Childlike faith

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

At our home on any given Sunday, we eat our main meal in the middle of the day. If anyone is still hungry in the evening they can help themselves to anything, but they are not allowed to make a mess. (Mum’s rules)

Last Sunday evening, I found a box of cereal on the table that was chosen by my youngest son to eat during the week. It was not usually something I let them buy, as the sugar content is too high but as a treat I allowed it. As I looked at the box, I was reminded that it was a cereal that my mum would buy for us when we were young. I poured myself a bowl, added milk and sat on the couch with my legs crossed, eating it. There was something very childlike about the pleasure of something so simple.

As I was pondering how childlike it was, when a scripture came to mind. Matthew 18:1-6 and 10,

“Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.” (NLT)

 

God placed these words in my heart for a reason. I sat praying for a moment, I sensed God saying to me – “Children are important to me, I see each and every one of them. Childlike faith is valued, and My children who come to me as changed sinners with a trust in Me, are Mine.”

It is with a childlike faith that we accept salvation.  It is never about how great we are, it is always about how great He is. It with childlike faith that we place everything before Him.

Think about it. We leap into the arms of God only knowing that He can save. It is a childlike faith that knows that our sins are forgiven and we are now clean.

I have clear memories of when my two teenagers were very young and their trust in me as their mother. I remember that one day I was walking past my youngest, and just as I past him he yelled, “Catch me mummy!!”. I spun around and just caught him. He had leapt as I had turned around even before he knew I was ready. He laughed with glee and wrapped his arms around my neck. He had given me a fright, and I had to explain to him that he needed to wait until I was ready. “But mummy, you caught me!” he protested. His trust in my abilities were unwavering.

Knowing my youngest as I do, I am sure that it was part of the thrill that caused him to leap, but part of it was knowing that up until now his mother had always caught him. With God, it is not that we deliberately leap from places of safety to see if He can catch us, but when we live in this world with all that life throws at us and our own rebellion and sin, we are often in free-fall. He stops that fall by saving us, and our free-fall is never a surprise to Him.

Faith in God is very simplistic. He saves, we accept. He loves, we respond. He calls, we go. When life is tough we grab a hold of His hand and ask Him to get us through.

It is the adult in me that questions God and my faith and demand that God let me know what is happening next. For the disciples it was the adult in them that asked Jesus who was the greatest. While is good to know what and why you believe, it is good to study the bible and learn more, it is with the knowledge that our original faith was basic and childlike and should remain so.

Our Father is calling to all people the same message of salvation to a lost and broken world. It is hard for people to believe that God can save. Their adult mind is trying to figure out something that children comprehend easily.

For those of us that have been studying and believing in God’s Word for a long time, God is still speaking to us in the same simple way – “trust Me and trust that I am there”.

For me, it is easy to know why something like sitting eating a bowl of cereal is childlike – it reminds me of a time when life was simple. The greatest joy I have in my walk as a Christian is the times I hold God’s hand and walk with Him, trusting that He knows all.

Be blessed.

 

One foot in front of the other.

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

Have you ever walked along a narrow railing on a fence, or walked a tightrope? Do you do it slowly – one foot in front of another. The urge is to finish the walk quickly and take one giant step to get to where you want. Do you feel that way, or is it just me? Anyway….

Life has been shouting at me.

I don’t mean shout at me from a distance, I mean “in-your-face-getting-your-attention” type of life. This is not really good for those of us that are walking a tightrope anyway.

Wow!

I have been having to watch my walk with God, my relationships with people and my attitude. I felt like if I fall off this thin bit of timber call “life of Ruth”. I am not the only one who feels this way, as I have expressed my concern to others within my close circle of friends, I find I am not alone. I have talked to God about this, (as if I have to tell Him, right?) and He is strangely quiet. It is not that He is quiet about my relationship with Him, just not answering my questions. Yet, I am ok with that. God has always been faithful in speaking at the right time.

“The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.” Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT)

You see, God has me, and you, by the hand and we are not on that tightrope without help.

But…

It is not only that life has been like walking a tightrope, I also feel bogged down in life and the business of living.

When I was younger, we lived in the western parts of Queensland. The roads we travelled were dirt not bitumen. Occasionally – yes that is right, occasionally – it would rain and the roads would become wet and boggy. To drive in some parts of the road, there would be a need to place the vehicle in low range 4 wheel drive. The vehicle would slowly move forward with as much power as it could use to get through the mud.

The pressures of life require that I get into low gear and crawl for a period of time, until I get through the muck. I feel the power of God giving the extra oomph in the engine of my being, but I question God’s ability to get me through. Have I ever doubted that before? Yes. And has He always pulled me through? Yes. Then, God is faithful.

Life isn’t always easy travelling and wide platforms. In talking to people at the moment I find that most people are feeling a little overwhelmed by their life and uncontrollable circumstances.

My own people (my family) are saying the same thing. My husband is needing a break from long hours at work, my children need a break from studies and to have a weekend resting, I am tired… bone weary. But no, my husband ended up getting 12hour night shifts, my children had to work Saturday morning, and my first weekend away in 3 years was cancelled. This is on top of everything else going on. I sat quietly and talked to God about it, do you know what scripture He brought to my mind?

