Because God is Good...

I'm into scheduling posts at the moment. On days with a "T" in it actually. Today, on this Wednesday, I need to share this passage of scripture. I'm listening to it via Bible Gateway. It's just what I needed on this day.

A reminder from my Father that He is Good - all things good. That He will protect my daughter and I. That I am to not fear man. That the Lord God, my Father in Heaven, is greater than anything or anyone who comes against me. God is Good. So very good.

Psalm 37^[a]

Of David.

¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
² for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

³ Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.

¹² The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
¹³ but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.

¹⁴ The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
¹⁵ But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.

¹⁶ Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
¹⁷ for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.

¹⁸ The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
¹⁹ In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

²⁰ But the wicked will perish:
Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.

²¹ The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
²² those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be destroyed.

²³ The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
²⁴ though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

²⁵ I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
²⁶ They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be a blessing.^[b]

²⁷ Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
²⁸ For the Lord loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed^[c];
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
²⁹ The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.

³⁰ The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak what is just.
³¹ The law of their God is in their hearts;
their feet do not slip.

³² The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
intent on putting them to death;
³³ but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

³⁴ Hope in the Lord
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

³⁵ I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
³⁶ but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.

³⁷ Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.^[d]
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future^[e] for the wicked.

³⁹ The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
⁴⁰ The Lord helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
 

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
2. Psalm 37:26 Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed
3. Psalm 37:28 See Septuagint; Hebrew They will be protected forever
4. Psalm 37:37 Or upright; / those who seek peace will have posterity
5. Psalm 37:38 Or posterity

Longhand Thoughts...

I'm sitting in a cafe as I write this. My favourite thing to do next to my "God-tea" time every evening (and thanks Paula V. for the name!). I have my Bible, a notebook and pen and a much needed coffee. Today I've ordered garlic pizza bread, a small apple crumble and a mug of cappuccino. Delicious!

I have really no idea what to write about today so I'll just start. It's been just over a week since I've posted. This last week of my life was very...how do I describe it really? It was monumental! From the worst anxiety attacked I've ever experienced to finding out - finally - that I start my new job tomorrow. Mix those things in with everything else that comes from both, you could say it's been monumentally huge!

The week has been filled with a myriad of emotions. From feeling wonderfully content to fearful to angry and then to glad. I've been around the emotional merry-go-round one too many times this last week to even think about anymore! But you know the one constant in all of this, besides my WONDERFUL support network? Yes, it's God and His unfailing love for me.

Psalm 25 was a message from God that brought me a lot of peace this week. It's about turning to God and exhorting Him for the wonderful Father He is. It's about asking Him to guide me. Pointing out what He will willingly do for me because He loves me. It's about repenting and laying everything before God so I can accept His mercy and grace and move forward. It's about who God is.

It's a reminder that He is ALWAYS there. Ever powerful, always loving and wonderfully forgiving.

The world may scorn me and push to bring me down, but God's constant presence will keep me walking on the high road. I have discovered a lot of truths about myself over the last week. The fact that I need to learn assertiveness to effectively communicate my needs and wants to others to then reduce my anxiety levels.

I am not someone who is overly shy, but I do feel intimidated easily. If I feel someone is attacking me personally, I retreat. I am a "flight" kind of person opposed to a "fight" kind of person. (But push me enough and the "fight" will emerge!) I am, however, going to learn how to be better grounded in the middle of these two extremes. Between drawing closer to God, and also seeing a Christian psychologist, I am going to become the woman God knows me to really be. The woman that He keeps giving me snippets of just to whet my appetite and keep pursuing Him.

Other events from this last week include the women's connect group I am leading. I am also actively helping, and lending a godly listening ear, to women in need. Women who are where I once was. But more about that in a future post!

Praise God for His goodness and constant presence in my life over the last week, and always! He is changing me and healing me. And I am welcome for both.

Sticking Closer Than a Brother...or Sister!

