Have you ever had a friendship that ended up being more special to you than you expected?
Tonight I went on a date night with a special friend. I have known this lady for half my life and have shared good times and bad times together. I became part of her family and she mine.
A few years ago I prayed and asked God to send me a friend who would come and sit on my couch and keep me company. I wanted a friend who would come and like being with me but fit in so much they wouldn't mind if I had to do house work or the like while she visited.
My husbands job involves him to be away so I was after a companion and before I knew it I had one! This friend had been away and had recently come back after a few trials of her own and needed a friend as much as I did. She would come over with her son and a whole stack of marking to do. Her son would play with my kids and she would get her work done, while i did general things around the house. We would keep busy and now and then we would stop and chat. I was always baking something or had something on hand and I would keep bringing her a cuppa and a snack to go with it so she could continue with what she needed to get done. We became what the other needed. She listened to me share things I had in my heart and encouraged me to believe in myself.
Tonight after the movie we had a the best conversation we have probably ever had. Both our lives have taken different roads again and she doesn't get time to visit as much, but we have a bond that will keep us close no matter what we do.
She gets me and I get her..........
She loves me and I love her...........
She needs me and I need her.
True friendship is what you find when you least expect it and the best friend you can have is someone you can laugh with, cry with and know they are with you every step of the way. A friend who holds your hand with what ever life throws at you or what ever road you go down.
I am truly blessed to have this beautiful lady in my life. She has helped me grow into the person I am today, I can also see how much she has grown and see how much happier she is in her own life.
In the end my couch became her resting place and both our lives are richer for it.
I love you my beautiful friend and I thank God for giving me you.
Saturday 25 February 2012
Thursday 23 February 2012
Do you say NO?
This word is quite small but very powerful.
Learning to say NO has come quite easy to me and it surprises me how many people don't know how to use it.
When we add more and more things to our schedule we can start to wear ourselves down. Things that we should be focusing on are put to the side for later and we get complacent and start to compromise.
"I will do that later" becomes our catch cry. " I don't have the energy to do it all! "
Sound familiar?
When we take on the things we think we need to do we can become drained, irritable and some times even get sick.
While I was at university, almost every week I was sick with the flu. How dare it interrupt me and drain me of the energy I so needed to get me through my lectures and then come home to my children and then do more study! The nerve! At the time it was all too much for me to take so I made the choice to stop going. It was a hard thing to do but I at the time I knew it was the right choice for me. Getting stressed and run down was not worth it to me.
When we do things that we think we need to do we can fall outside the will of God. He has plans for our lives. Plans we may know or may not. When we start going down the wrong path we can find it's not so rosy after all and thats where we find we need to rely on Gods strength to do it. It's during these times we find out we can't do it on our own no matter how hard we try. I know I have been guilty of this a lot during my life time. It's something I am working on daily.
If we get too involved in these types of things they can start to consume us in good and bad ways.
Its all about balance.
Have you got boundaries and know when you are doing enough?
Are you a people pleaser?
Do you find it hard to say NO or are you comfortable in yourself and know how to hear what God wants for you and your life?
Not enough of us know how to ask God "what would you have me do with my life?" "Do you want me to do this or step back?"
As a society we know how to follow the crowd or go along with something just because someone asked us to do it, however how much happier would we be if we listened to God and searched our hearts for the truth.
Do you know how to stop and be still?
Is it such a bad thing if you have some time to do nothing if you so choose? Why can't you be still? Does your mind start to wander to things you don't want to deal with so keeping busy is your only option? Maybe it's time to evaluate who you are and think about what's really in your heart.
There are times when we have to do things that we don't want to and that is ok. God uses these times to build our character and strengthens us ready for the next thing.
Are you longing to do something but feel stuck in the choices you have made in the past? I am here to tell you nothing you do now or have done in the past can keep you away from your true calling.
Jesus died to release you from anything that keeps you in bondage and stops you from being happy and at peace.
Ask God today what HE wants you to do regarding situations or commitments you are facing today. He is ready to listen you just need to ask!!!
