Semi-retired

Well, here it is, the last day of November for 2010 and I feel the need to write.

I have been unemployed now for just over a week and, already, I feel the need to go back to work for a rest! It's OK, I'm not really going to do it, but I am planning to study in the early part of 2011. (How easily that rolls off the tongue - 2011)
As I have written previously, I believe that God has great plans for my future and I have prayed believing that He would reveal them to me.

I am going to enrol in a course for teaching English to speakers of other languages. That will probably take up the first half of the year and then I will find out for sure, just where God wants me. I still feel strongly, that it will be Ho Chi Minh city. If you happen to wander on to this blog, maybe you can pray for that part of God's plan to be made definite for me.

Now to what is happening in my life at the moment. I am responsible to my Church Council for the Ministry of Children and Youth, I'm teaching Sunday School, running an after school club once a fortnight, on the Church Carer team and lead Worship Services occasionally. Fortunately, no one cares if my housework doesn't get done on time.

As we approach the time of the year when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, I think of the billions of dollars that will be spent on presents for young and old and I lament. Oh Lord, how many lives could be saved by even half of that money? How many families could be fed, clothed and housed? Lord, I just pray that in the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season, people will stop and think of how He, for Whom this holiday is remembered, would celebrate it. He, who healed the sick, fed the hungry and raised the dead but who also cleared the temple of those who used it for the wrong purpose: how would He celebrate this season?? Would He be up early on Christmas Day, looking under the Christmas tree for some expensive gifts? I think not.

What about you? Will you take the time and make the effort, to show the love of Christ to those who do not know it? Will you sacrifice a little of your time and money to make someone else's Christmas special? Will you show others, Christ through your actions? I pray for our Lord to help me to do just that!

No matter how you spend Christmas, I pray that Our Heavenly Father will truly bless you as you praise Him and give Him the glory for the great things that He has done.
Have a happy and safe Christmas.

Direct My Paths

Well, it's been quite a while since my last post and I'm not really sure where I want to go with this one. God knows though, so I'll just let Him lead me to His end.
I guess things have become a little exciting since I last wrote, as I haven't been to work since about September 18.
I had my arthritic thumb operated on and so have been on sick leave since September 20 and it will be approximately 6-8 months before I regain 100% use of my left hand. I have definitely decided that I am not going back to work (a) because I cannot continue to use my hands to do the work and (b) because I believe that God wants me to work for Him. I believe that for some time now, in fact, for most of my life, God has been preparing me for semi-retirement. There is a lot of work for me to do, both here in Australia and also overseas.
I am seriously thinking of teaching English to migrants, although I would have to do a course of study to qualify for that. There is also the ongoing wish to work with children and young people in some capacity and the desire to provide care and comfort to elderly folk. Only the Lord knows what I will do and when I will do it.
If you happen to stumble across this blog, I would love you to pray for me, that God will direct my paths and that I will be His obedient servant.

Trust In The Lord

I used to have a little dog that was a cross between a Pekingese and a Shitsu. Many people thought she was an ugly little thing with a pushed in nose and huge under bite but I loved my little Jasmine to bits…. she was my little girl.
Now, you don’t know my ‘adopted’ parents, Bevan and Lois, but they used to have a large property where they grew almonds. Just after my conversion in 1989, they unofficially adopted me and I lived with them on their property for two years.
Jasmine , or Jassie as she became known, came with me and was soon converted too, not to Christianity, but from a city dog to an ‘almost farm dog’. She used to go out with Bevan on the tractor or run around behind it, or sometimes ride with him on the motor bike. She had to get used to having a bath under the cold water hose instead of in the laundry trough with warm water. She had to learn to shake herself dry instead of having a blow dry with my hair dryer, and she had to get used to not sleeping on my bed. But she did enjoy the almonds that ‘accidently dropped’ from the sorting belt. I’m pretty sure that dad would ‘drop’ them on purpose.
Because I worked nights, I would see Jassie when I came home from work but then I’d go to bed and Jassie would hang around outside or she would follow dad around the farm while I slept. If she went out on the tractor with dad, she would often run behind the tractor when he came home.
Well, one day I heard the tractor coming home and greeted dad, expecting Jassie to be not far behind him. But as some time passed and she didn’t come home, I asked him if he had seen her. She had been with him but he thought she had come home. Well, maybe she had gone to visit one of the neighbours …. No we couldn’t find her at the neighbours.
So off we went in the ute to look for my beloved dog. Out to the area where dad had last seen her and then slowly back toward home with eyes peering from both sides of the car. We were almost home when my eye caught sight of something …. I couldn’t quite make out if it was her or not, but we decided to have a closer look ….. Oh Lord thank You it was my little Jassie …
As we drew closer to her, I expected her to run up to the ute, but no…. she sat rigidly still in that one spot and then we saw why. Up in the sky, not far away, was a crow. Jasmine had obviously upset it somehow and it had turned on her. Now Jasmine was petrified with fear. She knew that I loved her but she didn’t realize that I loved her so much, that I would do whatever it took to save her from that big bird. I had to get out of the ute, and with one eye on Jassie and the other on that big bird, walk over to her and pick her up. As I held her in my arms I could feel her trembling with fright and tears of relief rolled down my cheeks. It was an experience that neither of us would want to go through again.
Life is like that isn’t it! We can find ourselves in all sorts of trouble, whether it is in the area of finance, health or spiritual well being, and we can be overcome by fear and worry. But do you know what? Just as Mum, Dad and I went searching for Jasmine and brought her home to safety, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ is always with us offering His help to cope with any problems that we are facing. There is absolutely no problem that is too big when Jesus is on our side.
So don’t be like Jassie and be petrified with fear ….. Trust in the Lord who has promised ‘never to leave you nor forsake you.’ He is our rock, our fortress and our hiding place ……. He is Our Saviour.

