Author: Ruth

Rainbows and Sunshine.

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

I love rainbows and sunshine on a cloudy day. Both of these thing bring a sense of brightness to dreary days.  In winter, on rainy/cloudy days, I love our fireplace and the glow and warmth it spreads throughout our house.

Rainbows seem to appear suddenly and spread across the sky. Last week I was rushing to take the children to football training when we saw a rainbow start right in front of us. It moved quickly from being half a rainbow to a full arch. By the time I got home 10 minutes later, it was not only a full arch but it was now a double rainbow going from one side of the sky to the other.

I took out my camera and as I did, the sun came out through the clouds and shone on the tree that the rainbow seemed to touch. I took one photo and then stood still for a moment, loving the sight in front of me and forgetting to take more photos. (the photo I took is above)

The next morning I was ( rushing again!) to take my children to school. It was overcast and the sky was once again grey. As I drove home, lost in my own thoughts, I suddenly realised that my shoulder was warm. I looked out my side window briefly and realised that the sun shone through the clouds and was hitting the side of my car. In front of me was shadow. I looked in the rear view mirror and there was shadow behind me. The sun was peeking through the clouds and had hit my car. I smiled with the warmth on me and soon it was gone.

A few days later, with these two scenarios forgotten, I took out my bible to have my “other” quiet time. This is the time I have with God during the day when the rush of the morning is over. I tucked my feet under me and started to read. A scripture stood out as I read it, and I felt a touch from God as I warmed from the instruction.

I love getting a touch from God when things are a bit dreary and my mind is in a fog. It is like God is saying, “I am here, I have never left”. These moments are precious to me and they are as real as the sights of rainbows and sunshine. I feel lifted by them and energised by them.

But…

Here is what I really want.

I not only want to be touched by God, I want to be immersed, filled to the brim, overflowing in abundance…glowing from the inside out!! That is what I pray for. I want to be so changed that I warm others because of God in me. End…of…story!!

I want to be like my fireplace in winter, with a good glow of God and the warmth of His spirit.

I know God is doing this. Things in me are being burned up. Selfishness, impatience, rebellion…oh and don’t forget my mouth!!

These things are being burned from my being…slowly. A bit like a slow burning wood log in my fireplace. I hurt as He changes the ways I demand to be and makes me something different. He wants me to glow with His Love and power, but I must be willing to change.

Yet God brings joy to my cloudy days with rainbows and sunshine, because He knows that this is necessary too. There are moments of warmth and colour, but I have to take the time to stop and get the moments.

My prayer for you today is that you will desire a touch from the inside out, but that you will also take the time to stop for God moments.

I am hearing so many Christians today that are not taking time for God. They do not have a desire for the things of God. Oh, my fellow soldier of Christ… you cannot do much without God who changes us from the inside out. Please take time for God, don’t just turn to Him when you are desperate.

Don’t look for the ways that God speaks to me, find the way that God speaks to you. It might be through the loyalty of a pet, or a flower that pops up in your garden. It might be through a soft breeze that hits your face on a hot day and God will remind you that He wants to touch your life just the same.

Desire to glow, desire to change, desire the moments and get back to God. He is as real as the physical world we live in.

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.

2 Thess 1:11 (NIV)

Be blessed.

Baby Steps

Posted on by Ruth

 

Have you ever watched a child take their first steps?

Baby steps are important to all of us. If we don’t start to walk…well…we stay on our hands and knees. Here is an exerpt from my book that I would like to share with you…

********

For those of us who are mothers, remember when you waited for your children to take their first steps. It was a moment in time that you remember.

For some of us we held their hands and slowly let go while they stood on their own feet. Slowly we moved back and held out our hands. With unsure steps, they slowly lifted one foot after the other. Our faces shone with excitement and encouragement, while their faces mirrored ours. While we started the encouragement with a tone that was calm, by the time they took two steps our voice was high with excitement. We took a hold of their hands and drew them to us – hugging and laughing.

Later that day or the next our little one is hanging onto a chair or the wall, and then suddenly they start their own baby steps out into the middle of the room. We held our breath, not wanting to scare them by shouting our excitement. In the middle of the room they suddenly looked around for something to hang onto and, like Peter walking on water, they suddenly realise they needed to go back to where it was safe.

For a long time some of us have been hanging onto our Father’s hand or  the pews of our church, and sat stubbornly on the floor not wanting to do anything. Occasionally God lets go and wants us to walk to Him, to trust that He is there. This is hard. God’s Word shouts encouragement and calls us to Him. The Holy Spirit speaks the words of the Father to us. But we duck our head and excuse ourselves, not wanting to leave the safety of the known.

Daughter of God, the time is now to stand up, to walk in all that he has for you. He is calling you now. His whisper to our own spirit is urgent and pleading. Pray, believe and obey. Read His Word and get to know Him. Draw near to Him, daughter, and know that He will draw near to you.