It was Psalm 94:18-19

“When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” NIV

This is bit that excites me. You can replace the word “anxiety” with “sorrow”, “grief”, “fear”, “heartache”, “the need to give up”, and the answer will always be the same – God’s consolation brought us joy. Great… isn’t it?

Last week, on the same day, brought news that two people that I know had passed from this earth into eternity. My heart aches for the families, including my extended family. This week I held someone’s hand and told them that I understood the desire to give up. This week I have spoken to people who are overwhelmed and scared. I have no easy answers, just to let them know that they are not alone, and that I understood.  I have found out that a marriage has disintegrated and people are hurting. Whatever the struggle, please know that people care.

Life is not always a tightrope or unfavourable roads, I know that for a fact. Life is a mixture of easy and hard. Sometimes I appreciate the hard, because God helps me through. I can appreciate the easy times because I know what the hard times were like.

As Christians, we have the privilege to lift others up and encourage them, and to pray for those around you. We are here to tell people about the hope that we have within us.

Last week I used and example to a group of children to explain the need to reach out to others. I gave a candle to one child and asked him to start passing it around. As they passed it on I asked them to say, “let me tell you about Jesus”. One child baulked, too scared to hold the candle. I showed them that sometimes we need to personally take the candle for some people as they cannot hold the candle or pass it on.

Everyone needs to know about hope.

For those struggling with life can I say this –

One step in front of another. Trusting God with every step of the way. Hold on tight to the God who sees and knows.

And…

Let me tell you about Jesus…

 

Be blessed.

 

Termites

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

I had a dream a few weeks ago. The dream has remained with me since.

In the dream I looked under a house, there was a log under the house and it was crawling with termites (white ants). Not just any termites, they were big fat ones and they were all over the log which was just about eaten away by the termites. In the dream a sudden thought occurred, “I hope they haven’t gone into the house”. I bent down further to look under the house, and sure enough I could see a steady stream of termites making its way up one of the wooden stumps and into the house.

At this point I woke up with the dream vivid in my mind. I had just written three blogs about boundaries, and I had gone to sleep praying about this. I wondered if God was showing me more about what I was to add before posting them on my website.

Later I asked Him. “Father is this dream about these blogs?” “No” came the quick reply.

Ok, I thought, it must be my brain working overtime. But after a few days the dream stayed in the forefront of my memory. “Father,”  I asked, “why is this dream staying in my mind?”

“It makes a good metaphor,” He replied. God seemed a little amused at my slowness to ask the right questions.

“So… it is from you Father?”

“Yes,”

Yep, once again I had not asked God the right questions and He was patient. The burden of this dream sits in my heart heavily, and the more I prayed the more I saw. You see the termites are revealing themselves around us. It is not just a general decay that I am seeing… it is a takeover.

You see, in referring to termites the they say that is an attack. They takeover and build their home in your house until there is nothing left…but dust. I had a friend that one time did not know that she had termites in her home until one day the curtain rod and fixtures fell to the ground, she touched the wall and it crumbled to the floor. The termite had eaten away at the interior of the wall until only the paint was left behind.

My heart has been heavy for a few months now as I have watched more and more an attack against the morals and faith that our country (Australia) once had to hold its people together. To add to this, mateship and courage in which the people of this land seems to be almost gone.

The trouble is that, like the log under the house, it has probably been ready to cause problem with the real fabric and structure of our nation for a long time. It is only now that the infestation is now going to climb into the lives of the people within this nation.

We have been asleep. The average everyday Australian has been asleep, busy trying to keep their own lives in a sense of order. Unknowing and unseeing about the changes going on around them. While we have been trying to survive in a chaotic world, and dealing with drought, weather, new laws and usual stresses and strains of life, there has been changes made to our world that has changed the very life that we live.

While some Christians are drawing closer to God, others are being drawn away to believe anything, and to keep the peace at all costs. They ignore the Termites that are under their floorboards and choose to allow the slow taking over.

The very concepts of morals and ethics, decency, love, how we treat our neighbour are now been redefined and changed. People’s own understanding of these things are being questioned and if you have any of those things you are weird and perhaps a bit fanatical.

If you look at some definitions of morals and ethics, you will find that they intertwine. Ethics and morals are about the “right” and “wrong” of our conduct. While they are sometimes used as if they are the same, they are different: ethics refer to rules given by an external source (such as codes of conduct in workplaces or principles in religions). Morals refer to an individual’s own principles regarding right and wrong.

Right now around the world people have been encouraged to disregard the one things that they look towards for their source of “rules”. Whether it be something along the lines of “work hard, do good, love God and treat your neighbour well”, or “thou shalt not”, it is being replaced by laws of the land that are changeable to whoever is in power in government. For Christians, the basic structures of our faith, things like, “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength.. and love your neighbour as yourself” are being replaced by new things like what their pastor, or best friend/mentor/advisor says that is more important than Scripture.

There is something on an even larger scale that is happening in our country – divide and conquer.

We are a divided nation. No longer do we agree to disagree and then chat over a cold drink in the shade, but there is a battle raging on who will survive the next debate and the smell of war is in the air.

The mateship and respect for others has been replaced with “everyone for themselves” attitude.

The termite that I saw in the dream were huge. They were about the size of my fist. They did not care that I had seen them, or that they were out in the open. They feared nothing and were unconcerned that they might be wiped out by Pest Control.

