All posts by Gwenyth

I live on the outskirts of Whangarei, the northernmost city in New Zealand. I enjoy many things, ( writing amongst them), have been married to Keith for sixty-one years, have three married daughters, nine grandchildren and seventeen great- grandchildren who are scattered in various countries. No cats and no dogs as they would cramp our life-style.. We are obviously retired, but were farming further north before moving to the town over thirty-five years ago. We attend one of the local churches across the same side of town that we live.
Morning Musings

My Heart, God’s Home (6)….  The Bathroom

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    “This is the bathroom”, I said proudly as I took My Guest in. Surely there wouldn’t be anything wrong in here! This was the room where there was fresh running water at all times. I never spent much time in this room, as I just did the necessary things like a quick shower.

“Ah, yes,” He said, “The place where all the impurities are washed away!” I began to squirm a little. His eyes seemed to pierce through to the very innermost parts of my being. It was almost as though He knew how little time I really spent there! He walked in to where the shower cubicle was. I glanced down at the base of the shower, and hoped He wouldn’t notice the beginnings of the algae settling in the corners. I hadn’t had time to give it a good scrub for some time.    But alas, His glance followed mine and His piercing eyes took it all in…the grime and the scum that was accumulating through neglect.

“My blood cleanses from ALL sin”, He said meditatively, “You just have to confess it to Me. That is why I died“,  He continued, “To pay the penalty of your sins”.

“Oh Lord”, I cried, “I DO believe it! Help me to keep this room in my heart cleaner by daily confession. I promise to get into all the corners with the brush and get rid of everything that grows into sin!”   

He smiled at me, and said, “My child, this is why I came to earth and died for you. My Father is in the work with Me you know, I and My Father are One”.

I couldn’t help thinking of that verse that says,  “ If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.   (1 John 1:9) What comfort that gave me!

Morning Musings

My Home (5) The Library and Study

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   The next room we went into was the library with the study attached to it. In my home this room of the mind is a very small room with very thick walls. But it is a very important room. In a sense, it is the control room of the house.     I was very proud of this room, and couldn’t wait to show Him around.  He entered with me and looked around at the books in the bookcase, the magazines upon the table, the pictures on the walls. As I followed His gaze I became uncomfortable. Strangely, I had not felt self-conscious about this before, but now that He was there looking at these things I was embarrassed.     Some books were there that His eyes were too pure to behold. On the table were a few magazines that a Christian had no business reading. As for the pictures on the walls – the imaginations and thoughts of the mind – some of these were shameful.

    Red-faced, I turned to Him and said, “Master, I know that this room needs to be cleaned up and made over. Will You help me make it what it ought to be?” “Certainly!” He said. “I’m glad to help you. First of all, take all the things that you are reading and looking at which are not helpful, pure, good and true, and throw them out! Now put on the empty shelves the books of the Bible, and helpful study books. Fill the library with Scripture and meditate on it day and night. As for the pictures on the walls, you will have difficulty controlling these images, but I have something that will help.”     He gave me a full-size portrait of Himself. “Hang this centrally on the wall of your mind” He said, “and you will find it a great help.”

    I did, and I have discovered through the years that when my thoughts are centered upon Christ Himself, His purity and power cause impure thoughts to back away. I found too, that saying the verse out loud, “The blood of Jesus Christ. cleanses me from all sin”, helped greatly too. His cleansing blood does indeed, cause these impure thoughts to disappear. So He has helped me to bring my thoughts under His control. Bad thoughts cannot be in the same room that He is in!!

Morning Musings, Uncategorized

My Heart, God’s Home (4) The Dining Room

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     From there we went into the dining room. the room of appetites and desires. I spent a lot of time and hard work here trying to satisfy my hunger and my wants. I said to Him, “This is a favourite room. I am quite sure You will be pleased with what we serve.’ He seated Himself at the table with me and asked, “What is on the menu for dinner?”  “Well,” I said, “my favourite dishes: money, academic degrees and stocks, with newspaper articles of fame and fortune as side dishes.”  These were the things I liked – secular fare.

When the food was placed before Him, He said nothing, but I observed that He did not eat it. I said to Him, “Master, don’t You care for this food? What is the trouble?” He answered, “I have food to eat that you do not know of. If you want food that really satisfies you, you must do the will of the Father. Stop seeking your own pleasures, desires, and satisfaction. Seek to please Him. That is the food that will satisfy you!”

    It was there at the table, that He gave me a taste of the joy of doing God’s will. What flavour! There is no food like it in all the world. It alone satisfies the hungry soul.