James 4:8a “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”

*******

(Taken from “He Whispers our Name” by Ruth Lindsay copyright 2015)

Our baby steps are important to God. They are the very start of anything we do. Pray and ask God to help you as you take your first steps towards the plans He has for you.

Be blessed.

Let my people go!

Posted on by Ruth

 

Yesterday was International Woman’s day (in Australia), I had spent the day in thoughtful contemplation and seeking God over the roar of what I was seeing and hearing. At the end of my prayer time this morning I hear the words of Moses, “Let my people go…”

Yesterday, I was horrified that in a day when we could have spoken much and used the day to bring freedom of those still suffering, the selfish cry rises from the lips of a few and that was all that was all we heard.

Women and girls are suffering horribly over this earth and we want to protest 1st world issues. My heart cries that in Australia, a land of freedom and justice, there are women and girls that are still being forced into early marriages, receive “necessary” beating from their husbands, they are being sold into slavery and not treated like human beings. We have women who are being murdered, beaten, raped and considered less than human simply because they are female.

There are women in this world who will die because they are no longer needed as a sex slave or because they refuse a request from a father or owner. There are burned with acid because they are being punished for not wanting to marry someone or because of jealousy. There are women who are stoned because they are raped or because someone claims that they have committed adultery.

There is in some countries where being a woman and being a Christian means death, slavery, degradation and hopelessness.

While some would scream that it is the fault of man –  I would say that it is a human fault.

I found a quote by a British Poet and Philosopher, Matthew Arnold, and I think it would do well to add this to our thinking –

“If there ever comes a time when the women of the world come together purely and simply for the benefit of mankind, it will be a force such as the world has never known.”

From information that I have gathered today, in 2014 the population of women in this world was 3.52 billion. At that time women made up 49.6 percent of the world’s population.

This is our numbers in spite of female infanticide still practiced in countries like India and China, as well as sex-selective abortion where a female baby in the womb is killed due to the fact that it is female and not wanted. It is also inspite apporximately 33 women (per day) across the world dying during childbirth.

If we make up 49.6 percent of the population, isn’t it time we came together for the benefit of mankind and become the force for change?

Better still, if you had 51 percent of this world (men and women) that would care about the needs of each other we would be a society that would not need to talk about change, we would be changed.

We are the answer to each other, to the world and to new changes. I think that Lisa Bevere says this better than anyone I have read –

http://messengerinternational.org/blog/news/now-is-if-ever/

We were created uniquely, with love from a God who knows us well. Our bodies were beautifully made to bring new life to this earth. This is not something to worship, but something to celebrate. As female humans our design is unique, and everything points to a creator, not an accident of nature. Our uniqueness can be celebrated. Each one of us in this world has a wonderful mixture of things that make us different and a part of this world. We are as unique as our fingerprints, handmade by God. The awesomeness of God creativity in making us is to be celebrated.

For those of us that do have freedom to celebrate, there are those that lack freedom and have to live in that life daily. They have very little voice, no freedom, no future and no hope. Our freedoms should allow us to speak strongly against the suffering of those that have no freedom.

If you were to get every free woman to speak, we would all be so different in what problems we would like to solve. Some would want laws changed worldwide, others would say it was the fault of man driven society and want to deal with men, some would think that we need to change street signs or wages or burn bras. I am not mocking, I am saying that there is more, much more. This will not change the hearts of men and women.

Moses, when facing Pharaoh said these words. “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go..” Ex 5:1 (NLT)

The Israelite people were slaves with no freedoms, human rights, or hope. God brought them physically out of Egypt then took them to where he could spiritually set them free.

To the world I will say this – “let these (enslaved and broken) women go.”

Now, expect resistance.

We have many organisations that work in the areas that work in releasing women out of enslavement and giving them a new life of hope and change. (Below will be a list of ones that I know. Feel free to write in the comments and add more.) Get behind these organisations. Find Christian Politicians or upright leaders in our community – speak to them, pray for them. Expect resistance.

Look in your own community, find ways to help others.

Stand up and stop making excuses. If women don’t stand up, then there is 49.6 billion reasons to move very quickly. Satan hates you because you are created for a purpose, he doesn’t hate you because of your past, he hates you because of your future.

Ask God for forgiveness for our apathy, our selfishness, and our ignorance. Ask God to give us one heart for each other and for Him. Now pray for those in the front line. Pray for women everywhere to hear about Christ and the love, dignity and hope that He gives to “womankind”. Thank God for the men in our community who fight for our freedoms as women and who protect us. Thank God for the husbands who allow us to be ourselves, as God made us.

Remember that we have sons who are growing up with beliefs being place upon them through every possible means. Pray for our sons.

Pray for our daughters, that they will have strength and wisdom.

