Beginning 2014...

Returning from Mission last night I found myself tired and in shock.

Living with 70 other people for 10 days was great and I was saddened to return to 2 people in a quiet house who's focus is still on moving house right now. The third person I live with returns home tonight.

The focus here is not on God and not on mission for him. The focus here is on day to day living.

I have returned not feeling spiritually refreshed, if anything I have returned tired and heavy hearted about the things that lie ahead. However, mission was a time to be reminded of God's everlasting goodness and glory. These two things I will hold onto.

Reading my bible this morning I returned to a much loved book. Job. Here are some words tat spoke to me.

Job 33:13-26 New International Version (NIV)

Why do you complain to him
    that he responds to no one’s words?

For God does speak—now one way, now another—
    though no one perceives it.

In a dream, in a vision of the night,
    when deep sleep falls on people
    as they slumber in their beds, 

 he may speak in their ears
    and terrify them with warnings, 

 to turn them from wrongdoing
    and keep them from pride, 

 to preserve them from the pit,
    their lives from perishing by the sword

    “Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain
    with constant distress in their bones, 
 so that their body finds food repulsive
    and their soul loathes the choicest meal. 
 Their flesh wastes away to nothing,
    and their bones, once hidden, now stick out. 
 They draw near to the pit,
    and their life to the messengers of death^. 
 Yet if there is an angel at their side,
    a messenger, one out of a thousand,
    sent to tell them how to be upright, 
 and he is gracious to that person and says to God,
    ‘Spare them from going down to the pit;
    I have found a ransom for them— 
 let their flesh be renewed like a child’s;
    let them be restored as in the days of their youth’— 
 then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,
    they will see God’s face and shout for joy;
    he will restore them to full well-being.

On mission I was reminded of God's goodness as I stood up and gave my Testimony on the women's night. Then over the next few days I heard news of how my words had touched people's hearts and had caused them to look more at God and to wonder.

I still wonder at God, for all his goodness and for all this worlds badness.

I can never let go of God, not matter how sick, tired or sad I am.

I can look at my God and be filled with his love and peace.

For he is the good God, the ONLY God. The God who sustains us and gives us life.

God cares for us and directs our paths.

These truths I will cling too. 

 This is the pure scan of the image I was working on over Christmas and some of Mission. Not perfect, but who really is. It speaks of how I am finding a voice for my child self and how I am going to heal this year. Even if that healing is slow and painful. I will heal.

God is forever in control!

Many Blessings for 2014 everyone!

In Christ, Heather.

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!

The Widows Offering

This year I am off on a Scripture Union Family Mission down the south coast of Sydney.
Last year a lovely family from my church paid for me to go. However, this year I have been scrimping and saving along with a few very generous donations from my church.
I have been constantly reminded lately of this story:

Mark 12:41-44

The Widow’s Offering 

 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

I have been living like this - I however am lucky enough to live with parents who will pay for my food and my shelter but everything else - clothes, transport, outings, teaching supplies, camps, church service food - have been coming out of the small amount of money I receive from the government every fortnight. This amount has been growing smaller and smaller and now I am at the point where all of it goes to University transport except for $4.50.

So as I go to the bank in the next week or so to deposit my money and to empty my savings account I will be thinking of 'the Widow's Offering' and trusting that God will continue to provide everything I need as he has. I am also acknowledging that the things I want will not be coming my way but that is fine. 

God is all I need and God is who I trust!

Many Blessings!

Big Changes

I often have no idea what God is doing in my life. Most of the time I don't mind but lately I really have.
You see this year has been one of massive growth for me. For the first time I have attended church regularly for the whole year. However, I will be leaving my current and loved church (where I've been for the last 12 years of my life) because my family is moving house and therefore moving suburbs.

Here's something I say often: "Be careful what you pray for!"

I have once again not been taking my own advice.
Earlier in the year I was praying: "God send me wherever, I am your servant"
I was also praying for a feeling of safety, security and consistency in my life. Three things I haven't felt often.

But here's the catch...

God is giving me a sense of safety, security and consistency in this life but it's not the way I wanted. God is teaching me to find these things in himself only and NOT in my life situation. And God is obviously taking me wherever he wants me to go.

So instead of kicking and screaming  I will go with a sad but glad heart. I will allow myself to trust my creator, the most consistent being in my life and I will move house and find a new church with the knowledge in my heart that God is watching over me. God has many plans in store and though I can not see them, once again will I follow his lead.

I will also allow myself to feel sad, because sadness is an emotion and a proper one when you are leaving one church family to find another.


Romans 8: 18-30 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208&version=NIV)

Present Suffering and Future Glory

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that^[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[i] have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Here is my current Work in Progress.

This one is for my beach mission leaflets.

The sand is made of raw sugar! 

You might recognise some of them from my previous post entitled "Breathless" which is also here: 

http://little-thoughts-on-a-big-book.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/breathless.html

Many Blessings to you all!

Breathless

Sometimes when I read the scriptures the power of the words causes breathlessness.
This happened this morning when preparing my scripture lesson for this week:

John 5:16-30

New International Version (NIV)

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%205:16-30&version=NIV)

The Authority of the Son

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.



Here's some art I've been doing for my mission this year. I'm on the art of our leaflets. If all goes well they will make it, if not I will have some beautiful art regardless.

Many Blessings to you all!

