in pieces

I can't believe that I've made it through! 40 days of fasting and prayer. In some ways it seems like it's been a long time, in others, it seems like it's gone quickly. I am encouraged, enriched, amazed and awed of God's power through these past few months. For starters, I never thought I'd be able to come up with 40 different things to blog about. Maybe that just shows that I have a lot to say! Ha ha! I'd often be struggling all day about what I should post,and it wasn't until I was standing in front of the computer every night and writing "Day -whatever-" that it would come to me. I call it divine writing! This process has actually been good in "reawakening the creative spirit" in me. The discipline of writing has actually unleashed some inner passion, and I've been blown away by what God has done through my writing - what journeys He's taken me on - what lessons He's taught me - and how it has impacted others. W...

Passover... what does it mean? Many Christians don't know the story. Here's a simplified version of the Bible story to help you understand better. Moses was a Hebrew man. He was adopted and brought up by an Egyptian princess under the rule of Pharaoh. He became close with Pharaoh over the years. However many Hebrews were slaves to the Egyptians and one day when Moses saw a Hebrew slave being beaten, he became so angry he killed the Egyptian. He then fled to Midian and became a shepherd. One day while tending his flock, he came across a burning bush. He realised that God was in that bush telling him he'd chosen him to help free the Hebrew people from slavery. Moses' brother Aaron would help him be his spokesperson. So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him that God had sent them to tell him to let the Hebrew people go. Pharaoh refused, and on two occasions Moses performed two miracles to try and convince him of God's power. He threw his staff onto t...

When I lived in Vancouver, I absolutely loved it! But when I left the city I could always feel myself relax, which is why I always assumed I was a farm girl through and through. However, the more and more I visit Melbourne the more and more I fall in love. It is one of the most amazing cities with such a cool vibe. Today I decided to tackle an adventure to the city with my 2 boys. I took my friend Krystle and we met up with our 2 friends Mel and Anthea for lunch on Brunswick street. We were blessed with some pretty sweet parking, which is always a plus and also had the pleasure of a +25C day! The day was starting out great! Unfortunately I have become aware that I'm not quite the "hip-urban-mom" I thought I maybe was. I never wanted to believe the fact that twin boys might be a handful to take to the city. I didn't want kids to ever stand in the way of "doing" things either. But as I'll report here, I soon learned that even though I longed n...

In the book our small group is reading - Crazy Love by Francis Chan - he explains that God isnt' interested in our lukewarm attempts at following Him. He's not interested in our pitiful sacrifices. Francis states, "He measures our lives by how we love." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is a good yardstick to measure yourself by: 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. One way to re-read this age-old scripture in a new refreshing light is to put your own name or the word "I" in place of the word "love". " 4 I am patient and kind; I do not envy or boast; (I am) not arrogant 5 or rude. I do not insist on my own way; I am not irritable or resentful; 6 I do not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejo...

Today I was playing with Kai and Levi and trying to teach them new tricks. I was able to get Kai to poke his tongue out at me. Levi was just too interested in eating the phone to do any tricks at all today! He loves to eat...that's his trick! But it got me thinking of a verse in 1 Timothy 4:12 which says, " Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." Hmmmm....set an example. That is a strong and difficult encouragement. I specifically love this verse as it states the importance of setting your example now - while you are young - not when you are old and have "lived and experienced everything". Not when you have gone to Bible school and received your degree or diploma. Not when you have become a pastor of a church, or a youth group leader. Not after you have had a family, or even developed your career. In todays' world we place high valu...