A few years ago, the Lord asked me to write these words down, it became part of the first chapter of my book, I want to share it with you –

“All the days are numbered because these days are so evil (so short). My Spirit is challenging many in their faith and walk. I will call many unto Me and they will hear. I will call mothers, sisters, aunts, the poor, the weak and the alone. I will give them My voice and it will be like a rabble in this land.

My voice will be heard. Many will hear, but they will be heard by few. Woman will speak to woman, mother to child, sister to sister. Encouragement will be on their lips, strength in their hearts. They will be a quiet and strong army.

I am calling women of all ages unto Me. I am calling them away from their labours and from their work.  This requires sacrifice. Their hearts will be changed.”

It starts with you, it starts with us…with women. Seeking God and becoming the force that changes the world.

 

Let our women go!!

 

 

 

 

Destiny Rescue – https://www.destinyrescue.org

COATNET – http://www.caritas.org

Messenger International – http://messengerinternational.org/

CBN – http://www.cbn.com

SWM Mission Outreaches – http://www.shanewillardministries.org

Confrontation

Posted on by Ruth

 

Ok. If you are like me and read the title of this blog, it is possible you recoiled. To confront is hard, and for some of us it is nearly impossible.

Confrontation, for some of us, can bring experiences of upset, heartache and stress. For others, they may not like to confront, just simply because it means that it is unpleasant. There are others who feel that it is their obligation to confront, and feel no sense of either joy or sadness at the thought.

I have just had a few days of confronting and being confronted. I have just spent a few years trying to confront a problem to bring about change… and nothing has happened. For those that know me, I was trying to be a gentle as I could while not trying to upset too many.

I do not like confrontation… I will run from it.

However, I will confront. I do not like to see people suffer and I don’t like bullies treating others badly. These two things get my back up. I have a favourite saying – “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.” – Edmund Burke

Yesterday a memory post came up on my Facebook feed. It was a quote from Lisa Bevere from Messenger International. On the 2nd March 2016, I had shared her Facebook post from that day on my Facebook page. The  words were simple but effective…

https://www.facebook.com/lisabevere.page/posts/10156502840940447

It was interesting that for that exactly a year ago, I found a reason to share this, and yesterday I needed to hear it.

Today, the pain of having to be confrontive (yes, I know there is no such word, but it seems appropriate) for three days straight was sitting wearily in my heart. I hated it. But yet for anything to change it needed to happen. Now I have to leave the rest to see if there is change.

You cannot make people change. There is a saying that goes like this – “you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink.” Another larrikin one time said, “yes, but you can run him until he is thirsty.”

People will only change often if it suits them and it will make their life better…even if that is to shut you up! But I often wonder this…

Will the change be long lasting and permanent?

This is the other point I want to make, if you do not confront, you cannot sit back and complain about no change. Simple… as… that!

There is no way we can look at a situation going on in front of our eyes and not do or say something, and then think we have the right to whinge and complain. Sorry, that is not an option.

The final point I feel to make today is this….

Why do you want to confront? Are you going to do it with as much compassion and love that you would expect for yourself, while keeping the integrity and steadfastness for the need to change?

I can’t answer for you, I can only answer for me. I hope over time people would see me not as unmerciful and obnoxious (demanding that I am right) but caring, concerned, and confronting them while allowing that their dignity is firmly in place.

I can only hope and pray for more wisdom, along with the heart to respond correctly to another person’s confrontation of my own need to change.

 

Be blessed.

 

 

Rules the world.

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

I was in the middle of doing something that other day when this quote came to my mind  – “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”.

It came to me so strongly that I took myself away and did some investigation on the quote, because I had heard it before. It actually came from a poem by William Ross Wallace in 1865. This is only two of the verses –

 

What rules the World

Infancy’s the tender fountain,

Power may with beauty flow,

Mother’s first to guide the streamlets,

From them souls unresting grow-

Grow on for the good or evil,

Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

 

Woman, how divine your mission

Here upon our natal sod!

Keep, oh, keep the young heart open

Always to the breath of God!

All true trophies of the ages

Are from mother-love impearled;

For the hand that rocks the cradle

Is the hand that rules the world.

 

(Copied from – https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-hand-that-rocks-the-cradle-is-the-hand-that-rules-the-world/)

In reading the many bits of information about the poem, it was clear that the main theme in this poem was this – the person who raises a child determines the character of the child and so therefor influences the type of world that the next generation creates.

We often think that our work does very little. I am not just talking about child rearing. I am talking about all the little things each one of us do every day that makes the difference to the world. I am also referring to those that think that what they do in life does not make a difference.

It is hard for a mum to see that the little job of raising and caring for a child would possibly make a difference. Why would teaching a child to dress, or teach a child manners make a difference in the world? Why would these things place her on the same level as those who are out in the frontline of society? You know, like doctors, Paramedics, Pastors, Evangelists and Prophets.

Why would the man who goes to work every day and provides for his family make a difference? Why would the person who reaches out to someone on the street make a difference?

