News from my house....

Hi everyone,

Once again, it has been ages since I wrote anything. I have an inspirational thought, but first, because it's been so long I want to give you an update.

We have had just celebrated Jeff's birthday, and it was so good to have all the family over. It wasn't just a celebration of his birthday, but of a shared journey and the gifts that has brought us..... (like grandchildren!)

I also want to tell you about 'Desert Rain Ministries' and my new and improved book, "Fistful of Diamonds, living on full when life serves empty" The website can be found at http://www.drministries.com/ and there you will find some information about us and what we are about! You will also see that my beautiful hardback giftbook will be available soon. (hopefully before Christmas)

I have another book on the way, "Desert Rain - the promise and process of personal renewal" in which I share some principles of seeing our own personal 'desert' whatever that may represent, come to life. Let me say, the photos and gifts I spoke of above are evidence of that promise and process. God is so good!

NOW TO MY ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU

Gen 32:24-31 "Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket in of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let you go unless You bless me!" So He said to him, "What is your name?"

He said, "Jacob."

And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."

Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there.

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip."

There are a few points I want to draw from this.

The first is that Jacob was left alone. You may be in that place right now.

Alone.

I'm not talking about that nice 'aloneness' where we enjoy some peace and quiet, I'm talking about alone with our pain, our fears, our failures, our sinful selves. Alone, facing the reality of what we really are, looking at an ugly reflection in the mirror of life.

It's when we come to this place that the miracle of the presence of God becomes some wonderfully real. When all the support systems of a 'neat' life are taken we get to know that God is really present.

The weird thing is that instead of yielding to His magnificent Lordship, Jacob took him on in a wrestle!..... Hang on, that isn't quite as weird, I think we have all found ourselves sometimes 'wrestling with God', as futile as that might be.

Jacob was pretty stubborn, when the Lord saw he wasn't going to win, in His power, love & sovereignty reached out and weakened Jacob at his hip. Why? So that Jacob would finally be in a position to receive instead of fight.

Next, why in the world did the Lord ask Jacob what his name was? Surely He knew. Because in order for Jacob, to get his fresh new name, Israel (Prince with God) he had to face the fact that he was currently Jacob (he who supplants, tricks and trips up another). We cannot step into our future without dealing with our past. And the best place to deal with our past is in the presence of our Saviour King, Jesus Christ.

The Lord could have spared Jacob this long dark night of struggle. After all, God can do anything, right?

But without that lonely dark night I don't believe Jacob would not have been able to say, "For I have seen God face to face...."

Verse 31 says, "Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip."

Let me encourage you that the sun WILL rise on you, inspite of the limp that you may come out of this night with. You WILL be able to say with Jacob "I have seen the Lord face to face, and lived". You will come out of this dark night with a new name, a new future, and a new confidence in who God is in your life.

Yes, He could have spared you this lonely dark night, but He knows the sun will rise on you bringing in a new day of bright hope and joy.

For those of you that I know, who are going through a dark night right now. Please hear me. Your name is on my heart and on my lips in prayer often, particularly in the night when I have those wakeful moments.

Much love,

Lynda

Hidden Treasure

Hi everyone,

It has been too long since I have been here, and so much has been happening.

I have been reading through 1 Samuel lately and it has been so very good! Tonight I want to share a thought from 1 Samuel 16:12...

"...and the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is the one"

Where does the Lord call His servants from? He calls them from the secret place. He didn't choose His servant from the front line, those who polished up and paraded. Those who looked the part and had the right words to say. He chose His servant by what He knew of David's activities and priorities in the secret place.

The secret place of David was not a vacume, and neither is the secret place of your life.

What was going on in David's secret place?

1. He was developing faithfulness. A shepherd was a lonely and lowly occupation but David was content and faithful there. What lonely and lowly place are you in right now? Are you faithful in carrying out your responsibilities, or are you constantly restless and discontent, wishing for something else. Settle down and embrace your current season as if it was your whole life's work, because it may well be. But that work, done with love and faithfulness will send ripples of blessing out over future generations, and to places you may never go!

2. He was getting some wins. How would David ever have been ready for Goliath and other battles ahead without the confidence and skill of the wins he had alone on the hillsides of his home farm? These weren't people he was protecting, they were mere sheep, but to him they were worth fighting for. The battles you are facing right now are worth winning. The fact that there is no-one watching and cheering you on is immaterial. God is watching...and please get this - HE REALLY WANTS YOU TO WIN THIS ONE - its worth fighting for.