My growth over the last few months has been remarkable. I’m finding myself growing in strength and wisdom in so many areas. I can only give credit to God for this. He is shaping and moulding me into the woman He truly knows me to be.

Part of this transformation is me working on the fact that, to put it bluntly, people in my life have let me down. From partners, to work colleagues...the list goes on. It wasn’t until my wonderful friend Jo prayed over me a few weeks back did I realise just how much being let down has actually affected me.

Tonight I dealt with some of the emotions of healing from someone letting me down. It hurt, and it hurt a lot. But, once again, God brought me through the pain. It is by His love, and the loving kindness of another wonderful friend, that I can now sit here and write this.

I write of God’s goodness. Of how over the last twenty plus years of my life He has never let me out of His grasp. Of how in my life He has given me people who have never, and I mean NEVER, let me down. Of the love of a child who keeps renewing me and my confidence in humans every day. Of the grace that God provides by forgiving me of my many sins on a daily basis. And of a God who will continue to do this, and much more, until the day I meet Him in Glory.

“There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 NLT

Jesus is my only real friend. I have wonderfully "real" friends, but even in their capacity as my close friends, it is not guaranteed that they will never let me down. But Jesus never will. And when you think about what He went through for me, I don’t think he’d be able to.

He died on the cross for my abovementioned sins. He suffered horrible cruelty as the hands of humans. He was let down by His friends. He suffered the same loss as I have done so.

That’s why He won’t ever let me down. He’s been there and He’s felt it all.

God is strengthening me and changing my heart and mind to bring glory to Him. When I look back to where I was mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually this time last year it blows me away. I was a co-dependent, insecure, muddle-headed mess. Now I am confident in my singleness, my direction and my thinking. And I owe all of this to God and what He has allowed me to endure.

Don’t ever feel that you don’t have anyone to turn to when you are let down by others. There is Someone, and He is the greatest Someone you will ever encounter in your life. He is my Jesus, my God, my Father, my Comforter, my Protector and my Saviour.

I Just Wanted To Be Loved...

I just wanted to be loved. Not for who I am on the outside but for who God knows me to be on the inside. For who He is revealing to me.

I just wanted to be loved. Not just as an after thought or an aside but as a priority.

I just wanted to be loved. Not having to share the one I love but by being his everything.

I just wanted to be loved. Now I know I have a Father and Saviour that loves me how no other could or can.

I just wanted to be loved. By him. By me. Now God is showing me how much He loves me and it's better than anything I imagined.

I just wanted to be loved. What about you? Did you just want to be loved too? By me? Or by yourself?

I just wanted to be loved. I just want to be loved. I just want to love. I want love. But I want God's type of love. Not the world's type. Not the temporal kind. The everlasting kind.

I just only ever wanted to be completely, fully and openly loved.

Freedom and Love...

God in His goodness is comforting me. I am going through a season of change, and He is my ever-present comfort. My new season is one of freedom.

Freedom from twenty years of shame, guilt and regret.
Freedom from the opinions of others.
Freedom from the lies of the enemy.

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” – Galations 5:1 (NLT)

This verse speaks volumes to me about my freedom. The New International Version talks about the “yoke of slavery”. For me that means not only the slavery to the law but also slavery to the world.

Slavery to the approval of others.
Slavery to incorrect submission.
Slavery to anger and frustration.

I no longer have to be a slave. Christ died on the cross to free me from slavery. To wash me clean from my shame, guilt and regret. To think of how God sees me instead of how others do. To overcome the strongholds that the enemy creates.

“God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.” – 1 Corinthians 7:23-24 (NLT)

I was fourteen years of age when God first called me. I had always known who God was and that He was part of my life. There has never, ever been a doubt in my mind that He existed. But I wasn’t free. I was still a slave to the world, and there I would remain until I was forty. Twenty-six years of God shaping me to be the woman I am now. His woman, His daughter, His princess and His messenger.

