No Inhibitions

Today I had fun trialling an aqua-aerobics class. I hardly do any exercise so expected it would probably be a bit painful, which it was, but I enjoyed it and think it did my body good.

The worst part was going to the change rooms afterwards to have a shower and walking in on an elderly lady who was stark naked. I got the shock of my life and thought I should be leaving again, but she was happy to chat to me as she washed - no inhibitions whatsoever. I had my shower with my swimmers still on and discretely tried to get changed into my clothes - but almost every woman who entered seemed quite 'free' and relaxed being naked in front of everyone else... don't think I'll be heading back into the change rooms again next week, not sure I can be as free and easy with no inhibitions. Good on them for being that way, just not something I'm comfortable with personally...

Food Glorious Food

If you could abolish any food, what would it be? And what food could you eat day in and day out and never get sick of?

The leaders at my new Bible Study asked these questions as our ice-breaker/get-to-know-you seeing as it was my first week - we had lots of fun with it. Don't know how much we learnt about each other, but it was good to be asked a question where we didn't have to define ourselves by what we do (or don't do) during the week.

I guess "what do you do during the week" is just a common get-to-know-you question in our society, I know I often ask it when I meet someone new, but I liked the fact that it didn't come up at all the first night I met with them. They're a great bunch of people, and I'm so glad I finally made it along!! My body's slowly getting used to the antibiotics I'll be on till I can have my sinus operation. Hooray!

So back to food, I'd be happy for eggplant to be abolished, and I don't think I'd ever get sick of steak, especially well done steak.

How about you?

So far from home...

"You'll like this place once you get used to it," Peter said.

"I don't want to get used to it," said Sara. "I want to go home."

"Well, maybe if you give it a chance... Do you want me to show you around? You might as well know where you're going since you're gonna be here for a while."

From Road to Avonlea, The Journey Begins


Tonight our Pastor mentioned the feeling of being away from home and longing to go back home, and how church, the way God intended it to be, is a place where we can all come just as we are, and feel at home, secure and loved. That's what I felt tonight.

"Sarah watched for a second as Peter took off towards the pond. Then she took off after him. What a wonderful feeling!"

Looking forward to the smell of rain

Looking forward to being able to smell the rain again in the next few days... another sinus infection, more antibiotics which are slowly starting to work...

He meets ALL our needs

Mum sent me a verse yesterday that really encouraged me:

Psalm 29:11
'The Lord gives strength to His people, the Lord blesses His people with peace.'

Today I've learnt that God offers His strength to us in many different ways - including practical ways. A phone call at just the right time, incredibly supportive family and friends to help out in your hour of need, good advice from doctors and pharmacists, words of encouragement from praying friends who share a verse that God has laid on their heart.

Yes, our greatest need is spiritual, but our God is a good God who meets ALL our needs. HE blesses us with peace.

What a promise

As I was broken again yesterday, I was reminded by various praying friends and my Dad and Mum that God's love for me is not dependent on my ability to hold on to Him, that there are times we have to hold on to the fact that amidst the darkness He is there holding on to us. As Max Lucado put it beautifully yesterday, "His love is absolutely nonnegotiable and nonreturnable. Ours is a faithful God."

WHEREVER we are, HIS strength will support us - that's what He promises in His Word. Psalm 139:7-10

When Jesus was dying on the cross for us, and darkness came over the whole land and the sun stopped shining, he said, "Father, into YOUR hands I commit my spirit." Then he breathed His last. But praise God that's not the end of the story. God raised Him from the dead three days later!

Yes, our God is faithful to His promises. HIS strength will support us.

Hope

"Whether it feels like it or not, when we serve God, His love attends every moment of our lives - even the toughest, loneliest, most painful, and desperate. He is always there in our midst, working things out for our good when we pray and look to Him to do so (Romans 8:28). His purpose for our trials is often to bring us humbly before Him to experience a breaking in our independent, self-sufficiency and grow us up into compassionate, patient, spiritually strong, God-glorifying people. He uses these situations to teach us how to trust that He loves and cares for us enough to get us through the tough times."

