Thursday, December 11, 2008

Matthew ...

A picture speaks a thousand words ...




There is absolutely nothing like the feeling when one of your children has made the decision to live for Jesus. It was a very proud and exciting moment for all of us. He's such a special boy and we know that God's plans for him are perfect!
His Poppa baptised him, which made what was already a very special and important moment, even more significant.
This week has been kind of 'nuts' ... I'm not really sure why, but it seems that the last several weeks have passed by me in a whirlwind and whilst I try to grab onto something to put the brakes on and slow things down, anything substantial to hold onto in order to achieve that end, alludes me!

All my children are growing up so quickly ... I just want things to slow down so that I can enjoy them at home longer!! Although Matthew has assured me time and time again that he's never leaving home and he's never getting married!!! We'll see how he feels in 10 or 12 years time!!
I'm thankful for Matthew because, at the moment, while Joel and Benjy are entering new phases, Matthew is constant and happy in the phase that he's in. Actually, I'm not sure he really wants to leave this stage of his life, he seems really quite content. However, the inevitable will happen and he, too, will move on.
When my children were little, and even when they first started school, it seemed that I would have them home forever and they would stay little forever. Alas, this is not to be. The ways of God have ordained that my children must grow up and move on!!!
In the last few weeks, I have picked up a preschool information pack for Benjy, bought shirts in readiness for Joel to start High School next year, picked a language for Joel to study next year and submitted it to the High School, submitted book packs for Matthew and Joel to their respective schools ... and the list seems endless. Not to mention the end-of-year excursions ... Joel is off to Big Splash next week with the year 6 group and Matthew is off to the Phillip pool and ice skating!! Joel has his year 6 graduation assembly next Thursday and graduation dinner next Thursday night!
2008 is coming to an end and there is preparation for 2009 to be done. So we leave one year behind us and look forward to new beginnings, new developments. Some things are uncertain, such as the global financial crises, the situation in Iraq/Iran/Afghanistan, the war on terrorism etc. But we can be sure that our God is faithful and He will NEVER leave us nor will He forsake us!! He is my Peace, my Joy, my Rock, my Shelter, my Strong Tower ... He is everything I could ever want Him to be and sooooo much more.
He is faithful!!!!
And He is Almighty God and worth getting to know, love and serve!!!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Jeremiah

Lately, I have been reading the book of Jeremiah, and I must confess that I did not really expect to find much encouragement from the book of the weeping prophet. I must say that I have been so pleasantly surprised. Whilst God is grieved and angry over the way His people have forsaken His ways, even to the point of denying that He exists, God illustrates His magnificent character and His awesome ways. I love the way these particular scriptures just jump out at me while I am reading this wonderful book of the Bible.
For example, there is a scripture in chapter 5 and verse 22 which demonstrates the power of God when He asks "Fear ye not me? ... will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?" He goes on to say that even while He has the power to control the elements, He cannot control His people.
Another scripture in chaper 6 and verse 16 says "... Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls ..." That is not the complete verse but it is a promise of God that if we walk in His ways, that even in troubled times ... as it must have been for anyone that wanted to live for God ... we can find rest.
There are sooo many good scriptures (I know - the whole Word of God is good!!) ... I will try and share them on a regular basis.
Actually, as I am reading through Jeremiah, I am reminded of the days that we are living in and the stubbornness of men's hearts. There is one scripture that talks about how men select the wood and the tools and make a statue and then worship it!! When I think of the global financial crisis and how men's dreams are coming down around their ears, I realise that they have placed their faith in the wrong thing. They have made the money, they have built their lives around it, they are worshipping it, but it's all coming to nothing. Sure, we need money to live, but we know Jehovah Jirah and His ear is not deaf, nor His arm short that He cannot save and deliver!!!
We live in a day of great anxiety for those whose trust is not in the Lord and in His ability to set us free from this world. He longs for us to come back into His presence and to experience the rest He so yearns to give us. And He is so faithful that if we come running back to Him, He will open His arms wide and embrace us. I am also reminded, while I am reading Jeremiah, of a father whose heart is broken. All He wants is for His children to repent and live righteously as He has shown them, then He will make everything good for them again. I guess the prodigal son would have known the loving forgiveness and mercy that was extended to him by his father when he realised how far he had fallen. We can know the same mercy and forgiveness by our Heavenly Father.
I am so often so tarnished by the dirt of the world ... I hear of the things happening around me and I begin to think about a plan of escape. And then I remember God has the perfect plan for me, all I need to do is trust Him. As Kylee said in her blog, He is in perfect control!!
He's such an awesome God!!!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Am I proud? ... or what???

I thought I should get a post in before November kisses us goodbye. I can't believe how quickly the time is sailing past us!!
My gifts do not lie in the area of art/craft. When God was allocating gifts, He knew I was going to marry Rob so He decided I didn't really need gifts in that area!! He was gracious in giving me children that ARE gifted, however. Recently, Joel had a Spring Project at school which he had to take at least 16 hours to complete and this is what he came up with:


He received an A+ for his efforts which included a log sheet and an essay detailing the whole process and including any difficulties he had.

