Sunday, December 30, 2012

God words and promises

I was re-listening to several talks the other day- mostly from the beginning of this year. Something that struck me though was that as I listened back over prayers prayed, and looking forward into 2012, it was amazing to look back and see answered prayers, fulfilments of God's word in different ways.

In particular, one talk focussed on receiving promises, words from God and in it, asked for each one of us listening to be people who receive words from God. I haven't often received those, and in particular, not often had people come up to me with something that they have felt is from God. So, it has been immensly encouraging to see that happen on three occasions particularly stand out occastions this year. They have been entirely random (in an amazing, non-random God way), unique, and awesomely encouraging, and so often have been a life line to me. There have been others too, and other situations, pictures, words, encouragements and they add to the collective picture God is painting.

And while I don't know how any of it will turn out, they have anchored me to Him so often, and no matter what has been going on or I haven't understood, have invited me back to Him each time in a way only He can do.

So, I am looking forward to continuing forward, to seeing specific words fulfilled, and to be able to look back and see others in their fullness. And challenged to in the words I say to people all over again- challenged to speak in and through God's love for God, and for them.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

A new look

I love the place where this pic is taken, the view, outlook, I am even ok that not all my memories of that place are good- in fact, there's one that really should never have happened, so it's a redeemed place, a place where I can go and get good God perspective, pictures and a new vision for what's going on.

I love standing on high places where the wind is blowing wildly, love that you can't help but feel something. In a world where we are so often protected, protective, polite (not that it's necessarily bad), but at a safe distance, it can be rare that we can be truly honest, safe, vulnerable, and able to stay truly connected with others in ways that wants the best for all involved, in a way that is honour giving and received. I love the feel of the wind blowing wildly- like surround sound, but fuller, because it's God who stirs up the wind in that way. I feel alive, real, connected.

And on this visit got thinking about the departure from that place. There were 3 different options- jump- nope, not really ideal, turn around and walk away, or fly. How awesome would that be, to rise on the wings of a bird and take off... Actually, psalm 139 comes to mind...

7Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.

And there we go, Emmanuel, God with us:)

Going away tomorrow, well today, and I am looking forward to time with God and friends, a new vision for 2013 and all God has placed in my hands, and 'on my watch'. It's not been easy to get here, and things I tried so hard to avoid happened anyway, so trusting it all, all back to God, because He knows, knew, is knowing now:) bring on fresh visions, and His courage and strength in it all to go the full distance:)


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Love is...




In the interests of brevity, I have included most of 1 Corinthians 13, though only the bits that have stood out to me tonight (as opposed to other times I have read it!)

1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal….

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ….

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I was thinking of these this evening through a conversation. I generally avoid these particular conversations as much as possible, as I don’t have the words to meet the tirade of anger…against God, the church, Christians.. you name it. And when the other person who is a studied intellect who just ‘knows’, there’s no way out and no ‘come back’ using words that I can find. Definitely not by matching it.

I wonder how love never fails when it’s not met, received and reciprocated, but when it is truly love that is patient, kind, rejoices in truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres….  But in that lies the mystery and the wonder of it all.  And as with people like tonight, love, in all its facets, in whatever form, won’t fail, and will remain after all else has indeed gone.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Think, speak, do.

Confucious has  a saying that I was kinda thinking of recently. His goes: I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand...

 Have been thinking of a variation of that which goes along the lines of thinking, speaking out, doing.... I've noticed recently the power of speaking out something, whether in passing, or intentionally, and the knock on effect of that. For one instance, I've realised I have been making comments... and then realising that if it was time to do something about them, so got on and done it (ahh, I should make a list!:)). They could easily be ignored, or left alone, but having dealt with them, I have felt so much better for it, and grateful for the indirect challenge and sudden responsibility to not let things go.

And for another, it has been a challenge/blessing when others have seen things happening, or different, and been gently feeding into what God is doing and keeping the challenge and the words that have been spoken out, alive and gently burning.

Isn't it funny how easy it is to stay in our own comfort zone where it's known, easy and friendly, rather than to step out into something where we don't know how it will turn out or what might happen. But, chances are we're going to be pleasently surprised!!:)

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Tapestry



Tapestry's are an amazing thing. Standing back from one you see one picture, landscape, theme. Up close, there's a myriad of colours all woven together. You see where colours come together in different ways, and blend to make a new colour entirely, and where they separate into a new space.
Life is often likened to being like a tapastry, of seeing the way different elements give shape and texture, but to me, life is in the people, not the things, or events. It's in the relationships.

