God's Promises of Late.

When I am a little nervous about something I usually tend to do a lot more reading and writing - and funny God seems to speak to me a lot more through His word.

This morning Mark and I were reading, as we have been, the book of Jeremiah. It's been a little slow going, but in the last couple of weeks we have got into the `meat' and encouragement, as we read about the Potter. Today, we were in chapter 27, beginning at verse 7. It's entitled `Jeremiah's complaint'. It may have just been paranoia (a symptom of depression), but Jeremiah was feeling weary, ridiculed and overpowered by evil; exactly how I have been feeling lately.

But Jeremiah also said, (a little paraphrased), that even will all this negativity, he couldn't stop himself from talking about the Lord.

"His word is in my heart like a fire; a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in, indeed I cannot." Verse 9b

All his friends were waiting for him to slip, but the victory he felt in the Lord was overwhelming.

"The Lord is with me like a mighty warrior. My persecutors
will stumble and not prevail." Verse 11.

Finally, he is ready to sing praises to the Lord.

"Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life
of the needy from the hands of the wicked." Verse 13.

Jeremiah was feeling down, but he knew there was one person who would listen to him. He was struggling with decisions , he felt God had let him down a little - yet, he also knew that God was a great LISTENER!!

Through this communication between Jeremiah and God, Jeremiah received new strength to go forth and serve the Lord.

Charlie also had some encouraging words for me today:

"As difficult as it may be for you to believe this today, the Master
knows what He's doing. Your Saviour knows your breaking point.
The bruising, crushing and melting process is designed to reshape
you, not ruin you........ Aching friend, STAND FAST. Just like David
(and Jeremiah), God's hand is in your heartache. If you weren't
important do you think He would take this long and work this hard
on your life. Those whom God uses most effectively have been
hammered, filed and tempered in the furnace of trials and heartache."

Yet, in this place of exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, He will give us
rest. All we need to do is come to Him - talk to Him, listen to Him in
silence and thoroughly lose yourself in the HIDING PLACE of His
presence." Charles R SWINDOLL ("Encourage Me", 1982, Zondervan
Publishing House.)

ART THOU WEARY, ART THOU LANGUID,
ART THOU SORE DISTRESSED?
"COME TO ME", SAITH ONE,
"AND COMING, BE AT REST.

HATH HE MARKS TO LEAD ME TO HIM
IF HE BE MY GUIDE?
IN HIS FEET AND HANDS ARE
WOUND PRINTS, AND HIS SIDE.

FINDING, FOLLOWING, KEEPING, STRUGGLING
IS HE SURE TO BLESS?
SAINTS, APOSTLES, PROPHETS, MARTYRS,
ANSWER, "YES".
Henry W BAKER (17th Century)

Faith & Promises!!

I'm back!! It's been a long time, I know; but since returning from holidays (8 weeks ago), I just haven't taken the time to do much `free' writing. There's been lots of school work, visitors and housework - but not a lot of writing.

But, I won't complain, time with Mum and Dad has been good for us all. Mum and I have done a lot of talking about God and our faith - in fact, for the first time since we've known each other, Mum prayed with me. (Bit of explanation - Mum and Dad are our adopted parents, special friends we've known for many years, and have been very good to us since we've both now lost our own parents).

Mum loves nature and she sees God's wonders in every tree, sunset or little flower. I do too, but for me my relationship with a personal God is what has kept my faith strong. Over the holidays we have shared our faith with each other, discovering that we may worship differently, but we are both LOVED by a merciful and faithful God. I have always seen God as the `reachable' Father and Friend. Mum has seen Him as the great and fearful Creator. I introduced Mum to my Father and Friend, and she has introduced me to her Creator.

Recently, I've discovered I just love RAINBOWS. It hadn't been raining; but as I looked out of the car window (I wasn't driving), I saw a beautiful rainbow. Mark didn't see it, and Mum and Dad thought I'd had too many of my `happy' pills. But I'd had a bit of bad day and was feeling a little low, so God sent me his PROMISE, that He was with me.

Yesterday evening, I looked out the window - and there it was again - that RAINBOW. No rain, no clouds - just that RAINBOW. It had been a pretty good day, but still I needed that reminder of God's PROMISE.

He's a CREATOR, A FATHER and a FRIEND. He is LOVING, MERCIFUL, CARING and FAITHFUL. He's OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT and OMNIPRESENT. He's our God, and the essence of our FAITH. Why? Because HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES!!

WEDDINGS

Wedding fever is nearly over. Aaron and Emily have finished their honeymoon and are heading back to Sydney and the `real world'. Mark and I are still on the road enjoying our holiday. But as I prepare the wedding photos for my next scrapbook, it made me start to think of what a beautiful wedding our son and his lovely new wife had.