He was also involved in Bandstravaganza which is a culmination of two years of playing in the school band. Bandstravaganza involves many, if not all, of the primary schools across the ACT. It showcases years 6 through to 12 and it is absolutely amazing. By the time we got to year 12, we felt that we had been to a show put on by professionals.

Joel is getting ready for his year 6 graduation dinner and dance (line and ballroom dancing!!) and then he will put primary school behind him forever. Hopefully, he will look on these years with fondness. He is growing up now but I have other things to look forward to as he grows to manhood.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Happenings ...

Here is a pictorial of the last few weeks of the life of most of the Taylors (unfortunately, Rob didn't make it into any of these pics!).



These were taken at Tidbinbilla during the school holidays. Unfortunately, because both Joel and I had forgotten to take his camera, we didn't get many more pics then these, and these only because, thankfully, my sister-in-law takes her camera everywhere she goes!!

My three gorgeous boys!!! I love 'em to bits and pieces!!!!

Benjy at his first Sunday School camp ...

Talking about Sunday School camp ... Mel is just sooooo inspiring to work with. I absolutely love being under her direction and leadership. She worked so hard to make sure that things were running smoothly and that the children were receiving everything they could from the sessions i.e., worship and teaching, as well as from the activities that the camp place had to offer. Mel worked so very, very hard behind the scenes co-ordinating with the camp staff and doing all that nasty administration stuff!!
And I love watching her with the children ... she's firm but always fair and the kiddliwinks absolutely love her.

It was a really good camp, too. Actually, I have to say it was one of the best Sunday School camps that I've ever been to ... but that may have partly been because my gorgeous middle son received the Holy Ghost ...
I joked with Matthew about 2-3 weeks before the camp that I would start calling him MT and then when he got the Holy Ghost I would call him "Full".
We had a camp fire after the service the night Matthew received the Holy Ghost and all he could say to me was "I can't believe I got the Holy Ghost." I have to admit that I was incredulous also!! God is soooo faithful and even when we can't see what's going on, He knows!!!
In fact, God knows alllll things and I'm excited about the plans He has for my children. Recently, I've been thinking about Hannah in the Old Testament and the fact that she gave back her much yearned-for, grieved after first-born and I am determined that the Lord will have my children to serve Him and bring Him glory!






Ruth gave me a wonderful hot and spicy cook book for my birthday and so I made Beef Rendang using fresh ingredients. I am soooo excited because I am normally a bottled sauce girl ... always have been. I think possibly I haven't had the confidence to know how to use herbs and spices, so when I received this book and browsed through it, I was very excited! And I really want to get away from the bottled sauces ... mainly because of the high salt content and also because they just don't taste as good!!
By the way, the Beef Rendang was delicious!!!
Lastly, I have been listening to Joel's ipod while I have been walking in the mornings and, this morning, there was one particular song that really ministered to me. I've heard it sooo many times that I usually "switch off", but this morning I really had a heart/mind to listen to the words. I hope they bless you and encourage you to run to the only One who can protect and shelter you.
In the distance I can see the storm clouds coming my way,
And I need to find a shelter before it starts to rain,
So I turn and run to You, Lord,
You're the only place to go,
Where unfailing love surrounds me,
When I need it most.
You're my hiding place,
Safe in your embrace,
I am protected from the storm that rages,
When the waters rise,
And I run to hide,
Lord in You I'll find my hiding place.
I'm not asking You to take away my troubles, Lord,
Cause it's through the stormy weather I'll learn to trust You more,
But I thank You for the promise,
And I have come to know,
Your unfailing love surrounds me,
When I need it most.
You're my hiding place,
Safe in Your embrace,
I'm protected from the storm that rages.
When the waters rise,
And I run to hide,
Lord in You I'll find my hiding place.
So, let Your people seek you,
While You may be found,
Cause You're our only refuge,
When the rain comes pouring down.
You're my hiding place,
Safe in Your embrace,
I'm protected from the storm that rages.
When the waters rise,
And I run to hid,
Lord in You I'll find my hiding place.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Floriade

On Tuesday, this week, the electricity on my side of the street was going to be turned off while ActewAGL replaced a power pole. Thankfully, my mother-in-law lives on the same side of the street so she suggested that we take Princess Hannah and Benjy to Floriade, providing the weather was pleasant. We could not have asked for more perfect weather!!! And the children really enjoyed themselves.


The first place we went was the petting farm and we saw a little chick that was less then 24 hours old. It was sooooooooo cute ... kind of like those little chickies that are made from pom poms.


The petting farm was very cool!!! Next we went to a child activity centre that was set up for ... well ... it's kinda obvious really!!! They had a craft table, an experiment table, music corner, sandpit, obstacle course and more!






After the activity centre we strolled through the Gnome Knoll - Princess Hannah duly told my mother-in-law that she liked all the girl gnomes! Benjy just liked whatever anyone else liked!

