{hello} June :::

Tomorrow starts June.
Today ended May.
It ended well.
New projects on the horizon, creativity freely flowing like the rain that drenched our city today.
Winter has surely come with its dark, cold mornings and shortened days.
The warmth of the heater keeps their little cheeks rosey
and the glow of candles makes for warm and cosy evenings.

June.
What will you bring?
Switching off.
Switching off TV, radio and all the rubbish that fills this easily distracted head.

Fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. 
Romans 12:2(a)

June will bring creativity, inspiration, many a crochet goodie I'm sure.
We have baby dedications, birthdays and other events to attend.
We have things to talk about and plans to make.
Journaling, singing and seeking.
Praying and reading.
It will require of me a blog post a day.
Whether short or long, a picture or a word.
There will be a post a day.

And June I am really looking forward to you with much anticipation. 

June is hump month also, if you will.
After June we head into the "end" of the year.
My favourite part of the year.

I'm excited.
Be back tomorrow!

{worship} turn your eyes upon Jesus :::

This week at my church, Riverview Church, we continued on with our current theme, Worship.

We heard from one of my favourite preachers Ps Tim Healey.

He shared a message rooted in 2 Chronicle 20,

an account of when the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites joined together to fight against Judah.

Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah was full of fear.

In the midst of his anxiety he sought God.

If you decide to follow God, live a life devoted to Him and wholeheartedly love Him, you most certainly can expect to grab the attention of the devil.

He will notice you and you will find that life may become hard.

There will be resistence and opposition in your life.

Sometimes we give our lives to God and expect a cheery, breezy and carefree life,

but it's quite the contrary.

We draw attention to ourselves because no longer are we part of the crowd,

we are now pushing against the crowd.

Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 

                            2 Chronicles 20:3

Jehoshaphat did the right thing.

In his moment of weakness.

In a fear filled, scared moment, 

he turned his eyes to God. 

This is true for us today as well.

When you feel that opposition.

When you find yourself face to face with a brick wall in your walk.

A situation that is rocking your world and promises no ease. 

A burden so heavy that you can no longer carry it, 

turn your eyes upon Jesus 

We know this to be true but sometimes we forget. 

It feels easier to worry, stress and be anxious.

It feels like we're doing something.

In these situations though, the first thing we need to do is fall to our knees and seek God.

In this account we can draw a few lessons :::

1) Do not be afraid 

He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King  Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.                           

                           2 Chronicles 20:15

Isn't that typical of scripture? 

I mean, it's the single most spoken command from God in the bible,

do not fear

do not be afraid

Fear not,

for I am with you.

2) Face it 

Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.

                                                                  2 Chronicles 20:16

Confront it. 

Meet it head on. 

Don't hide,

it will not disappear. 

God will meet you there, in the middle of it. 

3)  Stand. Watch what God will do. 

Ephesians 6:14 ::

"Stand therefore..." English Standard Version 

"Stand therefore [hold your ground]..." Amplified

"Be ready!..." Contemporary English Version 

"Be prepared..." The Message

"So stand firm..." New International Readers Version

"Stand firm then..." New International Version 

"Stand your ground..." New Living Translation 

It seems it's unanimous. 

After we've prayed, and met the situation face to face we now need to stop. 

Stand. 

And watch our God step in where we need Him. 

Because He will. 

Because He is faithful. 

4) Worship.

Jehoshaphat asked the people for advice. Then he appointed men to sing to the Lord. He wanted them to praise him because of his glory and holiness. They marched out in front of the army. They said, 
"Give thanks to the Lord. His faithful love continues forever."

                                 2 Chronicles 20:21 

Jehoshaphat put the worshippers on the front row of the army.

I highly doubt they were excited about it!

Would you be confident armed with your tambourine?

But they too knew and understood that faith-filled worship is the best response to opposition and the best weapon you could draw...

Because HE is always worthy of our worship and always deserving of our praise.

All adoration and love belong to Him.

Worship is not our gift to God, 

but Gods gift to us.

Worship changes us.

It changes how we see.

It changes how we act. 

We worship because of what it does in our hearts, 

it helps us to see beyond our situation. 

