{family} there be changes a coming

So, our family is about to enter the world of living on one income - scary times!  As of next month, we will be short approximately $3,000 per month, which means, we have a lot of careful consideration to do when it comes to budgeting and living. We wont be able to live by the same carefree means we have in the past, and as such, are looking for any ways we can stretch our money to make it count!

First things first for us is nappies....we have been using Huggies with Miss Placid since birth, but those babies are $33 per box and we go through roughly 200 nappies a month! Crazy huh! After a bit of research, Im going to go with the Snugglers, which you can get at Big W for just under $20 a box....big saving there!

Ive also decided I can save on baby wipes by using face wash cloths when I am at home. These are easy washed and reusable, and I can just use the disposable wipes when I am out at the shops!

Because my hair is currently dark, I can probably get by stretching out my hair appointments now. I used to go 6 weekly when I was blonde, so i think as long as I am dark, I can probably stretch these out to 3 monthly appointments (or more) instead!

We are thinking about setting a limit with our groceries (yet to be decided on the amount) and buying monthly. Once we have spent the grocery money, that will be it - so it will take careful planning to make sure our meals stretch out and last that long.

As for keeping gas, electricity and water down, Im not really sure how we will make a huge difference to these bills. I guess just limiting the use of lights, switching off at the wall, limiting our shower times and making the most of using the washing machine - ie only using when it is a full load.

There will be much more having people over for coffees instead of heading out for coffees and I will have to watch my fuel closely, making the most out of my trips as I tend to drive around alot! I have no idea how to make birthdays and Christmas presents work, but perhaps I will have to get a little more creative on that front! We are also considering downsizing our home and moving to an area, a little closer up the freeway, but not too far from Mr O's work.

It is quite a daunting road ahead of us, and if we were completely honest, we aren't sure how we are going to get through it! But, we do know that we have a good, and faithful God, and he doesn't let us get in over our heads more than we can manage.  We put our faith and trust in Him with our finances and are praying for and seeking His wisdom and guidance through these times.

I would absolutely love to hear from all you mummas out there who have travelled this road before us, to hear how you got by and the little things you did to stretch your dollars further! 

Much love

Daughter of the King
x

{obedience} disconnecting to reconnect

You may remember back here where I decided to give up Facebook for the month of March.  I wasn't very successful...I did manage not to post anything on Facebook for the entire month, or respond to anyone on there, but I did give in and check it most days after the first week!

After this experience, I quickly realised how much of an addictive thing Facebook had become in my life.  I felt the urge to check it...all the time...and this was unhealthy.  I also hated the fact that it took away my time as a 'mother' to Miss Placid and I started becoming a bit absent. As she would be playing, it was very easy to just sit beside her and scroll through the news feeds, seeing what everyone was up to.  I really believe God was doing a work in me to make me understand that Facebook was somewhat a disease I needed to rid myself of. It wasn't a hard decision, and sometime in the beginning of April I deleted our account and haven't looked back.

However, it didn't take me long to find something to replace Facebook in my life....and it was called 'Instagram'.  Another social media app where you post pictures of whatever you please. People can follow you, and you can follow others. You can comment on peoples pictures and hash tag them into a category for the world to see.  At first, I didn't see it as a problem at all. I only had close friends or family following me and I was really just using it to put pictures of Miss Placid up for them to see.  But then, my followers started increasing, people I didn't even know were wanting to 'follow' me and my pictures...and you know what....it felt good. It was nice seeing that number of people go up and I would look forward to checking in to see what new comments people had put on my pictures and if anyone new was following me.

I caught up with a beautiful girlfriend during the week, one who has been through an extremely tough time this last year.  She lost her first born, a beautiful baby girl, at birth.  She is absolutely amazing, and the fact that she has remained steadfast in her faith, relying on Gods goodness and faithfulness in such a traumatic situation, is testament to her beautiful relationship with Christ.  We got chatting about social media, and how she also is no longer on Facebook and how she doesn't miss it either.  She was saying her friends are always asking her to come back on so that she can not 'miss out' on anything! Its funny how quickly people forget that you can still be a part of someone's life without living vicariously through Facebook or social media! We discussed how you end up following and having so many people follow you that aren't necessarily great friends, just acquaintances.... but they end up knowing every intricate detail of your life and what you have been up to!  I remember going to a gathering a couple of months back and people who i didnt even know came up to Miss Placid and I and said "Oh, this is Miss Placid - i feel like I know her already!!" It was pretty confronting and scary really!  