Are they not also not reaching a soul that will go on to make a difference? Isn’t every soul important?

I don’t think that we acknowledge the differences that we all make, every day.

A few weeks back, I was reading and thinking about the 7 men in Acts that were chosen to distribute food.

“So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them  and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.  They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.”  Acts 6:2-6 NIV (Emphasis mine)

It would not leave my mind and I felt God was telling me something. I was talking to Him about it, because I didn’t understand what it was I needed to know.

I believe He showed me the above poem, so that I could think a little differently to the way I usually think on this bible verse. So, can I ask you something?

Have you ever thought that those “waiting on tables” needed the apostles to lay hands on them and pray for them?

Mmmm… good question!!

Wow! Think about this for a minute or two. Why don’t we lay hands on the mums, the dads, the table waiters, the garbage collectors, the door stewards, and those serving you with a cuppa after church… AND … pray for their ministry and what they do.

Remember that Stephen, one of the Seven chosen for this ministry, became the first one who die as a martyr.

I often get discouraged by the very mundane of my job as a mum. I find that the hundred times I tell my children to help with the dishes or to have manners to be very tiring. I find that the constant cleaning and cooking to be a struggle – some days.  I know my husband must get tired of providing for us every day, and tired of the bills that come in. I know that there are others who wonder if God has overlooked their service for Him and wonder at their job as a door steward or church cleaner.

Be encouraged. Everything you do changes someone’s life.

Back to the poem…. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. Rocking a baby to sleep is one of the most wearisome of tasks… especially if the child does not want to go to sleep and it is 2 am. Getting a teenager to obey the rules in your house, while teaching them that rules are for their protection, is hard – especially when rebellion oozes out of every pore in their skin. But you are bringing up the next generation of people that will care for the world and the people in it.

Getting up and going to work at 5am is difficult, day in and day out – especially when it isn’t the job you want to do. Loving those at work that tease you and persecute you because of your faith can discourage you and make you want to give up. Praying for your congregation is overwhelming – especially if they want you to leave. But you are reaching the generation that now looks after this world.

That is a pretty fantastic job!! Square your shoulders people, everything you do has the ability to make a difference. You really do – rule the world!

Be blessed.

 

God knows us.

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

I recently was reminded again that God know us well. He knows what is in our hearts and He know what we do not say.

I was in a waiting room at the hospital and in a lot of pain. I longed for a friend or family member to be with me and to take my focus off the pain. I longed for someone to be there to hold my hand.

“Father,” I whispered, (a little scared), “talk to me.”

‘Hold my hand.” came the firm reply

Mmmm…see, I couldn’t physically hold God’s hand. The Holy Spirit was not a physical presence. But I knew what God was doing. He had heard my heart cry. That itself was what I need to know from Him. There have been many times that I have talked to God and Has answered from what is in my heart.

There have been many times in my life I have known God presence when I have gone through “stuff”, and other time I have felt very alone. But always I have had the faith that even if I don’t hear Him or sense His presence, He is most certainly there. Today, He heard my heart cry, rather than my words.

Take this scripture –

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. Romans 8:26-27 NLT

The comprehension that Almighty God knows every word in our heart, even the words we do not know how to express, is so amazing to me.

He is God. Why do I still get amazed at God?

The other important detail not to leave out here is that if you pray something remember that God hears what you do not say. A bit like this –

“God, help me to respect my husband” (when really inside we are saying, “and pigs will fly before that man gets any of my respect!!) or “God I want to love my wife” (when you are really saying, I can’t stand that woman”) or “God I forgive ……..” (when inside we are angrily saying, “strike him/her dead God!!.”)

He knows when I am pretending not to be angry, or I when I haven’t really forgiven someone. Pretention is something that Jesus tackled when dealing with the Pharisees of His day. He tackled their posing and falseness. And He remains this way to us today. The Holy Spirit knows exactly what is going on inside.

Do you see what I mean?

The fact that God sees our heart and still loves us is so like God. The fact that He seeks to change that heart is even more amazing. But don’t lie to God.

There have been times when I have opened my bible and said to God, “I don’t feel like reading this today, but show me something that I can take away and learn about you.” Do you think that God doesn’t know? Why not be honest and allow Him to change you…from the inside out?

Take this scripture –

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.  Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)

Everywhere I read in scriptures I keep seeing the same thing. God speaking to the hearts of people. Read the beginning of the Book of Joshua. God was telling Joshua to be strong and to be courageous. He was speaking to Joshua’s heart. Joshua had just started to lead (with God’s help) around 2 million people!

Here is another scripture that is worth memorising –

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a NLT

We all want strength from God…it is the best strength. Commitment of heart? Our God knows our heart, He knows what our motives are and what we really need to hear. If you want to hear from God, you must be willing to hear God speak to your heart, about your heart.

