I'm afraid I've reached a point in this pregnancy where I am ready to be finished, rather than just floating along each day as it comes. I told David last night, "I am officially tired of being pregnant." Oh dear! This transition into the third trimester seems to be taking its toll on me, as I have been experiencing an increase in back pain, pain and swelling in my legs, pain in my joints, great difficulty sleeping at night, a lot of uncomfortable movement from the baby, and so on. I have an upcoming appointment with the physiotherapist, and we will see if there is anything more she can do to help provide relief. Also I am grateful for the opportunity to have a massage tomorrow from a friend's sister who is a masseuse.
The bus fares in Glasgow skyrocketed this week. . . *sigh* How did I find this out? Well, I found out when I caught my usual bus on Monday to go to Children's Club. I put in my 3.50 for a day ticket and the driver told me, "The fare's 3.75 now!" I was shocked. . . and I didn't have any more coins with me to pay the new fare! Thankfully the driver was very kind and gave me the ticket anyway!
Looking forward to a busy end of the week. . . we have guests coming to visit and I have much to do to prepare!
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Thursday, 25 March 2010
thoughts from the book of Daniel
Last night in prayer meeting we read from Daniel 9, where the prophet Daniel pours forth a prayer of repentance on behalf of his captive people Israel. In many ways I think this is one of the most beautiful chapters of the Bible because it so clearly presents our unworthiness and yet the timeless promises of God's faithfulness to his people even when they are wayward and rebellious and do not seek Him.
"O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. . . We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. . . All this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. . . And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day -- we have sinned, we have done wickedly! . . . O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies."
Daniel 9: 8,10,13,15,18
In light of the events that have taken place in the United States this week with the passing of a health care "reform" bill that the majority of the American public opposes, I thought this passage was extraordinarily appropriate to share. The United States, as a nation, is receiving what it justly deserves - a corrupt president, a corrupt government, and the gradual lessening of our freedoms. But so often it seems that what "scares" and "angers" the American people (including believers) is the loss of their idolized "freedoms" rather than a proper recognition of their standing before a just and holy God. We are more motivated by pride, selfishness, fear, a fiercely independent spirit, self-righteousness, and the list can go on. . . than we are by our relationship to Him to whom we are accountable for every thought, word, and deed.
What should our Scriptural response be in such a time? I think it should be a response of abasing ourselves in humility and repentance before the Lord, recognizing that we have not sought Him as we ought, nor have we been "salt and light" in our culture. Our response should not be first and foremost to plead for Him to remove the judgement from our land, but first and foremost pleading with the Lord to work in our hearts and teach us "to turn from our iniquities and understand His truth."
On a separate note, for those of you who were interested to hear more about the street preacher arrested in Glasgow last week, here is a link: http://sgwm.com/newsblog/2010/03/23/out-of-jail%E2%80%A6fellow-christian-shawn-holes-was-arrested-while-preaching-the-gospel-in-downtown-glasgow-scotland/
"O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. . . We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. . . All this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. . . And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day -- we have sinned, we have done wickedly! . . . O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies."
Daniel 9: 8,10,13,15,18
In light of the events that have taken place in the United States this week with the passing of a health care "reform" bill that the majority of the American public opposes, I thought this passage was extraordinarily appropriate to share. The United States, as a nation, is receiving what it justly deserves - a corrupt president, a corrupt government, and the gradual lessening of our freedoms. But so often it seems that what "scares" and "angers" the American people (including believers) is the loss of their idolized "freedoms" rather than a proper recognition of their standing before a just and holy God. We are more motivated by pride, selfishness, fear, a fiercely independent spirit, self-righteousness, and the list can go on. . . than we are by our relationship to Him to whom we are accountable for every thought, word, and deed.
What should our Scriptural response be in such a time? I think it should be a response of abasing ourselves in humility and repentance before the Lord, recognizing that we have not sought Him as we ought, nor have we been "salt and light" in our culture. Our response should not be first and foremost to plead for Him to remove the judgement from our land, but first and foremost pleading with the Lord to work in our hearts and teach us "to turn from our iniquities and understand His truth."