We also spoke about how Instagram and Facebook becomes such a pin up board for the perfect life and it can be quite a selfish feat.  You end up comparing yourself to the lives other people are 'living'....or the lives you believe they are living through the select images and posts they put up! People appear to have such perfect lives on there....it is easy to feel quite complacent with your own and with the things you do during the week! That, along with looking forward to seeing what people have to say about your pictures or your posts and comments, for me, I began to realise was quite a vain thing.

This last week, I again am feeling the heart of God give me a gentle nudge.  What am i really using this app for? How much time am I spending on it as opposed to spending time with my daughter or time spent with God? I quickly felt shame and have realised that again, I need to make some changes.  I do love instagram for the fact of sharing photos of Miss Placid with my family, so I will be cutting it right back to have only family and friends that live away that will be able to follow my photos on Instagram.  I will only be posting photos of Miss Placid, and the occasional shot of me or Mr O with her as a family {In time, I may even get rid of it totally, and just stick to the good old fashioned emails to close family and friends!} There is no need to be posting pictures of what I am eating for lunch, of selfish 'selfie' shots of myself, just so I can get 'approval' from others as to how I look. My approval should be coming from only one person, and that is God himself.  I shouldn't be glorifying myself the way I have been. 

1 Timothy 2:9 (NIV) says "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. 

 I also like how this is worded in the Message:

1 Timothy 2:9 

"And i want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it"

This isn't for everyone, and a lot of people don't struggle with addictions to social media the way I have in the past...but this is something that i have been convicted by in my spirit and in my life and it is time for me to stop conforming and start transforming my life the way God wants me to live it!

I am sure there may be other things that may pop up as temptations to distract me as I go through this journey to being a more present mumma, wife and daughter of Christ, but I know that with his strength, and if i continue to listen to his gentle nudgings, I will stay on the straight and narrow.

Much love

Daughter of the King
x

P.S. If there is anyone that is really going to miss seeing Miss Placid on Instagram, and doesnt receive my 'monthly' Miss Placid updates by email, but would like to stay in touch that way, send me an email and I will add you to the mailing list. 

{motherhood} through the darkness, there is light...

Today, DD1 and I said farewell to an amazing lady - someone who has helped us out immensely over the past 3 months. Someone who has been more of a friend to me than some of the friends I have had for years. She will be greatly missed, on a 'work relationship' level...but I also know i have gained a friend for life in her.

Before DD1 came into our lives, people were asking me if I was prepared to be a mother. Of course I was. I was married to the love of my life and in love, we were blessed to be able to create a life together, one that we would bring up in the best way possible, to the best of our knowledge. We would figure it out along the way! A few people towards the end of my pregnancy asked if I was aware of Post Natal Depression (PND) and what that entailed.  I was aware of it, i had heard of it, but I was adamant it wasn't going to be an 'issue' for me. I was a positive person with a positive outlook on life. I looked at motherhood as an exciting adventure - I was gaining a new little best friend who would keep me company through the day and love me unconditionally.  PND was for those that were already struggling in life, weren't happy or had struggled with depression in the past. No way...not me.

I was so wrong.

I have since learnt that depression, in any form, isn't something you can choose to have or not have. It.........................................just.........................................happens. And it happened to me.

When DD1 was born, I thought i had it all under control. Motherhood seemed to come easy to me. I waltzed out of the hospital, babe in arm, and I was happy and complete. We went out for dinner that night to my mother-in-laws house and people were amazed at how quickly I was up and at it! 

It didn't take long for everything to come crashing down.

About 5 days in, things became real. The bucket loads of advice and information I had taken in about how to raise DD1 - how to feed her, hold her, how long she should be sleeping, how often she should be feeding, whether she should be using a dummy (etc, etc) - caught up with me and I started doubting my ability as a mother. I had some extremely dark moments, and at times, I was wishing I had never chosen to be a mother.  I couldn't do it, I was a failure and was not cut out for this job! It was (and is) a tough job and I really struggled. I tried to hold it together in public, but when I was alone at home with DD1, I broke down. I was curled up in a ball, sobbing....heartbroken and struggling. 

It was my mother who prompted me to go and seek some help from a Dr and have a chat to her about PND. Even at that point, I was denying it. I just thought i must have been exhausted and tired, but there was more to it than that. On a chemical and hormonal level, I was depressed. The Dr diagnosed me with mild PND and sent me on my way with advice to get out more and have a break from DD1 whenever possible.

