow grease and resolve I cleaned and scrubbed all evidence of their existence from every area. Finally I washed the curtains which hid them and resealed the curtain rod ends.

“Operation Tangled Web” was finished and it found a more peaceful and happier me. Now… back to my writing….

 

*******

I dislike spiders!!!

I don’t hate them… I just don’t like them in my house.

Also, I don’t like them in them in my garden, or on the patio, or in the car or in the garage, or in my bike helmet… or shoes. Ok, I really REALLY don’t like spiders, ANYWHERE!

I don’t think I fear them. They are just…well…creepy!

They have this thing where they take over. They take over the inside of our house, they take over the outside of the house. They just TAKE OVER! They crawl out of their hiding place to reveal themselves at the worst possible times. Like when I move the curtain, or when I pick up a book. Or they drop down in front of me while I am working on my computer. Why do they do that?

So in our house we have the “Daddy long-leg” and the “Black House” spider. Icky!! Then there is the occasional Huntsman, who because of his size could take over a whole bedroom. Ewwwww!!

Odd occasionally we seem to get almost a plague of them very suddenly and only the most throughout clean will get rid of them. And, since my friends and family know my dislike for spiders, I have many who have come forward to admit that they too are not happy with this particular creation of God. Probably along with flies, mosquitoes, midgets and any other creepy crawly.

As I mentioned before, we have in our country the Huntsman spider and here is a little blurb from the internet about this spider…

“Huntsman spiders of many species sometimes enter houses. They are also notorious for entering cars, and being found hiding behind sun visors or running across the dashboard.”

Yeah… so… do you get what I mean? There is nothing… and I repeat nothing… worse for a person like myself to be happily driving along, singing praises to God and then something appears on your dashboard or windscreen…you know.. the size of a desert bowl!! (ok, slightly smaller than that) That “something” is the maker of bad dreams, the disturber of my peace, and will make me a certain maniac as I try to deal with the possibility of his nearness actually touching my person.

My children, I am happy to announce, do not like spiders either. Not that they would admit that.

One day my eldest was joking with me about a spider that was clinging for life on the outside of our car windscreen as we drove to church. It was on the out there, so I wasn’t too worried..right? My youngest was touching my arm, pretending to be the creepy spider. They were both laughing at their mother’s discomfort. BIG BRAVE BOYS!!!

All of a sudden the spider ran along the window and disappeared from view. The boys were joking but checking everywhere around THEM, while I kept my eyes on the road. Suddenly I shouted, “THERE it is!!” and pointed to the windscreen in front of my eldest.

He nearly jumped into my lap!! Both my boys had eyes the size of saucers and it took them a few minutes to realise that I was just kidding with them. Yep, big brave children!

 

The God touch

 

As usual, I find that God speaks to me about simple things that happen in my life to show me that His search of my heart and life are gently causing change and a thoughtfulness of God in that life.

Spiders remind me of things that clutter and cause discomfort to ourselves and to others around us. Spiders also teach me that we can squeal and poke fun at others sin and problems, but when we have problems we expect mercy not condemnation.

Bad attitudes, sin, bad habits…you know… stuff that we shouldn’t have in our lives, but do. They are the things that creep up on us and all of a sudden take over our lives. Indication of their existence are evident in what they catch…more bad habits, sin and bad attitudes.

Attitude come slowly until one day they drop down or turn up in front of us and we wonder what happened. In fact, some would say that a bad attitude can shock us, frighten us and catch us unawares… a bit like the spiders in my house or car. It is what we do with them that makes the difference.

Now let me say about something else. Sin. There I said it. Now before you run screaming at the thoughts of other’s sin, I am talking about our personal sin. The things that separate us in our relationship with God. Note that I did not say that is separates us from God. No. It breaks our close and intimate relationship with God. Easy… deal with it… just like you would deal with any pest in your home. Get the little blighters out of your life and deal with “the sin that so easily entangles’. (Hebrews 12:1) Oh, and btw… if you have any experience with spider webs you know what Paul is saying.

