One Voice Christian Women's Conference

I had the most beautiful and humbling weekend at the conference.  I was blessed by the setting, the beauty and love that was put into the organisation of the event.  I was blessed by the amazing speakers.  I was blessed by the new friends that I made, some of which we specifically placed there by God himself.  I can't possibly tell you all of the things that God spoke to me about over the weekend, but I will process it with Him, and hopefully be able to share some of it soon.

And not only was I blessed by all that God had to give me but I was able to bless others as well.  I was able to speak to many wonderful women; some hurting, others inspired, some searching, others rejoicing along side us.  Sam's Heart went to over 20 new homes.  It amazes me that God provided this opportunity to share our journey with others and I had an absolute ball doing it. 

I'm In A Relationship

Spending time with God is the greatest gift mankind has ever been given.  The fact that Jesus reconciled us back into a relationship with God is miraculous; the evidence of a merciful and loving God.  I have had people ask about spending time with God.  I use that term frequently when I  write about him...which is also frequent.

Being a Christian is all about one thing

RELATIONSHIP

not

religion

I know Jesus more and more each day because I spend time talking to him and he talks with me.  We sit in each other's company and listen to music, write on the computer and just enjoy each other.  I consume the Bible, not just read it.  I read a portion and then ask God to tell me more about it, teaching me by his Holy Spirit. I speak about him with my friends and those around me.  I share with other Christians in times of singing, learning, encouraging and listening (sometimes known as church).  He is the first one on my mind in the morning and last one on my mind before I sleep.  At times our relationship is loud and visible and at other times, quiet and reflective, different in every season but constant in it's faithfulness.  He guides my decisions because I ask him about most things (I would like to say everything here, but I am honest).  He teaches me how to love my children and how to bring them up to glorify him.  He teaches me to love my husband in a more perfectm complete and passionate way, because I ask him too.  The closer we grow to God,the more our marriage prospers. 

It is so simple to know God and be saved by Jesus,to become a new creation.  People search and look to religion to fill the void that is in their hearts when what they really long for is a relationship that was lost right back in the garden of Eden, the relationship with their Creator God who loves them.  They try to complicate the simplicity of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, by adding traditions and religious practices that God has never intended.

Spirit to Spirit relationship with God is only made possible when you are a Christian.  As your Spirit and Holy Spirit become more and more entwined, love and every other good things flow over into your soul and then to your body.  People begin to notice their is a change in you, a peace you didn't have before, a joy that remains even in the tough times, a faith that surpasses all knowledge.

This is what it mean to know the living God. This is why I delight in every day,even when it looks to be a mess on the outside.  Yes, I am in a relationship that will stand the test of time.  God is a keeper, when you give him your life, he will never let you go.

Overcoming Doubt

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.(Matthew 7:7)

Often when I pray about Sam's healing, it is very quickly followed by a niggling doubt.  That doubt is something like this.

'You can't keep asking God for the same things over and over.  You are like an annoying child who just nags and nags and nags.  Don't think because you keep asking, that it will mean you get anything.  If I were God I would turn my back on you and walk away.  You are so annoying!  He is God, he can say no when he wants to.  So just give up will you!  If he wanted to help you, he would have done it already.'

I wonder if you have ever heard anything similar.  When I hear words like these I know they are not from God, because they do not line up with the Bible.  The are lies to keep me defeated and make me feel unworthy before God.  God will never speak outside of His Word.  He does not lie. The only thing the enemy can do, is lie.  It is his nature to try and drag me down.  If I let myself believe his lies, my faith is eroded, and slowly but surely I would give up hope. 

I am always filled with hope when I read the story of the gentile woman in the book of Matthew.  You can read the story in Chapter 15, verses 21-28.

This woman comes running to Jesus pleading, begging and probably crying for the deliverance of her daughter, who is plagued by evil spirits.  She knows that she is not worthy.  She is not a Jew but she is desperate and has a glimmer of faith burning deep down in her soul.
Jesus hears her and keeps walking.  He says nothing.  The disciples try to turn her away but still she persists.  She has no other hope.
Jesus stops and tells her he has come to help the Jews at this time, not the Gentiles.  He explains that he can not take the food he has been given for the children and feed it to the dogs.  Israel was God's chosen nation, his children.
The woman mustered up all of the courage and faith she had and spoke '...even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.'

Jesus beams with delight!  He holds her, looks deep into her eyes and tells her that her faith is great!  Her request is granted.' And from that moment on her child is instantly healed.

