This Whirlwind We Call Life

Whirlwind is the only appropriate word I can think of to describe life at the moment.  I know I say it every time, but life is busy.  It has been so busy I wonder sometimes if it's all really worth it.  (Of course, I know it is, but you know, when you're tired you ask yourself silly questions.)  I have been intending to blog for some time now, and it just hasn't happened.  Well, it's happening now, and I shall attempt to sum up the last few weeks and the next few so as to update you on this whirlwind we call life.  

I can't even remember where I left off on my last post... *goes and checks*  Oh my goodness!!  It's been over a month!!!  Oops...

At the end of October/start of November, we had our family church camp.  As always, it was wonderful.  Our pastor asked me and another guy,Jeremy, to organize the games for the Saturday seeing as we had both been to kids camp a few weeks before.  We agreed and got together to organize it.  I have to say it was rather amusing as we are both very laid back and organizing isn't a strong point for either of us (although I think I do have the upper hand in that department out of the two of us!  XD)  We sat there for a bit and for the life of us could only remember two or three games from kids camp and we weren't sure how they would apply to a big group.  In the end, we scrapped kids camp inspiration and came up with our own ideas, even taking a couple of games and putting our own twist on them and making up our own rules to make them work for 50+ people.  It didn't go too badly at all.  Capture the flag was the hit game of the day.  We had four teams (Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green) and so there were two colours to a side for each round of the game.  Jeremy insisted on swapping the teams around every round of the game though, so as not to create any animosity between people of any two colour teams.  I have to say, that amused me somewhat.

Just in front of the sand, near the logs on the left
is where we have church by the lake.  Isn't it beautiful??
(Picture from the Generate Church Website)

On Sunday morning, we always have church by the lake at camp.  Because we are down by the lake, we have water baptisms there every year.  This year I decided to be water baptised.  Our pastor asked me if I would share my testimony with the church as well.  I agreed, but I was rather nervous.  I won't repeat it all here, but if you are interested in reading it, I wrote it all in a guest post over at Fullness of Joy.  What you read on the post is more than what I shared with the church.  I did intend to share most of it when I got up, but then I had a microphone in one hand and couldn't open my paper with the other because I was shaking too much!  So I said the main points as I could remember them, and I think it went exactly the way God wanted it, even if it wasn't what I had planned.  People told me afterwards that I spoke well and didn't sound or look nervous at all.  That was so encouraging!!  

The weekend after family camp, I had - wait for it! - another camp!!  This one was the kids camp out for our kids church, of which I am one of the leaders.  we were so pleased with the attendance and participation of the kids (we ended up with seven boys and seven girls.)  I was in charge of the food for the weekend and went shopping with co-leader Christy which was an experience all of it's own as we are like chalk and cheese with completely different personalities.  (Christy will write lists of lists she has to write, and I am like, "Oh, there were lesson plans for that??"  It is quite funny - we crack each other up!) 

The highlight of the weekend for me was on Saturday night when a few of the youth band came and did some worship with the kids.  We were so grateful and blessed to have them come - a couple of them even postponed plans they already had for the evening just to come and minister to the children.  To those of you who did that, I know you probably won't ever read this, but your selfless actions blew me away - your kingdom focus is amazing and I thankyou all from the bottom of my heart.  I know that the leaders and kids alike were incredibly blessed by the way you served us and the Lord.  

While we were all sitting in a circle singing along to the acoustic guitars, we got to the bit in Hosanna  where it says:

Heal my heart and make it clean,

Open up my eyes to the things unseen.

Show me how to love like you have loved me.

Break my heart for what breaks yours.

Everything I have for the kingdom's cause

As I walk from earth into eternity.

As those lines started the kids lifted up their voices and sang.  Yes, they sing other times, but this was worship and hearing their young voices singing out to their God to break their hearts for the things that break His, and committing themselves to the Kingdom of God, it brought tears to my eyes.  This is why we - my co-leaders and I - continue in kids ministry.  Hearing them worship that night puts it all in perspective.  When the presence of God comes and responds to the praise and the worship of children, you realize you have the key to changing the world.  Children respond to the presence of God, and God works powerfully  through them.  In our kids church, we have children who speak in tongues, children to have been baptised in the Holy Spirit, children who have seen visions from God and have learned to interpret them correctly, children who hear the prompting of the Holy Spirit and obey it, children who pray for the sick and see healing occur before their eyes, children whose hearts break to the point of tears when they learn of suffering and injustice.  And I don't believe that it is limited to our church - God is moving among the young people all over the planet.  Watch out world - there is an Army rising up who will stand for what they believe in, who aren't afraid of what people think, and who will shake the very foundations of hell.  