You know, habits are the same. Deal with them if they are causing trouble. Just deal with it.

And here is the really, really important bit. Ask God to help you, and believe. (Mark 11:24)

‘Cause it is only the touch of God that can show up those little blighters and help you clean them away.

God has the gentlest of touch. He doesn’t condemn, only give us the desire to give up the things that will destroy our live and our eternity with Him. But conviction of sin is real. We should dislike our sin. We should want our house (ourselves) clean. He has already provided the cleaner and fumigator (repentance and forgiveness) and he has provided all-round the year pest control (the Word of God and the Holy Spirit).

Why are we happy with the pests and the unhappiness it brings? Is it because that seems better?

Take some time to talk to God today. Spiders are not fun.

 

 

 

 

 

Stand Up, Speak Out and Act – Say no to violence

Posted on by Ruth

 

(Domestic Violence is an issue very close to my heart. Tomorrow (the 25th November) is White Ribbon Day. It is a day where men encourage other men to not be violent, and not be silent about abuse that happens around them. It is about encouraging men to Stand Up, Speak Out and Act.)

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Thirty years ago, I hung on to the handle of a car and prayed for my safety.

My boyfriend at the time, was a ‘petrolhead’, who loved fast cars and fast relationships. He was, at the time of my terror, driving his hotted-up car at full tilt up a windy narrow road to the top of a mountain. It was well after 9PM, and, most of the time, the car we were in went sideways around the corners and really didn’t straighten up to go around the next corner. The screams in my mind did not reach my lips and not a sound came out of my mouth. With his eyes on the road, he hooted and then switched off his lights and yelled over the noise of the car engine, “Don’t worry, I do this so that I know who is coming down the mountain. They will have their lights on and I can see if they are about to come around the corner.”

Despite the fact that that young man could have taken my life that night, and possibly the life of another person coming the other way. I never stood up for myself, or others and told him what I thought of the situation in which I had found myself.

When we got to the top, I should have stepped out of the vehicle and called a friend to pick me up. But no – I stayed in the car, the relationship and the fast lifestyle until he dumped me for another woman.

A year later, I entered another relationship, and for the next fourteen years went on the next wild ride – one that included physical, mental, emotional, and sexual abuse. I hung on for dear life and prayed for safety, respect, and love to be mine. The screams of heartbreak and terror reached my mind but never my lips. The bruises faded and my heart broke while silent tears slipped silently down my face. On odd occasions, I would speak, but then be terrified that my husband would know of the ‘betrayal’ I would bring to our lives.

Despite the ‘ride’, I stayed hanging on for grim death to the handles of my failing marriage and ignoring the damage I could do to myself (and later, my young child and the unborn baby in my tummy) and did not move to change the situation I was in.

I was too scared, too unsure of myself and too certain that it was because I was to blame. The same voice of uncertainty that thought that I was silly to make a fuss over a fast ride was the same voice that told me I was to blame for my husband’s anger.

The home I had grown up in was the same that I was in now. Yes, I was not a good wife. I was just like my mum – disobedient, rebellious, stupid, and unable to be of any use to anyone… or so I thought.

My strength, I believed, was in being a hard worker; strong in muscle and able to do any task set before me. Even if it meant working like a man. I was proud that I was independent and strong. The conflict of what I thought I was, was too difficult for me to see and the pretence too hard to live up to.

The inability to stand up for myself at home, started clashing with the job I had at the time. As a Security Guard, the assertiveness I was learning did nothing to change what was happening at home. The front I held onto as a good, religiously faithful wife, as a Salvation Army soldier and a no nonsense Security Officer, became a non-identity in the relationship with my husband. It slipped away to nothing as I stepped into my own home, silently falling like the dirty clothes I took off at the end of the day.

The few friends I had, could do nothing for me as they were sworn to secrecy. Slowly, I allowed the Salvation Army ministers and my doctor to know, but they could not do anything while I silently and passively allowed myself to remain in brokenness and rejected the help they offered.