Openly now people are happy to say what they want and do what they want. In a democratic country, this is allowed. It is your right and privilege to have a different belief to mine and it be ok. Once before there were enough people who would make sure the “right” was done and that those who were doing “wrong” would be told to settle down.

The Christians in this nation once before had the sway on whether a baby could be killed before birth, or whether an elderly person could have their life terminated because they are too elderly to protest. The widow would be protected and a child’s safety was paramount.

Yet if you look back in the pages of history, you will see that even in the Christian faith, things have not been right within the established “christian” churches. There have been too many that have used their bible and their faith to treat others with very little regard, and the love they profess is simply another tool to control others.

We have termites in our homes, in our places of worship, in our own lives and in our country. Slowly they have been attacking, undermining and eating away at our families. Because ultimately it is the family that suffers.

There is one scripture that has been given to me. It is Romans 5:19 –

“Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.” (NLT)

Disobedience and obedience. Wrong and right.

My prayer for you is that you will look first at the termites that have eroded your own life, then you…that is right…YOU…be the one that becomes the change.

Life is really about a series of choices. I pray that you will choose the right one for you.

Good boundaries

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

“Boundaries are not meant to control others, they are meant to be used as guidelines for you to know what is acceptable and what is not in your life.” – Sheryl Griffin (www.SherylGriffin.com)

(Blog #3 on Boundaries)

There are often times in our lives where we are unsure of what we believe and it helps to know that there are people in leadership that may know better. When we are unjustly treated it is always good to know that the law is there to protect us.

As a Christian, I dislike injustice and I really dislike corruption. It seems we have both happening in government everywhere and the general public are being led astray.

I found this scripture the other day –

“Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which frames and devises mischief by decree [under the sacred name of law]?

They band themselves together against the life of the righteous. And condemn the innocent to death.”

Ps 94:20-21

 

This is my greatest concern, that we have a government that is trying to cause mischief among the people it governs.

 

Deception  in high places.

 

With this vote there are a lot of questions. Questions that are not being answered and when they are asked, they are being brushed aside as being stupid and idiotic. To be able to vote, it is necessary to find out why we are voting and what changes are going to affect us, the people. One Politician referred to those that voiced their concern as being like Henny Penny.

The question we are being asked is this – “should the law be changed to allow same sex couples to marry?”

In speaking to many people about this subject they have no idea what is going to be written into law. And they are concerned that we will not know until it is too late.

Example of a situation I have found out about:

Last year I read about a law that would allow government departments and medical specialist to step in and remove new born babies off drug addicted mothers, especially where the child was in danger. In the newspaper article it went into great details of what it was like bringing these precious little ones through the drug withdrawals. My heart went out to the tiny little people and the caregivers that took them on.

But then another part of it took my attention. They also included in these laws that newborns would also be protected against going back into homes that had domestic violence. Interesting. Everyone who knows anything about domestic violence knows that women who are in domestic violence situations are nothing like those with addictions. It is like apples and oranges.

So, the question need to be asked – will they also then consider children of certain religions at risk? If it was simply about laws to do with drugs and drug withdrawal, why did include other children they considered at risk? What other laws were changed because of this law?

I will leave that as an open question as I can only go on the newspaper article and what was said. The point is this. It seems that instead of changing one simple part of the law, there are laws that are being changed dramatically. There are many that are saying that this will not affect the way we live. Nothing will change. Then why are their others that know what laws are in place, that are saying that the law already has changed to include same sex couples and their needs?

Why are we as voters allowing people we don’t trust (Politicians) an open chequebook to write what they like?

Going back to the boundaries thing….

Most people want to live peaceful lives and allow their neighbours to live peaceful lives… but sometimes it is hard to live a peaceful life when the neighbour is walking through your gate and telling you how to live your life.

My two brothers build fences for part-time income. My eldest brother once laughing said that his fences made for happy neighbours.  I grew up in Western Qld where my father was a fencing contractor. From a young age I knew the importance of good, strong fences. Cattle  soon came to the understanding that the barb wire was not to be tangled with. There was nothing worse than a herd of cattle getting into the neighbours’ paddocks and having to work out the mess that ensued.

If laws are muddied so that it allows too many arguments it seems that there is only two type of people ultimately win – lawyers and government. Lawyers because they get money off people fighting… and government that can do far more insidious stuff while it’s people are fighting and in chaos.

So as a Christian what can I do?

Fight the battles you can fight, speak up when you can, and pray… pray for our governments.

Elect people you know will not run with the pack and will stand up for all people without allowing the minority to be overlooked.

Then there is this I will add – look at your own life. What are you doing and how are you treating people that is hypocritical and unjust. Too many Christians are happy to look at what the bible (and by bible, I mean New Testament) says about homosexuality without seeing that gossip and lying are sins too.

Be gracious and compassionate, while standing your ground. Don’t be a bully.

Above all things, can I encourage you to put God first in your own personal life. Others make their own choices, but you need to look at you. If God is not first then your life will show that.

Going back to my original story about boundaries – Don’t allow those on the outside to look at your property and see that you are doing wrong. Don’t overstep your boundaries and cause trouble. And furthermore… be vigilant about your gates and fences IN YOUR OWN LIFE.