May we all have the faith of this woman.  We should have more courage, be more bold because we are children of God.  We do not wait beneath the table for the scraps.  God wants to hand us his delights on a silver platter.  He wants to give us his best, because he loves us.  And so now, when I spend time with God and shower love upon him, I ask him boldly for what I need and I tell him my heart's desires and my dreams.  I will no be deterred by worldly doubts and insecurities.  They do not exist in God's Kingdom. 

And as I plead with God and grow in faith, love and hope with him, I long for the day when..

He lifts me to my feet.

Cradles my face in his warm loving hands.

Looks deeply into my eyes, the recesses of my soul.

Smiles with a grin brighter than the midday sun.

And whispers to me,
'I love you my beautiful child. Your faith is great.  Your request is granted'

And Sam will be healed from that very moment.  It will be complete.

And I will dance before God for all the world to see, because he loves me, he hears me and he answers me.

It's just around the bend...

Come Follow Me

When you spend all day with your children, you begin to realise that they think very differently to the way adults do.  Their thoughts are simple and at the same time complex.  I am often set back on my heels by their questions or logic.  I just thought I would share today's wisdom from God, through the mouth of my 5 year old son.

We had a house inspection today (another one) and as we cleaned the house, and then packed the boys into the car, we talked about how we are selling our house.  None of this is new to them, it has been on the market since November last year.  We explained that we weren't shutting the gate, because a lady was coming to look through our home, and if she likes it, she might buy it.  We headed down to the coffee shop to wait, as it was pouring down rain outside.  After a lively tea break we we buckling back into the car when Jack asked me...

'Which home are we going to now?'

Now I know we travel a bit, and we have moved around since Jack was born, but this threw me until... 

'Back to our home around the corner at Pittsworth.  What do you mean honey?'

'But you said we were selling our house.'

The penny dropped

'Oh, I see what you mean.  No darling, it takes months to sell a home, it's not like going to the grocery store.'

'Oh ok then, that's good because all my clothes are still there.'

When we left our home, Jack thought that was it.  It was sold along with everything in it.  There was no tantrums about leaving his toys, clothes and his new scooter.  He didn't even blink. He just trusted me enough to get into the car and go and have coffee.  Where our family is, is his home.  That is faith perfected. That is the kind of trust I want to have with my Father in Heaven.

I make things much too complicated.  I question God.  I want to know how things will work out.  Can I at least have a time frame? 

When we placed our house on the market last year , I was convinced that it would sell lightening fast.  I was wrong, God had other plans.  I wanted everything to happen quickly.  He asked me to wait.  And so now I wait and spend time having coffee with God.  Enjoying his company, keeping my eyes fixed on his face.  Where He is, is my home.  I don't want to live anywhere else.

NEWS: I would ask you to pray with us.  We have signed a contract on our home subject to sale of another property, and there is also someone waiting for that contract to end (in 21 days) to make an offer on our home.  Can you ask for God's will to be done and for the right buyer to get our home.  We know God is moving us on, so that we can follow His call to serve with MAF.  Your prayer over the next month would be valued beyond measure.  Thank you my friends. :)

Butterflies

(Sam is not featured in this video)
The butterflies in this film are fear and anxiety.

The tiger is Sam's spirit, courage poured out by the Spirit of God.

We have been here...the sights and sounds bring a lump to my throat...and a tear to my eye.  Just wanted to share so that you can understand a little more where we have been, and why I know where I am going.

Swallowing Sin

This was not an easy post to write.  It was more difficult than most because it speaks of sin and no one wants to hear about sin today.  Sin is seen to be negative and uninspiring, so often talking about it, is swept under the rug along with the truth, in fear of offending somebody. In fact it's unlikely that I will get many comments on this post due to it's message.

Did you know that carrying around sin is toxic?  Carrying around sin is like swallowing a bitter pill.  It spreads throughout your system quickly causing chaos in spirit, soul, and body.

Spirit (Faith, Hope and Love- Our most inner being which connects with God.)
When you are born again, and a child of God, Jesus has freed you from the bondage of sin.  However the choices you make determine how you will live.  Holy Spirit guides you, but if you choose to walk outside His counsel, your hearing will become clouded and your spirit darkened as you move away from light and truth.  People often say 'God can't hear my prayers' or 'I don't hear God's voice'.  Remember back to the last time you did hear him clearly.  Did you do what he asked? If not, you may find that disobedience could be causing the dull hearing.  He hasn't left you but you may have left him.