Then we had lunch. The two children had packed lunches and I decided to treat Rob's mum to lunch. We looked at the menu in one cafe and found it unappealing, although inexpensive. Sooooo, we decided to look for another eating place. The menu board looked better but we decided to share a bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese and salad because the cost of one bagel was about the same as the cost of three sandwiches in the first place we looked at!!!! My poor mum-in-law nearly fainted!!!!
After lunch, the two little people had a go on the jumping castle, then the nearby playground and then home to "Grandma's" for a chocolate magnum!!! Benjy and Hannah had been so quiet in the car, we thought they were going to sleep, but after the icecream ...
Hannah stayed with me until Josh picked her up later. Even though Benjy and Hannah had been running all day, they still seemed to have energy to spare. I was quite envious really. They had been sooooo good all day.
I'm thankful we went to Floriade when we did. The weather was perfect ... I commented to Rob's mum that, had we gone on any other day, it probably would have been too hot. It was not during the school holidays which meant that there weren't dense crowds. Even though there were a few busloads of people, the increased numbers didn't seem to impact on our enjoyment of the event.
All in all ... it was a very pleasant time the four of us had together.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Isaiah Preaching


Isaiah 35:3-10
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
No lion shall be there, not any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Amen, amen and amen!!!

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Perfect Peace

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)
Benjamin likes to have quiet in the house. If I want to listen to the radio, he protests. This morning I decided it would be nice to listen to Focus on the Family but when I tuned the radio in to the right station, I got the same protests I usually get. I told Benjy that I would turn the radio off after the program and he settled down and seemed quite happy to tolerate my "indulgence."
After Focus on the Family finished, the radio station played some nice music and, for a few minutes, Benjy seemed to have forgotten my promise. All of a sudden, he got up from his play, walked over to the radio and told me "it's finished, Mummy" and then he turned it off!
My response to that was "you want the peace and quiet, don't you Benjamin?" to which he replied "I don't want peace and I don't want quiet!"
I admit, I did have a chuckle!!!
I think I can be like that, though. I say I want peace but when I get offended or hurt or anxious or worried I stew on it and I think about it and, instead of giving it to God, I try and work through it on my own.
Or I might "give it to God" and then stew on it and think about it and try and work it out on my own, anyway.
I think "peace" might be just knowing that God is in control and having confidence in that knowledge. The feeling of safety that comes when we know that He loves us sooo much that He won't let us go through anything more then we're able to handle and to be able to leave every situation with Him so that He can work it for His glory, is not worth trading for even one iota of self-pity or worry or care.
It's really all about trusting God, isn't it?
Perfect peace, peace that passes all understanding. When the world is anxious - and really, they have a lot to be anxious about ... especially if they don't know who God is and how mighty He is - there is a God in Heaven who is looking at His creation and who knows exactly what to do.
And in that knowledge, I can rest assured and have that wonderful, unsurpassed, beyond understanding peace.
What an awesome God!!!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

My Accident Prone Afternoon


Yesterday afternoon could probably be best described as clumsy ... not exactly disastrous ... but it was heading in that general direction!!

Ruth had treated Benjy to the Fun Factory and was dropping him back home. I still had groceries on the kitchen floor from my shopping expedition earlier in the day and I had a basket full of ironing on the kitchen bench that was waiting to be completed. Since I do my ironing in the kitchen because it's the most convenient place to do it, I figured I would have the basket handy for when I was ready to perform the task later that day.

I had made Hannah a Milo milk drink with a spoon in it so that she could the eat Milo on top and I was in the process of getting Benjy a spoon so that he could eat the Milo off the top of his milk ... I had the cutlery draw open and I was holding Benjy's drink over the top of it, groceries on the kitchen floor and ironing on the bench ... when suddenly, and accidentally, Benjy somehow knocked my hand and Milo milk went absolutely everywhere!!!!

It was all over everything!!

Including the snowy white shirts in the basket of ironing. And it wasn't even my ironing. At the beginning of this year, a lady whom I have known since Joel was in preschool, by virtue of the fact that she has a son in the same year as Joel, asked me if I would be interested in doing her ironing. She is a fastidious mother of 7 and so I told her I would think about it. And, as they say, the rest is history!!!

Can you imagine what Milo must look like on pristinely white shirts??? It was an ugly sight!!! I immediately threw the shirts into the washing machine with the thought that if you wash them straight away, there should be no stain.

Milo is sooooo stubborn!!!

Then, I made up a double strength solution of Napisan and prayed that in Jesus name those stains would be removed and I soaked those shirts, two of which were brand new, to within an inch of their lives!!!!

I put them in the washing machine again and, praise the Lord, those stains are gone!!!

I was worried, I can tell you.

But then, I got to thinking (something I've been doing a bit of lately). The Lord is returning for a "glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:27). Anyone who has been baptised in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost is part of this glorious church. What if my garment is spotted or wrinkled? What if I have sins' stain on my heart? It could be bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, a wrong attitude, pride ... and the list goes on!

Revelation 3:4-5 mentions white garments.

"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

The contrast of that Milo stain on those snowy white shirts was stark. And the stain obviously didn't belong on that shirt. In fact, had I left the stain on the shirt and ironed the stain into the shirt, the shirt would have been unwearable. As it was, the stains were harder to remove then I thought they would be!

And so it can be with sin. Sometimes pride gets in the way of confessing our faults before the Lord. Sometimes self-doubt hinders us ... "what I've done is bad and God will never forgive me". But 1 John 1:7 says that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin!!! Verse 9 of the same chapter assures us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just ... to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us ... from all unrighteousness!!!

