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All I need is You
All I need is You Lord
Is You Lord
You hold the universe
You hold everyone on earth
You hold the universe
You hold
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63 NIV
how many times are we cruising through life and then BAM
unseen challenge
unseen health issue
unseen bills
unseen crisis
unseen redundancy
unseen behaviour issues in our families
unseen emotional weariness
unseen bad news
unseen brick walls and obstacles
how can we live prepared for the unforseen things – without living in fear?
1. prepare emotionally
– live a life that is emotionally full – connected relationships, rest time etc. having an emotionally full tank means we are more emotionally secure and prepared to deal with the unforseen.
ps our emotional reactions are a CHOICE – we can fall apart or we can CHOOSE life and peace and hope and faith
ps our ability to emotionally RESPOND to a situation will affect those around us and as mothers and wives we often set the TEMPERATURE
2. prepare spiritually
– know what the promises of God are, know how to pray, be connected in church with people who will pray with you, be connected to God so He’s not a stranger. find your HOPE and REST and STRENGTH in GOD despite and within the circumstances
ps life is full of risk and *stuff* – but doesn’t mean we are unequipped to go through them, God will enable us to be in every season.
ps we are not helpless wimps. we are women of God. we are called to pray and see change and breakthrough. sometimes the very thing that is needed is aggressive active prayer
eg Moses’ mother, Joseph, paul
eg my own health issues and different ways of praying (eg stomping around the house!)
3. prepare your perspective
– look at life as an adventure and the challenges as stepping stones to greatness and strength, not as disasters to derail you. also remember WHO is in charge of your life – God. He holds the universe in His hands. when i remember THIS perspective i am then aware that nothing catches God unaware, nothing is unseen to Him and so i can trust Him more or easier.
eg paul said he was content in all circumstances and that through hardship he learned about the comfort of God so that he could in turn comfort others.
your unforseen *whatever* does not need to be the end of you.
darlene zschech and HERE
the great things God will do through you are going to grow in the soil of persistence, prayer, obedience and sacrifice. that means there will be plenty of plowing and pruning. that is the way living things grow, whether you’re talking about vegetables or vision. steven furtick
God loves us too much to take us through the short cut. He knows we might see what’s required and go back to where we started. So sometimes He takes us on a detour. Jon Acuff
totally love wacky wednesdays at school! yes that is a blue mohawk. which we kept (minus the blue) until last night. my son suits it. some wacky things you cannot see via photo – my son has wednesday and thursday socks on. different colours. different days. different day name written on them! his tshirt, under the jumper, is on backwards too. my daughter has old stripy stockings cut and made into arm bands and different height socks on too. mostly for them its all about the hair 
)
and as always. i love Jesus with all i am and all my heart and all my soul and all my days. For His glory and the building of His kingdom and the rescue of the lost.
so what are you totally loving this week?
… check out what other peeps are loving whatever day of the week it is over at MNM’s BLOG
Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45: 4-7
as i read this i am so impressed by joseph and his attitude. remember his BROTHERS sold him into slavery – a potential death sentence, but a life sentence of sorrow and hardship at the least. and this time for joseph also involved prison. not luxury accommodation. not an easy life to live. yet he extends grace and welcome to his brothers and honour towards God, who is ultimately in control. he is aware that his journey has resulted in the salvation of his people, that his position as prime minister means he is responsible for the survival of his family and nation. and that that positioning was orchestrated by God.
it takes great faith and faithfulness and surrender and submission to God to have this attitude.
How many times in the 22 years since he was sold into slavery by his brothers did Joseph fall to his knees and beg God to know the answer to a question often on all of our lips: Why? As he sat in the pit…why God? As he worked as a slave…why God? As he sat in prison… why God? And now, looking back he can see the fingerprints of God on his life story. The master’s hand cared for him and guided him to this point so that he may care for his family. Joseph could just as easily been vengeful or bitter. I think many people would be. He could have been smug and callous toward his brothers. But he choose to see this moment as the answer to his prayer “Why?” and not be blinded by his circumstance.
But you have to look for the answers. It’s easy to be blinded by bitterness and be angry at God for all the bad things that happen to us. If the first step in healing is asking God “Why?” then the second step is to learn how to wait for his answer and then see it when He shows you. Joseph had to wait 22 years yet he remained faithful to his Lord. I believe God will always show us the answer to our question in His time, when the answer is complete. Until then we must place our hope in the Sovereignty of God.
