Negativity kills

I was sorting through some papers, well, Alyssia pulled some papers out of a file and I sorted through them and turned the page to find this quote. Not sure where it’s from, or which book but it’s in my handwriting and it’s from page 116…

Discipline yourself to generate bad ideas. The worse the better. Do it a lot and magically you’ll discover that some good ones slip through. There will be resistance so strong it will encourage you to drag down anyone around you with the tenacity to dream…

(it could possibly be a Seth Godin book?)

And this is the reason I hate negativity so very much, because it stops you from dreaming, from hoping, from thinking of the future. And, eventually it stops you from living in the present.

You do know (at least I hope you do) that this quote was possibly sarcasm. I don’t want you to start thinking up your best bad ideas, or to hinder dreamers. What I was surprised by was that I wrote this down (probably, when I was sunbathing at a gorgeous French Farmhouse a few summers ago) and that back then I was really struggling with negative thoughts and resistance which stopped me from dreaming! Phew. That phase is over, I keep dreaming up new ideas. Amazing ones. Not all I’m seeing through to the end, but I’m dreaming again (and at night too-which means baby sleeps better..!) and there are so very many possibilities. Which to pick first?

If you feel your dreams are being trampled on and you’re allowing yourself to come up with bad ideas, pause and allow yourself to meet the resistance and win! You can do it Like I said in the title: negativity kills. Not a quick sudden swoop, more the constant nagging, a dripping tap type situation; go on let positivity win!

Love, a xox

Destiny & Calling

I began writing this 2 months ago, I started…. So I’ll finish!

At Church on Sunday, my Dad was speaking… One of the verses he read was this. It’s been a while since I was in Church for the entire sermon (of course I was in church for the week I preached – podcasts here) without having to feed Alyssia in the Coffee Shop or convince Ben he wants to stay in the lovely creche

I don’t remember reading this, or seeing this so clearly:

2 PETER 1: Don’t Put It Off

^3-4 Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

^5-9 So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

^10-11 So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, his choice of you. Don’t put it off; do it now. Do this, and you’ll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The phrase that stands out to me the most is “don’t lose a minute in building what you’ve been given”. So often I find myself busy with things that don’t matter. Ideas that shouldn’t be given much thought, but instead I spend days wondering and eventually worrying about until, thankfully, I can let go!

You know what I mean, I was given a subscription to “homemaker” magazine, I love it. I try and create, plan to create, find time to create. But then I find I’ve missed out the important things to me. And lost time doing what’s most important.

This past week has really confirmed some lovely things in our lives, and in remembering what’s ahead of me I want my days to pass with reward!

I am blessed with the most lovely friends, ones who continued to encourage me through the days I didn’t want to write, the coffees and chats and meals out where they have reminded me to keep building my character in friendliness, wonder, patience and love!

Soooo much love. A xox

Grace

I was talking with one of my friends about what I might preach about in a few weeks time, the only thing I keep thinking, being reminded of is Grace. So whilst I was cleaning a few minutes ago I began thinking about Grace. Pondering. I was so distracted I didn’t realise I had cleaned all of the woodwork upstairs. I must have been in a dream land!

(short blog warning, baby just woken up…but as my goal is to write blogs of 1000 words in length, I’m never going to get around to completing all my blogs or publishing them so…)

I’ve found a verse, in Ephesians

Ephesians 2:8-10(Message Version)

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower 

grace

 and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. 

Psalm 10: God’s 

grace

 and order wins

Psalm 111:1-10
Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I’ve got— Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation. God’s works are so great, worth A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment! Splendor and beauty mark his craft; His generosity never gives out. His miracles are his memorial— This God of 

Grace

, this God of Love. He gave food to those who fear him, He remembered to keep his ancient promise. He proved to his people that he could do what he said: Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift! He manufactures truth and justice; All his products are guaranteed to last— Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof. All that he makes and does is honest and true: He paid the ransom for his people, He ordered his Covenant kept forever. He’s so personal and holy, worthy of our respect. The good life begins in the fear of God— Do that and you’ll know the blessing of God. His Hallelujah lasts forever!
gotta run, but going to keep pondering! xo

Light

Hello <3

I could tell you all the beautiful things we’ve been up to for the past six weeks. Of the half written blog posts. I even wrote one on house work (I know. Doesn’t sound like me does it?)

Instead I will just get right on where I left off. Writing about love, life, family, relationships and all that goes between…. Thanks for coming back to read, I love that you decided to click onto my blog. Thank you <3 and sorry to my friends who kept asking where the next blog was, somewhere between waking up at 4am and rocking a baby to sleep…..

