Stead.fast

stead·fast [sted-fast, -fahst, -fuhst]
adjective
1.  fixed in direction; steadily directed: a steadfast gaze.
2.  firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person: a steadfast friend.
3.  unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.
4.  firmly established, as an institution or a state of affairs.
5.  firmly fixed in place or position.

"The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;  teach me your statutes!"

What love is this!

You are

From life's first gasp
To final breath
You are there
In the dawning of the light
And the start of night
And your fingerprints
Are found in the shaping of all life

In my tears you are the rainbow
In my laughter you are the joy
And you are the God
Who fills my heart's hole
To make me whole

You are the searching found
You are the weeping stilled
And you are the love of which I have dreamed
Jesus

Lost flight

The western sun throws its light onto a turbulent sea
And a cold southern wind flutters my big blue wing
softly brushing the hair from my eyes
Soon, soon, I'll soar and play in the winter air
A moment of freedom in flight, and sheer delight
Weightless

A few steps and I'm that place again
Sacred
Curving through air and space and timeless
I laugh, and circle, the world spread to its ends

And smash, flash, thrash into cold grey heartless rock
and pain crashes back into the world and flight is lost in my agonised cry of "Why!"

My wing lies a shroud over the cliffs above
while I sob my breaths clinging to a ledge
Broken
A bird whose wings are torn and bleeding

God, I've sought you in that sanctity of space and flight where my heart's yearning calls out
And now, somehow, will I find you in the haze and weightiness of my broken return to earth?


...
On Sunday we watched George fly and curve through the air, and then turn into a cliff face on Slangkop at 5.12pm. Adam climbed up to him while I called a rescue helicopter and we all watched as he was lifted off and taken to hospital with a smashed patella and broken ankle. My prayer for George is not only for healing, but also that the Healer would draw near and that George would "fly" anew.

"You came near when I called you, and said: 'Do not fear'. O Lord, you took up my case and redeemed my life."  Lamentations 3:57-58

Let's do God today!

Let's do God today
Let us think deeply, let us pray
Let us laugh and live and love
And give thanks to Him above

Let's do life in a new way
With thankfulness and gratitude as we play
Let's see rainbows in our tears
And feel His strength despite our fears

Let's do "today" today
Live in the moment, breathe, and say
I will live as though I am free
Because Your blood has paid for me

(Quiet time thoughts before tackling work, house, kids and the rest of my day. Oh Lord, I want and need You today desperately. You are my strength, You are my song. How I yearn and long for and love You!)

Healing in His wings

More bunny trails! A swift summary of another treasure unearthed tonight...

Here's a scripture I've always known. "The Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings". But... if you translate the word "wings", you find that the Hebrew word means "borders" or "tassles".

Which drops me right into Matthew, where the woman with the issue of blood reached out a hand through the crowd, defying all social norms, religious observances and her own fear, to touch the edge of his robe. To touch the "tassles". To touch the "wings". To touch the "borders".

Bounce from Matthew 9:20-22 into Matthew 14:36 and we have Jesus walking on water, then getting to the other side of the lake. And there "people brought all their sick to him, and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed". 

Now if you read up on tassles, you'll find that there is huge significance for the Jewish people with regards to tassles. There is one blue thread in each one of the four tassles that hang at the four corners of the prayer shawl used today, which was similar to the cloth that men would wear so many years ago. Blue, to remind us of our heavenly calling, that we are meant for more than just earth. Four corners, so that we are reminded of our calling and Lord, no matter what direction we face.

The Psalmist says in Psalm 91 that "under his wings we will find refuge". Under the tassles, within his borders.

Who knew that tassles would be such an incredible discovery! Why did I never see that ALL who dared to reach out and touch the tassles were healed? Now there is a thought!

Lord, help me to discern the borders, and find the safety of being under Your wings. And may I touch the borders of heaven, and find that my reaching out to you brings heaven here to a hurting earth!


