No crying tonight
There's no tears left to shed
No crying tonight
Just cold hard-heartedness instead
Sunday 29 April 2007
Thursday 26 April 2007
Tuesday 24 April 2007
I am a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4: 13-15Recently I spent a significant amount of time in structured goal setting as part of a Stay Well program. The goals came under various 'headings': Financial Goals, Work Goals, Social Goals, Personal Goals, Health Goals and Spiritual Goals (yes, you read that correctly "Spiritual Goals"). All my earnest effort quickly came unstuck after a time of being not so well. Yet again I have been shown that I am not in control. As a result, I have been thinking alot about the conflicting ideas of the 5 Year Plan vs Let Go and Let God.
Where does the balance lie? Thoughts? Comments?
Friday 20 April 2007
"All things work together........"
Even it doesn't look very good from our eyes, God's plan will be something much better than we could possibly imagine. Check out this extremely cute, but quite powerful clip.
http://christiancliparts.net/viewclip.php?id=a041101
http://christiancliparts.net/viewclip.php?id=a041101
Thursday 19 April 2007
Once again I say amen and it's still raining.....
I was sure by now God, You would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.
And I'll praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands, for You are who You are, no matter where I am,
And every tear I've cried, You hold in your hand, You never left my side and though my heart is torn, I will praise You in this storm
I remember when I stumbled in the wind, You heard my cry to You and raised me up again,
My strength is almost gone, how can I carry on, if I can't find You
And as the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.
I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
Praise You in This Storm Words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms
But once again, I say amen and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.
And I'll praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands, for You are who You are, no matter where I am,
And every tear I've cried, You hold in your hand, You never left my side and though my heart is torn, I will praise You in this storm
I remember when I stumbled in the wind, You heard my cry to You and raised me up again,
My strength is almost gone, how can I carry on, if I can't find You
And as the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain "I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.
I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
Praise You in This Storm Words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms
Tuesday 17 April 2007
"I learnt not to be afraid of Black Dog and taught him a few tricks of my own"
Matthew Johnstone http://www.ihadablackdog.com
Monday 16 April 2007
"Because of the shame and stigma associated with Black Dog, I became a champion at fooling everyone, both at home and at work.
Keeping up an emotional lie takes an incredible amount of energy. It's like trying to cover up epilepsy, a heart attack, or diabetes. "
Matthew Johnstone http://www.ihadablackdog.com
Medication misery
IATROGENIC
Main Entry: iat·ro·gen·ic
Pronunciation: (")I-"a-tr&-'jen-ik also (")E-
Function: adjective
Iatrogenic: induced inadvertently by a physician or surgeon or by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures—iat·ro·gen·i·cal·ly /-'jen-i-k(&-)lE/ adverb —iat·ro·ge·nic·i·ty /-j&-'nis-&t-E/ noun plural -ties
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
An iatrogenic rash, an iatrogenic hand tremor, iatrogenic memory loss, iatrogenic confusion, iatrogenic somnolence, an iatrogenic headache, iatrogenic anxiety, iatrogenic dizziness, iatrogenic joint pain, iatrogenic what's next?????.................
Main Entry: iat·ro·gen·ic
Pronunciation: (")I-"a-tr&-'jen-ik also (")E-
Function: adjective
Iatrogenic: induced inadvertently by a physician or surgeon or by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
An iatrogenic rash, an iatrogenic hand tremor, iatrogenic memory loss, iatrogenic confusion, iatrogenic somnolence, an iatrogenic headache, iatrogenic anxiety, iatrogenic dizziness, iatrogenic joint pain, iatrogenic what's next?????.................
Saturday 14 April 2007
Welcome Home - A bible passage to knock your socks off
On the Sunday 31st August 2003 my friend Jaime preached a sermon at St Augustine’s Neutral Bay. The passage was Luke 15 - The Parable of the Lost Son. I had listened to and read that parable numerous times but I “heard” it for the first time that day.
Funnily enough, that same passage was preached on by Rob Forsythe on the day of my confirmation at St James Croydon a year later.
It remains my favourite bible passage, describing God’s grace in such a surprising and astonishing way.
Here are some of the reasons why I love it.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” v.19
It seems to me that to see the son while he was still a long way off, the Father must have been actively looking for him. The passage does not say so, but maybe the father was on the look out for him every day, maybe he spent many hours staring out, hoping for a glimpse of his missing son.
