Looking back, looking forward

I have just enjoyed celebrating my sisters 40th birthday at her party yesterday. It was a special time for us as a family and wonderful seeing her surrounded by all her friends. As we shared together after the usual blowing out of the candles on the cake we took a moment to be thankful to God as just 13 years ago my sisters life was hanging in the balance .I remember trying to wear out the hospital floor as I paced its corridors whilst she underwent life saving surgery having been told it was unlikely she would survive the anaesthetic. I ponder the psalmists words;

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" Psalm 139:16

God knew that my sisters days were not up, even in those moments of desperation when we didn't know what the outcome was going to be. HE KNEW, she was going to LIVE even as we faced uncertainty.

And she did live, and now we look in thanks for those years since and all that is yet to come as His promise says;

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

God has a plan for my sisters future, He has a plan for me and he has a plan for you. How wonderful that we can rest in His word, that HE KNOWS, and if we truly TRUST HIM, then this surely helps take the worry out of what the future may hold, whatever our circumstance may be. I am reminded of the words of an old song I remember singing as a child in church:

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know, I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives!"

Amen to that!

Be still

Sometimes we have little blips in Life that make us stop and be still. I believe they are God moments, when he just says its time to stop and rest in Him. This is one of those times, I have had raised blood pressure since Monday which means I have had to take it easy (not that I've wanted to!) but in those moments I hear his voice whispering to me

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

Seasons and Chapters

We often view life as a journey, we talk of seasons that come and go, some bringing joy and others bringing pain. We can view our lives as if writing a book, considering each season as a different chapter to add to what is the unfolding novel of our lives. My life has many chapters, my happy childhood growing up in a loving household, the teenage years making new friends and acquiring qualifications, becoming independant, pursuing a career, working, meeting and falling in love with my husband, getting married, enjoying establishing a home together, seeing our three children born, moving house 3 times, moving to a new area - leaving old friends, making new friends. Some chapters include the pain and grief of losing precious friends, facing traumatic circumstances, coping with serious illness and physical pain, and watching loved ones face the final chapter of their lives.....reaching their eternal destiny. But throughout all these different chapters/seasons there is one thing that remains constant, that enables me to keep going through the tough bits, and that is the constant prescence of a loving heavenly Father who has never let me go, or left me, who always loves me, who sends his spirit to comfort me, who upholds me with his righteous right hand, and who'll be there cheering me on all the way to the finish line when I will meet him face to face.

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him" James 1:12

"No eye has seen,
      no ear has heard,
   no mind has conceived
   what God has prepared for those who love him" 1Corinthians 2:8

The Blogging Begins

Well I have debated starting a blog for sometime now, so here it is! Not quite sure what will fill the pages as the weeks go by, but here we go. Well its Monday morning, usually not everyones favourite day, I don't think my husband was overwhelmed with excitement as he walked out of the door to work today, neither were my children bouncing for joy as they were awoken to get ready for another school day. Soon the house is quiet, I consider all I need to do versus all I'd like to do, what I'd like to be able to do but am unable to do, what I'd like to plan to do but that has to stay on hold for now. And then I am reminded of all God has given me, and I am thankful, for my husband who faithfully works hard to provide for us, for our lovely home, for food on the table as well as alot more, for my children who are doing so well at school, are passionate to follow Jesus and who bring much joy to my life, for friends who are just a phonecall away, for a car to get me from A to B, for medicines to keep me healthier than I'd be without them, for all that God has given, and all that He has promised, and I remember that I AM BLESSED. Then I am reminded of a song "Blessed to be a blessing", so that is what i consider today, "Father God, thankyou for blessing me, please give me opportunites to BLESS OTHERS today" - so if you read my blog today

"May the Lord bless you and keep you
May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace" Numbers 6:24

BE BLESSED!