---
Ref: Read more about tassles at http://www.sermonnotebook.org/old%20testament/Numbers%2015_38-41.htm

The Spirit of the LORD

I want to know more about you, Holy Spirit. Who are you and what is your nature? I know that you are the counsellor, the paracletos. You come alongside. You brought fire when you came and new languages, and filled people with power evidenced in joy and miracles.

In conversation with a friend tonight, we wondered about the throne. You see, in Revelation there is mention of “seven spirits”.

Revelation 1:4 mentions that the seven spirits are before God's throne
Revelation 3:1 indicates that Jesus Christ "holds" the seven spirits of God.
Revelation 4:5 links the seven spirits of God with seven burning lamps that are before God's throne.
Revelation 5:6 identifies the seven spirits with the "seven eyes" of the Lamb and states that they are "sent out into all the earth."

But drop into Isaiah, and we find that Isaiah 11:2 says, “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.”  Seven spirits - which are the Spirit of the LORD.

Put Revelation and Isaiah together, and perhaps we can see a picture of the Holy Spirit’s attributes and his nature:  He is the …
(1) Spirit of the LORD,
(2) Spirit of wisdom,
(3) Spirit of understanding,
(4) Spirit of counsel,
(5) Spirit of power,
(6) Spirit of knowledge,
(7) Spirit of the fear of the Lord.

Revelation tells out that the seven spirits are sent out into all the earth. Could this be what we call “moves of the Spirit” and visitations to the church?  Are these perhaps times to look forward to?

Oh Lord, we need you!  We need an increase in wisdom!  We need understanding so that we might be “men and women who understand the times”. We need to be a church (bride) that can offer counsel and accept it. So often we cry out for your power to visit us. We need knowledge – ah, and the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the LORD, please visit us that we might be made whole.

You reveal Jesus to us.  You work in us… You bring us to wholeness and completion.  Little wonder that you are referenced by the number seven (wholeness, completion). And what fun to discover you in both Old and New testaments in so many places!

....
(This is a treasure hunt through your Word to discover you. I feel like the young girl in Solomon's Song of Songs who catches is asking "Has anyone seen him for whom my heart longs...)

Quiet time meditations

I had a Bible once, it sits up on my shelf

And when I take a look at it I feel a little “elf”

The words are black, the page is white

(I’d rather sit and blog or write)

But somehow I miss the One who speaks

While surfing internet sites for answers from geeks.

A cat upon my lap, a house that’s full of washing

Dishes sinking, plates all stacked, my life is squashing.

How do I find the One my heart longs for

While letting another cat in at the back door?

How do I find myself again and touch hearts with kids

If this inner life of mine is simply on the skids?

God, I need you to capture me and find me

You are so good at intersecting the "oh so busy"...

Help me find You at the beginning, middle, end of my day

Light up my life with Your colour, laughter, love and play!

Will my kids unravel me or teach me?

Nikki Bush recently asked the question: Will your kids unravel you or teach you?   

Then she answered: The answer lies in how you perceive your parenting journey, and how you choose to respond to the highs and the lows, the pleasure and the pain that are an integral part of your role in raising a child.

Oh wow. Help. I feel so unravelled most of the time. My need to keep to those black and white lines in my world, instead of accepting the colour. Yes, there is lots of colour, especially in my hands right now that are stained pink from icing a small girl's 6th birthday cake at 10.30pm, but do I have colour in my daily interactions?  I am trying to grab the hug, instead of swatting the fiddling fingers, but the cry of my heart is 'God, help me to be less like your disciples and more like Jesus'. 

"Let the little children come to me." 

Emails from 2011

I wrote this email to some special girlfriends a long time ago. And found it by chance. So I thought I would share it. And if one of you special ladies read it here today, then I just want to say thanks to YOU for being part of my life in this season right now too.xx

- - - >

 

Just got one of those pray-for-me emails that you have to send back and forward etc etc. But there were some parts of it that I thought were great. Like telling people that you appreciate them. And sending a prayer up for them.

 

So, without being too soppy or anything, I want to let you know how grateful I am to have you in my life, even though we don't see each other as often as I would like. For the memories we share, and those that we will make one day. And for the God who holds us in his hands.

