Wise Living: Proverbs 2

This morning as I read Proverbs 2, I was reading with Bethany. She saved me from cbeebies early in the morning. Wait. It was too early for cbeebies – it was just the songs on repeat which Beth isn’t fond of. So we drank coffee (me) and milk (her). And talked. As she was playing ‘take-aways’ with the Russian Dolls: she said “I better not climb on top of the tv to reach them, can you get them mum?”. Wait babe. YOU climb the tv?! I don’t like knowing this. She promised she didn’t do it yesterday (and I don’t think she would ever actually have done it, I mean i *hope* she wouldn’t!)

So I opened my Bible and started reading (NLT today) and she was interested in the number 3 on the page, so I read aloud from Proverbs 2, she too was interested I think reading it aloud in child language made it even easier for me to understand. She called us the ‘wise girls’. Oh I pray so

Proverbs 2 // The Benefits of Wisdom

¹ My child, listen to what I say, 
      and treasure my commands. 
² Tune your ears to wisdom, 
      and concentrate on understanding. 
³ Cry out for insight, 
      and ask for understanding. 

Here we are offered the opportunity to tune into wisdom. As if tuning a radio for frequency. We can chose to listen to wisdom, or chose to ignore it. By asking for insight and understanding: we will be granted it!

⁴ Search for them as you would for silver; 
      seek them like hidden treasures. 
⁵ Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, 
      and you will gain knowledge of God. 

Search for them like ‘hidden treasure’. My dad has lost something really precious to him, he borrowed a metal detector and although not yet found, he is still looking. You know when you are desperate to find something you search everywhere, even the places it may not be. Even the places you have already searched? Even the places it most definitely won’t be (and that’s where it is if I’m looking for something my children have lost!).  By searching we will learn fear of the Lord. Always a concept I don’t fully grasp. I fear the Lord. But fear and love are opposites. I am willing to learn.

⁶ For the LORD grants wisdom! 
      From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 
⁷ He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. 
      He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. 
⁸ He guards the paths of the just 
      and protects those who are faithful to him.

A treasure of common sense: wow. I need that – and more so whilst I am pregnant. How is it that simple things can be forgotten, misplaced, lost ….? A shield: a protection, for walking in integrity. A guarded path with protection. These are all promises for you and I as we seek wisdom.  All we have to do on our part is be honest, walk in integrity and be just. Yes, with God’s help it is possible.

¹² Wisdom will save you from evil people, 
      from those whose words are twisted. 
¹³ These men turn from the right way 
      to walk down dark paths. 
¹⁴ They take pleasure in doing wrong, 
      and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. 
¹⁵ Their actions are crooked, 
      and their ways are wrong.

¹⁶ Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman, 
      from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman. 
¹⁷ She has abandoned her husband 
      and ignores the covenant she made before God. 
¹⁸ Entering her house leads to death; 
      it is the road to the grave.^[b]
19 The man who visits her is doomed. 
      He will never reach the paths of life.

²⁰ Follow the steps of good men instead, 
      and stay on the paths of the righteous. 
²¹ For only the godly will live in the land, 
      and those with integrity will remain in it. 
²² But the wicked will be removed from the land, 
      and the treacherous will be uprooted.

As I read the rest of the chapter aloud, we chatted about different parts of it. The main thing that stood out to Beth was when I paraphrased v 18: don’t go to bad people’s houses….! You like that! Don’t go with the wrong crowd. Obv I changed some words but left the meaning the same – be careful who you hang out with. Which led to chats about her friends at school and her not-friends. We decided we wanted to be godly – to have God in our heart and walk with integrity – to be pure, to do the right thing in God’s eyes. Yes, we did a little bible study… I loved that I could share God’s wisdom with my daughter – not done it like this before.

When we finished Beth asked if there’s a Bethany in the bible. Ohh yes my girl… So we read John 12 and Luke 10 (I think) about Jesus at Bethany (House!) I’m sure I’ve told the beautiful story of Jesus being anointed at Bethany before. But she was mesmerised. Not only by the very very very expensive perfume – she barely gets a spray of my Channel Eau Tendre But if you keep reading, the guy Jesus brought back from the dead, Lazarus, was (from what I read there) killed by the bad guys because people were really interested in Jesus. We had a giggle. She said  ”sometimes people don’t understand God”. I know. Sometimes we don’t know why people would want to kill a guy who’s just been resurrected. We’d want to know what life-after-death is like. We would have hundreds of questions. But to want to murder him because he is bringing Jesus attention…. “Sometimes people don’t understand God” And that was my nugget of wisdom for today: reread verse 21. 