The father certainly didn’t waste any time once he saw his beloved son. I can’t imagine that the lord of the manor did a lot of running in those days. No quick jogs around the block for him. So to sprint down and throw his arms around his son, just makes me think how overcome with emotion the father must have been. Even today, we don’t see a lot of manly throwing of arms around each other and kissing. What must the father have been feeling? And what about the son? Talk about a surprise! Welcome home dear boy!
But my favourite part comes next… "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet'.” v22.
If I’d been hanging about with the pigs for a few months in the middle east, I can imagine that there might be a slight odour about my person. The son must have reaked of sweat and pigpoop. But passage doesn’t say ‘The Father said to his servants, give my son a bath and then dress him’… No, the best robe goes right on top of all the sweat and grime and poop.
Brings to mind another passage
Isaiah 69:10 “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. "
And finally of course, they party!!!!
" 'Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." v.23-24
On that day in Neutral Bay, Jaime told me that the angels were rejoicing. What an wonderful thought. But even moreso, how amazing that my Father ran to meet me, covered my sin with the robes of righteousness washed white in the blood of his Son, and welcomed me home.
"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
Funnily enough, that same passage was preached on by Rob Forsythe on the day of my confirmation at St James Croydon a year later.
It remains my favourite bible passage, describing God’s grace in such a surprising and astonishing way.
Here are some of the reasons why I love it.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” v.19
It seems to me that to see the son while he was still a long way off, the Father must have been actively looking for him. The passage does not say so, but maybe the father was on the look out for him every day, maybe he spent many hours staring out, hoping for a glimpse of his missing son.
The father certainly didn’t waste any time once he saw his beloved son. I can’t imagine that the lord of the manor did a lot of running in those days. No quick jogs around the block for him. So to sprint down and throw his arms around his son, just makes me think how overcome with emotion the father must have been. Even today, we don’t see a lot of manly throwing of arms around each other and kissing. What must the father have been feeling? And what about the son? Talk about a surprise! Welcome home dear boy!
But my favourite part comes next… "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet'.” v22.
If I’d been hanging about with the pigs for a few months in the middle east, I can imagine that there might be a slight odour about my person. The son must have reaked of sweat and pigpoop. But passage doesn’t say ‘The Father said to his servants, give my son a bath and then dress him’… No, the best robe goes right on top of all the sweat and grime and poop.
Brings to mind another passage
Isaiah 69:10 “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. "
And finally of course, they party!!!!
" 'Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." v.23-24
On that day in Neutral Bay, Jaime told me that the angels were rejoicing. What an wonderful thought. But even moreso, how amazing that my Father ran to meet me, covered my sin with the robes of righteousness washed white in the blood of his Son, and welcomed me home.
"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17
Friday 13 April 2007
Hello Lord, it's me. Are you listening?
How can you promise “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). And then not follow through with me?
How could Jesus say "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."(Matthew 21:21-22) And then not answer my prayer?
Why is it that I pray and pray and pray and get others to pray and pray and pray and yet I'm still be here, in this dark place. Have I not asked enough? Have I not repented enough? Do I not believe enough? Am I not your child too?
Why do prayers for healing go unanswered? Here are some of the reason which have been suggested to me. Some helpful, some extremely unhelpful.
1. Unconfessed sin
Isaiah 59: 1-2 “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
2. Lack of fellowship with Jesus
John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
3. Wrong motives
James 4:3 “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
4. Prayers not in accordance with God’s will
1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."
5. Lack of Faith
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
James 1:6-8 “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”
6. Lack of Perseverance
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Luke 18 The Parable of the Persistent Widow “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
7. To show God’s mercy
Once when Jesus was asked whose sins caused a man’s blindness, He said "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life”. John 9:3
8. Refinement
John 15:1-2 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
Isaiah 48:10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
1 Peter 1:7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
James 1: 2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything
9. I have absolutely no idea!
What about reasons that are completely beyond our understanding. (This is the one I tend to favour). Who am I to even begin to demand an explanation from the creator of the universe?
Job 38: 1-2 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.”
How could Jesus say "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."(Matthew 21:21-22) And then not answer my prayer?
Why is it that I pray and pray and pray and get others to pray and pray and pray and yet I'm still be here, in this dark place. Have I not asked enough? Have I not repented enough? Do I not believe enough? Am I not your child too?
Why do prayers for healing go unanswered? Here are some of the reason which have been suggested to me. Some helpful, some extremely unhelpful.
