Friday 26 October 2007
Retractable Needles
A friend’s little girl stood on a syringe this week at the beach. It was a deep wound. Of all people for this to happen to. I got to know her through proactive campaigning to save the environment around where we live and she has been a voice in the wilderness to be reckoned with. Now she is campaigning for retractable needles for drug users and the like. It was on front page of Border Mail. While I pray her daughter doesn’t contract hepatitis or HIV to be known in many months even years, I hope her efforts to get needles modified is heard.
Wednesday 24 October 2007
Raising Boys
‘Raising Boys’ by Steve Biddulph is really interesting to me.
When thinking about Tugun youth I read this regarding 14 yr olds plus: ‘What’s needed is something that will engage the spirit of a boy – pull him headlong into some creative effort or passion that gives his life wings. All the things that parents have nightmares about (adolescent risk-taking, alcohol, drugs and criminal activity) happen because we do not find channels for young men’s desire for glory and heroic roles.’ ..They want to jump somewhere better and higher, but that place is nowhere in sight.’
The author goes on to talk about Eskimo and African societies’ methods to put the boys with other male trustworthy mentors for initiation of sorts: responsibilities and processes etc.
I think sport is one of the best answers. Music too and what about Arts.
‘God has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.’
‘He gives us freely all things to enjoy.’
‘He can do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think.’
When thinking about Tugun youth I read this regarding 14 yr olds plus: ‘What’s needed is something that will engage the spirit of a boy – pull him headlong into some creative effort or passion that gives his life wings. All the things that parents have nightmares about (adolescent risk-taking, alcohol, drugs and criminal activity) happen because we do not find channels for young men’s desire for glory and heroic roles.’ ..They want to jump somewhere better and higher, but that place is nowhere in sight.’
The author goes on to talk about Eskimo and African societies’ methods to put the boys with other male trustworthy mentors for initiation of sorts: responsibilities and processes etc.
I think sport is one of the best answers. Music too and what about Arts.
‘God has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.’
‘He gives us freely all things to enjoy.’
‘He can do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think.’
Sunday 21 October 2007
Drowning Man by David McDowell
Exciting news that our friend David McDowell has his book Drowning Man on http://www.arkhousepress.com Dave is a great guy and became a friend of Doug’s through surfing down the Peninsula in Victoria. It won’t be long before this true story is listed on Amazon.com
He has a great story of how he cheated death, after a fatal mishap at Snapper, as an experienced surfer. You’ll love his candid warm writing. More about Dave as the book snowballs in sales.
He has a great story of how he cheated death, after a fatal mishap at Snapper, as an experienced surfer. You’ll love his candid warm writing. More about Dave as the book snowballs in sales.
Wednesday 17 October 2007
Seize the Day
Had a great day today, and it's only half over. Playgroup met at Palm Beach. My friend brought a broom and swept the nearly disppearing path from under sand and bark. She even got praised by council workers.
Had a chat to mums about primary schools confirming which school I would choose for Sam. Love recommendations.
Praying for youth of Tugun. Firefighters were called twice last week. When I walked to top of treed hill found a collection of branches ready for burning! Met one called Sam at park with his young brothers a few weeks ago who had a mini bike accident and had two legs braced. Tugun has lots teens who will turn 18 in a few years then left to their own devices.
Would like to laminate a sign 'You are under survellience' or something that will deter any firebugs here.
Had a chat to mums about primary schools confirming which school I would choose for Sam. Love recommendations.
Praying for youth of Tugun. Firefighters were called twice last week. When I walked to top of treed hill found a collection of branches ready for burning! Met one called Sam at park with his young brothers a few weeks ago who had a mini bike accident and had two legs braced. Tugun has lots teens who will turn 18 in a few years then left to their own devices.
Would like to laminate a sign 'You are under survellience' or something that will deter any firebugs here.
Finally on Google
Well finally was able to register my blog (after six months activity) with Google for review. When put in ‘Christian Mum’ it came up 6th. I would like to have more readership and comments and any posts I like I will put in their link. Thanks for reading my blog and sorry I have not being using commas. To make it easier to read, I will try to, from now on. Still learning bits and pieces about it all. I would like to review Christian books and put links to them probably from Clickbank Marketplace. To do this it is advised I do at least 3 posts a week.
Anne
Anne
Monday 15 October 2007
Loving History
Been watching DVDS of the great story of Moses. And I’ve just gotta say no wonder the pyramids still stand today. Egypt was a mighty place of the Pharoahs and their rulership. Joseph got to be prime minister there saving the place in a severe 7 year drought.
Abraham, Joseph’s great grandfather was told the Hebrews would be captives of Egypt for 430 years. It turns out they were delivered to the day 430 years later when the Passover (more on this later) took place and the parting of the Red Sea by the once reluctant hand of Moses. To me the pyramids are a marvel of Hebrew slavery and Egyptian sovereignty.
