Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
I am so incredibly blessed. I don't say this to boast but rather to acknowledge what God has done in my life.
This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice in it. It is so easy to get discouraged or upset and angry and to have a bad hair day. I have had quite a few of those in my life. Sometimes I just want to be left alone to mope. When nothing is going right in my life and my health isn't too great and I am feeling out of sorts it isn't easy to be happy and enjoy my day. I just want to curl into a ball and go to sleep for a week.
But God! Again He comes and takes me by the hand and rescues me and sets my feet upon the rock again.
You see I had a revelation today as I was driving in my car and listening to my favorite Christian radio station. The verse Psalm 118:24 came up, "This is the day the Lord has made and I (we) will rejoice in it"
The first part got me. This is the day that the Lord has made. That means that today is special. It isn't just any ordinary day. It is the day that the Lord has made. If that is the only reason to rejoice then that is the best reason in the world. That God made today for me and He put me in today for such a time as this. By moping around the house (note I didn't say mopping, I don't mop, I shop) I haven't achieved anything joyful today. I didn't tell anyone about Jesus. I didn't smile at a stranger and have them smile back. I didn't extend kindness and friendliness because I was so busy being sour.
Still parts of me wants to just sulk and be miserable with the world but that is exactly where Satan wants me. He wants me to be miserable and ungrateful so that I will forget to count my blessings. He wants me to forget what God has done for me and he wants me to forget who my God is and how mighty and powerful He. The more negative I become the more I want to give up.
I love how God speaks to me. How He always finds a way to tell me how much He loves me and cares for me. He is aware of where I am and when I am far from Him He isn't very far from me.
So today, the day Lord has made in this I will rejoice.
Why don't you embrace today with me for what it is, a gift from our Heavenly Father. Rejoice me over the amazing things that will happen today and the amazing things He has done in the those days gone by that He also made.
I am coming up to 6000 views on my Blog! Even though I did not post last week the traffic to my Blog has continued and I am so thankful. Thank you all for your support.
I am thankful that God has chosen to use my paintings to bless others. I am thankful that He has made me to have a lot of unique talents and has made able to adapt well to anything He has asked me to do and to apply all I learn to every aspect of my life.
I am thankful that today He has laid this message on my heart to you and for myself.
If you are finding it difficult to rejoice today can I ask that you stop, take a deep breath and tell God that you are ready to hear from Him and that you are fixing your eyes on Him right now and off your situation. Then think of 2 things that have happened today that you are thankful for. It doesn't have to be big. Just that you had breakfast today and that you have clean clothes or that you are breathing and are able to come to God whenever you want. Start small and soon you will realize that this really is the day the Lord and you can and will rejoice and be glad in it.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Bringing Hope to a Younger Generation
Titus 2:1-6 Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
There is always someone watching you. There is always someone who needs to be taught what you have learned. There is always someone who has never been loved the way you have that you can share that love with.
I have probably blogged something similar before but something that has happened recently has got me thinking about my attitude and my very narrow world.
I have come across and have had people in my life who have not had the same life I have had. Basic things I have taken for granted. Born into a Christian family. The Easter bunny guaranteed every Easter and Santa every Christmas. Milestones were celebrated. My life was far from perfect and still isn't but I always had someone cheering me on and supporting me and doing their best for me.
Now that I am married and have my own children I see my life and am very grateful for what God has done in my life but it can't stop there. It must not stop there.
There are people in this world who have never learned how to care for and love their children. There are children out there who have been abandoned by their very own parents.
So what can we do about it?
This is what we can do. Don't walk out on the troublesome teen. Don't walk out on the unruly child. You might just be that very person they trust. If you walk out on them and do not value the place and purpose you have in their lives you are just going to be another person who has walked out on them.
There is always someone watching you and wanting to be like you. It may be hard to believe but I do feel we don't fully understand the impact we have on others lives. Don't you remember a time where all you wished for is someone to be on your side and come along side you and help you through the stuff of life.
