On Eagles Wings..

How many of you are winding down from the year, and getting ready for Christmas?
It has been a busy 2013 for me and I feel weiry.
My body is slowing down and I am not able to run and work as I once did.
I look back and reminiscence and can't believe I just came through all those modules in Bible College. Gee it was hard work, there was so much to learn but I have loved it.
My Pastor asked me if I would return and complete the Diploma next year.
But the hardest part for me was sitting in a hard chair for hours on end.
My back hurt and made me feel ill. I wish I had done this course years earlier when my memory was sharper and I could balance the study and my work at home with ease..

I hate to do nothing next year, so I may do the Diploma part-time, I am still weighing it up in my mind.
Are you like me and just devour learning?  I thrive on it.
Now I must pray and ask God, "please show me what I am to do next?"
I am reminded of that verse....
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40;31

Happy Christmas to all from The Land of Oz...

Lets look to God for our future.....and shine His Love on all.
                                                  Have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS.

Lost but not forsaken.

I ask all my friends to forgive me at the moment, because I feel so lost.
I seem to forget much of what I am suppose to do.

My daughter Daniella and her daughter Shiarn have been staying over and keeping me company.

In Daniella's Bible she carries photos of her children.
It made me feel so sad to see a picture of her third son Matteo, who only lived nine days.
He died on  Christmas eve, 1998.
What a hard time, on a holiday season,  to say goodbye to a little one.
Today as we sat and talked I asked her what became of his ashes??
"They are in the top of my wardrobe mum," she told me.
"One day they'll be buried with me."

She spoke so naturally.... Oh how my heart went out to her.
As a mother, I want to protect her from hurts.
I think of the many times she has moved house, and how often she must lovingly secured those remains..
She always remembers him and keeps him close.
Just as our Heaven Father does with all of us.

^"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 us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:38-39

Romancing Christmas

Unwrapping the Gift of Christmas, is my grandson Luke.

We have romanced Christmas with our western culture.

We think of it with beautiful Carols, the Nativity Scene and gaily wrapped presents.

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

                though you are small among the clans of Judah,

                          out of you will come for me one who will be 
                     ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old,
                         from ancient times." (Micah 5:2)


It is no accident that the man chosen to be Jesus father on earth, Joseph,  was "of the house and lineage of David"
(Luke 2:4) and that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.


 "Joseph went to Bethlehem to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born."
(Luke 2:5-6)

I cannot imagine the young Mary walking all that way from
Nazareth to Bethlehem while heavily pregnant.
It was a three to four day trip, and as a woman I can empathise with her. I understand how she gave birth, after that long and tedious journey. How difficult!
We are not told she rode on a donkey??
We are not told her age?
But this was her first baby, and there were no luxuries.
No doctors or nurses to assist with the birth.
No pretty clothes or crib.
Only drudgery and hardship.

How different for us who worship Him, the King of Glory.
We don't suffer to celebrate our Savours birth.

We eat to bursting.
We relax in the comforts of our homes.
We are entertained by lovely Christmas Carols.
We romance the birth of Christ. 

Do we fully understand? Do we fully appreciate???

God's son was born in hardship.

We need to contemplate on these things..

Celine Dion and Josh Groban, "The Prayer"

God Bless You All This Christmas Season.
May you be happy, healthy safe and blessed.
From Us to you.
Happy Christmas and Prosperous new Year.

Nostalgia

I’m feeling a little nostalgic today.
We have been getting a lot of rain with showers, downfalls and flooding in some area's.
In Queensland the heat prevails. Christmas comes to Australia in the summertime. There is no white Christmas, so much of the traditional fare we see overseas is not the same here. I enjoy looking at all the American Blog’s and seeing the homes all dressed up. It certainly does make if different.

We are casual and laid back. Some may put up a Christmas tree and place a few decorations about, but it is not like the colder countries.
Windows and doors are open and ceiling fan whirl.

Christmas Day may be spent outdoor on a picnic or at the beach. Anywhere cool!!

How was Christmas back a hundred years ago?
Now one thing I think you’ll agree, they wore too many clothes..
I cannot image going to the beach dressed like this. Thank God for progress.

                                            Coogee Beach 1800's

                                                                       Bush Picnic 1920's

As a child growing up in a small country community, we made our own Christmas decorations. Christmas Bush grew in the plenty, it was pretty and it cost nothing.
We picked bunches of this and placed it around the home. For me today, it is the one thing I miss. Of course it still grows but it lacks the child enthusiasm of picking, bringing it home and placing it into large jar's with water. 

The children have their Christmas holidays of six weeks home from school, before the new school year begins.

So its off for some fun in the sun.

All over the world past and present we celebrate the Christmas season in different ways. Yet the meaning remains the same.

It's not how we celebrate but why we do. 

God came to earth. He revealed himself in the flesh.

He lived a human life. He dwelt among us..

He didn't only tell us how to live. He showed us how..

He forgave and He loved. We are His family, when we believe in Him.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

(Isaiah 9:6)

                            Hallelujah