Kids prayers

I've been away for a while, I know! But here's something to make you smile while I think of how to sum up the last 2 months in a blog post! Prayers written by primary school kids. Enjoy!

1. Dear God,
please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now.
Amanda

2. Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.
Joyce

3. Dear Mr. God,
I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart I had to have 3 stitches and a shot.
Janet

4. God,
I read the bible. What does beget mean? Nobody will tell me.
Love Alison

5. Dear God,
how did you know you were God? Who told you?
Charlene

6. Dear God,
is it true my father won't get in Heaven if he uses his golf words in the house?
Anita

7. Dear God,
I bet it's very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.
Nancy

8. Dear God,
I like the story about Noah the best of all of them. You really made up some good ones. I like walking on water, too.
Glenn

9. Dear God,
my Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy. How far back do you go?
Love, Dennis

10. Dear God,
do you draw the lines around the countries? If you don't, who does?
Nathan

11. Dear God,
did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident?
Norma

12. Dear God,
in bible times, did they really talk that fancy?
Jennifer

13. Dear God,
how come you did all those miracles in the old days and don't do any now?
Billy

14. Dear God,
please send Dennis Clark to a different summer camp this year.
Peter

15. Dear God,
maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they each had their own rooms. It works out OK with me and my brother.
Larry

16. Dear God,
I keep waiting for spring, but it never did come yet. What's up? Don't forget.
Mark

17. Dear God,
my brother told me about how you are born but it just doesn't sound right. What do you say?
Marsha

18. Dear God,
if you watch in Church on Sunday I will show you my new shoes.
Barbara

19. Dear God,
is Reverend Coe a friend of yours, or do you just know him through the business?
Donny

20. Dear God,
I do not think anybody could be a better God than you. Well, I just want you to know that. I am not just saying that because you are already God.
Charlesv

21. Dear God,
it is great the way you always get the stars in the right place. Why can't you do that with the moon?
Jeff

22. Dear God,
I am doing the best I can. Really !!!!
Frank

And, saving the best for last .

23. Dear God,
I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday night. That was really cool.
Thomas

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

With Jesus, I'll walk (through this shadowy land)

With Jesus, I'll walk (through this shadowy land)
A meditation on Habakkuk 3v17-19

I may be made redundant, my job taken away,
my house reposessed where, for 10 years, I've stayed,
my stocks daily drop, as I look at the Times,
my investments shrink, draining dollar and dime,
my friends may well leave as my wealth starts to fade,
my family be worried for the plans that we'd made,
though all that's material be taken away,
I'll cling to the rock of the one who will save:
my strength and my joy, my treasure and worth
are found in my Lord, king of all of this earth.
He will make clear, a path, where we'll walk hand in hand
with Jesus, my joy, through this shadowy land.

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Sunset on a Spanish beach

Sunset on a Spanish beach

Sunset falls on a beach Nova
dying beams of light bless the sea
as couples, children, passers-by
bath in the golden, orange rays.
Late-night bars, like Christmas-tree lights,
twinkle into life
as Spanish guitars caress the air,
music clothing the velvety twilight with colour.
Exotic drinks infuse the darkess with a lightening air,
tavernas enticing wandering strangers in,
while warm night air
cools the burns of the afternoon sun
and frosty pitchers of Sangria
soothe tired minds and bodies.
Moonlight highlights flecks of silvery crests
as langorous waves break gently
upon the silent beach.
Only the dreams of angels can be heard upon the shore.
If you listen carefully, you can hear them,
even now.

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Underwater

Underwater

Hazy mist drifts by as I float,
gently descending through shifting currents.
My senses feel dulled
as though I were half sleeping,
drifting in a world of cotton wool.
The delicate shingling sound of a thousand marbles on wood
washes over me like the sands of time.
Then, like an eagle spreading its wings for flight,
I stretch my arms out, reaching up and up, higher and higher,
hurtling through this tranquil world,
I break the surface,
and breathe.

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

There and back again, a short person's tale

Hurrah for sun and sea and Ticket to ride! My family and I have just been amazingly blessed to enjoy a week in Majorca with a range of books, games and exploration up the island's sheer hills and things to do. Highlights have to be the Western Waterland (waterpark) with its 30m (!!!) near-vertical waterchute, the Pirates Adventure (seriously, watch the trailer -- it was amazing!) and the real luxury of being able to enjoy spending time with my mum, dad and sister.