What people need is hope. They need to know that you are committed and that you will be consistent and keep your promises. They want to know you care about them. You may think this is a lot of responsibility but I don't think it is. Aside from loving God we are told to love our neighbours as ourselves and by the increase of selfies I say we love ourselves a whole lot so how about we spread that love and put an arm around those that need hope and take some "groupies". Make people a part of your life.
Yes we are busy and yes we would rather not go to another youth thing where we feel awkward because we are old(er). When our week has been busy and we are tired and we don't want to go out and feel out of place with a generation that we don't have much in common with other than that we were there once a long time ago.
I pray I never forget what it was like growing up and all the teen stuff and all the feelings I went through. I am glad they are behind me and I never have to go through it again (although other challenges lay ahead of me I am sure) but I want to be able to help another girl with her journey. I want to show her who Jesus is through my actions and through my commitment to her and her future and in the way I love.
You can never know by simply looking at another person what they are going through or what their lives have been like up until that point. But if you never take the time out to reach out you will never know and you will never be able to help and give out advice that is much needed.
It is scary going through this life and you may be a child's only hope.
This may not be what God is calling you to do but I feel really strongly that I am to help young girls. I have 4 of my own and I wish that everyone had the life my girls have. I am not a perfect mother, I get it wrong, I blow it so many times a day but they do not have the worries that some children have. They do not have to worry about mum and dad being there for them when they wake up in the morning. They do not worry about what they will have for lunch that day or the fact that they did not have breakfast. They have shoes they choose not to wear and a bed and a roof over their heads, none of which they have ever had to worry about. The kitchen is always full of food, magically and they get what they ask for (within reason, candy before dinner is never an option).
It simply breaks my heart that their are kids that worry. Kids that will wait for Santa to come and he won't come.
You can't make everyone happy but I won't quit trying because of one person who really didn't want me around. I will save it for those who are desperately praying to God for an answer to their loneliness and need for guidance.
I hope someone out there knows what it is I am trying to say. If God is calling you to something do it well and with a servant heart. Don't complain about being tired and not wanting to do it (and I am like that sometimes so I am not only talking to you) My attitude has got to change from what I am called to do to the people I am called to serve and love. The responsibility I have to others is so much greater than whether or not I feel like it today or not. I shouldn't be doing things because I have to or even want to but out of a place of love. Love what Jesus loves. Love who Jesus loves.
If you kind of understood what I was trying to say here please let me know either on Facebook or in the comments below. I would really like to hear some feedback.
Almost 2 in the morning here so better head off to bed.
Blessings for the weekend.
Love Tamryn
There is always someone watching you. There is always someone who needs to be taught what you have learned. There is always someone who has never been loved the way you have that you can share that love with.
I have probably blogged something similar before but something that has happened recently has got me thinking about my attitude and my very narrow world.
I have come across and have had people in my life who have not had the same life I have had. Basic things I have taken for granted. Born into a Christian family. The Easter bunny guaranteed every Easter and Santa every Christmas. Milestones were celebrated. My life was far from perfect and still isn't but I always had someone cheering me on and supporting me and doing their best for me.
Now that I am married and have my own children I see my life and am very grateful for what God has done in my life but it can't stop there. It must not stop there.
There are people in this world who have never learned how to care for and love their children. There are children out there who have been abandoned by their very own parents.
So what can we do about it?
This is what we can do. Don't walk out on the troublesome teen. Don't walk out on the unruly child. You might just be that very person they trust. If you walk out on them and do not value the place and purpose you have in their lives you are just going to be another person who has walked out on them.
There is always someone watching you and wanting to be like you. It may be hard to believe but I do feel we don't fully understand the impact we have on others lives. Don't you remember a time where all you wished for is someone to be on your side and come along side you and help you through the stuff of life.
