A Simple Prayer

When I was a teenager I first heard Keith Green's music and I loved it. His messages were simple and yet so inspiring. Keith died tragically in a plane crash with two of his little children Josiah and Bethany in 1982. His widow Melody continued their ministry with their two remaining daughters.

I recently discovered recordings of Keith on youtube. I do so love the internet and the many blessings it provides. These are my two favourites of Keith's songs, simple and yet full of hope and encouragement and I hope you enjoy them and are blessed by them as I am.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwUroyJLg9A

Create in me a clean heart
Oh god and renew a right spirit within me (2x)

Cast me not away from thy presence, o lord
And take not thy holy spirit from me
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation
And renew a right spirit within me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh4ac4znuRk&feature=related

Oh Lord, youre beautiful,
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Oh Lord, youre beautiful,
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

I want to take your word and shine it all around.
But first help me to just, live it lord.
And when I'm doing well, help me to never seek a crown.
For my reward is giving glory to you.

Oh lord, please light the fire,
That once burned bright and clean.
Replace the lamp of my first love,
That burns with holy fear.

I want to take your word and shine it all around.
But first help me to just, live it lord.
And when Im doing well, help me to never seek a crown.
For my reward is giving glory to you.

Oh lord, youre beautiful,
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Oh lord, youre beautiful,
Your face is all I see,
For when your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

God bless each of you : )

Lynn

Trust and Obey?

Did you know that the Bible says children are a gift and reward from God? (Psalm 127: 2-5)

It's not some religious idea propagated by any particular church, it's the Word of God. The same living and active word of God that tells us we are lost and need to be saved and how that can miraculously happen.

The same Word that speaks of the coming Messiah for hundreds of years before the prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

The same word that tells us how God became man and lived amongst us, was tempted like we are but did not succumb, was falsely accused as we are, was tortured and crucified for our sake.

It doesn't matter which version of the Bible you read, they all reveal the very heart of the living God and His plans for our lives. Us as individuals. He tells us He knows us better than we know ourselves, He says He knows the number of hairs on our heads, He says He has us carved in the palm of His hand, He says He gave His life for us. He made the supreme sacrifice for us. And what does he require of us in return?

".....the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Fear the Lord if you are wise!..."

Micah 6:8,9

Seems quite simple doesn't it?

1. Do what is right.
2. Love mercy.
3. Walk humbly with God.

You might ask "but what's this got to do with having children?" You might think, surely we are in control of our lives, surely our God given free will is to enable us to make decisions? Surely having children is a personal thing? Surely we are entitled to some fun before we have children? but, but, but, but......

Think about it some more if you dare! There are so many conditions we often seek to satisfy before deciding to allow God to give us this "gift and reward" of children. (What other blessing from God do we accept only under our conditions?) Can we afford them? Is our relationship stable enough? Is the house/car big enough? How we will ever have any quality time together again? What about "me" time?

Where are those scriptures again? The ones about me, me and me? Yeh, I can't find them either. I find the ones that say trust and obey, die to yourself and follow me, stay on the narrow path and don't be like the world is, be in the world but not of it, cast all your cares on Him and don't be anxious about anything!!

Trusting God is not an optional extra upon becoming a Christian. Without faith it is impossible to please God, and how do we please Him if we do not welcome and submit to His ways, all of them, it's not multiple choice.

What blessing would you like from God today?

a) financial security
b) good health
c) children
d) a good job
e) all of the above

Take your pick, choose carefully now, future generations might depend on you........or not.

When I was first married many years ago I reluctantly agreed with my husband that we would wait five years before we had children. Seemed reasonable, we could gain financial benefits from me working for a few years, buy a house, have a family. Like in fairy tales, you know...