Napisan, no matter how strong we make the solution, will not remove the stain from our hearts. The blood of animals won't remove it. Good works won't remove it. Going to church, acting holy, and even worshipping God, won't remove that stain. Only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us and make our garments spotless.

"... Though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ..." (Isaiah 1:18).

For a large part of my life I have struggled with the idea of a God who is so loving that, even when I stumble and fall, He loves me enough to show mercy to me, to forgive me, to embrace me. I used to believe that when I slipped up, which was a frequent happening (and still is, actually), that God would not want to know about me.
However, I have recently learnt of the mercy of God and how much He really does love me. He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. His compassion does not fail and His mercies are new every morning!! In this, then, I can rest confidently - not wanting to sin, but knowing that when I do, God will forgive me!!

And for me, that has a huge WOW factor!!!


Friday, August 15, 2008

Just a simple thought ...


"I have to work on speed and endurance and all four strokes. I need the speed to take it out (at the start) and the endurance to carry it through. You can't do it on talent alone. A lot of hard work, a lot of dedication." (Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimmer for the USA)
I was really excited when I read this comment on the ABC website from Michael Phelps, but it wasn't until I had time to think about it that I understood why I was excited.
The Bible tells us that we're in a race - "... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ..." (Hebrews 12:1-2). We have to put aside the things that weigh us down so that we can run lighter, freer. We need to look to the One who started the race to be able to see us to the end.
Matthew 24:13 tells us that "he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Or, as The Message puts it, "Stay with it - that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved."
Endurance!!!
The verses preceding Matthew 24:13 tell us that times are going to get tough. Conditions are going to get worse. Life is going to get hard. But there is a promise to those who believe and endure - Salvation!! Heaven!!
WOW!!
Today, I watched Matthew's team play football. I'm not really a sports fan ... I love hearing about and watching the swimming, but football ain't really my thing. However, as I stood watching, even I was able to see that Matthew's team "knew" they weren't going to win even before the game started. They haven't won a game all season and so, I guess, they had a fair idea of the end result. And that seemed to affect the way they were going to play. After all, why bother putting in all that effort only to lose at the end??? They were intimidated by the skill and "togetherness" of the other team. The difference? The other team pulled together, they played confidently, they used their strengths to help each other and they knew they were going to win. Matthew's team had effectively given up before they had even started. Matthew had said to me before he jumped out of the car that they were probably going to lose today because they had been beaten last week by a "really bad team" and, in his eyes, that made his team even worse!!!
I wonder what would have happened if they had "laid aside" the negative thoughts and began to think of themselves as winners, no matter what the end result was? I think they scored one point and that wasn't even a goal (I don't understand any football code!!). If they had been more confident in handling the ball - and, believe me, there were so many opportunities for them to get the ball and do something with it - they would certainly have made it much tougher for the other team and they would probably have scored a few goals.
Even the coach seemed to accept defeat as inevitable!!! These kids are looking to the coach to show them the way, to train them up and to teach them the rules. I guess he's only human and he can only do so much, but if he doesn't believe in his team's ability to win, then they probably won't win!!!!
Something else the team seemed to lack was the discipline to work together and to persevere until they had scored a goal. The discipline comes in the practice sessions where techniques, strategies and fitness levels are taught and increased. The results of the practice sessions are seen in the game, whether those disciplines have been exercised or not.
We need discipline in our race, too. We need the discipline of keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, of keeping our relationship with Him strong in practising His presence in our lives with prayer, worship and reading the instruction manual, aka The Word of God!!
I am thankful that my Coach (Jesus) has a belief in the abilities that He has given me. The difference is that He's not just on the sideline urging me on, He's with me every step of the way. When I feel like giving up, He's there. When I just want to throw my hands in the air and quit, He's there with me. When life is overwhelming, He's there. When sorrow or grief or bad attitudes threaten to suffocate me, He's there. In every trial, joy, temptation, victory, sorrow, blessing ... He's there. He said that He will never leave me, nor forsake me so that I may boldly say "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13:5-6).
I am thankful for all that Jesus has accomplished in my life. He is an awesome God!!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Women's Retreat

