Fragility of life and our beliefs.

You only have one chance to choose Heaven - albeit if you are blessed enough to wake up tomorrow you will get another chance...

2Peter 3:9 "The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise (to return), as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." 

Rather than try to convince you that you need to be believe, I would like to just ask you to consider for a moment what you think about Jesus?

Do you know for sure that you are going to Heaven? You don't control whether it is real or not, you only get to choose if you are going there or not....

Children are trained to think a certain way depending on their parents. If the parent believes in Allah then the children are bought up that way. If the parents belief in the Easter bunny then the kids are bought up believing that too. What did your parents teach you?????

As we get older we have to start sorting out for ourselves what we believe, as the inevitable human nature is an impending force on all of us - death.

You have thought about it surely, perhaps you have been touched by it first hand. Death is not a nice part of our existence, and usually we don't think about our own death until we are confronted by someone elses. It tears at our hearts, causes us to be angry with 'a higher being' and forces us to see how fragile life is.

I am not a great scholar and I have only had a few people in my life pass, but I have come to terms with the fragility of life - here today, gone tomorrow. At 16 I was introduced to the concept that God existed and Jesus Christ was real. I had never heard about it before except through Sunday School which I didn't  pay attention to. My parents like most had a simple belief in God that was tainted by Churches and Catholic hypocrites. 'Jesus Christ' was a swear word only said in moments of anger or amazement. 

I met some of the nicest people I had ever met through some youth events, they shared the Bible with me and the history of Jesus. It took a further two years before I even understood, but then I started reading the New Testament myself and found a Christian Church. I made a decision to believe in Jesus Christ as my own personal Saviour. It really was not hard once I understood and it was the best decision I have ever made! It was like a fog lifted from my mind and my heart, It is now 20 years later and I still walk daily with Jesus.

Be encouraged - confront what is the norm in your life - don't settle for what everyone has told you about God. Pick up a Bible and do some of your own research. Start in the Book of John. John was a very close friend of Jesus, one of the disciples and an eye witness testimony to the happenings. We still have some of the original parchment from John. 

If I wrote my own eye witness testimony to an event and everyone said it was a lie, would you believe it, or would you believe the people calling it a lie?

We may all choose our own path in life, but birth and death are out of our control. There is a Heaven and Hell and that choice is yours - Choose Jesus...It is easy...

1 John 1:9 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness'.

This does not take away our consequences, but before the throne of God we can have no accusers. Jesus took our punishment for our wrong doings that prevent us from entering Heaven.

I pray your cup overflows with joy....and truth!

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...

To be His hands and feet...

I am so proud of my eldest daughter... I thought I would share her decision with you!
She has decided to go to YWAM DTS - Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School.

In her own words she stated that she would like to start her life the right way with God at the steering wheel.. We are so excited for her as we are fully aware of how rewarding it is to serve God with our whole self. It is very hard to share this excitement with most of our friends as their children are all young, however we could not be happier or more excited, I tear up just thinking about it!

I must admit I am just a little bit envious that she gets to GO and answer the call, while I still have to stay to meet the needs of my family - which is my current call, and I am sure she will have to face this 'stay at home Mum' one day.. but for now she gets to walk out her faith by learning and serving.

If you would like to know more about YWAM DTS... check it out on You Tube! She is doing the MAD program (Music, Art & Drama) at Brisbane QLD. Such an awesome opportunity for young Christians to find out who they are & who they are called to be - but mostly to get personal with The ONE who calls! Jesus...

I look forward to cheering her on as she walks in the valley :)

http://youtu.be/zwQq6Mfz6IM

If your life is stagnant... choose a different path!

Born With A Fatal Wound

As I placed my head on my pillow last night at 11:53pm.. this is what popped into my mind! I am learning to be ready with pen and paper to capture the things I want to remember.

I was born with a fatal wound and am now on the road to recovery.

Though it is inevitable I will die as a result of this wound, it is also plausible that I will 

live due to the nature of the recovery.

The wound is sin, in which I had no say or control over the contagion on my soul. 

It will inevitably kill me.

But the recovery is in the union I have with the Creator, and in the provision He made for cure.

It too, will only be made complete in the surety of my Earthly death. 

The only condition is that I accept it.

This, however, IS within my control.

If we are not tempted beyond that which is common for man (1 Co 10:13); then it is fair to say that the things we do on an everyday basis has the potential to be sin and us not know it.

