Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Using our abilities despite our circumstances
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This video really struck a chord with me. My own baby boy is on the spectrum, and my hope and prayer is that his Daddy and I will be able to foster in him a love for God and a desire to serve Him, using his difficulties in life to encourage and reach other people.
There really is no excuse not to serve God is there? This little boy, 10 years old, autistic and blind stands up to use his gifts to sing the praises of a great God. The words he sings isn't "heal me" or "change my circumstances" but rather "Open my spiritual eyes, I want to see YOU."
MY PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart, reveal yourself to me. Help me to be You-focussed, and not me-focussed. Help me to seek you in my prayers and worship. Thank you for reminding me that NOTHING stops our ability to serve you except ourselves. Lord I love you more than anything.
Amen
Monday, January 2, 2012
Humble creativity
My prayer yesterday was "God show me more about you." and he answered that prayer in a very familiar passage. I started to read Genesis 1, and the amazing story of Creation. My mouth dropped open at the fresh revelation of God's creativity and pure genius! But not only that he was really casual and humble about it.
"Let the land sprout forth vegetation"(Genesis 1:11). One sentence to encompass the whole creation of the plants. But it wouldn't have started there. God didn't just wave his hands, speak and it all just happened. He would have had to really think about how the plant was going to eat, drink, grow, reproduce, how it would benefit the earth, how the flower would smell, what color it would be, where the pollen would be etc etc. And not just for one plant, EVERY SINGLE ONE!! What about the stars? "Let lights appear in the sky", (Genesis 1:15) but not a single word about how he thought stars up, how he put them together, what gasses are on there, how far away from earth they are, how hot they are, how they make up the constellations etc. God didn't just wave his hand and there they were. Such depth of thought and creativity was displayed in such an amazing way, that every single day, we can look out into our world and see the beauty and cleverness of God's mind.
Can you imagine how long Genesis would be if it was documented how God created our world? To me, the simple words of "Let there be..." and "God saw it and it was very good." shows me that God is a humble God, not insisting that his creativity be elaborated on and gone over and over to show us just how amazing he is. His creation speaks for itself. God also took pride in his work. He looked at what he did and said "Hey, I did a pretty good job! I like it!"
I'm a very creative person, so reading about being made in God's image and seeing God's creativity in a new light has really spoken to me. When I create things for my family and friends, I can see God's creative attribute in me. My creativity is nothing compared to mountains and oceans and humans - more on the scale of quilts, photography and sewing - and I think it's pretty good. God has gifted me with these skills. I want to mirror God's own heart and be humble about my gifts. I can let my work speak for itself.
"Let the land sprout forth vegetation"(Genesis 1:11). One sentence to encompass the whole creation of the plants. But it wouldn't have started there. God didn't just wave his hands, speak and it all just happened. He would have had to really think about how the plant was going to eat, drink, grow, reproduce, how it would benefit the earth, how the flower would smell, what color it would be, where the pollen would be etc etc. And not just for one plant, EVERY SINGLE ONE!! What about the stars? "Let lights appear in the sky", (Genesis 1:15) but not a single word about how he thought stars up, how he put them together, what gasses are on there, how far away from earth they are, how hot they are, how they make up the constellations etc. God didn't just wave his hand and there they were. Such depth of thought and creativity was displayed in such an amazing way, that every single day, we can look out into our world and see the beauty and cleverness of God's mind.
Can you imagine how long Genesis would be if it was documented how God created our world? To me, the simple words of "Let there be..." and "God saw it and it was very good." shows me that God is a humble God, not insisting that his creativity be elaborated on and gone over and over to show us just how amazing he is. His creation speaks for itself. God also took pride in his work. He looked at what he did and said "Hey, I did a pretty good job! I like it!"
I'm a very creative person, so reading about being made in God's image and seeing God's creativity in a new light has really spoken to me. When I create things for my family and friends, I can see God's creative attribute in me. My creativity is nothing compared to mountains and oceans and humans - more on the scale of quilts, photography and sewing - and I think it's pretty good. God has gifted me with these skills. I want to mirror God's own heart and be humble about my gifts. I can let my work speak for itself.