I see a generation, 
rising up to take their place,

With selfless faith...

The week after the camp out, I got really sick due to the fact that about five of the children who attended said camp were just recovering from some flu-bug thing.  It was really awful and had me flat on  my back for nearly four days.  Thankfully, I  recovered after that and Grace was the only other person in our house to really get it.  Not that those days were totally wasted... I watched all of the 2009 Emma and most of the BBC Mansfield Park in that time.  Emma  is my favourite Jane Austin - yes, even over Pride and Prejudice.  (I mean, who would want Mr. Darcy if you could have Mr. Knightly???  He is so kind and honourable, and he and Emma and Miss Bates and all the people from Highbury are such wonderful characters!)  

During all this time we have desperately been preparing for the church carols as well.  As well as being in the choir, I am the lead girl in one of the drama skits (we were a little short on people this year and several members of the choir are participating in multiple roles throughout the night!)  I have rehearsed one scene where I have to blow up at this guy who crashes into me by accident and breaks all the Christmas presents in my bags.  I really have trouble with this because I am pretty even-keel by nature and blowing up at people with sarcasm and a blaring temper is actually a challenge.  (Not that I am perfect by any means - I tend to react backhandedly when I get ticked off!)  On top of that, the guy who runs into me is played a good friend of ours and who I get along with really well.  Aaron is a funny man and we make each other laugh when we're not acting... I'm a hopeless case when we are -- especially when he calls me ma'am.  Do I look or sound like a ma'am to you???  No.  I didn't think so.  The other bit that makes me laugh is when I have to correct his grammar as part of the script.  I wanted to leave that part out, but Aaron said we should leave it in because his wife is a school teacher and will find that bit highly amusing.  "Just you wait," he told me. "You'll hear her giggle in the crowd!"

One part of the carols I am really looking forward to is the dress.  We try to theme each year differently, and this year the theme is rockabilly.  I was SO excited when I heard that, because it is my favourite era and style of dress... and it gave me a good excuse to buy a rockabilly dress.  It was a big decision for me because modest dresses are really hard to find for my height and build, and I wanted to be able to wear it again as I actually don't have any dresses in my

wardrobe at the moment.  Joy also wanted one and so we hit Ebay... and found exactly what we were looking for.  And yes, the dress pictured on the right there is mine.  Isn't it gorgeous??  I was so happy to find it!  Joy's is exactly the same but in a light blue.  There was also dark blue and white with black dots, but I liked the purple best which is odd because I'm not really a purple kind of girl.  :)  As of this moment, they are still currently making there way here from Hong Kong, but we are hoping they arrive very soon because we just can't wait to try them on!!  ^_^

Another thing that has been happening the last couple weeks is rehearsals for our nursing home ministry.  Our family joins with seven other people from our church and another girl every term and we go around to the nursing homes in town and entertain them... but it is so much more than entertainment.  We sing a combination of secular and Christian songs, because it is not about shoving the Gospel down their throats, but about being the hands and feet of Jesus and loving those people where they are at.  I always think that nursing homes are sad places... some of those dear old people are so overjoyed that we come and sing to them and talk with them because they never get visits from anyone else.  They get excited when we sing our Rock and Roll bracket because we dress up for swing dance and those who aren't singing dance.  Some of the patients join in as they can,but for others it brings back such precious memories of when they were younger.  Sometimes we sing a couple of old hymns like "Amazing Grace", "How Great Thou Art", "The Old Rugged Cross" and "It Is Well".  It amazes me every time how an elderly person can seem to be asleep, or be entirely unresponsive due to dementia, and yet know and sing along to every word of those hymns.  I have seen some of them break down and sob during those hymns, while others sit with tears running quietly down their wrinkled cheeks.  Others lean forward, enchanted by the thrill of the sweet, familiar lyrics.  These ones often have a glow of complete content and peace on their faces as they listen to words they may not have heard in decades...  

We have one more rehearsal before this round of concerts.  Needless to say, Christmas Carols are featuring in this term's run sheet.  The first concert is on Thursday week, and then the other two and on back to back eight days later.  

