RESTORATION

There is no one alive who hasn't suffered Hurt, Pain, Humiliation and
Frustration.  
I don't know why I am writing about this today? Or maybe I do...
Yesterday I had the wonderful privilege of being visited by three special ladies.
First came my daughter Daniella, bouncing into the house with her usual vibrant self, coming to share with mum.

 Then I received a phone call from Lynn, 'would I like a visit?' She came bearing a meal and prayers.
Finally Dawn, another sweet lady came.... another two meals, and much sharing.

I can look back over the years and remember times of need when no one came.
When I felt alone and deserted.

As people read what I am writing, many could never imagine, what my past has been, or what I have come through... Much I have blanked out because of the pain.

We all have a story to tell. 
All of us walk through life hopefully learning lessons and gaining wisdom.
Becoming Better and not Bitter.
Wisdom only comes by realisation and understanding. 

Many feel in times of desolation that God is punishing, or that He is not there, He simply doesn't exist.
Yet if God did not allow us to have a free will of discovery we would never experience the trails we do..
We would never learn to pray or come before him..

"For when we are weak, He is strong."  2 Corinthians 12 :10.

We would never understand the joy of having restored, all the devil has taken from us.


"And I will restore to you, the years the locust hath eaten."
Joel 2:25

  Granddaughter Shiarn (Daniella's) running free with her chooks.


                                                       

PERRRRFECT is what You are..

"You are altogether beautiful, my darling, And there is no blemish in you.

 Song of Solomon 4:7     "The Bible"

This photo was taken at an outback store in central Australia

You know,  no matter how we see ourselves...

Our Heavenly Father sees us as perfect and beautiful..

Doesn't that make you feel good....

 

I dedicate this to my beautiful daughter Femia-Hope.

Who joys in her Heavenly Father..

Birthday Boy

Izaiah (zai) turned three...

The older they get the older we feel.
I believe children are much more intelligent today and much more grown up.

So it is up to us as parents and grandparent to preserve their childhood.
And to encourage outdoor fun activities.
They had a wonderful time playing in the back yard.
Climbing the Mango tree, playing chasing's with Mille in hot pursuit and swinging.

And you are never too old to play and take pic's.

My poinsettia bush is blooming.

Finally a memory photo with Mummy and Papa.

Two parents together, add to a child's security.

Look how those little hands hold on to both.

God Says.....
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."
Psalm 32:8
 
My blessing to my grandson:
 
May the Lord Bless Thee and Keep thee....
May His light and Glory shine in thee...
May good health, a generous spirit and the gift of discernment be yours.
And may you always, acknowledge Him who created you. Amen.
 
 
 

Who Am I ?

Do you ever wonder this?
Have you ever felt lost and think, what does my life mean?
If you knew the story of your life in advance, would you
 rush ahead or give up before you began?

Think about this, just for a moment.....

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord,
Plans to prosper,
Not to harm you,
Plans to give you a hope and a future. "
Jeremiah 29:11

Now that's encouraging...
And yet, you may say while reading this, I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.... its all just too hard..

Me at 3.

We were not a rich family, my father returned from the war, shell shocked.  I was born the second youngest of five children. My father became incapacitated when I was eight, my grandfather died not long after....
My mother went to work, and we learned from a young age, that life was tough.  The best part of all our hardships was belonging to a church family. The old tin Lizzie, driven by our minister, came regularly to pick up my younger brother and I each week for Sunday School.... 
What a joy that was. Riding down those dusty country roads singing chorus's at the top of our lungs, and learning the accepting love of Jesus Christ. 
I met and married my first husband when I was very young.
My mother was against it. We were unevenly yoken, she said...
And through much hurt and pain, I learnt she was right.

Pictured with my first child, daughter Femia.

When you are young you think you know it all.

I was no different.

I married into a different culture and to a man who I loved dearly, yet one who denied the Lord.

When I walked away over thirty years later, I was a broken mess.

Yet today in wisdom, I thank the Lord.

I know if my marriage had been different God would never have come first.

And in time, I was to come to realise how...