Silently, I screamed for help and hoped that the bruises or the pain would be noticed and that someone would come to my rescue, while rejecting the people who came my way, regardless.

Silently, I cried myself to sleep and hoped that someone would count the tears on my pillow.

Silently, I covered up for my husband’s outbursts in public and covered the marks that hid his private outbursts.

Silently, I blocked anyone from seeing what he was like, as if it was my fault anyway.

Men who knew, said nothing as they watched, not knowing what to do without causing me more pain. No-one knew how to fix my private pain.

One day, I backed away from his swing, then caught the eyes of my toddler son whose face mirrored my terror.  His mouth was open in a scream – but silent…just like mine years ago. I ran over to him, picked him up and carried him into the room and locked the door. The baby in my tummy stopped moving and silently I prayed that he was okay.

From that day forward, I took steps to never be silent again.

I challenged the views I had of myself, I fought for my safety and I spoke to others of the hidden life beyond my public persona.

I fought the lies that were told to the world. I was not bi-polar, I was not emotionally stable. I did not have multiple personalities or post-natal depression. I was not a stupid person, who was clumsy and difficult.

I was me… and the me that I was getting to know was better than the ‘me’ he said I was.

People who are in abusive relationships need help, but they are seemingly unaware that they are not to blame, that there is a way out, and that they can get help. The world they reside in, and the conflict within the relationship, are emotionally and mentally overwhelming.

The education to know about and to avoid such relationships was not available to me as a young woman. The help for women like myself, was not talked about. Domestic violence was not openly spoken about in my circle of friends and acquaintances.

And the community support was not readily available should I need to move out of our home quickly.

There was one other thing greater than all this.

I, myself, did not think I was worthy of the respect, worthy of better treatment, so I went into the relationship and I stayed.

I remained the victim, until I chose to be a survivor.

Saying ‘No’ to violence starts within the hearts of average Australians – every person. Every man, every woman, and every child. Everyone is worth something to someone. Saying ‘No’ is the start, acting and speaking is the next start.

No voice should be silent and every voice heard.

 

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Womens helpline –  1800 811 811

Womensline

 

 

Hope

Posted on by Ruth

 

(This is an excerpt from my book “He Whispers Our Name”. It is written directly after I give my testimony of how God brought me through the darkest time of my life – a time of dispair and hopelessness. It was during this time that He allowed me to see that the hope that I thought I had, was not hope at all. This portion of the book is called, “Hope that is not hope” and it is the chapter that is titled, “Hope”. The Holy Spirit has instructed me to share this with someone today. I am praying for you. I do not have to know your name, God does.)

 

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Hope that is not hope

By going through this time I realized that I had placed my hope in something very different to what God intended. By doing things my own way I felt captive and restless. In not believing God’s Word and promises to me and trusting Him fully I was not seeing, not hearing and not understanding. Let me explain..

My confidence was in the future that I saw, doing my own thing. If my day was bad, or my husband didn’t love me, or my children got hurt, then God wasn’t there … and why wasn’t He there? Well then, I would be okay. I had me. I was strong and I could do anything.

My hope was in the possibility that God would hear and rescue me. I used to pray prayers for surviving the car drive or the next night shift at work. I was always afraid that I might not survive the next day or the future. Had I have prayed enough, been a good enough girl? Had I said all that I needed in the prayer to cover all that God needed to do to protect my life?

My trust was in my own strength and abilities. True I trusted God to be there. He was going to be there, wasn’t He? I knew that God had promised protection and promised to be there. But would He do that for me?

I hoped that tomorrow would be a better day. I hoped that I would have my health in the future. I hoped that the money would come through. I hoped that my sons would be well and healthy … I hoped.

The hope that I have just spoken of is only a possibility, like a huge mathematical equation filled with ifs and buts, full of “maybe’s” and “could be’s”. Is this truly the hope that God gives? No.