It allows us to safely express our fear and doubt to God. 

If you read on, in 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 something amazing happens ::

As soon as they began singing, the Lord confused the enemy camp, so that the Ammonite and Moabite troops attacked and completely destroyed those from Edom. Then they turned against each other and fought until the entire camp was wiped out!

How great is our God!

It is in His ability, and His ability only,

to take those things that are there to destroy us and turn them around for our good.

Never doubt His love and faithfulness for you.

And His ability to completely transform your situation.

Boy did i need to re-read my notes this morning!

I hope this message reaches you in whatever your situation is this morning. 

{just thought I'd share a song that really helps me keep focused on Him in those times :: God I Look To You by Jenn Johnson, Bethel Church}

  

{happenings} :::

pic via here

my husband has been stuck at home with a sore knee and no work
its forced us to spend more time in the kitchen
because no work means no money in the lives of the self emplyed
but its also forced us to completely and utterly enjoy each others company
we've been cooking together
laughing at silly jokes
watching friends repeats and planting seedlings in the garden
although its brought its fair share of tea towel whips in those moments of boredom
it's also brought a feeling of simplicity and back to earth to this home




we also eat a lot healthier than we used to
it wasn't a conscious decision
because of the ethical supermarket shopping we started earlier this year it just sort of happened
shopping ethically eliminated companies such as nestle and coca cola amatil who own a great deal of the preservative and sugar filled products on our shelves
so now it has become a conscious thought
now we eat such things as quinoa linseed chia and bran added in to homecooked meals 
(in fact I have a winner bran muffin for the lunch boxes to share with you tomorrow)




we've been breaking bread with friends more often
it's been a welcome change
alot of people find they begin doing this more as the weather warms
they enjoy bbq's and the ease of summer meals
i do too
but if any seasons whisper "gathering" for me it would be autumn and winter
theres just something about candlelit passageways and a warm kitchen
hot soup and warm bread
its just echoes words like
{embrace}
{gather}
{eat}
{drink}
{conversation}




did you know my boy is turning four in just a couple of short months?
did you know he starts school next year?
next year life beyond motherhood begins here
(i know motherhood never ends, but mothering babies does)
i was fretting over and dreading this change in my life
but i had a coffee with a beautiful friend a week ago and it seems this new season in my life may be bringing with it fresh opportunity
creative opportunity 
the desires of my heart becoming a reality 
i can't say much right now because I don't know much right now
but exciting things are happening
and ill keep you posted




June will be a different month around this space
ive decided to have a month of seeking God on a few things
switching off from social networks
switching off the tv and radio
and to spend time with him
and to bring you a post every day
whether it be a recipe
a revelation
or just a picture
so stay tuned and feel free to join me if you like
(if you do, let me know your blog address in the comments below)



oh and this fear is becoming a distant memory as i embrace new seasons and as i look to my creative Creator more

{roadtrip album} ::

My soul is refreshed. 

Inspired. 

Ready to explore. 

Our trip down south was amazing. 

Aesthetically pleasing. 

Heavenly to our senses. 

We ate, we looked, we touched. 

We experienced. 

Farmers markets, scones, birds. 

All sorts of lovely.

:::happy mothers day::: 

{wandering heart} :::

image via here

Do you ever feel like your heart needs to wander? 
Be alone for while?
Or not necessarily alone, but away. 
Away and secluded, be it with others or not, but away from life. 
I'm feeling like that. 
So how does one deal with that feeling? 
We pack our car up on Friday night, with all the necessities. 
Camera, picnic blanket, crochet blankets, cups, breakfast, tea. 
Spare clothes
Surf boards, a good book and snacks. 
And then we wake indecently early on Saturday morning and drive for 3 hours until we get to the most beautiful middle of nowhere you could ever imagine. 
The ever wonderful and always overflowing with adventure Margaret River. 
We'll break bread on the side of the road, we'll photograph every silly thing. 
We'll stop for a quick dip and attempt to catch some waves and then move quickly to an op-shop or two to search out some treasures in the form of blankets and chairs.
The smells and delights of the fortnightly farmers market will greet us as we enter the town square. 
We'll taste many new & unusual tastes at the cheese factory and we'll be sure to stuff our hands (and mouths) with obscene amounts of sample choc drops. 
I will drink copious amounts of coffee at secluded coffee spots causing a mid afternoon rush of energy resulting in braving the maze with three children. 
Then we'll stop in at our favourite places to grab our next few months supply of yumminess like olive oil, pickles and the like. 
And there's a strong possibility we'll enjoy a pizza whilst we watch a movie or two at the drive-in. 