3. He was worshipping. 'Worship' has almost become just about the music, and that was certainly a huge part of what was going on in the sheep paddocks with David. But David's worship was never just about the music. He enjoyed God. It was a walking/talking vital relationship with God, a sharing of all of his life with God. The good, the bad and the ugly; the highs and the lows. His worship wasn't about the form, it wasn't even about the heart... it was from the heart. The only audience David had was a few sheep but that didn't matter to David, the only One that mattered was God Himself - and isn't that the truth?

I believe there were days in David's life as the national hero that he longed for the obscurity of the hillsides of the family farm.... but one thing is for sure - he never lost the capacity to retreat to that secret place of faithfulness, victory and worship as the only man God ever called 'after my own heart'.

We need to ask the question...

"What's going on in the secret place of my life?"

Much love,
Lynda

You're OK :)

Hi everyone,

I had a chat with some people this morning about acceptance. Not acceptance of circumstances..acceptance of ourselves.

Do you know that we can sometimes appear really calm and accepting of difficult situations, unfair treatment and demands, but inside rage against ourselves with self-rejection, or a painful conviction that we are not accepted by the people around us.

I know what this feels like. I grew up with the idea that I was ugly and stupid. I was desperately shy and socially inept. My parents would be surprised to know this because this wasn't communicated to me at home. But amongst my peers I struggled deeply. Let me be totally transparent for a moment. I remember at the age of about eleven writing a letter to my class mates asking them what I had done wrong, why didn't they like me?

You guessed it... I was the laughing stock!

When I was in my teens I would not leave the house without make-up on. It was my 'safety mask'. Without it I felt naked and vulnerable. So whether it was to work, or to shop, or to visit people, whatever it was....I would not walk out the front door without make up on.

Then at the age of 17 I gave my heart to Jesus Christ. Of all the decisions I have ever made I can say without exception this was far and away the most life changing one I ever made.

For the first time in my life I knew total forgiveness, a sense of purpose and destiny.... and a true sense of belonging! This had nothing to do with anyone else, it was a purely personal connection with Him.

There is a beautiful scripture in Ephesians 1:6
".......He made us accepted in the beloved"

This change in me was real. Shortly after this life changing decision we were going out to a church youth meeting. It was the first time I had ever gone to one of these meetings. I decided to wear casual clothes and ..... no make up! As I ventured out I was surprised and delighted to recognise not a sense of vulnerability and fear, but of freedom!

This sense of acceptance doesn't just impact our need to look good. It impacts our need to perform well, to 'fit-in', to be heard, to be recognised etc. No matter what life and the people in our world throw at us, knowing that God accepts us, truly accepts us is like coming home after a hard day at work, kicking off our shoes and totally relaxing with the people we love.

Can I encourage you. If you struggle with a sense of being unacceptable just being you, understand that God knows you inside and out, and He loves you deeply. No need to dress up and perform....you're OK!

PS: By the way, I do love to dress well, and I do love to wear make up, but now it's for my own personal enjoyment, not self-defence ;)

Until next time,
much love,
Lynda

A huge month!!

Hi everyone,

I'm just checking in briefly to say that I will be doing a proper blog in the next couple of days... I have been working on a writing/publishing project this month, so there has been very little time to be working on THIS writing project!! :)

Suffice to say I have discovered something wonderful through the whole process..... As I have stepped out in this project, the timing, encouragement and custom-made help that has come my way has been nothing short of perfect!!

It's true that you cannot steer the car until you get moving, and when we get moving, we can trust God to lead us forward.

I'll keep you posted on the developments as they unfold!

In the meantime.... keep moving forward in faith and see how the Lord will lead.

Much love,

Lynda (ps..this is a photo of my magnificent family)

High time....

Hi everyone,

Thought it was high time to write something fresh. Life has been so very very busy, I'm not complaining, it's been good. A lot of activity at work, for both Jeff & myself. A busy time in the family, and a visit from my parents.

Anyway.... I was reading something pretty special in my devotional written by FB Meyer

"Come, my soul, thou must awake to sing a new song. You have dwelt long enough on those old, sad, minor chords of loss and dissapointment, of regret for the withered past, of bitter remorse."

What beautiful words!

When we are stuck in bitter remorse, they sound like harsh words... but there comes a time when we need to say, "enough". It's high time to sing a new song, even though we feel stuck in the old season.

Do you think I'm talking nonsense? You could well be forgiven for feeling like logging off right now......but don't.

I used to think that I shouldn't ever feel down, because the Bible says I have been given a garment of praise. (Isaiah 61:3) Then I realised it was my choice whether to wear that garment or not!

When the day is wet, we put on a raincoat. When our spirit is heavy, we put on praise! It's guaranteed to put us in a position of strength and lightness of spirit.