The question I eventually asked myself was – did I truly trust God who was my hope for the future as well as now. Was I certain of the truthfulness of God?

 

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A copy of my book can be obtained from

– www.ruthlindsay.com.au

or in Ebook form –

www.amazon.com/ruthlindsay

Strong? Really???

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

 

A few nights ago, I was about to put my head on the pillow to go to sleep and God spoke,  “I have made you strong.”

I was very tired after a long day. I felt bone weary and was looking forward to going to sleep. I knew that in 7 hours the alarm would go off for my husband to go to work, and I would be awake, dressed, getting him a cuppa, preparing his lunch and ready to start the day. It is also, at this time of the morning, that I have my time with God.

Now, if I were asking God a question about the subject of strength, I would question my own hearing, so my Father often catches me by surprise when He needs to say something important.

The words came strong enough for me to know that the thoughts were not mine, my spirit quickened and I was instantly wide awake.

“I have made you strong.”

“What!!!!????”

Silence.

“What do you mean, Father?”

Silence. I felt His love for me, but He had nothing more to say.

Mmmm…okay. I shook my head and waited, thoughts swirling through my head. So, I do what I always do when I don’t understand. I prayed.

“Father, I know you have brought me to this point and I know that you have done this. You never say anything to me unless you need me to know more, or to understand something that I don’t understand. So, Father, I will wait. Thank you for these words…”

My heart trailed off into thoughts, a touch excited. I love my Father speaking to me. I love to hear His voice.

As I drifted off to sleep, I was trying to work out whether He said, “I have made you strong” or “I have made you strong” or “I have made you strong” or “I have made you strong”. I finally figured out that He didn’t emphasis any of it, because all of it was God anyway!!

The next morning, I poured over scripture, but mainly the one that popped into my head as I drifted off to sleep the night before. Isaiah 9. And it was verse 7 (the end of verse 7) that caught my eye.

“… The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

God’s zeal will accomplish this. If I could just get my head around this….

God will do everything in this world, for His kingdom and in our lives. Not because of us, not because of our prayers, and not because I want it. But because He is zealously accomplishing it. (yes, I am pretty sure I am not supposed to use those words like that)

He…God…is zealous in accomplishing what He needs to do. Got it?

Ok, so for me that put a lot of things in perspective and I think I just got a glimpse of the awesomeness of God.

God as made me/you strong, not for our sake, but because He is going to accomplish things in the world that He needs. He will make each one of us strong in different way and different times and for different things, because He is going to accomplish it. FULL STOP.

Oh and by the way.. it did me good to once again look up the Hebrew word “zeal” in that passage. Wow, what a passionate word!

Anyway… it occurred to me a few days later, that God will do in my life what is needed. I have given my life to Him. I am His child, His daughter…His. God will accomplish, not because I am so great, or that He demands it. But because He is pleased to give us the opportunity to love Him back.

So…

You ( the person who is reading this)..yes YOU. What has God given you the opportunity to do?

OOOOOhhhhh… you think you can’t?

Mmm.. let us go back to the “zeal” thing again. It is not up to me to have the strength, the qualifications, the abilities or even the place and time. It is God. It has always been God.

Don’t worry, I haven’t got it all yet either. But here is a scripture to ponder.

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

He trains my hands for battle;  my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

(Psalm 18:32 and 34) NIV

 

Be blessed as you read His Word.

Moon and the Son

Posted on by Ruth

Last night we were treated to a beautiful sight of the moon. A “Supermoon” was what they called it. My eldest son and I love to take photos so we went out to see what we could capture on our cameras. (above is a picture I took)

Along with it came the inevitable – a question from my curious offspring – “What is a “supermoon?” Well, being that I was just interested in what it looked like and not what it was, I had to admit that I didn’t have a clue. So I went to ask “Mr Google”. (yes I regularly ask Goggle questions to answer my inquisitive children)

One article described it like this – “A supermoon is a new or full moon closely coinciding with perigee – the moon’s closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit.” It further went on to say this – “The full moon on November 14, 2016, will present the closest supermoon of the year (356,509 kilometers or 221,524 miles). What’s more, this November 14, 2016 full moon will showcase the moon at its closest point to Earth thus far in the 21st century (2001 to 2100), and the moon won’t come this close again until the full moon of November 25, 2034. “.  (1)

I love Google.. sometimes!! I also love that my children challenge me not to become too stale in what I know and what I think.

