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

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

Things to worry about

So I had such a lovely birthday weekend with Ryan, we had a meal, shopping and coffee dates. Then last night we were talking, having fun. Then I decided to do the ironing. And Ryan brought me a glass of wine. Somehow the shirt knocked the glass off the cabinet and spilt pretty much all over a section of the carpet. Pretty annoying. And it looks stupid now. There isn’t much of a stain, but enough to bother me. Annoying.

Last week we got the car cam belt changed, we got the quote had enough money. And then the bill came in so much more. Annoying.

Then the water leak got going again – third time this year – so we got the plumber and he came out to fix it and it cost a bit more money than that super ‘fourty quid’ quote. Tiny but annoying.

Then the blue car gear box went and that will cost a lot of money. Annoying?

Annoyed?

Stealing my peace? YEAH

Taking away my joy? YEAH

Robbing my money from doing the things I want to do? YEAH.

So what am I going to do about it? What would you do?

a) Moan and moan and complain and get really really cross. Have a sad face, be sad, be unkind, be so sad that I lose all my friends and no-one wants to visit me….

b)know that there’s a whole load of stuff going on but remember that bit about not worrying.

c) don’t care at all. Not one tiny little bit. Not even flinch. Nada.

Yeh I’m type b. Wishing I could be person c. But that’s just not me. ok I’m a tiny bit a for like 2 mins and then realised where that was going to get me. No where – and fast

Well, I wanted to read about the provision of God. I know about being generous (I think -but could always learn more!) And was reading ten passages about God’s provision. The one that stands out to me is Matthew 6. Never read it in the message before, and it isn’t called ‘provision’ in the NIV version – look:

^30-33“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

I want to steep my life in God-reality, God-initiative and God-provision. I don’t know how to do that. Do you? I know that I should start by not getting in a fuss. And by giving. I want my everyday human concerns to be met.

So now the challenge begins. How do I learn not to worry: about what to wear, money, children, people, things, projects, plans, people, children, food…. money…! Not being annoyed. Trying to relax. I am going to learn this phrase above. And I’m going to learn to steep my life in God.

Steep:

–verb (used with object)

1.to soak in water or other liquid, as to soften, cleanse, orextract some constituent: to steep tea in boiling-hot water;to steep reeds for basket weaving.

2.to wet thoroughly in or with a liquid; drench; saturate;imbue.

3.to immerse in or saturate or imbue with some pervading,absorbing, or stupefying influence or agency.

Without worry – A xox

From a conversation I overheard… How to wreck relationships :(

Whilst out the other day, I overheard a lady let’s call her ‘Larissa’ explaining to another lady, let’s call her Melissa –  they weren’t close friends, and sadly, Melissa wasn’t too interested, rather Larissa was trying to explain her situation… It turns out Larissa has just told her husband to leave. (You know the conversation where you say nothing because one person does all the talking…? well that’s what Melissa’s role was!) How she was going to arrange a fake burglary to get the 50 inch plasma replaced as that’s the only thing he is taking. How she was going to get a new home because she was now a single parent. Oh and she was going to get fake nails, a tattoo and spray tan – because she was never allowed to before. All under the guise of her “looking after number one”. Disclaimer: I have no idea what Larissa’s family is going through. And I realise that I only heard a snippet. But, I have written everything I heard above.

As you can imagine, I was saddened for Larrisa’s situation. I wondered what had happened to get her to this point….

I woke up this morning thinking of her… There’s a chance I might see her again (and a chance I won’t!). And then I thought of how easy it would be to wreck a precious marriage/friendship/relationship. It would be really easy -

Be horrible. Be inconsiderate. Don’t care about the other person. Be mean. Withhold love. Be angry. Prefer other people. Compare your spouse (or friend) – if they come out better or worse the comparison still hurts. Complain. Be selfish. Hold grudges. Give up quickly.

You know the list could go on. And sometimes I do compare, complain, be selfish – you know, ‘be human’!! But I find myself reminded of 1 Corinthians 13 – it is diametrically opposed to EVERYTHING I wrote in my ‘how to wreck’ list.

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

How to love list: Be patient, and kind. Don’t be jealous, rude boastful or proud. Don’t be demanding and selfish. Don’t be irritable – or irritated! Forgive quickly, don’t hold onto grudges. Love the truth. Never give up on love.

To love, and keep loving takes more effort. It takes time, creativity and energy to protect friendships, relationships and marriages. But when ever I have tried, that effort has always been worth it

A friend reminded me of this scripture, (Ephesians 4 Amplified)

²⁹Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.

Like I said (ha!) using the Bible as a source to back up what I said. Rather the other way…. Like it says in Ephesians, may everything I do be a blessing to those who hear it.

Love xox