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Saturday 21 March 2020

Called Aside


Into a desert place apart (Matt 14:13)

There is no music in a rest, but there is the making of music in it. In our whole life-melody the music is broken off here and there by "rests", and we foolishly think we've come to the end of the tune. God sends a time of forced leisure, sickness, disappointed plans, frustrated efforts, and makes a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives; and we lament that our voices must be silent, and our part missing in the music which ever goes up to the ear of the Creator. How does the musician read the "rest"? See him beat the time with unvarying count, and catch up the next note true and steady, as if no breaking place had come between.


Not without design does God write the music of our lives. Be it ours to learn the tune, and not be dismayed at the "rests". They are not to be slurred over, not to be omitted, not to destroy the melody, not to change the key note. If we look up, God himself will beat the time for us. With the eye on Him, we shall strike the next note full and clear. If we sadly say to ourselves," there is no music in a 'rest'", let us not forget, "there is the making of music in it". The  making of music is often a slow and painful process in this life. How patiently God works to teach us! How long He takes for us to learn the lesson!  - Ruskin


Called aside -
From the glad working of thy busy life,
From the world's ceaseless stir of care and strife,
Into the shade and stillness by thy Heavenly Guide
For a brief space thou hast been called aside.



Called aside -
Perhaps into a desert garden dim;
And yet not alone, when thou hast been with Him,
And heard His voice in sweetest accents say:
"Child, wilt thou not with Me this still hour stay?"


Called aside -
In hidden paths with Christ thy Lord to tread,
Deeper to drink at the sweet Fountainhead,
Closer in fellowship with Him to roam,
Nearer, perchance, to feel thy Heavenly Home.


Called aside -
Oh, knowledge deeper grows with Him alone;
In secret oft His deeper love is shown,
And learnt in many an hour of dark distress
Some rare, sweet lessons of His tenderness.


Called aside -
We thank Thee for the stillness and the shade;
We thank Thee for the hidden paths Thy love hath made,
And, so that we have wept and watched with Thee,
We thank Thee for our dark Gethsemane.


Called aside -
Oh, restful thought - He doth all things well;
Oh, blessed sense, with Christ alone to dwell;
So in the shadow of Thy cross to hide,
We thank Thee, Lord, to have been called aside.



May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ fill your hearts to overflowing this day and forevermore.




(Devotional writing and poem from 'Streams in the Desert, Vol 1', written by Mrs Charles E Cowman, published 1925. Glorious artworks by the amazing Morgan Weistling)

Sunday 19 August 2018

Meet 'Brambles'

 
Anyone who knows me, knows that sewing is definitely not my strong point.
I've always admired people who seem to be able to whip up some incredible creation using needle and thread and decorate their homes, or gift to friends and family the treasures they've made.
 
I've always been a person who loves creating characters. Whether that be through a pencil sketch, a story I write, or our pet cats that I've taken great pleasure in naming! So when I found myself craving the feel of fabric in my hands and actually wanting to sew something, it was only natural for me to lean towards creating a character.
 
I sat down and sketched out my pattern, then gathered my felts and other materials to begin creating this little character. It took me sooo long! But, I found it relaxing because I made up my mind to just let it take as long as it would take and enjoy the process.
 
I really, really love making characters!
 
So, let me introduce to you, my first ever completed little doll ... sweet little 'Brambles' ... she enjoys long bike rides in the country, reading and hot cups of tea.
 
 
 
I can see a lot of rough bits when I look at her,
but I'm happy with her for my first ever attempt! 

 
This is also my first ever attempt at a satin stitch for the eyes and nose
... not as hard as I thought it would be (thank goodness!).

 
I think the only thing that I would change about her, is making her face more three dimensional. I have no idea how to do that however, so it'll be another skill to learn!
If any of you have tips or tricks to help with this, I'd be so grateful!

 
Using our hands to create things of beauty is such a wonderful gift that God has given us.
I've been looking through my scrap fabrics and I've been inspired by the beautiful colours and hope to make some more bunny dolls soon!
 
What is it that you like to sew? Happy creating friends!


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Wednesday 21 March 2018

The Strangle.

 
There’s a strangle that takes hold of our hearts. A pressure that with each tightening squeeze causes all hope to diminish. A throttle that restricts life; stops the flow of all that is good and right and true.
 
And this world is the beast controlling the grip, the one applying the pressure. As if the grip takes on an audible voice that accuses, "you're not good enough", "you're an absolute mess", "just give up". The pressure, it restricts, it binds, it causes deep internal harm.
 
And we try to operate with our full agenda's, with our hearts in a vice and barely functioning. Each step we take, each task we strive to complete is met with exhaustion and no release of the clamp on our four-chambered soul.
 
And this half-dead functioning is not what our hearts were designed for. It's not it's default operating system. And we know this, but we're still strangled. And so we continue on and on, loosing our breath, just seconds away from cardiac arrest, until we draw in enough oxygen to cry out for help.
 
And then He comes. He comes charging, rushing forth in full battle mode with our hearts in His view. He reaches in and He releases the death-grip, He alleviates the worlds crush. With His nail scarred hands He massages the very life blood back into our vessels. With each beat it strengthens, it crimson glows, it courses and swells with life and health and truth. Our beat becomes His beat; we live and breath in one rhythm.
 
His voice whispers to us, "I am enough", "I'm making you beautiful", "Just let me".
 
And the strangle is gone.
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