God is God

So many people who are not saved, debate the idea of God and comment on the likelihood of his existence and the way his mind might work. He seems to be considered these days a concept worthy of conversation in places where in the past he would never be mentioned. Films and novels present us with a warm and fuzzy version of God who provides substance and evidence of a kind of cultural background for many different characters and lifestyles. As people try to find a justification for their lives and develop meaning in the same, they seem to come to the conclusion that if God exists and is a loving being, he will love all, no matter the behaviour. He would never condemn poor innocents or individuals to hell, would he? Does hell even exist?

 I say, If God exists then you cannot decide who He is. He is holy and we are not God.

We should remember that God is omnipotent on this earth.

Daniel 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth.

We should also remember that he is holy, and that he would not be God if he lowered his standards.

Habbakuk 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favour.

I guess the best we can do is strive to follow Peter's advice; 

1 Peter 1:15-16

 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;  for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Trust in Him

I've purposefully set out to learn a memory verse each week, with the intention of getting a bit more into God's word. Sometimes the verse finds me and sometimes I go hunting a verse.

This week's: I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13.  

Everything so simply explained. Just do this simple thing; trust in him, and everything will be alright. Maybe things will be messy; maybe things will be frustrating; you might be exhausted - but everything will be alright. And hope comes. Hope is a marvellous thing that anchors us to the safe place, and in the safe one.

So this is what I think trust can look like. Who wouldn't want a bit of this!? Pandora says "I'm just going to shut my eyes for a little while and nestle in to the warmth."  So again this week, I've given back to God some of the things I've struggled to carry myself, and hope has risen again!

And this camellia in my garden. A total of 2 on the bush, but maybe dozens or even hundreds next year.

The Pursuit

Your love keeps chasing me

And it always will 

It always will

              Hillsong

What is this, that is drawn to God? What is this thing within me that cries out to him. It's not of intellect and neither is it a physical thing. It must be something deeper of the soul.

While I have sought God in fits and starts and somewhat regularly since the age of six, for my whole life, it has been God who has pursued me. I've turned a corner, or stopped to reflect, and there he is quietly following after. And thank goodness for that! My fickle heart could never have kept this thing going!

Freed!

I was reminded this week of God's early work in my life. I have many favourite scriptures, but one I love to quote when asked is Psalm 34:4. "I prayed to The Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears." I take my self-confidence as an experienced teacher for granted so often, and forget sometimes about where it came from. It didn't come naturally to a shy, young Christian girl, but gradually arrived as I daily put myself in God's hands. A lot of the growing-up happened when I was a young teacher, and had to move 1000 kilometres from home to my first school placement in Mackay. 

God loved me and didn't stop the program of improvement until He shaped me into a person who could hold her head high, without shame. Fears were broken one by one, and new situations were conquered a day at a time, until I became a new creation in many ways: full of joy, with "no shadow of shame." God is good, all the time.

There's always something blooming in the garden! The row of browallias are glowing orange at the moment.

I'm introducing the book club to the delights of Fahrenheit this month. Hope they like it! I've just started The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan. It's had good reviews so I'm looking forward to getting into it.

Flowers make me happy! #100happydays

This is what makes me happy:
 


I'm participating in #100happydays via my instagram account. If you don't follow me yet my username is 
gracielu1

http://100happydays.com/

Happy Bees!

I do love pretty, old-fashioned flowers. This bee was certainly happy about them too!

              

 He was rolling around in ecstacy. I wonder if the honey tasted of roses?

And then there was this highly unattractive creature.

What am I thankful for today?

Rain for my garden,

strange flowers appearing on plants, 

and the purple glory of tibouchina!