Be blessed.

 

 

Other reading sources (this is only a few, I will add more in the following days):

 

http://thefreedomsproject.com/55-consequences-of-redefining-marriage/

http://kirraliesmith.org/2017/09/dont-be-intimidated-by-the-hysterical-mob.html

https://www.presbyterian.org.au/images/downloads/various/Marriage-Brief-single-pages.pdf

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/the-yes-campain-is-becoming-plain-antireligious/news-story/63aa865dd9f06fd1451442552ea450bb

 

Respect Boundaries

Posted on by Ruth

 

“Be aware when people react with hostility and anger to your boundaries. You have found the edge of where their respect for you ends.” (author unknown)

(Blog #2 on Boundaries)

In the last blog, I wrote about some of the things that have been on my mind over the past months. I shared that I had seen a fence with an unlocked gate and how this had caused me to feel unsettled. I ask that you go and read this first blog and then come back to this one.

It is not just the absence of a lock on a gate that is concerning me. It is that anyone who wants a lock on their gate, is being shouted at and laughed at. Why is it that the desire for morals and boundaries are being called out for something they are not?

 

The Cult emerging

 

Within the LGBTI community there is an almost cult like dictatorship forming that is both dangerous and destructive. Anyone within its ranks who would speak out or change their desire to be within its ranks, is punished for both speaking out and speaking against the community, or leaving.

One dictionary describes a cult as this –

a: great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (such as a film or book) criticizing how the media promotes the cult of celebrity; especially :such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad

b: the object of such devotion

c: a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion the singer’s cult of fans The film has a cult following.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cult

 

There are people within the LGBTI community who are speaking out about their view on same-sex marriage and are being shouted down by both their own community and by the media. There are countless testimonies of people who have come out of the LGBTI community who are speaking out. There are children of gay and lesbian couples who are speaking out and are being threatened by the some within the LGBTI communities.

This points to one thing – an intolerance to others and a control over those that wish to say differently.

Over the past weeks I am concerned at the level of hypocrisy in the media in  not allowing equal air and print time to those that speak out. It seems to me that the media either fear the LGBTI community or are part of the cult like behaviour.

The media went so far as to cancel a Father’s day advert because it they didn’t want it to air while the SSM debate was on. What??!! Dad’s do a wonderful job, and they deserve the recognition of being a dad. Why was the recognition of dad’s not important?

At the start of this debate, there were many who were saying that they were concerned that the LGBTI community would be bullied and harassed by Australians. This has proven to be the opposite. The physical violence and intimidation shown by members of the community on the “yes” side has been frightening and all too familiar lack of correct reporting by the media.

Yet, with all this the media have been saying this – that by simply giving the information to people to make an informed decision by the “no” side is apparently abuse. Also, advertising provided by the “no” side is the violence committed against the “yes” side. This makes no sense. Is it the freedom to object now to be the new form of abuse committed by those that wish to disagree? Is this the formula the way of assessing abuse and intimidation? Are Australian people now not allowed to show that they object to something they disagree with?

Welcome to being a Christian.

For a long time I have been aware that as a Christian just the freedom of objecting is being taken away from me. It is only been recently that I could object to smoke being blown in my face, I can’t object to bad language, I can’t object to my children being taught sex education or evolution and I can’t object to a teacher telling my child not to hold a door open for a female class mate because it is classing women as weak. I can’t play my Christian music out aloud because I am (apparently) shoving my beliefs in someone’s face. I can’t share what God has done for me. I can’t share that God has healed me.

You are being ridiculous, you say. Am I?

I want you to think how the Aussie way of talking has changed. We can’t laugh and joke about anything without being in trouble for something. I could once speak freely about my faith and people would at least give you the courtesy of a listening ear.

It is not clear yet, but it will be, how damaging the laws are that are being introduced into our land. Laws to do with freedom of objection and speech …and religion. The effects have not yet really hit the average person yet.

“You are being an alarmist?”

You can only go by what has happened overseas to other countries. The proof is already there.

“You are just trying to scare people?”

No, I am trying to warn you. From here on it is your choice… and it is your choice. I am not offended if you don’t want to read this.

“You are just concerned for yourself as a Christian.”

Mmm… yes. It will hit Christians first, as we are the ones that that are being blamed for being the wet blankets. But it will change things for you too.

Remember there are others speaking out too, so if you don’t want to believe me listen to others within their own community first. If they are trying to silence their own community, then it is a sure sign of things to come.

People in Australia like their ability to control the environment where they live. They like to have a say on how their children are brought up and how they live in their own home. They scowl at someone telling them how to live. They like their boundaries and fences. When the laws change that go beyond basic reasoning and common sense, morality, and the protection of the innocent ones in our society, then the fences erected to protect the people from cultish behaviour are trampled, breached or broken down.

Thank you for reading this blog. Please stay with me as I cover the subject further in the next blog. Be blessed.

 

Boundaries

Posted on by Ruth

 

“Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me into a sense of ownership.” Dr Henry Cloud

(Blog #1 on Boundaries)

This is one of three blogs that I have written over the past few weeks on the subject of boundaries.

