In the world but not of the world...

The visiting pastor last week said that the book of James was a bit like an MOT. Because you know your car is going to be judged you are prompted to check all its parts are in order and put it in order.

The part that James 3 exhorts us to put right is the tongue

5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 

 I feel like I understand that I should be honest and not gossip. Since becoming a Christian I have accepted that my tendency to gossip has been a thorn in my side that I daily bring to the Lord.   But what I really struggle most with is talking to non Christians. I can tell a Christian friend something and I know we will see it the same way. If I tell her someone is struggling, she will pray for them and find ways to support and encourage. But other colleagues, even lovely people sometimes seem to take my words and seize on them for their own purposes. I guess just writing this down has shown me the answer. Once again the gift I most need is that of discernment.

I wrote this before I read Michelle's blog on being a living sacrifice and I feel so encouraged by her words. I pray that this week I may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.

linking up with Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday

Where I'm from...

I am from reading The Famous Five under the covers with a torch, from Mothers Pride white sliced bread and Clarks t-bar school shoes.

 I am from the leafy suburbs, tree-lined streets, suited dads leaving for London at eight every morning, Saturday sounds of lawnmowers, smells of grass and petrol.

I am from the fragrant, thorny rose bed, the shady Willow tree. From feeding the garden birds and knowing them by name. I am from the long hot summer of ‘77 when the earth cracked and the tarmac melted.

I am from finishing everything on your plate (because there are people starving in Africa) and ‘love a duck‘, from ‘ a firm decision in good faith‘, home made Christmas presents and hand knitted clothes. Helen’s Christmas pudding and Dorothy’s frothy 'snowballs'. I am from Uncle Phil, who’s real name was Ernest, paying his rates in old pennies.

I am from the service men who served their country and lived with the consequences and I am from the women who coped.
From land owners in Bishopsgate and farmers who made their fortune driving Hanson Cabs in Notting Hill.
I am from non conformist pastors, baptised in the Nene and from gamblers, losing that same fortune to bookmakers.
I am from the words of Wesley, my chains fell off my heart was free, and from salvation through grace. From the seven readings and the seven carols, sitting cross legged on the floor in the school hall.

I am from London and Lancashire and Leicestershire, I am from roast beef dinners and sherry trifles. From the Head Chef of the BBC, making cakes for Blue Peter, the entrepreneurs of the eighties, creating a restaurant loved by the local community, the Sweet shop in Bournemouth with the brightly coloured jars and little paper bags.

I am from a tin box in my loft, dim curling photos of stern faced ancestors, from Great Aunt Lillian’s polished pie crust table, from the faded sampler on my wall, hand sewn linen on my dressing table.

You knew me before I was born, All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. My past, my present, my future, where I’m from and where I will be.
　

I read a beautiful poem on DRGT Just Wondering and when I found it was from a template (I didn't even know you could get a poetry template), I decided I would try. Its not perfect, I haven't written anything for thirty years except notes on work stuff and shopping lists. But I did weep over this, so many memories, the sights and smells of childhood, people I haven't thought about in years so it has a certain value to me.

The template is here
Why not have a go?

You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed.

Psa1m 139 v 16 New Living Translation

The home-made Prom dress

In a spirit of thiftiness, I decided to make my own dress to wear as a guest at a High School Prom. We didn't have Proms back in the day, not even a leavers' disco so I was really looking forward to it. And I was hoping to make a dress that would actually fit and be reasonably modest as I am not only petite (actually short) but also two different dress sizes...

I have just got back into sewing. My first project was a loose jersey shift which was well received, from a free Prima pattern, so I thought I was ready for a challenge. But I thought I'd save too much fitting by sticking with jersey and I also avoided confronting my fear of zips.

The pattern was a wrapover, full-length. Somewhat hard to fit, but luckily the stretch jersey helped with that. I managed to get a remnant on ebay of lovely black jersey and I found an old chiffon shawl that was my Grandma's in the loft to add a bit of luxurious sparkle, and as it turned out, to protect me on the windy balcony, where I got a good view of the limos.

the finished dress

And as for the prom...it was very enjoyable. A really lovely rite of passage for the students: a way to say goodbye to their schooldays and schoolfriends and start moving on.