Joy and I are doing something very exciting this Sunday.  For the very first time, we are auditioning for the annual town stage production.  Remember how Mum and Dad played in the band for The Pirates of Penzance earlier in the year?  Well, for some unknown reason, the auditions for next year's show are happening before next year.  And the SATS show for 2016 is:  *drumroll please*

Joy and I are so excited, because even if we don't get a main role, we will be in the chorus which will be playing parts like munchkins, apple trees, poppies, and inhabitants of the Emerald City.  However we are auditioning for main roles first.  Joy is auditioning for Dorothy, and I... well... I can't make up my mind.  My plan ever since I learned of this production has been to audition for Glinda, but recently I have been second guessing myself.  I figured I am too tall for Dorothy and too young for Glinda, and so in the end I have decided to audition for them both and see what happens.  Mum says she thinks I suit the role of Glinda best out of the two roles.  I tend to agree, but I have practised the audition material for Dorothy as well, and I think playing Dorothy would be so much fun!  She also gets to sing Over the Rainbow.  :)  If you think of it, do pray for us to be courageous as we are rather nervous... and wish us a bit of luck too.  ;)

So as you can see, life has been crazy.  Between now and when we go away for holidays on the 21st of December, we have so much happening I wonder when we even get time to, you know... eat... or breathe...  I hope to get at least a couple more posts in before then, so fare thee well until then!  And always remember to live fully, give recklessly, love ceaselessly, hope eternally, and strive heavenward.  <3 <3

A Love Letter...

On Sunday, I will be leading my small group at kids church for the first time.  My group is grades 3-6 girls, and the theme this week is God made you, God knows everything about you and He loves you.  I thought I would share what I'm doing with them, because we all need to be reminded every now and again of how much God loves us.   I have the photos of the craft first and then the text underneath, so as you can read it.  :)  So, here it is, and Happy Valentines Day from God to His bride.  :)

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. (Psalm 139:1)  I know when you sit down and when you rise up. (Psalm 139:2)  I am familiar with all your ways. (Psalm 139:3)  Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:29-31)  For you were made in my image. (Genesis 1:27)  In me you live and move and have your being. (Acts 17:28)  For you are my offspring. (Acts 17:28)  I knew you even before you were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:4-5)  I chose you when I planned creation. (Ephesians 1:11-12)  You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. (Psalm 139:15-16)  I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live (Acts 17:26) You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)  I knit you together in your mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13)  And brought you forth on the day you were born. (Psalm 71:6)  I have been misrepresented by those who do not know me. (John 8:41-42)  I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. (1 John 4:16)  And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. (1 John 3:1)  Simply because you are my child and I am Your Father. (1 John 3:1)  I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. (Matthew 7:11)  For I am the perfect father. (Matthew 5:48)  Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. (James 1:17)  For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. (Matthew 6:31-33)  My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)  Because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)  My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psalm 139:17-18)  And I rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)  I will never stop doing good to you. (Jeremiah 32:40)  For you are my treasured possession. (Exodus 19:5)  I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. (Jeremiah 32:41)  And I want to show you great and marvellous things (Jeremiah 33:3) If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. (Deuteronomy 4:29)  Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)  For it is I who gave you those desires. (Philippians 2:13)  I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)  For I am your greatest encourager. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)  I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)  When you are broken-hearted, I am close to you. (Psalm 34:18)  As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. (Isaiah 40:11)  One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. (Revelation 21:3-4)  And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. (Revelation 21:3-4)  I am your father and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. (John 17:23)  For in Jesus my love for you is revealed. (John 17:26)  He is the exact representation of my being. (Hebrews 1:3) He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. (Romans 8:31)  And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)  Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)  His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. (1 John 4:10)  I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. (Romans 8:31-32)  If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. (1 John 2:23)  And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. (Romans 8:38-39)  Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven as ever seen. (Luke 15:7)  I have always been Father and will always be Father. (Ephesians 3:14-15)  My question is: will you be my child? (John 1:12-13)  I am waiting for you. (Luke 15:11-32)
With Love from God.

Blessed are They That Mourn...

Grief can be a hard thing to deal with... one moment the world seems hard with all the little trials of life and then something really big happens and you wonder why any of it mattered to you before... Everyone deals with grief differently.  Some sob and cry aloud; others find something practical to do and throw themselves in, expending their sorrow in the energy of honest work; others do similarly, but express themselves in a seemingly unrelated work of art (be it musical literary, or drawing); still others have to express what they are feeling in words; and others mourn quietly, knowing that time, tears, and God will heal the inexpressible hurt.

None of the roads of grief are wrong... God has instilled in each one of us ways of coping with our sorrow - don't be afraid to express what you are feeling. Cry when you need to, hug the people around you and keep loving them, because life is short and we need to embrace every opportunity to love.

