Thank you to Paulina for tagging me!

1. I really, really hate beans. No matter how hard I try, and even though I know that they’re really good for me, I can’t get over that horrible mushy texture and that awful skin! The only way I can tolerate any kind of pulse is in houmous, which weirdly enough, I love.

2. I much prefer cold weather to hot weather. I know that a few on my blogroll have been bemoaning the fact that it’s the middle of winter, but as annoying as snow can get, baking hot weather is so much worse! I am pale and burn rather than tan, and to me summer just means feeling sticky and getting bitten to death by bugs I like the warmth of spring, but by the time July arrives, I am wilting in the heat!

3. I have double-jointed thumbs.

4. I am much too scared of driving to ever learn – I am a terrible passenger, it makes me so nervous!

5. I really don’t like large crowds of people – on the ‘big days’ of the church calendar such as Easter Day, I find the church to be much to full for me to be comfortable and I don’t stay very long afterwards. I like other people to be there, but I like space to sit and think.

6. I much prefer cats to dogs; dogs are just too needy and clingy for me. I dislike overly needy people as well – usually because I am the needy one in a relationship!

7. I really can’t wait til I have my own place! I have been living with others for much too long, and I don’t particularly enjoy it. I love having my own space, particularly in the kitchen – I also like to be able to come and go at all hours, and not have to answer to anyone!

I struggled to think of anything interesting; hope that wasn’t too boring! Here are the rules if I tag you:

1. Copy the award into a blog post.

2. Thank the person who gave you the award.

3. Tell seven things about yourself that your readers don’t yet know.

4. Declare seven bloggers as the new recipients.

5. Notify the winners with comments on their blogs.

I tag:

Rachel
Salomé
Jasmine
Breezy
Jocelyn
Amanda
Esther

I am thankful for…

1. My everlasting Elohim, who is One yesterday, today and forever and who alone is Mighty to Save.

2. My Saviour Messiah who died an agonising death for me and for all mankind, so that we would enjoy a loving relationship with our Creator.

3. The Holy Spirit, who gives me the Fruit that enables me to live as I was made to live, and who helps me understand the Word, which is His Sword.

4. Scripture, which is my treasure and a light for my path.

5. Wonderful friends who help me in all sorts of ways, knowing and unknowing.

6. A great church; some days there are better than others but I have experienced such love from my church family.

7. My family, who I don’t see or think about as much as I should. My family is pretty dysfunctional but I should honour them more.

8. Those in authority who care for me in some way; the staff at the place I live, those dealing with my university application, those who provide benefits and services. Too often they are ignored at best and usually criticised. I have had some bad encounters but I am usually taken care of in a way that many people don’t experience, and I should be more grateful for the blessings I have in this area.

9. Those in authority whom perhaps I don’t know personally, but form the civil service and government. I often watch the news and realise how lucky I am to live here, this lovely England, with our amazing NHS and other sectors of the welfare state. We are likely to have a change of government here next year and I earnestly pray that our wonderful freedoms will not be curtailed too much.

10. I am very lucky to be part of the worldwide community of Yahweh. I often thank Him for bringing me friends not only from the UK but from all over the world, which has brought me much joy and encouragement. There are a lot of scary things happening in the world at the moment and I would not be able to bear it if it wasn’t for belonging to Yahweh and His family.

11. Clear, starry nights – even when they are very cold!

12. A hot-water bottle at night to make my bed all cosy

13. Hot, sweet coffee on a chilly day (can you see a theme developing here?)

14. Warm gloves

15. Curry, mmmm

16. Toast

17. Little children singing Away In A Manger

18. Fairy lights on bare trees outside

19. Fast(ish) internet

20. Singing in church when everyone is joining in whole-heartedly

Sin and lawlessness is on my mind quite a bit at the moment. I really feel like I need to see sin through Yahweh’s eyes, not the World’s eyes. Even for Christians, it is so easy to view sin as unimportant. Even though He came to deliver us from our sins, our Messiah still judged sin so why should we not condemn it also? That isn’t to say that we point out the speck in our fellow Believer’s eye whilst ignoring the plank in our own eye. It isn’t about lording it above each other in the name of righteousness; for He is our Lord and Righteousness. It is about treating sin in the serious way that Yahweh treats it.

