Hello dear friends and quiet readers,
It's been on my heart to write something, so here goes...
I want this place, my little spot here in blog land to be a safe haven. Surely we need that right now. I want it to be a place where if you are burdened or feel you have no one to listen to you, you can share here or send me a private message (ladies only). What I don't want is this place to be used for gossip, or any divisive talk.

If your like me, your a Keeper of the Home and this is what fills your day. You may have family to care for, children still at home and or grandchildren. This all requires a lot of work, love and commitment. Our minds and hearts need to be peaceful to do this well, and if our hearts are heavy because of different things then frankly it make life very hard indeed. I would say emotionally, the last year has been my hardest ever. With losing my Dad and sister + all the scares about covid and other things happening in the world....but even more than that. What's caused me the most pain and sadness to the point of tears many times is the division that vaccine issues has caused within families and my own. I want to share this scripture:
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
This scripture is dear to my heart and is a measuring rod for me to hold myself accountable in my daily walk. These days it seems vaccine issues have drawn new 'lines in the sand'. I just see the enemy having a field day. He loves nothing more than Christians criticising and judging each other and pitting one end time world view against another. So what if your eschatology is slightly different to mine? God's interested in the heart and whether or not we're growing in the fruits of the spirit. If I'm loving my neighbour and giving God the glory by the way I live my life each day. I'm not seeing much of that around me right now. These are surely dark days and it makes me so sad.

My heart goes out to people who are backed into a corner, like we are. Our government leaves no option for most people. If you don't have the vaccine, you will lose your job. This applies to nearly all jobs. Some people have a lot of money/property investments behind them and have the option to make a choice that will not affect their livelihood, but most people do not. I really don't think voluntarily leaving your job and going on the unemployment benefit is an option either? or having to sell your home and go where? Some people forced to take the vaccine have become ill because of it, that saddens me terribly too. I feel we are like guinea pigs. I do not trust our govt in this country. They lie, quite blatantly. They leave no freedom of choice. I am pro choice.

Many people because of compromised health have taken the vaccine....because they feared getting a bad case of covid. If you've had the vaccine I don't judge you, we had to take it too. I didn't want to, I was frightened and wrestled with the whole thing and now the endless boosters. I haven't had the booster and don't want to...Oh Lord help us. Even if your pro the vaccine I don't judge you. Maybe you think me a fool for my opinions? When I spent countless hours praying about this situation, I felt the Lord impress upon my heart to choose the narrow way, to walk in it and to have compassion and mercy for people on all sides..in all situations. That's where I stand.

As I look ahead to 2022 I have no idea if it will be as difficult as 2021. I've never suffered loneliness and rejection like I have this past year. My heart has been so torn and I've felt so confused at times I thought I might lose my mind. People who I love acted in ways I would never have imagined. But what I do know is GOD WAS AND IS MY ANCHOR. My faith did not waver, not even one little bit. Many nights when I couldn't sleep, I would repeat scripture verses over in my head or repeat the name of Jesus over and over to dispel the darkness that tried to swamp me..and it worked every time.

I truly feel like a pilgrim. I think I shared here 2 years ago that we had to leave the church we attended as we found out that they were connected with ungodly/unscriptural practices. It's too much to go into and I don't intend to. We had worshipped there for 10 years. I live in a very small town in a country area and because of our Christian values there is no where else to attend; so there again we are on our own. Yet we are still faithful. We have daily morning and night devotionals, bible reading and prayer. We have to make the best of the circumstances we find ourselves in. We are faithful and committed to the Lord.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So if you read this, and feel alone many days too,
then know I am here for you.
Let's stick together and walk in love as believers in Jesus,
supporting each other through our struggles.
May we still shine our little lights
and show love where we can.
May the Lord bless you,
~ Linda ~