Emily looked like an angel, and Aaron was really `cute' too.

Their wedding, at the Hillsong Wedding Chapel, was a lot more high tec, than Mark and I had 25 years ago in our small family Church in Red Hill, Victoria. But one thing that was the same - their was a lot of love. The reception similar too, especially the nervous speech makers. But I was very proud of both my `boys'.



God was very much a part of this wedding, and in Mark's speech he gave some really encouraging words, including the passage from our wedding:

"It is not good that man should be alone. I will make
a partner suitable for him." (Genesis 2:18)

God introduced Eve, not made from Adam's head to TOP HIM; or his feet to be TRAMPLED ON by him. She was made from Adam's side, to be EQUAL WITH HIM, from under his arm to be PROTECTED by him, and near his heart, to be LOVED BY HIM. (Bob Gass)

I had hoped to share with you more of Mark's speech; but it got washed in his `wedding shirt' and is in pieces. But the part I loved most, was when he encouraged Emily and Aaron to begin each day with God's Word, Prayer; and talking and listening to one another. He admitted this is something it has taken him a long time to learn.

God truly has his hands on this marriage. Aaron and Emily, are not only very much in love, but are committed to serving the Lord in their marriage. This is the same committment Mark and I made 25 years ago. Things haven't always been perfect, as Emily and Aaron will find when they go back to the `real world'; but our committment to God and his service has not wavered.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Holidays!!

I didn't think I'd have a chance to do any blogging this trip; but here I am on my son's computer (he's at Uni, so he doesn't know). Our trip to Sydney was very relaxing - we took our time, met up with some friends at a caravan stop, and have spent the last few days trying to find time to spend with our son.

Mark has been a little stressed out and grumpy for most of the trip - just nervous about the caravan and the wedding; but after the wedding I'm sure he'll settle down a bit. Money is his main concern! I don't know why, God always blesses us with what we need. As my old mate, Bob Gass says:

"It takes maturity to understand that if God doesn't supply it,
you don't need it. If you needed it, he'd give it to you."



I don't know if I'm mature, Mark would call me `uncaring'. My theory is - if we run out of money, we stay put until pay day. That's what Mum and Dad do!! So far, we haven't stayed in any caravan parks - our biggest expense up to date has been washing. Aaron doesn't have a washing machine yet, and the Laundrys here charge you by the `kilo', rather than the wash. Yesterday our washing costs $17 - it was to be $25, but we took out the heavier stuff. Today Mark took Aaron's clothes down to wash (he said he was running out), and it cost $35. Unbelievable!

One thing that is believable is our PRAYER and READING THE WORD has helped us on our trip. I am a great believer that starting the day in the word is the the only way to get your day started. I even made up a little song about it, but I forgot to write it down. This is something I hope I can pass on to my son and his new lovely wife. (Mark hasn't written his wedding speech yet, maybe I can add that in).

The other day Emily's Mum Ros, who is very outgoing, said that she and I should do the speeches: 1) Because our husbands are both really shy.
2) She hates Mark's jokes. Hah!! Hah!!

At the moment I am reading a great little book on PRAYER by Bob Gass. What I love about his writings are that he always follows up what he says with Scripture.

"Without time spent in prayer what do we have to draw on? You'll work harder and accomplish less because you're operating in your own strength. But after you've prayed, you'll struggle less and accomplish more because you're operating in His strength." Bob Gass

Paul had a lot to say about this, particularly in his letter to the Philippians. I wonder if this was an area they struggled in. I love Paul's encouraging words in this letter, but of course the best words are:

"I can do anything through Christ who gives me
strength." Philippians 4:13

"

I can't stop sharing!!

I know I promised that I would move on and you wouldn't have to listen to my journalling anymore. But I just have to share about the wonderful way God is working in my life at the moment. Like my father (see earlier blog) I have faced a lot of grief in my life, and have lived with depression for many years.

Recently I was reading a book with a friend, and in it was one of those `grief timelines' - you know the denial, the anger, the depression - which is always where I have seemed to stop. I have never been able to get past that `level'.

As you know, recently I changed workplaces - and CHANGE can sometimes be a type of grief, depending on whether it is a positive or negative change. I started off with the denial, the anger - then there was the trying to change the situation myself, rather than leaning on God - and of course the depression.

In this book we are reading, I discovered too more levels, after the depression - 1) Trials and 2) Victory (or words to that effect). In the last few weeks, I have felt that I am moving out of the depression stage, for the first time, since being diagnosed in 1998. I am not ready to go off the medication (I've tried that before, but with clinical depression, it doesn't work); I still have my bad days. But now I see them as trials. Trials, that with the help of the Lord, my family and friends, can lead to victory.

