ROUNDTOITS and WHATIFI's

 Roundtoit’s and Watifi’s

 

What is a Watifi?  We all have one, no matter how young or old we are.

It’s that part of us which makes us who we are, it’s akin to that well-known part of us that we keep deep in a cupboard, the roundtoit. Some years ago, you could, and probably still can buy a roundtoit. I refer to mine, more often, jobs around the flat, things that need to be done. My roundtoit then comes into play, and I say fine, I will get around to it.

  Now, to my mind, my Watifi brings up a lot more questions

What if I had done this or that?

What if I had done this or that?

What if I had been this or that? They are all part of my Watifi

Whilst we were young, our watifi didn’t play such a prominent part in life; it’s only when we reflect on days gone by that we ask “What if I”

Throughout our lives, no matter who we are, we have had to make choices. Choices that have shaped our lives, choices that have made us who we are today.

Good choices or bad ones, some have given pleasure and some pain, many we embrace, and if we are honest, many we regret.

The day I chose to become a Christian was the best choice I ever made. There was no roundtoit or watifi in play, I did it, and it has shaped my life and made me the man I am today

Today!

My loaf (In my dreams)

 What's in your cupboard? I’m sure we have all watched, at some time or another, a cooking program on TV and have been lulled into that sense of, Oh yes, I can make that. I just need to get one or two things the recipe needs next time I go to the supermarket. And having obtained all the necessary ingredients and made the dish, which by the way never turned out quite like the one the TV chef made, we put the special things we had bought into the back of our cupboard. Ready for the next time. Only to be forgotten about until we have a sort-out, and then wonder why on earth I bought this.

It happens to all of us, and when I went through our own store, I came across a packet of crusty bread mix, which promised a fresh loaf of bread just like the one you buy from your local baker.

I had forgotten all about it; it must have been an impulse buy when we were out shopping. But I determined not to waste it, so I set about making said loaf. I had everything I needed; nothing would stop me from enjoying a freshly baked loaf with Oodles of butter and jam. In my mind, I could taste it right now. Following the recipe to the letter, adding warm water to the mix and bringing it together.

Kneading it for the required time. Setting the dough in a bowl, covered it, placed it in the warm airing cupboard and waited for it to rise. Well, nothing happened, so I gave it another 15 minutes. Long story made short, what I finished up with bread rolls, Nelson could have sunk ships if he had used them in HMS Victory’s canons 

At this point, I checked to see if I had misread the instructions and noticed on the bottom of the packet it said Best Before April 24.!!!!

In reality.

 How long we had kept it I really don’t know, but it was too long. In our lives, we put things off and, with every good intention, say we will do it tomorrow, only to forget. And then it is gone, until something reminds us, and it is too late. Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today

Yesterday is gone, and we can worry ourselves sick over what might happen tomorrow.

At the end of the day, all we have is the here and now.

I am reminded of the old hymn which we used to sing 

When upon life’s billows, you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

 

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

    And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all.

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

We just do not know what is around the corner, and the Bible encourages us not to worry about tomorrow, but to live one day at a time (Matthew 6 v34)

 

A NEW START

When I was a school boy, I enjoyed the start of a new term, meeting friends who I hadn’t seen since we broke up for the holidays. Catching up on things, we had done the mischief we had got up to.

There were other things as well, such as new teachers taking our class and new classrooms to move to; that first morning was always busy.

I remember quite clearly thinking this term, I’m going to try harder, take more interest in the lessons. New exercise books were always welcome. This was really the opportunity to show my determination to do better. But it never quite worked out like that, and my report book never showed that elusive A grade; the best I ever did was to get a B+ in something like history.

It’s always great to make a new start, whether it be a year, a school term, perhaps a different job or just a new day. A fresh start, wouldn’t we all like that?

The mistakes I make daily, things I do, say, think, or the way I act, as soon as they are done, I regret, but they are done. There are some things we can put right and ask forgiveness for, but it still leaves a blot on the day's page. Much like my exercise book at the beginning of a new term, I might get the first page filled without a mistake. But then they would start, and try as I might to rub them out, there was always the telltale sign of where I had tried to make it go away.

We would sing a song years ago, it went like this 

God has blotted them out

God has blotted them out.

I’ll turn to Isiah and see:

Chapter forty-four

Twenty-two and three:

He’s blotted them out

And now I can shout, 

That means me.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us, and blot them out completely, leaving no unsightly mark.

God gives the chance to start afresh every day.
But the choice is ours to make.

WIDE AS THE OCEAN.

 As wide as the ocean

Vast as the ocean

We’ve been away for a few days to Hayling Island, and I was able to get out for a walk along the shore most mornings. One day, as I walked along the seashore, I was struck by the vastness of it. And how small and insignificant I was. It put things into perspective. We rush around, busy in our little world, caught up in the hurly-burly of everyday life, and we can get ideas of just how important we are.

Nature and our environment have a way of changing that and setting our feet firmly on the ground, giving us a reality check. Many of those reading this will know that, as I walk or visit somewhere new, I enjoy taking photographs. When I get home, I download them to my computer and then can revisit the places I have been. This enables me to see clearly (I hope) the particular moment I captured them.

The pictures of the sea this week reminded me of another childhood chorus, which my Blog takes its title from. 

