I don't have what it takes..

As a blogger, I don't have what it takes..

I am not a writer like other bloggers... I don't have fanciful creative posts like other bloggers....
I dont write on a regular basis like other bloggers.. I don't even know if I am being read :)

All I know is that sometimes I have a word placed on my heart and I want to share it with someone.. so I put it here in my blog with the hopes that one day, it may reach the heart of another and bring life and freedom in Christ.

I don't know all the rules - my posts may be too long, they probably don't have the comma's in the right spot.. perhaps they are not grammatically correct :( I don't think there are many spelling errors, though if there are is it simply a typo - I come from the generation where people could spell ;)

In the end though, if you get the gist of what I am trying to say.. then does it really matter?
I read some lovely blogs! You bloggers are very creative, interesting to read and encouraging to follow.
I don't fit this mould. My blog is more sporadic as it is only a tool I use to clarify my own thoughts. When I read it back to myself it certainly needs tweaking, however I am never discouraged, for I know that nothing happens by chance or coincidence and the very fact that my children will one day be interested in me, means I get to share with them some of the lessons the Lord has taught me over the years.

A Blog is just like an online journal to me! I am a little bit more careful about some of the details I include, but mostly it is my heart, my thoughts and my lessons.
If, in any way you are encouraged, then praise the Lord for His hand in your life.. because you do not know me, nor I, You. So it is by providence that we meet here online.

I pray your cup overflows - Bec

What price are you willing to pay???

1 Corinthians 10:13 'No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind, And God is  faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.'

What is common to man?

Or should I be asking - In your culture; in your family; in your circle what is it that is common to everyone around you that seems so right?

After a conversation with a dear friend, where we spoke about her desires to buy a house, it was our conclusion that this striving is common in our society. 

To own a house is splashed all over the billboards, the interest rate forges our social and economic structures. It is the goal from young to old, the difference between the have's and the have nots, and the misery of those who want but are told they need to save more, work more, have less children, etc..

We spoke about the cost..not just the financial burden of the cost but the cost on our time. It is one thing to be given a house or to simply own a house.. but it is a whole other world to be living by your mortgage. When you are on top of the mortgage you spend money on the house, when you are not on top of the mortgage you scrimp and save to get back there.

OK, so we need to live with a roof over our heads, true. However do we need to own that roof? At what cost am I willing to own that roof?

I have personally witnessed the cost on my husband and family while we strive to renovate and pay for our house.

I am blessed that I work from home as a web content editor, however the cost on us is extensive and is stealing from us our precious time! 

My husband spends most of his time outside his normal job, renovating. It seems that the work is simply never done. He put in the oven, cooktop and range hood, completing our kitchen then moved onto another job. Now 4 years later, one of the elements on the cooktop and the fan in the oven are broken. We painted the house 5 years ago and are noticing now that there are things that need to be sanded back and repainted. 

I do a little work from home, but it seems to spill over into my time with my family leaving me frustrated and angry when the children ask me questions while I am trying to concentrate on something that could crash a website - costing my employer money and customers, and perhaps costing me the job that helps us buy groceries.

We see all of our friends having holidays and have no idea how they do it! For us, we never have any money spare... never! With 6 children who do sport and music lessons, as well as paying our $450 a week for our $250 000 mortgage... it is hard work. The rates, the electricity, the maintenance.. 

Don't get me wrong, God has provided for every area of our life, we tithe and have compassion children and have never been starving, though we may not be able to buy groceries for 3-4 weeks.

The list goes on....

I have started asking myself if this was the life I wanted, or that the Lord wanted for me...

We can say that we have had two family holidays in 19 years... We do go and visit our parents a couple of times a year, but it is only ever one of us as the other stays home to work.

I can see our children growing so fast and our precious little time becoming less and less to create memories with our people. And now more than ever I want those memories! 

Everything comes at a cost my dear friend. Everything in our homes came with some form of cost - either monetary, or physical - do we need to clean, maintain, repair, replace, or give it attention? Is it a financial cost or do we give up some of our precious time? And Yes - time is very precious as we do not know when it will come to an end. When we are young and we have little children, time simply can't go fast enough.. little children and teenagers are hard work.. 

When our children start to leave home.. WOE! They leave home?

This is the stage we are at now in our early 40's. The first daughter leaves us on the 16th of October and the second child finishes school in 3 months.. then He is off.

The cost of having a mortgage and debt has been that we don't have many family memories, we have one set of family photos because they too cost money.

 It is not that we love money, but that we have been striving to have no debt in this world. Now I have my house on the market so we can rent for a bit to take a break! Phew....!

Count the cost of what it is that you are striving for.. If it is stealing from you time then re-evaluate! Australian culture dictates what is common for us.. but is that what is common for the children of God? Jesus had no place to lay His head, though he lived on this Earth for 33 years (Mt 8:20).

Do not fear your prayerful decision to count the cost on your time.. God blesses those who sacrifice their lives for him - (Romans 12) A part of that sacrifice is not taking hold of that which is common to man.

RELEASE your self from the pressure to enter into the 'life game'. 

I hope I have been able to show you that life is more than just accumulating for yourself wealth on this Earth. As you will only pass it on or sell it in order to be looked after in your old age and then it goes to the next generation who will not value it as you did. Just read Solomon right through to get an idea of how Wealth amounts to nothing! 

Please go to the beach with your children and create some memories playing together... or a bush walk.. or camping, fishing, dining etc... A wise person learns from other people's mistakes.

I dearly love my children and sooo badly want to spend more time with them, my husband and I are not on the same page yet.. but through prayer maybe we can let go of the chasing after the wind together and spend more time enjoying the blessings we already have

I pray your cup overflows...