YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE IT WILL LEAD YOU

Hi everyone,

I have just enjoyed being at our National Australian Christian Churches Conference at the Gold Coast, and while there I absolutely loved the time of worship. 

It was in that moment of thunderous worship that I was reminded of my very first encounter with God....

I was a 17 year old girl, and while hanging out some washing, prayed a simple prayer..... "God, I want you in my life." 

That was all I knew.  I wanted Him.

Did I know that He had heard me in that moment?

No.

Was anyone else there coaching me?

No.

But a tiny few days later, I found out that He had heard me as He flooded my soul with the greatest sense of cleansing forgiveness I had ever known.

Fast track 41 years.  I find myself not alone in the backyard praying a prayer that I hadn't realized Heaven had heard.  I'm standing with thousands of worshipers enjoying that same tangible Presence of God that I experienced all those years ago, a few days later from my washing line prayer.

Still loved, still forgiven, but with a massive sense of the hand of God on my life. There has been so much that has happened in that 41 years.  I could never have dreamed the significance of that simple prayer.

And in that huge crowd of worshipers I was 17 again; but with so much more confidence - and whether in a crowd of thousands, or in my own backyard I have enjoyed His Presence over and over again.

Let me encourage you to not despise the day of small beginnings .... You never know where those holy moments will lead you.  The God who hears the roar of thousands at worship also hears the 'one' whether in their own backyard - or in the crowd. 

Until next time,
with love,  Lynda

Timing is everything.... I thought!

Hi everyone,

It's so good to be back here again... It has been way too long.  I imagine in your world, as well as mine things have changed. Before I could write this I had to update my profile as the facts were completely out of date, as well as my hair colour!

My prayer is that in the last few years your life has seen changes that you are happy about.

Grandchild No. 6 - Oliver

Since my last blog post all our children have left town and we have three more grandchildren. We have bought our home and renovated the bathroom and a painted a couple of other rooms.  Jeff has had a change in work life, and my work has morphed into something of a different shape.

I had not planned to pick this up again until another project was finished.  I have been studying for a Diploma for way too long and decided that I would ignore Desert Rain until that was finished later this year.

 How neat.

I hope you enjoy this pictures of our bathroom reno!

But our sense of timing and God's are not necessarily the same. I have been invited to accept some opportunities which have required me to update my online presence.  So here I am.

As we are on the tail end of the Easter weekend allow me to share something that occurred to me.  Jesus Christ is called the Lion and the Lamb.  These are such opposites that it seems contradictory.  How can He be both?

Isaiah 53:7  "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth."

Jesus stood before His accusers and refused to defend Himself.  He remained silent in the face of the false accusations they hurled at Him.  He didn't fight back when they beat and tortured Him.  In this way He truly was the Lamb, The Sacrificial Lamb that took the judgement for our sin.

Yet in this He was never the victim.  He remained in charge of the whole thing.

Three days later, in the silence of the dawn, He emerged with a roar that shook hell to its foundations.

Revelation 5:5 "....Do not weep.  Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, .... has prevailed..."

Up until that resurrection dawn, 'death' was the final word for every single person that has ever walked this planet.  But now, He had prevailed over it and ushered in a new day of hope where the new final word is Resurrection Life.

He is indeed both the Lion and the Lamb.  He fought and won - for us.  I trust that you are able to receive this gift of His victory over sin and death in your own life.

Happy Easter!
Lynda

 

"IT'S NEVER TOO LATE"

Hi Everyone,

I feel almost embarrassed to be writing, it's been so long since I have!  (Please hold that thought)

However, since that last post we have enjoyed two huge things that are noteworthy...

1.  We found out that we have another grandchild on the way. 

2.  I fulfilled a long-term dream...(one that I felt was never going to happen) I travelled to England with Jeff.  I went there in 2001 with my parents, but promised myself I would not go back without him.
 
It was really great to show him places I knew and grew up in.  Homes, schools and favourite towns.  We also went to places I had never been before. I really enjoyed watching him discover and respond to the places, people and culture.  My favourite of Jeff's reactions was to the Bath Cricket Club.  He actually was envious of those young boys who get to train there and was amazed at the beauty of the cricket ground environment! 

