Safely Home

It's 1am, I can't sleep and my son is yet to arrive home. Think there's a connection? Definately. I have tossed and turned for the past 3 hours waiting to hear him drive in. Waiting to hear the garage door slide open and shut, the back door to open and footsteps making their way through the house and down the hall. I am unsettled although not upset, just not able to find sleep or peace. As parents, this is natural. We will always worry about our children - are they eating well, looking after themselves, are they SAFE!

We are not the only ones who pace up and down in their heads or on their feet. God does too. How many nights has he sat up waiting for his children to arrive safely home. How many times has he wished we would call. How many times has he longed for us to open that door and walk in.

He wants to surround himself with his children, just like we as parents do. When we are worried and anxious - he feels this too. He felt pain like no one else. He actually knew his son would die from before he was born and he had to watch as life and death unfolded. All this so that he could welcome all of his children safely home. A sacrifice of mercy and love.

I hear a sound, the car rolls in, the door opens and the footsteps are light as they make their way down the hall. All is good in the house again. My son is safely home. Are you? Have you walked into the Father's house? He's waiting for you.

Cheers,
Lynnelle

Beautifully and purposely built

At times we all struggle to have self confidence and belief that we have a purpose. I struggle with this often and wonder why was I placed on this earth? I feel so small in this huge world and that I have nothing to offer. Today, I had the joy of listening to another brief message from Max Lucado and as he shared there is only one me. Many might say 'thank goodness for that'(my husband probably does!) however, it makes me unique, special and one of a kind.

The most wonderful thing is that there is only one you. Yes, you are beautifully designed with a purpose and once we accept that we are, who we are for a reason, we can find happiness that appears at times to elude us.

Love the fact that you are unique, embrace it, celebrate it!

Cheers,
Lynnelle


Click here to listen to Max Lucado's Message!

Jesus vs Religion

I just watched this video and it certainly made me think. I believe I am following the true Jesus Christ however, there are elements of religion that do concern me. Would we be so caught up in what we think our church should be that we wouldn't recognise Jesus when he turned up for the Sunday morning service? Would we turn him away? Would he be disappointed with what he found when he walked in the door?

As Christians we are not exempt from being mislead. With the best of intentions and a sometimes naive we can be led up the garden path and are so blinded by false promises that we fail to see the shortfalls. Be careful who you follow... ask questions and if it doesn't line up then rethink.

Cheers,
Lynnelle

Click here to view Video

Winds of Change

Change. Do you go with the flow or resist? Do you fight change with every breath in your body or do you accept and move on? Change is inevitable. It will happen today, tomorrow and always. Change sweeps through a workplace, a home, a life. It can be life changing, frustrating or motivating.

I read once that it is all about the Cheese. When the cheese moves we need to move too, just like the mouse. This little nose can sniff out the cheese no matter where it goes to. It acknowledges that the cheese is no longer where it was and that to find the cheese, one must move.

Change comes in many different forms and what initially can be upsetting for some can turn to opportunity. A few years ago my cheese moved. It was unplanned, unexpected and unwanted at the time. As a result I was shaken and stirred into action. An action that would not have happened if the cheese did not move. As I look back now I can see that the moving of the cheese brought opportunity not loss. It was a period of growth (however difficult at times) and has opened doors towards a future that would not be there had I stayed in the same place, doing the same thing. I was in a rut, I needed to escape but was unable to make that decision so God made the decision for me.

In the book "Fearless" written by Max Lucado (my absolute favourite author), he speaks of how God changes our assignments. In doing so he is preparing us to change the world. Isn't that exciting! If you are experiencing change or feel that change is in the wind...don't be afraid. Embrace it and enjoy it as the winds of change sweep through your life. While you may not see purpose at the time, remember that God has everything under control. Just sit back and wait for the new direction that is enfolding for your life.

Photo from: Dipity.com

Crown of Beauty

I am *cough* 43. My body is changing. My metabolism is slowing, menopause is coming and my mind, well, let's hope it hangs around for a while yet. On a physical level, I struggle to be comfortable in my body. When I look in the mirror, I see every bump, wrinkle and blemish. Every imperfection is seen. I have not been blessed with porcelain, perfect skin. My skin is sensitive and shows every mark. On one hand you will find a burn and a puncture wound - the permanent reminder of a poor choice as a child. This body lacks in height (just a couple more inches would have been great) and I fail to see any beauty in me. However, my husband says I'm beautiful and he is not the only one!

My God also says I am beautiful. Colossians 1:22 informs me of that I am "holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." His eyes don't see what I see. His eyes see the beauty within and not that which is seen to the outside world. My physical attributes play no part in whether I am accepted by God. It is my heart that matters.

The world sees what the mirror sees. It focuses on the outside, full of imperfections and judges accordingly. From one who has wished for more height, less weight and better skin, take heart in that you are beautiful no matter what this world says. When you walk with Christ you wear a crown of beauty. You don't have to be perfect to be accepted. You are loved no matter your imperfections.

Stand tall and be confident as you wear your crown knowing that God has made you just the way you are and he loves you - every bump, wrinkle and blemish!

Year of Favour

I awoke early this morning and the brain kicked in as soon as the eyes opened. There is a stirring in my soul to rise, a small voice that says get up and share a cuppa with me. So, I grabbed my bible, a cuppa and sat in the stillness of the morning. As I opened my bible, the pages fell to Isaiah 61 and the words ring true to me as the morning sun rises to at the start of a new day.

This is the year. After three years of waiting, I feel that there is going to be something different this year. That gift that Jesus has promised - perhaps it is finally time to open it!

Isaiah tells me the it is the Year of the Lord's Favour. What a blessing to read this! I have felt that my journey is to motivate and inspire and have spent the last three years at times feeling like I am wandering around in the wilderness. Perhaps it wasn't the wilderness but more of a training ground. When I stop and think about what this means, I also hear the words "who are you to do this?"
I don't know the how, the where or the when but that doesn't matter. For what I do know is that if my God has said it, I believe it and it will be.

Are you heading into a year of favour? Are you listening to that small voice that talks softly, leading you and loving you. Take the time to spend a quiet cuppa with God and see what he reveals to you. Once the seed is planted, he will nourish it and prepare you for what he is calling you to do. Have patience and a year of favour will be upon you!

New Eyes To See

Often we fail to see what is right in front of us. We are so caught up in our own small part of the world that we lose sight of the struggles that surround us. In 2012, may I see the needs in those around me. Please Lord, give me new eyes to see!