What people need is hope. They need to know that you are committed and that you will be consistent and keep your promises. They want to know you care about them. You may think this is a lot of responsibility but I don't think it is. Aside from loving God we are told to love our neighbours as ourselves and by the increase of selfies I say we love ourselves a whole lot so how about we spread that love and put an arm around those that need hope and take some "groupies". Make people a part of your life.
Yes we are busy and yes we would rather not go to another youth thing where we feel awkward because we are old(er). When our week has been busy and we are tired and we don't want to go out and feel out of place with a generation that we don't have much in common with other than that we were there once a long time ago.
I pray I never forget what it was like growing up and all the teen stuff and all the feelings I went through. I am glad they are behind me and I never have to go through it again (although other challenges lay ahead of me I am sure) but I want to be able to help another girl with her journey. I want to show her who Jesus is through my actions and through my commitment to her and her future and in the way I love.
You can never know by simply looking at another person what they are going through or what their lives have been like up until that point. But if you never take the time out to reach out you will never know and you will never be able to help and give out advice that is much needed.
It is scary going through this life and you may be a child's only hope.
This may not be what God is calling you to do but I feel really strongly that I am to help young girls. I have 4 of my own and I wish that everyone had the life my girls have. I am not a perfect mother, I get it wrong, I blow it so many times a day but they do not have the worries that some children have. They do not have to worry about mum and dad being there for them when they wake up in the morning. They do not worry about what they will have for lunch that day or the fact that they did not have breakfast. They have shoes they choose not to wear and a bed and a roof over their heads, none of which they have ever had to worry about. The kitchen is always full of food, magically and they get what they ask for (within reason, candy before dinner is never an option).
It simply breaks my heart that their are kids that worry. Kids that will wait for Santa to come and he won't come.
You can't make everyone happy but I won't quit trying because of one person who really didn't want me around. I will save it for those who are desperately praying to God for an answer to their loneliness and need for guidance.
I hope someone out there knows what it is I am trying to say. If God is calling you to something do it well and with a servant heart. Don't complain about being tired and not wanting to do it (and I am like that sometimes so I am not only talking to you) My attitude has got to change from what I am called to do to the people I am called to serve and love. The responsibility I have to others is so much greater than whether or not I feel like it today or not. I shouldn't be doing things because I have to or even want to but out of a place of love. Love what Jesus loves. Love who Jesus loves.
If you kind of understood what I was trying to say here please let me know either on Facebook or in the comments below. I would really like to hear some feedback.
Almost 2 in the morning here so better head off to bed.
Blessings for the weekend.
Love Tamryn
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Quitting When You Need to Push
John 16:21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.
Yes I know this is a very strange title and scripture. I am going to write a bit about birth and what I experienced when I had my 4 babies and how that applies to what I am going through now and what I feel some of you are going through now.
I have 4 daughters and had 3 of them without any painkillers but for my first I did have a bit of pain before I had an epidural and even then I could feel the contractions faintly. I will spare you all the gory details but I was reflecting on this this week.
I have felt like quitting what I am doing right now. I have asked God to use me and now that He is and I am about to "birth" something new in my spiritual life I want to quit. The exact same thing happened when I was in a transition in labour with each of my girls. Baby was just a few minutes away from being born it was all going to be over very soon and I was going to feel the joy of meeting my little baby. However I had this irrational thought to get up and walk out that hospital. There was no going back at this point but I had gotten to a point where I felt I just couldn't do it.
The words "I can't do it let's just go home" came out of my mouth between contractions but it was those around me who encouraged me to keep going and I said a little prayer and I think I prayed in tongues too for extra measure. Something rose up in me and I resolved to push through (pun intended). I pushed through and very soon after baby was in my arms.
I have had some many dreams of being pregnant or birthing and as some of you know dreams about being pregnant or giving birth is about a new ministry or new thing that God is bringing into your life.
I asked God why I was feeling like quitting. Should I quit and if not what am I to do about this?