That is hard, I know. Believe me… I know. God is always loving and compassionate to me, but He will not lie to me or tell me things to make me feel better. He will only tell the truth.

When God asked me to hold His hand, He was not making me feel better, He was letting me know He saw my heart and He would be with me… no matter what I go through. I am still believing for healing – complete healing – but I know God hears that too.

Whatever the desires and the cries of your heart – just tell them to God, He knows anyway. God’s Spirit is with you, in you and listening to you. God knows you.

Be blessed.

Time Out.

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

 

This week for me so far has been about taking time out. Not because I want it, not because I asked for it- but because it was forced. Yes, I came to a complete and total stop and I couldn’t do anything about it. Time out to heal was necessary.

On Saturday, I was lifting a full basket of dirty clothes, when I twisted sideways to get through the door. My back cracked and I almost fell to the floor, as my legs gave away momentarily. I dropped the clothes and hung onto the wall as the world spun. After a few moments, I felt ok so re-lifted the basket and took it to the laundry room. Within 15 minutes I could not bend, sit, walk, stand or move without pain.

Saturdays are busy. I wash, clean, cook and run my children around as their social lives kick into full gear.  Not this day, by lunch time I was in so much pain that I kept needing to go and lay down. I tried painkillers, anti-inflammatories, heat packs, cold packs, stretching and finally bedrest.

I figured that if I pushed through I would be fine. To make a long story short, Monday morning I wanted to do one more thing before taking myself off to the doctors…. Yes… that is where I stayed until help came. I rang the health hotline and they called the ambulance. Monday night I spent in hospital… and I had to stop.

The feeling of vulnerability and helplessness was something that I neither like nor wanted. The mummy of the house could not do what she usually accomplishes. Instead of others relying on me, I was relying on others.

The lessons I learnt over a few days were memorable.

First lesson I learnt was that I have a wonderful group of friends.

What took my attention was that I have two friends a that are single mums. They were right there doing stuff for me and offering to do stuff for me constantly. They rang me, visited me, and were… well… very present.

To add to this further, I know I had people who would have been there at the drop of a hat if I had called – I know this from experiance. Then there was a wonderful lady who got my eldest to school. So many people that helped me out.

I found this very humbling. These women are not part of my church family, they are simply women (mostly Christian) who have become part of my life in this small town. To see their eagerness to help was very overwhelming.

My God is very present as well. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” I know my God is very present, this too is overwhelming.

The second thing I came to understand more was, that I have sons that are wonderful young men and I could rely on them when things were hard. I could spend a few pages bragging about their kindness, but I won’t. I need to tell you something I learnt.

I realised that there were things I needed to teach my children, that I had not taught them.

Why not? Because I had always done it for them.

Now, please understand me, my boys do a lot. They dust, clean, vacuum, sweep and do a great job. I have sons that have clean rooms… yep, you read correctly…. I have teenagers with clean rooms. I never need to mow the lawn anymore, because they do it. Their chore list is long enough, in their eyes, but that is not what I am talking about. There were things that I thought were just common sense, because I had been doing them for a long time.

For example, one night my eldest and I hung out the clothes. The next morning, I watched him walk out the door to the back yard, he muttered something as he walked out the door. Next minute he hauls in a basket of clothes and plonks them on the bed beside me. The conversation went like this –

Me:        What is that?

Him:      The clothes from last night.

Me:        Wow… Thank you… are they dry?

Him:       I don’t know. (and throws me a pair of shorts)

Me:        They aren’t dry.

Him:       Well, they will be fine, they will dry in a little while.

Me:        Um, no they won’t. Sorry, you need to go and hang these back up.

Him:      Oh my goodness me!! I have just taken them off!!!

My son had never seen me check to see if the clothes were dry. Because I have been doing the washing for 40 years, I suppose that I have bit of an understanding when things are dry. He didn’t know that. He had only seen me walk out and take clothes off the line.

It reminded me again that there is so much more I need to teach my boys, in so many ways. All day long I pondered this and the need to sometimes be willing to back away to allow them to be taught. More importantly for me, not to presume that they know.

I know that God often does this with me. He backs away so that I can be taught faith, compassion, patience and mercy…you know…that “stuff”. The “stuff” that we pray for and then don’t like when God answers.

Oh.. and then there is dealing with s..i..n… you know, the stuff we do that breaks our relationship with our God.

Have you ever thought of that?

We really would prefer if character building came in tablet form.  Sugar coated so we don’t get the horrible taste as we swallow life in its realist form. ‘Cause then this would happen…

(Drum roll) Ta da!!

A Super-Christian extraordinaire has arrived!! With bright leotards and a big red cross on our chest. Yeah… anyway… where was I?

We don’t change like that, and neither will my children. If I don’t back off, the boys will always think that they have nothing more to learn. They need to grow and change, so do I.

There is a scripture that everyone knows, but prefer if it doesn’t have to do with them..

