Good morning

When I say good morning I mean to say:

G - od

O - ffers us His

O - utstanding

D - evotion to

M - ake us

O - bedient &

R - eady for a

N - ew day with Him.

I - nspire others please, and

N - ever forget

G - od loves you!

The Word of God ~ The Bible

Look at the prayer of Moses:

Deuteronomy 32:2

       "Let my teaching fall like rain
       and my words descend like dew,
       like showers on new grass,
       like abundant rain on tender plants."

Look at what Paul says:

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it       grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

The Word of God is like dew and rain that water our souls and enable us to grow into spiritual maturity.

Holidays

We have been touring around Victoria - visiting cemeteries - taking photos of headstones of relatives past.  We have been to some very small out of the way cemeteries - have had some trouble finding some.

It never ceases to amaze me that in some heavily populated communities of the past there is nothing today to show that they were even there - the only evidence is from their birth/marriage/death certificates and the memories of those still alive.  You drive to where they say or where they took you as a child and it is just bush.  You may recognize a tree or two which appeared in their back yard and guess 'well this must be where it was!'

We visited an uncle who at 80 is doing really well - he shared of the time that they built there first house [he was just a kid] they built it in the middle of the road because it was the hardest smoothest ground - that ground became their floor.  Then they moved to Adelaide so they pull it all down and take it with them - no wonder there is no evidence of life having been there.

It really makes you think - years from now when I am just an ancient relative - what will be remembered - what difference will I have made by living?

Mixed emotions

We spent the weekend in Maryborough [Vic] catching up with my husband's family and generally revisiting the old haunts. I was 8 1/2 when we moved there and left just after my 22nd birthday - so I guess you could say I spent my informative years there. I lived in 7 different houses in that time and each one evokes different memories.

- the first house gives memories of community, real community, everyone knew everyone and all us kids played together even though we went to different schools, churches and were from vastly different backgrounds.

- the second house about the only memory it evokes is the night it burned and the following traumas that that caused.

- the third house was a fill in house somewhere to live while the previous was being fixed - but we never went back - too many nightmares - it was this house that I grew close to my adopted Aussie grandparents - some really fond times - adopted little cousins to enjoy and spoil.

- the fourth house possibly my favourite house as far as houses go - a bit of a mansion with servants' quarters etc... I got to sleep in the pantry [just big enough for the bare essentials] which had a cellar [a place of solitude]. There were some good family memories here.

- the fifth house this brings about different memories - this is where mum struggled the most - where family life changed the most - this is the house I was married from and a new chapter started for me.

- the sixth house this is where we set up our first home - it didn't last long as the house was sold and we had to move.

- the seventh house this was a great little place - lots of great memories - from here we moved to Melbourne - new jobs - new church - new friends.

It was good to go back!

We visited the old schools - it is sad to see them sitting there empty and vandalised - to wonder what they will become in time?

We passed my best friend's house from those early years - the tree we spent many hours sitting in and talking is gone - she too has gone from this life - I have lots of happy memories from our time together growing up!

Walking down the main street is fascinating - trying to remember what used to be there - some come easily to the memory some it is a struggle - the place has changed over the last 33 years - yet in some ways is still the same.

It is good to go back - we will again on Cup day as the "Smart" family are having a reunion - all the rellies will be gathering to remember - to catch up - to add bits to the family tree that has grown so many branches and lots more twigs have been added - it will be a great day!

T H I N K

T- is it True?

H- is it Helpful?

I- is it Inspiring?

N- is it Necessary?

K- is it Kind?

What's your theological worldview?

What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists. Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 71% Fundamentalist 54% Emergent/Postmodern 46% Neo orthodox 43% Classical Liberal 36% Charismatic/Pentecostal 32% Reformed Evangelical 29% Modern Liberal 14% Roman Catholic 14%

A big weekend

Saturday 10th May was National Thanksgiving day and Sunday 11th was Mothers' day and Pentecost!

How do you cover all these important happenings!

For us - the previous weekend was our 24/7 prayer so we slipped the 'National Thanksgiving' into that - it fitted in well.

