Beautiful Truth

A friend sent me this the other day, and I simply want to share it with you, such beautiful truth

STONE

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING

THROUGH THE DESERT .

DURING SOME POINT OF THE

JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN

ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND

SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE

IN THE FACE

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED

WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT

SAYING ANYTHING,

WROTE IN THE SAND ,

TODAY MY BEST FRIEND

SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE .

THEY KEPT ON WALKING,

UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,

WHERE THEY DECIDED

TO TAKE A BATH .

THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN

SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE

MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING,

BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM

THE NEAR DROWNING,

HE WROTE

ON A STONE:

'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND

SAVED MY LIFE'

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED

AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND

ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU,

YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW,

YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'

THE FRIEND REPLIED

'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US

WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN

IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF

FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,

WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE

WHERE NO WIND

CAN EVER ERASE IT'

LEARN TO WRITE

YOUR HURTS IN

THE SAND AND TO

CARVE YOUR

BENEFITS IN STONE.

Friendships "Old & New" - "Silver & gold"

"Make new friends
But keep the old
They are Silver
But these are Gold"

We all know the above saying don't we, I was thinking about it and I'm not sure I agree with the sentiment exactly.

We went away to see friends in Bracknell this weekend, its always quite surreal going back, especially when staying with good friends whose house is directly opposite our old house! Odd drawing the curtains and looking across the road. The kids this time wanted to knock on the door and go & have a look at whether it had changed much, we could see the height of the small conifers we had planted towering up at the back, another sign of how time has passed and things have grown....

...as have my offspring, now 17, 15 and 12; having moved when they were 10, 8 and 5...
But what is so special is that regardless of the years that have passed, and the distance between... is being able to go back and embrace friends as if you'd never been away...

I was pondering those that we have lost over the years and thinking...will it be like that in heaven...just like embracing friends as if we've never been apart....still that love and connection between us despite the years of separation not seeing each other...sometimes to get the heavenly picture...we just need to look at the simple reality that is spelled out here on earth...maybe sometimes we look for too complicated an answer when its right before our eyes.

I guess the only difference, is I can't choose to visit those that are gone, but I can choose to see those that are yet living here on earth....but either way, I am grateful for family & friends, Old and New, those passed and those that remain, in my eyes...unlike the verse above....they are ALL GOLD...

So to all my friends out there....you bring a touch of Gold to my life..whether you are near or far, whether I see you often, rarely or not at all...thank you for being a part of my life.

The day of new beginnings

Do you have unfulfilled dreams and visions? Do you ever wonder if you will ever see them accomplished? I've been in that place many times before.... but you know I have learnt that sometimes we simply have to wait for the "appointed time". It is good to write these things down, and then you can look back and be thankful for every opportunity that has arisen, however small, in making your dream become a reality.

"Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed" Habakkuk 2:3

I had a dream since being a young child, with my passion for music and song writing to record an album, I always wanted to sing, and I look back over the years and have many precious memories of those times when I was able to use my God given gifts for him, and I am grateful for each person that has been a part of that journey and encouraged me along the way. But when I was in my late teens I had no idea that I would have to wait until I was in my 40s to see the dream of recording an album fulfilled. But I beleive that Father Gods timing is perfect....and I have held on to the scripture that I was given at my baptism in 1980 through seasons when I simply thought the dream would never become real.

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11

Now I am so grateful as finally that dream has been accomplished, My album "Simple Faith" was released last September, and now God is opening doors that I never dreamed possible. I am so thankful for loving supportive family and friends who have walked the journey to this place.

Yesterday was such an exciting day, Simon and I rose early and headed of towards Chatham, Kent. We had such a blessed and priveleged time sharing with the fellowship at "The Word House". God is good, and He knows the plans He has for us, and I know in my heart that this was the start of something new.

We have faced many seasons of painful circunstances, but now is the time for new beginnings....and the key is to not look back on the past circumstances that have hindered the dream, but to look ahead, in faith to all the new that is to come.

So if you have dreams and visions that are yet unaccomplished, do not give up, hold on and and it will come.

"Forget the former things;
   do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
   and streams in the wasteland. " Isaiah 43:18-19

"May he give you the desire of your heart
   and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory
   and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
   May the LORD grant all your requests." Psalm 20:4-5

"Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4


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