I discovered that my totally Aussie husband could easily settle into British life! 

We  caught up with my cousins and had the best time with them.  Considering we have had virtually nothing to do with each other since 1974, (in apart from a couple of hours in 2001 with Teresa, the only contact we have had is 'virtual' through Facebook). It was amazing to feel so comfortable with each other!  It was one of the highlights of our holiday.

We also caught up with an old school friend of mine, Sarah, and her husband, Rob.  This had to be the other major highlight... nervous as we both were, Sarah and I relished our couple of hours, extended by the breakdown of our car!  (Thanks Sarah and Rob for staying with us :)

We were travelling with my parents, and mum got to enjoy something she had been waiting decades for, and thought may never happen... She visited her favourite school in Ayrshire and even got a guided tour!  The year she was there? 1953.  I loved the look on her face as we walked around the school.... Mum was 13 again!

Now to the "Never too late thought".

A few months ago while minding my own business, the following question rose up in my mind refusing to be ignored... "If God waited till Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children... then gave them Isaac and Job lost everything including adult children and still had time to receive double restoration, Can God do it again?".  Now before you get all credulous, I'm not talking about having any more children!  But there has been something in our lives that we have felt was beyond redeeming, and I knew the Lord was speaking into that situation. Faith was ignited in my heart, and I know that I know He will do it...

But faith has feet.

Since coming home I have restarted my studies towards a Diploma in Christian Ministry.  I have found some of the material intensely practical.  Two of the issues have been pro-activity and making relationships a priority.  Since watching those lectures we have been able to put some things in place that actually do 'proactively' set us up to fulfil that long-term dream, and what previously had felt out of reach, is now a work in progress! 

I have also re-connected with an old friend whom we had almost let slip.  The timing of the call could not have been better, and her contact details are now safely saved on my mobile.  I am looking forward to investing in that relationship in a far more proactive way than the annual Christmas card!

So what have you put in the 'too-late, too-hard basket'?  Let me point you to these amazing verses...

"Then God said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they’re saying: ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there’s nothing left of us.’
 “Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, ‘God, the Master, says: I’ll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! (Ezekiel 37:11-12 The Message)

Do you see that?  These bones were dead and buried.  Yet God promises to not just bring life to dead bones, but to bring them out from graves.  Once something is buried, it's a declaration that the thing is over.  There is no hope.  But God promises out of that no-hope situation to resurrect and bring back life!

Let me encourage you to pray, to give your dead situations to Him.  Hear what He has to say about it.  And when you hear His promise breathed into your heart - believe, and get proactive.  Make the decisions you need to make. Put words and actions to your belief and see Him at work. 

Whether it's a life long dream, a relationship, or some issues that need tidying up.... or even an overdue task (like a blog)... get to it!

With love,
until next time (and it will be soon)
Lynda :) 

PS.  Thanks to Jeff for asking me the other day how long it was since I wrote on my blog!  Your encouragement was priceless. It got me over the embarrassment of fronting up online after so long.

NEVER FORGET

Hi everyone,

     So good to get back on here again.  The last couple of weeks have been full, and I've had a win! 

It's something I knew, but had forgotten.  "DO IT AFRAID!"

     I had the huge privilege of speaking to the local Christian School at their weekly chapel.  I was given the subject matter - Joseph of Genesis.  I had the first part of his story when he almost lost his life, but ended up being sold as a slave by his hateful brothers.  That doesn't sound too hard does it?  The thing that had me afraid was speaking to a new group of people.... who ranged from the age of about four to forty.  I was going to speak to the entire school and I didn't know how I was going to engage such a wide age range.

     When I am facing something daunting I tend to go into denial mode and put off the preparation.  It's some illogical response that allows me to pretend it's not really going to happen!  A REALLY bad move that has let me down a couple of times.

    The best antidote to apathy is action and the best antidote to fear is to face up and engage the giant!

    As I did this I found my fear dissipating and love and compassion increasing. By the time I got to the school I was really looking forward to it. 

