The Humble Snowdrop

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It’s not long before we see those pretty wee snowdrops. Of all the beautiful plants and flowers in nature, there’s something special about these humble bits of whiteness, isn’t there?

I think it’s their timing, bringing life back to drab winter deadness; speaking of the hope of brighter days and sunnier times. We need that in life. Sometimes it seems as though the ‘winter’ of our soul is never ending, but there’s always hope. If we look carefully, we can find God’s little snowdrops of promise.

When they’d been exiled by their enemies, God spoke to the Israelites in the Old Testament: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29 v 11).

Whatever you’re going through just now, take a moment to find the snowdrops of His promise of hope and His good plans for your life. He’s placed them there, so look carefully and you’ll find them.

When the mists threaten to overwhelm you

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Swirling cloud, TenerifeRecently, Mark and I have been on holiday in Tenerife.

Beautiful landscapes which are quite awe-inspiring! From the black volcanic beaches to the mountain views and the barren, almost moon-like expanses.

One day we drove up the winding mountain roads (passing so many incredibly fit cyclists!), stopping now and again to admire the views and stretch our legs… amazing! We loved the trip!

A couple of days later, we decided to go back up the mountainous roads to see the views again!

This time the sun didn’t seem to shine, the mist was heavy and shrouded everything to the point we could only see a few yards ahead of us. We crawled, slowly up the roads and came across a few cars who had pulled into the side of the road and were turning round to go back down to the beaches.

As we crept up these roads with our headlights and fog lights on, I was so aware of the God’s still nudge of His voice saying, “The road is the same as it was yesterday. The views are still there – just because you can’t see it all – it hasn’t changed… stay the path!”

So we kept going and sure enough a while later, after driving carefully and slowly the clouds began to swirl dramatically around us and we came out into clear blue skies and amazing views once again.

What a life lesson!

How many times do we feel like giving up and turning back because we can’t see the way ahead, or because the view is not much fun!

On those tough stretches of life’s journey, it’s easy to feel hopeless and want to go back down to what is known and comfortable.

Yet to those who would, maybe slowly, but steadily keep going, remember – the path hasn’t changed! The familiar points are still there, even if they are shrouded in mist. Step by step and mile by mile… you will come through into the light and sunshine once again.

Don’t give up on what you have known to be True, right and what you have learnt of the Love of God… the clouds will lift and the dawn will break and your trek will be worth the long haul!.

Stay the path!

Stay faithful to the Faithful One! Take His hand and lean in to hear His voice saying “Keep on, dear one, keep on! I’m still as true in the mist as I was in the sunshine.”

Be encouraged today to keep on!

 

 

Welcome!

Mark and Helen Smith
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Thanks so much for popping in to see us, on our site! Feel free to keep popping back and interact too. We hope to make a wee bit of a positive difference to your world.

God bless!

 

Love Heals

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Scottish FlagWe woke up this morning to a conclusion to the long debate on Scottish Independence. Living in Scotland, we’ve seen the debate first hand; it’s been powerful and inpassioned, especially over the last couple of months. Now the people have made their verdict, it’s really important that our communities unite again for the future.

The big question is how to bring about reconciliation, whether it’s amongst people on the different sides of political opinions, or between rivals af any sort. What matters most is one to one relationships. Everything comes down to the attitude we have to the individuals we meet on a day to day basis. I found this great couple of verses in the New Testament this morning, which is so pertinent today and every day:

1 Peter 4:7b-11 (Message).  “Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!”

Love is the oil which makes reconciliation possible – not a passive do-nothing love, but a real type of love which affects how we talk and act to each other. That type of love comes from God. It’s so important to pray for His love to empower all we do, so we can build for the future.

Boxes

Boxes
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I lay in bed the other night, before I slept, and took this photograph of a corner of my room!

As I looked at it I realised that I really ought to de clutter these boxes of things… which are really needing to be “dealt with”! But… ah BUT!… they are all in boxes and are packed away and it takes effort, time and determination to bring them out, open them and go through the boxes of notes, memories, photos, more notes, studies, memos to look into, more notes!!.

Well you get the idea… it’s something I really should go through and diminish and only keep those things that are worthwhile and useful.

How like life is that? Continue reading

Treasures in hidden places

Oil - honey
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I have been laid up after an operation for nearly 4 weeks now! Oh I’m healing well 🙂 , and beginning to get mobile, slowly. I has been a rather painful time and extremely frustrating as I don’t do “nothing” very well… and I’ve had to learn to let others do things for me – in their times, not mine!. I’ve had to learn to wait, not mind when it’s not happening as quickly as I’d like, or the way I’d like!

I’ve been having a new kitchen fitted at the same time (don’t ask why now!) I was told – a week! It’ll be completed in a week! Four weeks later and I’m still waiting for the floor to be fitted, the kick boards to be placed and the finishings, of course! It’s draughty and bare in there and hard to move around because of all the stuff!

Yet I’ve discovered some treasures during these days: Continue reading

Surprise!

Surprised baby
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Funny how life has a knack of throwing surprises at you!

And funny how sometimes you don’t react the way you think you would!

I have recently heard news that, I thought when faced with this situation, would make me either very emotional or want to sort it out immediately!

And so I was ready to brace myself for my reaction when I met this person face to face and heard what they had to say!

Surprise of all surprises, my reaction was not at all what I thought it would be! There was a calm, peacefulness in me that I didn’t expect. I found myself feeling very at ease and almost with a philosophical sense of – Continue reading