Getting out of the hole.

Hi all. I had a better week this week, the pain wasn't as bad. I thank God that He enabled me to preach the last two weeks. Last Sunday I preached on getting out of the hole, I was probably preaching to myself more than anyone else. It is hard to preach faith when you have had a week full of despair. Below is part of my sermon.



You know God doesn’t go away when we are in a hole, we just can’t see Him because of all the darkness surrounding us. If we are in a hole and we are just looking down or around us we are not seeing His light. We have to force our heads up to see Him. Do we feel like looking up? NO! Do we need too? Yes. I had good reason to cry and moan this week, but I couldn’t stay in that place. I needed to move away from the despair and find God in the midst of my circumstances. Because it doesn’t matter how hard it gets God is always there for us. Psalm 121:1-8 I look up to the mountains; es my strength come from mountains? [2] No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. 3] He won't let you stumble, your Guardian God won't fall asleep. 4] Not on your life! Israel's Guardian will never doze or sleep. 5] God's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you— 6] Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke. 7] God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. 8] He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.

If you are having a tough time I hope this helps you.

Pain.

Pain is a horrible thing. I have had a bad pain week. I hate the way it colours your whole life. You are so tired, normal everyday actions start to look like huge mountains to conquer. Depression comes along for a ride when you have bad pain. It's not surprising really when you are struggling to cope with everything.

It is at times like these I see God like the light down a long tunnel. He never leaves me, His presence enables me when I am weak. But I have to be looking to see Him, otherwise I can drown in my pain.

This week I was encouraged by reading other people's blogs. I saw that there are many others out there who also struggle with pain. Many are worse than me. It helps to get prespective when you are in danger of losing it. So tonight my thoughts are prayers are with you if you too fight the pain battle. Keep your head up, it may be the darkest now but sunrise is on the way. Surround yourselves with those who will lift you up, hold your arm up when you can't yourself. When you are weak it is not a bad thing to get help from others.

New furniture and welcome to Taggart.

I had some new furniture arrive today. I had no idea that it would arrive in pieces and I would be expected to put it together. Immediately I was on the phone to the parents who fortunately saved me by coming up to help me assemble it. I couldn't have done it without them. What is it with men? They like to work things out by themselves without looking at the instructions.

Anyway one of the chairs has a obvious chip in it, so I suppose I will have to complain about it. The easier option is not to, but that doesn't always get us what we need or what we deserve. It is nice to have new furniture, I haven't really bought much. My lounge suite I picked up off the street and it has been a real blessing to have.

I would like to welcome Taggart, a cairn terrier pup to our family. He is the new addition in my parents house and is keeping them on their toes. He is fearless and throws himself into anything especially water. Today he grabbed my small garden spade and was running around my backyard with it. It is nearly bigger than him. I am sure he is going to give my parents much joy.

Have a blessed 2008.

Well, 2007 is just about over, where did it go? As we enter 2008 my prayer is that you will draw closer to God. For the Great Southland of the Holy Spirit I continue to pray for rain, both physical and spiritual.God is calling more and more of his people to prayer. Australia has a unique and special destiny in God, the best is yet to come. It is my dream to see revival sweep our country, that Australian's of all types and backgrounds will come into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. That our great sporting arena's will be filled with people seeeking and praising God instead of sport. (Not that I don't like sport.} May Jesus be the guiding light that directs your path in 2008.

Christmas blessings.

Well I have done all my shopping and nearly all my baking. I have given out heaps of packages of shortbread and other goodies that I baked. Written all my cards and generally submerged myself in Christmas, which I love. Even though it can be a lot of effort, it is always a joy to bless others.

So as you celebrate this Christmas season with your loved ones I would wish you much happiness and remind you of our greatest gift. Jesus. Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." A David Meece song expresses my thoughts beautifully.

We Are The Reason
As little children
We would dream of Christmas morn
Of all the gifts and toys
We knew we'd find
But we never realized
A baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were the reason
That He gave His life
We were the reason
That He suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by
We learned more about gifts
The giving of ourselves
And what that means
On a dark and cloudy day
A man hung crying in the rain
All because of love, all because of love

I've finally found the reason for living
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him
In all that I do every word that I say
I'll be giving my all just for Him, for Him

He is my reason to live

It is my prayer this Christmas that Jesus would be your reason to live.

I am a survivor.

Last week was the anniversary of the car accident that has greatly impacted my life. It's funny I can still remember that morning so clearly, my plans for the day. Then I have a gap of time that I have never recovered, till I regained consciousness in casualty. You never believe it is going to happen to you, till it does.It's amazing the thoughts that go through your mind. I remember being glad that I had had a shower that morning. I also thought that I was dying, because of the pain I was in.This is actually a good thing as I remember clearly that I wasn't afraid because I loved God.All my life I had not had one broken one bone, till that day when I had 16 fractures all on my left side.

What I didn't realise then was how greatly my life was changed.I have always felt that the person I was before the accident, died or disappeared on that morning. Because the person that emerged afterwards was distinctly different. How I tried to get my life quickly back to normal. But normal didn't hide those things I was now struggling with. Pain entered my life than and has not left since. Post traumatic stress and interesting term but not an enjoyable process. Car accident victims should all be referred to counselling, which I wasn't.Trying to find my own answers was not easy. If I had not been a Christian I do not think I could have survived those days. So, here I am another year gone, I still stand a survivor. Christine's advice for when you are having a dark day and depression surrounds you. You must keep this one rule at those times. I will not make a decision that impacts my life when I can not trust my emotions to rule my life. My thoughts and prayers are with all those other survivors who deal daily with the consequences of a car accident.

Bowling and where is Jesus?

Hi, I have had a nice week not working.Although there always seems to be so much to do for Christmas. I have done a lot of walking around shopping centres in the last 2 days. A few more presents bought but a I have still have a bit to do. I had my first experience on Ebay the other day and to my surprise I actually won the auction, so I am just waiting to see what the item is like when it turns up. I hope it is ok as it is a Christmas present.

I went bowling the other night for my work Christmas break up. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately my physio had told me not to bowl one handed, nor was I to bend my knee. Ok you try and bowl with those instructions. So to no ones great surprise I came last however I was awarded the cutest little trophy. Anyway everyone had a good time which was the point of the exercise.

I stopped off at a cake decorating place yesterday to look for something to top my Christmas cake. All I found was Santa's and Merry Christmas.I went and asked the sales assistance if they any Nativity ones only to be told no. Interestingly enough she said that they have commercialised Christmas too much. I said to her there was no point celebrating Christmas if they take Jesus out of it. He is the reason for the season.