On a separate note, for those of you who were interested to hear more about the street preacher arrested in Glasgow last week, here is a link: http://sgwm.com/newsblog/2010/03/23/out-of-jail%E2%80%A6fellow-christian-shawn-holes-was-arrested-while-preaching-the-gospel-in-downtown-glasgow-scotland/
Friday, 19 March 2010
spring has sprung. . .
Well, most of March has slipped by since the last time I posted. I don't remember when the first "official" day of spring is, but for all intents and purposes, it's HERE. And it's energizing me - I hope! I'm really enjoying the several days of bright sunshine we've had so far, and the wind which has really picked up. The breeze has been so refreshing and cleansing that I've opened the windows several times to air out the house - even though it is still too chilly in the evenings to leave them open for long.
I am trying so desperately hard to organize my days into some type of routine, but because we never know what a day will bring forth, that is nearly impossible to accomplish. However, I do feel strongly that a couple of weeks of Spring Cleaning are about to commence - to be worked through gradually, as I am able. I have a kitchen floor that is screaming in desperation to be mopped. (Yes, it is that bad.) I have a garden clothesline which I can use again because it is not freezing outside! (One load of wash is already on its way out today.) I have a house that needs to be vacuumed from top to bottom, again. I have linens that need airing. I have windows that need washing. I have dishes to be washed, which I am GOING to CONQUER daily. *sigh* Yes, these are the two major lessons that this newly-married and newly-pregnant woman is learning:
1. How to get the housework done, without hurting myself by stubbornly trying to work above and beyond my current physical capacity.
2. How to get the rest my body needs, without falling behind on the work that should be done daily.
So, what I am attempting to do (in the Lord's gracious strength) is to find the balance of rest and work. . . to know what my body's limits are and then use the hours in my day to gradually work through the tasks that are set before me. If I can do the housework in 15 or 30 minute increments, and then put my feet up, I should then use the time while I'm resting to do some good profitable reading or study.
Last week I borrowed a whole stack of books about homeschooling - the different methods, different approaches, and above all the Scriptural foundation of education in the home. Even though I was raised in a homeschooling family and I have never had any doubts that I am going to homeschool my own children, I haven't actually read very much on the subject. I want to be learning what I can NOW -- even before our wee one is born - so that I am as well-educated and well-prepared as I can be.
An answer to prayer is that I have had two appointments so far with the antenatal physiotherapist, who is helping me correct my posture, which will hopefully strengthen my back and result in a significant decrease of the pain I've had for months now. I have also been trying to regularly get some aerobic exercise and strengthen my back and legs. . . I'm still hoping that swimming will become a good option, but it costs money to use the public pool.
Prayer requests:
* David is busy working on his discourses and has headed into the final few weeks of his studies before his final exams in May. He is under a lot of pressure because committee responsibilities have eating away at his study time.
* This week has been a week of outreach based out of our church in Shettleston (east end of Glasgow). This is a very rough, impoverished area full of drugs and crime - marks of a society that has rejected the Gospel. Pray for protection for the men who are going out "around the doors" to distribute tracts, invite people to church, and share the Gospel where there is opportunity for conversation. Yesterday a street preacher here in Glasgow was arrested for answering a question about homosexuality. There is no "freedom of speech" here - you can be prosecuted for "hate speech" if you share what the Scripture has to say about ungodly lifestyles.
* My brother Luke deployed yesterday for six months. Pray for protection for him, but most importantly that his relationship with the Lord would be strengthened and become the bedrock of his life and actions, and that he would be a bold and unmistakable witness of Christ to his comrades in arms.
I am trying so desperately hard to organize my days into some type of routine, but because we never know what a day will bring forth, that is nearly impossible to accomplish. However, I do feel strongly that a couple of weeks of Spring Cleaning are about to commence - to be worked through gradually, as I am able. I have a kitchen floor that is screaming in desperation to be mopped. (Yes, it is that bad.) I have a garden clothesline which I can use again because it is not freezing outside! (One load of wash is already on its way out today.) I have a house that needs to be vacuumed from top to bottom, again. I have linens that need airing. I have windows that need washing. I have dishes to be washed, which I am GOING to CONQUER daily. *sigh* Yes, these are the two major lessons that this newly-married and newly-pregnant woman is learning:
1. How to get the housework done, without hurting myself by stubbornly trying to work above and beyond my current physical capacity.