And within that lies a stupid amount of fear. Of being the foolish one, of placing too high a value on the place and importance of others in my life, and being let down. Of being taken for granted and for only what I can give. But then it's bringing things into the light that shows them for what they really are. Takes trust in God that goes beyond what I often feel like I have, and yet, He knows and is always trustworthy.

In thinking about tapestries this last week, I had initially been struck by some black holes, gaps of sorts. Some I have known about, while others were a revelation. Some are ones I have seen growing and want to deal with now, while some are ones that are growing because I'm afraid. Falling back into old habits of thinking is insulting, to me and to those around me, so look forward to living in what there is here, now and trusting God with all the rest, because while I have no idea what the finished tapestry looks like, He does.

And sitting in a cafe in the city, looking around and seeing some Christmas decorations- post it notes with Christmas wishes on them, among them Verses from Gods word and 'God loves you'!:)

He's far bigger than we think He is, but not too big that a single person is overlooked:)

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

The five love languages

I have a good friend who has been reading the 5 Love Languages recently. She hadn't really heard of them until, and was reading the book, before passing on the relevant bits to her boyfriend (who wasn't likely to read the whole book!). Anyway, in the course of a few weeks, we had some great chats about it, past experiences and what did and didn't work. Doing the questionairre with her, I started thinking about where I was at with it all. The last time I did it, I was in a very different place, different life, situation, and surrounded by very different (immediate) people.

As I thought about that, I realised that while one of the love love languages was far and away the one that most resonated with me, my views on all the others had changed. Some of that being because I have changed, and others are because circumstances and the availability of one or more of the love languages has changed.

You can do the test online, so I had another go to see how it had all changed, and changed it had. Not hugely, because quality time is still far and away the winner, but the rest were more balanced out, which reflected where I think I am at with them all.

They're all important, and all show love, in the giving and receiving. But the other four don't really mean much to me without the quality time already established, and yet when the quality time is established and maintained, the others mean a great deal. And even that looks different depending on the people I spend time with, and how often I have the opportunity to spend the time with them. But to me the best love language is knowing others well and deeply, and equally being known.

Sunday, December 02, 2012

Honour and Respect

I have come across a couple of comments today about Honour and Respect over the last day or so which have really stood out to me.

Honour is a step above respect... you can respect someone without honouring them, but you can't honour someone you don't respect? Brian Houston

And in a note that Bobbie Houson published this evening...

Honour is never silent
Respect can be silent/passive
Honour is felt
Honor goes the second mile

I have seen honour lived out a bit. In occasional marriages of people I know, or know of, and amongst christian leaders on Social media and via talks I have heard. It's pretty amazing to see, to see one person talk consistently and intentionally about another, of putting them forward and encouraging each other in pursuing the gifts and talents God has given them within the place they have been given to live in, whether it's in leadership, or wherever.

I love seeing both lived out, because they can seem so rare, but are such an awesomely beautiful thing to behold, and hope that I can live both out more and more, no matter where I am, who I am with and what values others might hold. I think of times when I don't respect or honour another, and it would be when I feel unsafe, or have been hurt, or am afraid of something, being judged, not heard or not valued in some way, and that phrase once again comes to mind- 'keep your love on'. Of holding on to the positive perspective in a situation, of choosing to love the person even though it's hurting to do so. Because it will all be ok in the end, even though it doesn't feel like it in the moment, and ultimately we don't know what the big picture is.

Bring on more love, respect and honour, of new ways of encouraging and equipping others to live in the fullness of all they have been made to be, of living hearing God's perspective of who they are and how they are loved!:) There's room for all!!

Impossibles becomming miracles


I have been thinking ALOT about a theme incredibly similar to the following image (by the lovely Ann Voskamp, agan!:)- if you haven't popped over to her blog, it's so well worth it- if you're interested in God, Grace, Thanksgiving, children, faith, farming, homeschooling, the list goes on!)

Anyway, what I have been thinking about has been more along the lines of 'Into the middle of the impossible- comes the Messiah who makes miracles possible' Any impossible situation no matter how big, small, rediculous, impossible.

I love the reminder. That no matter how far reality is from what we would like it to be, we have a God who is bigger, loves more, has a better plan that goes far beyond our wildest dreams or imagination.

Having seen a few awesome answers to prayer, and recalibrations within myself, I am loving seeing yet again God's creativity and a glimpse of his perspective of me, and those around me. I know I am impatient to see the impossibles turn into lots of miracles!!