Words cannot truly express the love that I feel at this very point in time for God, and for His Son, Jesus, who He sent to die on the cross for me over 2,000 years ago. No other man will ever love me that much to give up His life for me. That, my friends, is special. That is true love.

I am free, I am loved, and I am His.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You so much for the gift of eternal life that You gave me through Your Son. Thank You for never, ever leaving my side, and thank You for forgiving me and giving me another chance at life with You. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

In My Circle...

In my circle I have people who...

Battle addiction
Grew up without a father
Are blinded by the evil of the world
Love the same God and Father as I do
Embrace God as their only source of comfort
Live through the pain of rejection on a daily basis
Missed their mother's love as she battled depression

Wait for love, children, healing and freedom from pain
Have seen more suffering in their life than imaginable
Have felt the pain of losing a parent in their youth
Feel a hole in their soul that only God can fill
Trust a Heavenly Father with their all
Experienced the horror of war
Fear going outside

Who do you have in your circle?

God is NOT a Girl!

I read something the other day where someone eluded to God being a “she”. In my opinion, God is NOT a “she”. To me God is a “he”. He is the great I AM. He is Yahweh. He is Jehovah-jireh. He is the Lord God Almighty who is worthy to be praised.

The ultimate truth comes from biblical truth. Not from deciding that you think that He is a “she”. The Bible tells us that God is a “he”. Period.

Seeing God referred to that way made me thing about where a lot of people in the world get their truths from. The majority get it from other human beings and their interpretation on life. Talking about how the universe will take care of you. How that karma will see that the wrong against you is righted, and so on. Only God takes care of you – believer or non-believer. He created the universe to be a marvellous and monstrous thing, not a being. Only God should see that a wrong is righted. Karma refers to balance and fairness being achieved. Only God knows true balance and fairness as he knows the human heart, and only knows what is best where retribution is concerned.

As a parent who looks out for her little girl, I know that God is a father who looks after His children … all of them. He sees that our lives are purposeful, whether that be enabling us to endure hardships to build character and learn wisdom, or to prosper us for the betterment of His kingdom. Everything is eternity focussed.

I honestly don’t know how I would be able to live my life if I were not a Christian. I think back to the time when, while being a Christian, I walked off the narrow path and tried it alone. While I didn’t refer to God as a girl or thought that the universe would take care of me, I did foster worldly views on a lot of things. I now see the error of my ways, and I now see the hope that comes from loving God and living for Him.

To me the Christian walk is simple, while complex, but it is the only way to live. While I am in the world, I strongly feel that I am not of the world. That makes loving God even more special.

As my little girl said last night as she looked up to heaven, “Dad…” I too look up to heaven and call Him Dad.

His Faithful Promises...

There are just so many faithful promises that God bestows upon us. At this point in time I need to have these promises written on paper for me to see and also written on my heart to feel.

He is a faithful Father full of loving kindness, gracious mercies and a never-ending and undying unconditional love for us. And that is what I need right now; to know that despite the changes that are occurring in my life, despite the ache that I feel deep down in my soul because of these changes, He is providing me with all these things in addition to His faithful promises.

Today marks the beginning of April. Can you believe that? I certainly can't! This year has passed in a blur for me so far. I hit the floor running on my return to work on the 4th of January and I feel that I have not stopped since. Suffice to say, I am run down, sick and bordering on being burnt out. I don't have much left in my reserve tank and am ever so thankful that Easter is almost upon us. Not only because of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, and for His resurrection, but also because I get almost a whole week of 'me' time while my girl holidays with her father and his family.

As it's the 1st of April, it's time for a new 24 in 2010 scripture memory verse. And these verses may well be the most comforting verses - as in emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically pleasing verses - I have found so far in His Word.

4 He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,

nor the arrow that flies in the day.

- Psalm 91:4-5 (NLT)

Never, ever before have I needed to feel this kind of comfort than I do now.