This is the answer I have been getting through the week and on Sunday at church through the messages that were shared at both our services.
First question was why do I want to quit? The answer, because it is about comfort. I want to quit so that I can go back to being just stay at home mum and housewife when life was more comfortable than it is now. This is interesting because I really felt that why I was just a SAHM and Housewife that there was more to my life. Being a mum and a wife are very important but I felt God was saying I had a capacity for more.
Motherhood is great and so is being a wife. They have their challenges but I am now other things too. I have grown and been stretched. But now it is time for a new wine skin and to extend the tent pegs.
Labour is painful and it is at it's worst right before the baby is born. What I am saying is that if you feel like quitting maybe it is because you are tired and in pain and feel like you can't go on but that is because you are almost there. You may just be one last push away or one last step away from seeing the fruit of your labour.
We need to see beyond the here and now and see the more that God has for us.
So the answer to the next question "what am I to do?" I am not going to quit. I am actually quite excited to see what is around the next corner. I am going to press on a little bit longer until the anguish gives way to joy because of the new thing birthed in my life.
Yes I know this is a very strange title and scripture. I am going to write a bit about birth and what I experienced when I had my 4 babies and how that applies to what I am going through now and what I feel some of you are going through now.
I have 4 daughters and had 3 of them without any painkillers but for my first I did have a bit of pain before I had an epidural and even then I could feel the contractions faintly. I will spare you all the gory details but I was reflecting on this this week.
I have felt like quitting what I am doing right now. I have asked God to use me and now that He is and I am about to "birth" something new in my spiritual life I want to quit. The exact same thing happened when I was in a transition in labour with each of my girls. Baby was just a few minutes away from being born it was all going to be over very soon and I was going to feel the joy of meeting my little baby. However I had this irrational thought to get up and walk out that hospital. There was no going back at this point but I had gotten to a point where I felt I just couldn't do it.
The words "I can't do it let's just go home" came out of my mouth between contractions but it was those around me who encouraged me to keep going and I said a little prayer and I think I prayed in tongues too for extra measure. Something rose up in me and I resolved to push through (pun intended). I pushed through and very soon after baby was in my arms.
I have had some many dreams of being pregnant or birthing and as some of you know dreams about being pregnant or giving birth is about a new ministry or new thing that God is bringing into your life.
I asked God why I was feeling like quitting. Should I quit and if not what am I to do about this?
This is the answer I have been getting through the week and on Sunday at church through the messages that were shared at both our services.
First question was why do I want to quit? The answer, because it is about comfort. I want to quit so that I can go back to being just stay at home mum and housewife when life was more comfortable than it is now. This is interesting because I really felt that why I was just a SAHM and Housewife that there was more to my life. Being a mum and a wife are very important but I felt God was saying I had a capacity for more.
Motherhood is great and so is being a wife. They have their challenges but I am now other things too. I have grown and been stretched. But now it is time for a new wine skin and to extend the tent pegs.
Labour is painful and it is at it's worst right before the baby is born. What I am saying is that if you feel like quitting maybe it is because you are tired and in pain and feel like you can't go on but that is because you are almost there. You may just be one last push away or one last step away from seeing the fruit of your labour.
We need to see beyond the here and now and see the more that God has for us.
So the answer to the next question "what am I to do?" I am not going to quit. I am actually quite excited to see what is around the next corner. I am going to press on a little bit longer until the anguish gives way to joy because of the new thing birthed in my life.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Sing With Your Heart
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
A photo I took of the clouds 'Open Heaven'
I love talking to people and I love singing. Two of my most favourite things to do. I went to a conference on the second week of being sick. I was sick yes but I had no fever and had already missed out on the retreat for a course I am doing so I didn't want to miss this.
I could not talk to people very well and so that meant I didn't really get to make new friends and meet new people (insert sad face here). Also Christian conference called Shout and I had to whisper throughout it Oh No! I love to worship and sing but I could not sing a word. My singing voice was completely gone. Tragic. But this is what I discovered.