Yesterday we used the first segment of our service to honour 'Mothers' day' - did the traditional flowers/sharing etc... then used Albert Orsborn's song [944] as a link through to Pentecost -

O Lord, regard thy people,

Whose love designs to frame

This house of glad remembrance,

And here inscribe thy name.

To thee, the sure foundation,

Our witness would we raise,

Her walls to speak salvation,

Her gates to tell thy praise.

We thank thee for our birthright,

Secured at such a price;

Forbid that we despise it,

Or shrink from sacrifice.

Inspire our hearts to serve thee,

Thy chosen path to tread,

That we may follow boldly

Where nobler hearts have led.

I thought it was great that Mothers' day and Pentecost were on the same day - because people were already thinking about their heritage - their beginnings - the people who have influenced their lives not only personally but in a corps setting - it became a natural progression to think about our spiritual heritage - the beginning of the church - the greatest influencer of all - the Holy Spirit!!!

Wedding Photo

Saturday

May 5th

1973

Our Wedding!

ANZAC Day 2008

Each year in the Home League before ANZAC day we remember! We look at out past, our traditions, we share memorabilia from our families who went to war, we talk about those left at home, the effect when families were reunited and those who weren't but the thing that always stands out the most - is the comraderie of those days whether you were activiely at war or left behind - that real sense of community in all it's fullness.

The actual day of ANZAC our band played at Yinnar [an association we have had for over 50 years] - it is only a small town with smaller communities around - and they come from all the surrounding areas and pay their respect - a short march with a pipe band leading - wreaths laid - then into the community hall for the actual ceremony - we sing hymns - our guest speaker is a local, a VCE student - he speaks well about ANZAC what it means to him to his fellow youth - we stand in silence and remember - the last post - silence - "Lest we forget" - reveille - then 'Advance Australia Fair' - our children just love our national anthem - they sing it at the top of their voices - they are so proud to be Australian - to carry on the traditions of our diggers - to carry on the spirit of the ANZACs!

My Dad

My dad would have been 86 today!

When I was little he always called me his little 'imp' [someone who is playfully mischievious] which I guess summed me up pretty well then and still does now! He knew me well!

For a few years before I married I lived at home with just dad & mum ~ it was different with my siblings gone ~ dad & I had some great debates/discussions ~ we shared the running of the house ~ my dad had an amazing mind ~ maths came natural to him ~ he was a force to be reckoned with when it came to chess ~ in all card games he knew every card that had been played and who played it. I learnt so much in those few years!

When we had been married just over a year we moved to Melbourne and not long after that my parents moved to Queensland. After that I only saw my dad in person 3 times:

My parents came to my commissioning in 1980 which was busy and rather hectic, but we did manage to get some time together ~ he was so proud!

Then they came and stayed with us in Busselton for a couple of weeks ~ we showed them around ~ I had some wonderful walks along the beach in those weeks ~ just dad & me ~ we talked about so many things!

Then in 1993 we travelled to Townsville for their 50th wedding anniversary and they met our daughter ~ it was the only time she met her grandparents ~ during our time there dad & I were able to talk again ~ he was in the early stages of Alzheimers ~ he had things he needed to share ~ he needed to say goodbye while he was still able ~ he made some requests which we discussed ~ we came to an agreement.

As always he was right ~ his predictions of his illness ~ what the future held for him ~ my part in that future ~ everything was as he said it would be.

Then on Friday 11th February 2005 he went home to be with His Lord!

It was time for me to keep my promise ~ we had said our goodbyes over 11 years ago ~ so the day my dad was buried in Townsville ~ I spent the time alone ~ I sang his favourite song and remembered the man I called "DAD"

So today on his 86th birthday again I sing his favourite song:

1.

Life is a journey;

Long is the road,

And when the noontide is high

Souls that are weary

Faint 'neath their load,

Long for the waters, and cry:

Chorus:
The well is deep and I require
A draught of the water of life,
But none can quench
My soul's desire
For a draught of the water of life;
Till one draws near
Who the cry will heed,
Helper of men in their time of need,
And I, believing, find indeed
That Christ is the water of life.

2.

Life is a seeking,

Life is a quest,

Eager and longing desire;

Unto the true things,

Unto the best,

Godward our spirits aspire.