WOW!!!
I
have to admit that, immediately prior to leaving for the camp, I had a fairly strong lack of desire to go. Being home with my family appealed to me so much more then heading off for a weekend without them.
And it was such an effort to get there. Not just mentally but physically. Diane, Kylee and Meg were brave enough to accompany me in my car. Since I'd heard that the fella's had all gotten themselves lost, I armed myself with an infallible (ahem) Google map and I knew that there was no way we were going to get lost. God has such a way of humbling us!!!
There came a point, while we were driving down the main street of Campbelltown, far, far away from where we were supposed to be, when Kylee suggested we ring David Kent. I reminded her that we had a reputation and an image to uphold and maintain and that we couldn't have this little faux pas passed on to ANYONE!!! Praise God for common sense. Kylee looked at me and said, "at the moment, I don't really care about image or reputation" ... or words to that effect!!
So ... Kylee rang David Kent. I think David Kent should be the CEO of Google Maps. We got there relatively easily under his superb directions - roughly two hours later then we should have, but we felt grateful to have arrived safely.
Because not only did we get lost, but we were driving through wind along tree-lined roads where bits and pieces were flying at the car!!! I have to say that we passed an accident on our side of the road at Lake George, then we passed through rain that was driven sooo hard by the wind that it was, literally, almost parallel with the road. I don't remember ever seeing anything like it.
When we arrived, I knew that the hand of God had been upon us and I was (and still am, actually) very, very grateful to Him for ensuring our safe passage. There was a wonderful sense of fellowship within the car, too, when it could, otherwise, have been soooooooo stressful.
Thus, I knew that God was going to move in a mighty way!!! I just wasn't expecting Him to move in SUCH a mighty way!!!! From the first song to the last, from the first word spoken to the last, I was ministered to by the Spirit of God in a really deep way. I haven't cried so much in a long time and, I can tell you, it felt soooo cleansing.
Sister Sjostrand (pronounced "show-strand" - she pronounced it herself and I think that's because we were all pronouncing it wrong!!) and her daughter, Caitlin, are amazing in their ministry. Sister Sjostrand can work a piano/keyboard over like it was a "walk in the park" - she makes playing it look soooooo easy!!!
And can she sing???? And when Sis Sjostrand and Caitlin sing together, it's as if all the angels in Heaven have entered into Earth's atmosphere and are singing with them. It's truly wonderful. What an experience!!!
Her ministry in preaching was heavily anointed. She was obedient to the direction of the Lord and His anointing flowed into the congregation. He ministered through Sis Sjostrand and through Jena, too, in such a magnificent way. We had two sessions each morning and a service at night.
Jena preached on Sunday morning and, even now, when I think back on the words she spoke, my heart is full of love for the Lord. God knows the innermost working of our hearts and minds, even when we think we're keeping them locked away in the secret places. God knew exactly what I needed and He touched me and delivered me in a beautiful way.
The worship was simply amazing. Especially on Sunday night!! Marcella (from Campsie church) led the worship and, as usually happens when Mars does anything, it had the signature of God allllllll over it!!! There was dancing down the front, in the aisles, in the seats, all over the place. The overhead wasn't working, but the praise went up unhindered. And just when it was beginning to quieten down, Mars announced that the Fijian sisters were going to do a special item and "please be seated".
Yeah!!! Right!!!
It was, quite literally, music from Heaven. I'm sure that God was directing that choir. It was wonderful and the dancing happened again. Then ... the Fijian choir stopped and we thought the "item" was over but one Fijian sister started singing again and, so, the dancing started again, but this time, the choir was dancing, too. Sister Sjostrand and Caitlin were in there dancing with them and whoever else joined them at the front.
There was another special item on the Saturday night. Four sisters from Hoppers Crossing positioned themselves at the front of the congregation and performed a piece of choreography to a CD of "There is a sweet anointing in this sanctuary". By the time they finished, there was not a dry eye in the house, it was so beautiful. And powerfully anointed. Absolutely wonderful!!!!

One amazing thing happened for me, personally. On the Friday morning of the day we left for the camp, the Lord showed me a passage of scripture. I was reading it and comprehending it and going "wow" over it and then, when Diane and I were talking about scripture on Saturday afternoon, I couldn't remember a thing about what I had read on Friday morning. Soooo - I decided I would refresh my memory on Sunday morning and was dumbfounded!! The scripture the Lord had shown me on Friday was very, very much in line with what Sister Sjostrand had preached in the two sessions on Saturday morning. In fact, although Sister Sjostrand didn't use that particular passage of scripture, she probably could have preached her whole message from it!!! That has never happened for me before, so I knew that God was wanting to tell me something!!
I love the Lord so much. He is so faithful to me, even when my heart wanders and my mind is turned to other things, He still loves me - warts and all. I love the fact that He knows me intimately, but He still loves me. In fact, He loves me too much to leave me the way I am. He wants to keep changing me and making me more like Him. Even when others have given up on me, the Lord remains constant!!!
This is not, by any means, a comprehensive account of the women's retreat, but the Lord did so much that it's difficult to contain it all in a few words. I think that sometime, down the track, there will be many testimonies of the Lord's wonderful work in the lives of those who went and desired to be forever changed. I am changed because of what Jesus has done for me - I'm not quite sure how those changes will be exhibited, maybe no-one but me will know how I am changed - and He has set His seal upon my life!!
What a wonderful Saviour!!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Like a Diamond

Instead of my mummy writing this page I, Matthew Taylor am posting this blog to your injoyment. My mummy said in one of the posts about me that I'm "one of those diamonds that you have to dig for but, once discovered, you don't want to let out of your sight". Unluckly for you that have found me I'm sure you would want to keep me. But I am very active and face fear without been a scardy cat. I would have a little trouble getting away but hey, Matthew Taylor never fails. I can get away any day. Somtimes. So when I get away it is going to be a bit of trouble been rich. As you may know I have turned double digit. 10. Its a horrible thing. We still haven't organised my party yet. On the 9.7.o8 which was a Wednesday my Grandma took me shopping for some birthday presents but before I can tell you this story I have to tell you this one. On the 8th of July is my real birthday. I was told we were going to walk all the way up Mount Taylor. I am very well known here in Canberra. The Mountain is named after me! We walked up Mount Taylor with my two brothers, my mum, my grandma and some of my cousins. Some people who work for me( I'm extremely rich) made a new path for my use but some people use it because they think they are more important than I am, but they are not. I'm thinking of getting better security. Well we all went up my path because I'm very kind. Then we walked back down again.

