willbedoneonearth

I've been praying about what is coming up for me in 2018, what Gods plans are and what he has for me... I had an interesting dream recently where I was among many people who were in a supermarket being assigned jobs. Suddenly the supermarket was not just a grocery story but had expanded into a department store. There was food, clothing and everything you could think of to buy. Multiple adjoining buildings. Huge spaces devoted to specialty items. There were so many people wandering around. Some of these people were wearing colour coded vests they had been given by the store which indicated they had been assigned a role. But although some had their vest, they were not yet at their post, they were wandering around asking questions and trying to find where they were meant to be. I was aware I had my vest on but could not search for my place because I was with my son Caleb helping him find his place. I asked the Lord what this meant. I felt the change in store size and variety indic...

Faith is based on what God can do- it's not dependent on human experience- not based on human ability- not based on human qualifications. Optimism is based on the human ability to pull through, to have enough resources to make it through. It's based on experience of making it through enough to be pretty sure things tend to go well most of the time.  The old Aussie saying we know and love.."she'll be right, mate"...Optimism is hard to scrape up when your experiences have been full of disappointment in the resources of others and your own- failing- not measuring up- there not being enough- people not coming through- not being able to come through for others. Some people are very optimistic and positive and we may assume that equates with faith but not necessarily. Look for those with the gift of faith to share your dreams with!!!! Protect the dreams of your heart by sharing with those who will see with the eyes of faith.  Faith sees the calling of the Lord.  ...

How does God feel about our past as Christians? Sin is forgiven- we are not treated less than 'pure love's expression' flowing to us God is compassionate for our troubles we have been through. God's heart and plan is our restoration and healing from damages and losses we have suffered God delights to bless us God is delighted in our faithfulness to him despite what we have lost or gone through- your faith is of greater worth than gold...!!! This was impressed apon my heart recently the father's pleasure in my faithfulness especially "because of" the losses I had endured... Praise God! His thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways!!!

Don't be afraid or discouraged because the Lord is with YOU!! Fear and discouragement are closely related. Discouragment is a lack of courage to face or cope with a certain challenge- it's a natural reaction to circumstances that push us beyond our personal resources. But God says, because we have him on our side, to refuse discouragment. Refuse to lose courage in the face of any challenge, because his strength is sufficient for us to succeed and be triumphant. I am refusing to to be discouraged about the challenges I face in my marriage at present, the fact there have been daily tensions. I am refusing to be discouraged because God has victory in store for the upright in Christ Jesus. Even if it seems a long wait, he has victory in store for me, for us. I choose to believe it.

There are different types of deliverance for which we praise God for the victory.  The deliverance from sin and darkness to salvation.  The deliverance from a specific situation, or sickness or oppression.  There is another type of oppression from which we need deliverance and the clue in in the line of the song, 'No longer slaves- Bethel music, u tube: ‘We have been liberated from our bondage to sin- let us sing our freedom’.  When we have been liberated from our bondage to sin- Paul says stand firm and do not let yourselves AGAIN be bonded with a YOKE OF SLAVERY!  He appeals to them, he urges them. “So Christ has truly set us free.  Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law” (Galatians 5:1) Freedom is a gift. We can use our freedom to serve one another in love..and try to not allow our freedom to serve our sinful nature… We might have a tendancy to allow ourselves to take on a yoke others set upon us....

Some days are not quite what you'd hope they'd be! Here are some reasons for this particular day...and the highlights also... 1. Overall reason-  I really prayed for this day to be awesome and it wasn't completely- there were many irritations and struggles.   There were good things.  I spent some time with my 8 year old daughter at the local bakery.  I took her for a haircut and she got a new hair brush in her favorite color.  I wasn't too uptight to say no to the hairbrush request and I was glad because she was so happy.  We looked at beautiful fabrics and lovely craft things in a sewing shop and we are both creative.  I saw the Lego Ninjago movie with my boys and I liked it. 2. I felt my husband was not giving me a lot of attention and affection.  I was getting irritated at him. 3. I wanted to be generous and let my kids see two holiday movies because we aren't doing much having moved house early in the first week.  Aft...