" So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9
Why not start saying NO to the things you want to stop doing and say YES to the things inside of you!
Learning to say NO has come quite easy to me and it surprises me how many people don't know how to use it.
When we add more and more things to our schedule we can start to wear ourselves down. Things that we should be focusing on are put to the side for later and we get complacent and start to compromise.
"I will do that later" becomes our catch cry. " I don't have the energy to do it all! "
Sound familiar?
When we take on the things we think we need to do we can become drained, irritable and some times even get sick.
While I was at university, almost every week I was sick with the flu. How dare it interrupt me and drain me of the energy I so needed to get me through my lectures and then come home to my children and then do more study! The nerve! At the time it was all too much for me to take so I made the choice to stop going. It was a hard thing to do but I at the time I knew it was the right choice for me. Getting stressed and run down was not worth it to me.
When we do things that we think we need to do we can fall outside the will of God. He has plans for our lives. Plans we may know or may not. When we start going down the wrong path we can find it's not so rosy after all and thats where we find we need to rely on Gods strength to do it. It's during these times we find out we can't do it on our own no matter how hard we try. I know I have been guilty of this a lot during my life time. It's something I am working on daily.
If we get too involved in these types of things they can start to consume us in good and bad ways.
Its all about balance.
Have you got boundaries and know when you are doing enough?
Are you a people pleaser?
Have you ever considered that the people who keep asking you to do things are the ones who have learnt to say NO and thats why you are being asked to do it instead!
Do you find it hard to say NO or are you comfortable in yourself and know how to hear what God wants for you and your life?
Not enough of us know how to ask God "what would you have me do with my life?" "Do you want me to do this or step back?"
As a society we know how to follow the crowd or go along with something just because someone asked us to do it, however how much happier would we be if we listened to God and searched our hearts for the truth.
Do you know how to stop and be still?
Is it such a bad thing if you have some time to do nothing if you so choose? Why can't you be still? Does your mind start to wander to things you don't want to deal with so keeping busy is your only option? Maybe it's time to evaluate who you are and think about what's really in your heart.
There are times when we have to do things that we don't want to and that is ok. God uses these times to build our character and strengthens us ready for the next thing.
Are you longing to do something but feel stuck in the choices you have made in the past? I am here to tell you nothing you do now or have done in the past can keep you away from your true calling.
Jesus died to release you from anything that keeps you in bondage and stops you from being happy and at peace.
Ask God today what HE wants you to do regarding situations or commitments you are facing today. He is ready to listen you just need to ask!!!
" So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9
Why not start saying NO to the things you want to stop doing and say YES to the things inside of you!
Friday 17 February 2012
Happy in the season I am in!
Are you feeling alone in this journey called 'LIFE'?
Asking "where are you God in all of this? What would you have me do with my life"?
Well I am here to let you in on a secret.......
I have been there and felt that way myself!
Until recently I had been focusing on a lot of things I could do or not do and feeling overwhelmed!!
I am the thinker more than the doer. I like to plan things and make things happen but I have more plans than realities.
Are you with me? Can you relate?
I have three children who are all at school and have been feeling quite alone during the few hours they are there. Some days are good and busy, others are slow and lonesome. I am not one to let things bother me too much, but at times I would think surely there is more 'out there' for me to see and do rather than sit on my butt and let it grow bigger!
Having another baby or home schooling my kids is out of the question so now what? What shall I do with all this 'free' time?
As long as I can remember all I ever wanted to do with my life was become a wife and mum. I had no career aspirations and when I started having my babies the thought never entered my head that I would need a back up plan once they went to school. I was naive and assumed once a mum that was it, I was set for life. That was my career as far as I was concerned. Women generations before us would have settled with that. Not so much theses days. Sadly 'keeping up with the joneses' has become more important for far more people than 'keeping house'.
The days of making do are no more.
The art of the stay- at -home- mum is slowly dying.