Recently I was on a cattle property with my husband and boys. I took the time to walk from where we were camped to the back of the property, a distance of about 2 kilometres. At one stage I was walking up a steep section of the property, when I stopped to catch my breath. I looked across at the fence and something caught my attention. A fence and a gate. Now, ask yourself, why would that catch my attention? Because I was looking at a boundary fence..

There it was, out in the middle of the bush with no roads going through it, an unlocked gate. No locks. Just a simple galvanised steel gate with a chain holding it the gate post.

It disturbed me that it was there. I didn’t like it, but I didn’t understand why it upset me. I soon forgot this scenario as I walked home.

Over the past few week, I have had the picture come back to my mind strongly and I sensed that God wanted to say something about it. I have the sense of unsettling and the unlocked gate has been sitting heavily in my heart for the past few weeks. So the question came- Why God? Why does it unsettle me?

The gate that was there, should not have been, yet it was. Why did that bother me? Because it allowed access through and into the land without restrictions. It allowed someone to drive into the land without having to check with us if it was ok to be there.

 

Changing laws, rights and freedoms

 

For the past 2 years I have been aware of a number of laws that have been brought into our country, that is not only changing boundary lines and fences (the definitions of the boundary lines and whether there should be fences in the first place), and changing what people can do within their own land (what you actually consider as yours and how much is now yours).

There are people who are genuinely concerned that the new laws put in place will ultimately change their land and the rights that come with having land. To put it more bluntly – The right to choose what you believe and how you live within the boundaries of sense, decency and the law.

Because the laws are changing, while once it was morality and the law that allowed you to live a certain way, now the laws are changing to something that will allow the government to tell you how to live.

The government is moving more and more into matters of religion, marriage and children. They are now saying not only that your children will live a certain way, but you will not teach your children to live and believe the same way you do.

To me, it seems as simplistic as this; I have sheep on my land, now the government through force is going to tell me to only have goats. Not only that, but if I have sheep, they will either remove my sheep from me or call them goats anyway. The fact that I chose by my freedom of choice (to have sheep) seems to slowly being buried under a mountain of laws and removal of rights.

It is also simplistic as this; I want boundary fences so I know what is under my protection and care. But there are others that want the fences pulled down and new fences erected according to the terms of their beliefs…. even if now the fences are moveable to the rights and demands of a minority.

“Bigot” they cry, “how dare you demand the rights to bring up your child with a faith in your imaginary god.”

“Because I gave birth to them, I feed them and clothe them. I love them and know them, and have their best interests at heart. It is my house, my yard, my land… and they live there. I am not harming them, hurting or abusing them. When they are 18 years old they can choose for themselves and choose their own beliefs.”

“Ahhh,” they cry, “they will not be yours for too much longer. The laws will change and you will only be their guardians soon. So, if you don’t do as we say, we will make it abuse simply because you teach them about your imaginary god. ”

Going back to the analogy of boundaries and fences – with new laws they are telling me what to grow, how to grow it and when they will come in a take it away. All the while I am the one working hard to feed the sheep, protecting the sheep and caring for the sheep.

I am concerned right now that the fence that is unlocked on the side of the property, provides instant access to those who do not have care and concern for those in my care. We as Christians have always presumed that our neighbours will have regard for us and do us no harm.

 

Backward and Bigoted Christians

 

As a Christian I am often accused of being in the way of progression in society. Society, apparently, needs to move forward with the times and social needs of people. Apparently, I am a backward, bigoted, and  a prude, who is the proverbial wet blanket to everyone’s party. I am forcing my religion on others in society who want to live another way to me. Lately, I have watched as Christians that I know are called “homophobic and bigoted”. These are quiet living people who do not agree with others shouting in their face about their own beliefs.

Now, I get that people don’t believe in my God, Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, Saviour, Lord, King of kings. My God, the God of the Bible that I hold so dear. I get that. The latest statistics gathered in 2016, reveal this information –

“The results of the latest national Census today reveal we’re a religiously diverse nation, with Christianity remaining the most common religion (52 per cent of the population).

Islam (2.6 per cent) and Buddhism (2.4 per cent) were the next most common religions reported. Nearly a third of Australians (30 per cent) reported in the Census that they had no religion in 2016.”

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mediareleasesbyReleaseDate/7E65A144540551D7CA258148000E2B85?OpenDocument

Even though Christians make up 52 percent (52.1 percent, actually) of the population I am well aware that we are living in a world that is increasingly hostile towards Christians. A world that not only sees Christians in an unflattering view, but does not want to hear the precious and lifesaving message of the Gospel. I get that. I see that.

I notice with alarm that a message given by me and the same message given by a non-Christian even have a greater impact on people around. Let me give you an example ….

A few years ago, I was part of a group of parents that met while our children practiced football twice a week. We would gather around chatting, encouraging our children and in general surviving life as mums and dads. After a few weeks they figured out that I was a Christian, and the usual stuff started – apologising every time they swore. I didn’t say anything, and after a while they figured that, as one lady put it, “she’s alright because she lets us be ourselves.”.

Even if I did complain, I knew that it would just go against me and my faith (been there, done that). I comprehend this and thought nothing more of it. They don’t believe in God and many don’t get who Jesus Christ is to me, in fact, more and more people just believe that Jesus Christ is just a swear word. I get that.

