Archive for January 31, 2011

Music Monday

January 31, 2011 / Molly / No comments

Each Monday I am going to be posting what I call the Music Monday post. During my walk each morning there is always a song that stands out and speaks to where I am right now. Each week I will be choosing one song that has stood out the most and share why.

The song I’m starting with is one I’ve listened to many times but its not until you have the lyrics blaring in your ears with your headphones on that each word is clear. No other distractions. The song ‘Stay Strong‘ by Newsboys is full of wise words and reminders.

There are a few lines in this song that stand out, particularly ‘Have you forgotten who you are? Did you forget whose trip you’re on?’. That one hit me between the eyes. For a while there I did forget who’s trip I’m on and who I’m living for. Those who are not familiar with some of the old testament stories may not understand the references to wandering through the wilderness and the cloud by day. This is referring to the story of the Israelites spending 40 years wandering around in a desert, not being able to find their way. The whole time they complained even though God provided everything they needed and despite the fact that they had been freed from slavery just before this. Very poignant I think.

The song itself refers to a couple of verses, this one about strength from Joshua (1:9):
‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.’

and also this one about the Christian life being like a race with Heaven being the prize from 1 Corinthians (9:24);
‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.’

and the lyrics speaking about ‘witnesses’ is referring to this passage in Hebrews (12:1-3);
‘Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.’

I really love the last part, the singer becomes the coach telling us to ‘get up’ and get on with it as there is too much to do and too many people to tell about Jesus and what he did for us. I love that. Sometimes we all need people to tell us to ‘get up, get going, snap out of it’.

So, here is the song, the lyrics and below:

Stay Strong

You’re in the moment now
A bitter rouse
A wandering eye and then
The ties that bind start wearing thin, within

You’re in the moment now
When all that you’ve been blessed with
Is not enough
Here’s where the ground gets loose
Here’s where the devils call your bluff

Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There’s a new dawn to light our day, our day
You’ve gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We’ve come too far to lose our way, our way

We’ve seen the tragic flaws
The tortured souls
The saints with feet of clay
Here’s where sin becomes cliche’

We’ve come through wilderness and watched
The cloud by day
The burning sky into dawn
Have you forgotten who you are?
Did you forget whose trip you’re on?

Stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
There’s a new dawn to light our day, our day
We’ve gotta stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We’ve come too far to lose our way, our way

Get up, there’s further to go
Get up, there’s more to be done
Get up, this witness is sure
Get up, this race can be won
This race can be won

We’ve gotta stay strong
You are not lost
Come on and fix your eyes ahead
Our Father’s dawn will light our day, our day
Come on and stay strong
His grip is sure
And His patience still endures
There’ll be no letting go today, no way

Come on, and stay strong
You and I run
For the prize that lies ahead
We’ve come too far to lose our way, our way

Category: All Sorts of Things, Deeper Thoughts, Music / Tags: , , , , ,

A New Habit

January 28, 2011 / Molly / No comments

For the last two mornings I have gotten up a bit earlier and gone for a little walk through our neighbourhood. My aim in doing this is not for weight loss but it is for health, more for my mind and setting it right at the start of the day. I have put together a mix of Christian music and set the ipod to shuffle and see what comes up. I’ve found that there is usually one or two songs that play in that half an hour that are very relevant to me at the moment and it has been helpful in setting the tone of the day. So, this is today’s song, very relevant to me right now (lyrics below):

On My Way To You (MercyMe)

Almost there, almost where I’m supposed to be
It’s not all clear, but you keep showing me
With every step, the more my heart moves to your beat
Just like where I’m headed, there’s joy in the journey

Teach me to think like you think
Show me the things, that are true
Finish the work you have started in me

As I’m on my way to you
As I’m on my way to you

Create in me a pure heart and make me new
Less of me, Jesus more of You
Here I stand, still I’m drawn down to my knees
It’s not my strength, but Your’s that carries me

[CHORUS (2x)]

I’m on my way to you [5x]

Category: All Sorts of Things, Deeper Thoughts, Music /

The Butterfly

January 27, 2011 / Molly / 8 comments

Over the last six and a half weeks, during our time in Cairns (Queensland) with my family I have been reminded of many things. The first two weeks were spent getting ready for Christmas including buying nearly every Christmas present. The third week was relaxing although it was a bit of a slippery slide for me as we had heard shortly before Christmas that my hubby did not get a job he’d applied for. We were hoping to start 2011 with everything sorted (as far as work goes) but instead I felt the stresses of the last few months bubbling to the surface.

New Years was like a switch for me. I spent the first week of this year feeling at my lowest point. I was very worried that I had depression as well as a full set of a variety of diseases due to some physical symptoms that I had developed. Each day I woke up in a black cloud and couldn’t shake the feeling. I was also lethargic and unwell. In retrospect I can see that there were physical (a virus), emotional and spiritual issues causing all of these things.

At the end of that week I sat out on my parents balcony and talked to God. I cried and I asked him how I could get rid of the physical symptoms I was having and talked to him about how I felt. I told God I felt as if I had no real purpose at this point as we didn’t know what we were heading into this year. In the midst of this God spoke to me, not out loud but he definitely spoke. He gently showed me that I must take responsibility for my stress and for allowing it to get a strangle-hold on me to the point of physical illness. He showed me that I cannot blame anyone else for my physical state because its only me who can allow others to effect me. I apologised to the Lord. I told him that I take full responsibility for not trusting him and for being a hypocrite when it comes to taking my own advice.

