Let's put God first!

¹⁵Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15 -17 NIV.


²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 NIV.

Has anyone ever made a poor choice of movie to watch at the cinema? Well, Colin and I did during the week! I think we were quite naive in our choice, assuming it wouldn't be that bad a choice without doing our research into it!


This movie turned out to be horrible! I thought it would be funny, and it was for about 5 minutes but then it just went into a downward spiral of offensive, rude and lewd scenarios.


When we left the cinema, Colin and I felt awful for having seen this and I prayed and opened the Bible as soon as I got home! I felt like I wanted to be cleansed of this horrible experience.


This really got me thinking about how, as Christians, we really need to be so so cautious of what we fill our minds with. I really don't watch very much TV at all now and when I do watch, quite often I feel uneasy with what I am viewing. It is all too easy to make poor choices once that box is switched on and you set off flicking through endless channels. So now I just don't put it on when I am alone!


The more I read my Bible, study God's word and pray, the less tolerant I become of what I watch on TV, the cinema and read. Why do you think that is? Is it because we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit by immersing ourselves in His Word and company?

We are told not to love the world, to love the Father and that He remains but the world will pass away. This gives us great hope and confidence in a faithful God. Love of the world, to me, includes putting other things before God and his Word. We are all guilty of it! A favourite programme, the news, must see movies, good books; there is nothing wrong with enjoy these things is there? Although they should be wholesome and not sinful. We just need to ensure that we are placing God at the top of the list! He is more important, worthy, awesome, wonderful, comforting, and essential for my spiritual well being than anything else.


God wants our time and devotion. We owe it to him! When we look at what Jesus done for us on the cross and ponder this, then why do we find it so hard to devote our time to his Word and prayer? The world gets in the way, sneaks in, entices us and offers us our sinful hearts desires. It is quite sneaky isn't it? I certainly need to be more prayerful about resisting all the world has to offer. I shouldn't even think twice about opening my Bible and praying. We should be so grateful to God for his mercy and love for us.

Nothing should get in the way of spending time in his Word and with Him.

How to get your own button!

I do not have a clue how to do this kind of thing! I used a fantastic tutorial at Loopsdesigns modern jewellery. Here is a link to the tutorial on how to put your button and scroll box on your blog!
LINK!

The instructions are fairly clear and once you have your image/design you upload it to somewhere like Photobucket and just follow the instructions on the above link.

Happy button making!

I have a button!

I can't believe I finally have a button! Feel free to take one and I hope it works ok! It took a while to work out but I got there.

Love Collette xxx

Thankful Thursday!

Don't we have so much to be thankful for? It is easy to grumble and complain about our days but we should make an effort to search out the blessings each day. Sonya Lee at Truth 4 the Journey hosts Thankful Thursday each week. Here you list 5 things you are thankful to God for. If you wish to join in then click this link!

My list has a theme this week of things that make me feel alive!

• The feeling of rain falling on me! This just makes me feel alive and in touch with nature.
  

• The sound of children laughing, giggling, screaming for joy! We were at a birthday party at the weekend and all the kids played on a bouncy castle. They just love life and have such fun. Children approach life with gusto and I just love that God created them!

• The power of God through the weather! While out walking with the kids, the wind picked up and became quite strong. The kids looked a little worried but I reassured them it was fine and just a strong gust of wind.
  

• Dancing! (Behind closed curtains normally!). I love dancing with the kids to silly music. It is such fun to just let go of inhibitions and become fun mummy for a change instead of a disciplinarian!

• Singing at Church. We have a fantastic bunch of individuals who play music at Church. They are talented and dedicated to praising God through music. I love it when the whole Church sing wonderfully together and it is amazing to just close your eyes and listen to this praise fill the Church all for Jesus.

I am so thankful to God for the ability to do these things and enjoy them. I am thankful for a safe week so far and each and every day is a gift to us. Let us ensure we remain focused on the good things in our lives and not be dragged down by any suffering we endure.

WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY

Welcome to Word-Filled Wednesday!

The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word (no famous quotes or other literature — only the beautiful word of our Father) through photo’s & a Bible verse!