So everyone is demanding things of me and this tense feeling is rising up in my chest and I want everyone to leave me alone.  I want to run away and hide. I might need some time out.  But sometimes it isn't possible. If I can't change my circumstances can I change myself to fit my circumstances? I start muttering...Not again!  Can you just be quiet for 5 minutes! Every request produces an inward sigh.  "Mummy can I have something to eat (15 minutes after eating!)"...sigh..."Mummy the Internets not working (haven't you heard of a thing called a book?)"...sigh... Could the issue behind this sort of inward groaning and complaining be unbelief? Usually when I am overwhelmed things have got to a point where I am feeling like I have got nothing left to give.  This tank is empty kids! Now let's say when we are starting to verge toward this line of thinking we were to affirm, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4 v 1...

Trying to not be frustrated at life. Sick husband and children.  Moaning and complaining.  Fighting.  Even when the kids are getting along they are doing so loudly! Odd aches and pains and weird sensations being complained of I am trying to work out. God says to do everything without complaining and arguing but that is what is going on inside me! I am internally frustrated at life. I want to sit at my computer and blog.  I want a cup of tea.  The self in me is screaming. I want to teach my children to be kind and patient.  I want to be an example.  I know I can be an example in how I respond to them. I want time to myself. I want my children to be quiet- like on "little house on the prairie" or some other quaint show of times gone by...with piggy tails and apples for the teacher and yes ma'am no ma'am. I am stuck in a parenting fantasy world...where my children's favorite shows is Winnie the Pooh...instead of 'I can't believe they just sa...

Sometimes it's so hard to know what to do each day.  I can be pacing back and forth between two different priorities, getting anxious.  In fact, I was doing that today.  I may give up a social opportunity because of busyness and then think later 'whoops' I really feel like I needed that now... And I am now contemplating that possibility.  I am sure that happens to many people- I'm not the only one who gets my head in a spin.  In that state, I can pray, but not be 'still' enough to hear what Jesus wants to say to my heart.  When we stop spinning around, he will guide us.  I am now more aware when I'm in that state, and tell myself 'be still', and try to get that stillness to re-calibrate. At present, we have a moving date for two weeks time and have not yet secured a property.  My husband is sick with the flu in addition to his constant health concerns for which I am his carer.  We have packed only a few boxes. I have assignments I am workin...

"Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past." Isaiah 43. 18 I was thinking about this verse- it really challenged me. I prayed, how can I forget my past, how can I not call it to mind.  One of my biggest challenges is not dwelling on past events. It came to me that phrasing 'call to mind' from the scripture of is something that seems to have some choice involved... we do the 'calling' to our own minds at times for different reasons, even if there isn't a direct trigger. I wonder why I do that sometimes, there must be something soothing about looking back... There has to be or I wouldn't be going there... What am I trying to achieve?  Am I trying to solve the 'mystery' of my past actions, trying to work out how I could possibly be so 'broken' as to do this or that- yes. Do I need to work it out? I have been convicted of the sin. God is guiding me in the present, incorporating the past already. ...

Isaiah 43. 18-21 Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold I am doing something new, Now it will spring forth Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field will glorify me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert To give drink to My chosen people The people I have formed for myself will declare my praise. Some believers live in a wilderness place. Past hopes and dreams have been dashed. Because of unbelief at various times they have not walked in the fullness and richness of life that God had in store. Battles with sin and the devil have worn them down and they feel dry, discouraged, defeated. But God knows and cares. He doesn't always lift them out and take them to a new life and new place. Sometimes that is necessary but these particular believers are to remain where they are...He is sen...

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes , the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor" Isaiah 61 v 1- 3 In Luke 4 v 18- 19, Jesus proclaims part of the above in an announcement that he, the messiah, has indeed come to do these things... I love these scriptures and I have written on a couple of other aspects in other posts. I just wanted to focus on this one aspect- - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes... ...

I believe God is calling me to write about the transition time between the nation of Israel's expectation of deliverance and the actual deliverance as the picture of a move from faithful perseverance to a painful transition time to the fulfilled promise. The full story can be found in the book of Exodus chapters 1-13. They believed in God's deliverance and they cried out for deliverance.  They had faith in God. Their cry reached God's ears.  They believed in God as a nation, and his power to save. They were persevering.  For generation after generation.  They had learnt to work hard.  And receive little.  They were subservient.  Yet despite their dogged faith in Gods promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob I imagine their spirits were crushed and desperate, their identity and confidence weak.  What did they have to pass on to their children?  Yet the slavery and sifting, shaking off every earthly boast and confidence, was a crucible for ...

