June 2018 – Jennifer Allong Muses

IF Only we Knew the Future

June 30, 2018 4 Comments

IF only I knew what tomorrow held! That would be great! Or would it? Would it stop me from worrying about the future or would it make me more anxious if the future I envisioned wasn’t bright?

IF only I knew the future! Would it help me to plan better for what is to come, whether good or bad?

IF only I knew what is to come! Could I stop it if it is not something I want in my life or embrace it for keeps if it is something good?

IF only my life was all I wanted it to be, would that make me happier?

IF only I was happier, does that mean I would have no trouble in this world?

IF only this world wasn’t so troubled but was a better place to live, would I want to live in it forever? I think not because……

IF we remember that…….

….our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ..(Phil.3:20) we would not want to be here forever.

Only because…….

We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope (1 Chronicle. 29:15)

In fact, we do know the future…..IF only we will remember that as we sojourn here on earth, we have God’s promise.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11)

Fiveminutefriday, Writings

Saving our Oceans

June 25, 2018 2 Comments

When I saw last Friday’s prompt – Ocean – I thought of something light-hearted having grown up in the Caribbean. But when I sat down to write, it set me on a different path.

A few weeks ago we (members of my photography club) set off to join another club for a competition night in the south of England and to visit the sea on the following day.

Since I was accustomed to having the ocean all around growing up in the Caribbean, it was an opportune moment, not only for photographs, but for being by the sea. I love watching the ebb and flow of the tides and looking at the horizon as far as my eyes could see. Feeling that sense of peace and tranquility. It was a beautiful day on the Jurassic Coast taking photos and scouting around looking for fossils.

And then seeing this prompt, I was reminded about that recent visit to Highcliffe-on-Sea and how it brought to mind the BBC program Blue Planet ll researched and presented by David Attenborough. Our oceans are dying because of the excessive use of plastic that is killing the sea life. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth a watch (uTube video – The Future of the Oceans – Blue Planet ll). I was horrified to see how our every day choices are having such a damaging effect on our oceans.

That set me thinking that if God saw what He has created as good, what are we doing to the very thing He created for our enjoyment!

Genesis 1:21 reads, “So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

Do we see our oceans as God sees it? Are we taking care of what He has given to us? I was certainly challenged. Would you be?

Musings

A Renewed Perspective

June 23, 2018 No Comments

I started blogging back in late 2017, then I stopped and began asking myself why was I blogging? Do I have anything to say that would be of value to anyone but myself? Was it for my own edification, that I would eventually get great readership? Although the latter is inextricably linked to why we all write, wouldn’t it be terrible if no one read what you wrote?

After some soul searching I realised that much of what was coming to mind, was how normal daily events synced with what God was doing in my life, and that these connections seemed to occur fairly frequently. Either through something I’ve prayed about the night before or that very morning. Through my devotional readings or just some daily task.

I can hear you say, “sounds like you have more than enough material to write about, so what is the problem then?”

It’s not writers’ block which happens to writers when we sit with pen and paper or at our computers and wonder why we can’t think of anything to write about. So, what is it then? Well, it’s thoughts of what should I write about. Would it be of value to anybody or just my own experiences. So I procrastinate in getting pen to paper, fingers to computer or iPad, as in my case.

But isn’t it our own experiences that shape our writing? And isn’t our writing as individual as we are?

We all know that there are stories everywhere. We just have to look around us or to stay still and listen for the internal stories to unfold. Those are our experiences. So I’ve concluded that since I do have things to write about I better push through and get on with it. Not only does it make practical sense, but as a fairly new writer, doing so will help me hone my skill but, more importantly, it is biblical to do so.

Do you have things to write about? Stories from your own experiences burning inside of you but like me, you hesitate to put it out there because you think it isn’t worthwhile or relevant to anybody?

Everybody needs encouragement at times. So hopefully, this is an encouragement for those who feel like I do – unsure, hesitant, a bit daunted. Press on with the thought in mind that God gives all gifts, whether natural or spiritual, one of which is the gift of writing and through that, we give Him all the glory.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:6-7)