Entertaining Angels

15 years ago my husband went on a mission exposure trip to Vanuatu. The team from Australia stayed with a number of local families in different churches and happened to spend one night with a family from the Serebetu Church of Christ in Port Vila on the island of Efate.

When we heard that a Vanuatuan Mission/Youth Group was passing through our town we were looking forward to meeting them and agreed to have some of the team stay in our house. In the usual island style, plans were changed about 4 times and instead of having some of the children we were blessed to host two guys, and the bus.

Bryce was pretty stoked that one of the men was from the town he visited but imagine our joy and surprise when we found out that the man staying in our house was in fact the boy who Bryce stayed with in Serebetu! That is a pretty amazing God-incidence dont you think!

It really encouraged us to keep being generous and willing to do good because you never know who you will be helping!

God loves to bless people that are willing to sacrifice time or resources or comfort to show others his love. And how awesome that he matched up these two guys after so many years!

I would like to admit though, I wasnt exactly jumping at the idea of tidying and cleaning and making beds tonight. But I am so glad I did! (Im sure Bryce is also glad I did ;)

One of my favourite passages from Romans reads "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:10-13

"Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Hebrews 13:1-3

If you do already, good job! And if you dont, maybe next time the opportunity arises you could consider it. You never know who you'll be helping!

Friday Funnies

Have a great weekend!

The Latest

Here's my latest. Whatdyareckon?

I have a friend in town with a birthday this week, so I took a photo of mine, added her favourite verse, got it printed (on special!) and bought a frame. TADA! One personalised but very professional looking present!

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Have an awesome day!

Haven't You Heard?

Today I'm writing for Faith Lifts. You'll find this post over here and more from me there every second Tuesday.

A friend and I were shopping on an extremely wet day at an outlet centre where the rows of shops were separated by mostly uncovered paths. It was pouring with rain and we were dreading trying to make the break between the rows. After counting to 3 we braced ourselves to be drenched and ran to the other side.

We were extremely embarassed however, when we reached the other side dry because we had run across under one of the few covered walkways! About halfway across I realised our silly mistake, but my friend exclaimed how amazed she was that we didnt get wet until I pointed out the covering way above our heads.

Often times in life we find ourselves running and straining to avoid discomfort when our Heavenly Father has things covered. If only we would look up instead of looking at the turmoil around us we would be much more rested and much less flustered!

"Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:28 - 31


Are you concerned with the circumstances that surround you? Are you wondering how you can get through without being drowned? Are you bracing yourself for the worst and getting ready to run?

Remember you have an awesome God protecting you, the creator of the universe standing guard. Nothing will come your way which he hasn’t allowed and he will provide everything you need. Look up and place your hope in Him. He will renew your strength day by day. You will soar on wings like eagles. You will run and not grow weary. You will walk and not be faint.

Those Special Moments

Daddy called me in tonight
as he saw you lying there
fast asleep upon your bed
with your knees up in the air

I smiled at Daddy and then at you
and knelt beside your bed
You had both hands on your Bible
that was resting on your leg

You had called out early on
asking if I would come say prayers
I answered "Not just now, I'm working.
But later Ill be there"

You waited for the longest time
Till your eyes gave in to sleep
No-one came to tuck you in
or pray 'the Lord your soul to keep'

Now I sit here whispering
my eyes giving in to tears
and say sorry for these moments
I have missed throughout the years

Tomorrow, when its bedtime
I will leave my office chair
I'll pray with you and read to you
and run my fingers through your hair

Ill kiss you on the forehead
and hug you really tight
I'll hear you say "I love you"
as I turn off the light

I'll smile and sigh as I walk away
treasuring these moments above all others
And I'll thank my God from deep in my heart
for the priviledge of being a mother

Friday Funnies

My daughter is learning about Australia at school, which prompted this conversation:

H: Who was Captain Cook?
D: He was the first man from across the seas to discover Australia in 1770.
H: Did he die?
D: Yes, that was a long time ago.
H: Yes I know, Peter Pan pushed him off the boat.
D: That was Captain Hook!


My 3 yr old son was commentating while we were driving on the way to 10 pin bowling the other day:

J: Thats not bowling
J: Thats not bowling
J: Thats Mr Hannicks
J: Thats not bowling
D: Who is Mr Hannick?
J: Where Daddy's car is!
D: The Mechanic?
J: Yeah, Mick Hannick.

Magic Biscuit

My 3yr old son is as active as any little boy and loves to run and play in dirt and make motorbike noises and 'shoot things' with his 'gunny' - a pronunciation error I have chosen not to correct!There is no way to tell by observing him that he has an aneurysm in his heart, except that he has to take aspirin every morning.

It was quite hard to get him to agree to take it until just recently when he discovered its wondrous properties. You see when he pops his tablet in the little medicine-cup of water, it bubbles and spins around and soon disappears! Now every morning he looks forward to his 'magic biscuit'! And although he enjoys the movement of the tablet, it has greater effects for his heart and one of the advertised affects is that it actually prevents heart disease.

There is a 'magic biscuit' we can take every morning too you know... When we start our day with the word of God we set our heart on the right path. We see the Spirit moving and it encourages us and strengthens us for the day ahead. But it goes much deeper than that. The thoughts and attitudes of our hearts, which would otherwise go unchecked, are challenged and renewed.

Heb 4:12 says "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

But its no good just to watch or to read, Josh has to take the aspirin and we have to "take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph 6:17). Jesus said "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it" (Luke 11:28). So each morning we desperately need to take the word of God and obey it and put into practice what the Spirit has challenged us about. This is serious girls, the health of your heart is at stake and your life depends on it!

Have you had your daily dose?

Words

Thanks to Snooky for the link, here are the most common words from my blog by http://www.wordle.net/

Stay tuned for some more words real soon!