Amongst the craziness and relaxing of the week, I wrote a small number of poems & songs which I'll be posting soon. Some are based from the balcony of the hotel we stayed in, and others are somewhat more from the (often somewhat worrying) depths of my mind. I hope some make you smile, and others, to reflect.

I'm now officially moved back in with my folks in Swindon as well. As some of you may know, I've had a challenging first year's teaching, but have known God's amazing grace & the blessing through friends like Dave and Marie, Adam, Si, Lizzie, Frazer and the rest of the Carey 20s and 30s, not forgetting my very patient and loving girlfriend Cat who's kept me smiling and joyful in Jesus' hope more times than I care to count!

One thing I have found constantly encouraging this year and currently is how the hope I am amazingly allowed to have in Jesus keeps me worry-free (in theory!) I've been very challenged this year about what I cling to and where I find my security. I've been reminded that my security and hope doesn't lie in my job, a mortgage or house or the place I live, nor the church I attend. My hope for tomorrow lies squarely in Jesus for my patience, energy and peace (about jobs and so many other things). Proverbs 3v5-6 has resounded throughout this year, and has become something of a guiding light as I've weathered the peaks and troughs of recent times in particular:

'Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight'

I love how God's plan doesn't depend on my state of mind, feelings, cash flow or concerns. He promises simply to 'make your paths straight'. And how twisted I seem to love to make my path!

So I'm currently applying around Swindon and the rest of Wiltshire for supply teaching, with a view to find a job in the area this year. Eyes will be kept to the ground -- let me know if you hear any Upper primary jobs come up! And if you happen to be in the area of Junction 15 of the M4, do pop by for a cup of tea of coffee - the kettle's always on the boil with 3 teachers under 1 roof ;)

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

A meditation

A meditation on God's character

Lord, your goodness surprises me,
surpassing my miniscule imagination
overwhelming what I think is good
and nourishing me more than I thought possible.
Your faithfulness leaves me breathless,
winded by your grace.
My heart skips as I allow it to enter me freshly.
Peace should not be this simple to receive!
All it takes is a bowed knee,
the confession that I was wrong,
the recognition of my selfishness,
and a heart-felt sorry.
I reflect that I cannot change in my own strength.
I tried, and keep trying,
but I know it's not enough. It never is!
I'm just not strong enough.
Make me strong in your strength
may I stand on you, my rock.
Let me soar like the Japanese bullet train,
fuelled and inspired by your spirit.
Your strength never runs out,
your spirit never runs dry.
I've tried so much,
yet nothing comepares to you:
Only you can satisfy me.
You alone, my Lord, my God.

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Listening & responding

Dave Bish recently blogged on reading/listening to sermons via mp3 download. This is a short portion of what he said:

'On the positive side of new technology I can get access to gifted teachers who can help me to love Jesus more, just as in previous generations I could have read the sermons of a Spurgeon or a Lloyd-Jones alongside commentaries and other Christian books. On the negative side, it's easy enough to be a sermon junkie who is ever listening and never responding to the preached word' (full version here)

I felt humbly rebuked & encouraged symultaneously. I was reminded how we are so very privileged to be able to read or listen to quality teaching: from the day before, to several centuries before, from Spurgeon and Lloyd-Jones to John Piper and Mark Driscoll. I've not read much Spurgeon or Lloyd-Jones, but I know that I've found a lot of what Piper and Driscoll preach very helpful and often well applied. But therein lies the temptation, to approach sermons like the Churchill dog: nodding and nodding, saying 'ooooh yes'. And to leave it at that. Shut down the computer, turn off the iPod and tune back into our lives - with no change. There's the rebuke - what's my attitude towards preaching? Sometimes I think I far too easily approach the message on Sunday morning as ticking a box in my week, when in fact this message, this gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ! This is the word that takes our selfish thoughts and cravings and transforms them, day by day, into something that can begin to honour God.

It makes me realise that all to often I feel convicted about something and read up book after book and fill my ears with quality preaching, only to carry on as I was before. I'm reminded how selfish I am - I don't even want to think what it would be like to live differently, to live something better. A.W. Tozer said 'The true follower of Christ will not ask, "If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?" Rather he will say, "This is truth. God help me to walk in it, let come what may!"'.

I want this to be my attitude, more and more: to realise when I'm being convicted, to respond to Jesus' truth of forgiveness with full repentance and a humble and simple prayer to let God's truth walk into me and steam-roller my pride beneath it. I want to respond, I want to change. And I thank God that he wants exactly the same, and is just waiting to enable me to - if I ask Him.

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

When a monster came to our school

Another silly poem, born out of the question that popped into my head while doing literacy with my year 1 kids and discussing crazy things that could happen at school. What if...