I was thinking of some verses that may help you when dealing with grief... turn them into prayers - turn your tears into prayers... your tears are precious to God because He loves you oh so much.

Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

(Isaiah 53:4)

You number my wanderings;

Put my tears into Your bottle;

Are they not in Your book?

(Psalm 56:8)

Blessed are those who mourn,

    For they shall be comforted.

(Matthew 5:4)

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

(Isaiah 41:10)

Remember the word to Your servant,

Upon which You have caused me to hope.

This is my comfort in my affliction,

For Your word has given me life.

(Psalm 119:49-50)

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

(I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

(1 Peter 5:6-7)

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.  For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.”

(Pslam 27:4-5)

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(Romans 8:31-39)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

(John 14:1-4)

" 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Thankyou Lord Jesus!

In memory of Shannen, who at seventeen is experiencing the glories many Christians spend decades only dreaming of... we would not call you back from bliss, sweetheart, but we are coming to join you oneday at the feet of our Jesus who has restored you to better health than was possible here on earth... we love you. xxx

Creation, Evolution and Enlightenment

Here is where I cheer on Creation, rip apart evolution and promote the Life and Light of Jesus!  Who knew a biology essay could be so much fun?!  :P

It is no mistake that the entire Bible begins with the account of how the world began.  What one believes concerning the origins of life will affect one’s entire worldview.  If you believe in evolution, there can be no God in your worldview.  If you believe in Creation, there must be a Greater Being there somewhere.    Obviously, the Christian account of Creation is the one found in Genesis chapters 1-2.   It is there at the very start that we read “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  There it is right at the start so that no one can miss it.  God created everything.  The next verses lay out how God did this.  “And God said…”  He spoke.  That’s all – no fancy construction crew or tools or anything of the sort.  God is God and He is not restricted to what we can conceive with our minds.  Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, that is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ (Isaiah 46:9-10) 

The order in which God made things is really very simple.  On the first three days, He created enviroments, and in the second lot of three days, He created inhabitants to go in each environment.  On day one, God created light and separated it from darkness; on day four, He created the sun, the moon and the stars.  On day two, God separated the sky from the waters, and the waters from the waters; on day five, he created birds for the skies, and sea creatures for the waters.  On day three, God created The land, and all the vegetation; and on day six He created land animals and people to fill up the land and to eat the produce.  On the seventh day, God rested from His work.  

That’s all there is to the Christian view of Creation.  The Bible is very clear and simple of the whole thing.  John says, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”  (John 1:3)  God is the Creator, and if you don’t believe that, there is only one other alternative.

Haeckel's Drawings

That alternative is evolution.  There are a few takes on evolution that are free for the picking.  The most common is the classic, traditional Darwinism.  Darwinism says that millions of years ago, there was a warm pond of chemicals and amino acids.  Somehow (and Charles Darwin himself wasn’t sure how) the chemicals and amino acids reacted in such a way as to make the first life in the form of a micro-cell.  This cell asexually reproduced and multiplied and the simplest forms of life emerged.  Slowly, slowly, from this sludge-pit came fish, reptiles, birds, mammals and beautiful you.  And we are still evolving.  While it may sound all wonderful that we are moving to new heights all the time, is it really a good explanation of life?  Many Darwinists are beginning to doubt it.  The evidence for such a theory just does not exist.  One example is the Haeckel Drawings.  Ernst Haeckel made drawings that illustrated how the embryos of several different creatures all look alike, thus ‘proving’ that all creatures were descended from the same ancestors.  The problem with this ‘proof’ is that the further back in the carrying and conception of each of the creatures Haeckel described, the less and less they resemble each other.  Another example is the fossil record.  One would expect that if creatures took millions of years to evolve like Darwin said they did, we would have a whole stack of fossils depicting half developed animals.  But we don’t.  Every fossil we find is of a distinct creature of its own species.  There are no crossovers.  There just isn’t much proof for Darwinism at all.

What the embryos of creatures really look like

How about a less measured form of evolution?  Well, there is the theory of punctuated equilibrium.  This theory states that evolution took place over a (relatively) short time frame.  Change took place quickly and creatures evolved almost overnight (on a geological time scale).   However for this to be accomplished, it would require some severe genetically-challenging feats, like a lizard hatching a bird, for instance.  That seems rather unlikely seeing as we do not observe anything of the sort occurring today and one would think that if that is what happened, it would still be happening. 