Abraham, Joseph’s great grandfather was told the Hebrews would be captives of Egypt for 430 years. It turns out they were delivered to the day 430 years later when the Passover (more on this later) took place and the parting of the Red Sea by the once reluctant hand of Moses. To me the pyramids are a marvel of Hebrew slavery and Egyptian sovereignty.
Saturday 13 October 2007
Carry Your Burdens or Cast Your Cares
Jesus said ‘My Yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ We are advised to cast our cares on him.
So what’s a yoke? This was one of those wooden items two animals would wear round their necks to keep them in unison while they ploughed fields or whatever. Not talking about egg yolks here. If we walk with Jesus we’d find our troubles just SEEM to disappear.
‘Do not worry about what you will eat or what you will wear. Your father in heaven knows you have need of these things.’ Jesus often didn’t know where he was going to sleep that night or where he would dine. When he said to Zacheus I’m coming to your place for lunch he knew because he was filled with the Spirit, that Zacheus would be delighted.
Needs such as these are nothing compared to the important matters.
So what about real problems? They don’t really disappear but it is when we are Kingdom and other-centred that our problems – once mountains in our own minds become mole hills. Having said that we overcome our problems bit by bit as he gives us counsel.
We can’t always avoid the big things. Jesus didn’t avoid the cross - his destiny, and other kingdom giants like Moses didn’t avoid Egypt though he tried to get out of it. Moses argued with God but in the end reluctantly faced Pharoah to get them to ‘Let my people go’. Gideon faced his enemies. Joseph went to prison. Saul/Paul went to prison. Peter, while worshipping God in prison made a supernatural escape. Have a read. Many apostles were in the end martyred but with God hard things become easy.
‘With prayer …let your requests be made known to God and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds.’
Every night, I like to think of any concerns I have and cast them over to God. This helps me, knowing he will take care of things. I have to ‘let go’ of my biggest worries with conscious effort as these are the ones I tend to dwell on. Once left with God, I can leave them there and not take them up again.
So what’s a yoke? This was one of those wooden items two animals would wear round their necks to keep them in unison while they ploughed fields or whatever. Not talking about egg yolks here. If we walk with Jesus we’d find our troubles just SEEM to disappear.
‘Do not worry about what you will eat or what you will wear. Your father in heaven knows you have need of these things.’ Jesus often didn’t know where he was going to sleep that night or where he would dine. When he said to Zacheus I’m coming to your place for lunch he knew because he was filled with the Spirit, that Zacheus would be delighted.
Needs such as these are nothing compared to the important matters.
So what about real problems? They don’t really disappear but it is when we are Kingdom and other-centred that our problems – once mountains in our own minds become mole hills. Having said that we overcome our problems bit by bit as he gives us counsel.
We can’t always avoid the big things. Jesus didn’t avoid the cross - his destiny, and other kingdom giants like Moses didn’t avoid Egypt though he tried to get out of it. Moses argued with God but in the end reluctantly faced Pharoah to get them to ‘Let my people go’. Gideon faced his enemies. Joseph went to prison. Saul/Paul went to prison. Peter, while worshipping God in prison made a supernatural escape. Have a read. Many apostles were in the end martyred but with God hard things become easy.
‘With prayer …let your requests be made known to God and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds.’
Every night, I like to think of any concerns I have and cast them over to God. This helps me, knowing he will take care of things. I have to ‘let go’ of my biggest worries with conscious effort as these are the ones I tend to dwell on. Once left with God, I can leave them there and not take them up again.
Friday 12 October 2007
Dangerous Days
Though evil has always been… in the last days it will be like the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Those days were pretty bad. Lot, Abraham’s nephew had to be rescued and when angels went to see him, some men wanted to have sex with them (Of course angels are beautiful) and were banging on their door! The place was about to be annihilated. Lot’s wife didn’t make it because she looked back. She must have liked the evil place. Have a read…
I was upset the other day by a story of what happened an hour away. There was an attempted abduction of a 3 year old in a house where his father was working. The door was unlocked. The father happened to turn around, screamed and the boy was dropped as the man fled. The boy’s name was Sam!
It seems these are perilous times. How do you stay protected?
You call on the name of Jesus. There are so many stories of people who have done this. I have had to many times. One day my sister was about to be assaulted. She was walking down Gore Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Vic in the dark as a nurse. She used the name above all names, the name which carries authority on Earth and in heaven and the attacker fled. As Christians it makes life easy, ‘we are hidden in Christ.’ ‘He preserves the way of the saints and the wicked are cut off’ There is a way where no harm can come. It’s like being in the Ark. Isaiah 41. ‘Underneath are the everlasting arms.’ Not in the wrong place at the wrong time. Enjoy life on the offensive knowing that ,’Whosoever calls on the name of Jesus shall be saved.’