When I read verse 4, I imagine large white pristine feathers, like the swan feathers above, covering me completely. I imagine sitting on a rock ledge with these holy wings covering me and hiding me on the ledge as the war for my heart and soul wages on around me. I imagine feeling a warmth and sense of security like I never have before. I imagine touching the feathers and feeling the sheer strength from them, while also caressing the softness. Knowing, just knowing...even without looking...that the One being in the whole entire universe who is able to protect me from everything and anything is right above me keeping guard over my life.

Verse 5 is especially significant to me as I am scared of the dark, suffer from insomnia and have the craziest dreams. I have been scared of going to sleep for many years now as the night seems longer than the day to me, and the stillness and black covering of the night intimidates me. For many years I slept with a night light on, and even now I have to have one light on in the house throughout the night. Waking up in the pitch black of the night after a bad dream and not knowing where I am is my terror. To combat that now, in addition to the light, is that I speak with God when I wake. I talk to Him just like He is in the room, because He is. Protecting me, covering me and comforting me.

As for the arrow that flies in the day. I do often think that it's an arrow I've shot at myself that I need to steer clear of. My doubts, insecurities, uncertainty, confused mind, tired body, and more, are all the things that reek havoc on me during the day. I hope to, with God's help, overcome these things as time progresses, and especially as I journey closer with Him and learn to love and accept myself how He does.

He is a faithful Father, protector and comforter. I am thankful that I have Him as an active part in my life; not just a dormant bystander waiting for me to turn and look in His direction.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for patiently standing by me and waiting for me. Thank You for providing Your Heavenly wings as a means of comfort through difficult times. Thank You for loving me like no other can. In Jesus' Wonderful Name, Amen.

iHoard for Relationships...

Now...while my hoarding doesn't leave me to have the same problem as the lady in the above photo, I hoard...aka iHoard (I wonder if Apple could make a device to stop hoarding, or make it simpler? Hmmm...). But I'm glad that I hoard!

I usually think it a not so good thing, as I know that my car would dearly love to be parked in the garage. But it can't, as I have TOOOOOO much stuff in there! But it's a good thing! Hoarding allows me to then bless others!

Tonight I was able to give a lady in need some goods that have been kicking around home for a while. I've been umming and ahhing about what to do with the goods - op shop them or dump them? Well, God gave me the answer a few nights back by a Note post on Facebook (see, Facebook IS good!).

I find it amazing how God works. This lady, who is pregnant and has a 9 month old baby, had to leave her home with almost nothing. She now has a roof over her head, a bed to sleep on, a cot for her baby (almost! It's still in my lounge, but will get there soon!), goods for the kitchen, and more. It's totally amazing and awe-inspiring how people in need can be helped when word is put out there!

But...that's what the family of God does; it helps those in need. It is love in action. (Oh...I can feel a Word List post happening here!)

Yes...it's about relationships!

It's about demonstrating love in action in a relationship. It's demonstrating GOD'S love in action. That, after all, is what God is about! Love, action and relationships.

I used to think that being a Christian meant just believing that Jesus died on the cross for my past sins and that I was meant to do no wrong. I was so NOT in the know that I didn't even get that despite any sin that I may commit now, I am going to heaven. Wow! Talk about being thankful to go from milk to meat in my spiritual walk! Being a Christian means demonstrating love...Jesus' love.

So, back to hoarding and what it has to do with relationships. Well, it's this...

One woman with one need (among many) asks for help. One organisation assists the one woman by connecting with others to provide. The others then assist the one woman (not forgetting the little cherubs involved too!) by the love that comes from one God.

Relationships = love in action.

I hope that if you see or hear of a need this week and you can help, that you put love in action, start a relationship (even if by a few degrees of separation) and share God's love. I don't know the lady I've helped and I may never meet her until we get to heaven. But we are connected by a relationship, and that is as daughters of the King, our Most High God and Father.

