New Year's Eve

Today we cleaned windows. Husband took down the outside venetians and I used a broom and a hose to clean the venetians, the flyscreens and the outside of the windows on two sides of the house. Dip the broom in a bucked of suds, scrub and hose down with the trigger hose attaced to the rainwater tap via a pump. We are so short of water that we may not use the town supply for this. It was raining lightly as we worked and has rained much more tonight, so, hopefully, the water will be replaced in the tanks by the morning.
The lass next door chatted while we worked. It was her birthday today, and she is six. Remember how exciting Christmas was when you were six? Now we enjoy the wonder on small faces as they open presents, and thank the Lord for all our blessings.
May 2008 be full of blessing for you all!

Christmas

Highlights of present opening time: A little fellow with a book set which included coloured glasses. When he put them on I showed him the pictures in the back of the book and saw him move his hand to hold the 3D image of a charging rhino! A vegetarian teenager with a packet of all flavoured jelly beans -unlike the ones in Harry Potter these had a chart to tell you what flavour to expect! His delight at finding that they did not contain animal gelatine so he could enjoy them!

The ABC concert on the Christmas evening did not entirely miss out on the central message of Christmas, including an item from the Messiah, and finishing with Hark the Herald Angels Sing - a carol with wonderful words if we take the time to comtemplate them.

"Glory to the new born King". May Jesus be reborn in your hearts, may you live in constant conversation with Jesus, the king of all kings, and give him the glory! When we all do so then at last we will have peace on earth, good will among men.

Light

Light

When it came at first beginning
Earth was dark confused and shapeless
Not a spark of life was showing
Emptiness and joyless darkness
Showed unto the Spirit’s brooding.

Oh let light burst upon creation!
Let light shine and dispel darkness
Let the plants grow upward to it
Let the joy of life be waking!

Light was born and all creation
Stretched and grew in wild profusion
Trees and vines and flowers fruiting
Making homes and making fodder
Paradise for all things living.

Now alas the light is fading
Mankind sunk in cruel fighting
Selfish, grasping, money seeking
Pushing, pulling, power hungry—
Powerful men the weak enslaving.

Oh let light burst upon creation!
Let light shine and dispel darkness
Let our spirits reach up to it
Let compassion be awoken!

Let us learn to love each other
Learn forgiveness—know the blessing
Comes from giving not from getting
Let us help the lost and lonely,
House the homeless, feed the hungry.

Oh let light burst upon creation
May it be the earth’s salvation.