Of a Godly Heritage and Simple Desserts

On Sunday I had reason to think back upon the church in which I grew up and the blessing which it was to both my life and the life of my family. Trev was preaching there both morning and evening and as I sat there, for a short while my mind began to wander. My mind went back about 18 years and rather than my husband in the pulpit, it was my Dad. The congregation was full of many older people, who had a passion for the Lord and for the deeper things found in His word. These were a praying people. A people who I know prayed fervently not only  for my Dad and for us,  the ministers family but also for all the families of the church. Many of these people are now with the Lord and the numbers in the church are now small, but when I walk back through the doors of that church I am so thankful for those people who prayed for me as a child and were such an example to me of Godly living. Truly I was so blessed with a Godly heritage, which although by no means saved me was such an abundant blessing, which shouldn't be taken forgranted.

We also had people from our own church over for lunch, and as usual I didn't leave myself with a whole lot of time to prepare. So I had to resort to my two favourite incredibly simple desserts: Waffleberry and Mississippi mud pie of sorts. The Mud Pie is actually a recipe from a lady in my old church and when I make it I often think of her and her amazing baking skills which I used to admire even as a child. It is actually the easiest pudding ever and is pretty amazing...

Ingredients

• 150g Digestive Biscuits- crushed
• 75g Butter
• 225g Dark Chocolate
• 300ml Double Cream
• 110g Marshmallows
• 1/2tsp Cinnamon
• 3tsp Dissolved instant coffee

Method

1.  Melt butter and mix with digestive crumbs. Press into a loose bottomed cake tin. Put into in fridge.
2. Melt chocolate in microwave. Leave to cool a little.
3. Melt marshmallows in microwave. Leave to cool a little.
4. Mix chocolate and marshmallows and add cream, coffee and cinnamon.
5. Pour into cake tin.
6. Leave to set overnight.

Saturday Snapshot

Community

In the ideal church it'd be less about the craic and more about the cross. Our friendships would permeate the outward façade and get to the depths of the soul. We could share our brokenness and marvel at the goodness of the Lord. We wouldn't be afraid to admit that we were shattered inside, that we didn't understand the providence’s we were being dragged through.

We wouldn't emanate an air of middle classness, to the neglect of those who weren't. We'd welcome the outcast and the poor. The weak and the obviously broken.

We'd truly be a community. With all the walls broken down. Fully grasping what it meant to be a brother and sister in the Lord.

We can long for this. We can criticise that this is not what our church is. That the true sense of community is missing. But sometimes we are those who need to be the change. We need to step out from behind our stained glass masquerade and dare to truly embrace the community of Christ as it was meant to be.

Call the Midwife

Having generally enjoyed the BBC series earlier this year, I was looking forward to reading the book on which the programmes were based. The programme on occasion dealt with the grittier aspects of life and  at times I found it crude so I was expecting some of the same in the book. However, having finished it I don't know if I would heartily recommend it, though it was a fascinating and on many occasions moving read.

The book is basically the memoirs of  Midwife, Jenny Lee who worked in the East End of London in the 1950's. Although at the outset of her becoming a midwife she would have described herself as "... an irreligious girl... an agnostic in whom large ares of doubt and uncertainty resided" she ends up unbeknown to her  of accepting a post with a group of Anglican nursing Nuns and consequently living in a convent, Nonnatus House.

Throughout the course of the book we meet a wide range of individuals bound by one common thread, the fact that they are about to give birth. There are old ladies and young ladies, ladies expecting their first child and their 24th, ladies in good standing and prostitutes.

On a negative note there is rather a lot of bad language and vulgarity in the book, although this is undoubtedly how the people of London's East End in the 1950's spoke and acted. Also there is one section where Mary a prostitute, whom Nurse Lee befriends gives an overly and unnecessarily explicit description of her previous life in a brothel. Finally, it has to be remembered that this is a book about midwifery. Therefore there are incredibly detailed descriptions of birth and so it is by no means a book for those who are queasy over such matters!

However, this is a book I feel that can teach us so much. The events recorded in he book happened less than 60 years ago, yet in so many ways some of the methods seem prehistoric! We can see the leaps and bounds that medicine has come along in recent years which now makes childbirth a much less risky business. Also related to health care we see an era in which the NHS was just developing and we see people truly grateful for a quality free health service. Perhaps we today have come to expect too much and should be more appreciative for what we have in this regard, which in the vast majority of cases is truly excellent.