That's what we do. 
What do you do? 

{chocolate brownies} a recipe :::

Hey party animals! 
I have a yummy yummy recipe for you today. 
The easiest and possibly the yummiest chocolate brownies. 

Ingredients 
150 g butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 eggs
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup dutch cocoa
1/4 white choc chips 
1/4 cup milk choc chips


Method
1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs one at a time on low speed.
3. Mix through flour and cocoa.
4. Add all choc chips 
5. Bake at 160°C for 25 minutes.
6. Ice with chocolate icing.

Enjoy!
It won't last long so make sure you get a nice big slice first up!

worship {in spirit and truth} :::

This month at Riverview Church we are looking at Worship.
Worship has always been an important happening in this family.
In this home.
Babes would be rocked to sleep to worship music,
now it fills the house.
Husband strums along on his guitar and this mama,
well she likes to think she sounds glorious as the sings along whilst pottering around the house.
But worship runs deeper than that.

   Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with      
   everything I've got— 
   Wherever good people gather, and in the  
   congregation. 
   God's works are so great, worth 
   A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment! 
   Splendor and beauty mark his craft; 
   His generosity never gives out. 
   His miracles are his memorial— 
   This God of Grace, this God of Love. 
   He gave food to those who fear him, 
   He remembered to keep his ancient promise. 
   He proved to his people that he could do 
   what he said: 
   Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift! 
   He manufactures truth and justice; 
   All his products are guaranteed to last— 
   Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-
   proof. 
   All that he makes and does is honest and 
   true: 
   He paid the ransom for his people, 
   He ordered his Covenant kept forever. 
   He's so personal and holy, worthy of our 
   respect. 
   The good life begins in the fear of God— 
   Do that and you'll know the blessing of  
   God. 
   His Hallelujah lasts forever!
                 Psalm 100

Is God worth our worship?
Because we do it. 
We do it and yet we don't really understand it. 
[A lot of us. 
Not all of us but a lot of us.]
We worship with half of us. 
We sing, we shout, we dance, 
we get carried off by the emotion of the music..and let me tell you our church has an amazing worship team so that's easy there. 
But is He worthy of more? 

wor·ship/ˈwərSHip/

Noun:  the expression of reverence and adoration

To express reverence and adoration to someone or something you would have faith in it. 
Trust. 
Love and hope. 
Do you trust God with your life? 
Don't just say yes. 
Do you trust Him enough to surrender everything?
Do you worry about the next pay cheque? 
Do you worry about dying? 
Do you worry about tomorrow? 


I want to share something I fear with you. 
It's a big deal for me to share this because its a weekly fear for me. 
It's always there. 
I've shared my journey through depression with you here, here and here. 
But what I haven't shared with you is life since depression. 
Something absolutely debilitating for me is entertaining and even more so breaking bread with friends.
Meeting up with, dining with or coffeeing with one or more people completely freaks me out. 
Pre-depression I was a social butterfly, going from event to event and catching up with friends almost daily. 
Now however, If I'm catching up with someone on Friday I can't sleep until then. 
It's constantly in the back of my mind. 
I dream about it
My stomach turns and most of the time I cancel or reschedule.
Yes friends, if I've done it to you, this is why. 

So what does my fear have to do with worship and Gods worthiness?
This weekend in my church I realised something. 
I realised my God is worthy of my worship. 
He is trustworthy with my fear. 
He is fragile with my heart. 
He is jealous for my love. 
He is angry where need be. 
He is just. 
He evokes beauty in the midst of my mess and imperfections. 


Next time you worship think of what He is worth. 
What are you trusting Him with?