I managed to go and see my Child Health Nurse seeking some help with getting DD1 to sleep - as I believed that I was only feeling this way because she wouldn't sleep (well, not for as long as everyone was saying she should be!) She decided to come out to my house to help me out (for free) as we couldn't afford to trudge off to a sleep school! Upon coming to our house and spending an hour with me to see what it took for me to get DD1 to sleep, and how exhausted, stressed and upset I was, she offered me a golden ticket---there was a service that was available to women struggling with PND, a service that entailed an "in-home carer" to come out to your house, for up to 13 weeks, to help you out, and it was Government funded! She said that I should think about it and if I wanted to go ahead with it, to call her back the next day and she will set it up for me.  You don't think i was up early, calling that Child Health Nurse at the crack of dawn that following day!

And that's where Tracey comes in.  

Tracey was the lady assigned to help me out with DD1. I was asked what days and hours I wanted her to come, and because of the state I was in, I asked for as much time with her as possible!!! She has been with me 3 days a week for 6.5 hours each day for the past 13 weeks. I refer to her as my angel as I honestly believe she was sent to me for a reason...to get me through a really rough and dark time.

She has been an amazing source of encouragement in her time with me. She helped me realise that I am an amazing mother to DD1, that I am doing a fantastic job and that I am doing everything right. She offered her advice where necessary and gave me some really helpful hints along the way. She came with me to appointments and helped me build up the courage to do things that I was too scared to try on my own with DD1 - eg: using my shopping trolley cover for the first time! Its a tricky thing to put on you know! ;)  There are years between Tracey and I, but you would never have known that.  For the most part, she was simply a friend. She would come and share a cuppa with me, and just hang out. She was someone I could rely on, and for that, I am eternally grateful as PND really shows you who your friends are!

I'm really going to miss having her around, but I am also really looking forward to starting a new chapter and continuing on with our relationship - which will evolve into more of a friendship now.  I am not ashamed of my depression. I am speaking out about it in the hope that it may encourage others that are struggling to know that they are not alone, and that they don't have to struggle on their own. There is help out there. Some people didn't know how to handle me, or how to act around me, especially when I had Tracey around - and that is ok, it can be hard to know what to do or say - but the best advice I have is to not shy away from anyone struggling! Make a point to be present - make an effort, really 'ASK' if they are ok. Rock up their place with coffee and cake, even if they 'arent up for it'...they will appreciate it!.
Through it all I believe I have always continued to be the same person, I just needed a friend to hold me up as I stumbled through the beginnings of motherhood.

I hope that one day I can help someone else in the same way Tracey has helped me.

If you know someone that is struggling with PND, or if you are yourself and you would like some more information on help that is available, please feel free to contact me, or your local Child Health Nurse for some more information.  

Psalm 56:12-13

I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you.  For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Much love

Daughter of the King

x

{faith} Down by the seaside

Today I took my little girl down to the seaside, for the very first time.

It had been a long day at home and we were both getting a bit bored, so I packed up the car with a blanket and hat and off we drove.  I am so glad we live close to the sea!

Miss Placid was just awestruck by the ocean. As we were walking down the sand dune to the beach, she could hear the waves and she was intrigued. Her little eyes were darting around madly, trying to figure out what it was that was making such a noise!

After I set up our blanket I sat her up, facing the ocean. She sat so still, for what seemed an eternity - taking it all in. I popped her little hat on, took of her socks and walked her over to the shoreline. As I bent down to stand her up in the sand, she was a little unsure, uneasy. She wanted to know what this new sensation and feeling was - what was this rough stuff under her feet, and why did her toes suddenly feel so cold! She would be looking out to the sea and the waves, then would quickly glance back at me and lean into me for reassurance. When she realised I was by her side and that she was safe, she eased up a little more and began to enjoy it.

After we got home, and i reflected on our little adventure, it made me realise just how much Miss Placid's first experience with the ocean was what it is like when we are uncertain of things in life. We are uneasy, we approach them sometimes with eagerness and sometimes with fear. But one thing i know for sure is that I have my God and saviour there by my side - just as i was beside Miss Placid - to hold my hand, to comfort me and to reassure me that every little thing will be ok.  If I fall down, he will help get me back up again. If it gets to much, he will carry me when it seems I can no longer go on.

God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe! That's right - he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you - under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.  Fear nothing - not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day. Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon.  Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left; no harm will even graze you. You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance...Yes, because God's your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil cant get close to you, harm cant get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard wherever you go. If you stumble, they'll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path.