God often uses these times to teach me something new.

 

Keep learning

 

People often challenge me to keep searching out the Word of God. You see… I didn’t know everything. Surprised? Sometimes it is like I know very little. It causes me to run to the bible and my Strong’s Concordance to find out what the Word of God says. Because when I don’t know, I want to know.

When I hear scripture misquoted. When I hear scripture quoted that I have never heard before. When I hear scripture quoted out of a context that I would normally hear it. When I sense that God wants me to look up His Word…or when I suddenly want to know more. These are the reasons I find myself searching scriptures.

Curiosity is a good thing. Questions should be asked. Admitting that we don’t know everything is a fantastic thing, it keeps us from being a “know-it-all”.

I still remember when one of my children just started school. It was the first week of his schooling. I heard him talking to his little friend in the lounge room and I came a little closer, but just out of sight, to listen.

Son: “I know lots and lots of stuff”

Friend: “yeah me too, I know lots too”

My son leaned closer to his friend and with a knowing look of superior wisdom said, “I think I know more than mum!” To which they both agreed and went on colouring in. To this day I do the same thing when I remember… I smile.

No matter how old you are, we should never believe that we know a lot of “stuff”. I clearly remember that in Nazarene Theological College, our very elderly bible teacher would often walk in the room and ask, with a twinkle in his eye, “Guess what I learnt today?” Since he was as old as the hills (we thought) and that we were so smart (we figured), it always took us by surprise that he needed to learn more (shock).

The older I get, the more I realise I know very little. Especially about my God.

 

The Son

 

In looking at the moon and later at the pictures I took I was reminded once again at the mercy and love of my God. I have been struggling with not doing enough in my service to God. I want so much to serve Him. Sometimes it wants to burst from me. But I want to do it His way only.

I writing this as God is speaking to my heart and reminding me that I just need to do what He wants… that is – have Him shine on me.

This beautiful moon is always there. Every night it is in our night sky. We are not always seen by others, and sometimes the cloud covers us over. It is only when the sun shines upon it that it is seen. Once and a while there is a moon eclipse where the moon is blacked out… and everybody know about that because it happens rarely.

Now I am no scientist, nor do I pretend to know anything about moon, sun or earth, but God used this opportunity to speak to me.

As a Christian, given totally to my God I am already there. Seen before I was born and loved by Him. I have answered His call and I am there, whether people see me or not.

In my younger life, I seem to not have God in my life and many saw this. I was a shadow of what I should be, but He knew I was there. All I needed, was to allow what had come between me and the Son to pass by, and I shone again.

A few years ago, some people saw me fail in a small area of my life. They have no clue why I was hurting and hiding away, but they took pictures in their mind and still to this day assess me on the fact that I didn’t “shine”. They fail to see that I am only a moon. God needs them to see that. I can’t be the bright one, I am not supposed to be. There are times when my flaws are going to be seen, and I am glad they did. Now I can go on with them knowing that I have clay feet and do what God wants anyway.

My life shines in the dark whether people acknowledge it or not. When I pass close to the lives of others and shine bright with the Son, I am noticed the most. Not because I am anything, but because the Son is everything.

So here I am. I will, by the grace of God, continue to be everything God wants me to be and allowing Him to shine on me. In my home… in my street… in my town… and in my country.

And remember… when we are not there to shine on people during the night, is when they look for us the most until the Son shines on them in a new day.

 

Be blessed

 

Ruth

(1) http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-a-supermoon