At night I opened all my presents. They are a wind cheater( I don't want to play a game of cards with him) , a game called hiest were you have to steal jewels( I'm writing this while I'm in jail). I also got another puzzle called lokulus. You know the geek called Archimedes who pulled the thorn out of the lions paw well he invented the puzzle called lokulus. The last present I got from my family was the movie called "Meet The Robinsons". It is a very good movie.

Anyway I shall get to the story about shopping with my Grandmma. I finally made up my mind about the things I wanted. I got some tricks that some people call magic tricks, you'll never believe me but for some odd reason they keep disappearing. I got a snake that is 145cm long. I am writing this while I am in hospital. My grandma also got me a movie called "Jimmy Neutron". It is very funny. I also got a book called "Geronimo Stilton". It is a mouse who talks about his adventures. The last thing I got from my grandma was a book called "Super Diaper Baby". It has interesting facts that baby power is stonger than grown up humans! My grandma also gave me $15. From my grandad I got $10 for my birthday.

Now to move on to more presents! From my Aunty Ruth, Uncle Josh, Sarah, Olivia and Hannah I got a yoyo and a thing that I like to call a thingy. It is awsome. From my Nanna and Poppa I got a $20 gift card( alot of money!). I got a book called "Soldier Boy" from Pamila, Jason, Matthew and Loren. It is a true story about the yougest ANZAC. The charector is called Jim Martin.

Thankyou for listening to this story. I hoped you injoyed it.
Singed by the future Primeminister of Australia: Matthew Taylor

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Wrestling Again!!!

There they go again!!!
If there's one thing all the boys in my house love to do, it's to wrestle in the lounge room.
I think that maybe there's a casualty on the left hand side of this pic!!! Those little legs look motionless.
Don't let those legs fool you, though, because they belong to the Benjamin Bunny!!!

What did I tell you? The Benjamin Bunny is back in action. And with a vengeance!!!

You could see in the previous photo that the older boys were having a little trouble winning their wrestling match. However all is sorted out once the Bunny is back on the scene.

I'm telling you, you have to beware the Bunny. A lot of people have "Beware of the Dog" on their gates - I'm seriously considering having a sign made up - "Beware of the Bunny - Enter at your own risk" for my front door. I think that would scare any would-be thief away!!!

They have done the deed and now they're carting the bodies away.

But only until the next wrestle!!!!

They love it sooooo much. It is such an important bonding time as they exert some physical energy and get up "close and personal". I love the sound of laughter eminating from the loungeroom because I realise that they're all making some wonderful memories.

Matthew's Birthday

Matthew turned 10 yesterday. As I said to my special "little" boy, "I'm so glad to have Benjamin - otherwise I wouldn't have any little kids left in my home!!!" Matthew has now officially joined the "Tweens" - they are the age group of children just before the teenage years. Generally, they are between 10-14 years. Here's what I found on one website when I googled "Tweens":
Welcome to the Tweens: a generation of fashion-conscious, fad-loving, filled-with-attitude youth. You thought angst was a teenage phenomenon. Your 12-year-old is so moody, he begs for attention one minute, and then pretends you don't exist the next. You want to keep your 10-year-old in pigtails, but she tells you belly shirts are the bomb.
At least, with Matthew, I won't have to worry about the pigtails or the belly shirts. Nor will I need to worry about him being fashion-conscious or fad-loving. My beautiful boy is his own person and has his pleasures, which are relatively simple, and his own opinions, which he stubbornly clings to until logic - pure logic - proves otherwise!!! All he really wants to do at the moment is play AFL and cricket. This is great since both these sports are seasonal and there can be no "clashing of the titans". While this may seem faddish because it is "at the moment", this "moment" will last for a long time - once he commits himself, he usually sees it through to the end and doesn't worry about whether anyone else is doing it or not. However, it's hard to play either cricket or footy without a team, so I guess he is kind of dependent on others liking what he likes. :o)
Matthew is a lovely boy. He is quiet, shy and thinks deeply about the world around him. He holds his opinions to himself until something provokes that opinion to be voiced. When Matthew does give his view, it is usually well thought out and the wisdom in some of his words never ceases to amaze me. He loves the deeper preaching at church. Especially when his poppa is behind the pulpit!!

