Rotting Bananas

This morning Dad reminded me that there are a whole bunch of bananas that we need to eat soon before they all go black. There are three sitting there just waiting to be turned into banana bread - the almost rotten ones make the best banana bread.

So that'll be my reward for finishing my assessment - making banana bread. Yum. Hopefully that'll be today!

Study

So I really need to get stuck into my next assessment, but I'm procrastinating instead.

I loved it this morning when I was getting the girls ready for school and Sarah said she wanted me to be a teacher at her school. I'd explained to her, after she said she wanted to go the shops not to school, that I had to do my study so that I could be a teacher one day. When she asked if I could teach at her school, I said we'd have to ask God if He could work that out one day. Probably by the time she's at school she'll think differently about the idea!

I start my first prac soon, which I'm definitely nervous about, but really looking forward to as well. Thankfully it's an observation prac so I'll only be teaching a few lessons.

I'm really stumped for ideas for this assessment - I have to prepare a lesson about cultural diversity based on a picture book. There were about five books the lecturer had recommended, or you could choose your own, and when I went to Borders they had sold out of the one I was keen to use, so the helpful guy kept looking for all the books on my list, each time saying, 'nope, sold out of that one too'. Finally the last one was there, it's called 'Tom Tom' by Rosemary Sullivan and Dee Huxley. It's actually a good story, just that based on the synopsis of each thought I preferred some of the others. I do find it interesting how virtually all the books recommended are set in the Northern Territory or about aboriginals, and that this is classified as 'cultural diversity'. I can think of lots of other cultures in Australia too.

Anyway, time to get back into it... :-(

To Simply Follow

Here's today's daily devotional from Elisabeth Elliot

Where God Is Taking Us

Bishop Leslie Newbigin, in his South India Diary, tells of the union of churches which took place in South India in 1947. It was the culmination of nearly fifty years of prayer and work on the part of Indians and missionaries. At the second synod a memorable sentence was spoken: "The demand to know where we are going is one which no Christian has a right to make." The bishop writes, "In a very real sense we do not know where we are going, but we are trying to meet day by day the plain requirements of God's will. This means a constant effort to bring every part of church life and practice to the test of conformity with the Gospel."

It is not for the flock of sheep to know the pasture the Shepherd has in mind. It is for them simply to follow Him. If they knew that his plans included a valley of deep shadow, they would panic. Keeping close to the one they have learned to trust is all that is necessary. He will faithfully provide rest, refreshment, correction, and protection as the needs arise. His accompanying presence is guaranteed, all the way--even through the darkest shadows--to the house of the Lord.

Losing something you never had

They say you can't lose something you never had. But I guess it's possible to still feel sad about it?

Healing for the Soul

Dad shared this song with me recently - someone at his work played it during one of their devotions and shared about the passage it's based on. Great words about the bleeding woman who was healed by Jesus as recorded in Luke 8. Reminded me of a great sermon I heard on this passage a few months back.

Jesus - our Saviour and Healer. How amazing that He would give His life for us.

One Touch by Nicole C Mullen

You can watch Nicole singing it on youtube too.

One step at a time

I was speaking to an older friend this morning who reminded me of that verse, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

She highlighted the fact that the verse uses the word "lamp", implying that it lights up just far enough to enable you to safely take a step at a time. Unlike the head-lights on a car that light up the whole street ahead of you. Being a planner, I do prefer the thought of head-lights and being able to see at least a bit further into the distance. But, I also realise that our God is a good God, and a loving Father and His plans are best. His wisdom is beyond my understanding. When I look back over my life I'm glad He didn't show me too far down the track - not sure I would have been able to cope!

One step at a time... ouch.

Under the Shadow of His Wings

Psalm 57:1

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in you my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.