There are some, though, that say that biology and the origins of life really don’t matter that much: it’s where we are headed that counts and we should spend this life seeking enlightenment within ourselves.   While the theory is a little twisted, they have one thing right.  We do search for ‘enlightenment’ our entire lives.  Sometimes we look to ourselves, sometimes to celebrities, sometimes to the people around us.  There is only source, however, that can truly satisfy the longing for a higher calling and the lack of light in us.  That source is Jesus Christ.  He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”   He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and everyone who believes in Him shall walk in perpetual, eternal light.



Pictures from http://pandasthumb.org/archives/2010/12/its-just-a-stag.html   and   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryo_drawing

Scripture from NIV and NKJV

Christian Philosophy Essay

I had to right an essay that compared the philosophies of the six major worldviews around: Christianity, Islam, Cosmic Humanism, Marxism, Secular Humanism, and Postmodernism. I started with Christianity, and though an essay is supposed to display what you know, I learned so much about Christianity in writing it, that I really wanted to share it with you.  This is just the Christian Philosophy section - I haven't written the others yet!  :)

Christian Philosophy: The Way, the Truth and the Life 

Many Christians like myself were raised knowing the Truth about God, life and the world.  We even studied different views like evolution and mythology and how they fall short of the Biblical account of the world around us.  Despite all this, one only has to stick a toe out into the world and -BAM! - one is hit on all sides by conflicting world views and philosophies and it can be difficult to sort one from the other.

The important thing to remember when confronted with different worldviews is the Truth.  People often say that Christianity is just a religion and has nothing to do with the philosophies of the world or anything outside the box marked 'religion'.  On the contrary, we find that in Jesus, all of Philosophy is complete and perfected.  Philosophy strives to answer at least three basic questions: who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going?  Please note that these questions don't apply on just the personal level: they apply to everything around us as well.  (For example, we could ask "What is the world? Why is it here? What will happen to it?")  In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life."   In less than ten words, all of the philosophical questions are answered in one word:  Jesus.  

The Way - Where am I going?

This statement of Jesus' is just half the verse.  The other half says, "No-one comes to the Father except through me."   It is part of human nature to stop and ask oneself at some point in life, "Where am I going?"  and although some people don't realize it, it is not a physical destination they are referring to.  Within us is the instinct of eternity and our spirits know that there is something to come after these shells of ours die and disintegrate.  But where are we going?  Well, we have options - two options:  1) Heaven and eternal life, or 2) Hell and eternal suffering and death.  While it doesn't seem that there could be much of a deliberation over the two, many people just don't know how to get to where they want to go.  Jesus told us that He is the Way.  Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."  John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."  How is this possible?  How can believing on Jesus save us from hell?  Before Jesus came to earth, people had no hope.  They were under the Law of Moses which only served to show where we fall short of God's holiness.  People made animal sacrifices for their sins, but being only animals, their blood could do nothing more than appease the wrath of God until they sinned again.  Every day, people fell short of God's glory, and every day, people died.  That wasn't what God wanted, but there was no one perfect who could die for sins that were not his own.  That's what Jesus did.  Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, so He is equal with God: indeed, He is God.  He became human and took all of our sins on Himself and died.  That in itself is amazing, but it didn't fix our problem.  It wasn't until three days later when Jesus rose again that death was defeated and we could have access to everlasting life.  All we have to do is repent of our sins, ask humbly for His forgiveness, and He gives it to us freely as a precious gift.  That righteousness and forgiveness given us is our token into Heaven to live forever with our Lord.

The Truth – Who am I?

One only has to take a brief glance around our culture to see that people suffer from lack of identity.  Some call it humility, but identity is not pride.  God says of himself, “I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.” (Isaiah 43:15)  That one sentence is full of identity: it reveals to us Who God is and it establishes Who He is so that all of creation can have no doubt – He is Holy, Creator and King.  But there is no pride in that identity either.  God is incapable of pride: it goes against His very nature. 

The other problem with our culture today is that when someone lacks identity, they often try to find it by copying someone else, which if one thinks about I doesn’t make sense at all.  That isn’t identity.  Actually it is quite the opposite.  Dressing like Elvis Presley, or maintaining your body to look like Michelle Bridges reminds people of the original person and gives the glory back to them.  Do people think of you when they see Elvis Presley’s suit?  Or do they think of the rock-star himself? 