Morning Musings

     My Heart, God’s Home (3)…. The Living Room

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      As  we walked into the living room, we could feel that this room was intimate and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a sofa, and a quiet atmosphere. The Lord said to me,  “This is indeed a delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet, and we can fellowship together”      Well, as a young Christian I was thrilled. I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do than have a few minutes with Christ in close companionship. He promised, “I will be here early every morning. Meet me here, and we will start the day together.”      So morning after morning, I would come downstairs to the living room. He would take a book of the Bible from the case, We would open it and read together. He would unfold to me the wonder of God’s saving truths. My heart sang as He shared the love and the grace He had toward me. These were wonderful times.

    However, little by little, under the pressure of many responsibilities, this time began to be shortened. Why, I’m not sure. I thought I was too busy to spend regular time with Christ. This was not intentional, you understand. It just happened that way. Finally, not only was the time shortened, but I began to miss days now and then. Urgent matters would crowd out the quiet times of conversation with Jesus.      I remember one morning rushing downstairs, eager to be on my way. I passed the living room and noticed that the door was open. Looking in, I saw a fire in the fireplace and Jesus was sifting there. Suddenly in dismay I thought to myself, “He is my guest. I invited Him into my heart! He has come as my Saviour and Friend, and yet I am neglecting Him.” I stopped, turned and hesitantly went in, With downcast glance, I said, “Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?” “Yes,” He said, “I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at great cost, I value your fellowship. Even if you cannot keep the quiet time for your own sake, do it for mine,”

     The truth that Christ desires my companionship, that He wants me to be with Him and waits for me, has done more to transform my quiet time with God than any other single fact. Don’t let Christ wait alone in the living room of your heart, but every day find time when, with your Bible and in prayer, you may be together with Him. May it be so.

Morning Musings

My Heart, God’s Home…Whose House?

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     When I said to the Lord,  “Lord, I want this heart of mine, this house of mine,  to be Yours. I  want to have You settle down here and be perfectly at home. Everything I  have belongs to You”.      I was never more sure of anything else in my young life and I have never doubted that He came in  then,  to stay. I have never regretted that decision and I never will.

As it happened, it proved to be many years before I was willing to let Him be truly Master and Lord of everything in my house! But at the beginning I couldn’t wait to show Him around!  After a while, a thought came to me, and I asked Him, “Lord, is there any chance that You would take over the management of the whole house and operate it for me as it should be done?  Would You take the responsibility to keep my life what it ought to be?”

His face lit up as He replied, “I’d love to! That is what I want to do. You cannot be a victorious Christian in your own strength. Let me do it through you and for you. That is the way. But,” He added slowly, “I am just a guest. I have no authority to proceed, since the property is not mine.”     I dropped to my knees, and said, “Lord, I see You have only been a guest and I have been the host. From now on I am going to be the servant. You are going to be the owner and Master.”

    Running as fast as I could to the strongbox, I took out the title deed to the house describing its assets and liabilities, location and situation. I eagerly signed the house over to Him alone for time and eternity.  “Here,” I said. “Here it is, all that I am and have, forever. Now You run the house. I’ll just remain with You as a servant and friend.”

    I didn’t realise how different things would be once Jesus Christ became the owner and made His home in my heart!

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Random Devotional Thoughts

Fellowship with Jesus Christ.

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Following on from last week’s blog about fellowship, it pays to stop and think about who we fellowship with. Exactly what does it mean to have fellowship?

     Fellowship is being with others with a common interest….the Bible talks about having fellowship with others who believe in God. Not only that, but with those who have an active interest in sharing that belief with others.      To start with, we are called into the fellowship of God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9). This invitation is for ALL people, but many don’t want to hear about it, so they turn their back on it. What a mistake that is! They do not know what they are missing out on.

    Then there are others who think they can manage without meeting with others of like mind….another grave mistake! God knew what He was doing when He planted this need into the human psyche, the need for fellowship with others.    Most of all, He wants to have fellowship with the people He has made. Let’s look at this parable of sharing time with our Creator….

    One evening I invited Jesus Christ into my heart…what an entrance He made! It was not a spectacular, emotional thing, but very real. Something happened at the very centre of my life. He came into the darkness of my heart and turned on the light; He built a fire on the hearth and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness, and He filled the emptiness with His own loving, wonderful fellowship. I have never regretted opening the door to Christ and I never will.      In the joy of this new relationship I said to Jesus Christ, “Lord, I want this heart of mine to be Yours. I  want to have You settle down here and be perfectly at home. Everything I  have belongs to You”.     I meant every word that I said, and I couldn’t wait to show Him around!

