Meet Our Visitor!

When we opened our curtains this morning we had an on looker walking across our patio doors. The children and I were amused watching it make its way up the doors then back down again!

Those In Authority

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Have you ever been unsure about something and just need somone who has an authority in that area to put your mind at ease?

I took Nathan to the doctors today. He has a rash that started on just his front this morning. I thought it might be a heat rash. As the day progressed he seem to get a little unsettled and would not eat anything. When I bathed him to get him settled for the night, I noticed his rash had spread to all over his body. Everywhere was covered. Now I started to wonder what it was. He wasn't really complaining that much, but I knew he wasn't himself, so I made up my mind to ask someone who could tell me what the matter was. Someone that would put my mind at ease. I knew really it wasn't anything to worry about, but I just needed that someone to reasure me.

It is so good to have people around us we can go to. I know that if I have a worry or concern in my life I can go to the leaders in the church, the ones I consider to have the authority of God and talk through these things. There is something powerful, as well as directing and comforting to have house group leaders and elders to turn to (Romans13:1). They can minister peace in a time of uncertainty. It is always good to remember to turn to these people when we are a little unsure. If they don't have the answers they can stand with us and pray. God always has the answer.

The doctor told me what was wrong, praise God it wasn't serious, I kind of knew it wouldn't be but I left feeling satisfied and assured. This is how it should be when we have spent time with those who have the authority of God. We must pray for those who are in authority over us. Remember that we too who are in Christ have authority from God to do his work. Being in a house group/cell group we can be used by God in this way and we can minister peace to those around us when needed (Luke 9:1 and Luke 10:19).

Godly Living

The bible is our plumb line for Godly living.

Lets draw closer to him.

The closer we draw to him the more like him we become.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is short-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 2 Peter 1:3-9

Goldilocks And The 4 Bears!

I went to a workshop which is run by the school. It was about helping our children to learn through creative play. We were shown how to have creative play while teaching them numeracy and literacy skills! There were a number of parents present and we were given the task to make a Goldilocks puppet with general household odds and ends. It was quite interesting to see parents really getting into their craft, me included!

Then we were given the task to get our children to make the three bears puppets when we got home. When I picked up my children from school they looked forward to getting started on their bears. By the time we got home, my children asked a couple of neighbouring children in on the act. They had great fun.
I don't think I quite acheived getting in the litracy and numeracy, as we ended up with 4 bears! Even though my house was like a kids club for the next 2 hours with bits of cuttings all over my dining room, I enjoyed watching them interact with the children from next door, and they had a great time too.

Development Check!

Today I took my 8 month old baby to have his developmental check. They weighed him making sure he's growing physically. They checked that he's now eating and drinking not just milk. He needs to show some kind of mental development by showing signs of being alert and interested in his surroundings.

I am really proud of our little boy. I'm sure many parents can share the sense of their own child is fantastic. When the Health Visitor did all her checks and expressed how he had developed and was satisfied with her results. I was overjoyed to think that my little boy who was born only eight months ago is now showing signs of having his own personality. Already he expresses in babble noises where would like to go.

How disapointed I would be if he was still doing exactly the same as he was doing when he was first born. How dissapointed I would be if he was not showing any interest in what I was doing and laughing when I am being silly. How dissapointed I would be if in a year or two time he was still only doing that which he is doing now.

This helps me to think about myself and my development as a Christian. I ask myself, "Have I developed since I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Saviour? What about in the last year or even in the last 8 months?" Can I say I have moved on in God?

When I think about what it means to develop as a Christian, I think:

• do I love Jesus more and more
• how is my relationship with Christ
• what kind of things do I pray about
• how often do I hear God
• what are my relationships like with my husband, family and my friends
• am I serving the church
• am I witnessing to people about Jesus

There are other areas in my life I could check my development. It is important not to drift, hoping that we are developing. Taking a good honest look at ourselves and assessing the results, however little or much we have developed it should motivate us to develop even further.

"meditation of my heart"

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Not only is it important to watch what we say, but we must also watch what we think about. I have found that by letting even my thought life be consumed with the things of God and his word, it has an effect on my words and actions. It also builds me up. I don't just want to be seen by those around me saying the right things. I want my LORD God to be pleased with my heart.

Have You Voted Yet?

Well I have! I did mine by post earlier this week. It takes the pressure off taking an extra trip out of my routine. I find it difficult to know who to vote for. I know what policies I like, I even know what I think of some of the politicians. But nothing is certain. Who can we really trust.



Before I put my mark in the box of the one I think I might vote for I always pray. I know God is in control, and praise God we can trust him! So yes I've voted and now I pray that whoever gets in will know the wisdom of God and will be faithful to the task they have.

Fruitful Living

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers.



But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law.



They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.
Psalm 1v1-3 (NLT)