He's a great help around the house. He just focuses his mind on the task at hand and gets it done quickly. Apart from the task he's been set to do, he sees the other things that need to be done in association, and he does them. For example, one of his jobs in the mornings before school is to wash and dry the breakfast dishes. He also puts them away without being asked and without complaining. I have to say, he is very, very cute about it. I have to really bite my tongue when I see a tall tower of dishes shakily making their way from one bench to the other. They usually make it to the other side without mishap ... but I'm waiting for the "big bang"!!! Once they are safe, I allow myself to chuckle. Until then, I'm holding my breath.
He is a very kind and patient boy. He loves his little brother and they generally play very well together. He often defers to Benjy's preferred game or mode of play. I have watched Matthew with other younger children and he's just so patient with them. I'm really proud of my boy.
We gave him a few gifts for his birthday, not knowing what he would really like, because he never asks for anything. If there was anything we gave him that he didn't like, he didn't let us know. He let us believe that everything he was given was exciting to him and special. His grandmother is taking him out for lunch today and a spot of shopping so that she can get him whatever he wants. He has no idea what he wants, but when I suggested maybe new track pants, he countered me with "I could ask Grandma for socks." Poor child - you would think he didn't have any socks - he has a whole drawer full of the things but he is unselfish and he just thinks he doesn't really need anything. I hope he doesn't get disillusioned, LOL!!!
I know God has big plans for this special boy of mine. I keep telling him that he is wonderfully and fearfully made and that God's creation is good. He's one of those diamonds that you have to dig for but, once discovered, you don't want to let out of your sight.
Signed,
His Proud Mum

Saturday, June 28, 2008

He's growing up and he's calling me 'Mum'

WARNING: Much longer post then I anticipated!!!!

Having read Michelle's post about the progression of N's language from calling her 'Mama' (a term I happen to love ... when any of my children call me 'Mama' it makes all my insides squishy!) to calling her 'Mummy', I was able to recall the days when my own called me 'Mummy' - thankfully, they sometimes still do. I hope they hold onto that term of endearment for many, many years to come. I can't say that, even though Joel and Matthew call me 'Mum', I was really ready for them to grow up yet. I have to say, I think 'Mummy' is more for me then it is for them!!! I hope that makes sense.

Well, my first-born bundle of joy arrived home from spending four days and three nights in Sydney. Ever since Joel was in Kindergarten, I have been adamant in declaring that there was no way that Joel was going on this particular excursion, which happens to be an exchange program with the school he attends and a school in Sydney. This program has been operating for the last 37 years and, as Joel's teacher pointed out to the parents (for obvious reasons), they have never experienced a problem. My main concerns involved the fact that Joel would be staying with a family I had never met and so I would not know their values/morals/approach to life/brand of toothpaste etc, etc! To this point, I have not allowed Joel to stay overnight with anyone outside the church for the aforementioned reason.

However, Rob and I were sitting in Joel's classroom on the "introduction to the teachers" night when the teacher explained the purpose of the excursion and the safety precautions implemented. My heart started doing an excited little flip, floppy type thing and I realised that this excursion would probably be a good experience for Joel. On our way home that particular night, Rob and I both agreed that Joel should probably go but we would delay telling him our decision until we were absolutely sure - you know, a "cooling off" type of period!! We realised that Joel, at the age of 12 years old, needed to make some stands and take some responsibility for himself.
Anyway, to make a rather long and tedious story, shorter and slightly more interesting, our "little" treasure departed on the bus on an extremely cold and foggy Tuesday morning at the unearthly hour of 7.15am and arrived home on Friday evening at around 6.30pm. I can tell you, I was overjoyed to see my boy!!
Joel took some rather wonderful pictures and gave me permission (you know, copyright and all that!!) to use them on this blog.
Of course, we all know this is the opera house. Joel took several wonderful photos of this beautiful Australian icon and it was very hard to choose one. The one below was taken through a fence.

Then there was the Quarantine Station where migrants suspected of carrying contagious diseases were quarantined at the site to protect the local Sydney community from infection. It was established in the 1830's and operated until 1984. In 1840 overcrowding was a huge issue - there were four children to a bed!

Designed by convict architect Francis Greenway, the Hyde Park Barracks (below) was home to convict men and a place of punishment between 1819 and 1848. Later it became an Immigration Depot for young girls and a Government Asylum for women.



The above picture shows the manacles that used to be put on the feet of the convicts.

And just before they came home -

LUNA PARK!!!!!!!

Joel had a wonderful time. When he got home, he showed us the 187 photos he took (these are a mere sample) and he told us all about everything. There were opportunities for him to draw close to God during that time as well. There were a couple of situations that might have turned out much worse then they actually did, but thankfully Joel knows how to call on Jesus and to trust Him for the outcome of any situation. I am thankful that we have a God we can call upon in any situation.

I just want to end this post with a Psalm that was part of my Sunday School preparation this week but actually, it didn't have too much bearing on the lesson itself. It did, however, encourage me and I pray you find it uplifting, too.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 121

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Time Marches On!!!






This time last week, my first born baby had been through his orienteering at the High School he's attending next year and we had been to the Open Night.