My passion comes out of my mouth. When I sing a song I think about the lyrics and I mean every word I sing. There is an amazing thing that happens in the atmosphere when we worship in spirit and truth. When our voices go out into the air. The presence of God inhabits our praises.
When I was unable to sing (I still am battling a little) there was something else that happened deep within me. The passion didn't come from my heart and out of my mouth but it came from my heart and welled out of my eyes. I cried with passion. I couldn't express my love for my Saviour with my voice but I was still able to worship.
I was still and knew who my Father is. I was still and knew that He was near. I was still and and yet He came and touched my life.
I felt so blessed during that week. Yes it was frustrating being unable to sing but it is something I could so easily take for granted and I was grateful that God showed me through this time that worshiping is not about a good singing voice but an attitude of the heart.
You don't have to be great at playing an instrument or singing to worship God with all your heart. You just need a heart that is sold out for God. Willing to honor and serve Him in every area of your life including how you worship Him.
I see many people who don't sing in church. Whatever their reasons are I pray they do start to open their mouths and let their hearts out to worship. There were a few deaf people at the conference and being deaf did not stop them from singing. They signed the words which I thought was really beautiful and sang whether they were good at it or not. I had no voice but I tried to sing a bit even though I couldn't hit all the notes and sometimes nothing came out at all but when I had to be silent my heart still sang.
What is your reason for being silent? When you don't sing is it because your heart too is not singing? Throw yourself into worshiping God because He is worthy of all the praise. Anyone who knows Jesus and has Him as Saviour over their lives has something to sing about. Don't forget what you have been saved from and who saved you from it. Don't forget Who's you are. You are the child of the one true King. He gave you a voice and when you use it darkness runs and hides. Your voice is a blessing don't take it for granted.
Friday, June 19, 2015
This Means War
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood
enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against
mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly
places.
Have you ever had a time when you were simply minding your own
business when all of a sudden something comes and completely catches you off
guard? Your life is chugging along nicely but out of the blue depression hits
or you get attacked by the lies of the enemy. Words are spoken and suddenly
things seem really unfair and the world unkind. Your thoughts about yourself
are no longer uplifting and you cannot keep things together as you did before.
The enemy has you just where he wants you.
He wants you in the defensive position where your armour is only good for
deflecting his arrows. He actually wants you to take off that armour, throw it
away and give up in defeat.
He wants you to fight with your friends.
He wants you to to listen to gossip and pull people apart because when he gets
what he wants he causes division. He knows that when 2 or 3 are gathered
in Jesus' name Jesus is there. He wants you alone, on your own and powerless
and defeated.
He is a strategist and opportunist and is
out to destroy you because you make him scared just by getting up in the
morning.
In Ephesians 6:12 we are told that our
fight is not against flesh and blood but against the evil rulers and
authorities of the unseen world, against might powers in this dark world and
against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
My fight is not against human beings. My
fight is not physical but spiritual.
Now imagine this. You get up in the
morning and the first thing you say is "Good morning God" You have a
conversation with Jesus before you talk to anyone else. You make Him your
priority. You suit up with the full armour of God and you read your Bible
because you know it is a strong weapon against the enemy. You don't do this
because you have to but because you want to and because talking to Jesus and
having Him speak to you is the greatest wonder in all creation. The very
presence of God would bring every man to his knees, unable to speak other than
to worship Him. I thought that if I worshiped more intensely or pressed in harder
or read my Bible more then I would get spiritual enough to feel God's presence.