I am not sure what the answer is in this except to pray and ask the Lord to open our eyes and reveal to us our own distance from His purity & Holiness. It may mean we look at the simple things we do each day and question if they fit with His original blue print for our path. 

Some examples of this would be watching TV and what we are viewing...Or what words we are saying when we sing songs. Perhaps how much food we eat or how we relate to the people whose paths we cross. 

When you have finished reading this small blog of mine - don't be like the man in James 1:23.

Chew on it a while.. and have your cup filled by His word. Bec

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 

Perhaps the answer is in our actions....

²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Will There Be Shadows In Heaven?

Driving along, stuck behind a slow car... My mind was blank as is quite often the case when I drive into town numerous times through the day, . I noticed the shadow on a guide post and asked 'why are all shadows black?"

Wow where did that come from... Why ARE all shadows black? I understand dark and light, and when the sun shines it casts a shadow, but why not colourful shadows based on the object being shone upon.

Have you ever seen a dog discover his own shadow? It is very funny to watch, they try to attack it!
Children are scared of their own shadows, and petrified of others.
Teenagers play with their shadows.
Adults never think about them again.

I wonder....

Could shadows be the oppression of the enemy in the world? In that we are all tainted by it in one way or another..and the shadow just gets darker the more the light shines on it. Perhaps when we stand directly in the light of God, there will be no shadow?  Could shadows be sin as in Peter Pan - where it is attached to us....and alive...perhaps like the sin we were born into?
My creative mind just kept going!!!

I don't really have any answers here.. it was just food for thought that I am still pondering. I just thought I would share it with you out of curiosity!

Ps 36:7 - Even God has a shadow - but in His we can hide.....

(Revelation 21:21b 'The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass...' The walls and roads of heaven will be clear, transparent.. see through - perhaps to not hinder the Glory of the Lord shining onto everything? 
Anywaaaays...

Hope you are feeling full to overflowing. Bec

The Prodigal Me???

I love it when the Lord pops a message in my head, from out of the blue - BAM - in a split second a whole sermon!

So in the famous words of my previous Pastor Barry, I have 10 x 'R"s for you!

Recall the story of the Prodigal Son - Have you read it? If you need a refresher then please read Luke 15:11-32 before you go any further.....

Two Sons, one Father. 

One Son did what he wanted to do and Regretted it.

One Son did what everyone else wanted him to do - what was expected of him and he later Resented it.

The first Son did what he wanted to do. 

He wanted the world and all it had to offer. Perhaps he had heard all the stories, perhaps he looked at his family and their way of life and decided it wasn't for him. Maybe he was sick of being asked to contribute to the family and he just wanted to grow his wings and fly away - sounds like a Rebellious teenager don't you think?

He Realised (vs 17) how foolish he had been and Repented (vs 18), he Returned (vs 20) home where his father Rejoiced (vs 22) in him and Reconciled (vs 24) him back to himself and his family. This made him more grateful and wiser.

The second Son did what everyone else wanted him to do  - what was expected of him.
He wanted the world but was never game to push for it (vs 29).
He Resented (vs 28) his own obligated obedience and all the attention his brother was receiving. He Rebelled (vs 29) , threw a tantrum and Rebuked (vs 30) his Father. However, his Father pleaded with him to be a part of the celebrations and see the life in the son who returned (vs 31).

The Father, not only rejoiced in both his children, but he reconciled them to himself with sin and without sin, proving His love for His creation.
One Son had to ask for forgiveness and Received love, the other Son felt righteous and justified in his attitude and Rejected love.

When it all boils down - which Son are we? Which son are you?

Sometimes I feel righteously proud and justified in my opinions... I believe this steals from me the joy of accepting Gods love and forgiveness and hinders me being reconciled to Him. Other times, I realise how wrong I have been and turn from my ways which in turn helps me to accept the Love of my Father in Heaven and realise how much I need him.

I am sure there are many ways to look at the Prodigal Son, but I am thankful that the Lord chose to show me that there is always a decision.
One Son decided he was wrong, the other decided he was right.

Matthew 5:45 (NLT)

In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

Joshua 24:15

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Let me leave you with these words - Your choice..... Jeremiah 6:16

“Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
    and you will find rest for your souls.
    But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

I hope you are feeling full! Bec