Join AmyDeanne at the 160 acre woods to join in!

Dodging showers

" You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.
For the breath of the ruthless

is like a storm driving against a wall."
Isaiah 25:4 NIV.

After lunch today, I decided to take the kids a walk. The weather hasn't been the best lately. Heavy showers then Sun then more showers! Today has been quite dry so the kids were desperate to get out of the house!

They like to go to the local shops so we all headed off to them for a few bits and bobs. They love to meet people along the way and just enjoy walking. After hitting the shops we went a lovely country walk along Browns Road. This is sheltered by many old trees and a river runs alongside the large path.

While sheltering under these great trees from another shower, I began thinking about God and how he can be our shelter. I came home and found the above verse! God provided us practically with shelter from the showers today but doesn't he cover us throughout all of our lives! The storms in our lives come and go but through every one of them he is there covering us if we don't realise it!

Several years ago our house got flooded due to flash storms. It was an awful experience. We stayed with my mother and father in law for about 5 months. They are fantastic people and really put up with a lot from us! This was a very stressful time for Colin and I but we are so thankful to God for the roof over our heads that he gave us then, the newly refurbished home we had as a result of the flood damage, and the shelter and refuge he gave us during this turbulent time in our lives!

I have received two blog awards recently from Katy at Montgomery Memories and Kathleen at Heart 2 Heart.
I am actually blushing while writing this because I am so humbled by this! How lovely that these ladies felt they wanted to do this for my wee blog. So when we receive these we need to pass the love on to others. I will do this asap I just need to choose some lovely blogs to pass it on to. There are just so many good ones it is hard to decide!

Thank you once again ladies, I am truly touched.

Why do I blog again?

My friend Amy at Girlfriends Get Real wrote an excellent post about why she blogs and how sometimes the computer gets in the way of God. This has prompted me to ponder on my motives for blogging and who am I actually doing it for.

The main reason I set up this blog was, like many people, to journal my reflections on God and all that he is doing in my life and walk with Jesus. I also wanted to look at my day and pick out those special God given moments with the children.

My days, as most mums, are just so so busy that I barely get or make time to read my Bible, pray or think about how God has spoken to me that day.

Since beginning this journey of blogging I have read my Bible regularly and met lovely fellow Christian women who are so wise and encouraging to me.

I am praying more than ever, learning more than ever about being a Godly woman, and being humbled more by the amazing way God works in so many peoples lives across the world.

It is important that we constantly remind ourselves why we do things. Are we doing them for ourselves or our Lord and Saviour? At times I have forgotten this and got caught up in the excitement of blogging and getting more readers. I need to come before God each day and remember that it's all for Him and His Glory. Each day I ask God in prayer what He would have me write about. The start of all this is, of course, reading my Bible first and foremost.

Like most of those mums out there, quiet time is really not practical in the morning. I can't get up early to be with the Lord because the kids are up mega early. I still attempt to read at least a passage or Psalm in the morning while they watch some kid's TV! It isn't exactly quiet time but at least I am doing it! Also they see me with my Bible and that is just a great encouragement for them.

Here are some verses which remind me to be humble and what this is all about.

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all
in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through him. "
Colossians 3:17 NIV.


"If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength
God provides, so that in all things God may be
praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory
and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 4:11 NIV.

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with
humility comes wisdom".
Proverbs 11:2 NIV

"Who can say,"I have kept my heart pure; I am clean
and without sin"? "
Proverbs 20:9 NIV.

Psalm Saturday

I really can't believe it's Saturday again already! The weeks are just flying by so quickly just now and my children are growing too fast!

My lovely friend Deb over at One Single Minute has joined in with Psalm Saturday over the last few weeks. Click on her blog name to link to her thoughtful post!
Today I just wanted to think about two verses from Psalm 13.

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.
Psalm 13: 5, 6. NIV.

Other translations use the word bountiful instead of good.

⁵But I have trusted, leaned on, and been confident in Your mercy and loving-kindness; my heart shall rejoice and be in high spirits in Your salvation.