"He turned my mourning into dancing,

and my sorrow into joy."  Psalm 30:11

My younger daughter Daniella, with five of my grandchildren when small.

From left, Antonio, Luke, Kirra, Elyshah and Joel. 

 Today, Joel, Luke and Elyshah at Nanna's.

Because of what I have come through, and what I have come from,

I know first hand that God's promise above is true.

Today all of my children have a faith in God, and all of my grandchildren have grown up in Him.

My eldest granddaughter has married a Christian man.

They are both at Uni studying teaching and plan to be Missionaries.

My youngest granddaughter Shiarn.

My youngest grandson Izaiah with cousin Shiarn.

Their road to travel has just begun.

There will be good times and not so good. 

But if they acknowledge the Lord in all they do, the blessings will flow.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,

And lean not on thine own understanding.

But in all thy ways acknowledge me.

And I will make straight, thy paths."

Proverbs 3: 5-6

                                                 SO TRUE !!!








 

Mille and Monty

Little Mille runs circles around Monty.....

"Who me?  I am innocent Mum."

"I am a picture of perfection."

"Why that old stuff shirt Monty doesn't know how to have fun?"

"Its not fair, that kid comes in and takes over.

A man gets no peace"

"Hey Monty, I just want to play."

                       "Listen Mille, only if you promise to play fair."

"Young Whippersnapper, I said fair, respect your elders"

"Your going too far...."

"Aw Monty, I love you. Lets kiss and make-up."

Love is Patient

Love is Kind.

1 Corinthians 13

                            

Reflecting

I am currently away from my home and not on the computer as often.
So much has been happening, trials which have had me pressing strongly into Gods Word.

I love the book of Isaiah. Opening my bible this morning I read the following.

The spirit of the Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me

To bring the Good News to the poor.......

He will give beauty for ashes,

A joyous blessing instead of mourning.

Festive praise instead of despair.

Chap:61:1
(Such encouragement)

I had just dreamed a distressing dream.
And jumped out of bed wanting to cry out!
But I recognise... Satan is at it again, trying to upset the day.

So instead I wish to share some happy times with you from my memory of the U.S.A.

When I first went to live in Rogersville Tennessee, I thought I was in Heaven.
People were so kind.
I walked into Wal Mart wanting to purchase underwear.
The sizes were different to back in Oz, and in my confusion I stood and stared.
A sweet sales lady by the name of Cathy came beaming kindness, asking if she could help?
Well, she looked at me and picked out my size. All was resolved.
Months later, the tables turned as I nursed Cathy's mother, and helped Cathy with her care.
Both of us were given, Beauty for Ashes.

These may be small incidences, yet when we are open to see Gods love and kindness,
we will find much to be thankful for.

Our home was situated on the side of a hill, in the woods...

Each day I had the joy of watching the squirrels and birds.
Ray had numerous bird feeders to entice cardinals and gold finch..
And those cheeky squirrels helped themselves also...
I had a special prayer room where I could sit and watch the antics.

There is so much good in our lives, yet sometimes we allow the clouds to get in the way.
We allow the storms of life to take over.
Yes, we allow...we choose to let....
Bad, hurtful, or past memories to take away the gift of the day.

I adore a song I learned as a child.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
NAME THEM ONE BY ONE
AND IT WILL SURPRISE YOU.

WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE.

So if something in your life is hurting and taking away your joy.
Sit down with a piece of paper and begin to list all the good things.
Someones kind word to you.
A smile from a stranger.
The sunshine peeking through your window.
Having the eyes, to read these words..

What a joy life is, just open your eyes and see.

 

My amazed grandson Izaiah, looking at Jesus with Peter the fisherman. 

BE AS A LITTLE CHILD.

 

No Acting God

I am not God and neither are you.
Only God is God, and yet....

Many people expect others to have, all the answers??
They place their problem onto someone else and expect them to make it right!
It is not nice when you are put in this situation, neither is it fair.

When others do this, it is very selfish..
After all no-one in the world has it perfect!!