3.

Life is a finding;

Vain wand'rings cease

When from the Saviour we claim

All we have longed for,

Solace and peace,

And we have life in His name.

...........and I remember the man I called "DAD"

Check this out!!!!

Worth the read!

http://onematters.blogspot.com/2008/04/freegans.html

The woman with the issue

"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak." [Matthew 9:20]

The woman described in Matthew 9:20 had faith. She believed she would be healed if she did but touch the very hem of his garment. If you understand Hebrew thought you'll understand the significance of the story.

Why did the woman touch the hem?

The hem of a Hebrew's prayer shawl is very important. The prayer shawl worn by Hebrew men is called a tallit. The fringe on the corner of the tallit is called a tzitzit. In Numbers 15 God directs the Hebrews to make fringes on the borders (also called corners or wings) of their garments to remind them of God's law!
"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.39You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes." [Numbers 15: 38-39]
There are 613 actual commandments in the Torah-248 positive and 365 negative. Each tzitzit consist of eight strands and five double knots. According to one Jewish numerological tradition, the numerical values of the Hebrew letters for the word for tassel (tzitzit) totalled 600. Six hundred plus eight plus five is 613, the traditional number of biblical commandments. During the first century, a tradition associated with the tallit is that the tzitzit of the Messiah had healing powers. "The Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings" [Malachi 4:2].

The woman must have known of this tradition and in faith she touched the wings of His garment showing she believed Jesus is the Messiah!

Our Hebrew Roots

We study a Hebrew book-written by Hebrews; we serve a Hebrew Lord-who had Hebrew disciples; we desire to follow the first century church-which was first predominately Hebrew; and through Christ, we are grafted into a Hebrew family! It makes sense to study the Hebrew culture.

Much of the Bible is mysterious to most Australians. The perplexing phrases, puzzling actions, the sometimes difficult-to-understand words of Jesus, unconventional holidays, and parables are only understood with an awareness of the Hebrew culture. A Christian's roots are deep in Judaism through Christ, all the way back to Abraham!

"If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:29)

Studying Scripture from our Australian view is like looking for gold in a dark mine with a dim pen light--we can see enough to stumble around but we need more light to see clearly. A good grasp of the ancient Hebraic customs and terminology would allow us to reexamine Scripture in this powerful flood light, exposing intricate details and treasures.

Women

I just love Wednesdays - it is a day with the women.

First - soldiership classes

Second - Bible study

Third - Lunch

Fourth - Home League

Fifth - Afternoon Tea

It is always good to spend time looking at what it means to be a soldier in The Salvation Army - to find out where people are in their thinking about soldiership - why they want to join.

Sitting with women around the word of God is amazing - one can almost see a cartoon light bulb going on just above their heads at times - the deep sharing of their history - where they stand with God - the challenge of today.

Lunch is always different - we all choose different food - different drinks - and the conversation is always different.

Home League today was "Biscuit Bonanza" - Bonanza means "a sudden happening that brings good fortune" or a good synonym would be 'manna from heaven' - and that is exactly what we had today - what a variety of biscuits - we filled our little bags with many biscuits to take home and enjoy with the family - we experienced 'chocolate ripple cake' [made from chocolate ripple biscuits] and we turned Marie biscuits into candles to remind us to let our lights shine in the world - and we can do that by sharing our 'bonanza' with others.