Who would have thought that my hoarding would teach me a lesson in relationships? Pretty neat, and so usual of our cool God. Yes...you KNOW He's cool! Admit it!

To Write Love On My Arm...

February 12...worldwide...is a TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arm) Day. Yesterday was February 12 here in Australia and I wrote love on my arm.

TWLOHA's mission statement is -

"To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery."

Please check out the website here and work your way through from the Vision along to see what this wonderful group is doing.

I struggle with depression and have done now for the last 10 plus years. It's hereditary, it's circumstantial but it's also something that I am overcoming with the help of my Wonderful God, some amazing friends and, yes, a box of little white pills.

In life we are dealt with circumstances - thorns in our sides, if you wish - that open up new avenues to experiences to us. Depression is not something that I like to say I suffer from, but I do. It's part of me, but it will be overcome as I am the Daughter of the King and He will heal me.

As for addiction, self-injury and suicide. Not so much. Addiction, I suppose, comes in many forms and not just drugs and alcohol. It can be to shopping (books, among other things, in my case!), watching TV, food and more. Addiction is a comfort and can be hard to break given that, depending on the thing one is addicted to, it can transform our mind into something not natural. It can affect our brain chemistry, our day to day activities and can become a crutch.

Self-injury can also come in many forms aside from cutting your arm. In some cases it is self-loathing, and in the case of a depressed and anxious person, hurting oneself by other means than a knife cut on the arm. I experience the overwhelming need to inflict pain on myself when highly anxious as it's a means of releasing tension. Let's just say that in my case fingernails are not a good addition to have on ones person!

Suicide...now there's a big one! Aside from thoughts of wishing that I was no longer here to endure the emotional pain of life, I would never contemplate suicide. Some may say that I can't say that, but yes I can. I know there is hope in life even despite the difficult times. This hope comes from an unwaivering faith in my Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one that speaks to me when I just wish I was not here. I have had many low moments in life over a twenty year period and I have wished I wasn't here. But, suicide is not my game. There is much more to life that letting the enemy have his way with my heart and soul.

Everyone has their reasons to write love on their arm. Above are mine. Everyone needs to know why they need to write love on their arm. Above are mine. Everyone needs to know who can help them overcome the need to write love on their arm. God is mine. He is our Creator, Provider and Comforter. A lot of people do not understand why I walk with God, but to be fair to them, they have never felt God's Heavenly Touch on their heart. I have.

Please take some time to read about To Write Love On Her Arm, to understand what their vision is, to see what they are doing, and then to relate that back to your life and see how to write love on YOUR arm would help you. Also, please take some time to thank your Heavenly Father for the blessings He gives in your life.

Renewed in Knowedge...

My Heavenly Father knows EXACTLY what I need to read at a time when my life is undergoing a significant change. I am feeling as though part of me is missing given a change of circumstance in my life, but I know that it was what God planned. I have prayed continually asking for guidance in this area and over time, and in His way, He gave me the answer. He strengthened me along the way and prepared me for exactly where I am today. I am not going to be without normal human emotions, but my Father is with me, as is He who needs to be my first love, Jesus the Gentleman. Below is the first passage of Scripture I read today - part of my New Testament reading - and I am truly thankful for these words.

¹If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

²Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

³For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

⁴When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

⁵Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

⁶For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

⁷In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

⁸But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

⁹Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

¹⁰And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

¹¹Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

¹²Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

¹³Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

¹⁴And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

¹⁵And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

¹⁷And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:1-17, King James Version)

Where I Am At...

It seems like forever since I last posted, but while it actually hasn’t been ‘forever’, a lot has happened. Low patches... incredibly low patches, surges forward, regression, adapting to new ways, removal of the old, and more.

The one constant in all of this...? Our incredible Heavenly Father. Caring for me through His Word, my prayers and the answer to these prayers, friends, family and the reassurance that every trial is building my character and forming me to be the person He knows me to be.

