Easter Holiday

Created for Purpose

Josie loves making things. Now it is the Easter holidays I'm constantly kept busy helping her with making things. From making crowns and wands to cakes. Cutting and glueing, drawing and painting, it will all be done and more besides before the holiday has ended. Josie always has a purpose in mind for her creations. She get so much enjoyment with the finished product. At the sound of her daddy walking through the door, Josie will run with excitement to show him todays creation.

I enjoy seeing her creations. I enjoy being a part of creating them. There is something in all of us that loves to create something. When we create that something how great it feels when that something is really usefull, or someone else gets pleasure from it. It could be a really artistic painting or a delicious cake or an instrament to be played.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8 v 28 NIV

I know God created us for a purpose. When I think of the pleasure we get from our own creations I know God takes great delight is us when we are fulfilling the purpose for which we were created for.

God loves you and created you for his purpose, even when we get our selves into sticky and messy situations, He is there and will clean us up and will enable us to get back on track. When my youngest gets himself into a mess with a chocolate biscuit, and wants to give me a hug and a kiss. I love him so much, but I'm not going to want to get too close to him in this state and keep him at arms length until I've cleaned him up. Once he's had his wash I'll let him come close again.

Our heavenly father wants to get close to us and use us for his purpose, but he wants us to allow him to clean us up and get right with him.

None of us were an accident. We were created by our living and amazing father. We have a purpose. God would not create something that is useless. If you believe that then you believe that you have a purpose. Whatever situation you find yourself in, if you love God then God works for your good. He will fill you with his Holy Spirit so that you can fulfill your purpose, for which you were created for.

My Little Cuties

Consider What God Has Done

It is so important to consider what God has done, for us and in us. To be content with all that we have and all that he has given us. There is probably a resounding Amen when I say that God is good and faithful.

In life we can find ourselves sometimes distracted with our situations and circumstances. Thinking about how we look, and how our behaviour is percieved by others. When we come into the presence of God, it can sometimes be an effort to take our focus off our selves and onto the things of God. I have to really guard my mind in times of worship and prayer. I almost have a little routine of saying to myself, this time is not about me but about my wonderful creator. I then make sure that the things I'm considering in the presence of God is God and what He has done for me. I have such powerful times with God when I only allow myself to think about His goodness and beauty and majesty. There is nothing in creation more beautiful and powerful than Him.

Dwell in His presence and consider what God has done and is doing for us and know that everything else will fade into insignificance compared to him.

Appreciating Our Mothers

My youngest and I visited a play group last week. One of the activities that take place is a craft activity. This week they were making 'mothers day' cards. Most of the children are too young to really understand what they are doing. The most fun is the part where the children discover that it's ok to get messy with sticking and painting. The children are normally left to see what creation they can possibly make with pots of glue, glitter and sometimes clay. It was different last week. I noticed a lot of the mums sitting down with their child helping them to do their mothers day card! A lot of the children got bored with this craft activity and left their mums finishing their creation while they went off to play. The tables were filled with artistic mums making probably their own mothers day card!

Being a mother is one of those jobs that can often go un-noticed. We all love our mums, but I wonder how many of us really appreciate what they do, or have done over the years. Sometimes it is difficult to really appreciate something until we understand what amount of effort and love went into it. If we don't understand this, that act of kindness and love can be taken for granted.

I have always been close with my mum, but when I had my children I actually realised what it meant to me a mother. I believe this brought me closer to my mum. I have grown to appreciate all that she has done and all that she does. When our children are young we don't expect our children to show us apreciation all the time, but we do know that one day when they have gone through what we mums go through and becoming parents themselves, there will be a joining and a fresh appreciation. When I think about what I do for my children I don't expect anything in return. I do what I do because that's who I am. Whether my children understand what I do for them or not I will continue to do my best and lavish as much love as I possibly can upon them...

Thanks mum, for I know you do the same for me

Where You Go I Will Follow

About a month ago we had a weekend of marriage teaching and ministry with a lot of the married and some engaged couples from our church family. It was a fantastic time. We started off with a romantic meal for two followed by some teaching. Many of the couples that came to this event benefited from the fantastic teaching, with opportunity to to talk intimately with our partners.

