Trusting Him in the Gifts of Red, White & Blue

3 GIFTS Red, White & Blue

"It's been 10 years today" has been heard going round the family conversation today.

 I pause and reflect...

10 years since we came to this 'sun-burnt land'. 10 yrs since we began to reside under the red, white & blue flag of Australia.
Before that,  the red, white & blue star-spangled banner. And before that was the red, white & blue of our birth, New Zealand. What a journey...

A journey from a young girl aspiring to be a missionary in a foreign land, and then being privileged to spend a year in Japan. Hearing God ask her to go back, and in fear saying "No" to the One who called & equipped. She had yet to learn to trust. "I don't want to go alone. Don't want to end up like all the other single girls out there." Yet to learn that He was her supply.

Now married with five precious lives in tow, her heart feels such guilt for the "No" that haunts her. She feels no release from her burden. "I'll go anywhere, Lord, just not back to the USA or Australia." childhood memories of both still etched firmly.
Her darling seeks His supplier, and feels the freedom to go.

They prepare to go to England and at the last minute a change... a call to come and help in the US. Visas through in record time. His door opened to lessons.  She trudges through the lessons...not the most willing student. Hard to be willing when fears are ruling.

Getting the children's breakfast, her darling calls from work and tells her to turn the TV on... Sept. 11 unfolds. She watches as a mourning nation rallies together... patriotism, support. She finds beauty and is finally pleased to be here.

He smiles as the very thing that caused her lesson precipitates the next lesson...changing countries again...to Australia. He leads her gently but firmly. She tries to find the beauty in the sun-burntness. It takes time. He moves her again to a remote Aboriginal community. Beauty is found in the painted bodies pounding in the dust...in the easy laugh and the ready smile.

Moving again...each time realising that every place reflects part of His glory...every people group have beauty...every person has good. Lessons on heaven being her real home...lessons on letting go of fear and trusting His supply.


10 years ...
I smile quietly and realise that red, white & blue have been good gifts.

I wonder what colour heaven is?

 ~~~~~

"1000 GIFTS"...

#125  Quiet

#126  A clean kitchen

#127  Conversation with a friend

#128  Home-made pizza from budding-chef sons

#129  Evening walk with my darling

#130  Freedom to speak my thoughts

#131  Red, white & blue homes

"I have learned to kiss the wave..."

A gift FAITH, FAMILY, & FREEDOM...


"I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages" - Spurgeon

My attention grabbed, this thought has played over in my mind as I've gone about the day's activities. At first, my soul cries out "Yes!"
Then I chew it some more and wonder "Do I really kiss the wave?" "Do I embrace it with affection? This hard thing that tosses me about?"
Some hard waves have taught me truths about Him. I have embraced those truths. Is embracing the truth kissing the wave?

I meet my darling for lunch. I share this thought I've been savouring. In the busy food court tears run down. We share food... physically and spiritually.

Why did I embrace the truth? I ponder motives... Was it to make my life better? Was I trying to eliminate the hard thing? Moving away from pain rather than towards reward?

Continuing to move through the list of jobs, I pick up working son. We share about our days and then share spiritual. We savour together.

The Rock of Ages...the safe place...the solid place in times of difficulty. Do I go there to meet my need or because I am so overwhelmed with the love of God? "God loves everybody, therefore God loves me"...is this my belief? Or is it "As a person who finds their treasure in God I am overcome with the depth and richness of His love for me. A love that involves every part of my life and who I am"? More chewing...

Family together at day's end...laughter, talking, eating, enjoying. The food being digested all day is shared and broken down some more. Each taking what they need. Physical rest and spiritual growth as night comes.

A clear night ...cool wind. I enjoy the bejeweled sky. Such brilliance...sparkling at me. I am awed. A moment just Him and I. I feel His invitation to abandon myself to His love...to throw myself willingly against the Rock of Ages. He has my heart.

~~~~~

"1000 GIFTS"...

#117  The love of an awesome God - FAITH

#118  A family that shares openly - FAMILY

#119  The freedom to share - FREEDOM

#120  Birds singing all kinds of songs this morning

#121  Warmth of the sun

#122  Physical exertion in the garden

#123  Phone calls to loved ones

#124  Beautiful colours in flowers

"The King was in his counting house, counting out his money...

3 GIFTS READ...

Talking to my 21 yr-old daughter about her day, to discover we'd both been working with accounts. She in her government job working with electronic records for company finances... and me at home paying the phone bill, etc.

Honestly, I don't much care for this job! My enthusiasm was apparently showing...

"Mother, do you remember when I was little and was starting to read. The whole page was filled with gobbledygook. But with some help, and patience on your part, I began to recognise one word and then another until the whole page came alive. From the day I can remember you had us reading everything...even "Robinson Crusoe" at age 11, which I hated! You told me I had to understand it, even if I didn't like it or make a life career with it.
Well, it's the same with accounts. Some people never put in the discipline to understand money and so they are always in money-trouble. Others love it so much they make career choices and become accountants & financial planners. You may not have made a career choice for accounts, Mother, but you are empowered by the understanding you have.
...You know where you've been.
...You know where you are going.
...You know where you are right now.
And with that knowledge you can start micro businesses in Africa with a little money, sponsor children, or become a world famous architect and do something much greater for the African children.
Oh dear!...I think all the dreams of my heart just tumbled out!"

My heart swells... love that girl!
She standing on the threshold of making those dreams a reality
Me smiling as I listen to myself falling out of her mouth, ...bills all paid.

Grateful that I will not receive any automated calls saying I forgot to pay... a gift to myself!

~~~~~

"1000 Gifts"...

#109  A phone call from my darling at lunchtime
#110 A florist walking up to my door
#111  Help from a kind daughter with my IT issues
#112 Kids dropping by the supermarket for me
#113  New slippers just in time for this cold snap
#114  My '1000 gifts' list on the fridge reminding me
#115  The Chronological Bible Reading Programme we've joined
#116  A new more-positive approach to the accounts :)

HE Loves me, HE loves me more,...

3 GIFTS LOVED...

My darling is the first gift loved that comes to mind.
Second is definitely my children.
Third?...
I hear Him say gently, "You."
"Me?"
"Absolutely! I love you." 
"OK, but this is a list of things I am thankful to YOU for...gifts that YOU have given me."
"Who gave you life?  ... Are you thankful that I created you? ...I sent My Son so that you & I could have a relationship."
I've already had hard lessons here. I am now thankful that He created me. "Yes, Lord. You love me and I am thankful."
"Does your darling love you?" 
More hard lessons are brought to mind. "Yes, Father. He loves me and I am thankful."
"Do the children I gave you love you?"
"Yes, those children love me."
"So, are you not a gift I have given that is loved? 
I smile... "Yes, Father. I am a gift loved."

I am grateful.

Do you see yourself as a gift loved?

with grateful thanks Loma Photography©

Soul Restoring

Clear blue skies,

Beautiful drying weather,

Together,

Enjoyment,

Gardens,

Pruning,

Sons helping,

Daughters laughing,

Peace,

Reading,

Learning,

Time,




For all these gifts, I thank you.