⁶I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Amplified Bible.

I love this word "bountiful". The dictionary definition states -

liberal in bestowing gifts, favors, or bounties; munificent; generous.

abundant; ample: a bountiful supply.

To me it is a fuller description of what God has done for us. Yes, he is good to us but I think bountiful speaks of his overwhelming goodness and Grace and Mercy he has bestowed upon us.

I think these verses speak of the things we should be doing as Christians.

We should trust in God's unfailing love. Even when I have felt at my most distant from God, I have clung to promises of his love for us throughout the Bible. An unfailing love is defined as endless, completely dependable. God never lets us down even when family and friends may.

We should rejoice in God's wonderful salvation. Our hearts are to be filled with joy for the wonderful gift God has given us of salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ. Our salvation is amazing and merciful and should fill us with gladness and thankfulness for all that He has done for us!

We should sing to the Lord. The Psalms are full of references to song, music and praising our Lord. By singing to the Lord vocally and in our hearts we are honouring him with the praise and respect he deserves.

"And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Colossian 3: 15/16. NIV.

Please feel free to comment on these verses and your thoughts on them.

Blog Hop 09

Hello fellow Blog Hoppers!! Well I definitely couldn't be at Blogher being in Scotland so it is lovely to have this opportunity to join in this great Blog party!

I am 33 years of age but quite often feel older! I have two kids: Jacob is nearly 5 and Emma is 2 and a half! My husband is Colin and he drives taxis for a living! We are both Christians and I have been for nearly 7 years. I love crafts of any kind and am trying my hand at digital scrapbooking at the moment. Loving it!

I am a contributing writer at a fantastic new blog to be launched in September this year! You will love it! Watch this space for more info.

If you want to take part in this Blog hop then click this link. Thanks to Robin at Pensieve for hosting this fab party!

love letters!

I discovered this wonderful message today at the above link! I am so moved by this I had to share it with you all! The verses are paraphrased by the organisation.

Father's Love Letter
An Intimate Message From God To You. Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications Copyright 1999-2009 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad

Almighty God

Thankful Thursday!

It's time to thank God for 5 wonderful blessings this week! Join Sonya Lee over at Truth 4 the Journey if you would like to participate.

• Fellowship with other believers -on Sunday after our family service we had a lovely lunch with everyone from Church. This was in honour of a sister in Christ who was celebrating her 80th birthday!! She is a fantastic, Godly lady who is dearly loved by all.
  We all had a lovely time, this was hosted at Gowanbank House, a beautiful home to lovely members of our Church. They had prepared their sunroom beautifully for the lunch. It was a great reminder of how important it is to spend time with God's people!

• Nature - Last week we visited our local park and I got some beautiful photos of God's wonderful creation. Sometimes I just stop and look in awe at all he has created and this was one of those moments!
• Thank you for the wonderful preachers at our Church. Our Church has a small group of Elders who oversee everything and some wonderful speakers amongst them. We have also been blessed by the younger, married men standing up and speaking for God. Over the last few months our evening service has seen dramatic changes. The time has been brought forward to accommodate young families and many of the gifted speakers have been teaching a Bible study. We have read Phillipians, Ephesians, Colossians, and are now due to start Jonah and then Ruth! It is amazing!

• Worship music- I have began listening to this daily again and not just at Church. It really encourages me throughout the day and even helps me do the housework with just that little bit more joy!

• Special moments - with my kids! I blogged yesterday about one and they just keep on coming! I love them so much.

The housework can wait?

I just read a fantastic post by Chelsey (Joyfully living for His Glory), over At the Well... In pursuit of Titus 2.

This post is all about housework and the attitudes with which we do it.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (Col 3:23-24)

I find this a hard thing to do! Chelsey has written some very wise words on this subject and I urge to read and ponder them!

A few of you asked if I would post my chore list once I organised one. I decided to do this because my home was getting to be a bit of a disaster! It still is to an extent! So if you wish you can have a look at it here!

Behind closed doors! Making your Home Sing!