The next morning I still had some of the physical stress symptoms but that black cloud was gone. The symptoms were niggling at me so I decided once and for all to go to the Doctor and put my mind at ease. I went to two doctors, one just did a blood test which showed nothing was wrong at all, the second did a thorough neurological/physical examination and told me ‘you do not need to worry about your body, just your mind’. I’m very glad she said that, just those words helped my ‘mind’.

Now, why the title of the Butterfly for this post you might ask. Being in tropical far north Queensland especially in rainy season means that there are plenty of butterflies around. The two that are quite common over there and very beautiful are the Ulysses (see the pic below, thats one landed on my back) and the Birdwing. Everywhere we went, or even at home we saw them. Whether purposefully in the Butterfly sanctuary or at the top of the local dam, there they were. This got me thinking, there was a Steven Curtis Chapman song that kept playing through my head called ‘All Things New’ and combined with what we learnt at the Butterfly sanctuary I realised just how significant this creature is to my own life right now.

I’ve not been one for symbols, its not really part of my upbringing but as a very visual person I have found that the Butterfly is a bit of a constant. When we think about how butterflies come to be we can’t help but think about something going from ugly to beautiful, transformation, newness and freedom. These words have all rung true for me over these few weeks. Its been (and still is) a very slow growth but then again, it takes time for a butterfly to transform too.

I have come home with a visual reminder (Butterfly), a word to hang on to (Trust) and a song (All Things New by SCC). I have brought back with me a few things with Ulysses butterflies on them so I can be reminded daily of God’s promise of transformation and renewal. Below is the song that I have found to be so encouraging but before I share that I want to share this verse which I am holding tightly to as we head into the unknown in 2011:

Trust in the LORD and do what is good;
dwell in the land and live securely.
Take delight in the LORD,
and He will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in Him, and He will act,
making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.
Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for Him;
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the man who carries out evil plans.
Refrain from anger and give up [your] rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm. Psalm 37:3-8

I am looking forward into the blank space that is 2011 with the words of my Mum ringing in my head ‘isn’t this exciting, we get to see what God will do now!’.

and the song (lyrics are on there):

Category: All Sorts of Things, Deeper Thoughts /

Catchup

January 26, 2011 / Molly / 4 comments

Hi everyone, its been over three weeks since I blogged last. I felt the need for a big break, especially considering I blogged every day last year! I’m not sure when I’ll be picking up blogging regularly again. Some of the reasons for stopping for a few weeks included some personal struggles with high bouts of stress and the physical results of that, not to mention the fact that we were still on our break in Cairns, Queensland with my family (the pic above is my daughters and my feet at Palm Cove). We arrived back in Perth last night and are all a bit tired but slowly unpacking and settling.

The one thing I will mention is that I will be changing the way I blog this year. I intend to focus a bit more on the deeper issues of life and share my creative pursuits. I will be back, soon.

Category: All Sorts of Things, Darling Daughters, Family / Tags: , , ,

Photo a Day Challenge……….complete!

January 3, 2011 / Molly / 2 comments

I thought I should mention that the post I just did was the final post of photo a day. I took a look back and the first post I did was actually on January 3 (and I caught up with three photos for the first three days of January 2010). So, thank you for following along, I may pick it up again with a photo a week or something like that after a short break. I also intend on summarising all the photos I’ve put up somehow, stay tuned!

Category: All Sorts of Things, Photo a day /

Photo of the Day – January 3

January 3, 2011 / Molly / One comment

Check this out, a plant where all the leaves are heart shaped, perfectly! I have been on the lookout for ‘hearts in nature’ since joining a FB group with that title. Its amazing when you look just how often the heart appears in nature. Sometimes its the form of a leaf, other times its the way a rock is shaped or even the marks left by an insect. Its such fun to be on the lookout (thanks Jacquie) for them when ever we are out walking. Here’s another one I found the other day:

Category: All Sorts of Things, garden, Photo a day /

Photo of the Day – January 2

January 2, 2011 / Molly / No comments

Hubby and I went for a walk around the local area and we didn’t have to go far before there were things worth photographing. The above plant is just one! The area around here is so lush, I just know we will feel the difference between states when we go back to Perth. Things here are so much brighter and always fresh! Still, I love Perth and I don’t mind the heat although I feel bad for my friends back at home who are dealing with a heatwave right now (a week of 37C and up). Here’s a few more shots from our walk:

Category: All Sorts of Things, Photo a day / Tags: , , , ,

Photo of the Day – January 1

January 2, 2011 / Molly / No comments

Happy New Year! This is the fireworks above Cairns that we went and looked at from the hilltop. For me, 2011 is a big blank page. I have no idea what we are doing or what church we will attend. I can’t say that this is making me excited…..yet. I’m fairly sure that the Lord has it all in his hands so I’m doing my best to trust him.

Category: All Sorts of Things, Photo a day / Tags: , , , ,

Photo of the Day – December 31

January 1, 2011 / Molly / No comments

What a great way for the girls to spend the last day of the year, playing in mud! There was a very innocent puddle in the middle of the lawn out the back that started out looking like this:

The dirt here is that red colour so a few splashes and the clean looking puddle was a muddy mess. They had the best time jumping and running into the water. At least this just required a bit of hosing off afterwards.

Happy New Year everyone! I didn’t get to post yesterday so this is being posted on Jan 1st. Just four posts to go and we get to the end of the photo of the day for a whole year!

Category: All Sorts of Things, Darling Daughters, Family, Photo a day /
 
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