Identity given by the world is fickle because the world is fickle and the fads that the world promotes are also fickle.  None of it lasts and even the most celebrated celebrity has his or her moments of doubts.  In fact, it is not uncommon to hear of actors, singers, models, sports personalities and so on who battle with drug addictions, alcohol issues, anorexia nervosa, etc. and of the celebrities who actually die from these issues because they have depression or they have to have the image of someone they are not.

What a terribly sad way to live!  If that is the best that the world can give us, is it really worth it?  What if the Holy Creator King gave us our identity and told us who we are to Him?  1 John 3:1 says “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”  The son of a king is a prince, and the daughter of a king is a princess: how much more when we are the sons and daughters of the King of Kings!  Romans 8:17 continues on that picture. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…”  What a wonderful promise to us! 

In Mark 12, we read the story of how Jesus is challenged concerning whether or not taxes should be payed to Caesar.  When Jesus asks for a coin, He notes that Caesar’s image is on the coin and then concludes the object lesson with, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.”  When we are God’s children and carry His image in and on us, and strive to imitate Him in all we do, people around us will see the difference in us and, just as people think of Elvis Presley when they see his suit, people will know that we are God’s and the glory will go back to God.  The chances are they might even want to know how to get that for themselves.

The Life: Why am I here?

This question is twofold: Biologically, why am I here? and for what purpose am I here?

As Christians, we know that on the sixth day of history, humans were created in the very image of God.  What does that mean?  It means that, although we have physical bodies and God does not (John 4:24), we have natures that resemble the nature of God.  Of course, this was blemished when Adam and Eve sinned, but we have a nature of justice.  We love and long to be loved.  We are relational and rational.  We can communicate, and express hope, joy and disappointment.  We feel when we are hurt or encouraged.  We have a sense of humour.  We can imagine and create.  Compare this to everything else in creation, and you will find nothing that quite compares to us humans.  He created us and breathed into us the very breath of Him who is Life and we became alive.  It is hard for us to comprehend this, because we live in an age where everything ought to be explained scientifically, and science just can’t explain life.  We know it involves DNA, but DNA on its own doesn’t equate to life.  There is an extra boost of something that makes us alive.  That something must be the incredible, creative power of God – we just can’t explain it any other way.

The next question is one that many people spend their entire lives trying to figure out: For what purpose am I here?  This does not refer to your individual gifts or talents or callings, but rather to the vocation of mankind in general.  Part of our nature as human beings is to have a purpose to fulfill, and God knew this.  He very graciously provided us with a book that addresses this very issue: the book of Ecclesiastes.  Ecclesiastes is the recordings of a man (presumably Solomon) who went out into the world to discover the meaning of life.  First, he tried wisdom.  Then he tried pleasure, then wisdom again, then work.  Next he tried solitude, achievement, success and lastly riches.  He came up with the same conclusion for each.  “This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”  Finally at the end of the book, the writer states what man’s purpose in life is.  “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the duty of all mankind.”  God created us to have relationship with Him.  Yes, he had angels, but the angels were created for service and worship, not intimate relationship and communication.  Hebrews 1:14 says “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”  Angels cannot inherit salvation – they are the servants of those who do: us!  No, God wanted people he could love and communicate with in a close friendship.  That is the purpose of mankind: to be in communion with God and to keep His commands and fear and glorify Him forever.

Christmas!!!

What we started with...

...what we ended up with...

Annie and her favourite new toy

Well, Christmas has come and gone for another year - it's hard to believe it is all over again.  We were highly organized this year - well, for us anyway!  Mum and Dad had all the gifts wrapped before the Christmas Eve church service, and so we were able to enjoy church and and carols without dreading staying up until all hours of the morning wrapping, an annual experience Dad was happy to waive from this year's schedule.  :)

James and his favourite new toy!

After church we drove around town looking at Christmas lights.  I was disappointed that there didn't seam to be nearly as many as usual this year.  While we were driving, I noticed that I could only see half a house at a time and - sure enough - by the time we got home, I had a full blown migraine.  Goodie!  :P  B this stage, it was about eight-thirty, so the other kids took one of our gingerbread houses next door as a gift, Mum and Dad made scrambled eggs for supper (we had had a cooked lunch and then didn't have time to eat before church) and I lay on the couch watching Carols by Candlelight with Santa and the ridiculous Loony Tune renditions of Christmas Carols.  I was glad when the real carols started!

For the first time in my life, Jess, Grace and I were allowed to stay up for the entire carols which ended at just past 11:00 pm.  We were very tired and I had a horrible headache, but it was really special to see it all the way through.


