Sunday, May 30, 2010

Thankful

Romans 8:26-29 (The Message)


 "Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun."

I love this. I love what it tells me (and I have said it before)

1. God knew me from the beginning
2. He shapes me.
3. He loves me.
4. Jesus is the model of my life.
5. He called me by name.
6. He planted me on solid foundation.
7. He is with me to the end.
8. He will complete what He has begun.

I love too that the Holy Spirit makes prayers out of my "...wordless sighs and aching groans..." Boy, I have a lot of those.
I continue to rest. Assured that God hears
1. My frustration when I can't verbalise it.
2. My tears, cried, when I don't have the strength to speak it.
3. The wordless songs I sing.

I Need You More

Friday, May 21, 2010

More things I love

Been thinking about this a bit.

I prefer:
Music over movies.
Sunsets over sunrises (alas, I am living on the East Coast of beautiful Aotearoa)
Lush landscapes over rugged terrain.
Friends and family over fame or fortune.
I love tea and toast with a dear friend!
Happy with a fresh loaf of bread and jam for dinner.
I love to watch the BBC Series of Pride & Prejudice.
None of his subsequent roles have tarnished Colin Firth - he will always be Mr Darcy to me! :o)
"Ever After" is my favourite Cinderella movie.
The toasty warmth of a fire.
Homemade Lemon Meringue Pie. (mmmm - delicious)
The smell of fresh baked bread. (and the taste of it)
Butter!
Flowers.
A stroll.
The rain when I am tucked in bed.
I love how the sound of rain on your car stops suddenly when you drive under a bridge.
Soups and casseroles in the winter time.
Scooped ice cream from the shop seems to taste so much better than from my own freezer.
That cinema movies and dvds are cheaper on Mondays!
Snoozing.
Painting my nails.
Retro television.
Platform gaming.
Karaoke. (woohoo)
Black sand beaches.
Connection.
The moment you realise you have found a friend for life.
Kisses from children who adore you. The look on their faces when they see they are loved back.
Cheerios/sausage rolls and tomato sauce.
Birthdays and Christmas.
Relaxed Summer Barbecues.
Standing, sitting, basking, in the Presence of God.
Recognising His goodness.
Answers to prayer!
Testimonies!

...and much, much more.

Thanks for letting me share bits of my life with you!!

xx

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Precious Hope

Breath of life.
You're everything to me
Breath of life.
You're all I long to be.
Breath of life.
I'll never be the same
Breath of life.
Breathe new life.
Breath of life.

You refresh my soul with your love.
You bless my heart with your grace.
You honour me, when it seems least deserved.
And when I call on your Name, I know it does not go unheard.
You incline Your ear to me,
You lift me.

Breath of life.
You hold me in Your hand.
Breath of life.
The rock on which I stand.
Breath of life.
Your promises are mine
Breath of life. You give me life.
Breath of life.

That is where I'm at with God today. That is today's love song. Have been challenged as to whether I really KNOW the goodness of God. I believe I do. He will never leave me, nor forsake. He does not lead me in to a battle I cannot win. Christ died for me therefore I already have the victory. God is good, we will rise and fall but He is constant and always there. He is good.

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These are my sisters!
Well the two on the outside, April, in the middle, is my baby sisters best friend, and equally as awesome as if she were related by blood. I have not always honoured my sisters the way I should, I have not always shown or told them how much I love them, treasure them. But I do. I love you. There is not another like you in my life, or even on this planet. I am here for you always, as you are for me. I adore you. xx