Do you have a gift of encouragement? A gift of bringing the word in an impacting way? An art of kindness, especially toward children or vulnerable? A friend of mine said to me recently, gifts need boundaries.  I am someone who picks up on emotional energy, such as positive or negative energy.  Negativity speaks to me from across a room, almost emanating from a person.  Positive people are like a glowing beam of light. Needs call out to me- and I want to pour myself into meeting them. Did you know that something really positive like a gift of sensitivity can have a really negative effect on you unless it is adequately guarded with boundaries? I suppose I would say I am a sensitive introvert.  It makes for a complex self care situation. I had a 'learning week' last week in this area.  My favorite bible study group is a place we sing songs, share the word, share our hearts,  tears and encourage one another, pray. It is also a place where I ...

I used to be a nurse. I have seen some wounds: ulcers, surgical incisions, and some deep and persistent, taking many months to achieve any healing. There are different kinds of wounds, wounds of the heart. We can't see them and it's not clear what it's going to take to make them better. There are so many types of these emotional traumas: bereavement, any life losses, harm from a relationship, abuse, or wounds to our own soul caused by our own sin or unwise actions, and more. What happens to these wounds? We have no nurse to care for them, no medicine to make it feel better. We can, and do try to numb our own pain in different ways. But numb doesn't equal healing. It might make us unaware for awhile. But there is someone who cares for our wounds, and that is our heavenly Father. His nature is healer (Exodus 15 v 26) .  And he is working to heal the wounds of our hearts. He is moving. Active. Willing. With compassion. It is more than a part of his plan to...

This morning I was praying about things bothering me within my family that morning. After a while I felt God whisper to my heart- focus on what you are thankful for... My heart was in a bind and I thought...that sounds difficult or impossible. I can't think of anything right now. I actually prayed God help me think of something. And my mind went first to something a friend had said to me who struggled greatly with a husband not supportive of her faith- you are lucky your husband is a Christian. And then my mind went to where I might have ended up if God hadn't saved me and intervened in my life at the time he did.  I thought there was a good chance the way I was headed I may have ended up a drug addict, in a physically abusive marriage, and have lost my children to foster homes. And then I thought, I have my children.  I get to care for them- give them meals, clothe them, help them, reassure them when they are hurt or sick.  I get to know how they are going each ...

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows" Psalm 23 v 5 Have you ever thought about the type of blessing an 'overflowing cup' is? It was one day that I was thinking how full on life was, so busy, so hectic, so many things to manage; thinking about how I seemed to have more in life than I could handle... And the verse came to mind...'my cup overflows'.  REFRAME.  I was thinking about having 'too much' being a negative thing but the imagery of an overflowing cup suddenly made me realize God's generous blessing will look like that at times... Messy More than we can contain Inconvenient Can you imagine being at a restaurant and the waiter is pouring your wine (or grape juice if you prefer!) and he just keeps on pouring and pouring into your glass.  It is overflowing.  You are looking at him saying stop!  stop!  What are you doing?!  He just keeps s...

Rebel thoughts are thoughts that set themselves up against the knowledge of God.  We don't want them but sometimes we accept them as innocent unknowingly.  These thoughts can be sneaky so we need to identify them to be able to take them down.  When I say take down, I mean wrestle down to the ground in submission...demolish... "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" 2 Corinthians 10 v 5 What is the knowledge we have of God? His attributes His character His promises All God is for me in Christ Jesus. Which of my thoughts are setting themselves up against the knowledge of God?  The devil will be encouraging these thoughts.  The fruit of such thoughts will be the opposite of what God gives; joy, peace, hope.  So what thoughts are causing depression, anxiety/restlessness and hopelessness? These are some of my recent rebel thoughts...

While God has good intentions, to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us a hope and a future (Jer 29 v 11-13)", satan seeks to devour us alive, to consume us- to steal, to kill and to destroy (John 10 v 10).  To get a picture of this we just need to look at any merciless venture in the world- such as child sex trafficking- such as 'ethnic cleansing', to understand that our enemy is without mercy.  He hates us and delights in our sufferings and losses.  The detestable things on earth give him pleasure.  There is no compassion in him for a child, the elderly, the hopeless and downtrodden person.  If he can crush you, he will just want to crush you more.  Your destruction is his delight. Too many of us have a cartoon image of the devil- poking us teasingly with a plastic Halloween prodder- or a cute character on our shoulder doing a to and fro debate with us, as a cherub sits on our other shoulder. Instead, we should look to the cold blooded kille...