1. Unconfessed sin
Isaiah 59: 1-2 “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
2. Lack of fellowship with Jesus
John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
3. Wrong motives
James 4:3 “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
4. Prayers not in accordance with God’s will
1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."
5. Lack of Faith
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
James 1:6-8 “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”
6. Lack of Perseverance
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
Luke 18 The Parable of the Persistent Widow “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
7. To show God’s mercy
Once when Jesus was asked whose sins caused a man’s blindness, He said "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life”. John 9:3
8. Refinement
John 15:1-2 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
Isaiah 48:10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
1 Peter 1:7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
James 1: 2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything
9. I have absolutely no idea!
What about reasons that are completely beyond our understanding. (This is the one I tend to favour). Who am I to even begin to demand an explanation from the creator of the universe?
Job 38: 1-2 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.”
Thursday 12 April 2007
So you've got my attention God. Now what?
After concluding that suffering might be a tool God uses to get our attention and to teach us to rely on him, I thought things would turn around once I’d learnt the lesson and passed the test.
What lesson did I have to learn? In what area did I need to be broken? Reliance on my own abilities. Confidence in my own skills. Pride.
It’s certainly clear from numerous passages through the bible that God abhors pride.
Psalm 31:23 The Lord preserves the faithful but the proud he pays back in full
Psalm 101:5 Whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart I will not endure
Proverbs 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall
Isaiah 25:11 God will bring down their pride despite the cleverness of their hands.
Daniel 4:37 And those who walk in pride he is able to humble
1 Corinthians 8:2-3 Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who knows God is known by God.
James 1:9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position . But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
I don’t think it would be too far a stretch to say that pride is the sin God hates most. Original sin might be considered to have been borne out of pride. Whether you agree with my conclusions regarding pride or not, it has certainly been the source of the greatest distance between me and my God.
There are have been many many private and public ‘humiliations’ over the past two years. Plenty of opportunity for God to teach me, to break me.
Jill’s top 5 public humiliations:
1. Turning up to work so stoned on prescription medication that I couldn’t form a sentence, couldn’t walk without holding onto the wall and couldn’t operate my computer
2. Falling over outside David Jones and having to get security to put me in a taxi
3. Having to decide what was worse – people thinking I had got a bad 80s perm by choice or telling people that my hair had suddenly become curly through some weird medication side effect
4. Some random guy in a pizza shop telling me he felt sorry for me because the 3 friends with me were attractive and I was ugly.
5. Having to be ‘relieved’ of my position filling the little communion cups mid-church service after spilling juice all over the white tablecloth due to medication induced hand tremor.
Believe me when I say the private humiliations have been a lot less humourous!
So that was that right? Get broken! Get humble! Rely on God! Move on.
Surely then God would be ready to get down to the serious business of using me to further his kingdom, allowing me to serve him in the way I expected………..
I wish!!!!…………. More later
What lesson did I have to learn? In what area did I need to be broken? Reliance on my own abilities. Confidence in my own skills. Pride.
It’s certainly clear from numerous passages through the bible that God abhors pride.
Psalm 31:23 The Lord preserves the faithful but the proud he pays back in full
Psalm 101:5 Whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart I will not endure
Proverbs 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall
Isaiah 25:11 God will bring down their pride despite the cleverness of their hands.
Daniel 4:37 And those who walk in pride he is able to humble
1 Corinthians 8:2-3 Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who knows God is known by God.
James 1:9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position . But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
I don’t think it would be too far a stretch to say that pride is the sin God hates most. Original sin might be considered to have been borne out of pride. Whether you agree with my conclusions regarding pride or not, it has certainly been the source of the greatest distance between me and my God.
There are have been many many private and public ‘humiliations’ over the past two years. Plenty of opportunity for God to teach me, to break me.
Jill’s top 5 public humiliations:
1. Turning up to work so stoned on prescription medication that I couldn’t form a sentence, couldn’t walk without holding onto the wall and couldn’t operate my computer
2. Falling over outside David Jones and having to get security to put me in a taxi
3. Having to decide what was worse – people thinking I had got a bad 80s perm by choice or telling people that my hair had suddenly become curly through some weird medication side effect
4. Some random guy in a pizza shop telling me he felt sorry for me because the 3 friends with me were attractive and I was ugly.
5. Having to be ‘relieved’ of my position filling the little communion cups mid-church service after spilling juice all over the white tablecloth due to medication induced hand tremor.
