Waiting for....

There are times when it feels like I am still waiting for life to start, which is a slightly terrifying thing at my age(!).... but there are things I feel like I am waiting for, things to fall into place, so that everything else will fall in line, events to happen, things to add up... Some things are seen, and some things aren't but there is still that sense of waiting for things to happen

We have been doing a sermon series on James at church over the last few months, and it's just great! I have always loved the book of James, as there is so much in there, and so many practical things for each of us, no matter where we are in life. But my eye was caught by the word patience a few weeks ago, so have been mulling over James 5: 7-9 for some time now, just thinking through how it might apply in different situations.

Be patient, then, brothers until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near.

I am reminded too, of the seasons, in nature, where every season has a purpose, including winter, where, in general nothing grows. But that doesn't mean that it's dead, or inactive. Even that time has purpose to it, much like a farmer leaving a field to lie fallow for a time, to rest, and restore nutrients to it, so it can bear even more fruit, and grow much better, because of the time of rest.

There are some things too, that I am waiting for, and the funny thing is, that if I try to make them happen, they won't actually be what I am waiting for, so therefore I am stuck! I would dearly love them to happen, but if I have any active hand in them, it will transform them into something I don't want to be..... so once again, I am glad I can leave them safely in the Master Gardener's hands, knowing they are safe and well there, and if it happens, it will happen at just the right time and in his way (not just because I would like it to happen!).

So, I am encouraged that God's timing is perfect, that he knows the big HUGE picture of what is going on. He has everything timed to absolute perfection:)

Hmm.. God's timing.. that's a whole other post right there!

Thanks friends:)

This week has been one, of realising again what amazing friends I have! There have been so many moments where I have just stopped in wonder at how awesome the people I know are, whether here, or far away, in whatever time zone. There are those here, who I am so blessed to live and work with (and oh, what a treat when I can even hang out with them!), those far away who I miss terribly from time to time, and those who are far away, who I am closely in contact with, whether it's through email, skype, facebook, or blogging.

Coming to the end of the week, having a wonderful evening with some great friends, looking back over the week and all that has happened, it's lovely to be able to Thank you Lord, for my most amazing friends, from the very bottom of my heart:)

The art of the put-down...

What is it with people where we only seem to see what HASN'T been done, rather the the copious amounts of things that, in any given situation, HAVE been done!!!

I was reminded of that once again in so many different contexts this week, and is something I have been thinking through in a number of different situations, some that I have been involved with, and some I have heard about. Why is it so easy for us to criticize others and pull them down? Why are we so quick to judge, and condemn, to give 'the answer' when we have no idea of the situation really.

We had a great sermon last week on it too! James 4:11-12 says.. Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you- who are you to judge your neighbour?

One of the most striking things the minister said about this was that he went through a list of things the church would rightly fire him for, in terms of misconduct unbecoming to the clergy(or anyone for that matter!). He then came to slander, and stopped. According to this, yes, we are all guilty of sinning each time we judge and condemn another..... and yes we do it so often, and so often without thinking about it, or the rightness or wrongness of it. It has certainly made me stop and think each time I have thought about saying something less than kind about another person, but has made me realize how often I do it, and how much a part of our society it is, and how acceptable it is to slander another person(in words, or action), either someone we know, or someone in leadership, or someone famous.

Too often we don't know the whole story, we don't know the person's motivation, and we don't know the answer! It is such an easy thing to do, and so easy to slip into.. but how wonderful to live in a slander-free society!!

On reading Job

I have been reading through the book of Job over the last few weeks. It's a book I have slightly dreaded reading, as I tend to find it slightly tricky to tell the truth of what Job is saying and holding onto, to the 'mostly' truth of what his friends are saying all the way through, especially in amongst their fine words and eloquent speaking.



It was great to get through it though, annd get to Job 28, where Job so beautifully describes how hard it is to find wisdom, true wisdom. It isn't just lying around there waiting to be picked up. It's down deep, and you have to search hard, and go far to reach it. I was so encouraged too, in that concept that the fear of the Lord.. that's true wisdom. That's good wisdom, and challenging when there are potentially so many things, people and events one could forseeably fear over God, who isn't always such a physical presence in front of us.