Everyone has problems!!
And...praise God that it is so.
Trouble and strife keeps us humble.

The good news is:
All we can do,  is put our faith in God.

All we can do is, become as a little child...

Our Heavenly Father tells us.
"My child, pay attention to what I say.

Listen carefully to my words.
Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body."
Proverbs 4:20-22

Gods Word is Truth!!
Read this over and over..
And believe.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers, 
neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate ME from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39

Rejoice in your heart!!
Allow yourself to let this sink deep within your soul.
God has all in hand..

God says this, I believe it, and that's the end of it!

Grandchildren Shiarn of Daniella and Izaiah of Lee-Joel

Children have NO hang-ups.
Think back, remember that time..
And trust in God.

SERVICE AND SACRIFICE

John wrote the last of the four gospels, and was the favoured disciple.
Why was he the favoured??
Well, likely he and his cousin Jesus, played together as children.
Probably, their relationship was very close.

Imagine it, two little boys in different households living close to each other.
Cousins  and best friends.
John's mother Salome was Mary's sister.
Salome was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James and John.
In all the Bible accounts of the life of Jesus, I have always prefered John's.

He had a knowing of the spirit of God within Jesus...
And His very first statement was....
"In the beginning was the WORD.
And the WORD was with God.
And the WORD was God."
John 1:1

John was the only person to relate how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples.

Why would he do this??

Washing His Disciples' Feet

"Just before the Passover Feast, (my cousin) Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world and go back to the Father.
Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end.
It was suppertime.
The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.


Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything.
He knew he came from God and was on his way back to God.
So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron.
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron.

When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"
Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."
John 13

So why did John relate this happening??
I would love to hear your thoughts on this??
Mine is, he was in awe, that his cousin showed such humility!
Most kings sit on a throne and are served.
Jesus, prostrated himself in a lowly position.

Who are we to ever consider ourselves as better than someone else??  The example of Jesus was the opposite.



When someone is in need we are to help them.
When someone is hungry we are to feed them.
Or thirsty, give them something to drink..

Share with others.
Laugh with them.
Cry with them...
And, carry them.
Service and Sacrifice is the story of Easter.

Believe and share in ETERNAL LIFE.

An Easter Parallel

I think this video says it all....

A modern day version of a father who sacrifices his only Son.

'For God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten son."
John 3:16

JUST JESUS..

Apparitions..

Can you believe how Satan will use someone you love, to deceive you?
This was an experience of mine approximately eighteen years ago.

My teenage daughter went out to a rare party with friends.
It was rare as we were strict parents.

"Be sure to be in by midnight,"  I instructed as she left.
I couldn't sleep and as many anxious parents do, my ear's strained, listening for her return.
Footsteps echoed on the tiled hallway floor.
Thank God she was home!
She ran happily to my bed and kissed my cheek, then out of the room.
Breathing a sigh of relief I sank into the mattress and fell into a peaceful sleep.

Hearing a noise in the kitchen a few hours later, I got up to investigate.
Stunned,  I discovered, my daughter had JUST come home.

I can't remember what her late excuse was, I was too befuddled by my earlier experience.

"Are  you sure you didn't come home earlier?" I questioned!

I thought I had experienced my daughters joyous return home?
I thought I had experienced her happy goodnight kiss?

What I did experience was a deception..
And there is only one deceiver....Satan!

^"And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light."
2 Corinthians 11:14

"Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Matthew4:10

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Ephesians 6:12



"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"
1 Timothy 2:5

If you want to argue....
there can be no BUTS...
There is only Jesus.

To demonstrate our total faith in ONLY Him, we do as instructed.

 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38

My daughter Daniella on the day of her Baptism, 2009.

God or The devil

I have had much trouble posting this, which tells me, satan, the great deciever, does not want it known.

A beautiful young girl, perhaps about fourteen years of age, had a visitation from an Angel.
She was special, and she proves this by her great faith.
When the Angels tells her, she is to be mother of the Savour of the world there is no hesitation.

Many of us would have been horrified!
Who wants their own family to possibly disown them?
Who cherishes the thought of being taken to the town square and stoned to death?