Psalm 46:1-2, 10a from the King James Version reminded me recently of God’s faithfulness –

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea ... Be still, and know that I am God.”

I have learnt many important and valuable lessons over the last month or so, with these verses summing up everything that God has taught me.

At the end of the day He is all I need.
I need not be fearful of anything or anyone.
To hear Him, I need to allow Him in.
Everything is His because He is God and He made, shaped and formed it all.

I’ve learnt lessons on human relationships, sexuality and psychology and how things fit together in God's grand plan. Spirituality, empathy, forgiveness, developing patience and choosing my attitude.

October was a great month...seriously! And November is proving to be even better!

Two other verses sum up the last month or so as they tell of the peace, power and freedom that comes from being a child of the King.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”- Romans 15:13 (NIV)

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves by burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

"Me Day" ... Um, No ... HIS DAY!

I enjoyed “Me Day” on Thursday just gone. I feel rather guilty referring to my day off as “Me Day” as it was more about Him than me, hence the title of this post. It was a chance to rest from the daily grind, renew my spirit and refresh my outlook. From the get-go, outside of a niggling day long headache, the day was wonderful!

Isaiah 32:17 spoke to me first – “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”

After a somewhat interesting month where I’ve had to deal with some turmoil, this verse spoke of the three things that I have been seeking – peace, quietness and confidence.

The second verse to speak to me was Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” This verse was accompanied by this quote from Gloria Gaither –

“This day let our actions and attitudes be in sync with all creation. May be articulate praise with the moments we are given today.”

I think I got the purpose of “Me Day” at that point.

God’s love needs to be displayed through me ... first and foremost in everything I think, say and do.

Onto the shopping centre I then ventured to a cafe to enjoy a coffee and read. My sights and thoughts along the way included the following, as written in my notebook once at the cafe:

“Old men sitting outside the supermarket chatting while their wives shopped ... a mum saying “see you later” to her tantrum throwing toddler at the main door.

A visit to the new stationery shop with young girls and boys looking at all the goodies, wanting to make the right purchase. Memories of my early teenage years flood back of me doing the same thing. Walking through to the cafe and seeing two young teenage girls sitting on some steps looking pretty, not returning my smile, looking at me with trepidation, me knowing full well that “image” is taking over their lives.

My thoughts move to being thankful for where I am at in life, despite the difficult times. I have God's love to share with others and I have to start doing that from today. THE MOMENT IS NOW.

Thoughts then go straight to my girlie. Love and smiles abound. I can do this. Even though we have bad times and she frustrates me no end (and vice versa!), I can do what God needs me to do; steward this child, this gift from God, into a life filled with richness.

I am not God’s purpose. He is using ME to show Himself to others.”

My cafe reading included continuing Liz Curtis Higgs’ book titled “Embrace Grace” and the chapters on embracing faith and truth. I then moved onto reading through the first chapter titled “Doing What’s Right” from Charles Swindoll’s book, “A Life Well Lived.” I then did some study questions from Micca Campbell’s “An Untroubled Heart” to finish off her amazing book.

All food for my soul and spirit on this day that I feel God used to strengthen me. He used the day to take me back to the basics of my walk with Him and to reassure me that through Him I can be all that He needs me to be, despite the fact that on the most part I feel I do a terrible job!

There are many, many verses that I read that spoke to me, but the following two stood out the most:

“We must obey God rather than man.” – Acts 5:29

“The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” – Psalm 118:6

A timely reminder about where my focus needs to be. Even when manking conspires against me, when life here on earth gets a bit tiresome and unfair, I have the assurance of God's protection and love over me.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to draw closer to you; to gain strength and reassurance from only you. May my walk here on earth among mankind be fruitful and grace-filled. May I live simply under the shelter of your wings and may Your purpose for me be fulfilled. In Jesus’ Wonderful Name, Amen.

