A New Season

As the last day of Summer comes to a close, our family is also seeing the changes of a new season.

My darling husband celebrated his 31st birthday.

I have been busy doing the last proofing on Sam's Heart, before it heads off to the printers in the next few weeks.  It is absolutely amazing to see our story finally come together as a book.  Very exciting and very humbling all at the same time.  I know God is going to use this book to do mighty things.

This afternoon we received news that the contract on our home is not going to go through.  We hadn't actually signed it yet, which is a good thing.  The other party pulled out, they really wanted our home but couldn't make it happen.  And although I thought I would be disappointed, I actually feel relieved.  Now I know we can finally say that we will be in Pittsworth for the remainder of the year.  I can settle that in my mind and heart and live accordingly.  It means we are not leaving our church family, Jack's schooling will be more settled, I don't have to pack yet, we can settle in to enjoying another winter in Pittsworth.  We had been praying about it constantly and so we know what has happened is God's will. All of this was a result of us asking God for confirmation; if we were to move to Melbourne and serve with MAF. So this is in essence what it was - a confirmation.  We are so at peace with that.   Thank you to those who prayed alongside us.  One day at a time, onwards and upwards.  We are looking forward to what this new season of our lives will bring.

Whispers To My Heart - My King Will Return

You are my beautiful bride.  Be dressed and prepared by following me at all times.  Don't get tired of waiting and let your lamp burn out while you wait for me to return to you.  I come soon to whisk you away to our wedding celebration.  I am so excited, all of heaven is waiting with anticipation!  Keep your light burning bright into the night, so you will be awake to answer the door when I arrive and knock.  How I long to seat you at the table prepared for us, and share our royal feast.  I may arrive when you are not expecting me. Please be prepared to go at all times.  It would break my heart if you are asleep and you don't hear me.  Keep your dress spotless for me and we will rejoice together forever.  I won't keep you waiting long.  See you soon precious.

(Spoken to Nicole from Luke 12:35-38)

A Full Life With Half A Heart

One of the big concerns from others when we were diagnosed with Sam's condition was that he would have little quality of life.  There were many things we were told that Sam would not be able to do.  What I want to share with you today is the some things that my little boy can do.  It is too easy to focus on symptoms and statistics when you have a child with a medical condition.  We choose not to focus on these things but focus on the promise that God gave Sam.  Sam will live and have life in abundance!  We claim this daily over Sam and I would encourage you to search God for a promise of your own and live it.  Start by reading God's word (the bible) and he will reveal your own special promise direct from his heart to yours.  And remember don't let go of his promise no matter what may come your way.

 Hanging out at the dairy with friends.

 Always busy...never bored.  Just try and keep me still.

Don't all two year old boys like sitting on the sprinkler?

...People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4)

(Emphasis mine)

Light in the Darkness

Last night I had the most glorious time. I met with people from all over the world and as they shared their problems and needs, we went to Father God together, and brought our petitions before him.  We asked for his love, peace, deliverance, healing, hope and faith among many other things.  We praised the name of Jesus together, and prayers were answered.   I did these things with these people in the privacy of our own office,  well after my bedtime, on our computer.  I discovered a Facebook page last night called Praying For People-by Mark Brown.  If you love to spend time with God and pray for others, you need to go and look at this page.

As we prayed in agreement last night, God's Holy Spirit moved, not just in the lives of others but also in mine. God was showing me that when we pray for others it allows him to release all sorts of healing, blessing and anointing into our lives.  I saw heaven getting busy, because people we praying.  We may have been from each corner of the Earth, but we met in one place and were joined with one heart-seeking the face of God. 

The bible tells us to love one another and to pray and believe with one another.  There are so many people hurting out in the world right now, and the internet is a place where they are searching for some glimmer of hope in the darkness.  Let's show them together that that glimmer is the light of the world - Jesus. The closer you get to Jesus the brighter the light, the darkness has to flee. Let's all draw closer to him and each other and make the darkness run with it's tail between it's legs.

God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. (1 John 1:5)

Whispers To My Heart-Come Home

...My God has saved me from death and given me eternal life!

I will shout it out loud and not be silent.

I will tell everyone how he rescued me.  I was lost.

He is gathering his children, calling them home from the East, West, North and South.

Be still. Listen carefully.  Can you hear his voice?  He is waiting for you.

(Spoken to Nicole from Psalm 107:1-3)

Weighing In

For the last six months Sam has put on very little weight.  It seems to be increasingly difficult to get him to eat.  He is just not interested in food, or he will put a small piece of food in his mouth, chew it up and then spit it out.  We offer him milk only after he is offered food and he drinks all of his milk.  We have tried every approach to get him to eat; rewards, distraction, being stern, copying, but he still isn't interested.  He just says "no thanks" and will either just sit there or walk away.  Now, I remember going through a period of time like this for Jack when he was about 2.5, but it didn't go on this long.  I don't give Sam Up'n'Go any longer as he was losing weight drinking them.  Instead I fortify his full cream milk with powdered milk and then add Sustagen, it has more calories.  Now he seems to be at least holding his weight.  He is also a very active little boy and very independent.
I have spoken to a dietician who wants me to weigh Sam over the next two months and if there is no change they will want to try something else.  I know all of the information about making each mouthful count and adding calories via cheese, butter and cream but I can only do this if he will eat.  He is not even eating ice-cream, chocolate or yoghurt!  Is he for real?
God has given me a mother's heart, I am worried.  I am worried because it is not normal for your child to not want to eat and he was eating at least a little before he has this last bout of Tonsillitis.  If you have any suggestions they would be greatly appreciated.

Please pray.  I know God can change this situation around with just a word.  I've seen him do it.  If feel very alone at the moment.  I need some encouragement from the Lord and some of his help.  Only he can provide the help both Sam and I need.

PS.  It has been almost two weeks since Sam has eaten a good amount of food.

Trust Me

"Trust me I have it all in my hands."

 I have heard these words echoed over and over this week in relation to the sale of our home.  The lady who is interested in our home has put forward an offer, which we have accepted, though she must sell her home first. I am not one to sign a contract subject to sale.  However God has been saying the above words to me all week.  And so we have let it go and layed it all once again at his feet.  We are in the midst of signing a 2 month contract subject to the sale of the buyers house. In most people's eyes this would seem like foolishness.  However God has been speaking to me through the following scripture:

"...O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themsleves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.  Yes, Father it pleased you to do it this way!

My Father has entrusted everyting to me.  No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." (Matthew 11:25-27)

It pleases God when we trust in him and his son.  What may seem like wisdom to the world is not always wise in God's eyes.  His timing is perfect.  There is a difference in being childish and childlike.  To be childlike is to trust, without all of the questions and logical reasoning. It is not being naive but relying on the one who holds the bigger picture in his hands. 
This is not easy to do.  I have to lay down all of my ideas, budgets, objections and list of pros and cons.  I have to be willing to resign to the fact that I am not in control.  I have to honest with you, I like to have control. 

And so I ask you to pray for us.  For Don and I to have the patience to wait and be joyful in our waiting.  For God to sell our home according to his plan, so that we may move to Melbourne and study for Mission Aviation Fellowship.  And above all for us to have peace, his perfect peace, so that we may rest in the knowledge that we are walking hand in hand with God.