Category: 366 days of novice motherhood

Place: bed

Poison: icecream

Favorite things: crazy extended family night…

It is pretty easy to shrink back in times of confrontation.

It is pretty easy to allow others to step forward and take the reigns.

However, no matter your personality or demeanor, there are times when we all need to step up to the plate and take hold of the situation we find ourselves in.

These moments are the moments that make our destiny.

But how often do we miss out because we hide, rather than engage and own the moment.

Jesus knew that the way of the cross was his Fathers mode of salvation for all of us who were to follow.

Did he want to do it?

Did he ask God to take this burden from him?

Was he afraid?

He owned it anyway. He stepped forward when most of us would have run on the other direction.

Lenten Blog

Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. He said, “Who are you after?” They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said, “That’s me.” The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb. Jesus asked again, “Who are you after?” They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.” “I told you,” said Jesus, “that’s me. I’m the one. So if it’s me you’re after, let these others go.” (John 18:4, 5, 7, 8 MSG)

I love the line that says ‘he went out to meet them…’

Most hero’s who are chronicled in the history books are people who have gone out to meet their moments.

Ownership of the seasons you were created to shine, is truly the making of people.

What moments are you shrinking away from that you were created for?

An opportunity to speak?

A time to sing and encourage someone?

A potential leadership position at work?

A shift to a new country for a new opportunity?

To speak up in the midst of a bully?

Own your moments dear friend.

Even when you feel completely unable to step forward, feel the fear and do it anyway.

You never know whose redemption is on the other side of your decision.

Be bold and courageous.

Live loud!

A

Place: home

Poison: Pepsi max

Favorite things: going to church today.

As Jesus sat in the garden of gethsemene with his disciples before he walked towards his death, he knew the days beyond the garden.

Even though he knew the results beyond the hour he found himself in, he asked the disciples to stay up and pray.

Lenten blog

Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.” (Matthew 26:41 MSG)

Today I was lying in bed with my little man next to me in a Moses basket and my husband was singing him to sleep.

The words to the song went like this…

‘even if we speak the language of angels but we don’t have love, then all my words are empty symbols, they are sounds without melody.’

It really made me think about our prayers and the substance of them.

Jesus asked his disciples to pray even though he knew the outcome of them would not change, but he knew the prayers would change the disciples.

However if our prayers are without love, they are empty melodies.

It seemed the disciples lives had become empty melodies, as one betrayed Christ, one denied him and the rest fell asleep.

These are the men who spent the most time with Jesus, yet their prayers were full of empty promises.

What is in your prayers that are empty melodies?

What parts of your life are lacking love?

Where are you failing to look beyond your today?

Jesus always looks beyond.

That beyond however is laced with prayer that is substantiated by love!

A

Place: home

Poison: carrot cake

Favorite things: Saturday morning lie ins…

So many Christians are just plain boring.

Actually so many people Christian or not are boring!

The word splendor is far from their lips.

Splendor! To enjoy, to revel, to delight, to frolic, to radiate, to shine…

Splendor, a much underused word today, mainly because it is so expressive.

When did you last splendor in something?

Lenten Blog

Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said: Father, it’s time. Display the bright splendor of your Son So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor. You put him in charge of everything human So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge. And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, The one and only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent. I glorified you on earth By completing down to the last detail What you assigned me to do. And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor, The very splendor I had in your presence Before there was a world. (John 17:1-5 MSG)

To delight in the moment, to thrive on the present, is the splendor.

This world is full of too much darkness and decay, too much cynicism and sarcasm.

Find something today to splendor in, whether it be the grass, the ocean, your family, some baking, some drawing, a run along a river, a long cup of tea with a friend, a child, a moment, a reading, a movie, some chocolate, some cake…

Whatever it is take delight dear friend. He has overcome the world and you are his delight.

Of nothing else allow him to delight in you today.

Splendor!

A lifetime of enjoying the moments, can begin today!!

A

Place: tiger tiger

Poison:flat white

Favorite things: late night shopping in the city with ma boys…

I meet people all the time who struggle to know what their true mission on this earth is all about.

When we watch cartoons and read crime novels, we immerse ourselves in purpose laden plot lines, it’s easy to think mission is reserved only for actors in the movies.

However the bible is very clear that everyone of us is born with mission, everyone of us is born with purpose and intention.

If you believe you are living without purpose start to research and soon you will find a deeper story, a plot line filled with intention.

Lenten Blog
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I’m consecrating myself for their sakes So they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission. I’m praying not only for them But also for those who will believe in me Because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind-Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me. The same glory you gave me, I gave them, So they’ll be as unified and together as we are – I in them and you in me. Then they’ll be mature in this oneness, And give the godless world evidence That you’ve sent me and loved them In the same way you’ve loved me. (John 17:18-23 MSG)

Love highlights purpose.

Mission is steeped in love

Find love and find your purpose.

Seek and you will find…

A

Place: the train

Poison: water

Favorite things: my friends

Today Max and I went on an adventure, we travelled to the city on our first bus and train ride.

I have made it my goal not to become isolated in these initial stages of motherhood.

My world, pre-mummyhood, was full of friends and work and life and hard work.

The significance of the change was quite dramatic and the main thing that has helped this transition is my friends.

This was the same with the disciples and Jesus.

Lenten reading

But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won’t draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you. Everything the Father has is also mine. That is why I’ve said, ‘He takes from me and delivers to you.’ (John 16:13-15 MSG)

the friend, the holy spirit is one part of faith that I have never been able to deny.

People ask me, how do you know your faith is not just made up?

People ask me why I believe in a power I’ve never seen?

People ask me is Jesus a historical figure or a real relationship in my life?

My answer is always filled with stories of the holy spirit, whom Jesus calls my friend.

It is encounters with the Holy spirit that have completely changed my life. It’s those quiet unctions when I’ve known I shouldn’t walk that way, it’s the internal utterances telling me to call someone, it’s that essence of protection when I have felt unsafe.

The holy spirit truly can be your friend.

This Easter, have you encountered the Holy spirit?

This lent call out and ask God to meet you today through the work of his Spirit.

It’s not spooky or foreign, it’s actually a very simple knowing and relationship with something that is so real.

Reach out, you won’t be foresaken…

A