Psalm 91:1-13 (Message)

Much love

Daughter of the King
x

What a week it has been! Through the craziness and drama of it all, i have been reminded that God is good, He loves us, cares for us and knows what is best for us.

My little sister has had a tough week. She was involved in a car crash and also had a relationship that came to a close. She is ok, physically - apart from a couple of burns and bruises. But emotionally, she is drained. I received the call from her just as it had happened - she was hysterical and unsure what to do. I felt so helpless, living so far away! I wished I could just jump in my car and go and rescue her, but i couldnt. So i called our parents and luckily our dad was only a minute away and he found her quickly to help. 

It was a 3 car pile-up...airbags were all deployed and the car is likely a write-off.  But thankfully, her life isnt and she is ok.

Sometimes i wish i could wrap up my loved ones in cotton wool..to protect them from lifes dangers, hurts and pains. I wish i could prevent problems and heartaches before they arose and I wish i could make everything better again. I wish i could show them into the future to see that everything will work out just fine in the end.

 

I have the most beautiful family...we are not perfect, in any way shape or form. We have our fair share of trials and problems, and life hasnt always been kind to us. But...another thing i have learned this week is that your family are your best friends. They love you regardless...even though at times you think what they are doing to/for you is harsh -it is always because the love you. They are there for you always, even when your "friends" dont appear. And they have your back...110%!

my hottie parents!

my beautiful older sister, Rochelle

my stunning younger sister, Maddison

 Life is a story that is constantly being written by someone who always has our best interests at heart..even though we dont always see that. We very rarely know what the outcome of our story will be, though we often have a plan in our mind of what we want it to be. Sometimes, most of the time, it is not what He wants for us. And when it doesnt turn out our way...we hurt. We get upset and think life is just not fair anymore. We see everything as doom and gloom and find it hard to look for the positives in the situations.

But..i believe there are always positives to each negative.

 There is a reason everything happens the way it does...sometimes it just takes us awhile to see it. And that is perfectly ok.  It is ok to grieve what you thought was best for you...it is ok to cry and think 'woe was me' for a little while. But, the sun always comes up again and its a new day.

We only have limited time on this earth. We never know when our story will end. We shouldnt live our life in fear of that, but rather we should just simply LIVE our life. Each day is a blessing and a gift and we shouldnt spend it dwelling on the past...what could have been. Instead, we should embrace our days, grab them by the reins and soar forward - exploring new possibilities and having fun in the process. Life is MUCH too short to be sad.

Much love

Five minute Friday: Grit

Today im going to start linking up with The Gypsy Mama and do her 5 minute Fridays for a bit of fun!!

Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays. We write because we love words and the relief it is to just write them without worrying if they’re just right or not. So we take five minutes on Friday and write like we used to run when we were kids.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on: Grit

GO...

Grit
What does the word even mean? To me it sounds like all things dirty, messy and grubby! The kind of things that are enjoyable to do because half the fun of them is the mess you make in doing them! 

Grit...Like when baking a cake in the kitchen: pots, pans, bowls, beaters and measuring spoons everywhere..laying used and dirty over your bench as you scramble to make your yummy delight in the quickest time possible so you can devour it's yummy goodness sooner! 

Grit...like the sand that embeds itself on the scuffed knees of children playing in the playground..who have fallen over on the bitumen playing hide and go seek with their friends. Hair all awry and strayed, sweaty little bodies, laughter on their cheeks.

Grit... even though it may not be the prettiest of words...to me, it is devilish in that it usually means whatever it it's that is getting you gritty..you are most likely having a whale of a time doing it!!

That was good fun!! Now it's your turn!!

Much love

Youversion...

As I mentioned in earlier posts..I've been struggling to find some time to put aside and spend with God. Tonight, I'm home alone with Delilah while Matt is at work and I have been so afraid! I absolutely hate being home alone, with a passion! I hear little noises and see imaginary things then my mind goes off on tangents expecting the worst! So, as I was sitting here in our bedroom, finally putting Delilah down to sleep..I thought I might take a moment to read the word. I didn't have a bible close at hand (I don't want to leave my room!!!) so on the iPad I've just downloaded the YouVersion bible app! It's fantastic! It has reading plans and devotionals, you can listen to live sermons and so much more! Such a great tool and so handy to have!

I am currently following a Joyce Meyer 14 day devotional titled "the confident woman"...just what I need in my life right now...confidence!! The first devotion was fantastic and hit me straight in the heart. It talks about believing in yourself and seeing yourself as a worthy woman of God. He believes in us so we should believe in ourselves and be amazed at the things he has in store for us! He calls us not only to ask for things we need, but to have thus faith to receive them and accept them as given!