I shared on the topic of submitting to my husband. I only spoke for about ten minutes as part of some teaching on 'Working as a team within marriage'. Since that time I have heard much feedback on how this simple teaching had a part to play in impacting some peoples lives and marriages and that it has helped to unlocked some doors for some couples. The whole weekend was fantastic but I would like to share some of what I said:-

I am able to submit to my husband Richard because I trust him. My trust is confidently placed in Richard because I know he wants me to succeed, I know he loves me, I know he wants the best for me, I know I'm important and I know he needs my help. Not only do I know all these things but Richard makes me feel all of those things. It is not always enough to know it but to feel it is important too.

Richard has learned in our marriage that if he wants to take us in a certain direction as a family, I need to feel like he's considered me and my feelings. We talk about these decision and discuss how this makes me feel and how it affects me and the family. It is important to Richard what I think.

Whenever we go through this process of talking and discussing the trust and confidence in Richard gets stronger. When there are times when I don't see it, I can submit to the decision because I know I have been considered and my opinion is important.

Early on in our marriage there was a time when I struggled with some direction that came from Richard. We hadn't talked about it, I felt like it was just the way things were going to be and that was that. Being the 'good christian wife!' I thought I submitted to this direction, but in fact whenever the topic came up, all I felt was hurt, misunderstood and I did not want to talk about it. After some short time Richard realised that I was not happy with the decision. As far as he was concerned up until that point I agreed with him. I realised I hadn't really submitted to Richard I was just going along with what he wanted. After we had spent some time talking and praying we still came to the same conclusion, but I felt understood, and that what I wanted was important, I was then able to submit fully to this direction.

Submission is not about going along with it, it's about saying I trust you and even though I don't see it I want to go where you go. The process we go through to get to this point is very important.

Christmas Cheer!

I have just watched Luke's Christmas school play,

which was very cute!

Today I have been reading Colossians. It's a great book and can easily be read in one sitting. I encourage anyone to do this and I'm most certain you will be blessed.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.......

(Colossians 3v12 NIV)

I Like To Boast!

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me: let us exalt his name together.
(Psalm 34:1-3)

I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name for ever. Selah
(Psalm 44:6-8)

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
(1 Corinthians 1:30-31)

This is what the LORD says: Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
(Jerimiah 9:23-24)

What Should I Do?

Have you ever ventured off far down a path only to realise, 'I think I chose the wrong path'. Along the way I made some difficult choices, spent a lot of time, money and effort getting this far. I've even made some sacrifices with my friendships, or family. If I was to turn back now it all would have been for nothing. I would loose face.

I have been reading in the Bible about Amaziah the King of Judah in 2 Chronicles 25: 1-10. He hired men from Isreal to be a part of his army. God told him not to use these men. Amaziah was concerned with the money he had paid to the men from Isreal for their services. God said that he can give Amaziah much more than that. Amaziah was right to dismiss those troops because if he hadn't he could have been overthrown in battle and lost so much more. I'm sure he got a bad reputaion as a result. The men he dismissed were pretty angry.

I find I can get swept along with some decisions that seem right at the time then expect God to bless them, or wonder why things are not going according to my plan. When we have gone down this path that takes us out of the purposes of God, it is best to take a U turn and get back to where God wants us. We may feel like a failiure or that we will make more losses in the process. God is so good that when we are obedient to him he blesses us. It takes so much more faith to trust God with our loss, and our embarrasment of changing our minds, than to just continue aimlessly hoping God will bless what we do. It takes so much more courage to say I was wrong to go this way then turn to do what God wants. This may even mean backtracking a little or lot to get back.

It is better to not look too great in everyone elses eyes and know you've obeyed and done what God wants. I know I don't want to be a big achiever in the world and in the eyes of men if as a result I achieve nothing for God.

Give Us A Cheerful Look!

A Cheerful look brings joy to the heart (proverbs 15:30NIV)

What kind of look do we have. What are our faces giving off to people around us and the people we meet or just pass by in the workplace or on the streets. When we walk into a room is there a lightness that follows and rests in that place?

How powerful a look can be. Those of us that struggle to witness by speaking out. Those of us that struggle to bring life with the words of God because of a lack of confidence. We can bring such joy to those around us just by the cheerful look we can easily give.

What side of bed did we get up on this morning. What kind of day are we having. Are we saying it is the wrong time of the month! Look in the mirror. Is our face saying that everything is not ok. It is good to Practice in the mirror at looking cheerful and I guarantee joy will come!

