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!

Love my chairs!

I have wanted to own a Louis style chair for a long, long time. Buying the set this chair came in was one of my crazier moments that involved roping in Anthony the long-suffering hubby and the lovely sister, hiring a utility and driving way over the other side of town. 

I've sold "the most uncomfortable sofa I've ever sat on" that came with setting, and am left with 2 lovely armchairs that owe me very little money. Unless that is, I reupholster them. I wouldn't mind finding a vibrant print to use, but then again the milk chocolate velour they wear now is soft and I don't have to be too precious when I sit in them, which would all change if I changed the fabric. I think it's a job for one day or maybe never!

The chairs come up great in photos: this was was taken with a favourite app called waterlogue. And of course Pandora finds them comfortable thrones! Who would've thought one spontaneous purchase would give me so much pleasure.

You can see that they've featured in a few photo shoots!

Shenanigans at Leadership Camp

I'm still in recovery from Senior Leadership camp: harness bruises and strains in awkward places. Here's a little proof that I did actually do the leap of faith. The platform is about 4 stories up in the air!

The students of The Pine were as delightful, responsible, encouraging and entertaining as always and some definitely pushed their boundaries and learnt new skills. They built their own rafts and tested them in the river, and got up close and personal in the dancing. Speaking of boundaries, I am trying to push my own, and stop letting being over 50 be an excuse; I know of a nearly 90 year old who goes kayaking regularly.

A slight hint of Autumn in the air!

It's just a little cooler and the students are already responding with less of a time delay - some days in summer my classroom is like an oven.I've re-read and am teaching The One Day of the Year by Alan Seymour, The Shifting Heart by Beynon, Letters from the Inside by Marsden and The Outsiders by S.E.Hinton. Many of the students have also read said texts so I may be surprised with some good results in essays next week.

This is what I am currently reading and thoroughly enjoying. I loved Sue Monk Kidd's Secret Life of Bees and this is just as enjoyable, though set in a differnt time period. The Hope book club are reading this:

I found Genelle's writing to be unpretentious and honest. Her life was transformed by her experience on this day, and the latter part of the book is definitely testament to this.

Reading next? Maybe an Andrew McGahan or Aravind Adiga or Tim Winton or Janet Evanovich. Still waiting for The Narrow Road to the Deep North to be available at the library.