MY PRAYER
Thank you Father for showing me more about you and how I can be like you. When I look at your creation, I am in awe of you. Although you made so many things and have lots to think about and do, you care so much for me and what's important to me. Thank you that I'm like my Daddy, and creative and have such awesome skills. Help me to be like you, help me to have a humble heart.
Amen
Thursday, December 22, 2011
God's positioning
On the 21st of December was my birthday. I had a lovely day relaxing with my Mum, my kids, my husband. We didn't do anything real exciting, which was fine by me. I just enjoyed the simple enjoyment of the day, and being spoiled with gifts and love. That evening we headed out to look at Christmas lights, which is a tradition in our family.
We looked up on a website where all the good lights were. We were aware it is the longest day in the year, and so the only dark time we would get would be about 1 1/2 hours, before the lights would start getting turned off as the owners headed to bed for the evening. The light hunting was fun! My kids enjoyed it, I enjoyed it!
Towards the end of the evening, we dropped into a petrol station to get the kids an icecream. As I was getting out the car, I noticed the attendant RUNNING madly around the register and over to the door. As the kids piled out of the car, the attendant had locked the doors and put a sign up saying it was only fuel purchases only. I was annoyed. How rude! Little did I know that God was positioning us for something important.
We had to travel further north to get an icecream, and then head back to the route we were going to take to look at the rest of the lights and head home. That added 15 extra minutes to our outing. And those 15 minutes were going to count. We headed home, tired and happy - then as we were whizzing past homes towards our own home, I turned to look at all the dark homes, and saw flames engulfing one living room of one house. FIRE!! I alerted my husband, who promptly did a u-turn and we headed back. The house looked abandoned, as some of those house are, so my husband pulled out his phone and started to call emergency. "What number is it?" he asked, but my night vision is so terrible, I had to get out of the car and walk across the road to see the number on the mail-box. To my horror I could hear banging and screaming from the inside of the house. There were people stuck inside! All the windows were covered in security screens, locking the tennants in the house. I ran back to my husband and told him to tell 000 that there were people trapped inside, and then I ran back over trying to work out where the banging was coming from. God used my poor eyesight to enable me to hear those people. A man pulled up behind our car, noticing me running across the road franticly and seeing the flames jumped out of his car. I yelled out to him, "There are people trapped inside!!"
By now the whole living room was ablaze and the glass was popping and there were small explosions in the house. He worked out where they were, they were trapped in the adjacent garage, right next to the flames. He opened the door, and out came 3 children, their grandmother, a heavily pregnant mother and the father from a cloud of smoke. I lead the three children and the grandmother out and up to the footpath, the children sobbed and looked back at the flames with terror in their little faces. Something I cannot erase from my mind. The father followed and then collapsed on the ground, metres away from the exploding glass and the terrible heat. I went back for him grabbed his shoulders "Mate you can't stay here, it's too dangerous, you need to get up!" I was alone with him, no one to help me, "Common!! You have to move!" I said more urgently. The heat of the fire was burning my face and I was absolutely terrified! Somehow I managed to get him to hear me, hauled him up and lead him to the footpath where it was safer.
By then the roof had caught alight and I stood with the family as they watched their home burning before their eyes. The fireys arrived within 10 minutes and made quick work of the flames, that by now had taken over half the house. A medic arrived not long after that, and I was able to help him by staying with the father who was shaking uncontrollably with shock, while he assessed the others and treated the children for shock. My husband helped the fireys, relaying the information we had learned from the family, as the family stood by shocked and relatively incoherant. There is gas, but unsure where the mains are, there are pets inside.... I learned as I stood with the family, that it was deliberately lit, someone threw a flammable bomb into the living room, where the father was sleeping, surrounding him in flames. This was then passed on to the fireys who then taped off the whole area.