On Saturday night I was at an Event where Martin Smith was leading worship. And, amazingly, Ryan was the “Support Act”! It was brilliant, beautiful and dream-come-true all in one evening! I was stood next to one of my most lovely friends and really enjoyed the music, and the presence
As Martin and his band sang one of the lines that spoke to me was:

Oh through the valleys
Through the dark of night
Here you come running
To hold me
Til it’s light

Although I wouldn’t say I’ve been in a “valley” time, I’ve been enjoying life, but as one of my sweet friends said, “but you’re not writing!” I know exactly what she meant, I’ve almost put that on hold until… Well. Thankfully it was yesterday! I’ve been dreaming up plans, thinking of ideas, doing all kinds of things, but not writing!

And whether it was in the literal dark night (awake with baby) or the grey season of life. God came running to hold me, to bring peace and joy until I saw light!

I was telling a story to my parents yesterday about people, about things people say, about my response and how I wanted to run away rather than reach out to them. That would just be easier wouldn’t it? When people say stuff that is either mean, unkind, or just not well thought out, I just want to run away.

But that’s not right. Well, I thought it was. Until my parents told me (yes, they really did…) that that is not how God would want me to treat them. Yikes. God doesn’t want to see me all upset (I thought about responding, but didn’t). They explained that God has given me life to give to others, God has placed life within each of us, and we are part of someone else’s journey. If I choose to walk away, I stop what God could be about to do through me in their life.

So. In that moment, I realised that running away wasn’t going to be the answer. You know, not literally. Because I don’t run But I realised walking away from the words that have been said would not bring them freedom. It sounds like I’m ‘powerful’ but we all are. If we have light within us, we can share it. Or we can keep it to ourselves. I would so much rather share it:

Matthew 5: 11-16 (The Message)

 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Salt and Light

¹³ “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

^14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

And that is exactly what I want to do, to be faithful with the ‘light’ God has placed within me, to be salty and shiny. So ‘I’m going public with this’ I’m committed to the journey God has placed me on, the people He brings into my life, the conversations that arise. For God who knows all things, who created all things knew that conversation before I did. Knew the words that were spoken to me before they were uttered, He also knew how I would respond and how in being afraid, shocked, surprised, God would then allow me to search my heart and in contemplating running would find myself in a place where God came running to me, to hold me and be light!

My prayer is that I walk in light in generosity, being open and allowing others to walk into the light. That God continue to unfold destiny and there will be joy in the journey! Amen

Love, A xox

Competition

Last week I entered two competitions. If you hadn’t already noticed I’m not the competitor type. I love life. I enjoy life. I pursue my dreams. But I don’t compete. I would let you win, well, except at Scrabble, or Uno, or Rummikub. In an argument I can withhold my winning line, and imagine me winning… I will settle for second if it means someone else who wants it more gets it. But I’m not a walk over You knew that though!!

But then I saw two things I REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted. It was as though the inner ‘I can win this’ awoke. So I applied for a writing competition: It sounded ideal, and just up my street… Anyways I didn’t win. But as you can see, I made 10th place. Not great I know. But out of 200 it’s okay click the link to see my name in lights – well, in bold font Ah yes, my entry. I’ll tell you what, if you want to read Chapter 1 (for free) email me or comment below and I’ll see your email in my admin panel and send it to you….

Then there was a Cupcake Challenge with Hummingbird, and I entered a Cafe Brulee cupcake – my own creation. If I don’t win I’ll share my recipe. If I do, then it will be for sale at Hummingbird Bakery, London….. eeeeeek. We love the Kensington one. I’ve been a couple of times and Ryan brought me home the Red Velvet cupcakes when he last visited (loved!).  If you want to buy a selection of my cakes have a look at my Baker Street page:

So I found my inner competitor. I’m not sure I like her. She’s feisty, she got all anxious when waiting for the results. But I figured out what I like doing: baking and writing. So much so I have some exciting things lined up I promise to share here, just give me a week!

Here’s a poem/verse I’ve been pondering on from The Message, Psalm 36:5 -

God’s love is meteoric,
    his loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
    his verdicts oceanic.
Yet in his largeness
    nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
    slips through the cracks.

^7-9 How exquisite your love, O God!
    How eager we are to run under your wings,
To eat our fill at the banquet you spread
    as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water.
You’re a fountain of cascading light,
    and you open our eyes to light.

^10-12 Keep on loving your friends;
    do your work in welcoming hearts.

