Let it all out!

I'm doing a lot of blabbing on Facebook, but in all truth I am speechless about the weekend I have just had at SHOUT 2011.

No seriously.

"Jesus didn't come to make bad people good... He came to make dead people live" Bruce Monk

I'm fizzing. Fizzing.

Gold

I love this song. I love Ben Harper actually. (enough not to notice how ugg those jamas are that he has on)

Anyway, this post is not about Ben.

I have joined the gym.
At the moment it feels like the biggest mistake of my life!
I am in pain! I have had to be coached after every session, by The Big Fella: "It'll get better. Your muscles won't be so sore." All sounds like blah, blah, blah at the moment.
On top of that I have already had the Instructor say to me:
"HOW BAD DO YOU WANT THIS?!"
"Pretty bad"
"ENOUGH TO GET UP AT 5.30 IN THE MORNING!!?"
"No."
"WELL NOT ENOUGH THEN!!"

Egad - if only she knew how hard it was for me to turn up at all let alone turning up again.

So I am torturing myself for the greater good.

As a Christian you hear the word "fruit" a lot and I have decided: If all you do is walk into Church and see me, then being fat maintaining my current unhealthy weight is a "No Fruit" scenario.

So. I'm doing something about it.
I have committed to a 6-month Get-fit Program.
I must attend a minimum of three classes a week (Pump, Step and Kick boxing)
I have a Food Diary
Attend their Nutrition Program.
I get measured and weighed once a month for my own information.

I'll keep you posted!

No Monday-i-tis for me!

Psalm 121:1-2 "I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." 

Psalm 8:9 "LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

This could quite possibly be my Wordless Wednesday equivalent seeing as 

Monday is my day off!

I always forget about Wordless Wednesday and miss it.

Anyway today I did "nothing much"

I lay in bed till mid morning.

Had pikelets for breakfast (YUM) 

And watched a movie.

Then goofed with The Boys:

(Hmmm, young fella doesn't look sick does he... I think it was a father-son scam...)

Haha - he just loves the camera! 

Behind it, in front of it - he doesn't care as long as he's got it.

(I, on the other hand, prefer to be behind it)

Oops - clearly I missed the wordless part of Wednesday posts!

Ah - I'll try it next time!

It's a new season

I'm not a fan of Summer.

I don't like to be HOT.

I have survived balmy nights and scorching days thanks to a generous friend with an 'open gate' policy and her lovely salt water pool! I bless the Lord for Raewyn! She didn't even mind my midnight dips! (AND while beach swimming usually dreads my hair her pool jhuzed my curls - LOVING my hair this summer!) 

While I was on a Cruise to Noumea with my sisters; my husband (what a Legend!) moved our entire home! The need to move arose suddenly and we moved only twenty minutes away but My Big Fella packed and moved the WHOLE house!

I came back from holiday, voila, all done. Incredibly blessed! We haven't unpacked entirely yet but we have space for all our knick knacks and there is still room to breath!
We can sleep people marae style in our lounge! Yay!


My sweet, sweet nieces.
You know it's love when they are teething and it's 3am and you haven't gone to bed yet for pacing the lounge with them, you are due to be somewhere at 8am, but it's OK. No worries!

 

They stayed for the weekend. I cried when they left.

(What a sook, right. I think my husband enjoyed the novelty of a sobbing wife. 

I didn't mind the vulnerability)

Four of six! My two younger brothers are missing from this photo, occasions where we are all together and looking presentable are SO rare! Love that God moved me away so that I could love, appreciate and know my family better. I always thought we were close but moving showed me we were not. 

Every minute together is treasured now. Thank you God.

(Do you love that all three of us girls wear glasses the same style - maybe cos we all have round faces)

Praying Salvation for my brothers. Knowing Gods will "that none would perish" I thank Him for the day!

Television became a distant memory this Summer.

(though Facebook could do with a kick in the pants!)

I am loving board games! And parks. Snoozing under trees on warm sunny days.

Bonfires. (Oh bonfires!) Toasted marshmallows. Walking the dog.

SAUSAGES AND BREAD! Fresh fruits!

(I didn't pick strawberries this summer but BOY did I eat them)

Sharing: Life. Fully.

Getting a glimpse of Gods bigger picture.

My husband was ordained (I am a Pastors wife - eek) along with two others!

My son started at Intermediate (aaah!)

My Boss gave me an iPhone!

My sisters shouted me on a Cruise.

God is good. All the time.

All the time. God is good.

*************************

Psalm 119:30-35

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; 

   I have set my heart on your laws. 

I hold fast to your statutes, LORD; 

   do not let me be put to shame. 

I run in the path of your commands, 

   for you have broadened my understanding.

 Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees, 

   that I may follow it to the end.

Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law 

   and obey it with all my heart. 

Direct me in the path of your commands, 

   for there I find delight

Happy New Year!

Psalm 23

The Lord Is My Shepherd

That's Relationship!  

