This is my hymnbook

Just a little notebook given to me as a Christmas gift several years ago, but I would be heart-broken if it disappeared. It contains my favourite hymns and Christian songs. Some hand-written (not very neatly, because I'm not very good at judging how much space each one will take up), others cut from hymn sheets and pasted in. This is my hymnbook. For singing when I need to sing.

The Gift Hamper

A rather belated "House-Warming" present for a couple of my close friends from university. They rather like cheese, so it's a cheese based, and once again everything is made from  Gifts from the Kitchen (definitely my favourite recipe book at the moment). I also added in a small wedge of a mature cheddar.

Contents: Oatmeal Biscuits For Cheese, Chilli, Tomato and Onion Marmalade, Tickler Mature Cheddar (not shown), Coloured Sugar Lumps (alright, not exactly cheese related, but very cute anyway)

Sugar Lumps

Not lumps at all. Beautiful little shapes. "Recipe" from Gifts from the Kitchen. Have I mentioned that I love this book? So many ideas for beautiful homemade foodie gifts.

I used a set of aspic cutters which are on "loan" from my Mother (in case she needs them one day, they can't be "mine") which in turn were passed down by my Grandmother. As was the palette knife used to squash the block of sugar-sand. The palette knife is *mine* however.

Flowers on the Table

Bought for the Queen of Sheba by her young man. Making our living room look lovely in the vase that I possibly paid more for in a charity shop than it would have cost first time round in Ikea.

The Return of the Queen of Sheba

My flatmate has returned from her two and a half week trip home, bringing back some of her sheet music.

Our flat has been filled with strains of Handel's "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" and "Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". An odd combination, but a thoroughly pleasing one too.

Immortal Honours Rest on Jesus' Head

This glorious hymn chokes me up every time I sing it, for it reminds me of my constant dependance on my awesome Saviour Jesus Christ, and how He will supply all that I need. It makes me smile too, for exactly the same reasons.

Immortal honours rest on Jesus’ head;
My God, my portion, and my Living Bread;
In Him I live, upon Him cast my care;
He saves from death, destruction, and despair.

He is my Refuge in each deep distress;
The Lord my strength and glorious righteousness;
Through floods and flames He leads me safely on,
And daily makes His sovereign goodness known.

My every need He richly will supply;
Nor will His mercy ever let me die;
In Him there dwells a treasure all divine,
And matchless grace has made that treasure mine.

O that my soul could love and praise Him more,
His beauties trace, His majesty adore;
Live near His heart, rest in His love each day;
hear His dear voice and all His Will obey.

 --- William Gadsby (1773 - 1844)

We sing it to Eventide, which is also the tune for "Abide with me," which amuses me a little, because my mother *hates* "Abide with me" because it sounds so mournful and dirge-like. Indeed she threatens that if we play it at her funeral she'll pop out of her coffin and tell us to stop it immediately. (I quite like this song to that tune, but shhh, don't tell her!)

One down, five to go

Yes, the stitching could have been much neater. No, the corners aren't mitred properly. Yes, the ruffle is completely uneven. No, I don't care, because I made a big squooshy cover for a cushion, that is just how I imagined it.

Three Quid's Worth of Gospel

"I would like to buy about three quid's worth of gospel, please. Not too much - just enough to make me happy, but not so much that I get addicted. I don't want so much gospel that I learn to really hate covetousness and lust; I certainly don't want so much that I start to love my enemies, cherish self-denial, and contemplate missionary service in some alien culture. I want ecstasy, not repentance; I want transcendence, not transformation. I would like to be cherished by some nice, forgiving, broad-minded people, but I myself don't want to love those from different races - especially if they smell. I would like enough gospel to make my family secure and my children well behaved, but not so much that I find my ambitions redirected, or my giving too greatly enlarged.

I would like about three quid's worth of gospel please.

Of course, none of us is so crass as to put it that way. But most of us have felt the temptation to opt for a domesticated version of the gospel."

D.A. Carson - Basics for Believers

Finished

After three months that tested many aspects of my personality, and my ability to be salt and light, I'm finally rotating on to another area.

I think that deserves Ben and Jerry's for tea. Don't you? Especially since it's "low fat" and was half price.

Time to Sew

All ready to make a new cushion cover for the sofa. Once I have time to sew that is. My friend managed to pick out a perfectly matching shade of thread despite not having the fabric with us, after only seeing it once. The advantage of a contour fashion degree I suppose!