Now, fast forward to this year. On the footy fields while the children were playing, the Referees started to complain about not only the bad language on the field from the players, but the bad language from the spectators and parents on the side lines. So, they put a ban on swearing. The penalty – a warning and then sent off, with the reason for being sent off recorded. Every one decided that they didn’t like it but agreed to comply.

Mmmm… why would they take correction from a football club, but get offended if I request the same?

Right now in Australia they are debating whether the law should be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry. The debate has been marred by lies, violence and intimidation by those wanting a “yes” vote.

On this side of the debate there is an interesting “get out of the way and allow us to move the outdated fences that have been there for centuries.” Or “marriage (another form of a boundary) were used to control people (women) and keep them shackled”, Or “who needs fences, we just need to do what everyone wants and all will be ok” or “what right do you have to stop people who love each other to be married, you are a bigot and you are homophobic.”

Then there is this one – “It is about love”

You see, I don’t think that people should believe in God, just because I say. It is a choice. God gave free will to me, and He gave it to everyone too. You do not have to believe what I do.

Because you don’t want to live like I do, I know that we are going to have some things we don’t agree on. That is your choice. I don’t hate you and I am not trying to force you to believe what I believe.

Simply put it is like this: I don’t like alcohol and cigarettes, and they are not allowed in my house, but it is your choice to do what you want. I do not fear these things, I just don’t agree with it. The same with homosexuality and gay marriage. I don’t want homosexuality taught to my children in school, in fact I don’t want the school to teach my children about sex, full stop. I don’t want to lose my job because I have the view that I have, and I don’t want homosexuality, Gender fluid, bi-sexual, trans-sexual and intersexual taught as normal. I simply disagree. And, like cigarettes and alcohol- I don’t want it in my house.

One of the interesting factors about this whole matter is this: the hypocrisy of those that want these freedoms is that they are willing to take away the freedoms of others while demanding their own.

I hope that I have given you something to think on. While most of my blog readers are Christian, I am sure that this is also being read by many who are not.

Please hear me when I say I am not anti-gay. I am simply concerned with things that are happening within our society that I see as definitely not for the good of all Australians. I am concerned about boundary changes and unlocked gates.

Thank you for reading this blog. Please stay with me as I cover the subject further in the next two blogs.

Be blessed.

Focus

Posted on by Ruth

 

“Now focus, ladies!!” the voice called over the loud music. Our fitness instructor, a very friendly but persistent lady, was encouraging us to balance on one foot while bending slowly down to touch the floor.

As we lifted one leg behind us, I heard the instructor call out, “focus on one spot on the floor!”. A few of the ladies started to laugh as they nearly toppled. Very quickly we realised that our ability to focus was the only way to do this particular exercise effectively. This recent incident reminded me of something…

About 18 years ago I had a lady speak prophetically to me. She told me that she had been given glimpse of my life. I was in a boat that was travelling through rough seas, just like the disciples and Jesus on the sea of Galilee. My (former) husband and I were in this boat and Jesus was there too. She told me to focus on Jesus in the boat and not on my marriage or my husband. She didn’t know why this was necessary to tell me but God had given it to her for me.

I didn’t learn to do this. I didn’t know how, and I didn’t ask God to help or show me what to do. I was tossed about in the storm and focusing entirely on my husband’s abuse, control, and anger instead of the God who could save. I was on rough waters and in treacherous conditions. I had no peace, no joy and it was breaking me instead of strengthening me. I did not know how to trust the Saviour who was with me the whole way.

While the eventual outcome may have ended up the same – a broken marriage – I would have come through with the faith and the lessons that God needed to teach me.

The lessons He was yet to teach me in the years to come, was this –

It is not whether you have no storms or big storms in life, or a bigger and better boat to get you through things in life. It is your focus – your focus on God.

 

Focus of your heart

 

Many people will say that they know God, many people will say that they are saved, but how does this effect you? You say that Christ is your Saviour, but how does this impact you as a person?

Our life as a Christian is not as some people imagine. It is not about whether we go through hard times or not that shows that God is with us. It is whether the life that you live shows that God is in you. It really doesn’t matter whether you have rough seas or smooth sailing, does God have your focus? Or is it just your momentary attention?

A lot of people can say they have faith in a God, a Creator, but what is your focus in the tough times of life?

You see, I am watching people around me focus on things in life that will fail simply because they were never designed to hold our focus or faith. It is like hoping that quicksand will hold you.

What happens if you focus on a bird flying by when you are chopping vegies? What happens if you look away while hammering a nail into a board? The same thing – pain or injury.

Focusing on God is the same, and we wonder at our injuries. It is the steely eyed focus on the fact that God is God. He is Saviour, He is everything, He is all. If He is God and there is no other then why do we look to something else as our focus in life?

What do I mean by focus on God? I mean simply this. What is it that you have your heart and desires set upon? What happens when you wobble in your faith?

Well, you say, I can’t see Him, feel Him or hear Him? How can you focus on something you cannot see? Yep, see, wrong focus. It is not about whether you can see something or not, it is where your heart is.

Recently, I had someone use a phrase to describe someone they knew. The person was ”kingdom minded”.

“Interesting,” I thought, “this person was about their Father’s business here on earth. Living, breathing, and focused on God.”

Why are you here and what are you trying to achieve? If the answer is “Going about my Father’s business” then you have your focus right.

