Nanna Jo

Dedication: Nanna Jo we will miss you untill we meet again.

I don't want to through greif again.
Yet here I am in the mist of it.
It's past 1am and my head is too full to sleep.

But every now and then...
I do something good.
I read my bible like you would.

No matter your faults.
You would turn to God your Father.
To ask for his guidence and forgiveness.

Nanna Jo, you had a great big heart.
Not always right, not always wroung.
You were all in... see you again in heaven.

Love you always,
Meg.

1 Thessalonians 4:13- 14 (NLV) 
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the belivers who have died so that you will not grieve like those who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring with him the beleivers who have died."

Like Sheep 

“All we like sheep have gone astray. Each turning to his own way. But the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” Isaiah 53:6

“You Lord are my shepherd, I will never be in need. You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water and you refresh my life. You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths. I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I will not be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe. You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honour me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows. Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, Lord.” Psalm 23

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep” John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father- and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15

The Bible talks about Christians, (we that trust and know Jesus as our shepherd), to be like sheep. The world tends to think that we follow blindly, ignorantly, without a thought or a doubt. But this simply isn’t true.  We do doubt. Each time we wander and lose our way our shepherd seeks us out. He embraces with joy, bringing back to him, and placing our feet back upon the path.  

The world questions us as we travel, “Why do you want to return? How can you be certain that he is guiding you on the road you want to go? Why do you love and trust him? Is it all worth it?”

My answer is that he laid his life down for me. Everyday he demonstrates his love for me. He knows me inside and out… and yet still he cares for me. I trust him to always have my back. He knows the plans he has for me and he works for my good. He created me, knitting me together in my mother’s womb. He knows me, what behind me and what is to come. My shepherd promises to remain by me whatever challenges may confront me. 

“But how do you know this? Why do you just assume? Where is the evidence that God (if he even exists) will keep his promises? Is God as great as you believe he is? Isn’t the gospel too good to be true? The world contradicts. 

You see, I know that God keeps his promises. He has done so again and again. He promised that Jesus would come and redeem us, bringing us back to the God who invites us to call him “Abba Father”, just as he does.

The only thing that makes me special and privileged. The only way I can have this hope and assurance is this; that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. I don’t deserve it. I didn’t have to work for it. I only had to accept it.

Thankyou my Father in Heaven. May I never want to stop serving you, praising your name, being part of your family, your child, and your daughter.  

Together

Dedication: To everyone who has experienced mental illness, this is from me to you...

Darkness doesn't discriminate.
It can take anyone.
So what can we do?

We don't always recognise what is consuming us.
We don't always recognise the way we think is warped.

When we do...
A friend or family member expressing concern.
A colleague gently taking us to one side.
An outsider asking the question; are you okay?
You seem...

Just remember that no matter how fearful, ashamed,
lost, alone, confused, or angry you are.
You are not alone.

What you're going through is by no means uncommon.
Friend or family member.
Colleague or outsider.
We understand, because it takes one to know one.

No need to be ashamed.
Feel free to stretch out your hand.
We can show you the way.
After all, we've come this way before.
I've come this way before.

The Lord my God is the light to the path on which I tread.
He said "it is not good for man to be alone".
He said "it is finished".
He said "that whoever believes believes in me shall not die but have eternal life".

Jesus sent his disciples out in twos.
Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit.
Jesus has given us hope of  a day when her will wipe away every tear.

Faith in Jesus and his promises means hope and security and forgiveness.
It means knowing where we are headed as brothers and sisters in Christ.
The rod there is not always easy, but that is why we travel there together.

Thankyou

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thankyou that you value me.

Thankyou for sending your son to die,

because you value me.

Thankyou that you don't give up on me 

as I give up on you.

Thankyou that you give your children each other. 

Thankyou that you know the road isn't always easy.

Thankyou for giving us the Holy Spirit, to help us fight

sin, fear and despair, with hope, light, and life with you. 