When a monster came to our school

It was a beautiful sunny spring morning,
and the flowers were shining with dew,
as I walked to my school after breakfast
none the wiser of what would ensue.

My best friends all waved as I got there,
As we dumped our school bags on the ground.
But just as we readied the first football’s kick
We saw everyone else had turned round.

And what a sight we found!

A boy, not much older than I am,
I think he was seven or eight
Was hopping along through the playground,
On one foot as he juggled 3 plates!

It was then that I suddenly noticed
Was that a tail that poked out from his shorts?
And there, could it be, oh my word, tee hee hee!
His knees were covered in warts!

And his hair flowed all golden and wavy,
From his head to his waist, tied in knots.
And lower than that, hidden under his shoes
He wore bright pink polkadoc socks!

None of us spoke in amazement,
This was just so incredibly cool.
We had a new pupil, and none had a scruple:
A monster had come to our school!

He followed us into our classroom
As the bell went at twenty to nine.
And proceeded to hang up his bag on a seat,
And sit down on the wall next to mine.

The teacher, Miss Jones, didn’t see him
As she called out our names one through all.
And nearly flew out of her chair when she heard
Our new monster reply from the wall!

As the morning progressed, then we noticed,
He never once reached for a pen.
Instead he picked up a window
And with a chair leg he wrote there and then!

At break time, he eyed up out football,
So we invited our new friend to play.
But he ran on his toes, and with his elbows
he played as if doing ballet!

During science he scared Mr Creacher,
When he ate up three test tubes like bread.
Without so much as a pause he devoured the gauze
And then sat on the ceiling out-spread.

At lunch time, this peculiar monsterish child
Sat to eat with us in the canteen,
And ate all the spoons from cutlery drawer
So with fingers we ate our ice cream!

In music he sang like a rubber,
And smiled as we all played kazoos,
Then before our very eyes, and to the teacher’s surprise,
Played his nose like a didgeridoo!

At home-time, we stood in suspense,
While our monster friend sat on the ceiling,
Wondering who was the mum on this unusual son.
Our nerves we were barely concealing!

Then out to the playground we streamed,
each of us keeping an eye
on our new special friend, ‘who’s his mum?’ ‘Is it Len’s’?
the questions flew fast ‘cross the sky.

He hopped on his hands to his mother,
And through the gates they departed the fray.
What a shock! Who’d have known, for there, walking alone
By his side was the head teacher. No way!

Any thoughts, please do let me know :) My poems can always be improved and any suggestions would be fab!

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

The terror of Armreach farm

1 month in hiding, mostly due to forgetting my blog exists at times and finding other exciting and interesting things to do :) school work for one! Below is one of a series of poems I've written recently: random poems about silly things, and some nonsense poems inspired by my Year 1 kids' work on nonsense poetry. I'll post 'When a monster came to our school' soon. I just need to iron out kinks first.

See if you can guess what the 'beast' is before the last verse!

The terror of Armreach farm

I looked out on the moonlit farmyard
The sky like a tranquil lagoon,
The wind moved the leaves in a nearby tree,
The moon would be rising soon.

And still as the gravestones, it waited,
Its heart dark as the deep night sky
Ready to spring and swift mayhem to bring
When the moon stood complete, and high.

And quiet asleep in their stalls now,
The animals slumbered in peace.
From the gold eiderdown of the small of ducks
To the shimmering sheeps’ winter fleece.

And still as the mountains, it waited,
Its heart like the indigo sky
Ready to spring and swift mayhem to bring
When the moon stood complete, and high.

I opened the door with shiver.
I guess where the beast might be.
In truth I knew not, of his new hiding spot,
So I waited, resting on one knee.

And still as a statue, it waited,
Its heart dark as blackcurrant pie,
Ready to spring and swift mayhem to bring
When the moon stood complete, and high.

As midnight tolled out ‘cross the farmyard,
An unearthly silence swift fell,
And the dull ghostly tones of the ancient clock’s groans
Rang out 12 times, it beast’s deathly knell.

And slow as the ages, it wakened,
Beating heart as adrenaline flowed,
And fast through its mind, with chaotic thoughts,
Its fancies began to unfold.

Quick as a whippet I looked up,
A shadow had stirred to the side.
In the stable I saw, darker than there before,
A deep shadow’s malevolent eyes.

And unmoving, the shadow stood staring,
Unaware of my foolhardy plan,
No mere man, it believed, could prevent him,
Once its frenzied assault began.