New Term, New Books

This term I'm going to be reading one-to-one with one of the ladies from my weekly Bible study. I let her have free rein over what we would study, and she chose Philippians. Having re-read it over a few times in preparation, I'm pretty excited about it. We're going to use it as an opportunity to hone Bible handling skills too, so I'm also using Dig Deeper by Nigel Beynon and Andrew Sach to see which "tools" we can use to explore the passage.

Chilli, Tomato and Onion Marmalade

Adapted from "Cherry Tomato and Sweet Chilli Jam" from Gifts from the Kitchen by Annie Rigg. Kindly bought for me for Christmas by my brother.

Raja the King of Elephants

From Elefante by Susan B. Anderson

A Hymn by John Newton

Most of the world knows him as the writer of "Amazing Grace", but John Newton, the slave-ship owner turned Pastor and Preacher, by God's grace, was the writer of many, many other hymns, including this one, one of my personal favourites:

Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
He whose word cannot be broken
formed thee for His own abode;
on the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
thou may'st smile at all thy foes.

See! the streams of living waters,
spring form eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint, when such a river
ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver,
never fails from age to age.

Round each habitation hovering,
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a covering,
showing that the Lord is near.
Thus they march, their pillar leading,
light by night, and shade by day;
daily on the manna feeding
which he gives them when they pray.

Blest inhabitants of Zion,
washed in the Redeemer's blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
makes them kings and priests to God.
'Tis his love his people raises
over self to reign as kings:
and as priests, his solemn praises
each for a thank-offering brings.

Saviour, since of Zion's city,
I through grace a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy Name.
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
all his boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasure
none but Zion's children know.

My favourite verse is the last one, sometimes it reads "Saviour, if of Zion's city..." but I prefer this reading - it speaks more of the wonderful assurance children of the living God have, knowing that they are aliens and strangers in this world, and belonging to another. It reminds me that each day, no matter what the world thinks of me, I am a Christian, saved by grace, glorying in my wonderful Saviour's name. The things of this earth quickly spoil and fade, but I will live for ever, and so will the joys and treasure of the heavenly city where I shall dwell forever.

For the joys and the sorrows...

Preparing a Bible study on Romans 5v1-11 reminded me of a song I rather like by Graham Kendrick:

For the joys and for the sorrows
The best and worst of times
For this moment, for tomorrow
For all that lies behind
Fears that crowd around me
For the failure of my plans
For the dreams of all I hope to be
The truth of what I am

For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus, I have Jesus
(Repeat)

For the tears that flow in secret
In the broken times
For the moments of elation
Or the troubled mind
For all the disappointments
Or the sting of old regrets
All my prayers and longings
That seem unanswered yet

For the weakness of my body
The burdens of each day
For the nights of doubt and worry
When sleep has fled away
Needing reassurance
And the will to start again
A steely-eyed endurance
The strength to fight and win

"Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinner, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God."

So, since we have been justified (the hard work), we can face the future, each day, sufferings or joyfulness, because of what Christ has done. And in each day and each moment, I can look forward, knowing that the future is settled, because Christ has justified me. Hallelujah!

The Dream Kitchen

This hilarious little extract came from a recent (November 2010) copy of the Waitrose Kitchen Magazine that I picked up, it rather sums up my kitchen experience.

"In my mind's eye, I always imagined myself making jam and marmalade in a sunlit kitchen, surrounded by gleaming copper pans and gingham squares. In reality, the making of jam in our house is hot, heavy work; the great bubbling pail of sugar-stew liberally seasoned with swear words, and at least one finger or thumb being held under the cold tap for 20 minutes after a run-in with a scalding splodge of syrup. Which refuses to set. And turns the tea towels purple. But who cares? Rose-tinted spectacles come with the territory... Admiring the serried racks of just-made jams, with their wax-circle stoppers and hand-written labels, is one of life's great little pleasures. It's one of the few boxes I've actually ticked in the larder of my dreams, where I shall have trugs loaded with medlars and damsons, or perhaps sloes, quince and elderberries. There'll be demijohns of single-orchard cider, interestingly flavoured cordials and single-estate teas in fragrant wooden caddies. Ooh, and a truckle of cheddar, plus a wedge of varicose stilton and a salted hock of ham, studded with cloves.

None of this exists, mostly because I am not the chatelaine of an Edwardian mansion. My real larder, which is in fact a pull-out kitchen cupboard, boasts a multipack of Hula Hoops, a sorry tin of coconut milk, some desiccated herbs, a collection of lazily sprouting potatoes and an onion (deceased)" - Mimi Spencer, Waitrose Kitchen November 2010.