It’s like watching a great composer create a new masterpiece. We see notes being inked out one at a time and often they don’t sound good in of themselves. Then we see a phrase and the hint of a melody. Then at least we hear the full score being played and it takes our breath away it is so perfect and beautiful. The end result is what was always in the masters plan… that is why He is the master. youversion note
many people would turn their backs on God and reject Him, be angry with Him, feel unloved and rejected themselves by God.
but Joseph didnt. perhaps he had moments, late at night, in the darkness of his cell, where he prayed and wept and was overwhelmed by his circumstances.
but at this end point we see that he had processed through his feelings and that he had reconciled himself to knowing that God is God and God is GOOD and he honours Him and shows commitment and surrender to His ways. Joseph’s circumstances went from bad to worse as he went down into Egypt and yet he recognized the sovereignty of God even in the negative circumstances.
take the opportunity of the prison to pray.
take the opportunity of the prison to be transformed.
take the opportunity to surrender.
because sometimes the prison is the path to the palace and in the palace God requires men and women of God who live for His name and fame and will be obedient to His will.
Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him. Genesis 45:14-15
what a moment of reconciliation. for all of them. i wonder if any of the brothers had pondered about where joseph was, if they had sleepless nights worrying about him and regretting their actions. i wonder how it affected their own lives, if they were in a prison of guilt and a slave to their past. i wonder if they dreaded ever meeting their brother again and how he would react to them. but joseph kisses and embraces. weeps and forgives. how amazing is that. its obvious that joseph has spent time dealing with any feelings of anger and resentment and rejection and has forgiven his brothers well before seeing them in person.
dont let something fester inside us – if joseph had carried onto any bitterness or forgiveness he may have rejected his family and allowed them to return to israel and perish. bitterness destroys. forgiveness continues the cycle of hurt and hurtfulness.
"Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you." Corrie Ten Boom
SIX REASONS TO FORGIVE
1. We are commanded. In our obedience, God is honored.
2. It brings healing.
3. There is reconciliation in forgiveness.
4. We imitate Christ.
5. Sets us free from burdens we were not intended to carry.
6. We take away a foot hold from Satan.
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
How do we forgive when we don’t feel like it? How do we translate the decision to forgive into a change of heart? We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not. We must trust God to do the work in us that needs to be done so that the forgiveness will be complete. I believe God honors our commitment to obey Him and our desire to please him when we choose to forgive. He completes the work in his time. We must continue to forgive (our job), by faith, until the work of forgiveness (the Lord’s job), is done in our hearts. @ about christianity
i adapted this elisabeth hasselbeck recipe last week for my family. actually on the 4th of july (because she has it on her website as perfect for the 4th of july) which is funny. to me, a kiwi (we dont have 4th of july), it was like kfc. delish. slightly naughty. like takeaways… but made at home
because of our family food allergies i used coconut milk instead of buttermilk and used no egg and no cheese. instead of gf cornflakes i used an organ breadcrumb mix and i also used a T of chia seeds.
i was delighted with how it tasted. crisp. spicy. yummy!
and funnily, before going GF i would have never have attempted such a meal. becoming GF has become a food adventure for me!
Buttermilk Chicken
Serves 4
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds total)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 1/2 cups low-fat buttermilk
1 egg
1/2 cup brown rice flour
3/4 cup crushed gluten-free cornflakes
2 tbsp. finely grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. gluten-free paprika
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tbsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- Place the chicken breast, garlic, and rosemary in a bowl, and add 1 cup of the buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour up to 8 hours.
- In a shallow bowl, beat the egg with a fork until blended. Then add the remaining 1/2 cup buttermilk and the brown rice flour, and beat until a thick batter forms. On a plate, mix together the cornflakes, Parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Using tongs, lift each chicken breast from the buttermilk and dip onto the egg mixture. Then dip each piece one at a time into the cornflake mixture. When all the chicken pieces are coated, refrigerate them for 30 minutes to help the cornflake coating adhere.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Place a deep skillet over high heat, and add the canola oil. When the oil is hot (a tiny piece of chicken dipped into the hot oil will sizzle as soon as it’s added), add half the chicken pieces without crowding the pan. Working in batches, fry the chicken turning the pieces as needed, until they are well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes total. As soon as the chicken breasts are browned, transfer them to a baking sheet.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the oven, and bake until the chicken is opaque throughout and the juices run clear, 25 to 30 minutes.