When you leave Church and head through your house door what happens? Does the joy and loving atmosphere continue into the living room and through to the kitchen? How long does this last, if at all? Or maybe as soon as you get into the car to leave the Church car park, your joy quickly fades?

I know that more often than I like these things happen to my family! It is often easy to display the fruit of the Spirit;

(²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5.)

at Church among fellow believers, singing praise to our awesome God and loving each other. At the moment our Church is a pretty special place to be. Everywhere you look there are wonderful little ones and more on the way! We have a diverse group of believers who are committed to reaching out to people who are not Christians. Sometimes I feel like I just don't want to leave that place of sanctuary!

When we leave that place and join our lives in the world again I know I find it hard to be consistently displaying the fruit of the Spirit. What I would like is to maintain the joy and peace I feel at Church in my home. Jesus doesn't just live at Church (I think I forget this sometimes!), he is most definitely everywhere, and especially in our homes. I sometimes find that I am not at all happy with the way I conduct my behaviour with my kids and hubby at home. I am still the same person just a little more snappish!

The thought has crossed my mind that at Church we put a front on and at home it is the real deal. However, the more I ponder this, the more I realise that this is not the case. When I am among fellow believers I honestly feel that we bring out the best in each other. As a group of believers we can encourage one another, admonish, confess sins, pray for each other. This is why it is so important for a Christian to be part of a Church of like minded people and to have regular fellowship with other believers.

Behind the closed doors of our home it is all to easy to fall into old habits and treat our nearest and dearest in ways that are not particularly Christian. I would say that my household is a Christian one so why do I find it hard to maintain a peaceful, joy filled atmosphere?

So I have thought of a few of the ways that we can try and create a more Jesus filled home and make my home sing and if you have any ideas please feel free to add them! -

• husbands and wives who pray together stay together! We have only recently started doing this again as a couple and it really does make a difference. It holds us accountable to each other by praying together. It means we discuss Godly things and we should consult God through prayer in all things. We can pray for the kids together as well.
  

• Get your Bible out and read it! Hey something I do! They are always sitting around the living room, easy to grab, the kids have one and I even read it in front of the kids. Aren't we fortunate in the West to be able to do this freely.
  

• Display God's word in your home. Hang frames with verses on them on the walls or sit on shelves. I think it is good just to make His word more visible and just glancing at these can make a difference and remind me about the Lord.
  

• Pray throughout the day. I am not the best at this but I think it would help me to just pray at intervals during the day which are particularly stressful. An example is dinner time in our home. The kids get tired and Colin has to entertain them while I cook up a culinary delight in the kitchen! My two can be little monkeys at the dining table and are certainly not fine diners. I think it would help me to try and pray about this time of day before we get to it!
  

• Open our homes, become more hospitable! Colin and I certainly don't do this often enough. When we do we are always so glad that we did. I don't think I am a natural host but this really shouldn't stop us.
  

^"35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in," Matthew 25:35, NIV.

• Listen to worship music at home. I love singing even though I sound a bit like a strangled cat. I used to listen quite frequently to this type of music at home but really haven't done so lately.

³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,

⁴ praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,

⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

Here is a wee video of a wonderful song that I am sure some of you will have heard and love, enjoy and make your home sing! You can join Nan at Moms the Word and learn more about making our homes sing.

Psalm Saturday!

Saturday again already! Time for another Psalm filled Saturday. This one has been in my head since the beginning of the week.

Psalm 121 (New International Version)

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?

² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;

⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Isn't this a beautiful Psalm? I had never really read this until the beginning of the week. How does it make you feel when you read it?

The words make me feel reassured, calm, safe and comforted.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;

God doesn't want us to trip up! He guides us, is always there and carries us! How comforting to know this promise.

² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

How amazing to know that He who helps us is the creator of the universe! What bigger, better help can we receive than this? None!

⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

God doesn't just look out for us when he wants to or when we want him to. He is always watching over us and will always be there! We just need to allow him into our lives. He will be with us for ever and ever. He is unchanging and stable. He will not let us down like people can. He is dependable and loves us dearly. He loves us warts and all! I am so thankful that he does!

