Christmas

This is the season we take time out to remember the baby Jesus, sent as a sacrifice from His Father. When I remember my own son as a newborn and the overwhelming sense of love and responsibility that came with that package; I think of what the Father must have been feeling, knowing the pain his son would have to endure in this world for a people like us- completely unworthy of the sacrifice. If I had been Mary I would have begged that He choose someone else for the task- I think had she had the complete picture she might have opted out! As we celebrate the joy of giving this season, may we ponder this: The only thing worth giving is the message of the cross. Jesus past, Jesus present, Jesus future. May we meditate on this message this Christmas.

Joy to you all this Season-may it be one filled with hope.

7 weird things about me

So Wilna challenged us to name seven things about ourselves that are completely out of wack. Well I had a challenge for the longest time in the church we attend because the communion cup was communal.You know everyone drinks from the same cup-well I am weird in that I will not drink off the same vessel as anyone else.Yuck! Luckily i mentioned to someone that I was considering purchasing the little cuplets on trays-now those of you taking communion will know what I'm talking about,right? Anyway-I am pleased to say our church must have heard the cry because we now have those very same cuplets and I know that God had mercy on me and prompted someone to tell someone if you know what I mean! Okay so thats one ummmm I drink more tea a day than I think is healthy for any one being; I don't suffer fools easily- I prefer to teach them if they're teachable! Ummmm I don't eat raw tomatoes either,nor cheese for that matter-unless its melted mozzarella on a Bugatti's pizza! I love home cooked food best of all. I never answer the phone unless its in the morning and nobody else is home-cause then its usually Helen. I hate TV for the time it steals from families.I think thats enough weirdness for now....

Joy

Hi!I'm back. Church on Sunday was all about JOY.Ever wonder where that all went to? It seems the more we force ourselves into a happy state of being by shopping or scrapping or eating, the more joyless we become. It is so easy to spout words of comfort like the joy of the Lord is my strength and joy comes in the morning etc BUT there is this spirit man inside me that really challenges me on my beliefs-there is a struggle within me that says if LOVE is the lifestyle we should adopt to achieve this JOY-then it should just not be this HARD.I trust God-I really do! BUT I always have a plan B-you know just in case eternity is the time frame He has in mind-whereas mine is yesterday.Does that make any sense? My Joy comes from listening to the rain fall; hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit when I repent sincerely enough; listening out for the rare moments my teenagers share a good laugh and the gentle rythm my husband and I share in our relationship after twenty years of marriage. All is not lost-God is still on the throne and He still loves me more than all the sea sand on all the sea shores. Joy comes when the big fat I -is no more. May JOY jig around in your heart this week!

US Presidential elections

It is the fourth of November and I guess I can't not comment on the US Presidential elections. We have all at some time or the other had an opinion on what we expect, hope or pray will happen. Both candidates have good qualities and bad-neither of them are truly God-fearing men -so its really about the lesser of two evils-but thats politics. I hope the American people choose with their hearts and common sense-which seems seriously lacking in a people so far ahead in the 'developed world'. When I watch international news stations and I see how compromised journalists have become in their reports-I realise, that each person has the responsibility to fully research the candidates and come to their own conclusion. If you vote on biblical principles-then there will be only one candidate. Because of the war on terror, the Middle East and therefore the Moslems, have become the focus of the world instead of the Christians and biblical teachings and America as a sound representative of that ideology. I pray that the Holy Spirit would urge the hearts of believers to go out and vote. May God bless America.

Mercy

Thats what I need right now. No matter how many times a year the exams come round-I'm never prepared for the emotions that consume me. I should go out and get a job at these times-that way I don't have to watch the procrastination that somehow oozes into the souls of my children. I will make every effort this time round to keep myself occupied with a hundred and one tasks and pray my way through this season. I'm constantly being reminded that my children are 'bent' in a certain way and no matter how hard I try I will not be able to shape them in any other way. Myles Munroe said that we as christians are to have dominion over all the trees and animals and waters but God did not give us dominion over people-I wonder if the author of Genesis just forgot to mention 'except children by mothers' from that verse? It seems the more I want my children to grow up and take responsibility for their actions-the more I feel the need to tell them what they should do and how to do it. I mean in the world of instant gratification-do they not instantly want to know what not to do and avoid some of the harsher realities that experience brings? I wish...May God have mercy on my soul. My spirit is calm and relaxed and knows that God has everything under control for those who love Him and seek Him diligently. I pray for every mother at this time-for wisdom to prevail-mind you the children are going to be needing some of that wisdom too!!
My son went flying this week-end and now wants to get his PPL-The angels are going to be doing a lot of overtime-thats all I know for sure! And here I am - stressing about his exams!
MERCY need it NOW!

Grace

It's friday already and I'm not really sure what has consumed me this week. I do know that I've reacquainted myself with the teachings of Beth Moore-she's such a great teacher of the Word.I've been downloading her transcripts and working through them as bible study. Her book for those of you who may be in a dark place right now is'Get out of that pit'. So for anybody planning on jumping or sliding into one soon-this will be a good read! I can safely say we've all been there at some time. For those trying something new just remember my favourite saying:"The Hand of God will never lead you where the Grace of God will not protect you" Here's trusting that you're holding on really tightly to His hand...
Have a beautiful, delightful, awe-inspiring week-end.

Spring

Yesterday I sat having lunch 'al fresco' with long time friends; a gentle breeze helped cool us down a bit on the square where we sat while children(full of life and too much energy) ran amok in the fountains -and it reminded me of why I love spring. This is the time of year when life is bursting at the seams-everything seems invigorated and energised. Even the bees in my garden are fat with the pollen consumed from my roses-and we ask the question 'why would they want to make their hive in our entrance hall ceiling?'. Wouldn't you stick around if you were being so well supplied? Everywhere I look in my garden there is newness-my white stinkwood trees are covered in pretty new foliage. In celebration I even went off to the nursery to get baskets of fuschias to hang on my stoep-they are stunning! So for those who will read this the challenge is to go out and nurture something-not your kids-it will be both therapeutic and rewarding.Give it a go! Now all I'm waiting for is summers thunderstorms...

Homework:Spirituality is...

I know for me spirituality is the giving of myself-wholely,completely and without reserve to do that which was planned for me when I was in my mothers womb by my Father in heaven.It doesn't mean I always achieve it but if I press on I will attain the prize. Jesus gave his life for me-this I know for sure and if I were the only person on this earth-He would still have come.I find comfort and security in knowing this one thing-I'm loved-flaws,pimples,pock marks and all! I'm forty now which essentially means I'm all 'growed up'.I say the things I want to say, feel the things I want to feel and change the things in my life that need changing(well-I promise to try really hard) I enjoy the wisdom which comes with age-even if it feels sometimes I've paid a price getting it. When I was younger I was consumed with myself, my desires, my needs -now I realise it was never about ME. Time brings hope fulfilled.
Blessings

A sense of wonder

Well what a sense of wonder and achievement that I finally made head and tail of the three column story. I'm delighted! I do hope this is just the start of a long blogging career. Spring has finally let us have the first rains(well-drizzles)So lets hope there's a lot more where that came from.I wonder how Yvonnes doing...I know Helen has far to go yet.

To all who read this-much love.

Learning how to set up a blog

Well who would have guessed it could be this difficult to set up a blog-I'm so thankful for places of learning! Doing this online course is teaching me a thing or two in patience.Today I learnt how to add a picture to my blog-I must say studying all these little icons does help!!!I guess its like my boys reading an instruction manual-as if. BUT when you are determined-it helps.

bye
Hayley