     I need to finish this little part to say that I had the best time ever and thoroughly enjoyed connecting with those young people.  It was no way near as hard as I thought as I just shifted my focus on to the important part of this task, which wasn't me, but them!

    Now my main thought... 

     While we were in Church yesterday morning and during the singing my mind went back to the day when I first asked The Lord to come into my life.  As I thought about that day I realised that it was the most life changing moment in my entire life.  I have had lots of pivotal moments, but it all began with that day.  What struck me as I thought about it was the truth that it was an almost silent prayer offered in the backyard as I hung out the washing.  I was only 17.  No one was there, just me, the washing line and Jesus.  No crowds, no music, no preaching.  I didn't know I needed Him. I just knew I wanted Him.  I simply said, "Lord, I want You in my life". 

     At that precise moment I didn't know He came.  It was a few days later that the reality of His Presence and grace hit me.  My life has never been the same since.

    This is the point.  A young girl of 17 hanging out the washing by herself was heard by Almighty God.  The same God who created heaven and earth and maintains it by His power, heard the silent prayer of a teenager.  That reality blew me away yesterday morning in Church. And as I thought about it I felt the Lord say, "Never forget that I still hear your quiet prayers, the cry of your heart in all it's simplicity.  When life gets big and busy, and it seems the responsibilities are huge, I'm still interested in the private world of Lynda, and I hear ... NEVER FORGET THAT."

    To illustrate the point:  I have long since left home.  I'm all grown up ... grown up enough to be a grandmother.  But when I go home to visit Mum & Dad, I'm someone's daughter again.  I can take a look in the fridge, in the pantry.  I can relax. I have nothing to prove.  When I'm there my value isn't in my role or my job, ministry and responsibilities, it's in my relationship with them... their daughter.

    I want to pass that thought on to you as well. You may feel that your public world has swallowed up your private world, and you may have forgotten that He is still just, "Dad".  The whole huge significance of your life was birthed in that simple beginning, and it's still the basis of your life and service. 

    Maybe it's time you came home, kicked off your shoes and simply remembered that you are HIS child, and that He still has time to hear the simple cry of your heart - whatever that is.

   Until next time,
         Lynda

   

IS ANYONE LISTENING??...

Hi everyone,

     It has been SO LONG since I got on this blog... Since the last time I wrote Jeff and I enjoyed a short trip to Victoria to spend Christmas with his family.  It has been ten years since the last Christmas spent down there, so was long overdue.  We really had a good time, especially comforting in the light of Jeff's Mum's passing away in the middle of last year.

     It was also the first Christmas we have spent without our own children... A difficult thought made easier by the fact that we had the best fun at a family Christmas Day at Emma & Michael's the week before we left. 

     We have also had a little change in the fact that Jodie has moved back home with us.  It is working out really well, with a few adjustments from all of us.  ;) 

      The year has also got into it's rythm with plenty of work for both Jeff and I.  The relaxed pace of  the Christmas/summer break is well a distant memory!  Never mind, because in only 11 weeks Jeff and I are off on the trip of a lifetime to England.  I am so excited and cant wait to show him around my country of birth.  I will have to make sure I get on this blog to show some photos of that.

     Now I have a delightful thought from my journal... 

Genesis 30:17 "And God listed to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a sixth son."

 





I love this!  To give a bit of background to Leah.  She was the plainer, older sister to beautiful Rachel, whom Jacob loved intensely. The Bible says of Leah and Rachel... "There was no sparkle in Leah’s eyes, but Rachel had a beautiful figure and a lovely face." Genesis 29:17 NLT.  Not only that but everyone knew who Jacob loved, he had worked hard for seven long years to marry her. 

On the night of the wedding, after Jacob had his fill of wine, Laban, (the bride's father) snuck poor Leah into Jacobs tent, and in the morning Jacob was furious to find that he had the wrong woman as his wife! 

 

     Can you imagine the shame and rejection for this poor woman.  Jacob had to work another seven years for the privilege of marrying the woman he loved while Leah spent the rest of her life merely being tolerated. 