Unmasking the Divine

The Book of Esther is the only book in the Bible where God is never mentioned. The sages explain that that epoch, immediately after the destruction of the First Temple, signalled a monumental change in the way God relates to His world. The Temple itself (and before that the Tabernacle) was a medium of Divine revelation. When the Temple was destroyed (because of rampant sin), God entered a mode of hiddenness. In fact, the Divine hand shapes the entire Purim story, but it is concealed in the guise of "coincidence," "luck," and the seemingly natural unfolding of events.
"Hiddenness" is an essential characteristic of God in this world. Even the Hebrew word for "world" -- "olam" -- comes from the root word meaning "hidden." From the time of the Purim story until today, our challenge in this world is to expose the Divine hiding behind the appearances of our everyday world.
The term for that is "Kiddush Hashem." Every time we choose generosity, truth or integrity we are revealing God in this world. We are unmasking the Divine.
Every time we choose meanness, pettiness or dishonesty, we camouflage God and add another layer to the Divine disguise. This generates a Hillul Hashem. We create a world where, for ourselves and everyone around us, God is missing.
The climax of the Purim story takes place when Queen Esther, risking her life to do so, invites King Xerxes and his viceroy, the debonair and courtly Haman, to a private dinner in her quarters. There Queen Esther reveals the plot of genocide against her and her people. The king, outraged, demands to know who is the culprit behind the plot. In one of the most dramatic flourishes in Scripture, Queen Esther points to Haman and exposes his true identity: "A vile man! An enemy! This evil Haman!"
Purim is about hiddenness, shrouded identities, and beguiling appearances. It challenges us to expose the truth, like Queen Esther did. Unlike Queen Esther, however, we point not at the villain, but at the Divine. "Here He is... behind what happened to me today." "Here He is... behind the beauty of nature." "Here He is...."
At every moment, we can reveal God either by identifying Him or emulating Him. We don't have to be an illustrious personage to reveal God in this world.

The King's Feast

The Book of Esther begins by describing a lavish feast thrown by King Xerxes for his subjects. Like everyone else, the Jewish citizens of the realm attended. The sages assert that the genocidal decree against the Jews that Haman later enacted (with the approval of the king) was the result of ordinary Jews' attending the feast.
According to the Talmud, King Xerxes was celebrating the conclusion of 70 years since the beginning of the exile from Judea. Since the prophet Jeremiah had prophesized that the Babylonian exile would last for 70 years (counting from the destruction of the First Temple, not from the initial stage of the exile), Xerxes concluded (wrongly) that the victory over the Jews could now be deemed complete and final. For his celebratory feast, he used the sacred vessels from the Temple, and came dressed in the garments of the High Priest.
The sages are quick to point out that kosher food was served to the Jewish citizens. No laws of the Torah were transgressed at the feast. Yet, the sages maintain, the punishment for attending was a decree of extermination from which the Jews only narrowly escaped. Why?
Attendance at King Xerxes' feast was a Hillul Hashem. While the Temple and its vessels were meant to sanctify the mundane constituents of the physical world, Xerxes' feast did precisely the opposite: By using the sacred vessels for mundane purposes, the party degraded what was holy. The Jews should have responded to this sacrilege by mourning and distancing themselves. Instead, the temptation to attend a party at the palace overcame them. Their attendance was an implicit endorsement of Xerxes' worldview, a world in which God was conspicuously absent.
According to the Talmud, Hillul Hashem is the hardest sin to atone for, because, by its very nature, its effect is so widespread that it is virtually impossible to undo the damage. Once the stone has been thrown into the pond, who could possibly stop the ripples?

3-DIMENSIONAL ACTIONS

Every action a human being does has three dimensions of effect.
It affects:
the performer of the action.
the other person or persons involved.
those who witness the action, indeed the whole society.
For example, if A steals money from B,
A affects himself; his own level of honesty and integrity is diminished.
He also affects B, who is not only out that amount of money, but whose level of trust is now diminished.
In addition, he affects whoever witnesses or hears of the theft, for stealing is now added to their concept of possible human behaviour. The more thefts they witness or hear about, the more the "possible" becomes the "normal."
This third effect actually encompasses not only those individuals who witness or hear about the theft, but society as a whole.
Individuals started to steal. Each and every theft chipped away at the standard of honesty in society. What was once idiosyncratic became the norm. In this same way, every action performed by every individual, subtly but tangibly, affects the whole.
Judaism has two words that embody this concept.
"Kiddush Hashem" means those actions that reveal God's presence in the world.
"Hillul Hashem" means those actions that hide God's presence.
Whenever a human being performs an act of integrity, honesty, kindness, compassion, or self-sacrifice, he is revealing godliness in the world.
"Kiddush Hashem" literally means "sanctifying the Divine Name." Although the term is most often used to describe grand, heroic deeds, such as when Jews have chosen death rather than forsaking their religion, it applies as well to any action that reveals God in the world.
Since kindness is an attribute of God, more kindness in society means a greater revelation of God in the world.
Conversely, whenever a human being performs an act of meanness, cruelty, avarice, dishonesty, or selfishness, he is hiding God's presence in this world.
"Hillul" comes from the Hebrew word for "empty space"; a Hillul Hashem makes the world seem empty of God.
Every action is a stone thrown into an infinite pond; the ripples it causes go out in ever greater circles, endlessly.