I Shall Not Want 

That's Supply!

He Maketh Me To Lie Down In Green Pastures 

That's Rest!

He Leadeth Me Beside The Still Waters 

That's Refreshment!

He Restoreth My Soul 

That's Healing!

He Leadeth Me In The Paths Of Righteousness 

That's Guidance!

For His Name Sake 

That's Purpose!

Yea, Though I Walk Through The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death 

That's Testing!

I Will Fear No Evil 

That's Protection!  

For Thou Art With Me 

That's Faithfulness!  

Thy Rod And Thy Staff They Comfort Me 

That's Discipline!
 
Thou Preparest A Table Before Me In The Presence Of Mine Enemies  

That's Provision!  

Thou Anointest My Head With Oil 

That's Consecration!

My Cup Runneth Over 

That's Abundance!  

Surely Goodness And Mercy Shall Follow Me All The Days Of My Life 

That's Blessing!  

And I Will Dwell In The House Of The Lord  

That's Security!

Forever 

That's Eternity!

I did not right this and make no claims to it.

It declares, the care, grace and wonder of God and I had to share it.

A year-ish a go I started blogging and have had highs and lows on display for all to see (sheesh!) but always, always, always God has held me. Encouraged me. Lifted me.

I'm forever grateful to You.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas is my favourite holiday and what better reason to celebrate than 

God Almighty sending His most precious Son for us. 

Because He loves us.

I am and will be forever thankful to God who sees more and greater in me than I could've ever hoped for.

1 Timothy 1:17 (NIV 2010) "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

He is jealous for me 

Loves like a hurricane 

I am a tree 

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy 

When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by Glory 

And I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me 

Oh how he loves us, so 

Oh How he loves us, how he loves us so 

He is jealous for me 

Loves like a hurricane 

I am a tree 

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy 

When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by Glory 

And I realize just how beautiful you are and how great your affections are for me 

And oh, how he loves us so, 

Oh how he loves us, how he loves us so 

Yeah he loves us 

Oh how he loves us 

Oh how he loves us 

Oh how he loves 

We are his portion and he is our prize 

Drawn to redemption by the grace in his eyes 

If grace is an ocean we’re all sinking 

So, heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss 

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest 

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way 

He loves us 

Oh how he loves us 

Oh how he loves us 

Oh how he loves 

Yeah, he loves us 

Oh how he loves us 

Oh how he loves us 

Oh how he loves 

Jesus: Change My Life... please

I love my God.

I cannot tell you how much I heart this post... my life has become simpler since reading it.
I have, for a long time, been stewing on John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  mostly, I've been trying to figure out how I can live my abundant life. I still don't know BUT I am toning down the drama. (!!) I wouldn't have considered myself high maintenance however I am more than qualified in making life difficult and have been busy putting my qualification to good use! Naughty. Life has not been easy and I have not made wise choices or contributions.
How do I stop being so selfish? Do I immerse myself in all that is unfair in the world to sweep me out of my inward view? Do I pray it out? Do I decide it out? Is it as simple as a choice? Am I not busy enough? Am I too busy?
I KNOW; put God first and everything else will fall into place; but imperfection being what it is, I struggle so much, especially when I think I am always right and can fix all that is wrong with the world if only people would listen.
Again, cannot say it enough, I am so awfully grateful that God is God and I am not, He is grace when I need it most. He doesn't judge me as cruelly as I judge others.

___________________________________________________

Love our youth: This chap in the middle is Dalen.

He is Year 9, goes to an all boys school, predominantly PI and Maori, got a mouth on him like nothing else! (Makes up for his stature I'm guessing) You can hear him clearly in the above video, singing out of tune, but loving waiata with the boys!! I'm gonna miss hanging with these guys. My husband is stepping out of Youth into a new direction. I'm gutted actually. I have been so selfish and precious with my family time in my struggle to find balance and I haven't appreciated what was always in front of me. I do think I had a lot of growth on the cards - I was a lot grumpier as a Youth Leader than I am now, leaning more towards the love and less toward the discipline and structure. (Though... I am still grumpy - had a kid say the F word right in front of me while sitting in my lounge - BOY did he get it! Same kid actually.)

I will miss the vibrancy. The life. The laughter. I will miss the free way they live life, old enough to make their own decisions, too young to carry any real responsibility.

Still I need to ask God how we channel all that life into Him!

Blurry pic but it is clear our lounge is full... 

When we serve such a great God who does so much for us how can live life and not be CONTAGIOUSLY filled with Him.

How do we show the love of the Creator to those who need Him and don't know it yet?

God who intricately created each spot on each bloom of this flower

Each little knuckle on the toe of this foot....

He created this moment for my eyes to see!

How do I live life with such a wonderful God, and become so good at containing His splendour

When I should be letting it all out.

He has His best work on display for me daily...

And yet I feel like I keep Him locked away for none but me.

Job 26:7-10 He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.

I've ended up on a tangent. 

Still... any ideas.....?