Love from A xox

Wise Living: Proverbs 1

I have always wanted to, started to, never finished a month of reading the book of Proverbs everyday. I have read it, dipped into it. But when I thought about February and what I can study this month I felt for sure it is wisdom. Real Wisdom. So turning to the ‘most wise man who ever lived’ aka Solomon I hope to become wiser, to understand more and to share this wisdom.

I usually read the NLT or NIV versions of the bible, but I am particularly inspired by the Message at the moment (sorry purist friends, I really am enjoying it.. try it, you too might like it! Someone told me that they found it a watered down version. Of course, I read it parallel with the Amplified version when I can’t fully understand.) Not sure why I have to justify myself there. But I did. And it’s ok to read the bible!

Proverbs 1 //Wise Sayings of Solomon // A Manual for Living

^1-6 These are the wise sayings of Solomon,
David’s son, Israel’s king—
Written down so we’ll know how to live well and right,
to understand what life means and where it’s going;
A manual for living,
for learning what’s right and just and fair;
To teach the inexperienced the ropes
and give our young people a grasp on reality.
There’s something here also for seasoned men and women,
still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate,
the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

I want to be taught the ‘ropes’ I want a grasp on reality more than I already do. And if there are areas of life I think I know, I want fresh wisdom into the ‘rhymes and reasons’ of all. Yes. This sounds like real wisdom to me.

Start with God

⁷ Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God;
only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

^8-19 Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you;
never forget what you learned at your mother’s knee.
Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair,
like rings on your fingers.
Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you,
don’t go along with them.
If they say—”Let’s go out and raise some hell.
Let’s beat up some old man, mug some old woman.
Let’s pick them clean
and get them ready for their funerals.
We’ll load up on top-quality loot.
We’ll haul it home by the truckload.
Join us for the time of your life!
With us, it’s share and share alike!”—
Oh, friend, don’t give them a second look;
don’t listen to them for a minute.
They’re racing to a very bad end,
hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on.
Nobody robs a bank
with everyone watching,
Yet that’s what these people are doing—
they’re doing themselves in.
When you grab all you can get, that’s what happens:
the more you get, the less you are.

By bowing down first to God, we can become wise – through surrender and humilty we can catch all that He has for us. Wear counsel like a flower – something to be treasured, something on show, that adorns you.

Don’t go along with the bad crowd – how easy to say and believe it, to even teach it. But to live it. To really stay clear of bad companions (!) The gossips, the liars, not just the ones whoa re going to loot ‘old men’ yah it really ays that in Proverbs. ‘Don’t give them a second look’. A first look therefore is for discernment. The second means you are tempted to join. Quick wisdom. For you. For me.

‘The more you get, the less you are” This phrase stands out to me. In the Amplified it states: “¹⁹So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; such [greed for plunder] takes away the lives of its possessors.”   Therefore, by deceitful living you slowly end your life.

Lady Wisdom

^20-21 Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts.
At the town center she makes her speech.
In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand.
At the busiest corner she calls out:

^22-24 ”Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance?
Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism?
Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?
About face! I can revise your life.
Look, I’m ready to pour out my spirit on you;
I’m ready to tell you all I know.
As it is, I’ve called, but you’ve turned a deaf ear;
I’ve reached out to you, but you’ve ignored me.

^25-28 ”Since you laugh at my counsel
and make a joke of my advice,
How can I take you seriously?
I’ll turn the tables and joke about your troubles!
What if the roof falls in,
and your whole life goes to pieces?
What if catastrophe strikes and there’s nothing
to show for your life but rubble and ashes?
You’ll need me then. You’ll call for me, but don’t expect
an answer.
No matter how hard you look, you won’t find me.

^29-33 ”Because you hated Knowledge
and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-God,
Because you wouldn’t take my advice
and brushed aside all my offers to train you,
Well, you’ve made your bed—now lie in it;
you wanted your own way—now, how do you like it?
Don’t you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots?
Carelessness kills; complacency is murder.
First pay attention to me, and then relax.
Now you can take it easy—you’re in good hands.”