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday - so many different emotions go with this day.

Jesus - resolutely set himself on Jerusalem and all that entailed. He knew before Sabbath came again He would be dead and in the tomb. Yet He was still Jesus and He did the Jesus thing - He stopped at Zaccheus house, healed blind Bartimaeus, cursed a fig tree, cried over Jerusalem - went to Temple and cleared out the moneychangers. His sole purpose to "save His people from their sins" - to be the ultimate 'pascal' lamb.

The disciples had other ideas -

Peter thought for sure that this year in Jerusalem - this passover - as they celebrated Moses bringing their ancestors out of Egypt - that Jesus - Messiah - would take Jerusalem and kick out the Romans. He was so sure - he carried a sword - ready for battle and before week's end - he had used it.

Judas - he was so annoyed with Jesus - Jesus wasn't doing it right at all - Jesus let this woman pour expensive perfume all over His head - and commended her for it. Every time Judas thought about it - he called smell the perfume in his nostrils - it just angered him more. Somewhere on that journey to Jerusalem Judas started to talk with other disgruntled people - people who wanted to get rid of Jesus - so Judas waits to see what Sunday brings - he is bitterly disappointed - Jesus didn't do what Judas expected Him to do - so instead of walking away - he decides to at least get something out of this whole fiasco - something for the three years he has wasted.

So many different emotions!!!

Obedient to God

God placed the burden on my heart to pray the boundaries of our property. I wasn't sure what He wanted me to pray - or how He wanted me to do that - 7 times like Jericho [would the building fall down] - just the 1 day or more. So I've been praying for divine inspiration.

God has a great sense of humour and I love His surprises!

We have CBO's who do their 'time' as volunteers - we were given one for 3 months 12 hours a week who has all the experience needed for a perfect quartermaster - let me tell you we needed one most urgently. He has done the most spectacular work on our property - the equipment has all been serviced and in top condition - but as with all these folks they move on.

It has been 2 weeks [no replacement in sight] and yes the lawns needed mowing, whipper snipping needs doing and it's time to spray the weeds again.

So yesterday [a public holiday for labour day - celebration of 8 hour working day] I decided to pop down the hall and mow them. It was for me an obedience thing - out of gratitude to God for sending us this guy I wanted to give something back - how appropriate to mow the lawns [must have some of God's humour in me] - but not only that I wanted to sow somethiing for the future as well - by being willing to give of my time and energy into mowing the lawns - that God would bless my tithe so to speak!

But as always God surprises me - it takes about 1 and half hours to walk our lawns pushing the mower - and guess what? I walked the whole boundary of our property and was able to pray every inch of the way - and all the places in between - back & forth - back & forth.

It was a great time of praise to God for all His benefits - also time for sharing concerns - 3 things really stood out in that prayer time and I want to share them with you - so when you pray for us here at Morwell you pray with knowledge.

First - I prayed that God would bring the right people into our lives at the Corps - people who would improve us [like our CBO who improved our grounds so much] - improve our ministry [like our CBO and the servicing of our equipment].

Second - I prayed that God would make this property a place of health - a place where people can come for all manner of healing - that even for the myriads of people who walk pass our property that they would be touched by that health - that in that distance from one boundary to the next they would have peace, health, and joy brought into their lives.

Third - I prayed that we would be a debt-free corps [ I mean more than finances here] that we wouldn't be a burden on anyone in our ministry in this place - not on our own people - not on our city - not on DHQ nor THQ!

I came home from that time with God - hot, sweaty, dirty, but most blessed!

And yes if it is a more than one off event - I will be most willing to be obedient to that!

Some definitions

A stronghold is anything that has a "strong hold" on God's people. It is like a spiritual "bunker" in one's mind that is built of wrong thoughts which gives enemy spirits a protected place from which they can interfere, influence and interrupt the move of God's Spirit in one's personal life, family life and church life.