 

So here is my prayer for you for this week:

 

May the truth of what Jesus has done for us be real to you, the presence of the Holy Spirit surround you and the arms of the Father hold you. May He whisper His great love to your heart. May He give you humour for the "reached-the-end" moments, grace to extend to those who you would rather "expend", and joy in the littlest things. And when your strength is gone, may He be the wind beneath your wings, reminding you that those who wait upon Him will renew their strength (Psalms), that those who walk in desert places will find that the plains become flooded with streams of refreshing (Isaiah), and that she who comes up out of the desert leaning on her God will know His presence and strength and great love (Song of Songs).

 

You may feel like a lily of the valley, but to Him you are a Rose of Sharon (Song of Songs 2:1).

 

So to a hard-working and uber-cool lady - hope your week is great and thanks again for being my friend. I'm rich!

 

Love Kerry

 

PS: DON"T even THINK of forwarding this on etc. This is from me to you and I won't be offended if I don't get a reply. We'll connect sooner or later. Just wanted to say thanks now. Not wait. Sleep tight!

Life (God) sometimes chooses to paint with colour. Why do we fight so hard for the black and the white?

May I rejoice in the colour of every day, instead of railing at the way my traditional ideas and before-determined plans go awry!

Intersections of our lives

This story spins out of a vision my friend Grant had. Forgive me for sharing it in my words, Grant, but your vision speaks to me too. So here is what I saw as you spoke...

I had come to an intersection. I pulled out my map as I stood in the centre, surrounded by busy, purposeful, moving single-hued people going in every direction. As I peered at the map, the names on the map grew fuzzy and I stared blankly at it. What use is this, I thought. Everyone else seems to know where they are going!  At least I know where I came from, but no (turning to look back), that road is closed now. I can't go back that way. What do I do now?

And I stood in the midst of the busy, purposeful, moving single-hued people hurrying past me. And looked around.

There were buildings on the sides of the roads that met where I stood, shops, a post office, and look, a small cafe with tables outside. Now what? 

As I slowly spun and surveyed the intersection, a slight movement drew me back to the cafe. A small wave? I refocused and saw Him sitting there, two cups in front of Him, a newspaper, and an empty chair, as though He had been sitting and waiting for someone. Me? I questioned, lifting my shoulders. He nodded, and beckoned. So I dropped my useless fuzzy map in the midst of the busy, purposeful, moving single-hued people and walked over to sit in the chair next to Him.

"I've been waiting for you," He said, "Flat white?" and I nodded and saw that the second cup was a steaming hot flat white coffee, just the way I like it, with a small biscotti on the side. I dipped and crunched with satisfation.

And then we sat back and He asked me how I was doing, and we caught up on life, on journeys, talked about family and friends and adventure and us, and me. And when we had talked it all out and had reached the easy stage of two friends sipping the last of their coffee, I stretched, stood, and He stood too. He embraced me, tucked a small bag of those biscotti into one hand, and I stepped back into the intersection, the only one wearing colour in the midst of the busy, purposeful, moving single-hued people.

And then I saw her. She came up one of the roads that led to the intersection. She was walking towards me in colour and with purpose. And suddenly I knew why I had been waiting, although I did not know before that I was waiting, or that I was waiting for her. Or that we would walk together.

And I heard a Voice behind me saying: "This is the Way, walk in it."

And THEN, I started to walk again, with purpose.

Contemplating nails on a cross, on an Easter Friday

Faulty connections, angry hearts
Going back repeatedly all the way to the start
Trying again to do things right
Living in the shadows and hiding from light

Jesus, I've heard of the change you can bring
Today I heard the church bells ring
But when I look will I find you still
At the top of a mountain or the foot of a hill?

