In Rememberance of ANZAC Day

I cry unashamedly hard as I listen and watch this song.
On the 25th of April each year, Australia remembers the fallen.
Those men and women who march proudly off to war to fight for their country.
And Why??

I don't like war!! and I don't like what it does to those who fight.
Many loose their lives, many return so broken in spirit...
And in the very old wars, many were simply lost and their family could not even claim and bury them??
My grandfather Samuel fought in the First World War.

My father Arthur fought in the Second World War.

My husband Ray fought in the Vietnam War.

Ray's Purple Heart.

He bears the scar's on his arm and chest.

They wanted to amputate.

His mind bears much more.

Ray remembers his comrades.

Ray suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
No one knows how hard this is for him.
Or for myself as his wife...
After four years, the U.S. government is still considering his case??

You wonder?
Only those who suffer really understand the hardship.
When will it end?


Our Jesus said:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart!
I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

No Acting God

I am not God and neither are you.
Only God is God, and yet....

Many people expect others to have, all the answers??
They place their problem onto someone else and expect them to make it right!
It is not nice when you are put in this situation, neither is it fair.

When others do this, it is very selfish..
After all no-one in the world has it perfect!!

Everyone has problems!!
And...praise God that it is so.
Trouble and strife keeps us humble.

The good news is:
All we can do,  is put our faith in God.

All we can do is, become as a little child...

Our Heavenly Father tells us.
"My child, pay attention to what I say.

Listen carefully to my words.
Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body."
Proverbs 4:20-22

Gods Word is Truth!!
Read this over and over..
And believe.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers, 
neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate ME from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39

Rejoice in your heart!!
Allow yourself to let this sink deep within your soul.
God has all in hand..

God says this, I believe it, and that's the end of it!

Grandchildren Shiarn of Daniella and Izaiah of Lee-Joel

Children have NO hang-ups.
Think back, remember that time..
And trust in God.

SERVICE AND SACRIFICE

John wrote the last of the four gospels, and was the favoured disciple.
Why was he the favoured??
Well, likely he and his cousin Jesus, played together as children.
Probably, their relationship was very close.

Imagine it, two little boys in different households living close to each other.
Cousins  and best friends.
John's mother Salome was Mary's sister.
Salome was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James and John.
In all the Bible accounts of the life of Jesus, I have always prefered John's.

He had a knowing of the spirit of God within Jesus...
And His very first statement was....
"In the beginning was the WORD.
And the WORD was with God.
And the WORD was God."
John 1:1

John was the only person to relate how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples.

Why would he do this??

Washing His Disciples' Feet

"Just before the Passover Feast, (my cousin) Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world and go back to the Father.
Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end.
It was suppertime.
The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.


Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything.
He knew he came from God and was on his way back to God.
So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron.
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron.

When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"
Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later."
John 13

So why did John relate this happening??
I would love to hear your thoughts on this??
Mine is, he was in awe, that his cousin showed such humility!
Most kings sit on a throne and are served.
Jesus, prostrated himself in a lowly position.

Who are we to ever consider ourselves as better than someone else??  The example of Jesus was the opposite.



When someone is in need we are to help them.
When someone is hungry we are to feed them.
Or thirsty, give them something to drink..

Share with others.
Laugh with them.
Cry with them...
And, carry them.
Service and Sacrifice is the story of Easter.

Believe and share in ETERNAL LIFE.

An Easter Parallel

I think this video says it all....

A modern day version of a father who sacrifices his only Son.

'For God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten son."
John 3:16

Wave the Palms

In ancient times, Palm Branches symbolized Goodness and Victory.
They were often depicted on coins and important buildings.
Solomon had palm branches carved into the walls and doors of the temple.

 (1 Kings 6:29).
"And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without."

So it was only right that when Jesus entered Jerusalem he was honoured with Palms waved in His honour.

Yet think about this, the people had no idea at that time, he would be, the sacrificial lamb of God.

AND, of all the Faiths in the world...

He would be the only leader to lay down His life.

"On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him,
and cried, Hosanna:
Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord."
John 12:12-13

At the end of Gods Word (Bible), we are told.
People from every nation will raise palm branches to honor Jesus.