“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”  (John 14:23, NIV)

Random Devotional Thoughts

What is Fellowship and Why is it Important?

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     This last weekend we went in our motorhome to a Christian rally group. There were about nineteen vans there, mostly of folk who we have got to know over the years we have been going. It is great to have this time together, as coming from different places and different churches, our paths don’t cross otherwise. Even though we are all from different backgrounds, with different interests, yet we all have the one thing in common….we are all in the family of God!

    It reminds me that at the end of creation it says that God made man in His own image (Genesis chapter 1, verses 26-27). I got to thinking about this one day and thought of different ways that we are made in God’s image…. First of all, God is a three part Being, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Man is also a three part being….body, soul and spirit. God is eternal, always has been and always is, and always will be. He has planted this seed of eternity in the man he created, and every person will live for ever….somewhere…. God is the Great Creator of all things….man in a much less way, is also a creator, able to create things whether it is in art, music, designing things, and even in cooking a good meal! At the end of God’s creation, He looked at it all and said it was VERY good, and so we too, have great satisfaction in doing a good job that is able to perform what it was made to do.

    But the point I was getting at, is that God wants to have fellowship with the man He has created. He has made all nations with different capabilities, and strengths, but all people need to have fellowship with others of like minds. We all have to learn to get along with those who think differently as well.

    When God had finished His creation, He had fellowship with  the man who was able to respond to Him in the spirit which He has planted in every human being. But the first man was on his own, and God said that this was not good. Man needed a companion, someone the same as him, to have fellowship with, and God saw to it that one was provided. One day, He put Adam into a deep sleep and performed the first operation….He removed one of Adam’s ribs and made a woman companion for him from it, breathing into her the breath of life also. He then took her to Adam and gave her to him. Adam recognised her as being the only one at that time who he could have real fellowship with,  he said that because she was made from him, she would be known as Woman. (Genesis 2:20-24)

      We too, find the need for fellowship. It is this need that is fulfilled at gatherings such as we had on our last trip. In fact, we know this desire is directly from God Himself. He tells us in the Bible (Hebrews 10:24-25)  that we are not to forget to get together with each other to stimulate and encourage each other. Just as a coal turns black and then cold when removed from the fire, so a believer who stays away from fellowshipping with others will ultimately grow cold and become  dead to the service which God had for him to do.

    Are you in this situation?  Never mind for what reason…there is no person who cannot  overcome hurt feelings with God’s help. In fact, the quickest way to do this, is to pray for those who have hurt you. We cannot stay mad at someone if we are praying for them! Let’s do something about it today!

Morning Musings

Near Enough!

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    We were working on a project together, and I was thinking it  was time we were finished. “Well, that’s near enough”, I said as I put my gear down. My brother looked at it, and said, “Near enough is not good enough, Gwenyth, you’ll have to spend a bit more time on it!” Those words have stuck with me for over forty years, and whenever I am tempted to think “Near enough”, they come back to haunt me.

    King Solomon was one who chose what was good, but it was not the best. We would normally think that the fact that he asked for wisdom to rule his people well was a good thing to ask for, but in spite of that, in his older age he stopped trusting the Lord for safety, and used his human reasoning instead. He figured that if he married princesses from the surrounding nations, that their fathers would not attack the land their daughter was in! But there seemed to be more and more of these princesses, and he ended up with “seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. (1 Kings 11:3,4,8)”.     What a warning this is for us! No-one could have had a better start than Solomon did and yet he allowed himself to be swayed by the opinions of others rather than what God had told him. We have to be so careful that we continue to read what God’s Word has to say to us, and to follow what it tells us. Those who we associate with closely, have a greater influence over us than we think.

    We all know the dangers there are in our teenagers keeping company with the wrong crowd, but here was a mature man, and supposedly a very wise man, being swayed by the opinions of his many wives. Instead of him being the leader of his household, he was being led by the women of his household. He could have said his thoughts and actions were “near enough” as far as God was concerned, but they weren’t enough to keep him safe from turning away from the things of God. So you can see that we need to be so awake to the dangers around us and not allow ourselves to be swayed by anything that will take all our thoughts….any game, club, or interest that takes all our time or thoughts needs to be pruned back out of our minds!

  • We need to remember those verses that say we are to love the Lord our God with ALL our heart, with  ALL our soul and with  ALL our strength (Mark 12:30-32). If we feel short of this command of our Lord, then we are to ask Him for the strength to do it! Everything else will fall into the right place after that.