Refreshment for our journey in the hardest part

Stuart and I went to Binna Burra to stay recently,this is a beautiful place near Lamington National park in S.E. Qld.
we had just lost our dear old cat of 15 years and needed a place of peace to come to terms with that.I also wanted to be quiet and hear from God.
the place we stayed was called Sky Lodges,spectacular views from the large expansive windows of the hills beyond,so peaceful and the sound of the forest birds, to serenade us, as we rested.We decided next morning to go for a short walk,we started out to walk to a lookout,and felt so good  we decided to go further,on what we thought was am easy 5 k walk,we had walked about 3.7 ks when we met a man,Stuart asked him if this was a loop track,the man replied,he wasn't sure but insisted we take his map and also insisted we take his spare bottle of unopened water,as he was heading back. There was something about this man,who carries two  bottles of water and a map to walk such a short distance?I wondered if he was an angel.It turned out I was going to need that water,the walk was narrow,with steep drops,it was heating up and further long the path the walking became harder and very steep as we ascended the escarpment,it was a beautiful walk,and we met a snake and three lizards and saw wonderful views and changing vegetation. at the very end the steepest part,we had to walk in the hot sun,no leafy boughs to shade me and I had to stop every 50 meters and have a drink of water,just to continue, nearing the end,( it turned out be 12 ks and rated hard)Stuart had to leave me near the park info centre at picnic table,with a bush turkey for company,I was exhausted and couldn't continue up the steepest part,he then power walked up the hill, to get the car.meeting other exhausted walkers,encouraging them and giving them directions for the last part. as I sat with my feathered friend,people came up to me, offered me water and congratulated me on walking as far as I had,they were very lovely and encouraging people.I had wanted to hear from God,and I had been thinking I am hearing nothing... but I lived it,this was like life,when we feel exhausted,doesn't God send those stronger then us to go the last hardest part,to get help for us,and doesn't he send us lovely people to encourage us and tell us how well we are doing. I don't know if that man was truly an angel,but God had provided a map for direction and water for refreshment just as he will continue to do that for all of us.. Guidance and direction just when we need it and refreshment and encouragement through the hardest times for our respective journeys through life.
Gerrie

assurance

I had this amazing thing happen a couple of weeks ago,I have been listening to guidance in my every day life.
I ask before I do things if I should go to certain places and wait for a yes or no,this has been so helpful in my own life,but recently it was also helpful in someone else's
I felt not to go to a regular thing I do once a week and asked should I go for a walk with a friend across town, early one morning,I received a yes,but I didn't have her phone number,so I asked should I text someone I know to get it,I got yes,waited for the reply,it took a while,kept asking for reassurance,got yes proceed.
received the number called my friend went to see her,it turns out she was desperate,she had been praying
she had just given the last of her money away to her daughter and  had nothing to pay bills or do grocery shopping, she had prayed for an answer by 10am that day.
I offered to take her grocery shopping and as we got to the till and I handed her the groceries and the change
I asked her what time it was,it was 9.55 am.
I was so happy to be guided to the right place at exactly the right time.

The Wings of The Lord

When we lived in NZ,I had a melody come to me one afternoon and these words,I have been thinking about them,as we have to write a psalm this month,for the  writers group I attend.
I had written in my journal at the time,that Stuart and I had been experiencing dreams ,where God was our refuge in storms and tidal waves,so I thought given the times we are in,that this song may be good to read now.
my thoughts had been on the book of Ruth.

The God of Israel,
under whose wings you have come to take refuge,
under His wings,you will find sanctuary
He will cover you with His feathers
beautiful feathers,strong wings,radiant wings,He will cover you to keep you safe.

From the foe, His wings are a shield around about you
under His wings you will stay safe
His wings are stalwart,brilliant and shining
His feathers they cover us,they keep us safe,from the snares of the enemy.
they are a shield around us,to guard us
They keep us.
see psalm 91.

something you already have

I was thinking of a dream I had some time ago,while holidaying on Fraser Island,it was unusual,it was of short duration.it was a picture of a tray of cups,each cup was full,it was ready standing on the tray.Each cup represented anything I might need in my life,and there was the feeling of being  satisfied that accompanied the picture.It helps me when I pray to recall this dream, Jehova Jireh is a forseeing God who already provides for us.
The provision already exits long before I even catch up to it,it is ready on the tray waiting.
last week I had some gold sent to me,I didn't pay for it,it was a gift,a gold coin, a nice surprise,something off my tray that I may need to use in the future,for myself or for someone else.It is good to be reminded that whatever you need in the days ahead already exists,made ready,something you already have.it is good to rest in that thought.

