Turn with me to Psalm 37.
Have you ever read a passage in the Bible - one you've read a number of times - and found something new.
Psalm 37:3&4; 5, 7, 23&24. These are all well known passages, and uplifting:
"Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your hearts desire. Commit everything you do to the Lord, trust in Him and He will help you. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act."
"The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand."
These verses have helped me through many a difficult time, so it is not surprising that when I was told, `You have failed - again. You are no good. We don't want you'; I immediately turned to this Psalm.
These verses were comforting, but this time, it was Verse 6, that gave me the strength I needed to persevere.
"He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun."
Yes, I have made mistakes - again. But I am not a bad person, so with the strength of this promise and the love of my friends, my husband and of course the Lord, I will begin my `fight' with Education Department.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Penny Whistle
Recently I started reading some books by another Christian author - B.J HOFF - in my favourit genre - Christian historical. The Gold Coast Library doesn't have such a good selection as Bundaberg, but I have been able to find a few good books.
I started reading this one - about a teacher and his students, back in the late 1800's. I nearly put it down, because it was difficult reading about much his students loved and respected him, and what a wonderful teacher he was. But I persevered, and the story started to get a little more interesting.
The teacher in the story, Jonathon Stuart, was a musician - he played a flute; but someone had stolen it. After this, and with the fact that he was ill, made him start to think about giving up teaching. He didn't think he could go on - without the `music in him'. I don't want to give the whole story away, but in the end the children made him a penny whistle, and he began playing again. Not only that, but his love for teaching and his health was somehow renewed.
I think you can guess what that `somehow' was.
"I was so terribly, terribly wrong. It was the abscence of hope that had stolen my music, not the loss of the flute. I was living a hopeless life because I hadn't taken God into account. I had simply given up. But God hadn't apparently given up on me. He had another plan....... He reminded me of something I already knew but had temporarily lost sight of. He reminded me that hope is the real music of the soul. Without it, the human spirit cannot sour, cannot rise above the things of this earth - and sing." Jonathon Stewart, "A Distant Music' - Mountain Song Legacy - B.J HOFF.
I now know I was supposed to read this book. Oh, I have never really lost my hope, but I had lost something. In the next few months, through reading God's Word, and other books, I know I will find that `something'. I hope you will come on my journey with me.
I started reading this one - about a teacher and his students, back in the late 1800's. I nearly put it down, because it was difficult reading about much his students loved and respected him, and what a wonderful teacher he was. But I persevered, and the story started to get a little more interesting.
The teacher in the story, Jonathon Stuart, was a musician - he played a flute; but someone had stolen it. After this, and with the fact that he was ill, made him start to think about giving up teaching. He didn't think he could go on - without the `music in him'. I don't want to give the whole story away, but in the end the children made him a penny whistle, and he began playing again. Not only that, but his love for teaching and his health was somehow renewed.
I think you can guess what that `somehow' was.
"I was so terribly, terribly wrong. It was the abscence of hope that had stolen my music, not the loss of the flute. I was living a hopeless life because I hadn't taken God into account. I had simply given up. But God hadn't apparently given up on me. He had another plan....... He reminded me of something I already knew but had temporarily lost sight of. He reminded me that hope is the real music of the soul. Without it, the human spirit cannot sour, cannot rise above the things of this earth - and sing." Jonathon Stewart, "A Distant Music' - Mountain Song Legacy - B.J HOFF.
I now know I was supposed to read this book. Oh, I have never really lost my hope, but I had lost something. In the next few months, through reading God's Word, and other books, I know I will find that `something'. I hope you will come on my journey with me.
IT WORKED!!
Don't you love it when you learn how to do new things, and they actually work. Mark gets a little stressed with me at time, because I have to confess it usually takes a few times to get things right. The quality of this video is not very good - but I will keep working on it. Here's one for you Donna!
We Did It - I'm Back.
Thank you Lord, and thank you Donna - I have finally made my way back on my BLOG again, and can't start writing.