A Little More Of Me

My mother passed away in 1986 and my father in 1992 (or thereabout). Mother was a Christian and in her last days, asked me if I would give my life to God. At that stage, I did not feel that I could do so and was able to tell her that.
In May 1989, I was dramatically converted and in the same year, was adopted (unofficially) by Lois and Bevan. I lived with them on their farm at Willunga for two years , then holidayed in Europe for about 7 weeks and moved back into my own home at Hackham when I returned from holiday.
I have been truly blessed in my life, to have known many wonderful people, some Christian and some not, but I continually pray that those who don't know the Lord, will come to know Him before long. I also continually pray for those of my family that do not know Jesus Christ as their Saviour and am absolutely rapt that my younger sister and her husband and daughter came to know Our Saviour and serve Him lovingly.
The power of prayer is so often under-rated by many people. It is one of our strongest defences against the evil forces of the world. I still thank those who prayed for me for 21 years before their prayers were answered and I received Christ as my Saviour.

Lord, I just want to say again, how much I love You and thank You for your gift of Eternal Life through Your death and resurrection. I thank You for sending people to tell me of this great gift and explaining that You died for me. Help me, Lord, to spread this Good News to those with whom I come in contact, so that others may have the opportunity to know You as I do. Open the eyes of those who are too blind to see that they need You in Jesus' precious name. Amen

Follow Your Dream

On Saturday morning, May 15th 2010, thousands upon thousands of people flocked to Sydney Harbour to witness the arrival home of a young lass by the name of Jessica Watson. She turns 17 in just a couple of days and she has just sailed around the world non stop and unassisted. Jessica followed her dream. During her seven month adventure, this young lass faced some waves as high as a four story building. Her 10 metre yacht was flipped onto it’s side at least 7 times and she righted it each time. Not once did that young lass set foot on deck without her safety harness firmly secured to the boat. There was no way that Jessica was going to be separated from her boat.

Life can be a bit like that, can’t it. One day you’re sailing along and everything is going smoothly, then ‘bang’ you get hit by a huge wave. Something unexpected happens in your life and it can really throw you off course. You can literally, go over the rails and find yourself floundering in the wild, turbulent seas. But, you know what? If you put your trust in Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, you have a safety harness even stronger than Jessica’s.

If you are willing to follow Jesus, to live your life as He wants you to He promises that He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will watch over you because He loves you. That doesn’t mean that nothing bad will ever happen to you, but it does mean that He will take care of you and if the worst happens He will take you to live with Him in Paradise.

So remember to attach your safety harness to Jesus, the One who died so that we may live.

Lord, I just want to thank You for providing that life line by giving Yourself, freely on that cross at Calvary. I pray that if she doesn't already, Jessica will, one day, acknowledge that You were with her all the way on her voyage as she followed her dream. Let her dream, one day, be to know You in a truly personal way and acknowledge You as her Saviour. Amen.

Retirement

I have heard it said that time flies while you are having fun ..... well I must be having a wow of a time because I don't know what has happened to the last month let alone the last 40 years.

For the time being, I continue to work night shift at Australia Post but have made that important move, to make an appointment with my financial advisor, just to make sure that all is in place for my retirement. This should take place late August or early September. On August 5th I will celebrate 40 years of service to Australia Post and August 6th I will celebrate my 59th birthday, so I guess that I am quite entitled to retire.

I guess I am experiencing mixed emotions over the decision even though I know it is what God wants. I am, I believe, one of the few employees at the Adelaide Mail Centre, who actually enjoys working there. My enjoyment comes from the sure and certain knowledge that it is where God has wanted me to be and that He has been with me all the way. He even sent His instrument for my conversion to work alongside me there. I pray that my influence on others employed there has been a service to Him.