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Rom 5:3-4

When we run into troubles and find ourselves in difficulties, then we are developing and growing. God would like us to grow, to become stronger in faith and character. It is really up to us.

I have been proud how my children have not once complained about the extra workload, and they have done it cheerfully and willingly. I wish that I could say the same when God gives me things to do.

Having time out is good, for everyone in my family. Tonight, I was able to cook tea and clean up afterwards with only a few little rest breaks. They were grateful for a cooked meal, and mum back at the table again. And me…I am glad that lessons have been learnt in our household.

Also, I am glad that God has used this time to remind me how much He loves me/us. If He didn’t love me/us, He would leave me and you to our own stubborn ways. My God parents well.

Be blessed.

Football Season

Posted on by Ruth

Football season is about to start for this year. Yep, see you all in September!!

I don’t mean sitting a watching football on the TV. I mean that my young men, my sons, play Rugby League. I will spend the next 7 months as taxi driver, nurse, cleaner, canteen volunteer, and their number one fan and cheer squad.

My two boys are at their first football training session this afternoon. I suspect that they are going to come home sweaty, stinky and exhausted. It is still very hot this afternoon, I also suspect that they are also going to come home desperately needing to shower and cool off.

One day, I asked both the boys what they enjoyed about playing such a rough sport. Their answers amused me. My eldest one said the fitness and the team comradery. My youngest one said that he got to smash other kids and to tackle. (note my pained expression) BTW, the picture that heads this blog is of my youngest son. He loves to tackle!!

As a footy mum, I will spend the next 7 months running the boys to various locations around our large district, and cleaning mud and dirt from their clothes, shoes and our car. I will buy oodles of strapping tape, painkillers, heat rub and food.

Oh… and did I mention food?

As I have said before God speaks to me through very simple things in life.

I am the type of mum that cheers them on in their pursuits in life, encourages them and pushes them to keep their commitments, all the while holding my breath every time they get injured. There are times that I turn away with tears in my eyes when I see them hit the ground and take their time to get up.

The Holy Spirit encourages me forward, helping me to my feet when I fall. Scripture floods my mind when I hurt and gives peace when I am troubled.

I watch the boy’s coach pat them on the shoulder, and encourage them to push harder. The coach will help them with their flaws and weaknesses and place them where their strengths are more like to be used to the max.

My Heavenly Father reminds me that I have made a commitment to Him, that my heart must remain in the game with Him as my coach. He will place me where He can help me in my weaknesses and where the strengths that I have are providing the best for those around me. He will also let me know when I have let the “team” down, and remind me that through Him I can do what He knows I can do.

While footy season to my sons, is about the team and the game, the season for me is about making sure they get their rest and pace their busy lives well.

Often to me life is about the everyday, making sure every family member is looked after and getting things done that I rarely seem to have time for. My Father -He knows the bigger plans. He is watching me and reminding me that I can rely on Him when I get exhausted, when I am in pain and when I simply do not want to run onto the field to play one more game. I watch as He paces my life and stops me from getting myself too busy.

This blog has just taken a turn…

My two sweaty teenage boys have come in and walk past me. Their faces are red and they complaining that they hurt all over.  Even as fit as they are, they are going to hurt tomorrow. I think my words to them were something like this – “You feel it now, but give it a few weeks and it won’t hurt anymore.”

I can feel God nod His head in my direction. “yes, Father, I too hurt.”

“I need you to do some training.”

Oops…didn’t think He noticed!!

So, before Him now I have handed Him two situations that are really hurting me right now. I feel the pain as He trains me in the area of forgiveness. I really wanted to leave it alone and pretend that by sitting on my backside it would go away.”

“Walk Ruth,” I hear Him say, “Walk with the decision to hand it over this that you carry. This is faith. Do you trust me to work through everything in your life? Even those that seem to have no change?”

(Oh my goodness.. those faith muscles again!!!)

“I have trained and trained in this area so many times, Father, nothing has changed. I have given it to you before.”

“Yes, but does it hurt as much this time.”

“No”

“Was it easier to hand it to me?”

“Yes”

“How is your faith?”

(I flex it, it feels stiff), ”Yeah..ok, I didn’t realise that I would be so stiff!”

“Remain trained in the area of forgiveness, never stop forgiving. Anger and resentment do not seem to cause you to be unfit, but it stops you from being your best. I will continue to enlarge your faith, until eternity, without this you will not continue forward.”

I know what He means. He is now silent. I am grateful for the best Coach, Counsellor, and God that shows mercy and knows me well.

While I know, there will be times when my children hurt and are in pain, I will be there for them. There are times they want to give up, but I will not let them. There are times when it is too early to get up, but I will pull there blankets off them and give them a hot drink to wake them. There will be times when the drive is long, but we will do it anyway.

Why?

Because every achievement is good and is better when you do it as a team. While they must play and train, I go through it will them.