I was just finishing off the dishes for the night and talking to God about a number of burdens on my heart. He gave me this scripture, so I went to look it up. It was Psalm 91. But I had never looked at this psalm with the “focus” thought in mind. (I will put the whole of Ps 91 at the end of the blog)

Take a look at these words found in this Psalm. “He alone..”, “He is…” He will…”.

Oh yes, now THIS is a person with a God focus!!

Your focus is where your heart is and you will focus on that which is important to your heart. You will go where your heart desires. That is why your heart and focus must have the same goal – God.

Whatever your situation in life (whatever your boat), whatever your waters – (whatever your journey), have you asked God to be with you and have you trust the God who knows the future and the journey.

 

Do you trust Him?

 

What does focusing on Christ look like for me now –

Praying more and reacting less. Trusting God to give me wisdom to handle the situation better. Being obedient to His instructions rather than doing things my way. Trusting my Saviour to be there even if I remained on the boat by myself with God.

Take a look at Psalm 91 again…Verses 4 and 5

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. (NLT)

 

Our focus is simply this trusting the One who is will us and will protect us, while our heart’s focus and love is on our Saviour.

I can’t trust God for you, I can’t refocus your vision, and I can’t tell you where the focus of your heart is. But God can. Go on… ask Him…and wait. I think God would be please with such a question.

Be blessed.

 

******************

 

Psalm 91 (NLT)

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection.

Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.

Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.

If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you;    no plague will come near your home.

For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

 

 

To His daughters

Posted on by Ruth

 

Today this blog is specifically for Christian women. Usually when I write it could be read by anyone, not today.

God is trying to get people’s attention, in fact He has never ceased to try. People are busy, overwelmed, worried, frightened and not listening. That doesn’t stop God.

My heart has been so heavy for the past two days, but this morning I feel like I have something heavy on my chest. If you live in Australia, you will notice a debate going on about marriage. The pros and then cons – the for and the against. Emotions are high, words spoken in haste. Social media is overflowing with opinions.

I have so wanted to write something on this and I have had enough words going around my head over the past weeks to be able to fill an encyclopedia a few times over. Every time I started a sentence on this subject, it went nowhere. Nothing flowed, words were stumbling over each other without structure. The words in my brain would not come out.

Finally, I sat and talked to God about this stuff swirling through my head.

Was I to write? “No.”

Was I to put forward what was in my head? “No, I have other people doing that.”

“Mmmm… ok Father God… what then?”

“Speak to my daughters…” came the reply. “Tell them I am God and there is no other.”

“Say to them…”

“Put your whole trust in Me, rely on Me for your help. Trust in Me for your future. Learn to rest. Rest in the rest I give to you. Allow my strength to give you strength.”

I have a sense of a vice, slowly winding in. Tightening slowly. My heart is still heavy.

My mind flickered back to scriptures in Isaiah. I opened my bible. There it is… Isaiah 43:11-12a (AMP)

 

“I, [only] I, am the Lord, and there is no Saviour besides Me.

“I have declared [the future] and saved [the nation] and proclaimed [that I am God]…”

 

God is God, He our Saviour, our future, our salvation and He never lies. He alone is Lord. FULL STOP!

Today, the nation He speaks about is not a physical nation, but His people. If He is not our God, our salvation and our future, then what is He to us?

Lean on Him, learn to lean well. Trust in Him only, and don’t let go.

Don’t look around you, look at Him. The world will continue to decay.

He is trustworthy, and He saves well.

There is nothing more that I want to add to this. The heaviness is gone, it has lifted. Our God is good – love Him and know Him.

Be blessed as you seek Him.

 

Inspiration

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

Inspiration (n) – 1.  the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.  2. a sudden brilliant or timely idea.

 

Inspiration often seems to come from a place deep within us, but does inspiration come if you are not looking for it, or desire it in the first place?

The word inspiration is often used when seeking a flow of creativity. When you are looking for new ideas, or when you need to add to something that you have already started.

I find that when I write, I need inspiration to come. Today it came from the fact that I could not find words to start a single line on this page. But it started with the basic form of movement – getting up and sitting at my computer, praying for wisdom, and asking questions from what was already sitting in my heart.

The words then flow, like the breath that comes – in and out.  Each word following another on the page. One idea following another.

Before going on I want you to do something for me – I want you to hold your breath for about 3 minutes. Do it now, go on… see if you can do it.

After about a minute, did your brain urge your body to find air for your lungs? Was there a sense of urgency to live?

I could ask you to close your eyes and go for a walk, but that may very cause you to hurt yourself as you attempt it. The first piece of furniture you bump into will cause the brain (in the form of mental stimulation) for you to open your eyes and look where you are going.

Here is another thing to think on – Inspiration comes only when the need is filled with the very thing that satisfies that need and fulfills what you seek. Inspiration is only inspiration if it fills the creativity or path that you seek it to fill.

Because people place significance from the fact that it is only the talented that find inspiration to do and create, the word becomes an unreachable for mortals to be able to seek. Yet it seems to me that all of us have something that we seek to find inspiration for… and sometimes inspiration is a very basic moment by moment activity.

