First and Last

Christmas tree in silver and gold

An arm-span from the Christmas tree (through the window) nature's silver and gold

Flame Tree in bloom, an Australian native, nature's Christmas tree

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Australian native), in macadamia nut tree, overhanging our yard

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo in a nearby pecan nut tree

Agapanthus in bloom in our garden

Florist Gerbera, one of three I bought at yesterday's Christmas Market

Black-eyed Susan (rudbeckia) also bought at yesterday's market

Favourite (glittering) Christmas card, brightening my days - thank you Sue!

May grace and peace be yours as we walk through this beautiful and glorious week ahead. 

Let us have eyes to see this Christmas as if it was our first and last, 

And a heart to know the depths of His love, poured out for us.

The Voice You Believe

Some wonderful quotes and words of encouragement were shared by our Pastor this morning.....

The photo is recent sunset one when the light was doing amazing things.

"The Inheritance"

AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE BELOVED...
I AM HE THAT LOVES YOU OUTRAGEOUSLY....
AND I HAVE SO MUCH TO BESTOW UPON YOU,
SO MUCH TO GIVE YOU,
SO MANY PLACES TO TAKE YOU IN MY HEART...

Some of the words, by Graham Cooke.

Our pastor finished his message with this powerful clip today - I want to listen to it again......

BORN FOR MORE.

Today was the day, our pastor and his wife baptised their beautiful daughter, making this Palm Sunday extra special. 

David Schaeffer happened to be passing through town and shared a brief encouragement before our pastor's message this morning. David explained that we are each really two people. We are who we've become, and we are who we are 'becoming'. Who we have become can be somewhat boring to live within. We need to live out of the excitement of who we are becoming, to be fresh with excitement, to impact the world with positive footprints - you deserve to be excited!

David's words were a great reminder and inspiration for me to focus on. They also seemed to be a fitting prelude for this afternoon's baptism in our pool. I love the Tshirt E chose to wear - we truly are Born for More!

Rich, Indulgent, Delicious

"It's rich, indulgent and so delicious" - that's what the recipe said and it was true! Miss E found the photo/recipe for German Chocolate Cheesecake by Willow Bird Baking and she and her visiting college friend, Miss C, set about making it late last week. We finished eating the last of it today. 

There are six layers in total - the mix of flavours and textures is excellent. It certainly is very rich, somewhat expensive and very time consuming to make. Miss E and Miss C joked with each other about impressing young gentlemen with such a cake one day.

We had the privilege of Mark Hemans visiting our church again this weekend. His teachings and ministry are very refreshing and encouraging. Last night Mark was sharing about how faith focusses on Jesus, the Word of God. Faith sees Jesus and the answer. Satan wants us to focus on the problem. Jesus never focussed on the problem, he focussed on the Father. 
Mark shared wonderful pearls of wisdom, riches for the soul, and prayed for many. 

Today, January 26th, is Australia Day, the day we remember the arrival of the first fleet of convicts/settlers in 1788. Part of today's local celebrations included a Mayor's cricket game. Our twins played (against each other) in the juniors' warm up game on this hot and humid Monday. A very Australian way to commemorate this day and honour our British heritage.


Sharing at SkyWatch Friday.

Humility and Nobility

Pondering something our pastor said today - the need to hold in balance our humility and nobility. As Christians we are sinners saved by grace yet at the same time we are sons and daughters of the King.

Photos taken yesterday during my sunset walk with Miss E (6) - I love those clouds and colours....



Sharing at SkyWatch Friday.

Being Restored

We had a guest speaker at church today who brought a wonderful message and an amazing (extremely accurate) prophetic ministry which greatly encouraged everyone present. Jan has lost her husband and a 40 year old son, both to cancer, in the last few years. She is a living example of all she shared. Three thoughts from her message:
Embrace God's goodness in all situations
Hold what God has given us loosely
Be generous wherever we can

Yearning a little solitude to refresh and ponder Jan's words, I sat silently for a few minutes in our backyard this afternoon, listening for soothing birdsongs. No energy or motivation left to hunt for photos, the opportunities unexpectedly unfolded in front of my eyes as I sat on the grass. The little jenny wren didn't see me at first, then cocked her head in surprise. The afternoon sun played on the tight buds of the Ned Kelly Grevillea. 
Sometimes I just need to sit still a while, to watch and listen, and I find myself being restored, ready to return to life's ongoing challenges.

Three Facts

Our pastor shared these facts today and challenged us to think of reasonable explanations.....

Historical Fact 1:  Jesus lived, and died by Roman crucifixion.

Historical Fact 2:  The tomb was empty.

Historical Fact 3:  Jesus later appeared to over 500 disciples.

Easter memories 2014:

Miss E and Master J's uni/college mid semester breaks overlap for this Easter weekend only. So lovely to have them both home, the family all together again, very briefly.

Our church's Blue Cross on the Hill has been a red cross on the hill for the last week. Today the lights were changed back to blue.

My Musical Stairs quilt top is now basted in preparation for quilting the layers together.

My husband has started a new course of action to bring an end to his skin problems of the last 24 years. The downside is he will become worse before he becomes better and it could be a very long process, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. 

Miss E made delicious hot cross buns with cranberries and sultanas, baking them early this morning prior to church.



Sharing at SkyWatch Friday.

Dreaming and Praying

Dreaming is a form of praying and praying is a form of dreaming.

                      Catherine Marshall

The day we stop dreaming is the day we start dying. 

If your dreams don't scare you they're not big enough.

Get a God-sized dream, birthed in prayer.

God is infinitely bigger than your biggest problem or prayers.

Just a few thoughts from today's message at church.

Very early this morning Miss E left for a few days in the big city far away to spy out the land and dream big dreams.

I'm planning to work on my dreaming and praying from this day on......

A Compass

God doesn't give us a map, He gives us a compass. 
Our next step is the most important, following our compass directed His spirit. 
We are not tourists in this life, we are explorers.


Thoughts from today's message by the lovely "L" who spoke while our pastor was sharing elsewhere.
Another ladybug enjoying our cornflowers. I affectionately call this variety Tiger Ladybugs.

Bold

"Bold prayers honour God and God honours bold prayers."

"Who you become is determined by how you pray."

Key thoughts from our pastor's message today. 
Being challenging to consider how and what we pray.



Sharing at I Heart Macro.

Being Open

Our Ned Kelly Grevillea is beginning to flower - taken early this morning

Our Indian visitors have arrived safely. Days and nights are filled with comings and goings, in good ways. Each day they have been sharing at schools or with church groups.

J spoke of many wonderful things at today's morning service - just a few of his words below. 

God sends us to hard places we may not feel ready for. 

All things are possible with God for those who believe.

Don't expect God to work in a certain way, be open to God and His ways.

I smell curry - J's wife, M, and Miss E (21)  are busy in the kitchen, tonight we have an Indian dinner at church and more sharing. I must go and help some more......

Have a wonderful weekend!

Receiving

 Hippeastrums/Amaryllis from this evening's walk   :)

Accessing God's grace through faith.
Have faith in God, don't resist God's will, he wants to GIVE.
Speak to your problems/mountains, don't let them speak to you.
We can change the environment of our heart: 
deal with unbelief; have right motives; be persuaded God's love is FOR us.
We need to believe and fully receive his blessings.
Pondering faith and receiving....

Thoughts from our pastor's message today based on Mark 11:22-24.