The bible verse for this devotional was Isaiah 43:4-5 (In YouVersion you can also chose from a range of translations to read your verses in).I particulary loved the message translation of this verse which is:

That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you. "So don't be afraid: I'm with you. I'll round up all your scattered children, pull them in from east and west.

He loves us SO much he would do anything to have his children come back to him! We are that precious in his sight he would trade the world for us! Sometimes it takes time to really grasp the magnitude of Gods love for us...he doesn't see us as tiny little ants that he put on the earth just for his amusement! He loves us, wholeheartedly, and wants the best for us! He has an individualized plan for each of our lives which he is waiting patiently for us to discover..through him!! What are we waiting for?

And lastly, the end of the verse where he says, "So don't be afraid: I'm with you"...ahh...thank you Lord! I am claiming that truth right now to give me peace to get through this night!

Much love everyone

What consumes your time?

I have been out of the blogging scene for sometime lately, having given birth to our first child, Delilah, 14 weeks ago, and as such, I have also been out of touch with my walk with Christ. Im by no means proud of this at all, a little ashamed, but I know that I am forgiven.

I was browsing through a fellow bloggers posts recently where i found this post regarding her thoughts on Facebook and the reasons behind why she decided to leave the social networking phenomenon behind, and it got me thinking too. 

Matt and I have a joint facebook account, and we have had it since we got married. It has {ever so slowly} been creeping up on us and taking over our lives. I think if i could calculate how much time we actually spend on facebook, i would be appalled and sickened. It is constantly logged in on our phones, iPad, home computer and laptop. When im feeding Delilah, i will have a quick scroll through to see what is going on, when she is asleep - I will do the same thing. But, the problem is, I never seem to have time to sit down and read God's word. I never seem to have time to be still and hear his voice, and I never seem to have the time to pray - and i mean, really pray - not just praying for the little things.... like getting Delilah to sleep!

As a family I feel we have been foolishly wasting our time! That is not to say that facebook is all bad! We have so many wonderful friends and networks on Facebook! I for one have a brilliant mothers group online which is such a support network to me in this new thing called "motherhood" which i am slowly figuring out! It is also such a fabulous forum for us to upload pictures of Delilah for our family to see her progress and how she is doing. But, what did people do before facebook?? There was such a thing as emails, phone calls, home visits and good old snail mail! I kind of miss the simplicity of those times! I miss people popping over for visits rather than posting on my wall, I miss handmade invitations to parties rather than ones generated on Facebook! And i LOVE receiving letters in the mail....but they too seem to be a forgotten past-time, sadly!

As a family, we have decided that we are going to trial something for a time, perhaps for the month of March to see how it goes. We are going to limit our facebook time to once a week. We will set aside some time perhaps on a weekend where we can check in, see what is happening and post pictures etc. The rest of the week, I want us to focus our 'free time' to be put to a much more productive use - spending time together as a family, enjoying each others company - getting back to the basics! I also want to spend MUCH more time digging into God's word. Life for me gets so overwhelming and i find i try and do it all on my own and in my own strength! I need to remember that I have a God who WANTS to be there for me, who is willing for me to lean upon Him when i grow weary and when times get tough abd when i have no energy and cant possibly see how i am going to make it through the day - he is there!

He wants me....ALL of me, to follow after Him - and in doing so, I believe he will enrich my life in ways i couldnt possibly imagine!

Is there something in your life that is taking over? Whether it be Facebook or other social networking sites, television, gossip magazines? I encourage you to do a stocktake of your own life and see what areas can be improved - God wants to be involved in your life - he just asks we take the time to get to know him!

Much love

Im linking up with Capturing Motherhood - picture me (im)perfectly 

{ramblings from within}

Learning continually to trust you...to listen to you.

Praying you will continue to help challenge us..I know u will, it is up to us to respond to your call.

We can't expect to just sit back and pray you will figure it all out...you could, but that's not the point. You put us in these situations, in these moments to teach us, to grow us and to develop our characters. You give us these trials and sit back and wait...you wait to see what we will do with it...will we give up because it's just too hard....will we run from the problem or try and fix it on our own accord... Will we just sit back and pray you will intervene and figure it out for us...or will we ACTIVELY seek you and have the faith to hear from you, gain your knowledge and understanding to DO the things you want us to do to fulfill your will. 

Nothing comes easy...everything takes work, but there is always a reward worth the pain and suffering at the end of it all.