Where do I start? I don't want to spend my time writing to tell you how I have been `hard done by'. Thanks to the Lord, He has worked on my bitterness and anger, and is now readying me to return to his service. It may take time, but we will get there.
I want to spend the next 5 months, telling you about those wonderful PROMISES that God has given me over the past 6 weeks that I have been on Stress Leave. I may share a little about my situation, but just as a background to the BLESSINGS the Lord has and will continue to give me.
My prayer is that in someway, God will BLESS YOU through the PROMISES He has given me.
I'm BACK!!
* This may not work - but I am trying something new. God has blessed me with some wonderful music and I want to share it with you, so we'll see how it goes.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
RESURRECTION SUNDAY
Today would have to be one of my favourite days of the year. Easter, I hope is always an uplifting time for Christians. I was afraid that this one would be different. Term 1 as a teacher at Gilston State School has not been what I expected, and without going into too much detail; when I left Thursday afternoon, it was not with a lot of enthusiasm for Term 2.
I haven't been able to sleep, I haven't been able to relax - I have just been depressed. Do a good feeling to have at Easter. One thing Mark and I did on Good Friday, after coming home from Church was, we watched `The Passion'. The part that hit me most this year, strangely enough was what we call other prisoners on the cross, particular the one who Jesus said to, "Today you will be with me in Paradise."
When I am depressed, one of the first people who come to my mind is my big sister, Mary. No matter what would happen in my life - good or bad - I always knew Mary was there to encourage me. It cheered me a little reaffirming the fact that she was in Heaven with the Lord; but I was still feeling a little selfish, wishing she was hear with me.
I woke up this morning - Resurrection Sunday - singing choruses; the first time in ages. I had slept well and was excited about what the Lord had in store for us at Church. I wasn't disappointed - well maybe just a little. On Friday we sang some of my favourite hymns and I was hoping there would be more this Sunday. Still, it was easy to fall into worship mode. Communion was inspiring and the sermon - well, guess what it was about? You guessed it - the prisoner on the cross.
It was a wonderful sermon reminding us of God's promise of eternal life - his gift. All we needed to do was ask God to `remember us', and he would. When we die, we would be with him in Heaven. What more of an encouragement does a person need. Then it hit me - how selfish can I be. My family aren't with me, but how dare I be depressed - when they are enjoying time with the Lord in Heaven.
The challenges I face next term, will be difficult, and I may still feel lonely at times. But I don't have to feel ALONE. My family are with the Lord in `paradise', and one day I'll get to join them - when God has finished with me on earth. What wonderful PROMISES!!
I haven't been able to sleep, I haven't been able to relax - I have just been depressed. Do a good feeling to have at Easter. One thing Mark and I did on Good Friday, after coming home from Church was, we watched `The Passion'. The part that hit me most this year, strangely enough was what we call other prisoners on the cross, particular the one who Jesus said to, "Today you will be with me in Paradise."
When I am depressed, one of the first people who come to my mind is my big sister, Mary. No matter what would happen in my life - good or bad - I always knew Mary was there to encourage me. It cheered me a little reaffirming the fact that she was in Heaven with the Lord; but I was still feeling a little selfish, wishing she was hear with me.
I woke up this morning - Resurrection Sunday - singing choruses; the first time in ages. I had slept well and was excited about what the Lord had in store for us at Church. I wasn't disappointed - well maybe just a little. On Friday we sang some of my favourite hymns and I was hoping there would be more this Sunday. Still, it was easy to fall into worship mode. Communion was inspiring and the sermon - well, guess what it was about? You guessed it - the prisoner on the cross.
It was a wonderful sermon reminding us of God's promise of eternal life - his gift. All we needed to do was ask God to `remember us', and he would. When we die, we would be with him in Heaven. What more of an encouragement does a person need. Then it hit me - how selfish can I be. My family aren't with me, but how dare I be depressed - when they are enjoying time with the Lord in Heaven.
The challenges I face next term, will be difficult, and I may still feel lonely at times. But I don't have to feel ALONE. My family are with the Lord in `paradise', and one day I'll get to join them - when God has finished with me on earth. What wonderful PROMISES!!
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