When the time came for us to generously allow God to bless us, nothing happened. Time passed, still nothing happened. I went to a specialist and after some tests which included minor surgery, I was told it was unlikely I would ever have any children. I guess the fairy tale came to an abrupt halt around then. I was devastated. It had never crossed my mind I would not be able to have the large family I had dreamed of. Then I decided to trust God. Better late than never I suppose. I didn't know Him then, but I knew He could help. I trusted I could be healed and that I would have children regardless of predictions by the so called "expert".

Five months later I found out I was having a baby!! Such jubilation!! My son was born and then a daughter two years later. My third pregnancy became a threatened miscarriage at 12 weeks. I was terrified. The danger passed and my second daughter was born. Then my desperate prayers were answered and I gave my life to the Lord. That's another story. My next pregnancy was three years later. I was so happy as I didn't feel sick as I had with the others and I was relieved about that. Sadly, at 14 weeks of pregnancy, my baby Grace went to be with the Lord. (she would have been 21 this year) Not what I had planned at all. My world turned upside down. It was a very traumatic time in my life.

I did not have another baby for six years. She was also a threatened miscarriage at 9 weeks. I was almost paralyzed with fear and so thankful when the pregnancy progressed normally after the scare. I really wanted that baby in my arms and not with the Lord just then.

My husband deserted us when Naomi was five weeks old. Another long story.

I guess I have learned the hard way that my will has it's painful consequences, just as God's will is for our good and to fulfill His purposes. That doesn't mean His way is easy or always pleasant, but He is always faithful, even when we are faithless!

I do have two more little ones with the Lord from my second marriage, but as I always say, that's yet another story....

Psalm 127: 3-5 NLT

Children are a gift from the Lord;
they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man
are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

Count Your Blessings, Name Them One by One.....

This is another of my favourite hymns from my childhood. Here is what was written about it in the London Daily back in 1897

Influence of "Count Your Blessings"

"Count Your Blessings" was received most overwhelmingly in Great Britain. The London Daily, in giving an account of a meeting presided over by Gypsy Smith, reported, "Mr. Smith announced the hymn 'Count Your Blessings.' He said, "In South London the men sing it, the boys whistle it, and the women rock their babies to sleep on this hymn." During the revival in Wales it was one of the hymns sung at every service.

Read more: http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/count_your_blessings_hymn#ixzz0ReggoqQT

and here it is

Count Your Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Refrain

Words by Johnson Oatman Jnr and Music by E O Excell 1897

When Does Human Life Begin?

When do you believe human life begins? Is it at conception or later in pregnancy or at birth? Think about it.

We women have been sold many feminist lies. One of the biggest of those is that we are in control of our bodies and especially our fertility and we can decide if and when to have babies. Contraception has provided that apparent control and we can allegedly have a free and easy life, only having babies if and when we want to and being in control of every aspect of that choice.

Many women believe this, as I did myself many years ago, and choose to take the pill to avoid pregnancy. Unfortunately the true effects and side effects of the pill are not broadcast or made freely available and human nature leads us to accept what we want to believe and not look any further.

If we do choose to explore further, there is evidence to be found, evidence that might rock our world, make us feel challenged, angry, guilty, remorseful, repentant or uncomfortable, force us to reconsider the "facts" as we wished to believe them. Lead us to asking God for forgiveness and forgiving ourselves. Lead to us changing our fundamental beliefs.

Do we truly believe God is in control? Do we believe babies are a blessing and a reward from Him? Do we believe life begins at conception? Are we ready for the facts? Don't read any further unless you are.

If you are still reading, you agree with me that life begins at conception. The erroneous belief that the pill prevents conception is a lie from the pits of hell. The pill is an abortifacient drug. It does not in fact prevent conception, it creates a hostile environment in the uterus so that implantation of fertilised embryos is impossible, thereby procuring an abortion. So each month there is the possibility of conception, followed by a drug induced abortion.