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and Palms in their hands."
Revelation 7:9

Why was he likened unto a lamb?
Because, He submissively gave of Himself...

As strong as a Lion.

YET

As weak as a Sacrificial Lamb.

ONLY  OUR JESUS

Old Age . We Can't Dismiss The Reality

AN OLD LADY'S POEM
(This poem is located in many hospital wards, it is there to remind the staff that even though a patient is old, they are still important. They still have feelings and they still matter.)
I love my mother dearly. Recently she has entered a nursing home. 
I pray she is always recognised as someones daughter, mother, and grandmother. A lady of dignity and one who is worthy of respect.


This Poem was written by an elderly patient in her final years.
What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you're looking at me?


A crabby old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?


Who dribbles her food and makes no reply""
Who seems not to notice the things that you do,


And forever is losing a stocking or shoe....
Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,


With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill....
Then open your eyes, nurse; you're not looking at me.


I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.


I'm a small child of ten...with a father ! and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who love one another.


A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.


A bride soon at twenty--my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.


At twenty-five now, I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide and a secure happy home.

My parents, elder brother and sister

A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last.


At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.


At fifty once more, babies play around my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.


Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead;
I look at the future, I shudder with dread.


For my young are all rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and the love that I've known.


I'm now an old woman....and nature is cruel;
Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.


The body, it crumbles, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.


But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells.


I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.


I think of the years....all too few, gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.


So open your eyes, nurses, open and see,
...Not a crabby old woman; look closer...see ME!!
Annonymous.

My own mother has lived a full life. 
Looking back there is much wisdom in what she has learned and what she has taught her own children.
Now its her time to be loved and cared for.

                                                                       My mother now.

"I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 
John 21:18



"Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with a promise;
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
Ephesians 6: 2-3

Postscript:
Some people read only what they wish to see.. 
These persons have eyes to see, but no heart of compassion or understanding.
And to those, let me say, "God judges the heart and, I love my mother." 

JUST JESUS..

Apparitions..

Can you believe how Satan will use someone you love, to deceive you?
This was an experience of mine approximately eighteen years ago.

My teenage daughter went out to a rare party with friends.
It was rare as we were strict parents.

"Be sure to be in by midnight,"  I instructed as she left.
I couldn't sleep and as many anxious parents do, my ear's strained, listening for her return.
Footsteps echoed on the tiled hallway floor.
Thank God she was home!
She ran happily to my bed and kissed my cheek, then out of the room.
Breathing a sigh of relief I sank into the mattress and fell into a peaceful sleep.

Hearing a noise in the kitchen a few hours later, I got up to investigate.
Stunned,  I discovered, my daughter had JUST come home.

I can't remember what her late excuse was, I was too befuddled by my earlier experience.

"Are  you sure you didn't come home earlier?" I questioned!

I thought I had experienced my daughters joyous return home?
I thought I had experienced her happy goodnight kiss?

What I did experience was a deception..
And there is only one deceiver....Satan!

^"And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light."
2 Corinthians 11:14

"Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Matthew4:10

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Ephesians 6:12



"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"
1 Timothy 2:5

If you want to argue....
there can be no BUTS...
There is only Jesus.

To demonstrate our total faith in ONLY Him, we do as instructed.

 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38

My daughter Daniella on the day of her Baptism, 2009.

God or The devil

I have had much trouble posting this, which tells me, satan, the great deciever, does not want it known.

A beautiful young girl, perhaps about fourteen years of age, had a visitation from an Angel.
She was special, and she proves this by her great faith.
When the Angels tells her, she is to be mother of the Savour of the world there is no hesitation.

Many of us would have been horrified!
Who wants their own family to possibly disown them?
Who cherishes the thought of being taken to the town square and stoned to death?

But Mary spoke these words:
"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my soul rejoices in God my Savour."
Mary herself, subjects herself, and proclaims herself, a sinner.
She rejoices in God as her Savour.
She was not a bad person.
But just as all humanity is born into sin, so was Mary.
And she proclaimed this.

Jesus said, "I am the truth the life and the way, no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 Do you believe this?

Does the Word of God change?
"Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows."
James 1:17



“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt.
Serve the LORD!
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:14-15 (N K J Version)