Proverbs 2:6-9 ” For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.” (NLT)

{a mid-week thought}

Ecc 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in it's time

In life it is so easy to get caught up in the moment...swept away by emotions and feelings and things that just arent going right for you.

This verse jumped out at me in my quiet time last week as I was reflecting on body image and who I am in Christ. But I think it has many applications in life. Those times when finances are tight and you are struggling to keep your head above water, those times when work gets overwhelming, or when your relationship is being tested, those times also when your faith is being stretched beyond belief. Dark clouds of doubt can quickly fog your mind and consume your thoughts where all you think about are how tough times are at the moment.

Let this verse be a gentle reminder that God uses all circumstances for His good and His glory. Even in the most horrific and hopeless of circumstances, He has a plan and a purpose that is beautiful...one that stretches far beyond what you can imagine. We just have to remember it is in His time...not ours.

Much love

...

Stumbling through this life...making mistakes along the way.
You pick me up, dust me off and set me on my way again.
Your wings cover me, protect me from the hurts of this world.
Your promise is sure, your will is perfect.

You dont judge me...you only see me as your beautiful child
when all i feel is ugly, filthy, unloved.
You hold me tight and remind me that you created me...i have a purpose on this earth.

Beautiful things come from the pain, trials and temptations we are put through.
Not only do they make us stronger, they are there to help others go through the same things.

You remind me that you are my 1 true love...the one person on this earth who will never let me down.

Im trusting in you for deliverance, for freedom...i look to you.

Fight for what you believe in...

A recurring theme over the past few weeks for me has been this...dont give up fighting for what you believe in and what you want in life.  Too often I think we can easily give up on these things that are so central to who we are as a person, be it because it is just easier to or because Satan gets into our thoughts and makes us believe we are silly or wrong for wanting such things.  He is a deceiver and quite frankly, a wretched stink and I hate seeing the damage he causes in our lives! I hate seeing him tear apart relationships, bring down people's self-image and isolate people. It seems he will go to almost any lengths to win over you in these areas...but we need to be reminded that God wont let us be succumbed to any more than we can handle. Aside from this, we also have a choice to fight back.  If you are lonely, dont put up with it! Make that effort to connect with people - go out of your way! If you are struggling with temptation...FIGHT back...dive into God's word and allow Him to work in your heart to bring you back to healing and on the path to purity....If you are feeling worthless, ugly or depressed about life and what you are doing...remember God's promise that you are made in His image and HE has a perfect plan for your life. Trust in God for the desires of your heart, but remember also to get out there and help yourself! There are things you can do to make your situation better....but always draw near to God and He will make your paths straight and your heart whole.

 

He's calling out to you...are you going to listen?

Everywhere we look and listen lately there seems to be another devastating event in our world. Earthquakes, bushfires, tsunamis, landslides, war, hurricanes...you name it, you are sure to have seen/heard it frequently in the last 12 months. Alot of people have been asking, what is going on? Why is this happening? These people deserve a break - when will 'Mother Nature' let go? Is it the end times?

I believe we have been in the 'end times' for quite some time now. But i dont believe it is something to be afraid about. These events are awful and each time a new one is broadcast, it sends shivers down our spines. It brings fear into our hearts as we wonder if our family and friends are safe and ok, and as we think about the poor people who have lost everything.

But why are these events happening? 

I believe someone is trying to get our attention. For years we have ignored Him, denied Him, and gone on living our lives as the Kings of our own little worlds. He has had enough....He wants us to return to Him and recognise that He is God of all  - He gave us life and He can take it away. He wants us to lean on Him and realise that we are here for a purpose, we arent to live meaningless lives anymore. He desires us, wholeheartedly, and wants us to submit to His plan and purpose for our lives. He wants us to fall into His loving arms and rely on Him, instead of what we think is right.

God doesnt want this devastation to continue, but how else is He to get our attention? People are not listening and He is crying out to us through these events saying, when will you return to me and acknowledge me as the God of all creation? When will you call out my name and worship me, instead of the gods you so mindlessly follow? I created this world and I can destroy it, when will you learn?

Our time on this Earth is short, but there is eternal life with Christ in Heaven if we believe He is the One, holy God...if we believe He is our Saviour. There is going to continue to be more devastation, more natural disasters, and more bloodshed - it is written in His Word and it will come to pass. We should not fear this but instead continue to fast and pray for those that dont know Him, that they might give their lives over to Him for He is the one who can provide us with comfort, love and compassion. He is gracious and provides our every need. We dont need to fear.

