Dinner At Our House #1

Remember when I said I was going to do a series on food? Especially British food, because it is so foreign to what I know. Well, I think I will start now, but not with British food... just with the food we eat in our home. This first entry happens to be British...

What do you call this? I'm not even sure. But this is a meal we have once in a blue moon when we have strayed from our menu and need something quick and easy. You can buy these giant Yorkshire puddings in the freezer for less than 50p each. Then, just fill them: with sausages, mashed potatoes, and peas. Top with onion gravy. Voila! There is your quick, filling, hot, wholesome meal. Remember to thank God for His provision, and have a good portion of the Bread of Life after your meal!

What I Am Reading at the Moment

We go through seasons with our reading, don't we? Ian and I both read a lot. Of course, the Bible, every day. I am also reading:

• Wisdom Distilled from the Daily (Joan Chittister, OSB)
• The Highlander's Last Song (George MacDonald)

I enjoy such a wide variety of reading, but it must be edifying, and preferrably by a Christian writer, although I also like all kinds of classic literature. And I love a great amount of children's literature, much of which takes on an even greater meaning when re-read as an adult (come on... how many times have you re-read the Little House books, or the Anne of Green Gables books, or Dear America books, or the Chronicles of Narnia?)

What are you reading right now? Who can recommend something really incredible that they haven't been able to put down?

Stepping Out in Faith

Faith, in its simplest, truest, mightiest form, is -- to do God's will in the one thing revealing itself at the moment as duty. The faith that works miracles is an inferior faith to this -- and not what the old theologians call a saving faith. (George MacDonald)

I am stepping out in faith these days. I should say, WE are stepping out in faith, because it is every much a part of my husband's life as it is mine, and our life together. We are both reading George MacDonald right now, as well, and something is sticking in my mind, but I can't quite pull it out... something about how doing the practical thing is the very opposite of what God requires us to do in faith.

I am feeling like my faith is a bit like the thin ice on Loch Brora a few weeks back... but really, that's not so, because my faith is built on the Rock, and it will sustain me. We are both seeking at the moment~God's will and direction. And we are taking chances on things which probably would seem ridiculous to others.

My parents were immensely practical people, and became more so as they got older, I think. But they had to have been impractical, too, or they wouldn't have taken some of the wonderful chances they did. It is so easy to get caught up in worldly expectations, isn't it? Money and its acquisition has taken on an absolutely unreal proportion in our lives today. As if that were the be all and end all. And... you hear a lot of people say that money is not all that important to them. My folks used to say, "yes, well, I wonder if they would feel that way if they didn't have any?" But my faith is leading me to say this: I wonder if I can live with a lot less money than I do have, and still be content, and be in God's perfect will?
I think it's very scary to contemplate life on this planet with little money, but then I remember: 40% of the world lives on less than $2.50 a day. Why do we think we need so much?? What is motivating us? I want to live as Christ instructs. One place to start, for me, is to take my focus off money (and believe me, we live frugally anyway!), and remember who is my Provider. God will sustain us, and as for Paul, so for me: My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. (from 2 Cor 12:9)

Mr January

Just thought I'd do a quick post with a Rosebud update. We aren't able to feed him every day, but I know he is being looked after where he boards, and the truth is, he gets double feeding when we feed him. He's still not the most sociable sheep... he got that from his mother. But he's definitely still the cutest! Rosebud provides some gentle time with one of God's creatures, and for that, I am grateful. Above you see him as we usually see him. Below... he actually condescended to look at the camera!

As you can see, he is healthy and well! What else Rosebud is for me: a reminder that I want to be a sheep of His pasture, where He knows my name, and I know His voice.

And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him for they know His voice. (John 10:4)

Rising Early

How many of us are struggling with the biblical concept of rising early? Yes, it is biblical to rise early. Jesus himself is rising early in Mark 1:35: In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. (NASB) This is a big issue with me, but one I have persistently left simmering on the back burner. Especially over the past 2 1/2 years, while I have been in less than good health, and while I have been struggling with grief and loss. (Those are great reasons why to sleep more.)

Nevertheless, it is still on my heart to work on this. So what do you do to rise early? Aside from the obvious... setting alarm clocks, going to bed earlier, etc. I firmly believe rising earlier and spending the first part of my day in God's Word will reap untold benefits. How to overrule the tired body and tired mind?

I'm eagerly awaiting your suggestions!