Check out: 23-28 God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'

Later on God comes in, and really puts them all, and us, in our places! Awesome! Chapter 38 really sets them and us straight. And what's best... he's Our God! He loves us, has redeemed us, and and sends us, little tiny us, in his name! The whole thing is awesome!!

And to top it all off... we are working our way through James in the study series at chuch at the moment, and it's amazing how much it has tied in with what I have been reading in Job! In particular, James 3:17-18. By the wisdom hat comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissine, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

I think we can trust this God of ours:)

Who do you think you are???!!!!:)

I woke up this morning, realizing exactly what the question was that was going around in my head.. it was there, but I just couldn't place a finger on what it actually was...!

It was... "who do you think you are??" and the follow-on to that... "who do you think you are to be doing A, B, or C??" It made me realize why I am in the position I am in right now and a little of what I think might hold me back. Then looking around... I wonder how many of us are stopped from doing what God calls us to do, because we just don't think we can, or it seems like such a presumptuous thing for us specifically to be doing! We all know God calls us to big things, and new things, to teach us and draw us on in him, but sometimes life takes over, and sometimes other things, or other people get in the way, not to mention the needs. There is sooo much to be done!

Soooo...... who does each of us think we are? Where are we going, and what would God have us do? We are all given free will and a choice to obey, or not. We all have the opportunity to learn to hear what God would have for each of us in our lives, and sometimes it's easier to do it, and sometimes, it's easier to stick to what's safe and what we know and can do, rather than going on, allowing ourselves to be stretched and prodded into all kinds of amazing things.

So.... who do we think we are...? We are the beloved children of God. He speaks to each of us and calls us by name. He has a plan to lead, and grow us, in a unique and individual way that is just right for us, not the next person. He doesn't call us to do as much as we can, but to love him with all our heart, and give our lives to him to pour into, and out of, in whatever way he chooses to do so!! So amen to that!:) And that's just the beginning....:) Think of all those big huge things he can do with a whole body of us working together!

Serving or Pouring out...

I went to read My Utmost for His highest today, by Oswald Chambers, and was really struck by it, especially the comment, saying that it is easier to serve than to pour our your lives completely to him. But what does it look like for me to pour out my life completely, or any of us for that matter. And how easy it is to serve.

I think we can serve AS we pour our lives out completely for him, but think it must be a very fine line for each of us sometimes. We all want to serve God and obey him, because we know he has the best plan ever… So I look in wonder again, and ask again how I can live a life of unsullied, uncompromising, and unbribed devotions to Jesus….I try so hard not to be biased in either direction, but don’t think it’s as easy as I would like it to be….:)

Valid, or not valid

I was thinking some more about this phone call I had last week, and got to thinking about all those situations when love, or friendship is offered... but not returned... does it make one persons' feeling more valid than the other, if one person says it should be one way, and the other doesn't agree?

Or does it just mean that they have a difference of opinion, and they both just have to deal with the consequences.

TO care for an object is one thing.. it's never going to 'care' back, but when it comes to people, that's another story. It becomes a mutual arrangement, or not. And what of those poor old feelings in the middle, in whichever direction they are facing, what does one do with them!
Anyway, it's something I have been thinking about....:)

Noise and voices...

Tonight a guy from India called. He is the brother of someone who I met last year, and he has decided that he loves me, and I should go and live in India. He has been calling for some time now, to the point where he has offered to pay for me to go to India for a holiday! And he doesn't know me, so has nothing to base his opinion on!

It reminded me of all the voices we all have in our lives, of the noise that surrounds us in our busy lives, and how vital it is to steal away into the quietness to listen to the still small voice that matters the most.

After the phone call, I realize that when he had called, I had been alone, but really enjoying that time of quiet, rest and peace of listening to the still small voice I know and love so well, and of just how God wants to have us in that place of choosing to be in His presence, of wanting to listen to and obey him alone. And there are times when he goes to a lot of trouble to bring us into a place where he has the attention of both our ears, and our hearts! I was reminded of 1 Kings 19, and the trouble God went to, so that Elijah would listen to him, and him alone. Once again, what an amazing God we have!

Life long friends...

I have some life long (well, almost) friends I would like to introduce to you. Well, while they aren't life long, and they aren't really friends, they seem like it, and it very much felt like it when I stopped in front of their wonderfully familiar faces yesterday in a bookshop. You see, these friends are a group of people in a painting, who happened to appear on the cover of a new book. The painting is one by Renoir, called "Luncheon of the Boating Party"


There is so much I love about this painting, I love their obvious friendship, they are relaxed, comfortable, happy, content to be with each other in fellowship, over a good meal, chatting away in a beautiful setting, spending quality time together.

