Keep Moving Forward

 To keep your balance on a bike, you need to keep pedaling. You need to move forwards. Unless you put your feet on the ground, you will wobble and crash to the ground if you stop pedaling.

And it's the same with the Christian life. We need to be always moving forward. Not necessarily always busy. Rest times are important. But always moving forward in our relationship with God. We need to keep praying, reading our Bibles, learning, obeying, trusting, applying, and so on.

That's how you keep your balance as a Christian!

In the Bible the Christian life is compared to a walk. Enoch walked with God. When you walk, you keep moving forward one step at a time. 

Just keep plodding along!

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:17-18

Sleeping Through Fires?

Echidnas have an amazing ability! Instead of running from wildfires, they bury themselves into cool soil and go into a hibernating sleep called torpor. Their body temperatures are lowered, and their breathing and metabolism slows down. They survive the fires by sleeping!

This reminds me of the promise in Isaiah 43:2-3, "When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God.."

When fiery trials come into your life, don't run. Bury deep into the promises of God and rest in His Word and character. When you do this, you will survive the fire and come out like refined gold. You will be better off having experienced the faithfulness of God and His Word.

An Unusual Palace

 In France there is a fascinating and unusual palace. Even more interesting is the story behind it. One day a postman stumbled on an unusual stone as he did his postal rounds, and it revived a dream of his—to build a palace. He decided to build a palace from stones. He began to collect some every day. 33 years later the extraordinary palace was finished.

It is incredible what one ordinary postman could do with simple stones and a whole lot of patience, vision and perseverance.

It is also amazing what God can do with ordinary people when they give their ordinary lives, talents, days and moments to Him. In His hands, He makes them into something beautiful that honours Him and brings benefit and blessing to the people around them.

“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. ” Dwight L. Moody

This postman is also an encouragement to me to fulfil the dreams that God has put in my heart. It takes patience, vision, perseverance and a whole lot of God’s grace. It takes a lot of faithful plodding, trusting God, and taking the next step. But the end result is not a palace that has to be left behind when I die, but something that will count for all eternity. I will never forget what one preacher said. “I used to try to build something. Now I try to build lives.”

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Rest is Profitable

 This afternoon my children and I were busy setting up for preschool. All except for Esther. She has a cold and ongoing problems with tiredness. So she lay on a beanbag while we set up. She said, “I wish I could do something profitable.” I know exactly how she feels and I felt bad for her. But I told her, “You are. You are resting and that’s what you need right now.”

Rest can feel like a waste of time. It can feel like we aren’t doing anything profitable. But that is not the truth. Rest is what gives us the strength to get up and keep going. Rest is difference than laziness.

And taking the time to pray and read God’s Word may also feel like a waste of time sometimes. But that is where we find rest for our souls. Giving our burdens to God, thanking Him, and listening to Him speak through His Word is the most profitable thing we can do.

It’s hard to rest when there’s so much we could be doing. But wearing ourselves out is also not profitable. We need to take time to rest both physically and spiritually. That’s profitable!

“Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

When We Don't Stay Closely Connected....

 Last Friday a man gave us some beautiful flowers from his garden. But a week later, they’re all dried up and rather ugly. That’s what happens when they’re disconnected from their roots.

The same goes for us. When don’t constantly stay closely connected to God through prayer and His Word, we’ll start to wither and lose the beauty of Christ.

Stay close to God and God’s glory and beauty will shine through you. 

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

Vlog, Bible Lesson & Memory Verse Songs

 

A Bible lesson for the kids about the Bible

 

A vlog about the wonder of seeds in the garden and how God's Word is also seed.

                        A memory verse song. Psalm 145:1-2

            "Man shall not live by bread alone" Memory Verse Song

What Did Mummy Say?

 One thing I find difficult with Lydia sometimes is her questions. I’m not sure if she actually forgets that she has already asked the question five times in the last five minutes, or if it’s more of a habit. 

I get tired of the same question over and over again. So when I have already answered, I say, “What did Mummy say?” She usually knows the answer. If I ignore her, she will sometimes answer herself. She needs to remind herself of what I have said.

While I am writing this, Lydia has just asked me for the fourth time about swimming. I said, “What did Mummy say?” “Tomorrow!” she answered.

Thankfully God has far more patience than I have, and He doesn’t tire of sincere prayers. But like Lydia, we need to remind ourselves, “What has God said?”

When Jesus was tempted in the desert, He answered Satan 3 times by saying, “It is written…” He is our example. He remembered what God has said.

When we are tempted to worry, doubt, be discontent, afraid, and so on, we need to remind ourselves, “What has God said?” We need to remind ourselves constantly of the promises and commands of God. Because like Lydia, we need them over and over again!