And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.(Romans 8:2)

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) (Romans 8:9)

Soul  (Our imagination, memory, reason and emotions)
Our soul is a battleground.  We long to live as Holy Spirit guides us and yet we struggle with the day to day tasks that are put before us.  This is why knowing God's Word is vital.  The truths contained therein are not suggestions, they are essential to you making the right decisions.  Choices that will both honour God and prosper your soul.

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. (1 Peter 2:11)

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. (Romans 7:23)

Body (Our soul and spirit's current home)
The body is where all of the telltale signs of sin manifest.  And often is is through the pain our bodies feel that we are alerted to the imbalance within.  The aim is to recognise sin in our soul before it becomes reality in our bodies.  As Paul so aptly puts it " Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.(Romans 12:2)

And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. (Romans 8:10)

When I refused to confess my sin,my body wasted away,and I groaned all day long.(Psalm 32:3)

Because of your anger, my whole body is sick;my health is broken because of my sins.(Psalm 38:3)

Here is an example from my life in the past week:

Diagnosis:
I notice that I have really tense shoulders and the beginnings of a migraine headache. Holy Spirit reminds me that I have been worrying about all of the things I need to do and get done.  I realise that I have been sleeping with tension in my shoulders, not able to sleep because my mind won't rest.  My mind is a part of my soul, which is under a barrage of thoughts that do not originate with God but with my own desire to get the job done.  I have effectively walked away from God and chosen to do things my own way.  The origin of my pain is sin.

Remedy
The remedy is not Asprin alone.  I need to get to the root of the problem, confess my rebellion, spend some time with God, ask for his peace and direction and place everything back in his hands.  I need to control my mind and trust God.

Result
The result is more sleep, relaxed shoulders, a pain free head and a heart full of peace, knowing that I am in the will of God.

All illness is a result of sin, the original sin in the garden of Eden. Before then, there was no illness.  I am not saying that all of the pain and disease in our life is a direct result of our personal sin, Jesus never said that.  In fact when he healed the blind man, he shot that suggestion down in flames. 

What I am suggesting is that we begin to take responsibility for our sin.  Ask God's specific forgiveness and let him cover us with his love and grace.  Not only will it draw us closer to him but it may allow us to walk a life that is less of a slave to sin, and more a life of victory that God intended us to have.

Are you ready to walk in victory?  I know I am

No I can't jump like this.  But you get the idea, right?

Courageous

Today was Jack's first day at the skate park.  I was not there to witness the momentous occasion as I had taken some Mum only time, and left Don and the boys up to their devices.  (truthfully looking at the pictures was enough to make me nervous).
I love that boys (and men) crave adventure.  I love that even though they are afraid they are willing to throw it all on the line and give it a go.  Courage comes in many different forms.  Many times courage is a gift that grows.  I think of Gideon, I think of Joshua, I think of Moses, I think of Simon Peter and all of them have one thing in common-they were fearful in the beginning.  They lacked courage but they trusted God, and when you trust God, he gives you courage that can't be measured by earthly measures. 

All of the courageous men mentioned above stood at the tip of a precipice like Jack below.  They all questioned themselves.
'Can I do this?' 
God says 'No, you can't.  But I can if you trust me.

 They took a leap of faith, trusting in someone bigger than themselves and took the plunge.  It was thrilling, terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time and they watched God keep his promises to them again and again.

They fell down, made mistakes and disappointed God, but he forgave them and restored them, putting them back on their feet.

 And through the turmoil and the pain, they found renewed strength and greater courage because they found they could trust the One that held them in the palm of His hand.

And those around them watched and prasied God for his faithfulness. They learned through the good times and the bad that he would never leave them.  That they could trust in God to give them all they need, even courage.

This afternoon Jack and Sam watched 'The Miracles of Jesus' on DVD.  As Jesus healed the man with leprosy, Jack was filled with excitement and courageously yelled out 'See Sam, I told you Jesus can fix your heart!'  He hugged Sam on the arm and Sam said 'Hmm mm' nodding his head in agreement.  They smiled at each other and then went back to watching the movie. 

God increase my faith, increase my measure of courage and hold me firmly in your grasp.  Forgive me when I jump out of your hand and try and do it my own way.  Thank you that you are faithful to always pick me up and restore me.  I pray that your name is praised for my obedience.  I love you Father.