While reading the book I was also filled with sadness. Sadness, at how far society has slipped from its biblical heritage in the last number of years. Throughout the book we see a culture where marriage was generally accepted as the norm, pregnancy out of wedlock was severely frowned upon and families stuck together.

However, the verse "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun"(Ecclesiastes 1:9 ESV) also came to mind time and time again. Throughout the memoirs we see prostitution, child labour, alcoholism and abuse, all of which are problems in our world today. It reminds us that no matter how far technological and medical advances come this world will be a sinful, messed up place until the day when Christ returns. On a positive note the book concludes with Jenny stating that she has begun to have faith in God and has started reading the Gospels.

So although I would recommend this book with caution and I definitely wont be giving it to my wee sister to read, it is a fascinating insight into life in the East End of London in the 1950's and can teach us many lessons for today.

Word-Filled Women

Recently I've been reading and listening alot to various articles and talks on the role of women and what it really means practically to be complementarian. There are so many resources out there, some more helpful than others. In this helpful article, Kathleen Nielson, director of women's initiatives for The Gospel Coalition, asks questions we should consider when looking at different resources. May it guide our study so that we all discover what it really means to be a true woman of God!

e-boasting

Found this on the Desiring God Blog.

Some food for thought...

In the way we use social media, do we seek to bring Glory to ourselves or to Him?
Do we use such means to boast in our hobbies, families, marriages or even relationship with the Lord?
What do we search for on the web? What does this show about where our treasure lies?
How much time do we spend on the web compared to in the Word?

Saturday Snapshot

Together

He was a name. Trevor the new student worker. Apparently we'd been in the same class at University, thus everyone felt we would be the perfect match. But I didn't know him and I was determined that it would remain that way. I was convinced that I was going to spend  life alone.

God had different plans.

I never imagined on that early September day what God would do. How he would bring two people together. How the next month we would spend my birthday together. How by the end of the year I would know that this was the man that I would spend my life with. How we would serve the Lord together. And how in less than a years time, we would stand at the front of the church, the church he'd come to serve in and say 'I do'. Together until death do us part.

Different by Design

I'd been so excited about the arrival of Carrie Sandom's book Different by Design. Often when I get overly excited about the arrival of a book when it actually comes and I read it I'm disappointed! However this was very much not the case with this book.

In a world where gender roles are becoming more and more blurred Different by Design goes back to the Bible to discover what God's blueprint is for men and women. The book is grounded in the Bible with many passages written out in full. It covers many passages that may be seen to be complicated and so may be ignored by other books.

Carrie Sandom has served in women’s and student ministry for almost 20 years, so she has a wealth of stories, which are use to illustrate points in the book. This means that the book is not simply a theoretical explanation of the role of men and women according to Scripture, although such is outlined with great detail and clearness, it also outlines what this means for us practically in home, work and the church. Although all three chapters were useful and challenging, I found the chapter on work particularly helpful as I had read many things before on the role of women but many of these did not include how women should behave towards men while at work. While I believe that women's primary role should be at home, at this particular stage in life I have to work outside the home and this was a most informative and useful chapter.

The book closes by looking at heaven when all will be perfected. I felt that this was particularly apt as it highlighted that nothing in this life will ever be perfect as presently we live the shadowlands and thus no matter how perfect our marriage, family life etc may appear to be they are nothing compared to the glory that is to come. There are discussion questions included and I feel the book would make a great bible study group resource as it is grounded in scripture and practical but also has an eternal perspective.

There are two small things I don't like about this book. On the back they "Carrie Sandom is Associate Minister for Women and Pastoral Care". This may be her title but I feel it gives the wrong impression as the title Minister is generally used for someone who preaches to a mixed congregation, the main overseer in a church and throughout the book she makes it clear she is against this. Also when introducing Bible passages three dots are used (...). Don't know why but this really irritated me!!!

Published by Christian Focus.