Believe me when I say the private humiliations have been a lot less humourous!
So that was that right? Get broken! Get humble! Rely on God! Move on.
Surely then God would be ready to get down to the serious business of using me to further his kingdom, allowing me to serve him in the way I expected………..
I wish!!!!…………. More later
Wednesday 11 April 2007
Why?
In the last 2 years I have spent a great deal of time thinking about suffering. I need to make that clear that by no means do my experiences fall in the category of ‘persecution’. However they have certainly caused me to question what the biblical perspective on suffering is and just what, if anything, God is trying to achieve through my illness.
Why? Why me? What have I done to deserve this? What’s wrong with me? Doesn’t God love me? If he does love me, why doesn’t he do something? Are you there God? Are you listening?
These are some of the questions I asked myself in the early days – and these are the questions to which I return in my darker moments.
Logically I know that I have done nothing to deserve this - my illness is caused by a chemical disorder in the brain – that is thought to have a strong genetic component and may be “set off” by environmental factors such as experiences, stressors etc. I certainly have learnt a lot about Bipolar – enough to say it is indeed an illness, in the same way as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis is an illness.
That knowledge however does not negate my need to ask God “Why?”
I’m not sure that these conclusions are correct but….If God is sovereign, then He, at the least ‘allows’ suffering. If God is loving, then our suffering is not in vain. If God’s main purpose is to bring glory to Himself, then our suffering must in some way bring Him glory – either by conforming us to the image of God or in some other indirect way.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.
Lamentations 3:38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?
Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Is suffering, as some suggest, a tool God uses to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives?
One thing of which I am sure, as various aspects of my life get stripped away, my illness is teaching me to turn from trusting in my own strength and abilities, to relying more on God’s mercies.
More on this later - you can pretty much count on it.
Why? Why me? What have I done to deserve this? What’s wrong with me? Doesn’t God love me? If he does love me, why doesn’t he do something? Are you there God? Are you listening?
These are some of the questions I asked myself in the early days – and these are the questions to which I return in my darker moments.
Logically I know that I have done nothing to deserve this - my illness is caused by a chemical disorder in the brain – that is thought to have a strong genetic component and may be “set off” by environmental factors such as experiences, stressors etc. I certainly have learnt a lot about Bipolar – enough to say it is indeed an illness, in the same way as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis is an illness.
That knowledge however does not negate my need to ask God “Why?”
I’m not sure that these conclusions are correct but….If God is sovereign, then He, at the least ‘allows’ suffering. If God is loving, then our suffering is not in vain. If God’s main purpose is to bring glory to Himself, then our suffering must in some way bring Him glory – either by conforming us to the image of God or in some other indirect way.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.
Lamentations 3:38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?
Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Is suffering, as some suggest, a tool God uses to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives?
One thing of which I am sure, as various aspects of my life get stripped away, my illness is teaching me to turn from trusting in my own strength and abilities, to relying more on God’s mercies.
More on this later - you can pretty much count on it.
Sunday 8 April 2007
How I long to hear the Lord say "Well done my good and faithful servant"
I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much
I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world
I want to leave a legacy How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy
I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy
Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...
Legacy by Nichole Nordeman
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much
I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world
I want to leave a legacy How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy
I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthly list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy
Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...
Legacy by Nichole Nordeman
Window of opportunity
Definition: Window of opportunity- A short period of time in which an opportunity must be acted on or missed.
Is it possible that for all things there is a window of opportunity? It makes sense that some things are time-limited - things like having babies. But what about relationships, love, ability to change? Do they have a window of opportunity? And can you miss that window? What happens then?
Is it possible that for all things there is a window of opportunity? It makes sense that some things are time-limited - things like having babies. But what about relationships, love, ability to change? Do they have a window of opportunity? And can you miss that window? What happens then?
Saturday 7 April 2007
Hold me tight and don't let go
John 10: 27-30 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
Where to begin???
So it seems that blogging is the new way to express oneself - and I'm all for that. I don't know exactly what I hope to communicate - maybe just the struggle of day to day life. That sounds so trite I know. But at the moment I find myself quite literally having to take things one day at a time.
I am holding on tightly to the promise of Revelation 21.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
I'm not doing a very good job of trusting in that promise, but luckily it seems that God is holding on to me.
I am holding on tightly to the promise of Revelation 21.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
I'm not doing a very good job of trusting in that promise, but luckily it seems that God is holding on to me.
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