Christmas morning began at 6:00.  It had to if we were going to make it to church at 8:00.  (We are "open presents first" people.)  It took a while to get everyone up, but finally we were all gathered in the lounge room.  As tradition demands, we kids started with our Christmas stockings.  We don't do Santa, but Mum and Dad use the Christmas stockings for the little things that are too fiddly to wrap up individually.  These things are usually more personal items such as hairbrushes, hand cream, pens, so forth.  This year, Mum and Dad also put a mango in each stocking - YUM!  :)

Rose discovering good old-fashioned blackboards.

My present.

The way we do presents at our house is based on the principle that we are so thankful to have received that we just want to give.  Whoever receives a present then goes and picks one to give.  Then that person gives the next gift, and so on.  After a few gifts had been opened, Dad gave me one from him and Mum.  It was the entire Elsie Dinsmore series - all twenty eight books!  I was thrilled because I had rather blatantly "hinted" more than once that that was what I would really like.  I was also given a couple of DVD's (Piano Guys and Calamity Jane - LOL!), a Chris Tomlin Cd, and a tea for one teapot/teacup/saucer set.  Elise was made perfectly happy with a telescope (she loves science), Joy was over the moon with her own ipod, while Grace was extremely pleased with her leather hat and Horrible Histories DVD's.

Cleaning up!

We took our time over presents and by the time we finished, it was ten minutes to eight 'o' clock.  We quickly made ourselves presentable and hurried off to church.  We were about five minutes late, but we weren't the only ones who were late, so it made us feel better.  :)  We had breakfast when we got home... :)

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Because we had a late breakfast, we decided to have a late lunch too, which was just as well, because by the time Grace had tidied the dining room, Jess had set and decorated the table, and I had all the food ready, it was about 2:30.  We couldn't wait to call Mum to the table because Jess and I had planned a surprise for her.  When Mum was a little girl, her mother had a beautiful dinner set that only came out at Christmas.  When Nanna passed away nearly six years ago, Mum inherited the dinner set and it was tucked away safely in the sideboard.  Jess and I got it out and used it for the Christmas dinner setting.  We were not disappointed.  Mum almost cried when she saw it and she sent a photo to her dad and her sister and brother of the dishes that they all associate with Christmas.

The rest of the day was really low-key and relaxing - I was very excited that it rained all day  :).  We were really blessed to have Christmas together as a family and to be able to connect with each other.  It wasn't particularly fancy, but neither was the night that Christ was born.  In fact, the conditions into which He was born were downright hideous for a new baby and His mother.  But still He came  - Praise the Lord!!

I pray you had a lovely Christmas and that whatever you did to celebrate, you were blessed by the time with family and you Father who started this annual tradition of ours!  Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to you! 

No Surprises

By the time we all dropped into bed Friday night, we were absolutely flattened and drained.  What a day!  I honestly can't remember a day in our family before that turned itself on its head like this one did.

My day had started at 1:15 in the morning when Mum took Dad to the hospital for the pain in his eye.
Once morning actually dawned, we were able to get in to an optometrist, who sent us straight away to eye specialist over an hour away.  By the time we found out that Dad would be OK in a couple of days, we had been scared - and a bit shaken as even us older girls don't remember Dad being so much pain before.

After dinner, I went out on the verandah to have a moment of quiet and strength renewal.  I had to smile in spite of myself because the song that stated playing in my head was Colin Buchanan's "Nothing Takes God by Surprise".  He saw all of this coming - orchestrated every detail.  Looking back a few days on, I can see how God controlled every moment of our day.

One of the Bible passages that held us up was one that we have been memorizing as a family.

Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”? 
 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.  
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:27-31



Though it was a troubled day, I can honestly say that I had a real sense of peace when things seemed to be going from bad to worse.  Our God is so good and we know that even if things are rough, we can be confident that He has our best interests in mind and that He loves us more than life - He proved that once and for all. 

For those of you reading this, if you get around to it... :)  we would very much appreciate prayer this week leading up to our Church Christmas Carols in which we are heavily involved.  We feel like we (and the whole production) could be under a spiritual attack.  Satan doesn't want us moving forward, proclaiming the Words and the love of Jesus - we need to fight back.  This morning our pastor said the when Satan's fighting us, he's fighting God.  What an encouraging thought.  But we do need to be persistent in prayer warfare.

Thanks so much everyone.  God bless you and keep you.  :)

Why I Believe

For my studies on world views, recently, I had to write an essay that answered the following questions: What is a worldview? What is a Christian worldview? Why am I a Christian?  This is what I came up with.