But Mary spoke these words:
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my soul rejoices in God my Savour."
Mary herself, subjects herself, and proclaims herself, a sinner.
She rejoices in God as her Savour.
She was not a bad person.
But just as all humanity is born into sin, so was Mary.
And she proclaimed this.

Jesus said, "I am the truth the life and the way, no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 Do you believe this?

Does the Word of God change?
"Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows."
James 1:17



“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt.
Serve the LORD!
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:14-15 (N K J Version)

"TESTIMONY" Lon's Story

As you all know.
We defeat the devil by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of our Testimony.
Revelation 12:11

A comment to me from Lon in return on a mental health story.

Lon writes,

"I just have to share!!!


My wife and I went to a couple of secondhand bookstores in search of this book, for I told her, "I have to find this book!"

The first bookstore we went to, the man who worked there tried to look it up, and said, "I'm sorry, but we don't have it."

So then my wife said to me, "Let's go to the other secondhand bookstore down the block."

Going in, I handed the man who worked there a piece of paper that had the name of this book written on it, and he said, something like, "Just a moment . . . I'll go get it for you."

I have only scratched the surface of this book, for I am only into the fourth chapter, and already my wife and others said they have seen a HUGE difference in me!!!

The other day I was talking to a person on the phone, and they said something like, "You don't even sound like the Lon . . . I used to know!"

Then when I was conversing with another person on the phone, they said, "I have hoped for this for so long . . . I just can't believe the difference in you!"

Once again I thank you so very much for sharing this post about this book!!!
God Bless,

Lon"
http://thehumblepath.blogspot.com/

The Book recommended was:

Princess of the King

Once upon a time there lived a sweet young girl who met the Prince of her dreams.

She was clever in mind but shy in spirit.

Her parents were very strict religious folk and she was not allowed to do many things.

 No make-up.

No movies.

No dancing.

    No boyfriends.

So when she met A, she fell deeply in love and kept him a secret.

Eventually her parents found out.

Her father was against her Prince.

He was not a believer, and, he was 14yrs her senior.

The Prince and Princess, are my parents.

My father passed to Glory almost 30yrs ago.

My mother turns 93yrs shortly.

They divorced when I was 8yrs...

This was a terrible disgraced in those days.

It hurt us all very much.

My father was a soldier in the second World War.

He came home a changed man and rarely spoke of the experience.

He served in the Middle East and after returning from there was sent to New Guinea and the Kokoda Trail.

He suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

Two sisters and a brother were born prior the war.

I and my brother were born after.

I am the baby in arms.

Crystal with Mummy.

My mother has always been a very strong woman, she's had to be. 

Last week my husband and I travelled down to meet up with my family. Mum has recently made the transition into a Nursing Home. She turns 93yrs on the 23rd of this month. She is legally blind and requires 24/7 care.
With mixed feelings we have needed to go through her belongings. I am keeping her treasured writing desk, it is over 60yrs old. Inside the desk I discovered a few photo negatives. The photo above is one of these.. For me, it is a rare treasure.

Where are we going in life, and what impact will we leave??
Mum gave all her children security and stability.
She also gave us a faith in Jesus Christ...the only Savour to give His life for His people.

Mum's new home is "The Abbey" situated on the southern highlands of New South Wales. It's a long way from me, yet close to my elder sister.
It is a peaceful place sitting on the side of a hill and with views over many more.


                        A bell greets:

                                  And Saint Frances welcomes:

My mother last week..

                       My heart mind and thoughts are continually with her.


 Psalm 139
God's Word read's for my mother.

"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.


My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be."


God Loves My Mother, (as He does us)
She was not perfect, as none of us are.
But, she Is Important To Him.
And she Is Never Forgotten.
She waits for the day when she meets Him, face to face.

Mum's favourite flower.

The dessert pea, found Outback.

Crying over yesterday

Depression.....

Can result from Grief and Loss

And yet often, as depicted in this song and animation, the very thing we dream about, the thing we grieve over, the thing we sorrow for, in reality, is not real!!