2. How to get the rest my body needs, without falling behind on the work that should be done daily.
So, what I am attempting to do (in the Lord's gracious strength) is to find the balance of rest and work. . . to know what my body's limits are and then use the hours in my day to gradually work through the tasks that are set before me. If I can do the housework in 15 or 30 minute increments, and then put my feet up, I should then use the time while I'm resting to do some good profitable reading or study.
Last week I borrowed a whole stack of books about homeschooling - the different methods, different approaches, and above all the Scriptural foundation of education in the home. Even though I was raised in a homeschooling family and I have never had any doubts that I am going to homeschool my own children, I haven't actually read very much on the subject. I want to be learning what I can NOW -- even before our wee one is born - so that I am as well-educated and well-prepared as I can be.
An answer to prayer is that I have had two appointments so far with the antenatal physiotherapist, who is helping me correct my posture, which will hopefully strengthen my back and result in a significant decrease of the pain I've had for months now. I have also been trying to regularly get some aerobic exercise and strengthen my back and legs. . . I'm still hoping that swimming will become a good option, but it costs money to use the public pool.
Prayer requests:
* David is busy working on his discourses and has headed into the final few weeks of his studies before his final exams in May. He is under a lot of pressure because committee responsibilities have eating away at his study time.
* This week has been a week of outreach based out of our church in Shettleston (east end of Glasgow). This is a very rough, impoverished area full of drugs and crime - marks of a society that has rejected the Gospel. Pray for protection for the men who are going out "around the doors" to distribute tracts, invite people to church, and share the Gospel where there is opportunity for conversation. Yesterday a street preacher here in Glasgow was arrested for answering a question about homosexuality. There is no "freedom of speech" here - you can be prosecuted for "hate speech" if you share what the Scripture has to say about ungodly lifestyles.
* My brother Luke deployed yesterday for six months. Pray for protection for him, but most importantly that his relationship with the Lord would be strengthened and become the bedrock of his life and actions, and that he would be a bold and unmistakable witness of Christ to his comrades in arms.
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
wow. it's March already?
Well, our eagerly-anticipated holiday weekend on the Isle of Skye with the other students and their families was sadly canceled. David and I were literally putting on our coats and about to head out the door to catch our bus on Thursday morning when the phone rang to say that all buses were canceled. There was a terrific snowstorm which shut down the motorways heading north. So then we thought there might be a chance that we could re-book tickets for Friday instead, hoping that the roads would be clear by then, but they weren't. So we (as well as Parthee) were stuck in Glasgow for a quiet weekend at home instead of enjoying fellowship with our friends and fellow-laborers. The other students who were coming from the Highlands and Islands were able to get together as planned because the roads weren't blocked where they were coming from, so we're happy for them, but we were disappointed to miss the party!
Our holiday was canceled. . . but unfortunately work was not! David still had to head out on the morning train to Inverness first thing Monday morning to attend two days of committee meetings (fun, fun). Last night was the first time I've spent a night alone in our house. . . a bit scary, but not too bad. David should be home by midnight tonight.
I was out most of yesterday helping with the children's Bible club, as usual. We are regularly having eight or nine children come along. Please pray that we would have wisdom to know how to deal with the chaotic behavior that is sometimes exhibited by these children who have no moral or emotional stability in their homes.
Baby has been making his (I don't like saying "its") presence manifestly known recently, as movements have become more intense and more noticeable. Last week for the first time David was able to feel the baby kicking! He had been wondering if he was ever going to get a chance to feel it for real, because every time the baby was active and he put his hand on my stomach, the movement would immediately stop. I told him that the baby obviously takes after his dad -- he is a tease!
