It has been months since I have had a chance to write. It has therefore taken me days to try and work out how to get back on my BLOG. My BLOG address finally worked, and then I couldn't send a POST. I forgot my password. Now I am back on track, I can't stop writing.
It was about 6 years ago, at the beginning of a Christmas Service, we received a TEXT. Now if Mark had shown it to me in the sermon, I might not have reacted so, but it happened while singing a Christmas carol. The TEXT said: "Mary has died".
If you have read my other BLOG, "In the Hands of God", you will know that Mary was my big sister. She had been fighting bone cancer for many years. We knew she was near the end and was getting reading to travel down to Melbourne to see her, probably for the last time. I suddenly realized I wouldn't be seeing her, and the tears started.
I started thinking about my Dad, and that got me missing him as well, along with the rest of the family, for I also realized I was the only one left. It was at Mary's funeral that I suddenly realized that what a wonderful Christmas they would be having with the Lord.
I know that some Churches believe that when we die we don't go straight to Heaven, but it was my old mate, Chuck Swindoll that reminded me a few days ago that as a Christian we need to believe that our family and friends are with the Lord. This faith not only gives us comfort in our grief; but takes away any fear we may have of moving on when we die.
Every Christmas as I celebrate with my small family - husband, son and now his lovely wife - I can't help but think about the wonderful time, my larger family are having in Heaven. This understanding does give me COMFORT, but more so, it gives me STRENGTH, as I too face a `CERTAIN' future.
Friday, December 25, 2009
CHRISTMAS DAY
What a day? I can't believe it is Christmas already. We are without a `base', so we have travelled to Sydney to spend Christmas with Aaron & Emily (our son and new daughter in law), and her family.
The trip has gone really well, except for one little nitch - we blew 2 tyres on the caravan. The first - at Raymond Terrace - was easy to fix; but the other, on the highway coming into to Sydney was not so easy. Not only was the tyre a mess, but as it was Christmas Eve, communication was not as good - the NRMA got a little confused, and we sat by the side of the road, with the 2 dogs for 3 hours.
Funny enough, Mark didn't get as stressed as I thought, as he TRUSTED the NRMA. Our prayers weren't answered as early as we thought, but they were answered.
Then something really funny - well, I think it was, and it reminded me so much of our Christian life. Mark has this great little machine, called a GPS, and he usually takes real notice of it - he trusts it with his life; a little like I do with my Bible. But when we got into Sydney, the GPS took us a different way than we'd gone before. Well, was Mark confused - do I follow the GPS or go my own way. Fortunately, he decided to follow the GPS, because as much as I love my husband, in this case, I think if we'd gone his way, we would have got lost.
Seriously - as Christians we have made a decision to TRUST THE LORD and HIS WORD. I guess because I've been doing it longer it is easier for me; but sometimes we still want to do things our OWN WAY. I am trying to help Mark see that he has made this decision to follow Christ, and He can trust Him with every detail of His life - `cause' ultimately, HE DOES CARE.
"Am I a God near at hand", says the Lord, "and not a God afar off".
JEREMIAH 23:23
"Be strong and brave. Don't be afraid.... and don't be frightened,
because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave
you or forget you." DEUTERONOMY 31:6
"Where can I flee from Your Presence? If I take the wings of the
morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there
Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me."
PSALM 139:7-9
The trip has gone really well, except for one little nitch - we blew 2 tyres on the caravan. The first - at Raymond Terrace - was easy to fix; but the other, on the highway coming into to Sydney was not so easy. Not only was the tyre a mess, but as it was Christmas Eve, communication was not as good - the NRMA got a little confused, and we sat by the side of the road, with the 2 dogs for 3 hours.
Funny enough, Mark didn't get as stressed as I thought, as he TRUSTED the NRMA. Our prayers weren't answered as early as we thought, but they were answered.
Then something really funny - well, I think it was, and it reminded me so much of our Christian life. Mark has this great little machine, called a GPS, and he usually takes real notice of it - he trusts it with his life; a little like I do with my Bible. But when we got into Sydney, the GPS took us a different way than we'd gone before. Well, was Mark confused - do I follow the GPS or go my own way. Fortunately, he decided to follow the GPS, because as much as I love my husband, in this case, I think if we'd gone his way, we would have got lost.
Seriously - as Christians we have made a decision to TRUST THE LORD and HIS WORD. I guess because I've been doing it longer it is easier for me; but sometimes we still want to do things our OWN WAY. I am trying to help Mark see that he has made this decision to follow Christ, and He can trust Him with every detail of His life - `cause' ultimately, HE DOES CARE.