"Negativity" ~ habitual scepticism and a disagreeable tendency to deny or oppose or resist suggestions or commands.

Moe Jazz Festival

There are many celebrations happening in Latrobe City this long weekend - one of them is the Moe Jazz Festival. There is a street march - which the fire trucks lead - Latrobe City Band follows and then various others - finishing with the Jazz Band.

On occasions I help the City Band - today was one of those occasions! I can't even remember the last time I marched and played my cornet - that's how long ago it was!

And who reads music that close to their nose - I think I need a bell lyre - I had to take my glasses off to get the music in focus.

My conclusion - it was great fun - but I am exhausted - knees, shoulders, lower back, not to mention the thumbs!

Lifetime dream fulfilled

St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Morwell has a 1873 Speechly & Ingram Pipe Organ.

It was renovated in 1997 and placed in their church.

It was my greatest privilege to sit in the loft at this magnificent instrument and put fingers and feet to work and hear the melodious sounds echo around the church.

The haunting sounds of "Phantom of the Opera" ~ to keep that setting and play:

When peace like a river

Attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea-billows roll,

Whatever my lot,

Thou hast taught me to know

It is well, it is well with my soul

Truly spine tingling!!!!

You have no funds - withdrawal refused!

Don't you just love people who think they can continously withdraw without actually making deposits.

They think there is an endless supply - and deposits are not required.

Then the time comes and they hear the words "You have no funds - withdrawal refused" and then they get annoyed and spit the dummy and it is everyone's fault.

The reality is: they just needed to make a deposit - and if they had - they could have kept on withdrawing!

Stewardship????

Is one allowed to have 'train rage'? Quietly of course!
I left home at 6:30 am to catch the 6:49 train to Melbourne - it was cancelled!
30 minutes later I caught the next train - everything ran smoothly until Richmond - there was congestion in the Loop - a gas leak - a fire - it put everything out.
So instead of arriving in Melbourne a few minutes before 9 am as planned it was almost 10 am.
My function was 9:30 am - naturally it went ahead without me and quite a few city officers who had been caught with the loop congestion!
So morning tea - a stroll around the observation deck for a 360 degree view of Melbourne from the 55th floor - apparently it takes 40 secs to get from bottom to top in the lift!
A brief bit of business - back down in the lift - walk to 'Southern Cross Station' - hop on the train for uneventful ride home arriving 2:30 pm.
So there we have it - 8 hour round trip!
Was this beneficial? Still working on that one!

APPROVED

I just love going shopping and using my ATM card - there's something about when the transaction goes through and that word appears "APPROVED". It really gives me a buzz!

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."

Corps Camp Chapel Service

We had a look at Matthew 26:6-13 ~ Jesus annointed at Bethany.

Imagine Simon's household - all busy eating - the aroma of food - the chatter - a woman appears near Jesus - not unusual - women served - probably didn't even notice her until - the smell of perfume.

Jesus would have smelt it first - after all it was His head - He doesn't react - He accepts the gift - this prepares His body for burial - it's not far away now - He knows this isn't going to happen to His body when it is placed in the tomb - so the perfume flows over His head - through His beard!

The smell reaches the disciples noses - their noses tell them this is an expensive smell - it makes them think of the poor and how much food that perfume could have bought - they are indignant!

Think about the smell -

It would have lingered in Simon's house - a whole jar of perfume poured out!

Jesus as He left - walked back to Mary & Martha's - everyone He passed would have smelled it!

My question!

What kind of smell do you leave behind?

Corps Camp

Morning prayers at camp this morning - we had just finished thanking God for our camp fellowship and singing a chorus before we moved on to pray for our corps members back in Morwell. We were singing "Be still for the presence of the Lord" - we got to the second verse - the wind rose and the little chapel creaked & groaned under the strain. So here we are singing:

"Be still for the power of the Lord,

Is moving in this place,

He comes to cleanse and heal,

To minister His grace

No work too hard for Him

In faith, receive from Him,

Be still, for the power of the Lord

Is moving in this place."

God had placed "Robbie" on my heart - normally he would have been at camp with us, but he is struggling - he has since the end of November been removed from society for his own safety!