Wisdom here is personified, imagine her in the streets shouting. Making the cars come to a standstill. “I can revise your life” This is something I want to have ears to hear. I want the spirit of wisdom to be poured out upon me – to know all wisdom has to offer, look she is ready to tell all. But some will ignore and pretend they don’t hear. I don’t want to come into this category. I want to hear wisdom and all she has to shout or whisper into my life.

And then the ultimatum: pay attention and then relax.

To pay attention to wisdom is to then be granted the hope to relax:    ”Now you can take it easy—you’re in good hands.”

 As I go through my day I will be thinking on wisdom, about wisdom personified, and how now I can take it easy as I relax in wisdom. Sounds like a paradox. One that I can understand

Awoken with a song

I woke up this morning (finally, when I was ready – not at 12, 1, nor 2 when Ben was He wanted to talk to us about who was asleep – Beth? Abbit? Balloon? Oh. My. Ben, yes, the balloon is asleep!!)

And as I really woke up I found myself singing in my head these words:

That were an offering far too small;

It is from, after some googling, the song “When I survey the wonderous Cross” By Isaac Watts in 1707. It is talking more so about repaying God for the wonder that He has done.  Wikipedia suggest that it is linked to the parable of the talents (I don’t see it.)

However, I do see a link between that phrase and the verse Galations 6:14 (NLT)

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.

So I am to boast, take note, talk about God. The world is not interested in me: Just what is within me? Further insight into this verse, and perhaps the hymn is here in Message translation of the same verse:

^14-16For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world,set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate.

This is what it means then: My offering, my gift to Him for the freedom I have in Christ is too small. If i think about all that Jesus has done, will do, is doing – not having to fit into a specific mould suggested by others. Not having to be someone else.

Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

So I will keep on pondering what this means, as you can tell this is an unfinished blog, but didn’t want to lose my thought track with the business of routine about to begin any minute.

Lunch packed? CLothes ready? Tie found? Shoes clean? Book bag ready? In it all I will remain thankful for the freedom and seek to show my family and friends they too are: free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. (aka conformity!)

Love, Anna xox

 

Here is the rest of the hymn, you could read it as a poem-

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God,
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down,
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the world,
And all the world is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all

I have all that I need

I have been thinking about what I want to do with my afternoons now Bethany is in school and Benjamin is asleep. It has taken 6 afternoons for me to have one to myself- and do my own thing. Unless you count the one where I fixed all my broken bracelets that my bbs broke over the past year or so But today I could actually sit down and watch tv. So I did. I made a coffee and sat down in front of the tv. Understand: I don’t do this. I don’t watch daytime tv. Well, unless you mean cbeebies. (I think I referred to the opening songs to the programmes between 9-10 and 3-4 as the soundtrack to my life!!) Ok, my favourite programme is Baby Jake. He is one of ten children and they live in a windmill. A windmill. WOW!

Aside. I scoured through ALL of the freeview channels. And tried itv’s whatever the show is called with Phil & Fern, there were psychics on. Switch over. Well,  I did pray for them. There is someone I met who used to be a psychic(one who used to do the readings over the phone). She came to our church about 4 years ago and saw that the power of God was more powerful, more pure, and affected her so much deeply than she had ever experienced and right there and then gave her heart to God, got saved! There was some other shows. But I gave up on tv. And knew it was time to file Ryan’s tax return – did I say I had an afternoon to do what I wanted. Ah I am a geek. I love spreadsheets!!!

I will write. That’s what I decided. So here I am. Looking for inspiration and I am reminded that I have all that I need. I am content. Not having to search for it, put it on, or make something up. I really am content with this season in my life

And for that. I am so thankful. I was out with my sister yesterday, we went to a beautiful historic town with a river.  We mooched in the shops, and we had a coffee/cup of tea. And Ben had his first Babychino We talked and talked and talked. It was lovely driving the country lanes thinking  about what God has in store for us, where are lives are at right now and how we are thankful for where we are, and where our parents have brought us to!

Last week a friend gave Bethany a cd with this Psalm on it. Patricia King reads the psalm and prays for you and then gets you to recite it. It has been wonderful to hear and have had on the l-o-n-g car journey back from London on Sunday morning. Read it, and see why:

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³ He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
⁶ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

Ponder on this scripture today. I pray that you will be able to remind yourself that you have all that you need – in Him. That you will find rest, strength and guidance; To be protected and comforted. And to know the goodness and unfailing love pursuing you all of the days of your life. Amen xox

One of those days?