It can be a challenge for unbelievers to grasp what Christianity is about when many Christians themselves are not sure what or why they believe what they claim to believe.  Half the time, it seems, the stands that Christians make don’t differ that much to the stands made by a non-believer.  It is sad when our beliefs don’t weigh our opinions on issues.  I suppose that if this is the case, then you don’t really believe in what you claim to believe, or you are denying the power thereof. 

That is a depressing state to be in for that is the definition of a worldview – the way one views the world based on one’s beliefs.  A Christian worldview, therefore, will always – I repeat always – view things in light of God’s word the Bible.  One example that springs to mind is one of the hot topics at the moment: abortion. People argue that a woman has the right to control her own body.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body^[a] and in your spirit, which are God’s.    Many people consider an unborn child to be less than a human, not technically a person yet.  However, we read in Exodus 21:22-25 that a man is held responsible if he injures a pregnant woman and she or her child suffer harm or die.  By this we see that God values unborn life, thus the Christian worldview also takes strong stands against abortion.

Earlier this year when Tony Abbot, who is a Catholic, was voted into place as prime minister of Australia, he made a statement on ABC’s Kitchen Cabinet saying, “…Faith has certainly helped to shape my life, but it doesn't in any way determine my politics.”  I have trouble believing this for if his faith truly doesn’t affect his politics at all as he claims, then he doesn’t really believe in what he claims to regard as truth.  I have noticed, however, that many of his standards on different issues actually exemplify his religion, even if he does not realize it.

The question unbelievers want to know much of the time –and believers need to be able to answer– is why choose Christianity?  Why not Islam, or Buddhism, or some other religion/worldview? It is a good question, one that I have asked myself and God.  To find the answer as to why I believe, I must go back to the beginnings of my Christian life.

I was brought up in a Christian home and as a child, my parents were responsible before God for my faith and my spiritual input.  I resented much of this, not enjoying devotions or private Bible reading and avoiding it when I could.  However, when I was about thirteen (or thereabouts), Mum told me that I was coming to an age where I was responsible for my own faith.  Perhaps it was the responsibility I now felt that made me start taking charge of my own Bible readings and prayer times.  I am not sure.  I do know, though, that once I started, Jesus gently started moulding my hard heart until it became like soft, pliable clay and He started shaping me.  I noticed changes in my attitudes and behaviour and I felt the love and the peace of God like I never had before and I never wanted to leave that.  Not having God gave me no boundaries, but it gave me no security either – the sense of belonging and purpose.  Most other religions and worldviews are centred around chance, fate and works.  What a hopeless prospect!  We all know we struggle with doing the good we want to do, and if we are just here by chance, what is the point of doing good anyway – chance has no high purpose.  Just the fact of knowing that we are created gives one a sense of purpose.  No one deliberately makes a useless object.  Even delicate collectables that sit on a sideboard for years scream out the skill and the handiwork of the one that so carefully moulded them.

That’s why I chose to be a Christian and choose to be one every day. – nothing else satisfies or makes perfect sense ot logic like the Bible and God’s presence.  All of science and history points to a Creator and a Saviour who died.  Who am I to ignore Him?

The love we can't understand

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
He shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.
How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the Lord.  (Hosea 11)

Isn't that just beautiful?  Whenever I read it, I always hear the heart of a parent behind the words.  How often we are like wayward Ephraim!  The Lord gives us so many blessings, assists us in so many ways, helps us up when we fall, feeds us, and above all He loves us!  Yet how often we fail to recognize His love for us.  We can even forget that He is with us at all.

Last night, Rose was crying in bed, so I went to see her.  I gave her a cuddle and covered her back up.  "You know what you do when you are sad?"  I asked her.  "You talk to Jesus, because He loves you and He is here with you."

"No He's not," Rose replied.

"Yes He is - He is always with you," I asserted.

"No, Jesus is in heaven," Rose corrected me.

While this dialogue is amusing, we are very often like Rosie - we view God as being in heaven, that far distant place above the stars.  We forget that He is actually here with us, loving us, crying with us, wishing we would cast all our burden on Him.  One of Jesus' special names is Emmanuel - God with us.  We can't even begin to understand the love that would incarnate the Holy eternal God into the body of a man only to die for the sin and the guilt and the sickness and pain of billions and billions of wicked people.  Such love is beyond us - but it is the love that saved us, and the love that is living inside of us.

Praise the Lord!