In Australia there has been a huge issue over the use of a drug called RU486, which is an oral drug (also from the pits of hell) used specifically for inducing abortion as a surgical alternative. The risks involved with this drug are well known and publicised, and yet the sales of the pill are at an all time high with most women knowing little about it and yet coveting the perceived freedom it gives them. The risks are the same. These include

* Prolonged bleeding associated with abortion
* pregnancy and associated birth defects as a result of an incomplete abortion
* medical complications such as high blood pressure, stroke or even death
* future risk of infertility
* future risk of breast cancer

Australia has one of the highest rates of pill usage in the world and also one of the highest abortion rates, so where exactly has all this freedom taken us? Why are women swallowing this lie, and choosing to be in denial about aborting their babies through using the pill and also increasing their risk of infertility and even breast cancer in the process. Why isn't more research money going into the links between the decades of pill usage and our epidemic of breast cancer? Why do women choose denial over truly informed choice? Even this Article in the Australian newspaper earlier this year was sounding alarm bells.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24891709-7583,00.html

and this extract from an online article is quite direct and factual

"The progestin in the Minipill may prevent ovulation; however it may not do this reliably each month............. The lining of the uterus is also affected in a way that prevents fertilized eggs from implanting into the wall of the uterus."

http://womenshealth.about.com/od/thepill/f/howpillworks.htm

Why do we choose to take artificial hormones and risk our baby's and our own lives? Is it really the "easy option"? Why do women choose denial or ignorance over such major decisions? Why are we so self righteous about our freedom to choose an evil lie?

I did have trouble becoming pregnant once I came off the pill. That's a long and painful story I will share another time. God was gracious to me and I did eventually have four living children and I know I have three more with the Lord as a result of pregnancy loss.

Truly informed choice comes from prayerful consideration of the facts. It grieves me to know I may have little ones in heaven as a result of my having swallowed this lie when I was younger. God's loving grace and forgiveness has covered me and I know any babies I might have had will be revealed to me when I meet my Lord face to face and will be reunited with them for all eternity.

Isaiah 61:3

To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.

The pill is not safe for you or your babies. I have fulfilled my heart's desire and have told you the truth with love. God bless you!

John 8:32 (New Living Translation)

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

I dedicate this "Note" to all the little babies in heaven whose mamma's never knew they were there........

love always

Lynn

Spring?

Sunshine and grey clouds race across the sky
the wind howls and the trees bend low
blossoms fly, birds struggle in flight
storm coming, splattering of rain on the windscreen
yes, safely home : )

Spring is coming

Shimmering diamonds glisten and ripple
sunshine bright wattle dances in the wind
pink and white guard of honour
welcoming you in a cavalcade of colour
Spring is coming!
really : )

Homebirth and Mark Parton

http://partonwords.blogspot.com/2009/08/saying-no-to-home-births.html

Dear Mark, seat belts and birth, what are you on about mate? As a mother of four who is a former nurse, a consumer health care advocate and someone who studies medical research as a hobby, I can only say you have no idea what you are talking about. With respect of course ; )
The fact is that hospitals are unsafe places for anyone, including sick people and especially newborn babies. Hospitals and the health system they are a part of (Dr's, nurses, anaesthetists, pathologists etc.) are incapable of being "safe" no matter what the so called "experts" say. The evidence is that many people are harmed in hospitals by hospital borne infections like golden staph and by human error involving medication, to mention just a few possible causes of further injury or illness and death.
I have had three babies in hospitals by caesarian section and one home birth baby. I have attended many home and hospital births as a doula or birth helper.
Research has proven that home is safer for mother and baby. There is no golden staph at home! Golden staph kills babies. I had a qualified Dr and midwife at my home birth. I had been told by "experts" that I could not birth naturally, that my pelvis was too small. I did not believe that. I delivered a healthy baby girl weighing 9lbs in a natural birth at home. I had my privacy, I had my wood fire, I had my children close by, I had the helpers I chose as guests in my home, I had a clean and safe environment for my healthy baby to be delivered into. No unnecessary intervention, no infections, no change of staff, no clatter of stainless steel, no nursing students watching, no pressure to be medicated, no threat of going to theatre (again) just a peaceful loving birth in my own home with the people I loved.