- Arrange the chicken on a serving platter. Garnish with the parsley, and serve warm or at room temperature.
today i had my hair cut
at a place called THE SHEARING SHED
i don’t think that’s the best name for a hairdressers
its also one of those mega cheap chains in the shopping centre. cut only.
but there is one hairdresser there that is very very very good.
beyond expectation.
the expectation of the decor and the name and the branding is pretty standard
but she exceeds those expectations
she is an awesome hairdresser and i left feeling beautiful and fresh, pampered and styled
she is the best hairdresser i’ve ever had
in a way life, and God can be like that
we have a framework we expect God to work in
standards we think He’ll meet
formed by how we’ve been treated by other people, by pop culture, by the news, by the knocks and winds, the sunshine and the comforts
but God is God
He exceeds expectation
He is beyond our imagination
better than we can think
i read this somewhere: “God is not merely the best version of you that you can think of. God is far more than that, above and beyond all that you ask or think.”
He is beyond expectation, He is beyond the best we can ever think
He is stronger, wiser, more capable and powerful, more loving and graceful, more wonderful and kind
(sidenote – Job 38-39 is a very good passage on expanding my limited perception of who God is…)
He is with us more, for us more, in us more
Greater. Stronger. Wiser.
Beyond.
Rest in that.
Rest in that knowledge that He has it all, that He holds it all, that He sees it all, that He can do it all.
Rest in His greatness.
When i feel beyond my own capabilities, when i feel weak, there He is. Always. Forever. Beyond all.
Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— Ephesians 3:20 AMP
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us Ephesians 3:20 NIV
*and yes, this is the same verses as i used LAST week!
#FiveMinuteFriday free write time! <—click to tweet this!
Five Minute Friday is a feature over at Lisa-Jo Bakers TALES FROM A GYPSY MAMA blog. i first read about it on my friend Fee’s blog and thought it sounded fun!
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
OK, are you ready?
i believe you are the same today as you were yesterday
that Your blood cleanses me and sets me free
that You are my healer
that Your name is above all names and powers and principalities
You reign Jesus
yay – our church has just gone on itunes – podcasts of our morning and night services loaded on weekly – and look, there we are, the River there as a new and noteworthy! there are some fantastic messages on there from, including (without sounding like i’m bragging i hope) 2 from me (so grateful to the priv to speak!)
caleb’s team WON on friday – their first win ever! yay! was so very exciting! final score was 41-19 so very convincing! awesome to see how the team has grown and come together with experience and training!
on saturday our YA had a mini golf arvo at JUNGLE WORLD GOLF at botany junction. we took our whanau along and had an awesome time. over the hols we’d played lots of mini golf on xbox because of the rain so was fun to test out our skills in REAL LIFE as well as hang out with some awesome peoples!
and as always. i love Jesus with all i am and all my heart and all my soul and all my days. For His glory and the building of His kingdom and the rescue of the lost.
so what are you totally loving this week?
… check out what other peeps are loving whatever day of the week it is over at MNM’s BLOG
Matthew 13: 47-50 ‘Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
‘Have you understood all these things?’ Jesus asked.
‘Yes,’ they replied.
When my pastor asked me to preach about the kingdom of God, from one of these parables, I naturally leaned to the parable of the pearl and the parable of the treasure. Partly because I’m a girl and we all like our bling and partly because when I was a child I played a lot of treasure hunting games with my friends. So I get the treasure thing.
Fishing though.
I went fishing once.
My dad was a banker and used to go fishing to bond with his farmer clients.
You would trapse out to a farm, then out through the muddy, stinky paddocks, to find the river. Then you would stand there all day and fish.
I went once, as I said.
I used my brothers rod. His baby rod.
I don’t think I bothered to put worms on the lourer, because, yuck how gross.
On my 3rd put in I caught a fish.
A 5 pound trout.
I reeled it in and it was very exciting. I caught something.
But then reality set in. I had to kill the fish. Touch the fish. Hold the fish. Take the fish home.
Give me treasure any day.
So it was interesting that my heart leaned towards this parable about the net and about catching fish.
I know nothing about fishing. I know nothing about fishing at sea. I am allergic to fish and sea food so I don’t even eat the catch.
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