Gerrie

Being Equipped to Serve God.....

There are a growing number of courses being offered by churches around the world providing training on anything from “Healing the Sick” to “Wealth Management”.  Some of these courses are charging large sums of money and you have to ask if it is value for money. 

These courses are becoming prohibitively expensive for most people and some fall into a trap of wanting to serve God greatly and the stress of finding the money to attend these courses. This can lead to some feeling guilty about not finding the money. For those who do attend these courses, if they do not achieve their expectations from these courses it can bring discouragement.

When I was a young Christian I was told seek God for that which I needed. I believed that if I waited on the Lord he would provide to me what I needed in order to fulfil the tasks that the Lord had assigned to me. How cruel it would be if a manager asked you to produce ten thousand copies of a document and expected each one to be individually typed out instead of providing you with a printer and a computer to do the task. So it is with the Lord. He will not ask you to do something that you are not equipped to do.

This seems simple enough, doesn’t it? So what is the catch? In order to be equipped greatly to serve the Lord you need to spend time with Him, potentially give up those things that are in the way and be prepared to be obedient.  You need to pray regularly and find some time to listen. I know that some of you might say that I have children or other things that might steal the time required to pray and wait upon the Lord. I have learnt that God can speak to you anywhere and all you need to do is train your ear to hear His voice. Prayer can be done at anytime and at any location. God does not need you to set the scene in order to pray. He just needs you to open your mouth and speak.

Waiting upon the Lord might seem hard for some, but if you attend these courses you still need to seek God in order to be empowered. God rarely gives to those who ignore Him. Christ came into the world to restore a right relationship with the Lord. Let us forget wasting our money on the latest course or seeking after the greatest speakers and just rest and wait upon the Lord.

I am certain that if you do these things you will achieve far more than attending a course.

Why get it second hand when the source is far more exciting.

butterfly promise

My friend came over this week,and shared with me  a delightful story from her life.
she was out shopping one day,and spied a beautiful throw,right in the middle it held a a picture of a butterfly,she had it in mind for a present for one of her daughters,but wasn't sure just then which one, so she purchased it and  felt  to put it away in a cupboard and just to wait.One of her daughters rang her one day in much distress,she had just miscarried a much wanted baby,this precious daughter worked in a childcare centre and was surrounded by babies & expectant mothers,a daily reminder of others, whose hopes & dreams for new life had been fulfilled.
My friend asked her daughter to come over to her home,when she arrived, she comforted her and presented to her the throw,with this promise from God,that she would  conceive again and bring a healthy baby into the world.
this happily anticipated event did indeed come to pass,and the family's term of endearment use for the little girl that was gifted is, The butterfly baby,and one day, they even had the delight of seeing her being kissed by a butterfly as she lay in the garden.

the symbol of a butterfly? New life! how apt a portrayal,new life from old disappointments, a promise kept.

a time of opportunity

I wouldn't normally write about this, but given we have just had a huge flood in Qld  and I don't feel our trials are over yet, I thought I would share this;
on the morning of 4th October 2010
I had a dream ( just including snippets as it was quite detailed) warning me about events already occurring and about to occur in the earth.the dream was about undergoing trial and the threats that natural events like earthquake or flooding can bring. it was before the Qld flood and just after the earthquake in Christchurch.
one thing that was highlighted to me that these events would be for a set time,although I did not know the length,don't panic or give into fear, (I know that is easier said than done when your looking down the barrel of a huge cyclone or being shaken in an earthquake), not to fear was a decision I made in the dream,not based on my emotions,I was very scared, the friendship and intimacy of the Holy Spirit at this time is important,for guidance and strength &; insight.the dream said, Christians &;; non Christian would undergo this trial,that peoples focus would be more on the threat & fear it, than on Jesus,and it was he who was returning to Judge the nations.there was a lady in this dream who addressed the crowd,she was happy &am; smiling & she spoke to those around her,she spoke wisdom.
so to sum up,what I felt was the message;
stand still,watch,don't panic fear or run,observe, and plan,you may be able to negotiate your way through,if not remember it is for a set time, and drink well & long of the Holy Spirit to prepare beforehand.
it is an opportunity for wisdom.keep your focus on Jesus,he is our glory & the lifter of our heads.
Gerrie