On Sunday night we had an excellent sermon from Philippians 4:19 - "my God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." What a reminder that we are provided for not only physically and materially (which in and of itself is so amazing!) but spiritually as well. . . in Christ Jesus. Recently we have seen this verse demonstrated. Last week my friend Shael told me that she and her husband were praying for wisdom to know what to do about purchasing a new vehicle for their family (six children). For the past ten months, ever since their youngest child was born, they have been unable to fit in their vehicle because there are not enough seats for everyone. So they have been dependent upon their parents for transportation to and from church, etc. and have been unable to take the entire family out together just for fun. They have been trying to save every little bit they can. . . but when you are a student for the ministry and you are relying on the Lord for your daily bread, it's hard to save when there is no income. Even so they though they might have finally scraped together enough to buy a 9-seater "minibus" (that's what they call vans over here - 15 passenger vans are unheard of!) which would fit their entire family. However, the one that was offered to them which was within their price range was questionable as to whether or not it would be reliable - and it would drain every cent of their savings. So they continued praying, not knowing if this was truly the Lord's provision or if they should continue to wait on Him. The next day Shael checked her email. She is a member of a UK homeschooler email group and she discovered than 10 minutes before, someone had posted "9 seater minibus free to good home"!! This family in England had been blessed with a larger vehicle for their own family and wanted to bless a large family with their previous vehicle which was well-maintained. So the Harams have been gloriously, richly provided for! What an amazing story! :-) It just cheers my heart to be reminded yet again of how much God cares for His children.
And I'm going to end this post by sharing something that I was sent on FB, which I think is hilariously funny. If you like extra strong (or as they say here in the UK, "mature") cheddar cheese, you will love this as much as I do. Follow this link!
Our holiday was canceled. . . but unfortunately work was not! David still had to head out on the morning train to Inverness first thing Monday morning to attend two days of committee meetings (fun, fun). Last night was the first time I've spent a night alone in our house. . . a bit scary, but not too bad. David should be home by midnight tonight.
I was out most of yesterday helping with the children's Bible club, as usual. We are regularly having eight or nine children come along. Please pray that we would have wisdom to know how to deal with the chaotic behavior that is sometimes exhibited by these children who have no moral or emotional stability in their homes.
Baby has been making his (I don't like saying "its") presence manifestly known recently, as movements have become more intense and more noticeable. Last week for the first time David was able to feel the baby kicking! He had been wondering if he was ever going to get a chance to feel it for real, because every time the baby was active and he put his hand on my stomach, the movement would immediately stop. I told him that the baby obviously takes after his dad -- he is a tease!
On Sunday night we had an excellent sermon from Philippians 4:19 - "my God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." What a reminder that we are provided for not only physically and materially (which in and of itself is so amazing!) but spiritually as well. . . in Christ Jesus. Recently we have seen this verse demonstrated. Last week my friend Shael told me that she and her husband were praying for wisdom to know what to do about purchasing a new vehicle for their family (six children). For the past ten months, ever since their youngest child was born, they have been unable to fit in their vehicle because there are not enough seats for everyone. So they have been dependent upon their parents for transportation to and from church, etc. and have been unable to take the entire family out together just for fun. They have been trying to save every little bit they can. . . but when you are a student for the ministry and you are relying on the Lord for your daily bread, it's hard to save when there is no income. Even so they though they might have finally scraped together enough to buy a 9-seater "minibus" (that's what they call vans over here - 15 passenger vans are unheard of!) which would fit their entire family. However, the one that was offered to them which was within their price range was questionable as to whether or not it would be reliable - and it would drain every cent of their savings. So they continued praying, not knowing if this was truly the Lord's provision or if they should continue to wait on Him. The next day Shael checked her email. She is a member of a UK homeschooler email group and she discovered than 10 minutes before, someone had posted "9 seater minibus free to good home"!! This family in England had been blessed with a larger vehicle for their own family and wanted to bless a large family with their previous vehicle which was well-maintained. So the Harams have been gloriously, richly provided for! What an amazing story! :-) It just cheers my heart to be reminded yet again of how much God cares for His children.
And I'm going to end this post by sharing something that I was sent on FB, which I think is hilariously funny. If you like extra strong (or as they say here in the UK, "mature") cheddar cheese, you will love this as much as I do. Follow this link!
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