Yesterday. Sigh. I had one lovely friend take me out in the morning. Thanks babe! And my sister came to ‘save me’ in the afternoon. But honestly, if it weren’t for that it was a pretty crazy day. 3 wake ups between 12-3 (am) with Beth. A very, very, very upset girly ALL the way to school, and for the first while at school. A sad Mummy A broken car window remaining open with the added bonus of the alarm beeping every 15 minutes. you know how it goes. One thing gets you down and then all of a sudden I was in my ‘oh my look how horrible things are today’. And they weren’t really. The window is free to fix as we bought a 2 year warranty on our car (PHEW). Beth only was upset because I didn’t paint her nails, not sure if she’s allowed painted nails to school but the teacher said we can have them painted especially!

Look what happened to me: I had focused all my energy on the negative. Totally want to delete that first paragraph now. The beautiful friendships today, the encouraging words. The amazing new community projects our Church is starting. The lovely photos I took. Yep. I actually had a great day. I am blessed. Come on head stop forgetting the beauty and the wonderful moments! Come on heart, keep reminding me of the wonder!

I was reading the bible the other day (I read it most days… but this was before the weekend) And was astounded by the phases of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5: 3 onwards (NTL) This is my prayer today:

 ³ “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
⁴ God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵ God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
⁶ God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
⁷ God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
⁹ God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

In March, I wrote a blog on being Blessed. I used the Message version of the Bible. I had forgotten this blog – oops! But re-reading my prayer is what I pray for you today.

With Love and hope for your day. Anna xox

Matthew 5: My thought for the day… (taken from http://annabakerbarnes.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/blessed/ ) 31st March 2011

³“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

- However I feel, if I’m happy/tired/exhausted or content, in every situation with less of me there is more of Him…..

⁴“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

-WOW.

⁵“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

-I was thinking about the spectrum of happy—content. How they are such similiar words, mean different things, evoke such strong reactions. I think I am a happy person, some friends who I knew from years ago saw me recently, yeah they’re a pretty sweet couple – he writes songs for… Justin Bieber... and they said they ‘liked my energy’ I guess that’s what happy means. Content, however is what it says in verse 5: blessed with just who I am. No more. No less. No more money, no less pounds (lb). No more. No Less. Of anything will change anything. Nothing at all. The moment I find myself: I feel as I write, create, dream, believe that I am finding myself. The journals full of writing. The back pages full of lists of things I want to do. None of which cost money. None of which I’ve completed – all of which I should. Most. Definitely do. As I approach my thirtieth birthday (9 months away!) I want to be getting things ticked off my to do in life list. I will be content!

⁶“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

-Amen

⁷“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

-Totally amazing principle. I care, keep on caring, the care ‘tank’ fills up and when I need care there’s care for me – by someone else blessing through care. LOVE IT. I want to develop this caring gift.

⁸“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

-Want to realign everything, I want my inside world – emotions, thoughts, feelings – to be right!

⁹“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

-Wisdom…!

¹⁰“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

-Ok so I would have left this one off. But being committed means persecution is likely? Dislike the phrase persecution, but I shouldn’t if it’s in the Bible. I want to be driven deeper into the Kingdom, but driven without a fight. Nope. That doesn’t work. I will be a blessing, I will stand up for Godly principles, I will raise my children in a Godly way! Persecution, therefore, does not have to be public humiliation, it can be a comment, a criticism, or even a question. That is how it works, a gentle but continuous pulling down of character …

What I’m reading/baking/doing/thinking

I’ve woken up before everyone else this Sunday morning, it’s been a relaxing Friday and Saturday so far. I realised I hadn’t done any ‘brain’ work so that must be the reason to wake up early. Yes the pot of coffee is in front of me. And no, it’s not lazy sunday – I opened the wrong one, it’s Lavazza and actually tastes quite nice (with a chocolate brownie…. I know… It’s Nigella’s recipe, you want it? wait a minute, here’s the link. They are scrummy. She said to add two chocolate bars. I don’t have chocolate in the house anymore unless it’s a gift, this way it’s still a treat Anyways. I did have a ‘polar bar’ for the children’s snacks – it’s a take off of the penguin bar (really) and we squashed that up really small and added two of those and it tastes great as a substitute.  Oh and bc we always add/edit recipes instead of 1 cup plain flour I added 1/4 cup polenta. The grittiness of the polenta/mealie meal (remember I’m married to a Zimbabwean ) makes it really special.

