Flipping Brilliant

Well, today is a bit of a momentous day...
Mostly because its my 30th Birthday
But its also my 50th post!

Hopefully when you leave comments saying may there be many more, you mean years and posts!

...If anyone leaves comments...

....If anyone is reading this....

Ahh I'll keep writing anyway :)

Today Marion gave me a book called "Flipping Brilliant: A Penguin's Guide to a Happy Life" by Jonathan Chester and Patrick Regan. I'd like to share some of the comments with you...

Life is not black and white.
Stand up for yourself.
When everyone looks the same, look deeper.
The meek sleep alone.
Kids learn infitely more from how we act than from what we tell them.
Transitions are a bummer.
You can be too thin.
You'll never go wrong with basic black.
When a place feels right, it is right.
Listen to your partner.
Its what you do when no one's watching that counts.
Someone has to go first.
A day at the beach can cure a vast array of ailments.
Its better to be smart than cute. (And best to be both.)
Despite all evidence to the contrary, kids are generally worth all the trouble.
Determination makes all the difference.
Guano happens.
Don't always follow the crowd, but do believe in the camaraderie of kindred souls.
Some things we will never understand.
Learn to be still.
Think ahead.
Uphills don't last forever.
Parenting is a two-person job.
Adaption is survival
Work with nature.
Be an original.
Life is an adventure. Live accordingly.

Of course, all of these make much more sense when you read the penguine facts that go along with them. For example, the one about Guano (penguin poop). "For African penguins, guano makes an ideal nesting material. For Gentoo penguins, its more of a decor statement. Its what you do with life's little unexpected gifts that counts."

Hopefully as I have shared some of my life's unexpected gifts they have blessed you too!

p.s. Which one is your favourite?

Facing the Sun

Following is an excerpt from Corinne's testimony given this weekend at SCC's ladies camp given during a session about Sunflowers and "Facing the Son". When she gets her act together and writes a blog, I'll post the link here. Until then, she is a welcome guest! ~Donna

...A little while after the birth of my third child – my longed for and prayed for daughter – I heard of a missionary couple serving overseas that had lost an 18 month old toddler. He passed away in his sleep with no warning and no pre-existing medical condition. Something inside me snapped and I decided that I wasn’t going to trust a God, who would do this to a ‘good’ couple serving Him, with my child – especially since I’m not as ‘good’ as a ‘missionary’! I told Him in no uncertain terms that He wasn’t having my daughter and I was reneging on the dedication to Him of my boys too. I had a crisis of belief where I questioned everything I had been brought up to believe. I felt like I was just waiting for something terrible to befall me because my life so far had been pretty much devoid of tragedy and surely the Son couldn’t shine on me forever.

There followed a time of great loneliness and depression – To the casual observer I was fine, but I’m a great faker let me tell you. It wasn’t til a good friend of mine saw through all that and sat me down and wouldn’t leave til I told her what was wrong with me that I finally broke down my barriers and told her where my head and heart were at. I was subsequently diagnosed with post-natal depression after she forced me to see a doctor!

God graciously allowed several wonderful godly women in my life to help me and encourage me while I was recovering from depression, but then in His wisdom, He slowly tore them away from me in one way or another. I suppose I could have chosen to be angry at Him for this all over again, but I know where not trusting Him got me last time… Not to say that I’m not sad, and that I just love all these changes etc, but I know that I really needed to draw closer to Him and to turn to Him instead of my friends.

I definitely believe that good friends are a gift from God, and our relationships with ‘our girls’ are extremely important, but when we are choosing to pick up the phone first and pray second (if at all), that’s when we can get into trouble. So while I’m learning this I’ve been trying to find ways to have a real friendship with God. One of the most important things I’ve found is that dreaded phrase ‘Quiet Time’. If I’ve heard it once, I’ve literally heard it a thousand times – “you need to have quiet time with God every day!!!” What a chore!! However, I think what we need to realise is, if you have time to chat to your girlfriends everyday, it really shouldn’t be that hard to have a chat to the greatest friend of them all!!

What works for one person won’t work for another, so you really have to figure out what suits you. For me, I signed up to an email newsletter that sends me through a short story and application, plus some applicable bible verses, from a group of awesome women, who seem to be struggling along in everyday life just like me, with the very issues I have. It’s such a habit now to get up every morning and check my inbox for those little words of encouragement and to spend a few moments with my best friend chatting and praying and really just ‘hanging’.

I still don’t understand why He lets some things happen. In all reality, I never will. But I do know that he sees the big picture. And I also know that He’s more concerned about my holiness than my happiness. So just because I think life should go a certain way, doesn’t mean it’s in my best interest. I’m still on this journey with the Lord; I’m still figuring it all out. In fact one of my favourite bible verses sums it up nicely –

“I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead, I press on towards the goal, to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3: 13-14).

I don’t know what the future holds, and even if some tragedy is just waiting round the corner for me, I know I can do all things through Him who strengthens me and I choose to trust The Lord. I choose to face the Son.