Like lightning the beast sprang towards me,
Its hooves like the thundering of drums.
I knew only one move would save me this night,
Or else, to its fury, succumb.

And fast as the planets it bolted,
For the ground to which I was firm bound.
My hand swiftly reached for my tattered coat pouch,
And flung its contents to the ground.

The screeching of hooves was tremendous,
As I breathed, barely making a noise.
Would the beast take the bait, precious seconds to wait,
And let me spring out of my poise?

And careful, it sniffed at the truffles,
Shrewd wariness clear in its eyes.
Did it trust in this treat, would it leap for my feet?
When it lowered its tree-like thighs.

My lunge was as quick as a cheetah,
as bold as a school-teacher’s stare,
the beast looked up but too late now,
its squealing shattering the air.

And frenzied, the beast struggled madly.
With its tail thrashing wide through the air,
Til the moon was consumed by a nearby cloud,
And still was the beast’s bristled hair.

The sweat glistened fresh on my forehead
As I stooped to retrieve the still form.
And shouldering the beast with a weary grunt,
I crossed the now quieted farm.

The main barn door creaked as it opened,
As if knowing what lay in my arms,
And the straw crackled loud, as if cheering
My saving the farmyard from harm.

Yet I gently replaced the wee bundle,
Knowing soon I would face it again.
For the moon was the curse of this small sleeping form:
A monster within the mundane.

And so it repeats, every cycle,
As the moon becomes fuller each day.
I silently wait in the dark twilit yard,
For the twelve bells to summon my prey.

The sound of the low shallow grunting
As that swill-laiden smell cuts the air,
And I whisper ‘goodbye’ to the red beady eyes
Of the Were-Piglet. ‘Were’, piggy, ‘were’.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated. It is far from perfect I know, but then, it is just a bit of fun!

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Dreams in stills

A fellow teaching friend from years gone by posted this on her facebook page & it's just a spot of sheer genious! If you like imaginative music videos or animation (or are up for something fun and creative, for that matter) then have a goosey at this:



I'm suddenly inspired to try making one. Bring on the ICT/Literacy/Drama project!

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Introducing Steve

Adam and I have discovered a variety of nibbled things in the house recently, including 2 Mars bars (nearly nibbled in half) and a creme egg! Late one evening he was spotted running across our living room and it was confirmed, we have a mouse!

Having christened it Steve McQueen in honour of Hugh Laurie's character from House, we set a humane trap of peanut butter & partially nibbled creme egg. Dead tasty!

It appears Steve really was a sucker for chocolate and peanut butter though as he was safely caught in 1 night after nibbling was heard (ironically, while I was watching House) and was discharged in the morning with a clean bill of health.

He shall be missed though. Oh to be able to keep pets! Maybe one day. I wonder what Cat would think of that...

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Good Friday

I'm loving Jesus. I love how he was willing to go through much pain, rejection and emotional/physical/spiritual suffering for me. I'm bowled over by his sacrifice and willingness to be spiritually cut off from God.

This came out of meditating on what Jesus went through ~2000 years ago:

Good Friday

This is the day my saviour died
and history bears he was crucified,
unfairly ruled and beaten raw,
dragged through the streets in sight of all,
carrying the bar of his own cross,
taking spits, abuse and other dross,
led up the hill called the place of the skull
tired and bleeding, humble, docile,
cried in pain as nails bit deep
no doubt causing him to weep,
slung up high and strung in place
forced to endure the worst disgrace,
and died, calling in full ear & view,
"Forgive them father, they don't know what they do."

I desperately want finish this off, but that's where my want to write stopped. It's very easy to think of Jesus dieing on the cross as a simple flick-of-the-switch act, but in truth it wouldn't have been. It does us good to stare on the rugged cross and walk Jesus last hours with him. It reminds us how much he was willing to go through, and how much he chose to endure for us. Mind-boggling, when you think about it. Bring on Sunday :)

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Huzzah!

The easter holidays has finally dawned and I'm looking forward to a spot of rest in between trips into school to get the Summer term ready!

Having dropped Cat off at Luton on Saturday morning (she's off to Poland for a week's mission at one of their universities) I spent the afternoon at a friend's house playing board games. Fab fun and wonderfully relaxing. Spending time with other people reminds me why God's made us his church, rather than his call centre; a group of people serving him together, rather than individuals in claustrophobic booths not dependant nor working for eachother. Fellowship is so important and is such a wonderful blessing! How great it is that we're the body. rather than the fishfingers of Christ.