How utterly hopeless...

I've been working through Romans 3v9-20, in preparation for a Bible study that I will be leading at church next week. It has served as an incredible reminder of how utterly sinful I am. Thinking on it each evening has thoroughly condemned me, as each evening I realise how I have failed to glorify God's name. Each day I have dragged Christ's beautiful name through the mud. I have willfully and deliberately shown unkindness, malice, envy, lack of love, unadvised speech, hasty temper and a great multitude of more sins which mean that His name is not honoured in my life as it should be. And each night I must whisper my confession and contrition, before the God who holds me accountable.

This I believe is Paul's purpose in writing this part of the passage. Each word another blow that drives right to the heart of my cockiness, my self-surety, my sinful belief that I may be justified in God's sight because of my works. For, none is righteous, no, not one, not even you Beckie, however much you may think you are.

How my heart aches, and I think this is what Paul wants us to be, before he reminds us, with that glorious "But" in verse 21. For if we do not recognise our utter hopelessness to be right with God, then the gospel loses its power. If we can be saved another way, if we can be right with God on our own, then the death of Christ means nothing, it really was, just a carpenter dying for annoying the religious authorities of the day. But knowing that there is no way that mankind can be saved, that there is no way that I can be right with God, then I am desperate, I am alone, I am dependent. 

Thank God for that "but" - that I can be right with God, apart from my works. My works that should condemn me are cast aside, and the pure, spotless, glorious perfection of Christ is seen in all its power. But that's another week, and another study. For now I remember my sinfullness, and look forward to my salvation.

"Evening Renewal"

My Father,
If Thy mercy had bounds, where would be my refuge from just wrath?
But Thy love in Christ is without measure.
Thus, I present myself to thee
      with sins of commission and omission,
              against Thee, my Father,
              against Thee, adorable redeemer,
              against Thee and Thy strivings, O Holy Spirit,
              against the dictates of my conscience,
              against the precepts of Thy Word,
              against my neighbours and myself.
Enter not into judgement with me,
For I plead no righteousness of my own,
    and have no cloak for iniquity.
Pardon my day dark with evil.
This night I renew my penitence.
Every morning I vow to love Thee more fervently,
                       to serve Thee more sincerely,
                       to be more devoted in my life,
                       to be wholly Thine;
Yet I soon stumble, backslide,
      and have to confess my weakness, misery and sin.
But I bless Thee that the finished work of Jesus needs no addition
                                                  from my doings,
                              that His oblation is sufficient satisfaction
                                                  for my sins.
If future days be mine, help me to amend my life,
                                                   to hate and abhor evil,
                                                   to flee the sins I confess.
Make me more resolute, more watchful, more prayerful.
Let no evil fruit spring from evil seeds my hands have sown;
Let no neighbour be hardened in vanity and folly
                  by my want of circumspecion.
If this day I have been ashamed of Christ and His Word,
                   or have shown unkindness, malice, envy, lack of love,
                   unadvised speech, hasty temper,
                   let it be no stumbling block to others,
                   or dishonour to Thy name.
O help me to set an upright example that will ever rebuke vice,
                   allure to goodness,
                    and evidence that lovely are the ways of Christ.

--From "The Valley of Vision -- a collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions -- by Arthur Bennett"

--- I would replace "If this day" with "Since this day"

My New Friends

Yesterday I made a tortoise from a copy of Crochet Today that I picked up in the local market for only 67p. Then feeling all inspired, I designed and made him a giant land snail friend - Swirly the Snail!

Double baked potatoes

Double *baked* is possibly a misnomer, as the first baking is in the microwave!

For each person:
One large baking potato (e.g. Maris Piper)
Two tablespoons of creme fraiche
Two teaspoons of red pesto
A large handful of grated cheddar cheese

Prick the baking potato all over with a fork or other handy sharp implement, and microwave potato for around 8 minutes (for an 800W microwave)

Preheat oven to 230 C

Meanwhile, mix the creme fraiche, red pesto and cheese in a bowl

Remove potato from microwave, carefully scoop flesh from skin, leaving a border of flesh in the skin of around 1/4 - 1/2 cm. Put flesh into the bowl with the cheese mixture.

Mash the potato into the cheese mixture, until fairly smooth.

Replace cheesey potato mixture into the potato skins.

Put potato halves on a baking tray, bake in the oven at 230 C for around 10 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbled and browned.

Eat, with your choice of delicious accompaniments!