His power would come over me and overwhelm me. This does happen sometimes and I
love it when the Holy Spirit falls upon me but what I love and desire the most
is Jesus to be my friend and you know what Jesus wants that too. He wants to
talk to me and have me talk to Him. What we usually do is come with a list of
complaints, monologues about our day and what is bothering us which isn't bad,
God isn't surprised by these things. He knows what you are going through but He
wants to do some talking too. It is when we listen to His voice and get to know
His voice that we become stronger. John 10:27 says "My sheep know my
voice, I hear them and they Follow Me"
When we know God's voice then we can tell
when it is Him speaking to us or the enemy. Whatever voice you listen to the
most, is the one you will know more and the more you know it, the more you will
follow it.
God should be the one directing your path.
He won't direct you down a defensive path but down the offensive path. Where
you are the one waging war on the enemy. You have the upper hand. I am so over
being the one bullied. I don't want to be left reeling after an attack, blindly
wondering what happened. That is not the life God has for me and it isn't the
one He has for you either. Overwhelming victory is ours Romans 8:37
We fight for what we love. We wage war
against the enemy who is lying to people everywhere.
Adam and Eve were lied to. They took their
eyes off God for a moment and believed the lie of the enemy. They listened to
that cunning voice.
Because of Jesus, we are armed for the
battle. The very same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of us
and when we realise just how powerful God is and how powerful we are because we
are His sons and daughters we are a force to be reckoned with.
So today do not fall for the ploy of the
enemy. Today stand firm in the fact that the battle has already been won. You
have the victory already. No one can take it away from you unless you let down
your guard and freely give it away.
Nehemiah 14:15-17 says
15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God
had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 16 But from then on, only half my men worked while
the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The
leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. The laborers carried
on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon.
When we know the enemies
plan God will frustrate them. Have friends who will stand by you and pray for
you and who are armed and ready to fight for you and cover your back. Support your
leaders because they are watching your back. Have your tools in one hand and
your weapon in the other so that you will be ready.
Jesus even told His
disciples in Luke 22:36 that if they did not have a sword they were to sell
their garments to buy one.
You need to be ready for battle. Don’t be blind-sided
again. Check your blind spot regularly. Follow Jesus and He will send you a
warning if you will just hear His voice and obey it.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Spring Has Come
Song of Songs 2:10-13
My lover said to me,
“Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!
11 Look, the winter is past,
and the rains are over and gone.
12 The flowers are springing up,
the season of singing birds has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
13 The fig trees are forming young fruit,
and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.
Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!”
I am a Spring baby. I love the season of the new. Fruit blossoms on the trees and daffodils and green leaves. New life.
Winter and I are not good friends. Only thing I like about winter is snuggling up in a nice warm bed, Hot Chocolate and marshmallows. The rain and wind and cold are not nice. For three months it is as though there is no colour and everything has gone to sleep. Currently I am fighting a cold and that is another reason why winter is not nice. Germs. Heaps of germs. My four daughters don't believe in getting sick all at once over the weekend. They instead think that taking turns is far more clever and during the week when Mum has work to do is even better. Autumn was the tummy bug season and you guessed it. One at a time for a couple of weeks and I got it too! It is enough to make any mother to scream "Spring and Summer come back!"
A lot of us have seasons in our lives. Not the natural seasons of our planet but internal seasons of our heart. We are sick and tired and hibernating. We wait and wait for the light Spring to come and break us out of our dark Winter.
Winter can grow us and make us stronger. When we go through storms and trials and we rely on God to help us through we become stronger. We rid ourselves of things that do not belong in our lives. When we look to God during the Winter months we focus less on ourselves and our situation.
Winter is good for us because it grows our faith that there is hope. Spring always comes after Winter. That is the hope of Winter. There will be Spring.
Spring is the time when new things wake up and things are birthed. Spring is the season of activating what was incubated during Winter.
The enemy wants to keep you in Winter. He knows if you stay in Winter too long you will lose hope and that which you are incubating will not reach full potential and will not be activated in your life.
When we lose hope we lose vision and we become bitter.
But God! God is calling you into Spring. He is calling you to activate that which you have grown in faith and trust in Him and what He has been working in your life.