A few weeks ago I cut out all of the pieces to make bunting. Beautiful pink triangles with hot pink bias binding, it was for one of Beth’s best friends’ birthday. Anyways. I never got round to making it so I bought some cute as can be but turned out to be ever so small bunting……. I got the sewing machine out the other day to complete the project. Well. What do you know. My trusty Singer 522 had a small problem. Every other time my machine has broken it’s stopped working. Fixed by adjusting tension, rethreading etc… This time was different.  It just wouldn’t stop. I turned the lamp on and off it went whizzing invisible thread. I turned it off, used it’s super power to wind the bobbin, and it was too speedy that it broke the thread. I thought ok it’s obviously the pedal (which during this entire time I hadn’t put my foot on….!) so I pressed the pedal. Then I smelt a nasty, burnt out smell. The pedal was smoking. I threw it outside into the rain. I imagined a fire on the kitchen table, burning my kitchen floor and waking Ben from his sleep. Oh dear. Yes, I think throwing it outside was the best thing to do. Sigh. No bunting. But you’re smiling, right? So now, where can you hire a sewing machine from? That’s right. I totally had a dream that I could hire a machine, and then if the tension goes all crazy, or the pedal just has a mind of it’s own you return it… In the midst of my calls to a Singer repair shop I have found out that my Old Fashioned Singer Machine (the ornament) is from the 1950′s. In what? 40 or so more years it will be a proper antique!

I’m reading two books at the moment (properly) I have a third, but I haven’t got very far so will write about that one another time. I’m reading Anna Smith’s: ‘Meet Mrs. Smith’ again. I love her heart for her family, her love for justice and the way she and her husband have compassion and act upon it to change situations. She writes about the reality of family life – ie leaving the house with toddlers in such a compelling way that I’ve been laughing at it even though it’s a daily reality!

My second book is more a devotional book: ‘Barefoot in the Kitchen’ by Alie Stibbe. A friend bought this book for me when Bethany was little and reading it now Ben is ‘little’ (oh he is, even though he has such l-o-o-o-n-g legs). The chapter on a simple life reminds me of another book I dip into entitled something like ‘how to live a simple life’ which crudely summed up refer to a life emptied of clutter. Cupboards, wardrobes and junk are all in order – so to reflect your inner self.  Must have affected me as yesterday I cleaned out the bureau, the under-stairs cupboard and under Beth’s bed. Well, all of this is good to have your house in order, so to speak. And to have your heart in order. But I’m not yet feeling the connection. I am sure I will when I can’t find {anything I’ve lost} and it is neatly put away saving me time? Energy? Anxiety? We shall see. I did however find a cute red coat that I had forgotten about, and a baby sling – which I was certain I’d given away

Alie’s book is a series of short devotionals and I am now reading a chapter on ‘Lord of the Pots and Pans’. She writes about St Benedict and how he urged the cellerar to ” provide the brethren with their regular allowance of food, without fuss or keeping them waiting, so as not to make for them an occasion to sin”

The Alie writes:

If the kitchen had become my holy ground, the the cooker and sink that I worked at and the table where we ate were my alter. Similarly, the pots, pans, cutlery and crockery were the holy vessels – and I should treat them as such.

I have been reading and re-reading this, trying to make better sense of it! Well, I get it. My life as a Mum isn’t just about raising happy, contented, enthusiastic, educated, delightful children  - which I really enjoy doing. It’s about every area of my life for the glory of God. The washing up? The cleaning? Joel Osteen talks about the same kind of thing as he urges you to wash your car, keep your house clean, be the best you can as God has given it to you to steward/look after! I want to do the best with all  I have been given. The ‘talents’ that God has entrusted to me. I want to be like the one in the parable of the talents who invests wisely, and does a ‘good’ job to make their Master proud and to have a good return for their work! I want to be rather like the one who doubled what God gave and then was given more. Not just doubled it like one of them in the story. Nor do I want to hide what I have in the ground and make up an excuse about my time, or my effort.

With love and thankfulness for all I have, A xox

Matthew 25 (the message bible)  ^14-18“It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.

^19-21“After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

^22-23“The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. His master commended him: ‘Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.’

^24-25“The servant given one thousand said, ‘Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’

^26-27“The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

^28-30“‘Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this “play-it-safe” who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.’

Who does God Bless?

