Eternal Refuge

There is a verse in the Bible that assures us that there is nothing new under the sun - my reading today really shows that to be true.

I was reading of Noah and the flood.  The account said that it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, but that the waters were on the land for 150 days.

As this year ends and we watch the news in Britain and America (and other areas) we see the devestation caused by the rain, but not just the days of rain but the time to dry and clear up the mess.  My heart goes out to them.

Every day (well, I suppose I will admit to occasionally missing), I start my day with a Bible reading.  Over the years I have read hrough the Bible, in a traditional translation, a modern one, in chronological order, etc.  I have re-started my reading again.  This time I am using a modern paraphrased version called The Message.  When you know the Bible, have grown up knowing it, it is good to read varying versions, and in varying orders.

The book I am using has 2 readings per day, and jumps around the Bible.

Anyway, one of the reasons I read is to learn something more of God and my faith, and to give me a "thought for the day".

So foten I skim through a page or two to get out the door in time.  So in the future I am going to try to pick a key verse/thought and post it here.  Please feel free to ignore, as it is mostly for my own benefit.

So, today's reading was Genesis 1 & 2, and Psalm 1.  The verses that I chose are from Genesis:-

"God looked over everything and it was good, so very good ... Heaven and Earth were finished, down to the last detail!"

(Pity us humans muck that up!)

This morning when I was reading my Bible, from The Message (paraphrased) version,  I came across a verse that just made me smile - reminding me how good my God is.  With the year that I am having it is good to have this promise -

1 Corinthians 10 : 13

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

That made me happy!

No work again today ... just no shifts available on the type of work I prefer. There may be a few "specialing" shifts available, but even when at full strength I find them stressful.

Yesterday I had a good shift, but within an hour of getting home I was totally exhausted again. After a reasonable weekend where I had not coughed much, kept "normal" hours, managed to get some of the housework caught up at M&D's, but still found time to rest I was annoyed at how I felt.

Today I feel achy again ... so although I really need the money (one disadvantage of being both single and self-employed), I must be positive and say that a day a bit easier would be good.

Mum and Dad were both emotionally low when I arrived, but seemed to pick up as the weekend went on. Dad has to have another mole removed from his face, but the good news was the op on his cheek was a success with clear cell margins ... so that's gone now. Mum is waiting for her hospital appt for her breast check-up ... if we haven't heard by Easter then I shall chase that up.

Claire has another appt today ... 8 weeks on now, and still about 1/2" that hasn't healed ... weird ... I always told her she was stubborn!! The surgeon is talking about the poss of plastic surgery to remove the "gap" and heal it finally. She feels she has come so far she doesn't want an op unless it is necessary ... so we shall have to wait till later to see what it is looking like. But we keep reminding ourselves that YAY the cancer is gone and she doesn't need chemo or radio!

To end on a cheery note ... since Claire was diagnosed I have text-ed her and Tim a verse from the Bible every morning at some point ... yesterday it was from part of my morning reading. I read froma modern paraphrased version called The Message, and this is part of one of the Psalms ... hope you love the modern poetry.

Psalm 36 : 5-6
God’s love is meteoric,
his loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
his verdicts oceanic.
Yet in his largeness
nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
slips through the cracks.

Day 1 - a picture of myself.
Day 2 - 20 facts about myself.

Day 3 - Your Favourite Quote

This has been hard - for two reasons. Firstly I have tried thinking of a secular-based quote and couldn't think of anything. Then in thinking of a Bible quote it has been hard to narrow down my favourite(s) ... so, here goes:-

1) Lamentations 3
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

2) The Revelation 21
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.

3) 1 Peter 5
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

There are loads more - but for me the promise of loving care now ... and peace in eternity are something that I live with ... and believe every day.

( 9 - Something you are reading )

Like many of my friends I am reading Cold Days as the latest Harry Dresden story. Other than that I read Spuffy fan-fic on my Kindle. However both those pictures were shown - so thought it would be the Bible that I read first thing in a morning. It is a modern version and in a "jumbled" order - which makes me see things new again.


( 10 - Wrapping Paper )

Now I just have to buy the pressies!


( 11 - Green )

Some of the pressies are bought ... and are on my spare bed (the spread is green!) ... see, Jiffy has a new teddy-toy for Christmas!

~~~

Will catch up later (I hope) - have to get to the Post Office to collect a pressie!

Full report to follow at some point!.

Just wanted to share a favourite verse of mine -

Romans 8 v38 - 39  (NKJV)
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We had, as one of our hymns today, the hymn I chose to celebrate my 40th birthday (Can't believe that was 11 years ago)



What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.

In the mornings I read The Bible, and at present enjoying the paraphrased version, The Message. It makes verses and stories I know come alive.

Today I was reading, and I just loved this verse -

Joshua 1 v 9 (The Message):
"Strength! Courage! Dont be timid Dont be discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take"

I must focus and remember it when things seem a bit low.

As I said on Friday my Buffy re-watch was painful this time ... and gave me a hard day yesterday of feeling very alone and un-wanted. Sad to think that 35 - 40 years on the sheer mention of bullying brings such heartaching pain.

Anyway, I must win - "she" is not going to win!

Today in Church we sang a modern version of the 23rd Psalm ... and it reminded me of verse 4 of the Psalm -

"Yea, though I walk through the valley (of the shadow of death) you are with me"

.... A valley is dark, but you come out the other side, to a new view, a new start.

Isaiah 60
I am God ~ at the right time I will make it happen

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