Corinne

A Wild Goose Chase

My friends are very encouraging regarding my quest for the perfect shot of a soaring eagle, and last week Sarah sent me a text saying there were some Magpie Geese flying overhead with their young. Now thats something you dont see everyday! So I promptly hopped in my car and headed off on my wild goose chase. Although I saw the geese from a distance, they disappeared and as I looked around I saw the reason - A Wedge Tailed Eagle!! I only got this close, but I'll stop by again this week ;)

One definition describes wild goose chase as "A tedius, uncertain pursuit", but this wild goose chase was nothing of the sort! My quest for a soaring eagle is far from tedius and I wouldn't even describe it as uncertain, rather, optimistically hopeful :). But there is an even better hope I have to look forward to.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Rom 5:1-5)

Life is not a tedius uncertain pursuit any more! Having a relationship with God gives me hope for now and for the future. Now I have a purpose and I know that God works in all things for good because He loves us. Last week I 'happened' across that eagle, but God knows with 100% certainty whats in your future so you can get up and look forward to what God has in store, and even if its hard, He has a plan, He is with you, and He will accomplish his purpose. And when time is up, we get to soar with Him forever.

It is a sure and joyful hope that we have in Him!

Deleted Items

As it currently stands, there are 5868 emails in the 'deleted items' section of my email software. No wonder the program was running a bit slow! Now I'd just like to say, I didn't intend to keep all those files, I just didn't realise they accumulate so fast.

It did get me thinking about how much of life's unwanted or unnecessary information I keep without realising and I wondered how we go about getting rid of those things that pile up, slow us down and hold us up. Apparently there is an option in the program that can prompt me to permanently delete the emails in that folder each time I exit, allowing me to start each day with only the necessary files.

I believe prayer has the same function in our lives. We are bombarded in life by lots of information, opinions, expectations, circumstances, and relationships and we need a place where we can sort through all those. We need to keep the important and uplifting things, attend to issues that need to be dealt with, and let go of those things that do not belong in our life. But just forgetting about those 'deleted items' doesn't get rid of the stress, guilt and pressure.

When God forgives our sin, He removes it as far as the east is from the west, and he remembers it no more. That means he chooses not to recall it. Permanently deleted. (Jer 31:34)

So, if you are holding on to memories of your own sin, believe that God has removed that sin through Jesus Christ so you can let it go too. And if it is from others, recognise when it is slowing you down or holding you back and choose to permanently delete that too.

How do you do that? With the Holy Spirit within you and the Bible before you:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."Philippians 4:6-8

There are two things we need to apply. Prayer is our heavenly filter which shows up things that aren't in their proper place as we submit to Christ Jesus. And then wisdom is our earthly filter which helps us recognise those things as they come across our paths.

Once we use this application, we are able to truly and freely send and receive both with God and with others.

Precious Moms - Works For Me!

Ever been stuck for ideas for a child's birthday party? Do you have a Baby Shower to organise? Any anniversaries coming up?

Well, I definitely have a website that you have just GOT to take a look at!

PreciousMoms.com has EVERYTHING you need for party ideas for

• Birthdays
• Anniversaries
• Graduations
• Holidays
• Baby Showers
• Weddings

For FREE!!!

And they have absolutely gorgeous figurines you can purchase as presents for those occasions so you'll be throwing the best party AND have the best gift!

Have you ever put up with bored children on a long journey in the car? Do you know what to put in your emergency car kit? PreciousMoms.com even helps you with day-to-day tips and treasures to make your life easier!

This site comes highly recommended from one mom who'll take all the tips she can get! And if you'd like more tips, head over to Rocks In My Dryer to see what others have shared.

Expired

My Dad believes in keeping things beyond their ‘use by’ date if he feels they still have some use or effectiveness. When staying with him last week I was looking for some mentholated chest rub and grabbed a small jar from the bathroom cupboard. It was quickly returned however, when I read that the contents had reached their ‘use by’ date in 1996 – that’s 12 years ago!

Companies decide how long their product will be useful for and they set the expiry date accordingly. It’s very refreshing to know that our Heavenly Father doesn’t set any ‘use by’ dates on our effectiveness. No matter how young or how old you are, whether you are sick or tired, burnt out or worn out, single or married, have teenagers, toddlers or are unable to have children, He can and will work through you and accomplish His purposes through you.

Paul sought to encourage Timothy with these words:
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Tim 4:12)
Our ‘brand’ as Christians is sure because we have the Holy Spirit as our seal, but our usefulness depends on our submission to Jesus Christ, our being continually renewed by the Spirit, and then living out our faith for others to see.

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Tim 4:7-8)

“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Tim 4:15-16)

Read through 1 Timothy Chapter 4, remember God doesn’t have ‘use by’ dates, and as you submit to Him, wait and see how He will use you in your life and community.

This piece was posted at Faith Lifts! You'll find me writing there every fortnight :)




By the way... here is my latest installment in my quest for the ultimate soaring eagle shot (scroll right to the bottom of the webpage to see more). This one is a wedge tailed eagle. He was too far away to get great detail, but now I know where he lives! ;)