For a mum with a tight budget it is ways of cooking that will provide the most amount of food for her family. For the mum with a toddler, she will search for ways that will stop the tantrums. For the mum of a teenager it is finding ways to communicate effectively. Really, inspiration is around you every moment of the day. With the desire to live, you will not be inspired to breath. Without the desire to eat, you will not be inspired to work. Without the desire to not to be seen naked, inspires you to find some clothes to put on. Without the desire in us to know our Creator, we would not be inspired to seek Him. Is it really that basic?

You cannot fill the desire to be clothed, with food. You cannot open your eyes and hope to fill your lungs with breath. You cannot fill a desire for the spiritual with the desire for a drink of water.

There is a quote by Blaise Pascal –

“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself”

The desire to have a void filled, come from the understanding that only God can fill that longing that the heart seeks. If you fill that void with friends, money, food and possessions then the void is fill not with the very One who inspires us to live life abundantly.

These scriptures have been crossing my mind lately –

2 Peter 1:21 – for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (AMP)

2 Tim 3:16 – All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. (NLT)

Whatever moves you also inspires you. Whatever inspires you will also move you. Whatever moves your mind and spirit should also move your feet, or motivate your body….and move your mouth.

I pray that you will be inspired today to seek God in a fresh way. I pray that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit will move your heart, mind, will, emotions and spirit.

Be blessed.

 

Listening to the Sounds of Silence

Posted on by Ruth

 

 

Last night, just after our night mealtime was over, we had a power blackout. When this occurred there was no television going, the boys were in their rooms quietly…um…maybe studying? We went from having lights, to no lights. Wherever you were in the house, is where you stayed until your eyes grew accustom to the darkness around you. The first sense that kicks in to gear is hearing, because listening will allow you to stay safe until you can see again.

In our house the sudden darkness was followed by shocked exclamations coming from my teenagers’ bedrooms. There was some bumping into furniture and they came out, like bewildered little children, to ask me what I knew about the situation and when it would be fixed. They looked warily at me when I burst out laughing. I was, at the time, lighting two candles that I keep on the kitchen cupboard.

“I don’t know and… I don’t know” I said trying to contain my mirth.

“Why are you laughing mum?” my youngest inquired

“Because I know as much as you do. However, we first need to make sure it isn’t just the safety switch on our house. It is easy to see if the neighbourhood has the same blackout, just look at the streetlights outside.”

There was more bumping and exclamations before they returned with the verdict. It was bigger than just our house, the whole street was black. So, they gathered in my kitchen and asked me what they should do. I helpfully suggested that there was dishes to wash and dry… to which they disappeared back to their dark rooms. (yes, I am amused)

I didn’t really do the dishes either. I retreated to my room to lay on the bed in the dark. Suddenly I heard something, and I turned my ear towards the sound. I was surprised to hear baby chicks in the tree outside my closed bedroom window. I listened to their little chirps and the excitement in their chirps as obviously their parent joined them. Then the chirping became more muffled and less excited.

It was so very quiet. Even though our house had not been noisy before the blackout, it was almost deathly quiet now. You could hear yourself breathing. Soon I heard quiet footsteps of one teenager and the bed sunk under the weight of a body. My youngest lay quietly beside me. Soon more footsteps and my eldest joined me. I could hear them breathe. One had a slight wheeze as he obviously needed to take some asthma medication. I suggest he do this. In the dark I heard some more footsteps and I heard my husband come to a stop at the end of the bed. My two boys scampered off the bed and I heard them walk through the house.

My husband came a lay down beside me in the dark and  I put my head onto his chest. I could hear his heart beat. I was steady and strong. Suddenly the lights came back on, my husband removed himself back to his computer and I sighed and went to do the dishes.

This morning I found myself pondering the quiet that had come over our house with the blackout. So quiet that I could hear baby birds chirping. So quiet that I could hear my husband’s heartbeat, or my child breathing.

It was like the Lord had just put together some thoughts that had been in my mind for a while. For the past few weeks I have been reading Isaiah 28-35. I have felt saddened by the way they were treating the God who had redeemed them. The other morning, I found a scripture that I had read over so many times, but it had never been brought to my attention. Isaiah 30:21

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (NIV)

I sensed a clarity as I focused on what God desires of His children. He wants them to stop and listen… and obey.

Sometimes, the only way people will listen is to have all other noise stopped. Then it is like they look up from what they were doing and say, “oh… hallo God”. It becomes a shock to them to know that God is there at all.

Earlier on in Chapter 30 of Isaiah, the Lord is saying that His people are rebellious children who are unwilling to listen. (v9) This was not just being busy or having too much noise, this was hearing and refusing to listen.  They were asking Isaiah to stop speaking about God like it was too confrontive for them. Are we ever like that?

The ability to stop and listen sometimes is hard through the noise of life, but I believe that at least once a day we should be quiet and ask God to speak to our hearts. In this, we should keep in mind that sometimes it is not that we are busy or that the noise of life is so bad, it is just that we do not want to listen.

God wants us to hear Him. How can he speak to His children if they are too busy, too noisy, too much wanting to do their own thing?

If you desire God and everything that God has for you, then you must be wanting to hear… and wanting what God has planned.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jerimiah 29:11 NLT

Do you love that verse? I do. I love to know that God has plans for my life. I want God to have plans for my life. Do you?

To know the plans, you must listen.

For those plans to come to fruition, we must listen and obey.

 

Be blessed.