Wide wide as the ocean

High as the heavens above

Deep, deep as the deepest sea

Is my Saviour's love,

I though so unworthy

Still am a child of His care,

For His word teaches me

That His love reaches me

Everywhere.

I sang this chorus complete with the actions and in a simple way it tells of the greatness of God's love. A love we can all experience if we put our trust in Him.

 No matter who we are, or where we are.

 MY MUM'S FAVOURITE HYMN 

My Mum

You would have loved my mum; she never liked to be the centre of attention and was happiest working in the background. At any church event, she could always be found behind a teapot. She was a good cook and made a mean bread pudding, while her apple pie was to die for. She was kind, loving, and a good mother; I could go on with a list as long as your arm.

Apart from her simple faith, her children, and grandchildren were the most important people in her life. But I could sum my mum up in one short sentence. She was lovely. 

I remember her working hard cleaning for other people, earning money for things like holidays, special treats for the family, or a day at the seaside.

Our home was always clean and tidy, and family always came first. My sister and I never went without, although at times we had to wait a while until funds were sufficient to buy a particular item.

My childhood was a very happy time, and it was only when I stepped beyond the bounds set by Mum and Dad that all she had to say to bring me back into line was “Just wait until your father gets home”. Mum was very fair, and I probably got away with much more than I should have.

When she became a Christian, she had a favourite hymn which she would sing around the house as she went about her chores, caring for the family.

That hymn stayed with her until she passed away; it was a hymn that summed up my mum's Christian life. She was, how shall I put it, not an over-the-top Christian but one who had a deep, simple faith in a saviour who loved her and cared about her. She lived at a time when women wore hats to church and would be found serving tea and biscuits after the mid-week meetings.

Mum's favourite hymn was “What a friend we have in Jesus”, and in it, she found the expression of her faith. Simple yet profound. She took the words and simply applied them to every aspect of her life, and found the truth written in them never failed her.

Please take just a moment to read or re-read these words, written in 1855

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged-

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share

Jesus knows our every weakness.

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden?

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge-

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms, he'll take and shield thee

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Many of you reading these words will be familiar with them,

Try putting them into action today

They are as relevant today as when they were written.

In times like these.

 When I was a child we would sing songs we called choruses, they put many of the Old Testament stories to music, and we learned them off by heart. Stories like Noah and the ark, David and Goliath or Jonah and the whale, New Testament stories were included with songs such as Zacceous was a very little man, or Peter and John went to pray. Even today, 70 years later I can still remember the words. There were other choruses we learned that held the truth of the gospel in a nutshell.

I became a Christian when I was a small child, but even now the truth I learned then remains with me now 

 In today's world, there is never a day goes by without our television or newspaper telling us of a disaster somewhere in the world which makes me think the world has gone mad. We ask ourselves how on earth can people be so evil towards their fellow men. What on earth is going on? We watch our politicians and think if only they had the smallest amount of common sense things might be different, and then we wonder where it will all end. Sometimes life can seem very uncertain and uncomfortable. Being a Christian does not make us immune from what is going on around us, in fact, I think it should make us sensitive to the things that are going on around us.                        

There's a lot of space out there. Where do I go?

It's in times like these I am reminded of one of the songs I sang all those years ago 

    My Lord knows the way through the wilderness 

    All I have to do is follow,

    My Lord knows the way through the wilderness 

    All I have to do is follow.

    Strength for today is mine all the way 

   And all I need for tomorrow 

   My Lord knows the way through the wilderness 

   All I have to do is follow.

We are encouraged in God's word not to be childish but to have a childlike faith, and keep our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2)

He knows the way through our particular wilderness, and all we have to do is follow. Put your faith in the place of your fear and doubts.

You can make a difference.

 We all have choices to make from the moment we wake up to when we lay our head on the pillow at night. Sometimes the choice is just not right, and we just have to live with it, there are times when it’s just the opposite and we feel great.

How simple is this?

As I have said we now take full advantage of our bus passes and the drivers set the tone of our journey into town, OK so it’s only 10 minutes but to be welcomed aboard with a smiling face and greeted by passengers already on board is great. Like a pebble thrown into a pond, the ripples spread outwards, and you just don’t know how far they reach, that smile or hello can make a difference to someone.

All things bright and beautiful

It costs nothing at all to smile or say hello, and making the effort even if we are not feeling 100% will lift your spirits as well.

It doesn't take much to make me smile.

.

I spent a long time in the retail sector during my working life selling everything from gentlemen's clothing to vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and cycles to high-end garden furniture BBQs and all things gardening.      It was so nice then when we went into a small independent shop and received a warm welcome from a delightful assistant who was so helpful over such a small problem we had, the staff went above and beyond to help.

The sheer beauty of colour.

The other side of the coin happened when we went into a large store where the assistant was more interested in talking to a colleague than serving us, need I say more?

Hello pussycat.

We have all heard it said many times I’m sure “We are living in uncertain times” and we sure are. But I am reminded of a very old children’s hymn we sang in primary school or Sunday school. Written in 1881 “Jesus bids us shine” The last verse goes,

Jesus bids us shine, then for all around

Many kinds of darkness in this world abound:

Sin and want and sorrow-- we must shine,

You in your small corner, and I in mine.

Simple words, and no matter what you do or do not believe, we can all make a difference in the circle of influence we move in. No one can make you, the choice is yours.