The Underestimated God

As everyone knows I'm a big fan of  Girl Talk blog. The other day they had this quote from Ligon Duncan at the T4G Conference. The quote really spoke to me, so I listened to the whole message. Although specifically targeted at Pastors it has something to say to every one of us about how we respond to disappointment and how we react when good things we want don't happen.

Listen and be both blessed and immensely challenged.

"Don't underestimate God. Don't underestimate His ruthless compassionate gracious commitment to His glory or His commitment to your everlasting joy and good. He will pursue you graciously and ruthlessly and rip out the idols of your soul that would otherwise consume you. He is working for your joy and your good even when you cannot perceive it and have ceased to be able to feel anything anymore."

Titanic

Titanic fever has hit Belfast. Big Style. Every street you go up seems to have some sort of Titanic paraphernalia adorning it. You can't turn on the TV without some mention of the Titanic and the brand new Titanic Building is attracting visitors from throughout the world with tickets sold out for everyday for weeks on end. In some ways it's exciting to see Belfast with such a buzz to it, to see visitors coming to a city which was for many, many dark years considered by the outside world as a war zone. In other ways it becomes somewhat tedious to listen to report after report on the TV or walk past yet another exhibition concerning a ship which ultimately met such a tragic end. In many regards it's hard to get your head around why the people of my city are so proud of a ship that ultimately sunk.

However, whether you love or loath the Titanic it has opened up some great evangelistic opportunities. In the shop in which I work it has been wonderful to watch people with no faith, see a book on the Titanic and come in and purchase it simply because there has been such an interest in the ship. Many of these books focus on the life of one Titanic passenger, John Harper. Born in 1872 in Scotland Harper became pastor of a church in Glasgow following his conversion a ministry which saw significant blessing manifested in significant growth. At the age of 31 he married but 2 years later was widowed when his wife died during the birth of their daughter Nana. He was on the Titanic on the 15th April 1912, making his way to a new pastoral charge in Chicago. As the ship began sinking and the carnage unfolded John ensured that his daughter was safely on one of the lifeboats and then went about telling people of Christ as eternity became an imminent reality for so many. We know of at least one man who came to Christ on that night because of the faith of one man.

Such an incident made me think about a number of things but mostly about how much we love people and want them to be saved. If we were in such a crisis as this how would we use our last moments, fearful and devastated about what we had 'lost' in this life or so passionate about seeing people won for Christ that we give our all to witness for him?

To find out more about this incident and others, the following useful resources have been published in this centenary year:


For children:


SOS Titanic, published by Day One



Titanic: The Ship of Dreams, published by Christian Focus



For adults:



Silent Voices, published by Day One



Titanic Tract, published by Day One





Saturday Snapshot

Good Bye

Two small words.

Yet so deep and full of meaning.

The tears that fell from 6 year old eyes as the car drove away from the kerb leaving beloved grandparents behind. On the other side of the sea. Again.

Tears trying to be contained from 13 year old eyes. Trying to be brave for the younger children as we say good bye to an Auntie who sets forth on a lifetime adventure to the very other side of the world.

Tears falling silently from the eyes of an 18 year old watching the breathing slow in a Grandmother who was always so strong. The beeps of the machines temporarily drowned out as the two words fall from the lips amidst the sobs.

Good Bye.

But not all have to be sad. Tearful. Painful. There's that Good Bye everyday as he goes to work. That kiss. That 'see you later'. And I know that he'll always come back home to me, it's only Good Bye for a little while.

Acne...

They have returned. I mean it's not really a surprise but none the less they are by no means welcome guests. I refer to my spots, well not just spots, severe acne which has plagued me for,  a very very long time, probably at least half of my life to some degree. I've had the tablets, the natural ones and the very much un-natural ones, the creams and the washes. The stuff from the doctor, the stuff on the shelf, the stuff you have to ask the pharmacist for. I've been to the doctor again and again and again. At one stage I thought I may as well move in I went so often. For about 4 beautiful years they went away. Pretty much.You see there is one tablet which takes them away. Just one it seems and for one reason and another I can no longer take it. In these four years I got married, so I have wedding photos with spot free skin. This makes me so happy, my graduation photo was just a spotty make up caked mess.