I was at Soul Survivor this Summer with 20 youth from our Church. One of the speakers was Mike Pilivachi. He spoke on who God chooses to bless. Here I want to post my notes from that meeting at SSA. Remember that most of the work is his, and I will write my own notes to go along with it/how it relates to my life. Therefore his words will be in italics.

God chooses to bless those who are interested in others. By being interested in someone else’s dream, being one who helps someone else fulfill their dream is to be a blessed person. How about what I wrote in an earlier post – not so sure about it now, what do you think?

God loves community. Today the disease of society is isolation. Doing it alone. Loneliness. The world, in its loneliness is looking for a family – not for giftedness! Gifting without character hurts people. Learn to serve another person’s agenda, to serve another person’s dream.  I don’t think I can add to this. I will be more serving and find out what others want, where they have dreams and will come alongside…

You give things up for the one you love. You would give up sin for the Love of Jesus. Boom! See how he said that?! What kind of sin? The small (ha) gossipy kind of sin? The huge sssh don’t tell anyone about it kind of sin? Nah. No scale. Just sin. I want to give that up: critical attitudes, negativity, jealousy: That kind of sin. That keeps me at a distance from God. Have you got a sin? Something that keeps you from God? Something you wish no-one knew? God with His abounding grace wants to take ‘that’ sin and remove it from your memory. Make you brand new. And take the memory of the sin you did/was against you. Forever. Free.

Serve someone else’s agenda, interpret someone else’s dream and live for Jesus. By doing these three you will life life fully! Not sure if you notice here but this is the life of Joseph. And Jesus. Extraordinary parallels for us as we live life today.

I want to be someone God chooses to bless. I want to bless others. I want to see Kingdom Come. And my guess on what that looks like is wilder than yours (unless you want to see mine and raise me! ha!) I want to be interested in others, more than my needs. And I want God to fulfill the dreams I have.

With Love, A xoxo

Encouraged by Romans Chapter 1

I have been reading Romans recently, and in the midst of packing for our epic camping trip. I have been trying to blog. Anyways. I hope you are blessed with this devotion. As I read through Romans, I was most impressed by Paul’s instruction to us to have faith. Great Faith!

Romans 1:12,
When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.

This week, Ryan was in the studio for two days, as I didn’t have the big car (or any car) for those days I invited so many friends over. It turned out they blessed, encouraged, and inspired me in all kinds of ways. Mum was first at 10am Monday morning! How lovely to have her pop in for coffee and chat and talk! Then Sweet sister came over and we drove to a farm. As my B’s were fast asleep it was perfect time to chatter, explain and talk about EVERYTHING!! I loved those chats so much.  More friends Tuesday and ones who are so passionate for the things of God it was really encouraging

Next bit in Romans 1:20:

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities–His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

I know this! And in raising Beth and Ben with the knowledge that God created the Universe and created every good and perfect thing, I am more aware than ever about the  ’invisible qualities’ of God’s creation. My Bethany Hope shows me how God is the creator of everything, when she prays “thank you God for building my house” Exactly. He is the one who gives design plans. I never thought of that, well I guess I did, but I didn’t realise what it really meant.

I had one of my friends over last week to talk wedding cupcakes And she is the designer behind Diamond Art. I asked her how she starts work on designing new exquisite jewels. ‘Where do your ideas come from’. And she replied, honestly ‘From Him.’ It was as though by seeking God, He inspires and gives creative ideas. Amazing! And it’s not just designers, house builders who need inspiration. But at a prayer time the other day at work they prayed for Mums at home with their children for the holidays, that Holy Spirit would give grace and inspiration on how to enjoy the six weeks holidays. Yes, that is the kind of inspiration I need!

There was so much more to explore from Romans 2-8. But I will leave you with this:

Romans 9:11-12
But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to His own purposes; He calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.)

Although it directly refers to Sarah’s twins, and it just as true for us today. Just think, before you did anything, even before you were born. There was a plan for your precious life. A plan for today! A plan for tomorrow and you need not do anything to be chosen! In being chosen, there is still free will-will you and when will you respond to what God has for you? Salvation and then the choices that take you into your destiny. How will you react to someone else? How will you talk about someone else? When God requires more of you than you have given before, how will you respond then? With obedience, or free will?

I was listening to a teaching cd: Nancy Goudie from our Women’s Conference last year (we are having another one at the ARC this September: Shine) and Nancy talked about being Chosen. It really affected me and Beth as we drove around collecting things for our camping trip. It was really uplifting being reminded of the good news, rather than listening to the news on radio. It had such an impact on Beth, that when she was trampolining later that night (yes, no early bedtimes it’s the holidays!) She was shouting ‘I have been chosen by God!’