Are you stagnant?? Do you mourn over something in your life that is no longer there?

Move on...

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."


Psalm 51:10

Looking Back

As I get older I look back on what I may or may not have enjoyed at the time, and see it with different eyes.
Age breeds wisdom, I realise I should have enjoyed those times more.

As a young seventeen year old I entered hospital trained nursing.
It was a huge Sydney hospital and very daunting.
The wards were known as nightingale wards. They were long with many beds.
This was one of the female wards from that time, in the very same hospital.

In this picture are two trainee nurses and one N.S.W. nursing Sister.

When Sister spoke you listened with eyes down and head bowed.

Hands were to be behind your back. (see pic)

I had a hard time with this as I am a laugher.

But disciple was the answer and one dared not, even smile.

The nurses in the photo above had hair showing from their cap.

My Tutor Sister forbid that.

Patients often asked me what colour my hair was.

I was never recognised out in public..

That dreaded cap. I still feel the terror of it.
Starched as stiff as a board, it ruined a young girls dream of looking stylish.
And....you never considered arguing or refusing to wear it.

   The class rooms were situated in the basement of the multi-story nurses quarters. 
The Tutor Sister was a fully trained registered nurse teacher, and ran the course in military fashion.

I refused to have a photo taken in my uniform. (not compulsary)
This is a deep regret today as nursing has changed so much and those yesteryear days are now history.

Graduation was four years down the track. This was when you received the veil of honour.
Now you were no longer called nurse. Your professional title became Sister.

The Queensland/Victoria veil      (Sister unknown)

Me (17) pictured at rear, with student nurse Shane on days off.

This photo was taken with a little Kodak flash camera.

Relaxing at the side of the nurses quarters.

Tennis courts and hospital are in the background. 

Of course nursing has changed somewhat now.

It went from being a certificate course, to a diploma and finally a degree.

I eventually went on to University and attained my B.N. in Australia.

(Three years full time Uni, and One year mentored new grad for first time nurses)

I sat Boards in the USA and equalled the BSN. 

Today in Australia we still wear a hospital uniform, but no cap.

R.N.'s here are gradually being called by their first names.

Some of us oldies, are still known as Sister.

AND, I believe the best medicine of all, is laughter.

                           "A cheerful heart is good medicine,
                        but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."
                                             Proverbs 17:22
     
                          
                            Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects.
                                              ~Arnold Glasow~

Award: Who ??

Well, this was a surprise.

Thank you Child of God,

(Sweet Joy) 

I count this a blessing.

There are rules which go with this award.
And I am to pass it on to others.

Please forgive me for not doing that...
I care for ALL my Blogger Friends..

SHARING of myself....hmmm.

I am not very interesting really.
A bit mad!!
A mad hatter actually..
A butterfly~~>
And a bit like:
Alice in Wonderland, a dreamer.
Pollyanna, have a vivid imagination.
Anne of green Gables, frequently annoy others.

But I have an unusual insight..perhaps a Gift.

I am often given Biblical names for God's followers.
See if you are here?

Carol,      Mary, sweet faithful and true.
Bill,         Luke, precise and concise, a healer of many souls.
Gorges,   Moses, unsure at times but follow through.
Phillip,     Jacob, you wrestle with things in your mind.
Sandie,    Ruth, wither thou goest..you are faithful to others.
Victor,    Paul, strong conviction, no nonsense, your heart is true.
Child of God, I just get, you rejoice in the Lord, sometimes you waver.
Lon,       Peter, there is a stubborned streak, but you are a strong pebble.
Sr Ann Marie, Esther, ever faithful to God.
Geoff,    Timothy, the tender hearted.
Stan,      James, the strong doer.
Jan,       Martha, a backbone and servant to many.
Lloyd,    Job, Oh my brother, you have come through so much.

That's it,

Much love.......
^"O house of Jacob, come ye,
And let us walk in the light of the LORD'"
Isaiah 2:5

                               Crystal and beautiful friend Nancy from TN.
                       Nancy is a retired R.N. a Martha and a blessing to many.