As we were singing the first verse I just wanted God to return him to his former self - but as we sang the second verse "NO WORK TOO HARD FOR HIM" - my heart broke - God can do much better than return him to his former self - God can transform him into the person He created him to be.

At that point I wanted the very best God has for "Robbie" - "Life in all it's fullness" [John 10:10]

Lord, please break into "Robbie's" life!!

"Unforced Rhythms of Grace"

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Rhythms of Grace by Keith Banks

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace

God's divine provision to ease life's pace

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace

Take His gift of rest and space

Let Him take the pressures that rob you of His joy

Let Him ease the stresses that would your peace destroy

Gently learn the unforced rhythms of grace

Take your time to seek His face.

Powerful words!

Day off

Wow!!! It is really going to happen tomorrow - a day off



Yay!!!!




Saturdays have always been our day off - it suits us perfectly - but of course sometimes stuff happens and we don't get it.




Saturday 19th January
great day off - our daughter came down and we spent the whole day together - just me and her - the best!!!




Saturday 26th January
dedication of CSM's grand daughter - what a awesome time - meeting the extended family - I just loved the grand children, grand nieces/nephews - delightful families.





Saturday 2nd February
wedding of a soldier - a real corps wedding - a Salvation Army wedding - awesome worship - awesome celebration.




Saturday 9th February
what will I do?

Saturday 16th February
"Graceworks" - Territorial Women's Bible Convention - this will be truly amazing

Saturday 23rd February
Corps camp @ Lake Tyers - this will be great this year - we will actually know people - looking forward to some really great fellowship




Saturday 1st March
Daughter's birthday BBQ @ her Aunty’s place - somewhere central to make travelling easier.




Saturday 8th March
So far clear - what will I do?

Esther

I just love the book of Esther - the intrigue - the working out of God's plan!

Eternal

Salvation

Through

His

Everlasting

Redemption

Sallybloggers

If you are a Sallyblogger [namely, a Salvationist (or connected in some way) who writes a blog] there are 2 places you can belong.

Sallybloggers on Facebook!

http://www.jvager.f9.co.uk/html/sallybloggers.html

Eagle

True friendship

A reminder

A timely reminder for me - have had a couple of days where things have happened causing the plans to fade away into oblivion.

You get home and haven't achieved anything that was planned - really tired - yet when you reflect it has all be good - just not what you expected!!!

A bit quirky

Pasquinade

A slight adaptation of something I heard Bill Hybels share.

“If I vision cast with the tongues of men and angels but live and lead without the love of God at the core of who I am. I am a ringing cell phone or worse a clamouring, vacuous, corporate type.

If I have the gift of leadership and can provide direction and build teams and set goals, but fail to exhibit Christlike kindness or give Christ the credit for my accomplishments, in the eyes of God all my achievements count for precisely nothing.

If I give my salary to the poor, my vast library of books to a cadet, my local officers’ bodies to be burned, but neglect to relate and work in a manner worthy of the One who’s name I bear, in the final analysis, it all counts for precisely nothing.

A close, humble walk with Christ never fails, it strengthens the heart, it redirects the will, it restrains the ego, it purifies the motives, it never fails.

When I was a young leader, independent and too busy to pray, I blew stuff up and wounded every third person I led. But now that I am mature, and have left my childish ways, I do that somewhat less.

And now these three remain, the faith to follow God boldly, the hope to press on even when your heart is breaking, the love to enrich the hearts of all of those I lead, and the greatest of these is the love that only comes from a quiet, close daily walk with Christ.”

Some everyday Aussies!

Installing Love

Tech Support: Yes, how can I help you?

Customer: Well , after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me through the process?

Tech Support: Yes. I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?

Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?

Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?

Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?

Tech Support: What programs are running?

Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.

Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs. Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?

Customer: I don't Know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?\

Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness. Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, 'Error - Program not run on external components.' What should I do?

Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart. In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.

Customer: So, what should I do?

Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files: Forgive-Self; Realise Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.

Customer: Okay, done.

Tech Support: Now, copy them to the 'My Heart' directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?

Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before We hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet. They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.

Customer: Thank you, God.