Initially I thought. Oh the neighbours will hear her… Then I thought. Well, what confidence she has to tell everyone about her identity in God. Once again, wishing I had that confidence!!!

Delighted that I was chosen, LOVE xox

Hope

This weekend I was involved in so many children’s activities. Which came down to a LOT of hard work and preparation. A lot of preparation. I will always be over prepared when it comes to those events rather than under prepared. Now. It didn’t go as planned. One thing and another meant I had to ditch my planning and take a different course….. I know, I should be more flexible. I’m not! I was really upset about a few things, the way I thought things went, the way I felt let down and my response to the situations. Actually it was my response that upset me most Before we went to bed last night Ryan and I talked and talked and talked and prayed. We always talk. We often pray together. But last night was different. Maybe because of how I was feeling.

But we were once again totally and utterly overwhelmed by the grace of God. Abundance of grace. Extravagant Grace. Grace. Grace. Grace!

Look at this scripture,

^{HEBREWS 6:10} For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers,^[a] as you still do. ¹¹ Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. ¹² Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

I was lying in bed reading the bible and Ryan was asking when I could turn the light off. I said let me read 5 chapters. But I just got engrossed and read to number 6. Then it hit me! The word of God that was to inspire me and allow me to make sense of my day was in verse 10. I was full on caring, but it didn’t seem enough. I know God is not unjust. I know I don’t ultimately do things for praise. But, I will keep on loving others as long as I live!! Because I would actually hate to be spiritually dull and indifferent. Yikes! Looks a bit like a promise from God doesn’t it-love and you will be alive! I want to inherit God’s promises! Don’t you?

Be blessed today, as you love on others and show you care. I was. I am! Bethany kept asking me to look after her properly today because she had a fever, by properly I think she meant with care-love her! A friend asking if there was anything I needed. And then finally by my mum coming to visit.

This might need a whole new post. But honestly, if you are best friends with your mum you will understand this, and if you aren’t but want to be, comment and I will really pray into it for you.

My mum is amazing, you might know her. She is one of the most generous women you will ever meet. Nothing is too much for her. She always has an answer, she is wise. She constantly believes in the love and unfailing promises of God. She will always make sure you check your attitude before you blame someone, which used to be annoying, but now I realise she has been teaching me that I am only responsible for me: My actions, and there better be good, healthy motives behind anything I do! And she is beautiful. So many people are blessed to have her as their pastor, but she’s my mum and “mopsie” to my children! Oh and if ever mum doesn’t think the topic or subject matter is encouraging she will just say two words “what ever” and backs off… And is very, very quick to forgive and ask forgiveness! I love that she finished work early just to pop in on us and made my day. Love you mum! Xoxox

Exciting, inspirational week!

Yesterday my friend took me out for breakfast. We usually go to Starbucks, but today I just didn’t feel it. (Remember, I’m a feeling person and I have to ‘feel like it’!) Good job we didn’t, as half of  Starbucks was destroyed, obviously refitting but Ben would have been into EVERYTHING! So, we found the old faithful Golden Arches We had such inspiring talks, prayers and shared our hopes for our lives. Talked about things that affected us weeks or even months ago and realised that we were not even bothered in the slightest by those any more. Isn’t it amazing how God can change you so much in such a short period of time that as you release forgiveness, or deal with your own actions and heart motives that you are no longer held back by ‘could have, should have, would haves’ about a situation?

This week, we have Heidi Baker and Ryan Wyatt at our Fresh Awakening Conference at Church (www.revivalfires.org.uk). My children are getting so much better at coming to conferences, they love to rock out with their dance moves to worship. Ok Beth has always loved dancing – Ben however is just learning to groove…..! I will have to video him before he forgets this dance move, or moves onto more advanced dancing!!! It’s more like a fast step on the spot with a nodding head. I know, words can’t describe his awesome, self learnt move!!

I am really looking forward to hearing the speakers and to see what ‘fresh awakening’ God has for my heart over this conference. Last conference was Lance Wallnau and I was really encouraged by his speaking and the way he pursues God. I am looking forward to these speakers and hearing their life journey adventure with God!

Have a fab rest of your week, whatever you do, where ever you go, who-ever you have breakfast with!

Love xox