HOME & LIFE

The Trip That Wasn't…

Talk about an adventure that wasn’t!? That’ll be the title by which our family remembers this Christmas period.

We had planned the trip for weeks, with the children all getting excited, saving our pennies, organising the house, and figuring out the logistics of having ‘Miss A’ back and forth to Melbourne during our holiday. The day came and we all awoke at 2am. That turned out to be the easy part. We were all bundled in the car by 3am, complete with Jazz in her kennel, in the trailer. We were off on the 4 hour journey to Melbourne to pick ‘Miss A’ up and continue on to Adelaide to visit with John’s family. (A further 8-9 hours)

We got to Glenrowan? and John thought he’d just check on the dog and the trailer to make sure all was well. Problem? You betcha! The car wouldn’t start and the charge light stayed on, telling us that the battery wasn’t charging. Oh dear, we had a deadline to pick ‘Miss A’ up and here we were at 4.15am in the middle of nowhere…John thought the problem was with the alternator and seeing as how we have a spare one at home, he didn’t think it wise to attempt a 12 hour drive with the car not working properly. So, I called ‘A’ (don’t you love mobile phones!) and she ended up catching the train home while we waited in Glenrowan until the sun came up, so that we wouldn’t have to use the car lights, thinking that this might take even more power from the dying battery.

We got home, and the children and I all had a sleep while poor John worked on the car. We went and picked ‘A’ up at 11.30am and then John tinkered with the car for the remainder of the day. He couldn’t figure out what the problem was but tried a few things and it all seemed to be going well. We thought that we’d try again.

TAKE 2
I groggily awoke and showerd this morning at 3.30am but I could NOT wake John. (He didn’t have a sleep yesterday when we all did, and he had a late night.) I flopped back on the bed beside him and didn’t wake until 8am!!! Argh, so much for our early start! Oh well, the children had only just woken too so I guess we all needed some sleep.

We piled in the car yet again and set off…this time we were altogether. 2 adults, 5 children and Jazz, the beagle. The car seemed to be going fine and we stopped at Glenrowan AGAIN just to check the car and trailer. Would you believe it? The charge light came on and the battery seemed to have no life in it. John fiddled with it for an hour while we fed and watered Jazz and eventually John decided that it still wasn’t *right* so we came home again. The weird thing is that the battery and car seemed fine when we got home!!!!

For two days in a row we have set off only to get (approximately) 100 kilometres away, turn back and head home. We’re staying…for now.?? We don’t give up easily in this family and have set our minds to trying again. We’ll set off next week, dropping ‘A’ in Melbourne for training and we’ll continue on to Adelaide where we’ll stay for one week and then head over to Canberra for Softball Nationals. I guess that means we’re one of a few things. We’re either:

1) Stupid
2) Stubborn
3) Really enjoy traveling
4) Really want to go to Adelaide or
5) All of the above…and then some.

Usually when we go away on holdays we are quite disorganised and leave things until the last minute. Not so for this trip! I left the house clean and tidy and have all things organised. John spent a few days working on the car to make sure it was all going well. Despite all this, stuff still went wrong.

However, I have been reminded of Scripture, which I may have taken slightly out of context but the Lord will use it to show me things anyway.

A person may plan his path, but ADONAI directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

ADONAI directs a person’s steps, and he delights in his way. He may stumble, but he won’t fall headlong, for ADONAI holds him by the hand. Psalm 37:23


We can devise many plans in which to try to be successful yet God knows it all- the ups and downs of it all . However, sometimes these things are not in our control but what is in our control is to say , If God wills it, we can do this or that. James 4:14,15

Throughout all these trials and happenings we see that our plans go awry but we can rest assured? because God is holding us…He has directed our steps and will see us in all eternity because of his Son.
Thank you Jesus.

Leaving a Legacy

Driving in the car…washing dishes…sweeping the floor, preparing a meal…reading a good book…visiting the new neighbour…running errands and paying bills. What do these have in common? These are a few things that I have had opportunity to do this week…to do with my children. And it is through these tasks and delights that I have opportunity to share the good news of God with them.

One of my favourite verses in God’s word is Deuteronomy, chapter 6. I particularly like Chapter 6: but that’s only because of the surrounding verses. The writer of these verses is Moses.

Moses went to Egypt and led the Israelites out of Egypt. They wandered around in the wilderness for 40 years. So close yet so far away from the Promised Land. During all this time the people of Israel had fallen away form the Lord and the teachings of Moses. Moses goes to Mt. Sinai and receives the Commandments from God. I often need to remember why the Law was given. It was given to reveal divine holiness! It showed who God is… His standards of righteousness. When I look at the commandments I can see how far short I have fallen…and how I can never attain adherence to them of myself.

I was intrigued to learn that it took the Israelites about 40 hours to get out of Egypt but it took 40 years for the Israelites to find the promised land- or as I’ve heard is said somewhere before, “It took 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel.” However, the other interesting point is that Moses didn’t get to enter the promised land. Only two of the Israelites who were taken out of Egypt got to enter it and they were Joshua and ‘Master C’ . Al the others had died and there was a new generation.

Just before his death, before the entrance to the promised land, Moses gave a final word of admonition and exhortation or additional instruction. (Interestingly, Jesus also quotes this verse)
Moses was their leader. He helped them to live godly lives amongst heathen nations. As THE Word was taught to us, so we must teach it to our children.

God knows that our teachings, lives and beliefs can influence future generations. He wants us to think this way. How many generations can you see in the verses? Three! That means me, my children and my grandchildren!

I’ve heard many people say that they wish there was a? handbook or guidebook for this whole parenting caper. But there is!!!!! It is the Bible!

So, what are we to pass down to the generations- to our children. Head knowledge? Well, I believe it can start there but it must be more than that. It must be in our lives. The word must change us. Along with a knowledge of God we must also have a fear of the lord – a love. Otherwise, all we have is religion.

I wasn’t raised a Christian although my mother converted before I came to know the Lord so I say that my mother is the first generation Christian. It began with her :-)? She started to live out her life in God in front of me…and I picked up on that passion. I think that a possible danger for me is that I may become complacent in the living out of my faith and thus my children will become that way or even acknowledge God’s commands but not live in the fear or love of the Lord. Oh Lord, create in me a clean heart…keep my heart drawn to you.

I often ask myself if I am really excited about what God is doing in my life or has done for me? Do I share my walk with them? How are they to ‘catch’ my passion if I don’t share it with them?

Constant Chatter

Our home is noisy! Our home is loud! And is filled with constant talk! But, this is a good thing- discussion is a cord that helps to bind the family together. Nevertheless, constant talk can be a drain upon others and it isn’t necessarily beneficial for the talker either. We have discussed a few slogans that have been able to help us to control our tongue- I’ll share them here.

THINK

T – It is True?
H – Is it Helpful?
I – Is it Inspiring?
N – Is it Necessary?
K – Is it Kind?

“The good person brings forth good things from his store of good, and the evil person brings forth evil things from his store of evil. Moreover, I tell you this: on the Day of Judgment people will have to give account for every careless word they have spoken; for by your own words you will be acquitted, and by your own words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12: 35-37

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“If you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
~Acts 13:15

Speak when the words build up.

Speak if the words bring a smile.

Speak where reassurance is needed.

Speak what gives hearts courage.

Speak how He would.

Words that encourage. Words that give life. Words that bless. If you have those kinds of words on the tip of your tongue, then please speak.

Otherwise, maybe it is best not to.

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