Feel free to write what your thoughts and feelings are when you read this Psalm.

Do you ever feel not good enough for God?

I have been putting this admission off for long enough now! I am really struggling with the kids at the moment!

Jacob and Emma have become a kind of Bonnie and Clyde double act. They are now partners in crime setting out to see how angry they can make mummy! My two little darlings think it is hilarious to disobey me together and whisper instructions of disobedience to each other!

They aren't bad children as such, in fact they can be pretty good kids. I have resigned myself to this being a phase that I need to consistently discipline. However, yesterday and recently I have been allowing it all to get me a little down, disheartened and doubting my ability as a mum. I sometimes think God has wrongly placed me in my role as a mum and that I just don't cut the mustard and be the mum he wants me to be.

I feel (as all mums do!), guilty about everything! Guilty if I don't stimulate them enough with a structured day of educational activities, or fail to make their day fun, that they don't get enough exercise, fresh air or too much TV. I know it is wrong to beat ourselves up about these things but there is a little part of me that just can't help it.

In my rational head I know that these feelings are ridiculous and have no real basis. A great friend, who helped me deal with Post Natal depression, once told me that when we judge ourselves in these ways, we are doing this by the world's standards and relying upon ourselves to deal with difficulties in life. We need to look at these things from God's view.

God doesn't see us as not good enough. He loves us and loved us so much that he sent Jesus to this world to die for us and our sins! God wants to use us and sees things in us that we don't see in ourselves. I love these verses about God's power in our weakness:

" ⁷To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians; 12 NIV.

When I struggle with life and get fed up, I am neglecting to seek God in all of this. God wants us to lean on him at all times. I alone cannot deal with the behaviour and discipline of my kids, I have a husband to help me, but I also have to give this over to the Lord as well and trust that he is there and answers prayers.

I am going to tell people about Jesus!

At Camp, earlier this month, my husband, Colin prayed that God would lead him to serve in some way. Colin wanted God to show him how he could share the good news of Jesus with others.

15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark, 16:15-17, NIV.



When we all returned from Camp, Colin said that he wanted to go out with a friend from Church who delivers Gospel tracts around homes one afternoon a week. So he set off last week to try this and came back full of enthusiasm for this. Our friend works tirelessly doing this and said that he had been praying for a helper for years!! Last week Colin told me that they had discovered many response cards to the leaflets handed out and that they were to visit these people who had expressed an interest.

Yesterday afternoon they set out together to begin visiting others. They spoke to 3 people at length. The first lady was a Christian and they were so encouraged to speak to a fellow believer when out doing this challenging work.

The second gentleman was very happy to speak to them and they spent a great deal of time with him. He asked for them to pray for him and they all did it there and then! Colin felt this man was very honest about his thoughts and they are going to hopefully keep up contact.

The third man said that he had several questions and was heading out the door but would phone them. Later that afternoon our friend called Colin to say that this man wanted to see them both next week to talk about things!

What a fruitful afternoon of the Lord's work! I was astonished at how God has answered both Colin and our friend, Tam's prayers for a helper in this great work. They have many many people still to visit and have been so encouraged by the response so far.

Last night, Colin and I prayed for this work and the individuals met and thanked God for his guiding hand in all of this. I can see the Holy Spirit shining through Colin just now and am so encouraged by him and respectful of the service he is doing for our Lord. This is also a terrific example for our kids.

Jacob asked his Dad yesterday where he was going and Colin confidently replied, "to tell people about Jesus". I just love this and the example it is showing our children.

I am grateful to God and all that he is doing in our lives and those of others who need to know him.

Is God bigger than the tree in our garden?

Above: Today the kids made the planet earth from paper plates and tissue paper! I spoke to Jacob about God creating the earth. Towards the end it dissended into chaos hence Jacob laughing in the top picture. Emma thought it would be funny to throw tissue paper about!

Well Jacob is still bombarding me with questions about God. His latest research is on the size of God!

" Is God as big as a helicopter?"

"Is God bigger than the tree in our garden?"