The Bible has much to say about singing a new song. Singing a new song can be a prophetic act that ushers in a sense of joy where there is no circumstantial evidence for joy. It can actually usher in a fresh new season.

• Ezekiel was instructed to prophesy life to the dead bones (Ezekiel 37)- now that doesn't make sense!
• The barren woman was encouraged to sing. (Isaiah 54:1) - that doesn't make sense either.
• God calls those things that are not as if they were (Romans 4:17) - Ok, this one really takes the cake!

Psalm 98:1 "Sing a new song to the Lord, for He has done wonderful deeds, His right hand has won a mighty victory; His holy arm has shown His saving power"
It's as we sing that new song we begin to see His mighty victory and saving power.

Back to FB Meyer...."The psalmist was master of his soul; and when he bade it bless the Lord, all that was within him broke forth into melodious thanksgiving. Let your spirit, energised by the Holy Spirit, lead the entire realm of your inner life."

Come on now....let me encourage you...it's high time to sing a new song.

Until next time,
much love & rich blessings,
Lynda

"LAYING DOWN MY CROWN"

Hi everyone,

I have just returned from a great conference. Everything about it was really good, the company was just tops, the worship was magnificent, and the ministry was diverse and really hit the spot!

One of the songs we sang has the line, "Laying down my crown". I'm a great believer when it comes to worship of the singing kind, (because worship is so much more than a song) that these songs are prayers set to music, so it's really good to think about what we're singing and interact with the lyrics while we sing!

A moment I have always anticipated with great relish is that moment when I see HIM face to face, and lay down my crown at His feet. But I've always viewed it with the thought that it really isn't MY crown, but HIS. In a sense this is true, because we don't have anything that we haven't received.

But something came to me with such clarity while singing that line this weekend. It is MY crown. It is a unique crown, a "Lynda Crown". It's unique because it's a magnificent reflection of my journey on planet earth with Him. It is fashioned by who I am, those moments and decisions that only He and I know about, and then of course the journey of working those decisions into daily obedience.

It is embellished with jewels won by our personal victories. Think about it, the colours and cut of every piece is being produced by our 'wins'. What kind of wins?

• A broken habit that we know is destructive.
• Choosing to love and forgive
• The creation of a good habit
• Victory over fear, or bitterness, or grumbling... or whatever!
• Choosing to stay with our commitments, when all we want to do is quit.
• Bringing someone else to know Him.

On and on it goes. The precious moments of worship, the development of our character, and everytime we get a win for Him....it's going to make that crown even more beautiful.

WOW! I want to lay the most beautiful, 'tell-a-story' kind of crown at His feet. I reckon when I do, we are going to exchange a look that says, "We know exactly what this is about!" It will be a crown that represents a history that He and I have shared alone.

So let me encourage you.....today...whatever you are facing, face it with Him, face it for Him. Turn this day into a crown-fashioning day of worship, and maybe when we stand before Him you and I will take such huge delight in laying down our crowns at His feet, side by side!

Much love,
Lynda

Increase - Growth & Confidence

Just another quick observation....

I am currently working on a rather massive task at work. I wouldn't call it my area of strength. In fact if those who knew me back in my school days knew what I am up to they would be very surprised.

But it is something that is in front of me, and has to be done. And whatever we find to do, we should do with enthusiasm, and we should do well.

Because it is not my natural area of strength, I have found it quite a stretch, a real mental exercise; sometimes I would even say really unnerving!

I have noticed a couple of things about this matter:

1. As I have applied myself to it I have actually enjoyed it. Probably a bit like physical exercise, we may not necessarily get excited about it, but as we do it, we find it enjoyable and even 'stimulating'.
This has been some really solid 'mental exercise', and I have found it very stimulating. You know, "Train your brain" stuff.

2. As I have gone along in the work I have found my confidence growing. "Can Do" is getting louder than "Can't Do". I notice my 'inner space' is getting bigger. The fact that I have been doing this amidst some challenges in my personal life has added to the 'stretching' value of the work.

Isaiah 54:2-3 "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendents will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited."

We love the expansion and inherit words. But the enlarge, stretch, do not spare, lengthen and strengthen words all sound like a lot of hard work! Another version says, "spare no expense". Investment of any kind is always a risk, but it is always a better alternative that living in a rut or stagnating.

Whats more, there are people on the other side of my challenge that are absolutely worth the effort! This task that is challenging me so much is going to bear some great fruit..... and so it is MOST DEFINTELY WORTH IT!!