God really put us in that place at the exact right moment so that lives would be saved, and we could help. Not many cars were driving down the road at that time of night... and it's likely that if we didn't see the flames, no one would have seen it until too late. If we had gotten our ice creams from the first service station, it is likely we would have driven past this house that would still be sleeping and dark - with a fire just about to be lit.
I am so thankful to God to enable me to think clearly, and help these people, in this shocking situation. Even now I look back and think "HOW on earth did we do it?" But WE didn't do it, God did. Every action we did was God. Every word uttered was God. God used my husband and I to show his compassion and his grace to this family. When I comforted the family, it was God showing his comfort. My husband and I felt like HIS instruments that night, and what a very humbling and honoring thing that is.
Please keep this family in your prayers. Losing a large portion of your home right before Christmas is terrible. Please also pray for my children, who watched the whole thing from the car, and are really feeling the adverse affects of it.
And next time something inconvenient happens again, like that service station attendant did... I am not going to complain. God could be positioning me for something else... although I hope it's not as crazy as this last episode!!!
We looked up on a website where all the good lights were. We were aware it is the longest day in the year, and so the only dark time we would get would be about 1 1/2 hours, before the lights would start getting turned off as the owners headed to bed for the evening. The light hunting was fun! My kids enjoyed it, I enjoyed it!
Towards the end of the evening, we dropped into a petrol station to get the kids an icecream. As I was getting out the car, I noticed the attendant RUNNING madly around the register and over to the door. As the kids piled out of the car, the attendant had locked the doors and put a sign up saying it was only fuel purchases only. I was annoyed. How rude! Little did I know that God was positioning us for something important.
We had to travel further north to get an icecream, and then head back to the route we were going to take to look at the rest of the lights and head home. That added 15 extra minutes to our outing. And those 15 minutes were going to count. We headed home, tired and happy - then as we were whizzing past homes towards our own home, I turned to look at all the dark homes, and saw flames engulfing one living room of one house. FIRE!! I alerted my husband, who promptly did a u-turn and we headed back. The house looked abandoned, as some of those house are, so my husband pulled out his phone and started to call emergency. "What number is it?" he asked, but my night vision is so terrible, I had to get out of the car and walk across the road to see the number on the mail-box. To my horror I could hear banging and screaming from the inside of the house. There were people stuck inside! All the windows were covered in security screens, locking the tennants in the house. I ran back to my husband and told him to tell 000 that there were people trapped inside, and then I ran back over trying to work out where the banging was coming from. God used my poor eyesight to enable me to hear those people. A man pulled up behind our car, noticing me running across the road franticly and seeing the flames jumped out of his car. I yelled out to him, "There are people trapped inside!!"
By now the whole living room was ablaze and the glass was popping and there were small explosions in the house. He worked out where they were, they were trapped in the adjacent garage, right next to the flames. He opened the door, and out came 3 children, their grandmother, a heavily pregnant mother and the father from a cloud of smoke. I lead the three children and the grandmother out and up to the footpath, the children sobbed and looked back at the flames with terror in their little faces. Something I cannot erase from my mind. The father followed and then collapsed on the ground, metres away from the exploding glass and the terrible heat. I went back for him grabbed his shoulders "Mate you can't stay here, it's too dangerous, you need to get up!" I was alone with him, no one to help me, "Common!! You have to move!" I said more urgently. The heat of the fire was burning my face and I was absolutely terrified! Somehow I managed to get him to hear me, hauled him up and lead him to the footpath where it was safer.
By then the roof had caught alight and I stood with the family as they watched their home burning before their eyes. The fireys arrived within 10 minutes and made quick work of the flames, that by now had taken over half the house. A medic arrived not long after that, and I was able to help him by staying with the father who was shaking uncontrollably with shock, while he assessed the others and treated the children for shock. My husband helped the fireys, relaying the information we had learned from the family, as the family stood by shocked and relatively incoherant. There is gas, but unsure where the mains are, there are pets inside.... I learned as I stood with the family, that it was deliberately lit, someone threw a flammable bomb into the living room, where the father was sleeping, surrounding him in flames. This was then passed on to the fireys who then taped off the whole area.
