"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