Feel the LOVE <3, Back to the duplo with my adorable three. Well, two as the baby is sleeping (she’s crawling now aswell!!!) Love A xox

February: Hello

January has been and gone, already. How fast did those 31 days fly by? Well, in our house: very! I think that the baby calpol and ibuprofen ranges are going to be recording an increase in profits this month So many bugs, so many upset nights, so many coughs and colds. And I’m pretty sure Beth and Ben brought a different bug home, which they gave to each other. Phew. Glad all that is over…. I hate it when my babies are sick.

So. February. What will we do this month. Its the perfect month to do ’28 day shred’ although I am a little late starting, but if I don’t start today, then I never will… I used to walk to work (yes, I did) it was over a mile – and I walked back I was a lot slimmer then. I asked Ryan to find me a mile route here in the village, but we concluded that without the pressure of having to get to work, or some other dangling carrot me just going for walks wouldn’t actually be exercise. So after having a rather home bound January, I’d quite enjoy walking or something to get me moving… I mean I do move, but it mainly involves running up the stairs, and back down, with or without baby!

This is my last month of maternity leave, and I want it to matter! I want to do some really lovely things, see some lovely people, and have a party. I had the party last night. My favourite girls came – and their guys. We sipped champagne. I read some of my book. And we ate canapes & mini sweet treats. I had fun with everyone – and enjoyed signing books for friends!

I have some craft ideas, and a love for pinterest… so I’m going to try some patchwork There’s going to be a new baby in my extended family (you didn’t think me did you? Remember: three is my perfect family!) and I’d quote like to make something special for my niece or nephew

I have been reading some prayers in the bible, let me share this one from Ephesians 3:16,

 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (NLT)

Amen!

That is my prayer for today, that I will know God’s love and show it to my children, my husband, family and friends.

Have a Fantastic February, love A xox

 

Devoted -book release

Hi friends
Well today is a very, very momentous day: my book arrived. Yes, you know how long this journey has taken and now, finally(!) I am published.

Thank you for sharing the journey so far, to buy your copy send an email and location and I can send you a PayPal invoice and p&p charges. Email: bakerbarnes@mail.com
We are working on the ePub version for kindle and iPad apps, it won’t be much longer although friends wanting to get the kindle version have emailed to say they need the pretty book instead!!

My heart is that as you read this you will know more of God, you will know peace and that you will step further into your destiny.

With so much love and thanks for sharing this with me.

Love a xox

And the back cover too:

Right place // Right time

 

Have you heard that phrase recently: ‘I was in the right place at the right time’ More and more often I am hearing this, when I talk to friends, or when I overhear conversations, or when friends retell their friends’ experiences.

So. Have you been in the right place at the right time? I have, many times. For the right job. For the right home! And many more besides. And what about meeting new friends, right place – right time isn’t it? Or could it be more?

Of course, I believe it’s more than that. I was reading the story of Rebecca and her son Isaac in Romans 9:10-12 (MSG)

To Rebecca, also, a promise was made that took priority over genetics. When she became pregnant by our one-of-a-kind ancestor, Isaac, and her babies were still innocent in the womb—incapable of good or bad—she received a special assurance from God. What God did in this case made it perfectly plain that his purpose is not a hit-or-miss thing dependent on what we do or don’t do, but a sure thing determined by his decision, flowing steadily from his initiative.

Do you see the promise, and the destiny for our lives? There we are: incapable of good or bad and God makes the most wonderful plan for our lives, determined by His decision & from His initiative we enter the world. I see this for our children as I know they are born for a purpose with a HUGE destiny, and then if you think back… This means that for their destiny and our future grand-children’s destiny to be outworked so much in the past was to happen. Ryan and I were to meet and marry. Our parents were to meet and marry, our grand and great-grandparents and it goes on and on and on

And there we are: plain and clear: God’s purpose is nor a hit or miss thing. So often we try to work towards the bigger picture, afraid that we might somehow miss it, or mess up on the journey. However we’re learning that each and every single day counts towards the ‘bigger picture’: everything matters. So every day then we must be in the ‘right place at the right time’?

I had some funny interactions with people today. A lovely 83 year old granny (with a 12 year old white westie dog) told me how old she was and there she was carrying her shopping as she walked around Merry Hill. I was so proud of her: I think she wanted to talk to Alyssia, but she saw I had time and told me her story, I didn’t want to look rude and rush off, but after a few minutes she said: right, better go then…

 

Sometimes it hard(er) to see the big destiny that is unfolding before us, but as I look back, I know for sure that I was in the ‘right place at the right time’ as I made choices to step into the destiny planned before time, for me. Thank you God for incredible destiny you have for us, the way that you bring lives together and then bring children into those destines. Thank you God for your incredible plans, purposes and adventures – and that each small choice is part of the big destiny, whether we see it, or not. Thank you God that you see those choices and give us wisdom in each one. Amen

Love A xox

ps £100 challenge is going amazingly….. although I have spent nearly all of it (!) I have to say I was so careful at the shops today. I could easily have spent £30 on baby clothes/girls accessories/things for Ben. So well done me And if you’re doing it too just don’t add lentils to everything hoping that the food goes further. It does because less people want to eat lentils, not because lentils are money saving in themselves. The country soup barley mix however did fill out a few meals, but need to boil for longer as the dried beans didn’t swell, so would be more costly in gas/electricity as they need longer to cook. who knew?! xox

2013: hello!