God really put us in that place at the exact right moment so that lives would be saved, and we could help. Not many cars were driving down the road at that time of night... and it's likely that if we didn't see the flames, no one would have seen it until too late. If we had gotten our ice creams from the first service station, it is likely we would have driven past this house that would still be sleeping and dark - with a fire just about to be lit.
I am so thankful to God to enable me to think clearly, and help these people, in this shocking situation. Even now I look back and think "HOW on earth did we do it?" But WE didn't do it, God did. Every action we did was God. Every word uttered was God. God used my husband and I to show his compassion and his grace to this family. When I comforted the family, it was God showing his comfort. My husband and I felt like HIS instruments that night, and what a very humbling and honoring thing that is.
Please keep this family in your prayers. Losing a large portion of your home right before Christmas is terrible. Please also pray for my children, who watched the whole thing from the car, and are really feeling the adverse affects of it.
And next time something inconvenient happens again, like that service station attendant did... I am not going to complain. God could be positioning me for something else... although I hope it's not as crazy as this last episode!!!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
A small whisper.
Last night I had a very unpleasant encounter with someone - which left me shaken up, angry, upset, hurting, and in a really bad way. I felt exposed, vulnerable, cornered and attacked. All I could do was cower in the corner and wait. I'm so thankful that these sorts of experiences don't happen very often because they are really dreadful.
As a result of this encounter I didn't sleep well last night. I struggled with "capturing my thoughts" (Corinthians 10:5) and making them submit to Christ. I could not pour energy into negative thinking, instead I cried out to God, and I worshipped him. Praised him, thanked him - trying to turn away from my anger, and instead adopting an attitude of thanksgiving to the God who created me and loves me. As my mind began to still as the hours crept on, I heard the Lord whisper into my heart, "rest in me". I got a picture of me, exhausted, battle weary, hungry, dirty, ready to collapse, and then I could see two arms reaching out for me, to cradle me and carry me. God continued to assure me of his strength and ability to care for me. "I am your refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). I am you hiding place, your place of safety (Psalm 32:7)"
God's Word is what I needed to calm the turmoil within me. God was there for me when I needed him most, and was there to catch me as I stumbled. I am reminded of when my little one falls over and is hurt, I scoop her up into my arms and cuddle her and love her, stroking her hair and whispering words of comfort. I feel that is a place I am in right now. God has scooped this fragile creature up into his loving arms, and is now stroking my hair and comforting me while I cry.
So now I give praise to the Lord, who is my rock, loving ally, fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield and I will take refuge in him. (Psalm 144:1-2)
As a result of this encounter I didn't sleep well last night. I struggled with "capturing my thoughts" (Corinthians 10:5) and making them submit to Christ. I could not pour energy into negative thinking, instead I cried out to God, and I worshipped him. Praised him, thanked him - trying to turn away from my anger, and instead adopting an attitude of thanksgiving to the God who created me and loves me. As my mind began to still as the hours crept on, I heard the Lord whisper into my heart, "rest in me". I got a picture of me, exhausted, battle weary, hungry, dirty, ready to collapse, and then I could see two arms reaching out for me, to cradle me and carry me. God continued to assure me of his strength and ability to care for me. "I am your refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). I am you hiding place, your place of safety (Psalm 32:7)"
God's Word is what I needed to calm the turmoil within me. God was there for me when I needed him most, and was there to catch me as I stumbled. I am reminded of when my little one falls over and is hurt, I scoop her up into my arms and cuddle her and love her, stroking her hair and whispering words of comfort. I feel that is a place I am in right now. God has scooped this fragile creature up into his loving arms, and is now stroking my hair and comforting me while I cry.
So now I give praise to the Lord, who is my rock, loving ally, fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield and I will take refuge in him. (Psalm 144:1-2)
Friday, November 11, 2011
An open vessel....
