Ra'Yah

Today I was over at 5 Minutes For Faith, talking about my drive across town in my Pink Pyjamas. It would be just like me to get pulled over wouldnt it!

(I didn't get pulled over, but take a look all the same ;)

Yesterday at the Park

Soap Free at 5M4F

Want to know how I included gluten free chocolate, divine appointments and Methylchloroisothiazolinone all in one story?

Then head over to 5 Minutes For Faith and see what I've been up to!

And I'll have some more about pink pyjamas, best friends and bad singing coming up very soon.

Have an awesome week!

New Beginnings

Over at Faith Lifts this week I shared a bit about our Australian Christmas and a few 'new' things we can learn from the shepherds on that first Christmas.

Want to check it out? Click Here

And have an AWESOME Christmas and a great NEW year.

Missing Something?

Well, wha'd'ya know ~ I'm over at Faith Lifts today!

"I ignored the feeling of nausea at first in the shopping centre car park. I carried on with my bargain hunting as my hands started to shake. I even kept shopping through slight waves of dizziness but when I had to sit down and couldn’t walk anymore I knew something was wrong..."

Take a wander over here for the rest of the story.

I'm going to be out of town for a funeral over the next few days, but y'all have a great weekend and I'll see you back here next week!

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.

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! ;)