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!

Creative Days

So another semester is finished and I've spent the last few days just enjoying my paper, brushes, pencils and water. Experimenting and enjoying the small amount of down time I've had.
Here are a few things I've done. They are both my first attempts at watercolour pencils. After some YouTube watching I figured out it wasn't so hard.
 This is a dragon designed for a friend’s birthday gift at her request.

 This is a Jacaranda tree. Something I miss so much. There are a few around where I live but I miss the ones at my old house. There was a park that had carpets of purple flowers and I would enjoy them as I walked to and from the railway station. 

Many blessings!


2 Corinthians 5:15 - And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Steady Feet

I got sick of drawing hands for now so I tried some feet instead.

Proverbs 4:10-15

New International Version (NIV)

10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.

Blessings!

Astounded

I am astounded that God would choose someone small and weak like me to do his work in this world. But then I look at the bible and see he's done this for all of time. In our weakness he is seen strongest. Who else to choose but the worst to show his best.
I am in LOVE with God and no one can change this!

1 Peter 3:15-17
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Blessings!

Kids Ministry and the Story of Moses

So here's the plan I came up with for this term at Kids Club.
We've got 9 weeks so its set to that.
It's quiet vague because I wanted the other leaders to feel free to try different delivery methods.

Kids Club term 4

K-3 lessons

Topic: God saves his people – Exodus

Aims:

• ·         For the kids to understand/articulate the story of Moses and the exodus out of Egypt.
• ·         To be able to understand the link between Moses and Abraham.
• ·         To understand the beginning of God’s big story – to put the story of Moses on our timeline.

Creative ways to deliver a lesson

• ·         Get the kids to act it out
• ·         Act it out yourself while teaching
• ·         Create a colouring sheet or a find a word
• ·         Get then to draw a picture for you
• ·         Draw out the story in pictures – tell it without the pictures – then ask the kids to put the pictures in order (option of colouring the pictures after the story – have multiple copies)

Outline

Week	Topic	Passage	Lesson Content	Interactive tools
1	God saves baby Moses	Ex 1 – 2:9	Reminder of the bible story so far (timeline drawings)	Timeline drawing (already done last term)
2	Moses flees Egypt & Burning bush)	Ex 2: 11 – 3:22		Add to timeline Make a burning bush – cellophane and cardboard or paper – to take home
3	God’s Promise	Ex 5: 22 – 6:12		Add to timeline
4	Pharaoh’s ‘magic’/Plagues	Ex 7:8 – 8:15	Aarons Staff becomes a snake Plague of Blood/frogs	Add to timeline
5	Plagues	Ex 8: 16 – 9:7	Gnats/flies/livestock	Add to timeline
6	Plagues	Ex 9: 8 – 10:20	Boils/hail/locusts	Add to timeline
7	Plagues	Ex 10: 21 – 11:10	Darkness/firstborn	Add to timeline
8	Passover	Ex 12		Add to timeline
9	Crossing the red sea/Wrap up	Ex 13: 17 – 14 :31	Summary and wrap up of Moses story	Finalise the drawings on the timeline

Blessings!

Humbling Kindness

So today I was humbled to the extreme!
I checked my letter box and found an envelope with my name on it but no stamp or address.
Inside were two movie gift cards and a note telling me to enjoy them.
I'm not going to say who did this for me but I have to say.
It is not my birthday.

My first thought was... WHAT THE HECK WHO DOES THIS?
Then I thought: No one does things like this for me!
Then I felt bad for thinking of myself badly, like I'm not a good enough person or not loved enough to have nice things done for me. Clearly my negative thoughts against myself (something I know everybody does) are wrong and people do love me.

I have no idea how to thank this person. But I thank God for their kindness and thoughtfulness.

I am someone who is learning to ask for financial help and God is certainly helping me along the way.

I hope that one day when I do have money to spare I can pass on the kindness to someone else.

1 Corinthians 10:31

New Living Translation (NLT)

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.


Blessings!

Freedom

Come to the bible and you will meet a God who will set you free!

I was open at Psalm 139.

Light Box Love final

I woke up this morning and an image came to my head. A wonderfully colourful one and so I had to try it. These are the fruits of this... almost exactly the image from my head.
Here are my pictures from today:

While I was working on the the final images a bible passage that came to mind. After some investigation I found it:

Luke 18:15-17

New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus Blesses the Children

15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Here's what I thought when I chose these photos:

The first set of the girl and man make me think of how sometimes it takes a child’s faith to really get us to see the wonder and mystery of God.

The second set of the man and his son look to me as if they are hesitating. The father doesn’t know what to do with the cross and so he shelters his son from it. It shows us the profound influence our parents can have on our beliefs and our knowledge about what’s true in life. I thought "Don't hesitate GO FOR IT! You don't know what you're missing out on!"

Listen while you look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whv1DojfIWA


Many Blessings!

Light Box Love continued...

So I continued with my challenge today.
This week I am on mid-semester break (only for this week).
I challenged myself to make something with my light box everyday - however to be more realistic I've decided to change it to three scenes.
Here are some from today:

I put this verse to them, because I just enjoy doing that:

Matthew 5:14

New Living Translation (NLT)

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

And I found this quote which I LOVE as well:

“There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”

—	Vincent van Gogh

I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did making them.

Grace and Peace to you all!