Stay Fresh

I love receiving my "Just Between Us" Magazine every quarter in the mail. I just read this article and wanted to write it down, cause its important to share stuff that is meaningful to you, even if its just with one person, or just on a computer screen.

This excerpt is from an article on page 14 by Patricia Hickman.

"There's an old story that circulates here on the East Coast about a company that deep-sea fished in the Atlantic to supply restaurant owners. The live fish caught and dropped into a holding tank were swimming to the bottom of the tank and dying before the ship could reach the docks. One day, a sea catfish accidentally slipped into the tank. Sea catfish are trash fish, not good for human consumption. Nonetheless, the captain noticed that when the other fish grew lethargic, the catfish, seeing them as easy dinner, would nibble on them. Not wanting to be eaten alive, the high quality fish swam away. When the ship docked, the catch that day was fully alive because the catfish's nibbling kept the fish from growing lethargic and dying. So, the captain started capturing catfish to drop into the tanks to preseve his catch, thus guaranteeing that the fish arrived at the harbor fresh and alive."

Patricia related the story to how God uses adversity to keep us fresh as Christians. She talked about the temptation to become complacent in our decisions without adversity, beleiving that the decisions we make in every day life don't really matter. But when we respond rightly to adversity, we are more alert and more likely to discern the truth, and make good decisions that lead to life. And life not just a heartbeat at the bottom of a fishtank, but real life swimming freely and fulfilling your life's purpose.

You might have a nice tank, but removing adversity from your life and adding nice coral features isnt going to improve your life. Don't get wheighed down by life's adversity, use each opportunity to come before God again, to submit to Him again and make good choices that will lead to real life.

"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self controlled." 1 Thess 5:6

"Now choose life ... that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life" Deut 30:19-20.

p.s. sorry I havent been around much lately, I was trying to fight off those little catfish instead of swimming up. ;)

Just call me Fred

I like it that my kids enjoy the same sort of music I do and are happy to listen to Christian CDs in the car. I wasnt sure what Josh (4) was requesting when he asked for the "Fred" song. Until he sang to me these lines off a WOW Worship CD, that particular version by Phillips, Craig & Dean.

"I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me Fred"

Well at least we have a conversation topic!- starting with, "Do you think if God is your friend he would know your name?"

By the way, thanks to Grandpa for the occasional use of "Fred" as a term of endearment.

White Rose

On Saturday I went with a couple of friends to Coral Coast Christian Church for their 10th Annual Mothers Day Dinner. It was awesome, especially due to their guest presenter and our table companion, Aliki Flodine. I so appreciate people who can share truths about God in real and relevant ways and make people want to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus. Its what I want to do by sharing stories from everyday life (though my 'everyday' seems to come more under the category of random and crazy), and its what Aliki does amazingly well.

As a gift from the evening, and to fit in with the black and white theme of the night, we all received a white rose. It was beautiful and had a lovely scent. When I got home I put it gently on the bench and the next morning Bryce put it in a nice vase so we could enjoy it. It continued to open over the next few days and is still a lovely centrepiece on our dining table.

I was at a friends place tonight who joined me on Saturday and saw her rose blending in very nicely with her black and white theme, but looking a tad tired as it had been out of water for 4 days. We both received the same rose, but its impact and beauty changed because of what we did with it.

I think the same can be said about what we take away from special events such as the Mothers Day Evening. Everybody receives the same encouragement, inspiration and challenge, and many will speak highly of the event in the same way, but unless you nurture what you have received, it will lose its beauty and impact very quickly.

Our meals this week are flavoured with the scent of the rose, and I pray that not only will my year be flavoured by the characteristics of God that were put in a new light, but that my life will be flavoured by my daily meeting with Him so that it brings beauty into the lives of others, and maybe even makes an impact for eternity.

What are you doing with your rose?

Pass It On

We pass on lots of things as mothers. Genetic material, mannerisms, attitudes and values and also our attitude towards God – our faith. Some of what we pass on is unintentional but passing on our faith needs to be one of the most intentional things we do as mothers.

I asked Hannah what a mother was for and she said

For taking us to school

Making food

Looking after us when we are sick

Praying

Doing my hair up

(when I asked is there anything else she said, "yeah, making breakfast, making lunch, making morning tea")

With a little bit more prompting she added

Loving us

Teaching us stuff

Helping us to be good

God has given us, through His Holy Spirit working in us

The ability to influence others

The ability to love unconditionally and

The ability to be self disciplined.

As Hannah put it - “to teach us stuff, to love us, and to help us be good”

And that is not just for us, it is for us to pass on to others. Wanna know how to do that? With Relationship, Relevance and Reality.

RELATIONSHIP - Eagerly seek to discover, embrace and pursue a deepening intimacy with God

RELEVANCE - Have an active visible connection between belief and everyday living

REALITY - Use your gifts to serve God, the church and the wider community

There is so much more to say there, but Ill leave you with that for the moment. Its 5am and I have already been up for 3 hours. I guess thats the 'looking after us when we are sick' part. Today Josh has his second ear operation. Not major, but major for us, you know? He has had an ear infection behind his ear drum since January. This is the next step in trying to help it to heal. And all we can do is leave it in the hands of the One who thought to use the tiniest bone in the body to give one of the greatest gifts of all - hearing.

And Speaking of gifts... you should definitely go visit these two blogging sisters who are giving US presents for THEIR blogaversaries!

Overtaken

On my way home from dropping Hannah at school today I was happily following another car along the main road and had a number of things on my mind. I was interrupted from my thoughts as a 4WD sped past me on the other side of the road. Ooh, He's in a hurry I thought, until I looked down and we are doing 40km/h in an 80km/h zone. As I look in my rear vision mirror I notice a dozen cars also slowed down by this car in front.

I was still happy to plod along behind this driver...for about 20 seconds...and then I felt my frustration rise. As I watched the 4WD disappear into the distance and the car in front slow down even more as we came to an intersection I started to voice my concerns. Of course no-one could hear me, but it feels better when you say it out loud. I even gave a tiny little toot of the horn (I dont think they heard) cause really, 30ks in an 80k zone, that is just ridiculous!

When they finally turned off (and slowed down even more before they did that I might add) I revved past them hoping they would see the error of their ways and drive faster next time.

But what changed during that stretch of road? One minute I was happily plodding along at 40 and the next minute I am forward in my seat absolutely frustrated with another driver (who was totally in the wrong ;). And you know what it was? I realised someone else was getting ahead of me.

Ouch. Isnt that the same in the rest of my life? Quite happily content with what I have, where I am going, what I am doing, until I take notice of someone else getting ahead and then all of a sudden where I am isnt good enough.

And doesnt that affect our attitude when we do that! We snap at our kids, grumble at our spouse, assert our authority at work, inwardly churning away cause we dont have what someone else has got.

I am SO sorry God for doing that! Next time I am behind someone going 40 I will remember to be thankful for where I am and Ill use that time to pray instead of grumble.

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5

A Letter to A Teacher

Hannah who is 6 wrote this letter today to her teacher from last year...

Dear Mrs Faley,

Thankyou for being a Gerat ticha Have a Gerat Holaday and In Joy it!
You know I Like You Becos You have a smiil evry Time I See You.
And Josh Likes You to

Love From Hannah

How Cute!

Ra'Yah

Today I was over at 5 Minutes For Faith, talking about my drive across town in my Pink Pyjamas. It would be just like me to get pulled over wouldnt it!

(I didn't get pulled over, but take a look all the same ;)

Yesterday at the Park