Eat Your Porridge

(above: Thrush bird)
(Above: Robin)

(Above: blackbird)

(Above: chaffinch)

(OOPS! How'd he get in here? Roseate spoonbill... I miss you!)

Well, thank goodness! We had some leftover toasted porridge oats (from making cranachan on Burns Night), and dear husband threw them out the back for the birds. The next morning, the ground was just teeming with half the birds in town, I think. It was lovely to watch, but then I was horrified... what if porridge oats are bad for birds the same way uncooked rice is? (Remember when we all discovered throwing rice at weddings was bad because birds were eating it and exploding??) It's okay, though... I've checked the RSPB website, and uncooked porridge oats are fine. My photos above are not my own, I confess... snagged them from Google. But I wanted you to see a few of the visitors we've been having. And for my American friends, isn't the little robin the silliest thing? Nothing like our robins back home, is he? I have to say, I miss the big, colorful, noisy Florida birds. The birds here are teeny tiny, and not very striking, plumage-wise... but some of them have lovely singing voices!

How Great Is This?

Sometimes I am just amazed by the depths of people's hearts.... especially little people. Go HERE to read about little Charlie and how he has raised £50000 for Haiti relief, all of the money going to UNICEF. Way to go, Charlie!

A Red Red Rose

My first year here, we went to a Burns Supper with a good friend and his new love, and it was a fun experience. Last year, we shared a Burns Supper with that same friend and his new wife... it was an even better experience. This year, the day has crept up on us, and we are sharing a Burns Supper between the two of us. And I count my blessings. God has been so good to us, it boggles the mind.

I have off and on memories of Robert Burns and his poetry... back to school days and university days, back to a first trip to Scotland in 1982 with some of my family...visiting the birthplace and all that. And back not that long ago to a concert sung with The Florida Voices, and doing the absolute most beautiful arrangement of My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose... and wondering whose love is like that?

Now I know. Mine!

Till a' the seas gang dry, my Dear,

And the rocks melt wi' the sun!

Oh I will luve thee still, my Dear,

While the sands o' life shall run.

Happy Burns Night to you all!

Thoughts On Prayer

Photo credit: Ian

We have been focusing more on our prayer life, and considering how to "pray without ceasing," as Paul prescribes for us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. In fact, we are actually meditating on the whole sentence: 1 Thess 5:16-18, because Paul tells us it is the will of God:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I think probably one of the greatest problems with life today is the dis-connectedness of people from God. And prayer is probably the only way to truly re-connect. I am rereading a book I read years ago called Wisdom Distilled from the Daily by Joan Chittister, OSB. There are some hard truths in there, and some really good thoughts on prayer:

• No, the function of prayer is not magic. The function of prayer is not the bribery of the Infinite. the function of prayer is not to change the mind of God about decisions we have already made for ourselves....The function of prayer is to change my own mind, to put on the mind of Christ, to enable grace to break into me.

• To pray when we cannot, on the other hand, is to let God be our prayer.

• [Prayer] is not centered on the needs and wants and insights of the person praying. It is anchored in the needs and wants and insights of the entire universe.

• Prayer that is regular confounds both self-importance and the wiles of the world.

• Praying the Psalms and the Scriptures, I see with the eyes of Christ, celebrate God in creation, grapple with my own emotional immaturity as the Psalmist did, insert myself into the struggles of the whole people of God.

One of the points the author makes is that prayer must be regular and practised whether we feel like it or not. Because it's not about us, is it? It's about God. She maintains that in order for prayer to be more about a "spirituality of awareness than of consolation" it needs to be this: regular, universal, converting, reflective, and communal. I am really pondering this. I am struggling with the "communal" part because I am not part of a prayer community, other than with my husband.

Finally, she makes the very good case that "nobody finds time for prayer. The time must be taken." There go all our excuses! But isn't it the truth? So I ask myself, how much time will I take for prayer today? If what Paul says is Truth -- pray without ceasing--then I can never take too much time.

Praying with you today...

Haiti - Compassion International

You have probably already seen this video. If you have not, please take a moment to view it. Ponder and pray about it. Compassion International is making a big difference for the "least of these." Something like 40% of the world's population lives on $2.50 a day. Can you get your mind around that? I am struggling. $2.50 a day is less than a designer coffee, isn't it? If you are not already sponsoring a child, please consider it, whether through CI, or through another agency. Please, get involved.