Eternal Refuge

I am reading the bible chronologically in the New Living Translation.  Part of yesterdays reading ...

Proverbs 16:
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained by living a godly life.


Well that explains my hair style and colour!!

Back 18 months ago I started posting a verse that had lept out at me while I was reading the Bible in the morning.  As I said then, no insults meant, just for my own personal focus and reminder.  Over the last months life has been weird, and LJ got missed more than read, so although I read the Bible, I didn't post much.

However a couple of verses I read this morning I loved.  I read from The Message in a morning, which is a paraphrased Bible written in modern English.

One of the readings i had today was Psalm 36, and here is one of the sections -

v 5-6

Like the last time I posted (about my name), this is another vague entry!

When I was reading this morning there were a load of lists of names - family lineages.  I will admit that after years of reading the Bible I tend to skim through the genealogies in most cases.

However it occured to me that many people like going back into family history ... which is actually a list of genealogies!  Last year I was fascinated to find out, via Tim (who enjoys this hobby), that Mum's family (on her mother's side, goes back to Jasper Tudor, and beyond.

So, maybe I am a hypocrite to not read the heritage of the Jewish families of the Old Testament.

Yesterday reading Genesis 31, I was reminded of a word I grew up knowing ... MIZPAH ... It is used a lot by the Brethren, but when you read the verse you know why.

Gen 31 v 49 :"The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent from one another"

A truly lovely wish.

I know I haven't posted daily, but have read the Bible.  As I was ill for a few days I only read a few verses then, as my brain goes fuzzy.  So not as far on as I had expected.

Anyway -

The start of Genesis 21 is a lovely reminder for me ...
"God did ... what He promised, ... at the very time God had set".

So often I wonder why things happen (or don't), but I have to remember that God sees the whole picture, not just the day I am actually thinking about.

As my Daily Bible Reading reminded me today - "God, you have put my life back together" (Psalm 4).  As I type this I realise that I am having a "normal" day.  In fact my whole week has been pretty easy.

Today I have taken Jiffy for a walk, done some shopping, eaten dinner, done some sorting, and now I have pc time.  Just one year ago today I was nursing a very sick Mum ... she had C Diff, a urine infection and flu.  However as there was an NHS crisis, and I am a nurse, she stayed home ... until 3 days later when the doctor realised she was getting rapidly worse.

Almost 4 weeks of hospital and she came home, and it was then I realised how week he was.  It was a long year, as I look back on it ... but at the time, day by day, it was just something I needed and wanted to do.

Over this last year I have not been around much, but when I have the love and support from many of you has been amazing.  However, for those  who were concerned, let me assure you that if I had to re-do this year I would.  Yes, it was frustrating, tiring, lonely, but I am glad I did it.

I still feel really in limbo about Mum, but know that I will come to terms with things in my own time.

Dad seems to be slowly settling into his new home ... when I went in yesterday he was telling me about some discussion that he and a couple of the other men had over lunch.  It didn't make much sense to me, but he seemed happy, so that is the main thing.  Jiffy is more settled.  He has a couple of favourite walks, and enjoys deciding which one to go on, and he certainly knows where his treats are stored!

I have managed to sort out my bedroom this week, as I had to amalgamate 2 sets of clothes, 2 sets of jewellery, etc.  So at least that seems "me" now.  I know that soon we will have to sell Mum & Dad's, but I am having a couple of weeks off of even thinking about that.

So, now I am in 2016, and like last year I don't know what it will hold.  However I do know that the support of friends, and with God's strength I will get through it.

Happy New Year to you all.

Well day 2 of my plan to pick a verse in my reading and I fail!

However, I was reading Genesis 3 - 5 this morning.  One of the chats we all often have is what generation would we like to have been born in?

Well todays reading listed the men of old ....Methuselah 969, Adam 930, Kenan 910, etc.

That would mean that Kenan was born in 1105 if he died today.  I do wonder what changes they saw in their lives ... and what they achieved.  I worry that Dad is old, yet he is only 1/10 of his age.  Hard to comprehend.

However I suppose they must have been healthier as it finished with the thought that Noah was 500 before the flood.

I don't expect those centuries, so maybe it's a reminder that I need to make best use of the days I do have.