A Blessed Year!

So I've finished...

            

Teaching Scripture for the year and due to my University commitments and suburb change I will not be returning.

However, I feel so blessed to have been part of my class' lives. Being the first teacher to last a whole year with them.

Here are some links that helped me along the way:

Fervr.net

Biblegateway.com

My life is about the Change dramatically.

Last night I said goodbye to my Church of 12 years. I am attempting to change degrees and I will soon be in a completely different suburb quiet a trek from most of my friends.

              

Sometimes I don't understand God.

The first thing I thought about all this was - 'Why would God bless me with so much ministry and such close friendships and then take it all away.'

But then I remembered a conversation I had with a great friend of mine earlier this year. He said 'Heather, maybe God is preparing you for harder stuff later in life.'

At the time I didn't like the thought but now I understand.

           

God has blessed me with so much to leave that I can leave knowing that I am always loved and supported not only by these wonderful people but also by my Wonderful God.

We don't always understand what God is doing with us and often life feels like a random string of events but we can be confident that we follow a consistent, all powerful God who knows exactly what he's doing.

So as I attempt to cast my anxieties on God, I will leave this part of my life to start the next with sadness but also joy. 

God is in control, what more can I ask?

Some picture I created for me beach mission team this year. So blessed to be spending 10 days with people who Love God and who Love me before I begin my next phase of life.

Many Blessings!

End Times

I'm really enjoying...

the New Living Translation of the Bible.
Today I got an email devotional which had the following section of scripture in it.

Revelation 22:1-5

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

The heading given for this section of scripture in the New International Version is "Eden Restored". Which is pretty awesome. I can't wait for heaven, its going to be mind blowing!


Here is a painting for yesterday, I've been exploring watercolour pencils and its turning out well I think.

Original Scan without Computer Editing.

With Computer editing.

Many Blessings!

A tired People

The last three days have been exhausting.
So many things have happened. The fires still blaze and we may not get rain until Tuesday.
Friend's have lost houses and some are still waiting to be evacuated.

However, these events cause me to be reminded that our time on earth is not all there is. I've been reminded of one of my favourite songs. Soon and very soon by Hillsong/Brooke Fraser
Here are the lines from it:

Soon and very soon
My King is coming
Robed in righteousness
And crowned with love
When I see Him, I
shall be made like Him
Soon and very soon


Soon and very soon
I'll be going
To the place He has prepared for me
There my sin erased
My shame forgotten
Soon and very soon


I will be with the One I love
With unveiled face I'll see
There my soul will be satisfied
Soon and very soon


Soon and very soon
See the procession
The angels and the elders
'round the throne
At His feet I'll lay my crown, my worship
Soon and very soon


Though I have not seen Him
My heart knows Him well
Jesus Christ the Lamb
The Lord of Heaven

Here is a drawing I completed tonight:

 

I began this more than a month or two ago but I came back to it tonight.

When I began this I was focused on the idea of growing old on this earth. I was yearning for it at the time as I see it as the time in life when you are truly cared for. When we grow old we can no longer care for ourselves. However, this is not the only time we are like this.

In this time of hardship God has reminded me that we are frail, fragile and unable to truly care for ourselves. Without God we are nothing.

So while my hands do not look like this yet and acknowledge that I will always need my God. He will always care for me and make my path straight. He will always do the best in my life and those whom follow him. Even if it doesn't feel like it. God is here always. He's the beginning and the end. The creator of all and I Love Him dearly.

Praise be to our God and Father!

Many Blessings and please pray for us in New South Wales, Australia as our land burns.

Prayerfully Trusting God

Walking through the supermarket tonight with my sister I noticed everyone around me looking tired and defeated.

My community were not directly affected by the fires. I have friends who have lost their homes and some who are still under threat.

Last week there was an explosion in part of my suburb and the other day someone was shot to death a few suburbs over and someone was hit by a train in another suburb nearby.

Its hard to think positively at this time and it shows on the faces of the people in my community.

However, I will still choose to stand firm in my God. I will still choose to rely on him and find my hope in him.

For it is not what happens here that matters in the way of possessions and riches. It is the relationships formed. Most importantly though it is our relationship with God that is the biggest concern we should have now.

As I pray for my family and friends most affected by these fires, and for those in and around my community affected by the recent tragedies; I will keep leaning on my God for strength.

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and


keep on praying.



Many blessings and if you're reading this please continue to pray!

God's Strength in our Trouble

God will bring us through these flames. He will have glory over our lands.


Look up into the heavens.
    Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
    calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
    not a single one is missing.
27 O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
    O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
28 Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
29 He gives power to the weak
    and strength to the powerless.

Isaiah 40: 26-29


Someone who lost their house yesterday wrote this on facebook this morning.