I still go to school every Wednesday and Friday, and without fail will get into `trouble' - in some jobs you just can't make anybody happy. But instead of the tears, and the `giving up' mentality - I now have the `you can get through this, because the Lord wants you here.' I now don't wake up every morning, dreading going to work. I don't come home at the end of each day depressed, and ready to quit. I wake up ready to face what the Lord has in store for me, to give myself in service to others, and to come home excited about how God has used me that day.

I may not be in the total VICTORY stage, and may never get there. But I am learning how to have victory in those `small things' each day, victory you can only have through a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Therefore, we, who have fled to him for refuge,
can take new courage, for we can hold on to his
promises with CONFIDENCE. This CONFIDENCE is like
a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls."
HEBREWS 6:18&19

At my old Church I used to be one of the WORSHIP LEADERS. I would always choose a song that summed up how I was feeling that week, and it usually related really well to the `theme' of the rest of the service. If I was worship leading this week my song would be `VICTORY IN JESUS" (yes, I am a hymn person.)

In 1939, the author of this hymn Eugene M Bartlett had a serious stroke and was partially paralyzed. He used to travel around with his music ministry, but now he was confined to his bed. But, as he said, `I can still study the Bible'. he struggled to put down words on paper, and this is one of the songs he wrote.

"I heard and old, old story, how a Saviour came in glory
How He gave His life on calvary to save a wretch like me.
I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood atoning,
Then I repented of my sins and won the victory.

O VICTORY IN JESUS, MY SAVIOUR FOREVER,
HE SOUGHT ME AND BOUGHT ME, WITH HIS REDEEMING BLOOD.
HE LOVED ME ERE I KNEW HIM, AND ALL MY LOVE IS DUE HIM,
HE PLUNGED ME INTO VICTORY BENEATH THE CLEANSING FLOOD.

I heard about His healing, of His cleansing power revealing
How He mad the lame to walk again, and caused the blind to see.
And then I cried, `Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit'
And somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory.

I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea.
About the angels singing, and the old redemption story
And some sweet day I'll sing up there the song of victory.

Eugene M Bartlett, 1939. (The Complete Book of Hymns: William & Ardythe Peterson)

I should be!!

I SHOULD BE doing the vacuming but I just don't have the energy - it is still so warm for this time of year. I SHOULD BE doing some school work - but I can't get my brain into gear. I SHOULD BE finishing the filing - but most of the stuff is Mark's. I really am good at making excuses!!

Recently I was `told' by a friend that I am also quite good at COMPLAINING (not really in those words, but I got her drift). I SHOULD BE on the reading and helper roster - it's been 5 months now. I SHOULD BE able to buy myself something now and then without getting our account being overdrawn - I do earn the money. I SHOULD BE able to `quit' my job - I am just not happy at the moment.

Don't we have a lot of `SHOULD BE's' in our lives? Things we don't want to do and things we want to do, but God has other ideas.

"In everything you do, stay away from complaining
and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of
blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent
lives as children of God in a dark world full of
crooked and perverse people. Let your light shine
brightly before them." Philippians 2:14&15

I visited a friend in hospital this morning, and not surprisingly she was feeling a little negative. She was unhappy with the doctors, unhappy with her treatment, and simply bored. I asked her if there was anything I could bring her, and her answer surprized me - `just yourself'.

Why was I surprized? Well, she isn't really what you would call a `people person'; and I have been a little negative myself lately - I'd be the last person you'd want around.

As our minister said this morning, 'The best thing to do when your feeling depressed, is to do something for someone else - to think about the needs of others, rather than yourself.'.

When you are in a `SHOULD BE' mood - lazy and selfish, full of complaints - put your eyes in the WORD and your thoughts on SOMEONE ELSE. It works wonders!!

Daddy Dear!!

I have been looking over some old photos of my Dad's family, preparing for my next Scrapbook (which I can't afford to do at the moment). He loved the beach and playing cricket with his dad. Then there were the soldiering days After the war, it was life as a farmer, and then with my Mum, into Bible College. (all before my time).
What I remember is an `old man', who each night would sit us on his knee, tell us Bible Stories and sing us songs. I remember a man who told me all about how Jesus had died for me and that he wanted to be my friend.

As I sat in the Good Friday service this morning, one of the members got up to sing a solo; and if I didn't know better, I would have thought it was my dad. He just loved singing in Church - he just loved PRAISING THE LORD! Whether it be words or music, THANKS seem to flow from his lips.

Although I never knew him, I know my Dad loved his brother, who had drowned as a young teenager. Dad loved my Mum who died when she was a young mother. I remember the great times we had with his parents, before they passed away. Dad struggled with depression and grief, most of his life. But what I remember most is those arms raised and that voice full of the joy to the Lord. Thanks Dad!!

"Always be JOYFUL. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be THANKFUL, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18