He wants to carry our cross for us....when will you hand yours over to Him and walk in the light?
He is calling out for you....what will it take for you to listen?

Much love

Revelation 3:19-20

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Getting my attention...

Malachi 3

Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty.“Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.

Ever get the feeling God is trying to tell you something? Get something across to you...shouting out with a big sign saying "HELLO...OVER HERE!"

Yes, well...for me it has been about this. When God calls, we should obey and answer. I came across this verse in my quiet time last week, but it is not the first time a verse on tithing, or a word about tithing has come to me. We cut back on our tithing some time ago as we were struggling to keep on top of life's many bills that were getting thrown at us left, right and centre. We still are. I look back now and think it was silly of me to cut back on the one thing that is so important...giving back what was never mine in the first place. We can whine about how it will make our lives so much easier to not pay that 10%...but when a verse like this jumps out at you, how can you ignore the fact that God wants to bless you and we are robbing him by not being diligent with our tithes.

I know this can be a touchy subject for some, and that some may frown upon me for doing this, but I am just being honest and out there about a lesson I have learnt. I feel guilty for ignoring His voice, but I know that He is wanting to bless us, wanting to make things easier and 'open the floodgates' in our lives.

Have you ever had an experience like this? When you feel God is kind of tapping His foot at you, waiting for you to answer His call? What about tithing - have you been thoroughly blessed for being persistent in giving back what was always His?

Much love

Fight or Flight...

What do you do when you get a knock to your confidence? When you start doubting things you believe so strongly in?

Do you let those doubts take over your mind and start believing them? Or...do you work to fight back against them and stand strong for what you so strongly feel for?

Fight or flight....

Some days I feel like taking flight...just giving in and letting it all go. Returning to a "normal" life where the days just pass me by and I do nothing to better myself, and nothing for His glory...Sometimes, that is easier. But as I believe I have mentioned before.... I love a challenge!

I am choosing today to fight...to continue to pray and overcome, to continue to believe that I am on the right path and that my desires are His desires also.

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Are you struggling with your thoughts lately? Is there something that you believe strongly about that is being challenged? What are you doing about it?

Much love

When our plan isn't His plan...

Life can be unfair sometimes. You can be so sure of yourself that you are doing the right thing, and that 'this' is where you are meant to be. All the dots can be joined up in your mind and you can say "yep, this feels right, it will all work out". But sometimes, God has other plans...

We have been learning this over the past few years and sometimes I think God must be sitting up there shaking His head saying..."when will they ever learn!!!" He is understanding, of course, and through it all, He is speaking to us. He gives us subtle hints of where He wants us and calls us forward, saying "Come to me...come on! Just a few more baby steps and then you're there!" But so often instead of keeping our eyes on Him and walking towards His plan, His purpose and His desire for our life, we can get sidetracked by things such as money, better prospects, and better offers which we can convince ourselves are what God wants for us.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

We have heard this verse many times before...it is a fantastic verse about trusting in God's plan for our lives...but sometimes, can be easier said than done. Where it says, "in all your ways submit to Him" I believe that means handing everything over to Him. Allowing Him to have control of your life, your dreams, your goals, your plans, your job, your finances...everything. He calls us to do this, and when we do, He will guide us and show us what He wants for us. It's almost as though He wants us to make Him the sole focus of our lives, instead of spending our time and effort and thoughts on planning out what we want for our life...and when we do focus on Him and delve into His word, it is then that He will reveal His good plan to us.

Some other verses I came upon are below which I think capture this issue really well and provide comfort to those that are going through a similar thing. If you are struggling with something, or if there is something you have been praying for, or trying to attain and it just hasn’t come to pass, perhaps take a step back and spend some quiet time with God. Really listen to what He has to say to you and ask for the ears to hear His voice...perhaps He is trying to show you the path you are meant to be on, but you don’t even realise it!

Proverbs 16:9

In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the LORD establishes their steps.

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 37:4-5,7

Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;

Much love

Worthy?

Am I worthy? Do I know what I am speaking about? Can I help others? Who am I to believe I can? I cant even remember verses in the bible - how much of a "christian" does that make me?

I caught up with a beautiful young lady for a coffee last night, whom I havent spoken with or seen for some time. She is one of those kind-hearted, warm, gentle natured people who has such a passion and fervor for Christ, it is admiring! She reminded me of something I had said to her the last time we had caught up (a good 6 months or more earlier) about something I had on my heart to do. She wondered if I had done anything further about it, and the truth is, I hadnt. I had ignored God's voice because I didn’t think I was worthy. I wondered what people would think of me, if they would say "oh, she isnt entitled to do that", or "I cant believe she is doing this". I confessed to my husband even that I didn’t think I was good enough to go ahead with it.