It is true whether it is to ourselves or to others around us how we look in our expressions will spread to our heart and to those who see it! So go on give us a cheerful look!

Nourishing Word of God

I have spent the morning baking cakes for my son and flapjacks for my daughter. I tend to have a taste here and there to check how they are going! This always ruins my appitite for a good meal. So now it's lunch time and I don't feel like I can eat anything, so I put the kettle on and have a cup of tea!

When my children get home from school, I make sure they don't even look at their goodies until they have a proper meal inside them. It's great when they are hungry, because I can feed them apples and raw vegetables with out much argument.

Delving into the word of God is like having a really healthy and satisfying meal. I can let my life get caught up with the business of life and fill my time with rubbish so that I don't always feel like or have the time to delve into the Bible or sitting in the presence of God. It is only when I have spent time reading and listening to his word do I feel like I've had a great meal. The more of God's Word and his Spirit I get, I become stronger and a healthier Christian. just like I plan life around preparing and having decent meals I must plan everything else I do around the times I spend nourishing myself on the word. Missing these time can result in not living in the fulness of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Wisdom & Understanding

Reading proverbs in the Bible and still thinking about yesterdays post it is clear that to find wisdom and understanding is the will of God for our lives. We can accomplish so much of God's will if we have the wisdom and understanding which is from him. We must find it by searching for it and give everything we have to attain it.

"and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:3-6 NIV)

What more could we desire than the wisdom and understanding that God want's to give us.

"What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted." (Proverbs 10:24 NIV)

I desire God's wisdom and understanding. I want to accomplish all that He has have for me to do.

So That I May Lead

"give me wisdom and knowledge that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?" King Solomon, 2 Chronicles 1:10 (NIV).

Solomon could have asked God for anything. He knew God had given him a great resposibility to lead his people. We all have reponsibilities that are given to us. We may feel they are God given or that they were thrust upon us. However we find ourselves it is so important that our attitudes are right towards all that we have been given to do.

I have been thinking about the responibilities I have and how God would like to use me in those reposibilities.

I feel like I work hard looking after my husband and children and our home. I know this is the task God has given me. I don't belive it happened my accident. I believe God gave me my particular husband and my particular children, and requires me to do his will in those areas of my life. If I am to achieve what God wants me to, I need to know what it is God would have me do.

How easy it would be to dream of something different. Especially when things get difficult. To look around and see greener grass in everyone elses lives. I know that seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, then all these things will be given to me as well (Mtt6:3).

God said to Solomon "Since this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honour, nor for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowlege will be given you.

And I will also give you wealth, riches and honour, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." 2 Chronicles 1:11

When we come into the presence of God. We need to look at what we desire, what are our own motives. Is it in line with God's plan and pruposes for his Kingdom. Are we asking God for the right things. When we come to God what do we pray. Looking at the things we pray for is always a good test to see where we are with God. God is interested in us and wants to give us good thing, but are we praying for me me me, or are we praying his Kingdom come and Will be done.

My prayer is that God will give me the wisdom and knowledge so that I can do my part in leading my family into the purposes of God.

Putting a Stamp on Christmas

The new stamp has reminded me that Christmas is drawing close. It pictures what Christmas is about to a lot of people. The Church of England have challenged the move towards festive stamps without a Christian theme. Even though some may know it has something to do with Jesus, I see it is up to us Spirit filled Christians who know Jesus personally to make sure our gift to people around us is to know the love of Christ for themselves. This could be with the way we treat them, being kind and generous to them, praying that God will show himself to them. I think it is so much more important that our lives have that stamp of Christ wherever we go. It will be our lives that will impact people and not what stamp we stick onto a Christmas card.

I think this would make a great stamp!

Football Crazy!

Our son has gone football crazy. He loves it so much he recently had a football birthday party. I do like to encourage him to play as it is a great way for him to excercise and have fun at the same time. Although I worry sometimes when I I hear some football news and there is so much hatred and dispute going on amongst different teams, and supporters. I was shocked to hear this morning the news about how an Everton supporter threw a coin and hit Fulham's Claus Jensen during Saturdays match. I wonder how someone can feel such dislike for a sportsman they've probably never met.

It is such a great shame that people take such a sport so personally that they feel thay have to get so agressive in the name of supporting their team.

I don't really enjoy watching football that much, but I do enjoy watching my son enjoy himself. I hope that he grows up to enjoy football for what it's meant to be; a game!