My heart is hurting and my tears all fall
And then your hand reaches and I hear your call
I run and stumble to the foot of your cross
Broken yet loved, you remove my dross

And as I cling to your promise today
You take my debt, and you have paid
I stand forgiven, in the light, loved and free
Because you have taken my guilt from me

It is finished - was your cry
You opened your arms and then you died
Creation was redeemed with your last breath
And I am reborn into life from death

Bruised & broken... loved & healed

Bruised, you hold me
Broken, you lift me
In my time of flickering faith
How I am loved, how I am loved

In your faithfulness, you bring justice
To the wrongs in my life
And I breathe hope, again
Jesus, you love me
O how you heal me.

For Alison

Alison, a saint? No, not quite,
But a woman in whom to delight
Strong and loud to lead her bright clan
True and straight in her Lord's plan

Beside every husband there stands a strong wife
The bringer of life or harbinger of strife
But Al has weathered so many storms
Keeping faith high and her love warm

Peter the strong, and Peter the brave
Peter who could o'ercome any enclave
Pete, your legacy stands in the children who are here
In the wife who with strength smiles in her tears

For God has brought this time to an end
And it's God who gives, and it is God who will send
Seed that is sown to the ends of the earth
Bringing new life, ushering in the new birth.

<For Alison George: on the start of a new season of life. Peter is gone. God has won. >

Rainbows

I never dreamed that rainbows would come

That I would be the lucky one

That when my beautiful boy turned three

The rain would start… and fall on me.

I have three children who all are kind

Gentle, fun and with great minds

My girl is sweet and loving and true

My youngest tears around and lives true blue

But Trystn, our eldest, just sits and smiles

For him we’ve all gone the extra mile

Sometimes I wonder why the rainbows came

To bless our life again and again

There are rainbows in my tears, I’ve found

When curled up and sobbing on the ground

And rainbows in my happiest days

When flowers dance and children play

For rainbows promise God is near

Despite the joys, and in the fear

And I love the colours in the rain

For rainbows follow, again and again

While today there is sunshine in my boy’s eyes

And cuddles, loves, grunts and smiles

Who knows what tomorrow may bring?

In the rain, under rainbows, I’ll praise and sing.. 

(For my friend Cath, and Trystn, the boy who brought rainbows to his family)

My mission

"Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor]." Luke 2:13

Peace among men with whom He is well pleased?   Oh that He would be pleased with me! With my life, my heart, my family and my service.

Yet I don’t work for my salvation or try to earn favour. I live from that overflow of love and thankfulness for what He has done for me. I live, loved!

And my commission: to do justice wherever I am. To be kind. And to walk WITH my God – not behind, running to catch up, or before, like a slave. But beside, with, next to, talking to, sharing with, watching what He is doing, hearing His heart, leaning on Him.

Oh Lord, may I walk with You this week!

"…and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" – Micah 6:8

Farmer girl

I milked a cow this weekend. Took me back to my childhood, and warm scent of a big living animal, head pressed in against her side, fingers cramping from the squeeze. The rhythms of life and the soothing hiss of milk hitting the pail, while Miss Le Jersey scuffed up her feed... ah, isn't this life simplified?

Perhaps all our electronic hype and fuss and wannas and need-its are just a load of hoo-ha anyway?

Playball, ballet, swimming lessons... do, do, do, drive, be, timelines, talking at.

Contrast to kittens, horses blowing down their noses at you, building tree houses, swimming in dams, walking and talking to.

Advent-uring with God: the advent

Advent. Definition: a coming into place, view, or being; arrival.

How often do we speak of new beginnings? Of resolutions for the new year? Of fresh hopes. New viewpoints or paradigms. New jobs and roles. When “it” all falls into place… Then?

In all our planning and daydreams, let us remember He who is the beginning AND the end. The first and the last. 

What happens in our lives is huge, important, busy, sad, happy, but let’s face it, we will never truly “arrive” although we achieve goals along the way. Take the pressure off yourself.  The weight of expectation is a load too heavy to bear. How wonderful is the truth that we HAVE “arrived” because He came into His place all those years ago. We are not our own saviour. He is. He is our beginning, and He is our ending. 

Lord Jesus, you are our exceedingly great reward, and our daily joy.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end… The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all .– Revelation 22:13,21