"Is God bigger than the planet earth?"

These are just a few of the questions he has asked recently. I love the curious minds of children and their thirst for knowledge in theory but I am not the greatest when it comes to answering things even I struggle with!

In answer to his probing mind I said, "God is bigger than anything in the world, he created the world and he is everywhere."

All this information he is seeking is sinking in, as seen in a conversation with his little sister, Emma recently;

Jacob - "Don't lie Emma!"

Emma - " Yea, Jacob" (no idea what she is supposed to have lied about!).

Jacob - "God doesn't like it when we lie and he knows cause he is everywhere".

I was so pleased to hear him say this to his little sister as it showed me that he is thinking about the things we discuss and taking it all in!

This description of God being everywhere, omnipresent, reminds me of verses from Psalm 139.

" ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, ^a]">[a] you are there.

⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast."

Psalm 139, NIV.

And also these verses from Psalm 147;

⁴ He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.

⁸ He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.

¹⁶ He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
NIV.

God is all powerful, all seeing, all knowing, and all hearing. He is both visible(in the beauty of nature and animals) and invisible. He is available to every single living being in this universe if they will accept his son Jesus Christ as their saviour. If we give our life to Jesus and believe that he died so that we can be free from our sins, then we can know God and his faithfulness to us through our faithful following of Jesus.

To think that God knows everything, (yes absolutely everything!), about us is a daunting fact! The good, the bad and the ugly! He sees it and hears it all. I feel humbled when I think about this and small.

How wonderful is it to know that God, far far bigger than our tiny minds can ever imagine, wants a friendship, personal relationship with us! He is a God who can move mountains and move the hardest of hearts.

I love this verse; " He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name" Psalm 147:4, NIV.

I have no idea how many stars there are in this universe but my mind is blown away by this verse and my head feels like it may explode when I try to understand how God could know this!

I find it hard to get the wonder of this across to Jacob, but I may draw his attention to these verses and see what he thinks!

These is a wonderful song by Chris Tomlin called Indescribable. The lyrics speak of God's power over his creation and speak in awe of him. I have included a wee video of it here just because I love it so much!

I need a chore list!

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31: 27, (NIV).

The lovely Nan over at Moms the Word has described my house over the last few days! Since returning from Camp, I just can't get back into the swing of things. I have wet laundry needing dried since Saturday(I am ashamed to admit this!), at the moment another load of dishes for the dish washer are sitting on the worktop and the dishwasher needs emptied, I have more laundry needing washed as well! I am not obsessive about housework but I seem to have gone to the opposite end of the scale lately and have ended up living in a bit of a mess.

So Moms the Word has inspired me today or given me a wake up call! Only the other day I was thinking I don't need a chore list, I manage fine! Well today I am going to do one, just as soon as I have done the actual chores waiting to be done above!!

God placed me in my home to be a homemaker and at the minute it is a well lived in home but I am a bit cranky when it is messy. This doesn't make me a very joyful person to be around and I want my family to see me in this way. So I am taking my God given role seriously by doing this I hope and pray!

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31: 27, (NIV).

Psalm Saturday!

Hi everyone and welcome! I have had this idea running through my head for weeks. Each Saturday I want to think about a Psalm or verses from one of them. These will be Psalms which have helped me, some I haven't read, and others I just really enjoy reading.

I feel like God has placed this on my heart to reflect upon because it has been running through my head so much!

So today I thought I would think about Psalm 30 and what it means to me.

Psalm 30

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple. Of David. ^a]">[a]

¹ I will exalt you, O LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

² O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.

³ O LORD, you brought me up from the grave ^b]">[b] ;
you spared me from going down into the pit.

⁴ Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.

⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

⁶ When I felt secure, I said,
"I will never be shaken."

⁷ O LORD, when you favored me,
you made my mountain ^c]">[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.

⁸ To you, O LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:

⁹ "What gain is there in my destruction, ^d]">[d]
in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?

¹⁰ Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me;
O LORD, be my help."