I have met many people during my years of service and have both laughed and cried with several (thankfully more laughing than crying). Through the years, I have allowed some of my work mates to upset me to the point of being hospitalised, but since allowing God full reign over my life, that no longer happens. Some people have commented on my work ethic and all I can say is that I hope that in 'all things I do as unto the Lord'. This is my goal in life and I know that I can only achieve it with His help.

I cannot be sure what the future holds for me. I believe that it will involve missionary work but where and when I do not know. I would like to go oversees with Australian Volunteers Abroad or something similar, and maybe that will help me to work out where God wants me to serve. It may, of course, be right here in Australia.

Please continue to pray for His guidance in my future.

Lord, I just want to thank You for all that You have done for me . You have allowed me many different experiences in my life, and I thank You that I can draw on them to help others in trouble. As I draw nearer to the end of my working life, I just ask Lord, 'What will You have me do next'? I want to live to serve You. Help me Lord to help others to see Christ through my actions. I pray in the name of My Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

Questions With No Real Answers

Good morning/afternoon/evening, depending upon which part of the world you happen to be in at the present time.

I was going through my face book messages, re-reading precious ones or deleting those that are no longer relevant, when I came across a question which I have not really thought much about, until now. It went something like this; 'In thinking about church in general one wonders who in church has actually experienced God in their own lives for real and in a tangible way!!'

I guess, initially, I thought a little about it, but then just dropped it into the too hard basket. Being one of those people who believe that God puts these questions in front of me for a reason, I began to ponder, more seriously, upon it. It wasn't long before more questions filled my mind and I had to start writing! Being human, I can only comment from my own experience and so your comments would be a great help to me.

Is there a difference in the way we perceive God when we go through a ‘dramatic conversion’?

I am one who had a 'road to Damascus' conversion. I know how Saul felt when the scales fell from his eyes and he could 'see' for the very first time. I wasn't heading for Damascus, but I was 'heading for hell' at a great speed and it was only by the Grace of God that I 'fell off the train' and landed in His arms. That was the first time that I actually realised that I had experienced God in my life. If He hadn't sent a retired missionary to sit by my side at work and tell me that I was a part of the world for which Christ died, I would still be on that train to eternal damnation. The thing about that is that I thought that I was 'good' before my conversion. I didn't think that I was hurting anybody, I gave a little to charity and I was 'nice' to most people that I encountered - all things considered, I was a 'pretty good person'. Of course, I was looking at myself and I don't know many people who can see their own bad points. The swearing, drinking, smoking and other things not to be mentioned here were 'my business'. One of the most important things that I found out, was that I was hurting God. He created me in His image and I chose to go my own way and live as I like. Wouldn't that make any father sad!

If someone is ‘raised’ into Christianity, do they fully realise what they have inherited?

This is where I need your help, because I really have no idea how I would feel if I had received Jesus into my heart back in Sunday School days. I teach Sunday School and run a Kids' Club and I tend to think that, even these little ones who have asked Jesus into their lives, really experience different relationships with Him. That is not to say that Christ is not in them, but I can see a difference in the way that each of them relate to Him a little differently. Do they, as I did, think that they were 'good enough to go to Heaven' before they accepted Christ into their lives?

Do 'those raised as Christians' realise that their ‘little sins’ make them as big a sinner as those converted later in life?

Romans 3:22-23 says 'This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.'

Do the ‘dramatically converted’ realise that ‘all of their sins’ have been covered by the same blood?

It took a little time for me to realise that there is no 'little sin' or 'big sin'. A sin is a sin and we are all guilty. Christ died for the one who told a lie and repented as well as for the one who murdered and repented. It's sometimes hard to accept that the Blood of Christ covers the sins of all who believe on His name and repent

Is it ever too late to realise a 'touch from God'?

Remember the thief on the cross to whom Christ said, ' Today, you shall be with me in Paradise.' It is never too late to ask Christ into your heart. He is ready and waiting for you to acknowledge Him as your Saviour.

If you just wandered on to this blog, and don't know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, talk to someone at your local church and ask them to guide you in the steps of Salvation. Remember, God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you that way.

Heavenly Father, I just want to thank You for the great gift of Eternal Life in Christ Jesus given as a free gift. Thank You that Your love for me is so great, that You gave Your one and only Son to die on the cross at Calvary to pay the price for my sins. That price was His death as nothing but the Blood of Christ could wash away my sins.

Praise You, Father, for Your power of resurrection enabling Christ to rise from the grave, victorious over Satan and setting the captives of sin free.

For those who still do not know You as Father, I pray that Your Holy Spirit will lead them to search for You and that one day, they will know the peace and love, that I have found in You. 'Amazing love oh what sacrifice. The Son of God giv'n for me. My debt He pays and my death He dies, That I might live. Amen