My God does the same. He cannot walk this walk on this earth for me, but He is “doing this life with me”. He is fully here with me in everything.

For that, I am eternally grateful.

Be blessed

Promises, promises!

Posted on by Ruth

Often while I am praying God reminds me of the promises He has given me, and why He gave them to me. Two weeks ago He reminded me again.

About 6 months ago, I was going through a particularly difficult part of a three-year battle. I was tired and exhausted and I was certainly not in a confident place. God reminded that He needed me to remember both His word and His personal promises to me.

Some beautiful friends  had come over to visit, and after hearing my weariness and discouragement, sat down and prayed for me.  They specifically asked God to set a time and place for the end to the battle I was going through. I could feel my Spirit lift as the renewed peace flowed through me. My mind cleared of the earlier discouragement, and suddenly a vision suddenly became so clear, I could have open my eyes and still seen it imprinted on my brain.  I can I still see it, even while writing this.

God gave me a picture of me, I was on my knees and in full military battle gear. The sword that I had once used to fight the battle was on the ground in front of me and there was this figure of a person was standing over me with his sword to my chest. I was looking up at him and not moving. And suddenly the understanding came to me that I could easily take up my sword again, or I could let the enemy win by surrendering and giving up.

The sword that God had given me were the promises that He gave. I was in the place/position, because I was not using what God had given me to fight the discouragement and weariness that had finally overcome my heart.

Before taking on this battle some 3 years before I had specifically asked God what I should do. He had said that He had given me this battle and that I was to do this. Many times he gave me different parts of the promise. Mostly with visions, but all the time with scriptures from His word, and once with a text message from a friend who had no idea that God had just given her the answer to my prayer that morning. I queried God long and hard about taking on this battle, because I really…really… did not want to take it on.

A short while later, another battle started. I asked God and He showed me that He had placed a fire in me…right in the centre of my chest.

BUT… yes…but…  in all fairness to me, God had not warned me that the battle was going to be SO long. Or so hard. Or that there would be two at the same time.

Oh.. and He didn’t say that I would be at the front of the battle fighting it without any experience in the fight.

Mmmm… ok .. He did, actually. I had just forgotten. He had told me that He would train me.

Psalm 18:34-35

He trains my hands for battle;  my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me;
 your help has made me great.

He didn’t tell me that the battle had an intrusive nature that spreads into every moment of my life. But battles have a habit of doing that, don’t they?

Six months ago, when that vision was so forcefully in front of me, I could see two things… I could give up, or go on. In this time of discouragement and overall body and mind exhaustion, I had completely forgotten every promise God had given me. It was a rude awakening indeed. I was so weary that I considered the alternative for a second (gasp), but only for a second. I felt in the second that took up the promises in my mind, that the sword was back in my hand.

This last two weeks, God used this vision to remind me that I need to stay focused despite of the weariness that the battle has bought again.

In the midst of this three-year battle, I am still a wife and mother…and author and speaker. Yet, I find that God often parts the way and allows everything to just fit into place.

Not this last few weeks.

Everything has piled on top of everything else, and there has been no letup of people needing me for something. My children were home too, on holidays. Their need for my parenting, my cooking and my company had been weighing heavily indeed. Even my community work was constant, sometimes people contacting me up to three times a day.

There was one other thing that happened in the middle of it. Someone I am very close to, decided that they wanted to give up on our relationship and it was because of something that I had no control over. That night in tears I asked God what I should do. I felt that the battle I was in was too big, how could I take on one more fight, and was the relationship worth the fight. God promised me that it was, and he asked me to turn to a certain page in a certain book… this is what I read –

“Don’t engage in relational battles and drain your strength trying to prove your point, win your way, or defend yourself…” (Page 94) “His Princess Warrior” by Sheri Rose Shepherd

See, this is the thing that is hard for me. I am not a fighter. I hate conflict and I would rather peace. One day, years ago, God gave me a specific scripture, when I opened up the bible at the verse this is what it read…

I am tired of living among people who hate peace. I search for peace; but when I speak of peace, they want war! Psalm 120: 6 and 7

That was me!! I want peace, but every time I speak peace, they want war. My personality does not like war, I LOVE peace. To be in a constant state of war is not me. I find it wearing and difficult.

BUT. But. I also don’t like leave conflict undealt with. I am always trying to resolve conflicts. Because I love peace, I hate to see conflict.

There are some things that we need to leave alone, especially if God tells us not to engage. I have had many times where God has told me not to engage a battle or enter into a conflict. I must be obedient to this.

This last two weeks God promises are clearly in my mind. I have cried a lot, despaired a lot and have reached a point of utter exhaustion. But God has provided, He has lifted up my weary hands and spoken time and time again. Even a surprise gift in the last few days to allow me some time alone to pull my thoughts together and rest.