But God promises that I am. He has called me by name and designed me for a purpose. He is just waiting for me to have the faith and courage to step out in that. There has been quite a few opportunities now that I have turned down for these same reasons, and that upsets me. I wish I had enough faith to leap out into it and glorify Him by doing it. I am thankful, though, that He hasn’t given up on me and He is still waiting, calling and nudging me to step out and trust in Him. It's funny how He tries to get our attention...

In Jeremiah chapter 1 this morning, I came across this powerful verse of encouragement. I hope that as you go through your week, in whatever you are faced with, that this might give you some comfort also. For when God calls us, we should answer and trust in His plan:

The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

"Alas, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am too young."

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

Much love

A little routine...

The little antique writing desk we picked up off Gumtree has provided the much needed 'spriritual' kick in the butt we needed to get into a good routine of quiet time!

When I wake up, I make sure I spend some quiet time in His presence at my desk, reading His word and quieting my heart to hear what He has to say to me. I put on some worship songs and write down what I feel He has been telling me that morning. Then I leave the notepad and pen out for Matt when he gets home. He gets home a couple of hours before me, so then he sits down and does the same sort of process, leaving me with the notes of what he has learnt/been taught/heard that afternoon also.

We have struggled to get into a good routine for some time now - always having some excuse such as 'being too busy' to just sit down, stop and listen. It hasn’t been easy, some days I have been running REALLY late for work, and if I sit down for quiet time, I will definitely not make it to work on time! But...i bite my tongue (as its my fault for running late anyway), sit down and be diligent...and God blesses that. It always turns out that I am never late for work - somehow, time stops and I make it to work on time. God is so good!

So, I have learnt it is important to keep at it, persist and continue with your quiet time. God has been teaching both Matt and I a lot through this, and I have felt that He wanted us to get back in touch with Him, and make Him our number 1, before we are blessed with the things we so desire and want. If we get what we want too quickly, it is easy to lose sight of Him and get distracted by those things that we desire. For Matt and I, this is having our own little family. But God has been teaching us, to make Him our number one, and He will then give us the desires of our heart.

Much love

my creative place...

a little desk

some pretty flowers in a jar

His word...

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Already excited at what has come out of my time spent at this desk

Much love

To be a light...

This is something I have heard many times before in church services, and I have even said about dear friends of mine. They are lights that shine Gods goodness, grace and love to others. Those people that exude His confidence and peace, and by simply being and walking alongside Him, others can feel and see there is something "different" about them.

I long to be a light. To indulge myself in His word and His purpose. To walk beside Him and listen to the things he is teaching me. I hear His voice all the time, and for that, I am so thankful. I am thankful I hear his gentle nudgings and His small voice speaking to my heart. It keeps me on the straight and narrow...it is the sole reason I am still worshipping Him today. The straight and narrow is certainly not an easy path to take - but then again, I have always loved a challenge. I don’t like things to be too easy, I get bored with easy. Perhaps this is just part of my personality...which, as I recently discovered, is extremely independent...but dependent at the same time. I am dependant on His love and trust.

There are many people in my life whom I know that have experienced extreme pain, loss and suffering. They walk their lives on a tight emotional string and no matter how much material things they have in their life, they never seem to be really happy and at peace. This is not to say that I am always happy and at peace myself, life is difficult and sometimes there are days when you just want to give up. But when you know the Father on an intimate level and walk alongside Him, you have a purpose and a reason to live. He gives you the strength to make it through those tough days, and He gives you the desire to want to keep on walking. If it weren't for God, I honestly don’t know where I would be. I don’t have an amazing "story" about my walk, but perhaps I will share it with you all sometime on here. I continually pray for those people in my life that one day, they will see that life is worth living, there is a purpose and it is not just meant to be about who makes the most money, who has the biggest house, or the best job, or who is going on the most amazing holiday, but rather we have an eternal life to look forward to that is going to be SO much more amazing, beautiful, bright, joyous and painless than what we could ever experience here on Earth, and He is the only one who can get you to that point.

So, for 2011, my prayer is for all those people who have friends, family and loved ones that are at this point in their lives, a point of feeling lost, and empty, that they will see your light shining bright and think "there is something different about them, and I want to find out what it is".

Much love