He is calling you, His beloved, to awake and rise up. Hear the birds singing their dawn chorus. See the blossoms on the trees. Can you not see that rain is gone and the newness of Spring is bursting from the ground.
What is it that you have buried deep within? What are the things that you have heard God speaking into your heart during your Winter season? Are you hearing God calling your name and waking you up? He is calling you out and showing you that clear, snow free, path.
I can hear Jesus saying "Follow Me" and my response "I will follow you wherever you will lead me"
Say yes to Jesus today and throw off the things of Winter and see what exciting things God is going to do this Spring.
Click here for more blogs by other women
My lover said to me,
“Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!
11 Look, the winter is past,
and the rains are over and gone.
12 The flowers are springing up,
the season of singing birds has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
13 The fig trees are forming young fruit,
and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.
Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!”
I am a Spring baby. I love the season of the new. Fruit blossoms on the trees and daffodils and green leaves. New life.
Winter and I are not good friends. Only thing I like about winter is snuggling up in a nice warm bed, Hot Chocolate and marshmallows. The rain and wind and cold are not nice. For three months it is as though there is no colour and everything has gone to sleep. Currently I am fighting a cold and that is another reason why winter is not nice. Germs. Heaps of germs. My four daughters don't believe in getting sick all at once over the weekend. They instead think that taking turns is far more clever and during the week when Mum has work to do is even better. Autumn was the tummy bug season and you guessed it. One at a time for a couple of weeks and I got it too! It is enough to make any mother to scream "Spring and Summer come back!"
A lot of us have seasons in our lives. Not the natural seasons of our planet but internal seasons of our heart. We are sick and tired and hibernating. We wait and wait for the light Spring to come and break us out of our dark Winter.
Winter can grow us and make us stronger. When we go through storms and trials and we rely on God to help us through we become stronger. We rid ourselves of things that do not belong in our lives. When we look to God during the Winter months we focus less on ourselves and our situation.
Winter is good for us because it grows our faith that there is hope. Spring always comes after Winter. That is the hope of Winter. There will be Spring.
Spring is the time when new things wake up and things are birthed. Spring is the season of activating what was incubated during Winter.
The enemy wants to keep you in Winter. He knows if you stay in Winter too long you will lose hope and that which you are incubating will not reach full potential and will not be activated in your life.
When we lose hope we lose vision and we become bitter.
But God! God is calling you into Spring. He is calling you to activate that which you have grown in faith and trust in Him and what He has been working in your life.
He is calling you, His beloved, to awake and rise up. Hear the birds singing their dawn chorus. See the blossoms on the trees. Can you not see that rain is gone and the newness of Spring is bursting from the ground.
What is it that you have buried deep within? What are the things that you have heard God speaking into your heart during your Winter season? Are you hearing God calling your name and waking you up? He is calling you out and showing you that clear, snow free, path.
I can hear Jesus saying "Follow Me" and my response "I will follow you wherever you will lead me"
Say yes to Jesus today and throw off the things of Winter and see what exciting things God is going to do this Spring.
Click here for more blogs by other women
Friday, May 1, 2015
More Than Meets the Eye
1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
As humans we put a lot of value on what people look like. What they wear, how many piercings and tattoos they have or we see how fat or thin someone is. We look at the outside appearance and assume that we know exactly what a person is like.
We assume that someone wearing the latest fashion, perfectly coloured hair, straight, white teeth and a perfect body is someone to look up to. We assume that a homeless person who is wearing shoes that could hold a conversation and a beanie on his greasy unwashed head is lazy and should just get off the street and earn a living like the rest of society.
We assume that a businessman is rich and happy, We assume a mom that stays at home with her kids does nothing all day and does nothing to contribute to the family finances and we assume a working mom doesn't care about her kids and would rather work and make parenting their own child someone else's problem.
We assume so much by what people do for a living and by what they wear.