Looking back over the past 3 months, it's been a testing term and I've now got a tough decision to make over the easter hols re: school following my mid-point review. Prayer would be muchly appreciated and I'll happily share what the decision entails with you if you give me a phone or drop me an email. Thanks.

Right, time like me is short so I'd best put my washing on and prepare for the church! Big blessings to all of you.

Rock on in Him :)

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

At the cross

Cat's recently blogged on Staying at the cross and how it's so vital that 'As Christians we need to stay at the Cross, no matter where we are in our Christian walk. The Cross is important.' She also quotes John Stott:

"The essence of sin is we human beings substituting ourselves for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for us. We…put ourselves where only God deserves to be; God…puts himself where we deserve to be."

In short, we need to get our eyes off ourselves (our job, family, responsibilities, worries) and get them back where they need to be: on God. The source of our peace, joy and salvation!

As I read Cat's post, I was in the middle of writing up my planning for next week's literacy for my kids; and we're going to be doing Kennings (Norse-rooted poems where each line has 2 words, and the lines pair together as rhyming couplets). This poem is what came out of meditating for 5-10 mins on the cross & what Jesus did:

At the cross

Wood-beam bearer
Suffering sharer
Resolutely staying
Father obeying
Sin receiver
Burden reliever
Pain enduring
Life ensuring
Spirit released
Wrath appeased
Curtain torn
Hope reborn
Powerful raising
All tongues praising
Death defeated
By Father, seated
Glory owning
So much owing
Victory mine?
Take this lifeline?

I love how God takes the ordinary, in this case, my literacy planning (!) and uses it for his glorious purposes. Literacy has just served as a tool to focus me back on Jesus. Our God really is a God of the mundane as well as the miraculous. How great is our God!

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Making time to worship

I've felt quite challenged recently by worship and what this really means to me as a christian. I think it's very easy to get into the firm mindset that worship is 'singing' or worship is 'prayer', ending up limiting worship to one specific thing or another. But if you look at David in the psalms (and in 1 Samuel too) you see him praising God in all kinds of ways. Across all his musings and praise, David's aim in worship was always to give God glory - to tell him how awesome he is, to extol (tell out) his virtues and effectively take his focus off himself and stick it firmly on God.

It's also made me think, 'how much time do I spend making time to worship?' which for me includes writing poetry and singing along to my guitar from worship books, but I know for others will include other things as well.

As I got into bed this evening, I found myself split between the powerful urge to kiss the cat goodnight (a long-standing habit) and go straight to sleep, or to spend a little time turning my thoughts to God. The words to a Delirious song came to mind and before I knew it, a verse started writing itself in my head. This poem is what came of it. I've tentatively named it 'Wash me anew', but if you can think of another name, please do leave it as a comment:

Wash me anew

Kneeling, aware of your grace,
oh how I want to stay here
in this holy place.
I don't want to be anywhere else
away from you.

And the day fades away,
dissolving into shadows
as I turn to your face
and gaze into the depths of your love;
darkest depths that burn with holy fire,
dispelling the shadows & piercing the doubt,
lighting all the corners of my mind;
my heart intertwined with yours.

Then it washes over me,
rushing like a mighty flood,
the monsoon of your peace,
drenching every corner of my soul.
The open thoughts & hidden secrets
laid bare before you.

Oh wash me anew!
Cleanse me and know me,
focus now my selfish heart of you.
Wash me anew.

I love how worship can be as simple as a word, and as profound as the most marvelously practical wisdom. I love how God accepts our worship - despite how it never manages to truly capture his awesomeness. I love how he can take the events of the most trialling of days (and I'm having a few at the moment) and dissolve them into nothingness in the face of his perfect plan and all-encompassing peace. Worship is a truly awesome privilege. Let's give it our all.

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Mercy

Words inspired by our visiting speaker to Carey today. He reminded us that Jesus is our one and only sure hope for salvation. It's all about his amazing grace and his mercy.

Mercy

The tool of your mercy, a cross,
in its rugged and cruel, splintered form.
The shape of your mercy, a man,
hanging beaten, forsook and forlorn.
The cost of your mercy, your son,
your one and your only, severed.
The result of your mercy, new life,
for me and for you, forever.

Rock on :)

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Back from the hermitage

It's been far too long since I last blogged, so I thought (encouraged by Cat) that I'd pop up an update. The first half of term has absolutely whizzed by and before I know it, I'm into assessment week! This means lots of papers for my poor kids, and a lot of inspiration from me to get them in the mood to do them ;)

School's crazy at the moment, and I'm gaining 2 kids too! Very exciting, though part of me feels sorry for them as they'll be coming straight into test week. Oh yes, and something very exciting is that I've just started hunting for a house in Reading.

