Christmas 2021

‘Tis the week before Christmas
And what should I write?
I guess no-one has time
To read what I write.
So to save myself bother
I’m recycling some stuff
That I’ve posted before
And I hope that‘s enough.

(With some new thoughts and a sound recording for 2021)

My prayer below was written as part of a blogging challenge in 2013 for Christmas Eve. It remains relevant today.

O God, our heavenly Father,
We praise and thank you for your many gifts to us.
At this time of Christmas we remember your mercy
in sending us your son, Jesus to be our saviour.
We pray for all the people of the world,
especially for those who are in any hardship at this time:
the lonely, those suffering in body, mind or spirit, refugees and all those without a home.
We pray for all who are working to alleviate suffering, to bring about peace and to spread the good news about Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace,
who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit and in whose name we pray. Amen

The world has been a challenging place to live throughout the ages. Christmas services of Nine lessons* and carols begin with the story of Adam and Eve hiding from God because they had disobeyed Him. Genesis 3:8-15 It ends before the point where they leave the garden of Eden, often referred to as paradise. Genesis 3:23

*readings from the Bible

In the reading about the birth of Jesus from Matthew’s gospel we are reminded that ‘they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.’

The climax of the service is the reading from the first chapter of the Gospel of John 1:1-14. We are reminded that if we receive Christ we are given the power to become children of God.

In a Christmas concert this year I read two of my poems. Click the link to hear a recording of them I made beforehand.

My final recycled item is a Christmas greeting from last year with my colouring of Joy to the World by Isaac Watts illustrated by Jacqui Grace in her colouring book Images of Joy.

Joy to the World

My card is a reminder that Christmas is still about the positive aspects of God’s gifts to us including Love, Joy and Peace.

Whatever your circumstances at this time, I pray that you will be blessed with a knowledge of the Giver of all good gifts.

New Year thoughts

I am putting off writing my next book review post until I have gathered my thoughts about how I intend to spend my time in 2021. So I am procrastinating already!

Many bloggers are looking back over the past year and forward to the next. It can be a useful exercise. On the More than Writers blog, to which I have been a regular contributor for a few years, there was a post about #myoneword.

I chose a word for 2016 and another for 2017. Since then I have not picked a word, but have aimed to use my time productively. (Is spending time on social media productive?)

This year I have been wondering about picking a word again. Listen was a contender. It occurs in the Bible hundreds of times, a good example being in Proverbs 1:5

I prefer Focus, which could include attentive listening and an element of mindfulness. I tend to be thinking about other things, when I am doing routine tasks. It is not particularly healthy. Sometimes it leads to not remembering what I have done or not done! I also have a bad habit of reading, writing or doing puzzles while the news is on the radio. I can knit (easy things) or colour pictures from a beautiful book (Images of Joy by Jacqui Grace) and listen at the same time.

In the hall of residence of my student days a small Christian Union group used to begin every meeting by singing the chorus, Turn your eyes upon Jesus. That is one way of focussing.

Looking back at how my life has changed over recent years is easier with my hand-written journal and my blog. Occasionally I notice that someone has viewed a blog post I had completely forgotten about. I read it myself and find that my life has moved on in some way from that point. For example, I used to update my journal every few days, trying to remember what had happened. Now I write about the previous day as part of my quiet time every morning. It is easier to remember from one day to the next. I had intended to make this more of a spiritual practice, but I find it very difficult to write my feelings down.

Perhaps that is something I should focus on. It isn’t that I am unable to do it, as I found out in a journaling workshop led by Tracy Williamson and Marilyn Baker on Zoom in September.

My regular readers will know that words fascinate me. My three words (2016, 2017 and 2021)  have a progression of shared letters – ReST – TRuST; TrUSt – FocUS.

Have you chosen a word to help keep you on track in 2021?

Whether or not, Happy New Year!

#PsalmTweets Weeks 16 and 17

Here is the next post in the #PsalmTweets challenge. I discovered that I had forgotten to include a photo in my Tweet for Psalm 118. Perhaps I was too busy adding the hashtag #Advent! Anyhow it is included here.

Ps. 107: Thanks and praise to the Lord, whose steadfast love endures for ever. A reminder of his dealings with people for better or worse. #psalmtweets @JustCardsDirect

Psalm 107 from JustCardsDirect

Ps. 108: David declares his faithfulness to God.He speaks of God’s dealings with the tribes of Israel. He feels that God has forsaken his armies, but will help them against their enemies.

Ps. 109: David ‘poor and needy’ prays against his enemies. He praises God his Saviour.

Ps. 110: David wrote this prophetic psalm, which New Testament writers quote with reference to Jesus Christ. #psalmtweets

Ps. 111: an acrostic psalm (in Hebrew) praising God for his deeds, his nature and his precepts. #psalmtweets

Ps. 112: Another acrostic psalm (in Hebrew) Praise precedes a list of blessings for individuals who are in awe of God and delight to obey his commands. Contrast with the futility if a wicked life

Ps. 113: A psalm of praise to the soveriegn God, who raises the poor and needy to sit with princes and gives children to the barren woman ( only sometimes from what I have seen)

Ps. 114: A psalm remembering God’s signs involving water during Israel’s journey from Egypt. The red Sea, the River Jordan and water from a rock. #PsalmTweets #GodWithUs

Ps. 115: Non nobis Domine. The glory is to God for his love and faithfulness. Comparison between ungodly actions and people who trust in the Lord. A list of reasons to praise God. #PsalmTweets #GodWithUs

Ps. 116: A psalm of love and thanks to God for healing and salvation. The response – a life of prayer, obedience, sacrifice and praise with all God’s people.

Ps. 117: Only 2 verses exhorting all the nations to praise the Lord, because of his great love and faithfulness. Hallelu Yah!

Psalm 118 from Images of Grace

Ps. 118: His love endures forever. Imagery: Gates of righteousness, capstone/cornerstone. Phrases: the day the Lord has made, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Rejoice! #PsalmTweets #Advent

Ps. 119: A psalm with an 8 verse section for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The theme is living according to God’s commandments.

Ps. 120: The psalmist is upset about the deceitfulness and warlike nature of the people around him. He calls to God for salvation and predicts punishment.