Thankyou that you care for us without reward.

Thankyou that your gifts are abundant. 

Thankyou that you use the weak to help the strong.

Thankyou that you equip us to do your work,

of spreading the gospel side by side. 

Thankyou for all the reasons that you give me 

to smile, dance, and sing for joy. 

Thankyou that when a Christian dies, we; 

as fellow members of Christ's body have tears falling on to smiles. 

Thankyou for giving us the hope and promise that one day,

when we are all gathered around your throne, you will wipe away every tear.

Thankyou that you can be relied on to keep your promises.

Amen. 

Having just returned from a Christian camp called Dare To Be Different these are my reflections...

A Slice of Heaven

Life in this shattered world (shattered by sin) is like living in a mirror that has started to be repaired yet you can still see the super glue.

Jesus has repaired the mirror of this world of sin. Him being the only one who could concur sin defeat death, and bring us back to God. For Jesus is the perfect priest, king and prophet this world has ever and will ever know.

Its' amazing how many ways God uses us. He uses us! Sinful people in this world to make him known. He moulds us into new people in Jesus and gives us his holy spirit to guide us through this new life with Jesus as Lord.

He loves us and gives us spiritual gifts and advantages. So use them. He'll surprise you how many ways the person you are can bring others to him and help them in their journey.

Introverts, extroverts, cultural background, musical abilities, singleness, marriage, male,female, the list of things that we can use for Gods' glory goes on.

We are his people. All different parts of Christ's' body. One huge family.

Speeding quality time with Gods' people over the course of five days, reflecting on his word and how he works in this world and our lives is truly a slice of heaven. A glimpse of what is to come. A new heaven and a new earth.

Revelation 21:Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 


This poem is dedicated to the leaders campers from 'dare 2 be different'. Thanks for making camp like you guys... pronominal! 

Believe? What in? 

The world wants us to be happy.

We agree.

The world says succeed.

 We fail.

The world says find someone.

We do. They die. We grieve. 

The world says try money,

We do. We are not satisfied. 

We become greedy.

Believe in yourself it says, 

it is, after all the great mantra.

But we are not enough. 

For we will not be able to 

fulfill all our needs.

Don't panic.

Christ is enough.

He will fill you up until 

his love and sacrifice 

flow into every part of your life.

Now have faith and trust in him.

He will grant you satisfaction.

For with him faith is more enough. 

The Restoration of Creation

When the Lord first created the world

he created the world's first and best masterpiece.

When sin was introduced by mankind,

the canvas began to wear.

As time progressed it faded more and more

and the cracks became deeper and deeper.

Then our saviour came and

his death and ministry started

to restore the canvas of creation.

When he returns the restoring work

will be completed.

Then all will be made anew.

At the very least it will be as good as it was

before sin arrived.

The Hope of Heaven

I dream.

I dream that one day (however distant that may be),

that one day I will see that preverbial light, that is freedom.

When I walk into that light, I will take with me no more

dark and dismal disappointments, sorrows,

perpetual fatigue, and chains of captivity within my life.

For that light shall cleanse me of all that living life in a sinful world brings.

In that glorious light I shall join others

whose chains have begun to break and disintegrate.

Most importantly I will wander,

hand-in-hand, eye-to-eye, and voice-to-voice with my saviour and my God.

And this will be the epitome of fulfilment and freedom.

I wait, work, live, and belong to that day (as do many others),

the day when the tears will be wiped from all increasingly scarlet eyes.

For now I merely glimpse pieces of the puzzle of the immense joy yet to come.

In those fragments I can observe the faces of

my brothers and sisters in Christ and all that surrounds them,

including the many marvels of creation that captivate me daily

along with the many gifts and talents that he has granted unto us all.

We await with patience and hope the day when he will return.

On that day we will see some, (if not all), of those that we love and grieve for at present.

And in all of these things God provides us with the greatest gift that he could give;

HOPE.