Adam (my housemate) have been looking around some very cool little houses and are waiting to hear back from an estate agent or 2 about severla places that we liked the look of. Progess will be posted!

If you're curious, I had a bit of a 'sad moment' (as my dad would put it) and videod the inside when we went to look around! Here's the vid, and feel free to ignore the ramblings in the background ;)

Anyhoo, I'd best be back off to get my planning sorted for tomorrow. But I'll finish on something that someone very special to me reminded me of yesterday re: work. I've been struggling a lot recently with confidence in my work, being reminded a lot from school that I've got numerous targets to meet, and the realisation hit that I've allowed the joy I have in Jesus to wane and be side-lined to 'scheduled time' with Him, rather than allowing it to sink in across the whole day. And what amazing joy it is! Why should we be allowed such amazing grace? It's something I enjoy not being able to understand. Allowing God's amazing grace to blow your mind does you a power of good :)

And as for work, I've been reminded how allowing the joy in the hope we have in Jesus to inspire your work gives you such courage and tenacity that you begin to realise how the apostle Paul chose to share the gospel with the whole of Caesar's household when he was slammed in prison. Awesome stuff. Now, time to plan!

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

It's snow time!

A cheesy pun? Most definately :)

So much snow; so many learning opportunities! We've spent about a third of the last couple of school days playing learning in the snow. One of my children came up to me and asked when they were going to starting learning today? I pointed out we'd been building team-building skills (PSHE), throwing snowballs (based on our English explanations for 'How to throw a snowball at a teacher') and DT/Art - creating snowmen and igloos. Yes, I did get a blank look. My kids rock!

Friday evening and Saturday has been restful and full of sledging with my mum and dad; one of the advantages of living near a steepish slope. Below is the evidence of the fun had!














The snowman at school with the 'empty tummy' as he became known.















Me, dad and mum after a crazy half our on the piste.

Having hung up my salopettes, it's back to the prep for assessment week at school. But what a fantastic day and a half so far. And what an amazingly beautiful creation we live in :)

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Oh God

'Oh God' is a phrase we hear a lot each day, isn't it?  It's a phrase that greatly saddens me a lot of the time.  People use it as an exclamation of surprise or frustration but more importantly than that it takes God's name and rubs it in the dirt.  It takes his name vainly and reduces the glorious and awesome name of the Almighty God to a witness to someone being annoyed, surprised.  Pick your emotion.

But in the bible we reading of people like the king, David, effectively crying out 'Oh God!' Not in the sense that they were annoyed or surprised, but that they were overwhelmed by who God is.  They allowed the sheer awesomeness, love and unparalleled forgiveness of God to sink deep into them to the point that what they saw shocked them to their hearts.  That the almighty God of the universe loved them.  That, after they sinned, He still loved them.  And that in Jesus, he was going to and did give up His only precious son for them.  And for us.

This morning, I dared to spend a minute reminding myself of what God's done for me on the cross in Jesus, and the shock sank through my whole thinking.  This poem came out of it:

Oh God,

I scarce can take it in,

that you would call me son;

a sinner through and through,

saved by the holy one.

It blows my mind in every way

that I may stay,

with you.  It's done!

Oh God,

that you gave up your own,

your only, precious son,

my slavery overthrown

and my salvation won.

His sacrifice of heart of soul

has made me whole

and with you, one.

Oh God,

that you would love me still,

e'en though my sinful heart

still causes me to stumble

and from you to part.

Yet open arms await my shame,

in Jesus name,

your healing starts.

Oh God,

my life you've shown to me,

a straight and narrow way,

of sacrificial love,

and run with joy today.

My footsteps, stumbling, oft' will fall,

but he will keep me strong in all, 

until His glorious day.

I'm left thinking, it this can come out of reminding myself what God's done for me for 1 minute.  How different may my day be if I did it agin at lunch time?

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal

I steadier step

Tis funny how you stumble across quotes. This encouraging and humbling quote comes from my little book of 'Faith, hope and love', a stocking filler.

'It fortifies my soul to know
that, though I perish, truth is so:
that, howso'er I stray and range
what'er I do, thou dost not change.

I steadier step when I recall
that, if I slip, thou dost not fall'

-- Artur Hugh Clough --

Happy New Year everybody!

TheWeeScottie

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weird is just your own personal brand of normal