Hebrews 11:34 by faith....."their weakness was turned to strength"

Go on... dare to believe that the very area of weakness in your life, by faith in Christ can become strong!

Until next time,
blessings,
Lynda

Celebrating in a storm...

This is just a quick observation....

I know someone, very close to me who is walking through a very deep challenge. Because it's not about me, I don't want to put any details in here.

But I have noticed something.... :)

That person has not allowed this challenge to consume her. She is still able to celebrate the joys in her life in her own unique and beautiful bubbly style. I am so glad that she has that capacity. It will sustain her and the people in her world through many different seasons.

No matter what is going on in life, and invariably there is a mix of both good and bad, the truth stands,

.."Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

It doesn't matter how dark life may get....with the Lord in our lives we need not be afraid because

..."even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You" Psalm 139:12

What does that tell me? The Lord knows His way around no matter how dark it gets, and if I put my hand of trust in His, I will be OK, because He will lead me out into the light again.

SWEETHEART....keep celebrating!! :)

Until next time,

Blessings,

Lynda

Been a while...

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I have been on here... should have been on sooner because so many different things have been happening.

Since last being on here we have enjoyed a great holiday...nothing exciting, but oh so refreshing. And once again I get pleasantly surprised at how content I have become after spending so many years struggling with the fear that by the time I got to this season, I may be dissapointed.

While at the coast Jeff & I went to Currumbin Santuary. What a great day, picnicking and walking around. Watching the huge number of young families was a great joy, partly because it brought back memories, and partly because we weren't bringing ours! It looked exhausting!!!

I also enjoyed a shopping spree at Harbourtown, all by myself. It was a real treat. What did Jeff do? Relaxed back at the unit with his favourite newspaper ;) "So what", you say? Well after many struggles trying to get Jeff to do the same thing with me; "because that's the way it should be", I was not surprised; but we were both refreshed to find holidays work well when we allow each other some freedom!

• I'm not entirely sure that it's the wisest thing to be quite so open, but I do want you to know that:
  At the end of the long child-rearing rears, and the strains on marriage, it's worth hanging on to enjoy this sweet spot!


• Godliness with contentment is great gain, and if you drop the struggle and accept each other, you will quite possibly, more than likely, find your relationship strong, and friendship vibrant, not like in the beginning.... but a whole lot better!
  
  

There is more to be said, about the delights of grandchildren and quiet days with them, but I want to leave what I have said right here.... I'll get back later.

Until next time, be blessed :)
Lynda

KINDNESS ...WHAT A GIFT

Hi everyone,

Well, have I ever been tested since my last blog! My goodness, plenty of opportunities to offer songs of worship through the stuff of life ;)

Amongst all of this I have enjoyed the kindness of friends and family.

What a difference kindness makes.

• A daughter who has become so much more... a friend.
• My husband, who knows me better than anyone else could.
• A great work environment where its OK to get it wrong sometimes
  

Kindness is a wonderful gift.

A favourite verse is Psalm 18:35 "You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great."

Why are gentleness & kindness so powerful?
Because it brings healing to our bruised and weary hearts & emotions; and because it gives us space to 'breath', space to try, space to fail, space to recover and space to grow.

For someone like me who can be very 'black & white' and pretty hard on myself and the people around me, this verse came as a lifeline years ago, and I have often returned to it, especially to allow kindness towards others to grow in me!

If God Almighty, who has so much power and righteousness can be kind to me, surely I can be kind to others?

Well, all I can say, is thank God they have been kind to me!

Until next time,
Blessings,
Lynda

A Breakfast Blog....

Hi everyone,

I'm really enjoying blogging....little thoughts and somewhere to express them. And I am most grateful for you who read them!

So here's another thought... What happens on those dull days when you have stuff to do -

THAT YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING!!! :(

You know, boring errands instead of a fun shopping spree, a heap of housework that you know you will have to revisit again and again and again, so what's the point anyway?
How about getting alongside one or more of your children who are struggling with homework... and super stressed over it as well (which tends to make them unreasonable)

OK, maybe there's a husband in your life.... He could have any number of requests for you....
You know, "can you pay this bill for me", "can I bring ______ home for tea", "I know you want to watch this, but there's a really big game on and I was planning to watch it", "why, you look lovely tonight!...."

Come on ladies, this is not the earth shaking major things in life, it's the small stuff, the stuff that makes up the fabric of your life.

How we respond will determine the level of joy in our lives and in our homes, but some days its really hard to live with.

WHAT DO YOU DO??

Turn it into worship. David said that he wouldn't offer God that which cost him nothing. And to do the dull stuff of life with joy does cost.