I am by far not the perfect mum and I guess I wanted to be nothing more so making do and learning to live on less has been easier for me. My husband has always been the breadwinner and has been happy for me to stay at home. There have been tough times but always knowing God is the true provider for this family and keeping our eyes on HIM has helped get us through.
Over the last few years I have felt a lot of pressure to strive for more. I attempted to go to university but that caused a lot of stress on me and I gave it away. I never though I would ever do that, I proved to myself I am capable and that was great for my self - esteem.
Getting a job is always the next option. Generally thats 'what you do' once the kids are at school. I have looked into it a few times but nothing has eventuated. The whole social aspect would be nice but the juggling of house and work does not excite me. I am a perfectionist who makes lists. I would be adding far to many extra things onto the to-do list and that my friend would be the end of me. I have not totally ruled this option out but its not a huge priority for me.
There have been times where I have felt like a kept woman. I get to stay home while my husband works hard and brings home the money for me to use. Anyone who knows me knows I am not the spender. Heading to the shops is not one of my favorite things to do. I am the scrooge in this relationship and saving money excites me more than buying a new pair of shoes!
I know some women don't have a choice and that is ok, everyone is different and has different needs. My argument is God made mums to be the keepers of the home and if we all give up the post out of guilt what happens when there are no watchmen keeping an eye out?
What I ultimately feel is God saying "sweet daughter of mine, don't waste your time on things of this world that wont last. Know that I am your keeper and you are good enough if you are only known as MUM"
We need to take back permission to stay at home with or without children. Our job is never over, not even once they go to school. This is not an attack on working mums. Ultimately its an individual choice and its not always an easy one to make. I have chosen to be happy where I am at, without the guilt and pressure to 'be more'. This is MY season to rest a while but still be on guard.........what season are YOU in? Are you happy in in it?
As long as I can remember all I ever wanted to do with my life was become a wife and mum. I had no career aspirations and when I started having my babies the thought never entered my head that I would need a back up plan once they went to school. I was naive and assumed once a mum that was it, I was set for life. That was my career as far as I was concerned. Women generations before us would have settled with that. Not so much theses days. Sadly 'keeping up with the joneses' has become more important for far more people than 'keeping house'.
The days of making do are no more.
The art of the stay- at -home- mum is slowly dying.
I am by far not the perfect mum and I guess I wanted to be nothing more so making do and learning to live on less has been easier for me. My husband has always been the breadwinner and has been happy for me to stay at home. There have been tough times but always knowing God is the true provider for this family and keeping our eyes on HIM has helped get us through.
Over the last few years I have felt a lot of pressure to strive for more. I attempted to go to university but that caused a lot of stress on me and I gave it away. I never though I would ever do that, I proved to myself I am capable and that was great for my self - esteem.
Getting a job is always the next option. Generally thats 'what you do' once the kids are at school. I have looked into it a few times but nothing has eventuated. The whole social aspect would be nice but the juggling of house and work does not excite me. I am a perfectionist who makes lists. I would be adding far to many extra things onto the to-do list and that my friend would be the end of me. I have not totally ruled this option out but its not a huge priority for me.
There have been times where I have felt like a kept woman. I get to stay home while my husband works hard and brings home the money for me to use. Anyone who knows me knows I am not the spender. Heading to the shops is not one of my favorite things to do. I am the scrooge in this relationship and saving money excites me more than buying a new pair of shoes!
I know some women don't have a choice and that is ok, everyone is different and has different needs. My argument is God made mums to be the keepers of the home and if we all give up the post out of guilt what happens when there are no watchmen keeping an eye out?
What I ultimately feel is God saying "sweet daughter of mine, don't waste your time on things of this world that wont last. Know that I am your keeper and you are good enough if you are only known as MUM"
We need to take back permission to stay at home with or without children. Our job is never over, not even once they go to school. This is not an attack on working mums. Ultimately its an individual choice and its not always an easy one to make. I have chosen to be happy where I am at, without the guilt and pressure to 'be more'. This is MY season to rest a while but still be on guard.........what season are YOU in? Are you happy in in it?
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