To some this may appear soincredibly and painfully vain. You will recite verses about man looking at the outward appearance but the Lord at the heart, how our identity comes from Christ and not from our appearance and this is true. I know that it isn't what we look like that really matters and our soul and spiritual condition is of the utmost importance.

On the other hand some will relate so so much. You will relate to the desperation at trying every thing but nothing happening, the feelings of ugliness, the caking on of the make up which really doesn't cover much, the prayers, the tears.

Over the years i've received so much 'advice' from people concerning acne, mostly from people with perfect skin it has to be said! Most of this has been not only unhelpful but also in many cases hurtful. So i've decided to put together a little guide of what not to say to people with acne. By all means if someone with the condition wants to talk to you about it don't ignore the issue but I don't think it's something that the spot free should initiate!

Things not to say to people with acne:

1. Why don't you visit the doctor
If it is bad enough for you to notice it's more than likely that the person already has visited the doctor.

2. My friend had acne and she tried this and now it's gone
So much about acne is related to hormones, so just because something worked for your friend doesn't mean it will work for them.

3. You'll grow out of it
At 27 I still haven't. Acne is not just a teenage thing.

4. You shouldn't wear make up, it'll just make them worse.
This is one of the most annoying things people say, I never was allowed make up until I was 18 and had acne before then. Therefore my make up wearing and spots are in no way connected. Make up is a mask which makes my spots appear a little better.

5.I'm so devastated I just got bitten my midges and now it looks like i've got acne
Your midge bites will go away soon. My spots wont.

6. Put some perfume on them that will help.
It may help a pimple, it will not help my spots. If it would do you not think I would have tried?

Why We Shouldn't Baby Watch

This article highlights some issues I've been thinking about recently. People who don't really know an individual often ask them when they're hoping to have a child. This can be a cutting and bruising experience for a woman with fertility issues. In this blog post Courtney Reissig, a pastor's wife and freelance writer/blogger argues that although children are a blessing from the Lord, we shouldn't engage in a 'babywatch'.

NB.Although I agree with this article I don't agree with all the comments at the bottom!

Saturday Snapshot

Light

When everything seems to be going wrong. When they have what you want and your trying not to let the bitterness take a hold of you. When your burdened by the sin in the world in in your own life. So busy. So overwhelmed by it all. Longing for better things, longing that your dreams will cease being dreams and will become reality.

All we can do is look to the light. The one who gives light. The one who is light. For in Him we have hope, we have a future. That ache can be soothed and the knowledge become more illuminated that one day all this pain, all this weariness and heaviness will come to an end and we will be forever with He who is the light of the world.

The Wonder of the Cross

As we pass the supermarket aisle marked 'seasonal' the pinks of Mothers Day have been replaced by the sparkling purples, yellows and greens of Easter egg foil, glistening in the early spring sunlight. The yellow fluffy chicks sit precariously on the shelf crammed in beside the bonnets, egg shaped bunting, cards with hatted bunnies and carrot shaped chocolates. So happy. So colourful. So far from  the truth of the whole celebration. Easter is joyous, but it's only so because of the deep deep pain which touched the universe only days before.

The sinless One hung on the tree, for me. For my sin and for the sin of all those who upon him call. Every lie, every bitter word, every lack of trust. Everything that is not pure, noble and good was placed upon Him that night, in the darkness, in those moments of forsakeness by the one who had always been there before. The physical pain was horrific, of that we should not undermine, but others had endured that before. It was the pain of the sin of humankind on His shoulders that was the deepest. For the only Man who ever walked this scene of time knowing no sin was now experiencing the sin of all.

Oh the Grace! Oh the wonder of it all! That God became man for us and was so humiliated that it was as though "I am a worm and not a Man." Psalm 22: 6 That He walked this earth and bore that pain so that we could be set free, that  unworthy humanity should one day have the right to commune with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for all eternity. And yet we take it forgranted. We fail to see that our sin is as serious as it is. Only when we grasp the awfulness of our situation  will we truly grasp the wonder of it all.

The Soul of Modesty

I've decided every Wednesday to post a link to something i've found on the Internet that I've found useful, in the hope that it will be a blessing to others!

I listened to this recently on a VERY long bus trip and it was one of the best things i've ever heard on the issue of modesty, which is such a major problem in our churches today.

CJ Mahaney- The Soul of Modesty