Giant Cocoa Meringues

I saw these in Carluccio’s restaurant and had to go home and work out a recipe. It’s best to weigh the egg whites and then use double the amount of sugar. And of course they’re low fat and gluten free.

200g egg whites (approx 7 medium eggs)
400g caster sugar
12g cocoa powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch salt
　
　

• Preheat the oven to 110c and line two large baking trays with baking parchment.
• Mix the cinnamon with the cocoa.
• Set up a double boiler. Put the egg whites, salt and sugar into the top bowl over gently simmering water. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Use a clean hand to check the sugar is dissolved and the mixture doesn’t get hotter than 37c.
• When the sugar is dissolved, whisk the mixture with a balloon whisk to thick ribbon stage. You need a large bowl and this takes longer than you might expect!
• Sieve the cocoa mixture over the top. Do not mix in.
• Using two spoons, take deep scoops of the mixture to get a ripple effect.
• Drop onto the baking trays to make 12 meringues. They can be as rustic or even as you like. I quite like them rough and uneven. Leave gaps around so they can expand.
• Bake for two hours,

I have adapted this recipe from the original which you can find with great pictures at The British Larder I wasn't brave enough to put my mixture directly over the heat as they do as I was sure I'd get scrambled eggs.

My First jewellery commission!



czech crystals



My creative friend and I made a few bits for a fund raiser. I made some earrings and some crocheted bracelets.

pink and gold crochet set







The little green crocheted bracelets with the 28 gauge silver wire sold first. Creative friend’s lovely beaded bracelets went well and she also made some great surfer style ones (with what we used to call macramé type knots!)



green  and silver crochet set



And there was of course a pan of Malteser cake which went down well.

Then I got an order, my first, for two more bracelets! I know they’re for charity so priced to sell but I’m still well pleased.



my first commission







Joy in trials?

 

James 1

“ ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.   ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. “

A couple of days ago I posted about my current time of trial. So, I was encouraged Sunday when Pastor Sarah chose this passage.

How hard it is to consider trials as pure joy but although I know that God doesn’t tempt us (v 13) I do accept that God has a plan for us and “¹² Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

It is hard not to be angry when you feel you have suffered injustice but James tells us “¹⁹ :Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, “

I am working towards the day when my faith will be mature and complete and not lacking anything. I find it hard to rejoice in this trial but I will embrace it, persevere and be quick to listen for God’s voice.

linking up with Graceful     

Don’t pray for meat when you have enough manna?

^Numbers

¹⁸ "Tell the people: 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The LORD heard you when you wailed, "If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!" Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it. ¹⁹ You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, ²⁰ but for a whole month-until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it-because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, "Why did we ever leave Egypt?"'"

 ³¹ Now a wind went out from the LORD and drove quail in from the sea. It brought them down all around the camp to about three feet above the ground, as far as a day's walk in any direction. ³² All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp. ³³ But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. ³⁴ Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved other food.

It’s not often that I look to the book of Numbers for help and inspiration. But anyone who uses Wordlive from SU (fantastic free daily Bible readings and notes) will recognise today’s passage. The Israelites had manna enough for their needs but thought they needed meat.

I do understand the principle that I should pray for God’s will to be done in his time. His provision for my family has been faithful, if I had had to pick a time for my husband to be out of work this would be that time, yet, like the Israelites wanting some meat now, every time he goes for an interview I can’t stop myself asking let this be the right job, let this one be the one that God has chosen.

My friend’s son has just been offered a job – a position that shouldn’t exist, that seems to have been created specifically as an answer to prayer, the very job he needs. It’s a strong testimony to the power of a praying mother.

Perhaps strangely, it was a blessing to us in when my husband’s job ended. Then he needed some time to recover, to find himself again, some space. The garden has benefited, the family have benefited. He has been lifted by the thoughtfulness of a true friend, who encouraged him to start painting again with a commission for a tenner and a steak dinner! God knows his needs and what we need as a family. Pray for me to know the gift of patience…

the steak dinner commission

How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!’ (Matthew 7:11).