I have just seen this clip on You-tube. It's a public competition, but this child has amazing gifting. Not only is he performing a beautiful song, but he is worshipping a mighty God. The presence of God was so real to me as I listened, I felt like I was surrounded in a cloud. Beautiful song.
Another beautiful song - a child sharing the Amazing Grace of our Father to many!
What an amazing opportunity he was given to sing and worship, sharing the Word of God to many open and receiving ears and hearts. This anointing is what many worship leaders don't have, but need!!
Thank you father for ministering to me today through this boy. Bless him!
Another beautiful song - a child sharing the Amazing Grace of our Father to many!
What an amazing opportunity he was given to sing and worship, sharing the Word of God to many open and receiving ears and hearts. This anointing is what many worship leaders don't have, but need!!
Thank you father for ministering to me today through this boy. Bless him!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Hello?? God?? Are you there??
Do you ever get the feeling that God is a million miles away? Do you strain to hear his voice, and all you hear is the sound of your heart beating, the sound of your breathing? Do you ever feel like God has packed up and shifted camp?
I feel like that at this moment. I read the Bible, and all I get are words. I struggle to pray, because I feel like I am talking to a brick wall. My mind is foggy and my soul is weary. I would think that a time like this, God would be reassuring me and revealing himself to me in powerful ways. I feel abandoned, even though I know that he will never leave me or forsake me...(Hebrews 13:5). I don't like feeling alone like this.
So what do I do? Just shrug my shoulders and carry on? I don't believe so. I feel that times like this is not an excuse to withdraw from God, but to continue to seek his face. Today I opened my Bible, desiring to hear from God, to be uplifted and encouraged - and God offered me comfort and encouragement through Psalm 34.
Psalm 34
I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people,for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
Come, my children, and listen to me,and I will teach you to fear the Lord.Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people,for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
Come, my children, and listen to me,and I will teach you to fear the Lord.Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Sad news.
Dear readers and believers,
Death in a child is so hard to understand. Why? Why did he die? Why couldn't it have been someone who "deserved" to die, or who was old and had lived their life? I can't answer that, but all I can do is believe in God's goodness and mercy. He had a plan for James and in his short 6 years, his plan was fulfilled. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Even though we see death and cancer as a disaster, God sees the bigger picture and sees more than just the sadness and disease. Who knows what God had in mind?
Tomorrow is the funeral for James and instead of asking God why, when I will never possibly understand why, I am going to thank God that he took him home quickly, instead of drawing out the pain. I am going to thank God for the joy James bought those he left behind. I am going to pray for help in offering comfort and hope to the family who don't believe in God.
MY PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, Creator of all living things, Master of all, Saviour of all, and the Ultimate planner.
Fill my grieving heart with your peace. Turn my mourning into joy and assurance in you. Let me be your vessel when speaking to James' family. Help me to trust in you, your plans for us all, and your goodness.
Amen
Thank you for praying with me about James and his battle with cancer. The cancer was growing aggressively and quickly overtook his body. A few days ago, James passed away, surrounded by his family as he watched them laugh and play - and is now in a place of no more pain, no more suffering and no more tears.
Death in a child is so hard to understand. Why? Why did he die? Why couldn't it have been someone who "deserved" to die, or who was old and had lived their life? I can't answer that, but all I can do is believe in God's goodness and mercy. He had a plan for James and in his short 6 years, his plan was fulfilled. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Even though we see death and cancer as a disaster, God sees the bigger picture and sees more than just the sadness and disease. Who knows what God had in mind?
Tomorrow is the funeral for James and instead of asking God why, when I will never possibly understand why, I am going to thank God that he took him home quickly, instead of drawing out the pain. I am going to thank God for the joy James bought those he left behind. I am going to pray for help in offering comfort and hope to the family who don't believe in God.
MY PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, Creator of all living things, Master of all, Saviour of all, and the Ultimate planner.
Fill my grieving heart with your peace. Turn my mourning into joy and assurance in you. Let me be your vessel when speaking to James' family. Help me to trust in you, your plans for us all, and your goodness.
Amen
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