This may small and insignificant but I have to share how loving and kind our Lord is.
I was feeling particularly overwhelmed today, so much to do, not enough time to bring order to the chaos. So the muddle continues and this was getting me down. Then I started humming the tune https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPtZRnQyzSM 'when the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with you above the storm. Father you are King over the flood, I will be still and know you are God'.......
- and it's like God said to me - Are you really going to believe I am the King of the flood?- king of the overwhelm(ness) that you feel. Will you be still? Let me lift you up?
Then for the first time ever my three children 4, 6 and 8yr, played peacefully and beautifully for what must have been nearly a couple of hours. I was able to do lots of homeschool preparation and it's like the Lord just knew my heart and my needs and took care of it. It was only later as I reflected on my day that I saw how the Lord had met my need and was indeed the King over the flood.
Be Still and Know that He is God, whatever mountain you face, He is Lord over it. Never doubt His power or His love for you.
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Monday, 7 April 2014
Quality Time
The other I had a very distressed four year old on my hands. It was bed time and she was screaming and not settling. I figured she was missing out on some 'mummy attention' during the day, and this little drama was her way of filling her love bucket so to speak. She calmed and we talked and I promised her I would fix it by giving her quality time the next day.
The day dawned and my little one hadn't forgotten my promise. She made it her business to insure she got her time and when the other two drew near, she would shoo them away, fiercely defensive of 'her' quality time. What then transpired was an outcry from the other two that they also wanted some quality time.
It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that we all want quality time with someone special. God created us for relationship. Firstly, with him and then with each other. We all want to be loved and validated and to feel secure and accepted.
As I thought about meeting these needs in my children, I also pondered how much our loving Heavenly Father wants quality time with His children. Why we do we look in so many obscure places for the love and validation that He longs to gives us if only we would go to Him.
So my challenge today is to make time, quality time, to build my relationship with my Father God. He is my source. He is the love I need. Then I can give out this love to my children and meet their needs.
The day dawned and my little one hadn't forgotten my promise. She made it her business to insure she got her time and when the other two drew near, she would shoo them away, fiercely defensive of 'her' quality time. What then transpired was an outcry from the other two that they also wanted some quality time.
It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that we all want quality time with someone special. God created us for relationship. Firstly, with him and then with each other. We all want to be loved and validated and to feel secure and accepted.
As I thought about meeting these needs in my children, I also pondered how much our loving Heavenly Father wants quality time with His children. Why we do we look in so many obscure places for the love and validation that He longs to gives us if only we would go to Him.
So my challenge today is to make time, quality time, to build my relationship with my Father God. He is my source. He is the love I need. Then I can give out this love to my children and meet their needs.
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
Peace, slow...
In this fast paced, busy, overflowing life I am thirsty for slow. I need calm and peace and am seeking for where such things can be found. I am working on decluttering my environment and creating a a calmer space to dwell in.
More and more I begin to see that peace is only found in Yeshua. He is my peace. He is the Prince of Peace. He freely gives us this peace. So why don't more of us have it? There must be a secret to abiding and embracing His shalom which I have yet to discover.
My early moments of quiet are so quick to flea in light of noisy demands, to do lists, the phone ringing......and I am left wanting. I am weary of all the rushing, of every thing being such an emergency. Every request has such urgency in it's tone.
Yeshua never seems to rush anywhere. In light of potential death He still avoids the pressure to hurry. Did Jairus have urgency in his request? He must have, his daughter was dying. Why doesn't Jesus come more quickly, how can he possibly stop to heal this woman? And yet, Jesus maintains His peace and moves at His pace and most importantly commands the atmosphere in which He moves. Wow, I would love to be like.
Not to let others move me, stress me, pressure me. To maintain my peace, composure and calm.
Again, when Lazarus dies, He still doesn't rush to the scene. There is a higher purpose to His timimng.
I want to lean from Yeshua. How to be in the midst of the storm. How to not be a people pleaser. How to please Him, by walking in His peace. His SHALOM. Please Lord, help me.
More and more I begin to see that peace is only found in Yeshua. He is my peace. He is the Prince of Peace. He freely gives us this peace. So why don't more of us have it? There must be a secret to abiding and embracing His shalom which I have yet to discover.
My early moments of quiet are so quick to flea in light of noisy demands, to do lists, the phone ringing......and I am left wanting. I am weary of all the rushing, of every thing being such an emergency. Every request has such urgency in it's tone.
Yeshua never seems to rush anywhere. In light of potential death He still avoids the pressure to hurry. Did Jairus have urgency in his request? He must have, his daughter was dying. Why doesn't Jesus come more quickly, how can he possibly stop to heal this woman? And yet, Jesus maintains His peace and moves at His pace and most importantly commands the atmosphere in which He moves. Wow, I would love to be like.
Not to let others move me, stress me, pressure me. To maintain my peace, composure and calm.
Again, when Lazarus dies, He still doesn't rush to the scene. There is a higher purpose to His timimng.
I want to lean from Yeshua. How to be in the midst of the storm. How to not be a people pleaser. How to please Him, by walking in His peace. His SHALOM. Please Lord, help me.
Sunday, 30 March 2014
Back to the Source
I have been a Christian for my whole life and yet I feel challenged right now to go back to my Source. Rediscover the one who I follow. It is so easy to say we follow Jesus but then recoil when His ways are uncomfortable and His requests seemingly unreasonable.
So I was wondering is it that we have been so seduced by 'the world' and all it's attractions that taking up our cross each day seems like a tall order.
I for one have bought into the notion that my life is mine to live and I am to pursue my dreams and so on. But is that really what Jesus said our lives are really about?
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and takeup his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:22-24
It seems to me, easier to do the following part, especially if that leads to Salvation and all of it's blessings, but not so easy to do the denying myself part. I'm not meant to be chasing my own pleasures, satisfying my own wants and needs and comfort. Jesus wants for me to lay aside my own agenda for my life and be available to become His disciple and walk with Him.
That sounds like an adventure in itself. I am quite excited about where that might lead. I think I have become tired of trying to work out this life for myself and make sure I live it well. It appears liberating to let Him lead. The thing is I like to be in control, so giving that over is quite monumental for me and yet quite appealing.
My challenge is : Can I lay down my agendas, my dreams, my hopes for my life and embrace Him. Let Him be my source again. Is Jesus 'enough'?
Isaiah 55v8-13
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
So I was wondering is it that we have been so seduced by 'the world' and all it's attractions that taking up our cross each day seems like a tall order.
I for one have bought into the notion that my life is mine to live and I am to pursue my dreams and so on. But is that really what Jesus said our lives are really about?
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and takeup his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:22-24
It seems to me, easier to do the following part, especially if that leads to Salvation and all of it's blessings, but not so easy to do the denying myself part. I'm not meant to be chasing my own pleasures, satisfying my own wants and needs and comfort. Jesus wants for me to lay aside my own agenda for my life and be available to become His disciple and walk with Him.
That sounds like an adventure in itself. I am quite excited about where that might lead. I think I have become tired of trying to work out this life for myself and make sure I live it well. It appears liberating to let Him lead. The thing is I like to be in control, so giving that over is quite monumental for me and yet quite appealing.
My challenge is : Can I lay down my agendas, my dreams, my hopes for my life and embrace Him. Let Him be my source again. Is Jesus 'enough'?
Isaiah 55v8-13
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)