In 1 Samuel 16 it tells about how God sent Samuel to anoint the the next king of Israel. Samuel looked at David's brothers and saw that they were all tall, strapping lads and looked like Kings but God told Samuel not to look at the outside appearance.
When God sees each of us He sees right past what we do and our appearance and He sees our heart and who He created us to be.
God created David to be a King but God saw that this man was a man after His own heart. He saw that David loved deeply. All everyone else saw was a little boy but God knew better.
We all need to start seeing others as Jesus sees them. He looks deep inside beyond all the layers of appearance, hate, insecurity and hopelessness and sees so much more. Just as when you look into the night sky and only see a few stars. It is only when you zoom in with a very strong telescope that begin to see galaxies, planets and moons.
When you come across someone today who you have never met and you see their appearance, stop and look deeper and ask God how He sees them.
That stylish woman with perfect hair and teeth is probably going through a life that is very far from perfect and although she may look perfect on the outside she my be very lonely and in need of a friend who will love her no matter what secrets she is holding captive inside.
The homeless man may have looked for a job many times but he gets looked down on for his appearance.
How do we treat people? Those who are different, do we treat them with love and acceptance for them as a unique God created human being or do we judge first by appearance?
God sees the heart and I am glad for it because if God judged me by appearance I wouldn't stand a chance. But because He has created me and formed me and knows me He sees who I am. He knows what I am going through. He is a personal God who cares about my heart and He cares about yours.
But most of all He cares about the heart of the unlovely. There is more to a person than meets the eye.
Click here for Fellowship Fridays where you can find other Christian Bloggers
As humans we put a lot of value on what people look like. What they wear, how many piercings and tattoos they have or we see how fat or thin someone is. We look at the outside appearance and assume that we know exactly what a person is like.
We assume that someone wearing the latest fashion, perfectly coloured hair, straight, white teeth and a perfect body is someone to look up to. We assume that a homeless person who is wearing shoes that could hold a conversation and a beanie on his greasy unwashed head is lazy and should just get off the street and earn a living like the rest of society.
We assume that a businessman is rich and happy, We assume a mom that stays at home with her kids does nothing all day and does nothing to contribute to the family finances and we assume a working mom doesn't care about her kids and would rather work and make parenting their own child someone else's problem.
We assume so much by what people do for a living and by what they wear.
In 1 Samuel 16 it tells about how God sent Samuel to anoint the the next king of Israel. Samuel looked at David's brothers and saw that they were all tall, strapping lads and looked like Kings but God told Samuel not to look at the outside appearance.
When God sees each of us He sees right past what we do and our appearance and He sees our heart and who He created us to be.
God created David to be a King but God saw that this man was a man after His own heart. He saw that David loved deeply. All everyone else saw was a little boy but God knew better.
We all need to start seeing others as Jesus sees them. He looks deep inside beyond all the layers of appearance, hate, insecurity and hopelessness and sees so much more. Just as when you look into the night sky and only see a few stars. It is only when you zoom in with a very strong telescope that begin to see galaxies, planets and moons.
When you come across someone today who you have never met and you see their appearance, stop and look deeper and ask God how He sees them.
That stylish woman with perfect hair and teeth is probably going through a life that is very far from perfect and although she may look perfect on the outside she my be very lonely and in need of a friend who will love her no matter what secrets she is holding captive inside.
The homeless man may have looked for a job many times but he gets looked down on for his appearance.
How do we treat people? Those who are different, do we treat them with love and acceptance for them as a unique God created human being or do we judge first by appearance?
God sees the heart and I am glad for it because if God judged me by appearance I wouldn't stand a chance. But because He has created me and formed me and knows me He sees who I am. He knows what I am going through. He is a personal God who cares about my heart and He cares about yours.
But most of all He cares about the heart of the unlovely. There is more to a person than meets the eye.
Click here for Fellowship Fridays where you can find other Christian Bloggers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)