Hebrews 10:16 (English Standard Version)

16″This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”

Psalm 100 – CJB

1 A psalm of thanksgiving: Shout for joy to ADONAI, all the earth! 2 Serve ADONAI with gladness. Enter his presence with joyful songs. 3 Be aware that ADONAI is God; it is he who made us; and we are his, his people, the flock in his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, enter his courtyards with praise; give thanks to him, and bless his name. 5 For ADONAI is good, his grace continues forever, and his faithfulness lasts through all generations.

Not a long Psalm this week, but no less full of praise. I have verse 4 on the wallpaper of my computer – everytime I switch it on I am reminded of the joys of having a relationship with Yahweh, achieved through the Messiah’s saving death and resurrection. It is so important to keep this relationship sacred – I know that His name is Faithful and True, and I want to be as faithful and true as He is.

Sh’ma, Yisra’el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one]

Psalm 111 – CJB

1 Halleluyah! I will wholeheartedly give thanks to ADONAI in the council of the upright and in the assembly. 2 The deeds of ADONAI are great, greatly desired by all who enjoy them. 3 His work is full of majesty and splendor, and his righteousness continues forever. 4 He has gained renown for his wonders. ADONAI is merciful and compassionate. 5 He gives food to those who fear him. He remembers his covenant forever. 6 He shows his people how powerfully he works by giving them the nations as their heritage. 7 The works of his hands are truth and justice; all his precepts can be trusted. 8 They have been established forever and ever, to be carried out truly and honestly. 9 He sent redemption to his people and decreed that his covenant should last forever. His name is holy and fearsome 10 the first and foremost point of wisdom is the fear of ADONAI; all those living by it gain good common sense. His praise stands forever.

I have just started a new daily Scripture reading plan, and this was my Psalm reading for last night. It really summed up what Yahweh had been saying to me of late. I know that some of my readers have had a hard time recently, and Yahweh comforts those who mourn – but it is also right to do as David did, and to leave behind the sack-cloth and ashes for rejoicing in the greatness of our God.

Shalom!

Psalm 116 (New International Version)

1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the LORD :
“O LORD, save me!”

5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.

6 The LORD protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.

8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,

9 that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

10 I believed; therefore I said,
“I am greatly afflicted.”

11 And in my dismay I said,
“All men are liars.”

12 How can I repay the LORD
for all his goodness to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD.

14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.

16 O LORD, truly I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant ;
you have freed me from my chains.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.

18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the LORD—
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD.

I just had a very…strange experience on Facebook. I had made a comment on a (athiest) friend’s Wall that it is possible to be a Christian and left-wing (as I am). I then got a huge, offensive rant back about how terrible Christianity – from one of her friends whom I don’t even know! The Holy Spirit really helped me though in writing a calm, sensible answer back which simply spoke of Yahweh’s all-encompassing love for this person who hates his Maker so. I pray that Yahweh would bless your conversations with unbelievers this week!

Yesterday, Today, And Forever

Everlasting God
The years go by but you’re unchanging
In this fragile world
You are the only firm foundation
Always loving, always true
Always merciful and good, so good

Yesterday today and forever
You are the same, you never change
Yesterday today and forever
You are faithful and we will trust in You

Uncreated One
You have no end and no beginning
Earthly power fades
But there is no end to Your kingdom
Always loving, always true
Always merciful and good, so good

Yahweh, God unchanging
Yahweh, firm foundation
Yahweh, God unchanging
Yahweh, firm foundation

Yesterday today and forever
You are the same, you never change
Yesterday today and forever
You are faithful and we will trust in You

Chapter 1
Chapter 2

I hope you enjoy it – please leave me feedback!