I have often wondered how much this painting has shaped who I am today. When I was about 12, my family went down to Canberra to see the latest impressionist, or Renoir exhibition, and mum had said that she would buy me a print of one of the paintings. I don't know how I came to choose this one, because back then, I was terrible at choosing anything, but this is the one I walked away with. Miracle of miracles, Mum and I later on went to the picture framers, and had it framed and since then it has lived on my wall, wherever I lived in Sydney, as I grew up.

Even now, I look at this group of people, and reminded of the fellowship that each of us is privileged to share, should we choose to accept it. It lies in stark contrast to the movie I saw yesterday, of the people Elizabeth met on her journey, and of their search for meaning, fellowship and wholeness. I guess we often shun true fellowship out of self preservation, or wanting to be independent, but it's nice to finally arrive in a place where you're 'home' with the people who know you best, and can kick off your shoes and....just be you:)

My Blueberry Nights

I went to see the movie, My Blueberry Nights, this afternoon with some friends, and am so glad I did! It has had alot of press here, as the writer, producer and director is a guy from Hong Kong, however it is filmed, starting in New York, and working it's way across to the west coast of the USA.

It is about Elizabeth's journey across the USA, and across a spectrum of relationships, or meetings with people along the way, and how their meetings impact each other, and causes change in each person. Throughout it all, she sends postcards to someone who she met just as she starts this journey, and in a sense, blogs it all and shares her discoveries of people, and of herself with that person. It reminded me a little of why I blog, and while I share, to get my thoughts out there, there are moments, when I know I do write with people in mind, or am thinking of a situation, or something like that, that I want to share.

It reminded me too, of some other random, random movies that I love, that do take a close up look at relationships, and how different people's interactions can cause different effects and change in each person. We are a fascinating bunch!

One comment that Elizabeth spoke of was that as she met different people, it was like looking into fragments of a mirror, and getting to know herself better through the interaction, however short or long it is. A beautiful picture! I need to see this one again:)

F.I.N.E.

One of my favorite conversations in a movie, well, one that keeps coming back to me, is one in "The Italian Job" Where two of the characters talk about being fine, and feeling fine. However.... in this case, being fine stood for Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional! It has always stuck, as it's a word we use to describe ourselves so often, yet, often we use it as an all covering fix-it for every situation. It might easily be true, but there are times when it is easier to stick to it, rather than admit the truth, or you just can't share how you are doing.

I was stuck by how prevalent it was again today, as I saw it talked about in a TV show I was watching tonight, and was reminded of another movie where two of the main characters were talking about how, not only were they fine, but they were absolutely fine.

So, in a day where I had an awesome time, I was also pulled in a nice big range of extremely different directions emotionally, I guess it's easier to choose "fine". I still wonder what God would have us do, and who he would have us be in that situation, but guess in the end, I will just have to get on and do the best I can and see how it all pans out.

Faithfulness

A bunch of us sang this song last night to see in the new year. While it’s an old, old song, it has words with such amazing truths in them, and what a wonderful way to see in the new year. As I came into 2007, there seemed to be so many new things about to happen, exciting new jobs and new directions, loads of wonderful possibilities! As the year unfolded though, it became clear, that while I thought I knew where God was taking me, he was actually taking me to a very different place!

Coming into this year, I am much more aware of my need, to pray, to keep praying, I don’t think I have ever prayed so much in all my life as I have in the last few months! To keep waiting for God, rather than jumping the gun and reaching my own conclusions, of submitting to him, and trusting that he knows best and stepping out in his footsteps, not mine, no matter where they lead.

I am so grateful for God’s faithfulness, in my life, and in the testimony of the lives of others. He doesn’t leave us or forsake us, he loves us amazingly, and takes us onward. I was also reminded of James 1again and the amazing reminders that God doesn’t change, and all the amazing reminders and challenges it gives each of us. There is much in there to think over, but last night, coming into the new year, it really blessed me!

So, blessings on each of you as you come into 2008. Wherever you are at, may you go deeper and stronger into all that God has for each of you in the coming year, knowing that our God is faithful!

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!