2013: hello!

What a lovely Christmas break we had. Before Christmas, we (our family of FIVE!) went to Cornwall for a week, we had booked a gorgeous barn and it was fab. So so relaxing, fields, peace and quiet! Then the hot water didn’t work for bath time, and the owners upgraded us to the farm house- we were treated to an Aga, a log burner, a jacuzzi in the courtyard and too many bedrooms for all of us! It really was a wonderful week off – we enjoyed walking the beaches, coffee shops, tea rooms, a little walk a through the farm and lots of chats!

What a lovely start to our Christmas holidays! We had so many family days, relaxing days and a big family party with a lot of my aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins and my lovely Nanny!

On new years’ eve, Ryan and I had a meal together (yes, it was at home, but it was a proper 3 course meal with everything we love from restaurants: soup, steak and creme brûlée!) we remembered our highlights from 2012- the best thing from each month. I look forward to making more memories this year! 2013: I haven’t got any big plans, definitely no new babies for us! I am hopeful that this will be a wonderful year ahead, hard to think bigger when life is so full of lovely family, friends, things and hope already! Although I do want to be more regular with my blog, after all Alyssia is 6 months old and is falling very nicely into a routine that fits around us all! Ben is starting a new nursery-he just turned 3, and maybe this will be the start of term for Bethany who will enjoy going to school, and hopefully no tears… (after a long time of her not wanting to go because she misses me…)

Ohhhh yes: the £100 challenge is upon us again. This year we want to save up for some exciting things and have realised we can probably reduce our weekly spend to £100. It may not be the most exciting, I already tried lentil lasagne (way too many lentils!) but it worked the past 2 times we did it and we were able to do some amazing things with the savings! So I’ll try and be a bit more thrifty with the food shopping and buy a lot less “cute, gotta have it” things for the bbs-this part will be hard! I’ll let you know how it goes!

I do hope you have a wonderful year ahead full of promise, and hopes that are fulfilled <3

Thanks for following my blog! Love a xox

Friends <3

As if having children weren’t enough delight, the mums I get to meet because of the things Beth and Ben do mean I have such lovely, lovely friends. I’d have never met them without our littlies: creatives, hr advisors, magazine designers, makeup artists, accountants: all mums. It’s as though I’m part of a club, and the entry requirement was a baby- so with 3 I get to stay in the baby years just a little longer.

Last year, and I’ve said this before, was a countdown kind of year, we counted down to my big birthday and then to the birth of my baby Alyssia. I think since then I’ve been finding our new pace of life. Having our three beautiful children dressed/fed/happy/playing/being kind/loving them/and back to feeding can sometimes feel like a demand. I keep reminding myself that however selfless I have to become, it is nothing at all in comparison with the selfless gift of life that Father God gave when he sent His Son. And God who is everything has enough grace for me to complete what I have started! There is enough grace for each situation we face, to be content in all that we do and to do it well!

Isaiah 40 in the message explains it so well:

27-31 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.

Tired out to me, in this season, is waking every few hours to feed my little baby. But tired out in a previous season was lesson planning, project planning, writing reports, completing assignments. I don’t get brain tired right now, just physically tired so the promise for me is that God will energise me. I was reading ‘The Art of Mentoring’ by Darlene Zschech she poses the question: what would you do if you could do absolutely anything? And that is what I’m going to find the rest of this year finding out. I want to spend my time on things that matter and not just busy myself “doing good”!

We have planned a week away for writing and talking and relaxing over Christmas and I’m so looking forward to what we come up with, new songs for Ryan ?! Although I do feature as a co-writer on one of his songs… No, I really do. But I must be about 3-5% co-writer as I don’t even remember the song, and really, it wasn’t my effort, I was reading and talking as Ryan played guitar and he used one word out of what I said I do however remember where we were: in a tiny chapel in south Africa. It was 5 years ago and it was a beautiful time away, sunny, hot and relaxing! Less of the hot this winter break, but more writing and creating for sure.

Have an energising day too xox