Stormie Omartian

1 Peter 1:6-7

Hiding for a while

Under the shadow of Your wings I will find a hiding place,
You are my refuge, a fortress in whom I can trust;
Under the shadow of Your wings I will find a hiding place,
You are my refuge, my God in whom I trust.

You are my strength and my shield, O God,
I run to You and I find help;
Under the shadow of Your wings will I abide,
and in Your loving arms I will hide.

UNDER THE SHADOW by Kent Henry & John Stevenson - 1988 Intregity’s Hosanna! Music

My Refuge and Fortress

Psalm 91:1-2

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

More singing birds

Today must be a special day. I've heard birds singing beautiful songs all day - even when I picked the girls up from school I saw three birds sitting on the roof singing together beautifully. Now that we're back home, we've heard even more. What a creative God we have!

Singing Birds

When Lucy woke this morning thought I'd watch the sun rise. But was disappointed that I couldn't because of all the clouds. But then I heard birds singing a pretty song instead, in fact they're still singing now.

Putting on our belt and shoes

Changes, changes, changes everywhere. Aaaagh!

Been reminded tonight of the importance of putting on the belt of Truth and the shoes of Peace. I seem to take them off much more quickly than I put them on, especially when I'm facing change.

Be STILL and know

"Be STILL and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

I've blogged about this a few times... I'm still so bad at doing it though. Another kick up the back-side today that I need to be still - to stop being anxious. The end of this verse in Psalm 46, says "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

That's the purpose of being still. To be reminded of God's purposes. HIS purposes. Of who HE is, and as a result who HE wants me to be. Just being still doesn't necessarily cut it.

I was planning on getting stuck into my uni stuff this afternoon but realised there are a couple of things that have fallen by the way-side this week that I need to sort out first, plus bringing in the washing, washing up, etc. As I've been doing all that, I've been reminded that God commands me to be STILL before Him. So hard in our instant society.

Jumping into the pool

Yesterday the girls were having a fabulous time jumping in the pool. What amazed me is that when I'd put Lucy up on the side of the pool and tell her she needed to wait while Sarah had her turn, she did. Then after Sarah had her turn and I put her back up on the side of the pool and asked her to wait she did. Then Lucy would wait till she knew I was ready to catch her, and then she'd jump - she trusted me completely to catch her. As did Sarah.

Oh to have the faith of a child again!

On that note, time to focus on my uni work - my paperwork arrived yesterday and I need to get organised. Kind of excited, but kind of scared at the same time.

Painting

The girls asked to do some painting this morning. Lucy's very determined and strong-willed. I gave them both a blank sheet of paper, but Lucy insisted on getting an old painting and painting over what she'd already done. I thought it would end up looking terrible with so much paint - but it's actually quite pretty, even prettier than when she first painted it a few weeks ago on 16 January. Now she's turned it over to start a new painting on the other side.

Sarah started her painting from scratch and it looks great, but Lucy's is quite unique. I wouldn't have ever thought to re-paint an old painting. I'm glad she did though.

Sunrise

This morning Sarah woke at 5.50am and wanted to get up. So I asked her if she'd like to watch the sun rise, seeing as we were up. She said yes, so we headed out to our back lawn which is becoming one of my favourite places. I went back inside to grab my camera and Lucy woke so I brought her outside too.

Here's what we saw. Just stunning. Sarah asked me who made the sun, and I explained that God made it, that He the stars and the moon, that He made us, that He made everything. I think she then asked who makes the sun move, and I said that God makes the sun rise in the morning and set in the evening. Isn't He creative? What a privilege watching the sun rise with my two beautiful girls.

I don't usually bother putting photos on my blog - they seem to take so long to load, but thought this one was worth waiting for.