"Am I a God near at hand", says the Lord, "and not a God afar off".
JEREMIAH 23:23
"Be strong and brave. Don't be afraid.... and don't be frightened,
because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave
you or forget you." DEUTERONOMY 31:6
"Where can I flee from Your Presence? If I take the wings of the
morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there
Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me."
PSALM 139:7-9
Moving Day
Well, school is finished for 2009! Our Bundaberg life of service is about to end! Feeling nervous? Well I have to confess, up until a few weeks ago when our furniture was being placed into the truck - it wasn't real; but now - yes - I guess I am a little nervous. But it must be something about my personality, because actually I am more excited than nervous - I love moving on!!
It is my husband I am worried about. Although he keeps telling everyone how wonderfully everything is falling into place - he is a little worried about what the future holds. Will my new job work out? Will he be able to get work at all? Will we find a place we can afford to rent?
I don't have all the answers; but one thing I do know - GOD DOES!! I can't help it - I just have to TRUST HIM!!!
On December 16th, as they were packing away our luggage, I opened up my `Word for Today' devotional booklet and this is what I read:
"God can move so quickly that one day it feels like all hell has broken loose in your life.......... The Bible uses words like straightway, immediately, and suddenly, to remind us that when God moves we must be ready to move too........ Don't let discouragement dull your faith or procrastination steal your opportunity....... You've got to decide whether you're going to accept what God has for you and move forward, or return to your house......Nothing is more important than what God is saying and doing in your life NOW; not what's going on in your house, not the actions or opinions of others. What matters is being READY!!" WORD FOR TODAY (Dec 16th)
Of course the writer was talking about preparing for the second coming of Christ, but it seemed appropriate for Mark and I, as we prepare for what God has in store for us on the Gold Coast.
In the last few weeks Mark and I have been reading 1 & 2 Timothy, and as Paul continues to encourage Timothy in his ministry, I too have felt encouraged to take the next steps in our ministry.
Finally, from my old mate Max - these words of encouragement:
"Mark it down. YOU WILL NEVER GO WHERE GOD IS NOT. You may be transferred, enlisted, commissioned, reassigned or hospitilized, but - brand this TRUTH on your heart - YOU CAN NEVER GO WHERE GOD IS NOT." EVERY DAY DESERVES A CHANCE (Max Lucado)
I understand my husband's concerns, and having not taught a Year 1 class before - I am going into the unknown. But I have learnt from experience, and I know Mark has too - that GOD IS IN THE UNKNOWN!!
Please pray for us - for Mark's faith, and God's guidance as we start this new venture!!
It is my husband I am worried about. Although he keeps telling everyone how wonderfully everything is falling into place - he is a little worried about what the future holds. Will my new job work out? Will he be able to get work at all? Will we find a place we can afford to rent?
I don't have all the answers; but one thing I do know - GOD DOES!! I can't help it - I just have to TRUST HIM!!!
On December 16th, as they were packing away our luggage, I opened up my `Word for Today' devotional booklet and this is what I read:
"God can move so quickly that one day it feels like all hell has broken loose in your life.......... The Bible uses words like straightway, immediately, and suddenly, to remind us that when God moves we must be ready to move too........ Don't let discouragement dull your faith or procrastination steal your opportunity....... You've got to decide whether you're going to accept what God has for you and move forward, or return to your house......Nothing is more important than what God is saying and doing in your life NOW; not what's going on in your house, not the actions or opinions of others. What matters is being READY!!" WORD FOR TODAY (Dec 16th)
Of course the writer was talking about preparing for the second coming of Christ, but it seemed appropriate for Mark and I, as we prepare for what God has in store for us on the Gold Coast.
In the last few weeks Mark and I have been reading 1 & 2 Timothy, and as Paul continues to encourage Timothy in his ministry, I too have felt encouraged to take the next steps in our ministry.
Finally, from my old mate Max - these words of encouragement:
"Mark it down. YOU WILL NEVER GO WHERE GOD IS NOT. You may be transferred, enlisted, commissioned, reassigned or hospitilized, but - brand this TRUTH on your heart - YOU CAN NEVER GO WHERE GOD IS NOT." EVERY DAY DESERVES A CHANCE (Max Lucado)
I understand my husband's concerns, and having not taught a Year 1 class before - I am going into the unknown. But I have learnt from experience, and I know Mark has too - that GOD IS IN THE UNKNOWN!!
Please pray for us - for Mark's faith, and God's guidance as we start this new venture!!
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