I was upset the other day by a story of what happened an hour away. There was an attempted abduction of a 3 year old in a house where his father was working. The door was unlocked. The father happened to turn around, screamed and the boy was dropped as the man fled. The boy’s name was Sam!
It seems these are perilous times. How do you stay protected?
You call on the name of Jesus. There are so many stories of people who have done this. I have had to many times. One day my sister was about to be assaulted. She was walking down Gore Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Vic in the dark as a nurse. She used the name above all names, the name which carries authority on Earth and in heaven and the attacker fled. As Christians it makes life easy, ‘we are hidden in Christ.’ ‘He preserves the way of the saints and the wicked are cut off’ There is a way where no harm can come. It’s like being in the Ark. Isaiah 41. ‘Underneath are the everlasting arms.’ Not in the wrong place at the wrong time. Enjoy life on the offensive knowing that ,’Whosoever calls on the name of Jesus shall be saved.’
Sunday 7 October 2007
Help for PARENTS who need a tip
A good friend told me she was concerned about all her children when they were small asking God for a tip because her husband was working very long hours. The tip was that at the dinner table kiss them on the back of the neck. It was like a blessing from God to them. She would also have to be quite strict with one of them. She would speak into his little life. ‘You will be like that tall straight tree,’ she would say as they both stared out the window. The boy grew up well and is now a neuro surgeon in the USA.
When asking God the same thing, I got the tip to smile at my little boy. Creating this approval to get down on the inside of him has revolutionalised my efforts to discipline and actually there is a melting down of the situation. So I smile at the appropriate times. (not after bad behaviour)
Another good friend, discovered that her daughter’s love language is in physical touch. So she will stroke the child’s face and this ministers to her little soul.
As Victoria Osteen says, it’s not what’s on the outside that matters. God doesn’t look at the outside. It’s what’s on the inside that counts, referring to children.
When asking God the same thing, I got the tip to smile at my little boy. Creating this approval to get down on the inside of him has revolutionalised my efforts to discipline and actually there is a melting down of the situation. So I smile at the appropriate times. (not after bad behaviour)
Another good friend, discovered that her daughter’s love language is in physical touch. So she will stroke the child’s face and this ministers to her little soul.
As Victoria Osteen says, it’s not what’s on the outside that matters. God doesn’t look at the outside. It’s what’s on the inside that counts, referring to children.
Monday 1 October 2007
When you Smile that Smile
Put a smile on your dial they say. When I was 17 I was flattered by my friend Fiona who had been through primary and secondary school with me when she said, ‘You’re always happy.’ The same girl called a local boy, ‘Neville Smiles’ because he looked unhappy. She was a wit. I was a little surprised by what she said to me because I know I’d go home from school grumpy and ravenous.
Something not so specific, just a series of life changes wiped that smile off my face. It as though from that moment on I wanted to be more true to myself and eventually my countenance fell, like Cain’s with time as my humanity dawned on me. Even though I lean towards hope and optimism and a fighting spirit, it’s an effort to smile.
Whatever it is that wipes the smile off your face, can be changed. I remember, ‘I’ll never smile again until I smile at you,’ by Ross Wilson (lovers lament) and the reverse ‘City girls just seem to find out early how to open doors with just a smile,’ by the Eagles. A smile will open doors and give people a bit of love. Joel Osteen said he really had to work on this. He tries to smile all the time, that is even when preaching.
A smile is something we are able to give even if we have little to give. Once I gave a big smile to an old lady and she said, ‘oh,’ taken aback she said, ‘All you have to do is smile that smile.’ That was encouraging so you do smile for a season then you forget. It really has to come from the inside out but you can fake it till you make it even if it doesn’t come naturally at first.
Phil Pringle said once why not 'smile across people's lives'. I'm sure God does that. What a good thought.
Something not so specific, just a series of life changes wiped that smile off my face. It as though from that moment on I wanted to be more true to myself and eventually my countenance fell, like Cain’s with time as my humanity dawned on me. Even though I lean towards hope and optimism and a fighting spirit, it’s an effort to smile.
Whatever it is that wipes the smile off your face, can be changed. I remember, ‘I’ll never smile again until I smile at you,’ by Ross Wilson (lovers lament) and the reverse ‘City girls just seem to find out early how to open doors with just a smile,’ by the Eagles. A smile will open doors and give people a bit of love. Joel Osteen said he really had to work on this. He tries to smile all the time, that is even when preaching.
A smile is something we are able to give even if we have little to give. Once I gave a big smile to an old lady and she said, ‘oh,’ taken aback she said, ‘All you have to do is smile that smile.’ That was encouraging so you do smile for a season then you forget. It really has to come from the inside out but you can fake it till you make it even if it doesn’t come naturally at first.
Phil Pringle said once why not 'smile across people's lives'. I'm sure God does that. What a good thought.
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