FOR OUR ENJOYMENT

1 Timothy 6:17 NIV Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

I wonder if you’ve stopped to smell the roses lately? When I walk into our village I pass a garden which is absolutely full of roses and I like to lean over their wall to smell them as they’re just too beautiful to ignore!😊

Earlier this week we were in Belper, Derbyshire and we took our own coffee and scones with home made jam, and sat in the sunshine in the park where we’d never sat before, and enjoyed a very yummy, happy moment or two.😊 

The park itself had big African marigolds so I rescued some of the dead seed heads and brought them home to hopefully plant for next year which will be a lovely reminder of a happy morning. Even on the way to the park we came across this beautiful display of clematis flowers which I photographed for you all to see, it was just so stunning.😊

So why am I telling you all that? It’s just a little reminder once again that there are blessings the Lord is constantly pouring out on us but we have to recognise them and take the time to enjoy them, to appreciate His goodness and kindness to us, to acknowledge they are all from Him, not just a coincidence. 

One day this week our daughter sent an odd text at 9 a.m. saying, “Can I have a piece of toast?” I texted back “Yes”, thinking she was joking, but she then texted, “I’m standing outside your front door!” What a lovely surprise! No warning, just a spur of the moment idea she’d had and it blessed me so much!😊

Why not give someone else a surprise moment, lift their spirits, send them a card or a text or leave a surprise parcel on their doorstep. Stop on your walk and just breathe in the joy of being able to walk anywhere, to look in someone’s garden and enjoy the fruit of their labours. Watch the little ladybirds when they appear and count their spots. Whatever the moment brings let’s practice enjoying and living in that moment, and give God all the glory!

Have a blessed weekend everybody, and I pray you find some moments to enjoy.x😊

PRESSING THE RIGHT BUTTONS

Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live.

I have a pen which has 4 colours in it. If you press the red panel then you write in red, if you press the green panel you obviously write in green, etc. Whatever you press disables the other colours temporarily. 

As I was using it I had this thought - if we press the kindness button in our spirit, then kindness will flow out and the unkind feelings will be disabled. If we press the forgiveness button then all the unforgiveness, the offence and all that goes with it can’t come out. We get to choose which button we press. God has given us free choice and the ability to choose what we want to flow out of us, what we want to write in our book of life.😊

My question is, are we choosing to press the right buttons? Are we pressing the green button of jealousy and envy, or the green button of the green light which says move forward into green pastures? 

Are we pressing the red button of  worry, panic and fear, or the red button of the blood of Jesus which delivers us from all fear and condemnation, and the ultimate fear of death?

Are we pressing the blue button of depression, doom and gloom, or are we pressing the blue button of positive faith and favour, of blue skies and the windows of heaven opened over us so the blessings of God can pour out? 

Are we pressing the black button of confusion and darkness on our path? Or are we pressing the black button which writes God’s word in our hearts so His promises can light up our way so our path gets brighter and brighter as He promises?

Next time we choose what is being written in our book of life, let’s stop and think a minute and choose to press the right buttons.😊 In Jesus name. Amen.