The Life Within...

My reading and studies lately have taken me to a new place. A place where I’ve been focussing on the Spirit within, a new found obedience, the pursuit of silence and the need to surrender.

The shift in focus from what is seen to unseen...
The yearning to feel at peace with my life as it is now...
The desire to turn to Him for His guidance, clarity, reassurance and understanding...
The re-training of a mindset formed by years and years of spiritual neglect...
The acceptance of a life reborn and made new...
The need to please a Father who has given me so much...
The longing to allow the Spirit within to help me become the woman God knows I can be.

Please enjoy the verse below. It’s a long paraphrase but one that expands quite well on the concept of an unseen Spirit dwelling within us; guiding us, comforting us, helping us, nurturing us and being with us at all times. It’s quite a comforting realisation actually.

“But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God's terms. It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!” – Romans 8:11 (MSG)

Thank You Heavenly Father for choosing to dwell within me; for seeing the potential in me. Thank You for giving me this gift of life with You and the calm reassurance of having you present all day and every day. In Jesus’ Wonderful Name, Amen.

Correct Scrutiny...

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
- Psalm 139:23-24 (KJV)

These verses, studied in my morning devotional "Every Day with Jesus" (Rev Dr Selwyn Hughes), seem apt upon my return, as such, to blogland with the theme being self-examination. The reminder that self-examination must be carried out in the presence of the Spirit. It's no good judging oneself with our limited thinking. It's not the correct way.

We must review our relationship with God on a regular basis through Spiritual reflection. Where am I falling down? What/who is in my life that shouldn't be?

We must remember to never engage in self-pity as it is, as Hughes writes, the enemy of repentance. Self-pity "...is an attempt to remove the souls pain by humanistic means rather than entrusting oneself to God His Holy Spirit."

In Matthew 5:21-24, 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 and 2 Corinthians 13:5-6 we are told to ask God to reveal any "offensive way" in us and to postpone worship to set things right with others and God.

It is important to examine ourselves prior to partaking of the Lord's Supper to make sure our heart is right, we worship the right way (not "unworthingly") and that we are in the right head, and most importantly, heart space.

Thank You Heavenly Father for revealing these messages to me at the right time. I pray that I will look to You first for fruitful and correct Spiritual self-examination instead of thinking that I, in my frail humanistic form, am able to do it alone. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

He Never Let Go...

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

I did...but He never did. That is why He is my Saviour.

Sunday's Coming...

On the eve of Good Friday here in Australia, I want to share this video that was sent in a Tangle email today. Over this Easter weekend folk will spend time with family, go away on holiday, enjoy sumptuous meals and even over-indulge in other areas; me however, I will delight in time spent with my Lord and Saviour, enjoy the gift of my daughter and eagerly anticipate growth as God's Girl. And why? Because of Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice for me and for us.

"The story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion is one of betrayal, brutality, despair, and pain. Yet we know even before His death that redemption was promised to be coming soon. We know that the story does not end at the cross. We know what many did not realize -- that Sunday's comin'." - Igniter Media Group

Into Your Hands...

The following is taken from Walter Wangerin's fictional adaptation novel "Jesus" and is from the viewpoint of Jesus' 'Beloved' John. It IS fictional writing, but it is also emotion stirring writing.

"Mary lets go of my arm. She stands up. She faces Jesus, and speaks those same words herself, out loud: 'Father, into.'

Jesus manages to open one eye. But he cannot focus. Nor is he able to talk anymore. Neverthless, he moves his lips soundlessly while Mary speaks aloud the words he forms. It is his sentiment; it is her voice.

They are praying:

'Father. Into your hands. I commend my spirit.'

'Amen.'

But Jesus' Amen is really only Ahhhhhhhh, for it is his final breath, expiring; and his head descends the length of his neck and he dies."

And then...we were made free. Humble praise to our Lord Jesus.