Joel had soooooo much fun at his orienteering day. All the kids broke up into groups and participated in science experiments, performing arts gigs, games (as in PE) and they went around all the classrooms. They met some of the teachers who seemed to be friendly. I, in no way, remember having fun on my orientation day for High School. I grew up through the dim, dark ages where the incoming students had to sit in the hall and listen to the Principal and various teachers give the do's and don't's!!! Our orientation through the school commenced the day of the new school year and we had a Prefect show us around all the classrooms. I remember I still had my school bag from preschool (I know, I know!!) and at one stage, my bag flew open and all the contents spilled out on the ground!! I was sooo embarrassed. Isn't time a wonderful healer? I was over it the next day!
We went to the Open Night (again, we didn't have one of those in "my days"). It was a shamozzle ... to say the least! There was a major crowd in attendance, so much so that, whilst there were people sitting with their children, there were many more people standing, to the extent that the crowd of people was literally going out the door. After we sat/stood through the speeches (of which the Principal did not use the microphone properly so it was really hard to focus on what he was saying!), we were invited to split up into groups and tour the school. It was a great concept, but not great in practice. The poor "tour guides" (students of the school) who were assigned to the swelling crowds, lost most of their groups. Certainly, we lost our tour guide and so we linked up to another group where the tour guide told us that she had lost half her group - :o) - and so we headed on our merry way. However, we hadn't been with our new group long, when we lost them too!!! Because Rob had attended the same school when he was considerably younger, he was able to give us a personal tour of the school!! We went to the gym and spoke to the gym teacher (PE teacher, health teacher, whatever you want to call him) and when we'd had enough, we headed out the door to go somewhere else. As we were leaving, the crowds converged upon the gym and the poor teacher!
We decided to look at the science lab. That was heaps of fun and the teachers there were so helpful! We spent some considerable time there, sampling different experiments and, again, as we were leaving, the crowds converged upon the science labs.
Joel is very excited/nervous about going to High School. It will be such a change in his life in so many ways.

Joel is growing up in so many ways. He is showing responsibility, independence, thoughtfulness, caring etc. Even last night, he showered Benjy for me so that all I had to do was get the BB dressed in his PJ's. Then when Benjy spilled his dinner on the floor, Joel tried to clean it up. I didn't ask him too, he saw that it needed doing.

His greatest desire is to live for Jesus. He will be able to choose a language next year. He told me he's interested in German but he thinks it would be more prudent to learn Indonesian, just in case God calls him there!

He feels a sense of purpose when he does his piano practice. He sees it as something useful for the Lord - and he enjoys it too!!!

He is such a special boy and I am his very proud mother!!!


Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Tag?!

The rules of the game are as follows:
1. Link back to the person that tagged you.
2. Post these rules on your blog.
3. Share six unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your entry.
1. I love hanging my washing out if the day is nice, crisp with just a hint of snow on the ranges and warmth in the sun. I also hang my washing in an orderly way i.e., socks together, undies together, etc. I actually have a preferred order of hanging my washing out. And I hang everything inside out to offset any fading the sun might do. If you think that's bad, I know of people that colour co-ordinate their pegs to match their washing!!! By the way, I also fold my washing off the line ... (should I keep going?)
2. I love ice cream!!!
3. I am, by nature, a lazy lay-about!!!

4. I love green (green is really the best colour in the world). My poor husband once asked me if we really needed to have more green in our home. I just told him that there is no such thing as too much green. You can have too much of other colours (I won't name any in case I am absolutely pounded!!!) but you can't have too much green. Obviously God thinks the same way I do, otherwise you wouldn't have green grass, green leaves, green stalks, green insects, green frogs, green crocs (I'm not really proving my point here!!!), etc, etc, etc!!! Obviously, green is God's favourite colour!!!

5. I once tried on the most expensive dress in David Jones without any intention of buying it!! It really was just for the thrill of having a beautiful dress on!! The trouble was that the dress was beautiful on the hanger ... 'nuff said!

6. Autumn is my favourite season. I simply love the magnificent colours and the soothing (to me anyway!!) temperatures!! After the heat and discomfort of summer, it's like stepping into airconditioning while you're still outside.

Okay, now it's my turn to tag (however, everyone I know has already been tagged, but hey ... here goes!!):
Ruth
Melanie
The Three Little Princesses
Kirsty
Michelle
Lachlan
Well, now, I'd better get a couple of hours work done before we go to church tonight!!!!

Rob turned 40!!!

It's true!!! In fact, Rob can hardly believe it himself. The other day he asked me if he looked 40!! My reply? "I dunno ... what does '40' look like?" I think he's tried to put it off, but that is like trying to stop the sun from rising or the tide from coming in and going out again.
Well ... the inevitable has happened and there's absolutely no turning back. We celebrated this momentous occassion with family and friends and after everyone left and the cleaning up was complete, Rob sat down to contemplate the meaning of generous friends and look over the lovely gifts he had received. I believe he felt really loved!
My beautiful sister made the birthday cake ... and it looked AWESOME!!!! Unfortunately, I forgot to put the film (that I had asked my sister to bring) in my camera and take photos and it wasn't until after the event that I realised the error of my ways!!! Thank goodness Kirsty was there with her digital camera, or I wouldn't have gotten any photos at all!!!
Back to the cake, it was a mud cake in the shape of the number '40', iced with chocolate icing with white icing outlining the numbers and decoratively drizzled on the top. Magnificent.
My mum brought the dinner (I really didn't do very much at all) and then she and my sisters cleaned up. I felt terribly guilty - but, at the same time, I felt soooo loved (and it wasn't even my birthday!!!). Thank you to everyone who made Rob's birthday so special!!!
I think, nearly two weeks later, that he still feels really special.