 

     From my journal.... "Leah was the unlovely, unloved one.  Yet God LISTENED to her.  We draw so much confidence and comfort from being "beautiful", "popular" etc... yet it is not how heaven measures.  God listens to those who others don't listen to.  We need to take heart in this and give Him something to listen to!

• Thanksgiving
• Praise
• Worship
• Requests
• Intercessions
• Questions
• The thoughts of our day
• The thoughts of our heart 

We should never let the fact that we feel unnoticed and un-celebrated on earth silence our prayers.  GOD IS LISTENING!"

 

     In Christ we have far more of a voice than we know.  How many prayers have been left unanswered, because they are unspoken?  How much difference can we make in the lives of others when we start to pray for them? 

 

    If you have given your life to Christ, if you know that He has washed your sin away, then know this... You are a child of God and your voice is heard in heaven.  Don't let the values of this world silence your voice, because in the Father's eyes, you're beautiful!

 

(I thought I would add this 'blast from the past' photo of me, age 15 in Capetown, on route to Australia ...  it will give those of you who know me a bit of a chuckle... I was feeling 'pretty lovely' there!)

 

Until next time, (hopefully not too long),

Much love,

Lynda 

 

 

Who's That in the Mirror?

Hi Everyone,

We recently enjoyed a few days on the Sunshine Coast at the State ACC Conference.  It was a great week in every way possible.  Great place (Mooloolaba & Buderim), great worship, great ministry and great friends.  There is a lot of networking that goes on, both rekindling of old friendships and forming of new ones.

Have you ever heard that saying that the older you get, you get to see your mum in the mirror?...

Well I had the most brief but beautiful moment.  As I was walking out of the auditorium I walked past a man who knows my parents well.  They spent time together in Papua New Guinea years ago.  The first second he looked at me there was no recognition, and then it was as if the image of my mother in me put two and two together in his mind and he said a quick hello with a smile.

Recognition by connection with my mother.

This is the point.  The fact that I bear the image of my mother in such a way that people who really don't know me, connect her to me in their thinking brought me enourmous pride and comfort.

Then I got to thinking... we are image bearers of God "Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us" (Gen 1:26 NLT)  We are created in His image.  When we go through our lives we should be able to draw confidence and comfort from the fact that we are no mere accident of evolution, we bear HIS image!!

Secondly, we are called to be like Jesus.  "For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." (Romans 8:29 NLT)

"But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.  To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?"  (2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NLT )

What a delightful thought, that everywhere we go we carry His image and His fragrance.  I want to be more and more  like Him, because I want everyone who meets me to recognise Him. 

Until next time,
Blessings,
Lynda

IS IT WHAT YOU KNOW ... OR WHO YOU KNOW?

Hi everyone,
Today I just want to share something out of my journal. I hope that it is an encouragement for you.

"Psalm 40:5  "Many O Lord my God (Selah!) are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts towards us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."

 

Wow!  First of all that delightful "fill your sails with pure air statement... "O Lord MY God"  What an overwhelmingly massive privilege to be able to say of the Lord - Creator and Sustainer of the universe... "MY God."  That does nothing less than breathe rock solid security and peace into my life and soul. 
I know Who I belong to and somehow by His amazing grace... He is mine!  Talk about the 'forces of the universe being on my side' - The Holy One behind the universe is on my side! 

 

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"  Romans 8:31

 

Right now it is so easy to believe this. My world is peaceful, my cup is running over.  Even the sound of my favourite bird is cooing away in my back garden.

 

But what about when everything is conspiring against me?  All I can see is the backside of the tapestry that makes up my life ... and it's full of knots and loose ends!

 

Have you ever heard of the story of the five blind men trying to identify an elephant? Each of them only had the perspective of the section they could touch.  Part was rough, part was smooth, some was soft and some was hard. They all debated until a man who could see it all said, "It's an elephant".

 

The Lord, the One who stands outside of the limitations of our experience and yet is intimately in touch with it can see the front side of the tapestry and says, "Trust Me, it's all coming together perfectly." 

 

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

 

"He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecclesiastes 3:11

 

 

No matter what the experience of your life, never be afraid to say, "O Lord MY God".

 

 

Until next time,

Love, Lynda