Regret is a strong current that threatens to pull us back.  This is the time I believe we have to swim forward even more furiously and determinedly. I have recently been confronted with some of my life's biggest regrets.  What are some of the things that are helping me swim against the current? 1.  Thinking about the traditional midlife crisis- it seems common enough to have some sort of paralyzing self analysis at around this time in ones life-yes?  I am not  too  abnormal! 2.  Paul strove to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead (Phil 3 v 13-14)- surely I should too?                                      3.  God works all things   together  for the good of those who love him (Rom 8 v 28) 4.  The story of Joseph; the story of David; the story of my names sake, Naomi.  Stories...

“...the Lords hand has gone out against me” Ruth 1 v 13  So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.  When they arrived in Bethlehem the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, ‘Can this be Naomi?’ Don’t call me Naomi, she told them.  Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.  I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.  Why call me Naomi?  The Lord has afflicted me; the almighty has brought misfortune upon me” Ruth 1 v 19-21 Sometimes I think about seeing old friends and I think their expectations would be disappointed.  I may think of my youth, when first saved, and think how cheery and free I was- working, capable, social.  But one thing I read about Naomi’s possible musings in an article was whether she remembered the peace with God she used to enjoy in her youth…and that added to her sorrow. I feel a great deal of stress- and not a lot of peace- I look fo...

"I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you" "Sing for joy, O heavens, for  the Lord has done this; sing aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and displays his glory in Israel" Isaiah 44 v 22- 23 God comforts his people at the start of chapter 44 of Isaiah with a promise of restoration, 'I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants'. Then the Lord speaks of his over whelming superiority- there is none like him..."there is no other Rock". Have you ever had another rock besides God?  The Israelites had been guilty of this, of setting up 'idols' in Gods place- verse 9 to 20.  I had not understood this sin when I first became a Christian, and now I feel like I have experience of what it is like to put ...

"For God does speak- now one way, now another-though man may not perceive it.  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing from the sword..." "God does all these things to a man- twice, even three times- to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him".   Job 33 v 14-18, 29-30 Many years after first becoming a Christian I realised how much God had spoken to me personally already  in a still small voice or a dream but I had not recognised it at the time.  Maybe at times I knew deep down, but I dared not ask the question, God is that you?  Sometimes we just don't really want to know the answer to that question.  But the more we understand his goodness the more we see that his voice is always good. A...

I am so grateful for being taught to respect the written word of God and prioritize bible reading as a new Christian.  I am grateful for scripture memorization and the re-reading of the same sections of scripture over and over again. The main reason for this is because I have a storehouse of scripture within that the Holy Spirit uses to remind me of what he wants to say to me. Store up scripture like treasure.  Hoard it in your mind. "...store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6 v 20, 21 I know and I know that this verse is probably most directly and commonly applied to giving financially to kingdom work, such as missionaries or feeding the hungry. I think I'm seeing it as any investment in our and others eternal destiny.  When we store up the word we are investing in our own and others spiritual health.  We can remind ourselves of Gods truth and others too. ...

"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation".  He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done".  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.  "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation"." Luke 22 v 39-46 Jesus told the disciples "pray that you will not fall into temptation".  Then he prays himself and returns to find them, not praying, but asleep. According to Jesus, staying from temptation is more important tha...

I signed up to write a blog 2 years ago.  I chose the name willbedoneonearth.  And two years later I have published my first post.  That it not unlike life in general, is it?  Desires float around and we get distracted, sometimes stressed out of our brains with other things or it just feels like it must be so hard to do and what will we write anyway and how will we find the time..etc...etc... The phrase 'will be done on earth' comes from a larger phrase out of the prayer Jesus prayed when his followers asked him 'teach us to pray'.  It's sort of a template of how to pray.  Oftentimes in the last couple of years I didn't know what to pray I just knew I needed a whole lot of help so I would recite this prayer some mornings in my study, my nook away from the world (for at least 5 minutes!).  The prayer is short, the prayer is sweet.  It covers all the bases.  It is like a springboard for more detail as you dialogue more with God about yo...