I was once asked why I saw what I am going through as a battle.  The question was asked kindly and I saw it as the person asking me what I saw in the very words “battle”.

The type of battle that I am going through is a conflict and a struggle. The dictionary says that a battle is both a conflict and a struggle. The conflict is not going away on its own, and the struggles that come with it are not detached from the conflict. Every time I ask God about this that I am in He always shown me in battle clothes. If I could do this without the fight, I would.

I understand the desire not to fight.

You may be in the fight of your life right now, without any ability to make the decision of whether you fight or not. It may be a failing marriage, it may be the death of a loved one, or even the loss of everything that you hold dear. It could be cancer, or failing health.

You may be a young pastor of a new church, or maybe your ministry with others and the needs of others now holds a new level of intensity or commitment.

Whatever your battle is – stand on what He originally promised you, or ask God to give you an understanding what His promise is to you right now. Then, stand with that promise in your hand and move forward. Do not stop the fight until your work is done. Do not give in to weariness and discouragment.

May God be with you always in everything you do, may He strengthen you and uphold you, may His promises renew your mind and give you a steadiness of heart and mind. Be blessed

My children. His children.

Posted on by Ruth

My children are on school holidays at the moment. I love school holidays!! No lunches to prepare, no early mornings, no homework. There is also no set routine…oops… I just said the one thing that I don’t like about school holidays… oh… and when my children are bored.

In Australia, we have six weeks over the Christmas period that they have off from school. By week 3, which is just after New Year, the boys are at each other’s throat and driving me up the wall!!

When they tell me they are bored, I give them a job to do. They don’t like that.

My boys hate chores.

They don’t like mowing the lawn, helping with the dishes and cleaning their room etc. But if they want to live in my house, they must be part of a family that works, plays and eats together.

My eldest thinks he is very funny, apparently. (I think he is hilarious, but he isn’t to know that!!) Recently a conversation with him went like this –

 

Son:       Where are my socks, Mum?

Me:        In the basket of clothes that is sitting on the table waiting for you to take them in to your room.

Son:       (standing in front of me) Where??

Me:        You walked right past it (sarcasm dripping) You know.. it bit you on the butt as you walked by!!

Son:       (returning to the table) Oh… I just need the socks..

Me:        (voice now raised) Take the basket of clothes and put them away!!!

Son:       No it is all good. Thanks mum for the socks.

Me:        (now heading for the table) Don’t you dare…

(Rounded the corner to see an empty table and a cheeky teenager heading to the room with his basket of clothes)

Son:       Got Ya!!!

Seriously… doesn’t he know that irritating his mother is bad for his health. My youngest is no better, he watches his elder brother with amusement and brings his own cheeky moments that irritate me and cause me to wonder if I could skip these years of parenting and go straight to when they have teenagers themselves. (sigh)

They are great young men… really they are. They also teach me that God is a wonderful parent and much better then me.

Yet this question came to me this week – If God is a great parent, an Awesome Father and a Just judge, why do His children go so wild?

Think about it.

God is everything that a Father should be, yet we are still rebellious and wayward.

I have often had people come up and gossip about another person with something like this – “you know such and so, their son/daughter is really wild. They think that they are so high and mighty!”

Wow… you don’t want to know what my thoughts are at that moment!! Apart from the fact that the person is gossiping, they have not considered this question – If God is the perfect Father, why do his children sometimes turn out so bad? Did it every occur to someone that it is actually about the child and not the parent?

Yes, sometimes it is our parenting and our fault that our children are like they are, remember that we are not perfect and we make mistakes and make bad decisions too. But this is also a fact – You cannot make someone good, only God can do that. You cannot override a person free will. If someone makes bad decisions there is very little you can do about it once a child hits a certain age, because it is their decision.

I suppose the next question someone should ask is this – Do you really consider that God is your Father? How then should you act?

My youngest one day said to me, “You are not a girl, mummy. You are a mummy”. (I think that he was about 5 years old at the time) I love the fact that my boys are still of the age where they are fully and firmly aware that I am mum. They best respect me too!!

It is not only that we say He is Father, but that we live it. My children need not only to call me mum, but to carry it out in their actions.

My children need to know that I cannot be their best friend. They need me as their mum. Yes, I can have a friendship with them. They know that I am their soft place to fall. They can confide in me and converse with me on any subject. But I am first and formost their mum.

God too needs us to recognise not only that He is God, but that He is Father. He cannot be our bestest friend. While there is an ability for Him to befriend us, He is ultimately God and Father.

I love the fact that my relationship with my children causes me to look at my relationship with my God. I love how God uses my relationship with my children to teach me.

God is a good Father. His love for us is complete. He waits for His children to not only acknowledge His fathership but also allow Him to be that parent.

Ask God about this. Think about this. Look at the scriptures. God has every good quality that is needed to Father us well.

 

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

Psalm 145:8-9

 

Be blessed.