Why advice is a gift from God...

The word advice has kinda negative coronations. It conjures up images of a mother with hands on hips telling you stuff you knew already which only serves to compound your sense of stupidity for doing that thing you already knew was dumb! Or maybe that's just my childhood in a sound bite...Doh! 
Anyway... I spoke to someone a few years ago who'd written a novel, which kept being knocked by publishers, so they asked me to have a read through and give them feedback. The premise was good but their writing style overloaded the reader with unnecessary information which really distracted from the storyline. Now I know us writer's can be a sensitive bunch so I made some gentle suggestions to tighten and improve the script. While they agreed with much of what I recommended they simply didn't want to make the necessary changes. I wonder is this perhaps our human nature? Do we ask for advice but if it doesn't fit in with what we actually want we disregard it.You see advice is only useful if we actually receive it and do something with it. I know it's obvious but I'm gonna say it anyway peeps... only seek advice from someone who models wisdom. When I was studying I'd get my husband to read through my essays with 'fresh eyes', it was amazing what he'd see that I had totally missed. This is why advice is such a blessing because another person's perspective; their lack of emotional involvement, can facilitate the generation of solutions as their creative thought engages with the problem in focus. Next time you ask for a get some advice ponder it for a bit, then go do something with it...

Oh and always remember don't eat yellow snow!


Hugs Ruth x

Believing is Seeing

Another wonderful Irish person penned the words 'I still haven't found what I'm looking for' when considering the meaning to life. A big question you might think, but is it, is it really?
I often think some of what we consider the big issues are only complex because we make them so. We look in the wrong place for answers and so never find them. I love rainbows I always have, as a child I'd run outside on sunny / rainy days to look for them (actually I still do!). Rainbows carry with them a universal sense of hope - that there is more yet to come; sunshine after rain, good times after pain. The thing about rainbows however, is in some sense they're not really there; it is just a reflection of light particles as they filter through water vapour. 


So let me ask you a question... is there such a thing as a rainbow? Most people would know what a rainbow is if you asked them yet it can be rationalised away. The converse of this can be applied I think to God. Most of us would agree we can't see God, yet he's there. We can feel His presence and see the outcome of impossible situations being possible in the miraculous and when we really stop and truthfully take stock there's something inside a spiritual consciousness that causes our hearts to yearn for the more than this(ness) of life... So really what I'm trying to say is where you focus will determien what you see. Are you focusing on your spirit or only on what you can rationalise? I've found God works often in the opposite to the world. If you want to be a leader learn to serve, if you want to have stuff, give stuff away. My wonderfully wise husband once pointed out believing is seeing.

Folks why not keep life simple, focus on knowing Jesus more and all those deep theological and unanswered questions will be eclisped by your heart rather than your head.


Big Hugs Ruth x

Giving God The Benefit of You're Doubt

I heard a sermon yesterday on trusting God and how He is always faithful and will never fail us etc. Which is totally true... However as I walk through the reality of terminal illness in my family, I'm aware of my own capacity to doubt and forget of the spiritual reality of God's promises. The devil will and does take any opportunity he can to weave doubt and deception into our thoughts and he's good at it... However the bible's up front about life, it tells us 'in this world we WILL have troubles', (so let's not get arsey with God when stuff happens) because it goes on to say 'but fear not because Christ has overcome the world'. That means whatever you are currently wrestling with - God has it sorted. You see if we never had any doubts, fears or challenges we'd never know the faithfulness of God when we come out the other side. My experience leads me to believe that it is part of the maturing process to reach a point of profound doubt; so God can take us to a new place of deeper reality. But we have to be open God's way of doing things which is the work of waiting.

Sadly some folks get side tracked to a place of disillusionment, blinding them to the hope and perspective of their future. It's a dangerous place 'disillusion' because it's rooted in the pride of our own very limited understanding. Left unchecked this place hardens the heart towards the only thing that's going matter outside of time. It's important during such times to be aware of the attitude of our heart. I've found it helpful to be real, humbly honest with God, as truth opens up the way to hope. Pray from that place and God will hear your payers, but know He'll answer them in His way.

In light of what God has done for us can we just wait a while, can we choose to be humble and give Him the benefit of our doubt, while we wait on Him to come through, to prove Himself faithful? Sweet cheeks - it's OK to wrestle with doubt be encouraged the very fact you're wrestling means you're still spiritually alive! 

And God will  come through.... hugs Ruth x