¹¹ You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

¹² that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 30:1 Title: Or palace
2. Psalm 30:3 Hebrew Sheol
3. Psalm 30:7 Or hill country
4. Psalm 30:9 Or there if I am silenced

When I think about the Psalms this one probably means a great deal to me. 3 months after the birth of my first child, Jacob who is now nearly 5, I became ill with Post Natal (partum) Depression. I won't go into all the detail here, that's for another time, but suffice to say it was pretty horrible. I felt alone, angry at God for "doing this to me", distant from God, I could barely pray and I wasn't happy being at Church.

Then one morning at Church an excellent young man was speaking about a bad time in his life and how Psalm 30 spoke to him during this time. So I got home and read it properly from my Bible. It spoke volumes to me. It was exactly how I was feeling when at my worst and as I began to feel better it also spoke to me.

Verse 6 particularly spoke to me because I was shocked that this had happened to me! That may sound conceited but I just didn't think I would become ill like that and thought I had it all together! I also was working in the mental health sector at this time and dealt with many of the agencies who were now helping me! Talk about humbling! I really believe God gave me this horrible experience to truly humble me and make me lean on him so much more.

I was thinking what verses to focus on when writing this but the whole thing speaks to me. I would urge you to read the whole Psalm. Each verse related to how I felt at the time and I as began to feel better again.

So there you go! Whenever I am feeling a bit glum I like to read this Psalm and remind myself of a time I felt a great deal worse. I am so thankful to God for bringing this Psalm to my attention at a time I really needed to hear his voice and know that he was close and loved me.

May this be my prayer from verse 12;

¹² that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Coming tomorrow!

Thankful Thursday!

Hi and welcome to another Thankful Thursday hosted over at Truth 4 the Journey.

I enjoy thinking at this time of the week what God has done in my life to make me thankful!

1. Today I picked up a free Digital Camera! That's right a free one! I joined a Freecycle group a few months ago and decided to ask if anyone had a spare digital camera. Lo and behold someone did! I gave her a child booster chair in exchange. The camera is a Canon powershot and I am so thankful to God for this opportunity!
   
2. On Saturday I decided to try potty training Emma. You all know she is a terrible sleeper so I was expecting this to be a rocky road as well. Well do you know she is doing great! She tells me when she needs to use it and just goes and uses it as well! This is a wee gift from God.
3. I am thankful for Colin, my husband and that he is around to help me with disciplining the children. They have been quite naughty lately!.
4. Last Sunday we had our Camp report at Church for the parents of the kids who attended. It was really busy and the atmosphere was great.
5. Inquisitive children! My mum and dad aren't Christians. They were quite surprised when I was saved. While visiting yesterday, Jacob asked them several thought provoking questions; " Gran, what Church do you go to? " " Granda, tell me all about Jesus, how big is God?"
   

God is clearly using my little man to help plant seeds in my parents minds! Amazing!

Photos from Camp Faskally

I have finally got round to uploading some of our wonderful Camp photos from last week. This is the whole group of children and leaders who attended. The house is called Faskally House . This is next to Loch Faskally, just outside the town of Pitlochry, near Perth.

Here we all are at an old tractor on the field outside the house we stayed in. The kids were tired hence no smiles and in their PJs!!.

I organised some crafts this year and these were some of the rocks the kids painted. This day was
teaching about David and Goliath.

These bizarrely dressed people were playing a game, (honest!), called Hunt the Leader. All the leaders dress up and the campers need to find them all. First team with all correct leaders wins! The theme of camp this year was Showstoppers and we watched High School Musical 1 on Thursday evening, hence the cheerleader and basketball attire!

The photo below is during the regular drama / comedy slot each morning. These lovely ladies gave their hearts to their roles in these small sketches. They were hilarious!


I love this photo! It was on water sports day, don't ask me what they are trying to do though!. I love the scenery in this picture.
Jacob and Emma with painted faces!Lovey smiley friends! The couple on the right are expecting their third child in December!!

Just to let you know our man with the camera took over 400 photos at camp this year!! So I had to really choose a select few to show you. I hope you have enjoyed looking at these and I am sure you will see what a great time we all had and how God blessed us.