And I had a huge sense of triumph that I had done it!!! I had birthed my baby girl myself without having a fourth caesarian. I didn't have to recover from major abdominal surgery. It was a great feeling!

The caesarian rate in Australia continues to climb. Chances of a woman having a natural birth with no medical intervention in hospital is slim. Maybe the high rate of post natal depression is something to do with the difficult/traumatic birth experiences women have in hospitals?

Obstetricians are experts at dealing with birth complications often brought on by unnecessary intervention that they have initiated. Don't be naive about it Mark, hospitals are not the safe place you think they are. Newborn babies must be the most vulnerable little people in our community, let's give them the best and safest start to life! Be informed, their lives might depend on it!

Anzac Day 2009

I love this poem and to me it speaks so much of what is really important in life and how we need to value and respect one another. Life is short, count each day a blessing and live it to the full.

In Flanders’ Fields

In Flanders’ Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders’ Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders’ Fields.

Dr John McCrae 1915

Lest We Forget

The Light Shines in the Darkness........

John 1: 5

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

It's a shocking thing to hear about lives being lost in tragic bushfires that are still burning today. No one knows what the final tally of lost lives will be and the number of people horribly injured by burns remains unknown. Families have lost dear loved ones. They have lost their beloved pets, their homes, all their personal possessions and their businesses. They are homeless, without clothing or personal items or any of the things we all take for granted in our daily lives. Our hearts and prayers go out to them all. There are no words of comfort to ease their pain and loss. Their pain must be unspeakable. Words seem so inadequate and yet we struggle to find a way to help. We do what we can. We pray they find supernatural strength and comfort.

I can't help but feel a little like I did after 9/11 and the Canberra bushfires six years ago. I stop and contemplate my life and the blessings I enjoy. I am thankful my home and family are not under threat. I pity people who can't spare a thought for the suffering of others, who focus on inconsequential trivia as if it were important. It makes me angry. I feel less tolerant of fools and more motivated not to be one myself. I feel helpless and yet empowered to make my life, my family, my relationships better, more loving, more real, more meaningful because life is short.

My faith grows. I cry because innocent people are suffering. I cry for those who do not know the comfort of a loving God and the peace He gives so willingly when we are hurting and in pain and confused about what the future holds. I know He is my rock and my fortress, He is my provider and comforter. He knows all about pain and loss and anguish. He lived it. He lived it for me. He lived it so I would know how much I am loved today, how much no darkensss or fire or fear can ever come between He and I. He lived it for you. His light lights our way and we can walk safely, in good times and hard times, His love is constant, He is faithful even when we are faithless and when we look for answers to life's tough questions, He holds them all.

Sometimes there are no earthly answers. Without Jesus it's all just ashes.

What a Friend!

You know how much I love old hymns, such richness in their lyrics, a gift of inspiration and encouragement given to us.

Here's another favourite from my childhood, I delight in it and know you will too

What A Friend We Have in Jesus

---

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to
Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there
will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship
will be our sweet portion there.

Words: Joseph Scriven (1857)

Foster Care ~ making a difference, giving hope......

I began fostering a teenage girl three and half months ago. It's been a steep learning curve, the personal challenges have been many, but I wouldn't change a thing!

To have the honour of showing her how family life can be; loving, peaceful and safe from harm, is indeed a privilege and a blessing to my whole family. To give her aspirational opportunities to be the best she can be, to love and accept her while gently guiding her and encouraging her is far more rewarding than I might have ever imagined.

This experience is also highlighting my responsibilities to my own children and grandchildren, something I have always taken very seriously but I see it illuminated even further now, surely by the grace of our loving God.

Maybe you can make a difference to a child's life today? Maybe it's your own child or grandchild. Maybe it's a friend or neighbors child? Do whatever it takes, if you can make a difference in one child's life then you need to do it. Open the door to a new way of thinking and a new awareness of what really matters in "the big picture" that is your earthly life.

You too can make an eternal difference.