A timely reminder this morning: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:19-20

A Day of Fires

I think this month so far NSW Australia has had some of the worst fires in our history.
We've had 3 days this month over 35 degrees and its not even technically summer yet.
I have many friends who live in the fire struck areas.
God has kept us safe so far and he is teaching us to remain solid in him in these times of distress.
Through struggles we grow in faith.
So while I pray that the fires end, I also pray that God will shine his love through all of this and people
will come to follow him.

Blessings in this hot weather!
Please pray for NSW and the fires.
So far no fatalities (that I've heard of).

Wowed by my God... again!

I've been... skimming through the book of Exodus making a plan for my kids club lessons this school term and I've been wowed by God.

God saved Moses - a man who turned into a cowardly murderer - and chose him for the task of returning to Egypt to bring the Israelites out. But Moses says no, he can't speak. He doesn't believe that he will be able to persuade Pharaoh due to his speech impediment (that's what I take it to be 'speak with faltering lips' Exodus 6:30). Instead of getting angry and choosing someone more faithful to do the task. God instead says this:
Exodus 7:1 'Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.'

How amazing is this action! God says to Moses that Moses will look like God! Look like God! Have a prophet. That's so amazing! It's as if God is saying just because you come across like a bumbling idiot (my words here) don't worry because I am giving you the appearance of something higher. Moses goes and has a prophet!
A prophet was someone chosen to bring God's message to his people. So God uses Moses and with Moses God uses Aaron.
Because Moses doesn't want to go in on his own God sends his brother. God sends 2 people to easily do the job of one (a hard job yes).

How cool is that?

Anyway that's my little rant for the day.

Many Blessings!

A note on Zion

So Isaiah Chapter Four references a place called Mount Zion. Now that I'm out of my lazy mood I felt it was important to make a comment on it. I should really find out what it is. When the Bible mentions something it's usually important. You can't just skip bits you don't like or can't be bothered to look at. Thats not the best approach for the bible!

So my bible dictionary doesn't reference Mount Zion as a specific entry. However I did find it to mean a mountain near Jerusalem where the Temple of the Lord was built. Maybe around the time of King David (I'm not 100% on this!) It is also a term used to describe or names God's people Israel.


Here is an Image I got from here: http://www.jerusalemiloveyou.com/jerusalem_geography.html
I've seen Mount Zion referred to as the temple that was built on Mount Moriah. However I could be wrong. I think this needs more investigation.

In Isaiah 4 mount Zion appears to be used to describe God people and the city of Jerusalem.
So Jerusalem will be cleansed in Chapter four and become a safe haven and shelter for the people of God as it was intended to be.

The Bible is a very interesting historical document. There is always more to discover!

Isaiah Chapter Four

So this is a short one... compared to the really long chapter that is to come.
Having a lazy night tonight so I'm using Biblegateway -> http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%204&version=NLT

Biblegateway is actually fantastic. A few months ago the bibles I used for my scripture class went missing (always a positive and a negative when bibles are stolen - obviously being used for some greater purpose than my class). I'd been battling with the girls and their laptops for week beforehand. They just wouldn't get off them, no matter when I said. So I figured (massive cliche here) 'if you can't beat them, join them.'
Why the government decided to give every high school student from 9th grade in NSW a laptop I don't know - they can access facebook and everything.
Anyway biblegateway is where we do our studies now. Which is good actually because these girls can access the bible wherever they are. I am showing them how to use the site and its good. Thank the lord of missing bibles and laptops.

Anyway... back to the purpose of this post. Isaiah chapter 4!
The heading I find in this short chapter is: A promise of Restoration!

However before this heading there's a little section about the social demographics of what is to come. The thought that so few men will be around that women will beg them for marriage. Which is odd really. Plus the women say that they can feed and provide for themselves. All the women want to be married is for the social status. So they 'won't be mocked as old maids'. This is a link back to the last chapter where the women were focused on looks. Their social status is more important than the marriage relationships. What a HORRIBLE idea!

A Promise of Restoration!
2 But in that day, the branch[a] of the Lord
    will be beautiful and glorious;
the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory
    of all who survive in Israel.
3 All who remain in Zion
    will be a holy people—
those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem
    and are recorded among the living.
4 The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion[b]
    and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains
    with the hot breath of fiery judgment.
5 Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion
    and all who assemble there.
He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day
    and smoke and flaming fire at night,
    covering the glorious land.
6 It will be a shelter from daytime heat
    and a hiding place from storms and rain.

These verses are interesting. A different image from the last chapter. Like usual the Lord God provides an alternative to destruction. He provides a WAY OUT! 
His alternative again is to follow him. And he provides a picture of what that will look like. God will restore his Holy People. He will cleans those who remain to follow him. He will restore and provide for his people. The place of the lord will be a hiding place and a shelter.

How WONDERFUL to be sheltered by the Lord. To live and dwell under the Lord. To be cared for as we should be as followers of the Lord.

GOD OUR IS A WONDERFUL PROVIDER!