So next time you are faced with a day of dull duty offer it up to the Lord and say, "Today as I do this stuff, it's not really stuff Lord, it's my heartfelt song of worship to you - please enjoy xxx"

I promise you, there is no place this doesn't work.

Rich blessings to you,
love, Lynda

WARNING ....RELATIONAL WHITE ANT!!

Hi everyone,

Just had a great weekend - full on busy, but very fruitful and enjoyable. Now I am enjoying a very quiet day at home ...in the quiet... even better the stillness. I'm catching up on some housework, (deliberately not much), and avoiding the office like the plague. WONDERFUL!! :)



As I poke around my home I'm thinking about something Pastor Murray often says... "The opposite of love is not hate, it's selfishness." Well in the context of marriage & home - I believe that is true.



The times when our relationship has been most 'eaten away' has been the times when we have been selfish.

• "My way or the highway"


• "I'm right, you're wrong"


• "I don't feel like co-operating with you"


• "I've got my own plans thank you"


• and of course that song that we all relate to so strongly, "What about me....?"
  

The dark patches that feel like hate don't start off with hate, they start off with selfishness. And that sense of hatred can quickly be dissolved and replaced with love when we 'with faith that works by love' serve one another; honour one another; treat one another and simply choose to be kind.

I remember reading somewhere once (I'm so sorry, it was a while ago and I don't remember where I read or heard it)... that it is a great idea to let your first words to your spouse be "what would you like me to do for you today?"

I admit, I don't think to do that every day, but when I have it has a wonderful effect on me... I actually do feel more loving! It has a wonderful effect on Jeff. He feels loved! Now that's a great way to face the day.

"If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand."
Phil 2:1-4 (The Message)

So rather than thinking of love as a great feeling, lets think of it as a powerful gift that we are free to hand out every day of our lives!

Be blessed! :)

Lynda

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE....

Reading in Ruth this morning...chapter 4 v10 "......This way she can have a son and carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown. You are all witnesses today"


Dear believer, this reflects the Spirit of Jesus. He came to redeem us not just for Himself, but so that we could enjoy an eternal, magnificent inheritance with Him.


Boaz was a good man who was committed to the well-being, freedom and honour of Ruth.

Let me get personal....
Jesus is way far and away better than Boaz....and He is interested in your well-being, freedom and honour.

Boaz's plan wasn't just to rescue Ruth off the fields and out of poverty, but that she would share in all that was his.

Jesus plan is not just that we escape judgement, but that we enjoy all that He has prepared for us, in this life and the next!


WHAT AN AMAZING EXPRESSION OF STRONG, INTELLIGENT LOVE - FOR US!!

till next time,

Blessings :)

Lynda

SHUT DOORS & OPEN DOORS...

Hi there everyone,



I was reading in Ruth chapter 4 yesterday. And Verse 13 really brought something precious. "So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son"



Ruth had already been married, back in Moab. Her normal natural expectations that things would go well, and she would have children was blocked, for ten years, then her husband died.

She must have had some gut-wrenching questions.



BUT GOD



... knew that an answered prayer in Moab would have forever closed the door to the better plan in Bethlehem. Because of that 'twist of fate' she is in the line of King David, who is in the line of Jesus Christ, King of kings & Lord of lords. She has an eternal inheritance.



SO WHAT??



When you are struggling with apparently no answers, and delayed hopes remember that God does have a plan for you, its a good one, and maybe a 'yes' now will shut the door to the better, richer plan He has waiting for you up ahead.

TRUST HIS LOVE FOR YOU

Have a great day,

Lynda

A WAKE UP CALL....

Ever wonder how amazing it is that when you think of giving up on something little reminders come along to keep you moving along? Well as you would be aware it has been a long time since I wrote on this....slack, I know!

In the last couple of weeks I have been thinking, why would I do this blog? Is it something I really should be doing? Are my motives right? Is it something that is part of God's plan for me to do? Would it really make any difference to anyone?

On Monday I read, 2 Tim 1:6-7 "This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline"

Is it coincidental that last night we watched "Julie & Julia" (all about a Julie's struggle to finish something she started...a blogging project!) Then today someone rang and asked me, "How's your blog going?" ..... WHAT! Someone else was thinking about my blog?! I got home and a twitter comment on facebook gave me a sharp poke...

So I thought I better revisit the blog, and I find I have two followers, and some other comments!

OK, I get the message. I need to not be timid, and activate some self-discipline, all motivated by love.

So for all those who may happen to stumble on this blog, and especially for my two followers, whom I am sorry to have disappointed....

Rich blessings, ..... and lets keep up at whatever our dreams are!
Lynda :)