December Thankfulness

By Emily Lynas

I love December.  It’s a month full of excitement and anticipation. It reminds me of the precious things in my life and the faithfulness of Gods word.

A few days ago on an ordinary December evening I was doing laundry. There were three baskets sitting in front of me, and I was feeling a bit tired and fed up from a day of seemingly domestic duties! One basket was full to the brim with dirty tea towels and cloths from our cafe, one with myself and Dave’s clothes and one with the sweetest baby boy’s vests and baby-grows covered in sick and poo (excuse the vulgarity!) I stood looking at them tired and slightly fed up of feeling like I spent most of my time doing laundry these days...

Then He spoke.

...with abundant love and gentle rebuke.

The three baskets represented three beautiful dreams in my life.

The basket full of dirty tea towels and cloths were from a dream realized nearly two years ago now but one that had been stored up as a treasure in our hearts for years and years. Running your own business is hard work and incredibly fulfilling and I quickly saw that the drudgery of washing tea towels every week as an absolute pleasure and honor.

Thank you Lord.

The second basket was a mix of our clothes. It represented my marriage of 11 years! Marriage is an incredible adventure but also difficult at times. I am thankful for the hard times, moments in your marriage when you see what you are both made of, how strong and resilient you are. Anything that’s worth much in this life can be tough. The reward of the mountaintop after a long hike, the respect and love of your children after careful and challenging parenting. I prayed for a husband who would love me and especially make me laugh. We have weathered many a storm with God at the centre of it and come through them to sail beautiful calm seas. God reminded me simply to be thankful that I had Dave’s laundry to do!

Thank you Lord.

The third basket was full of Finn’s clothes, our new baby boy born to us nearly 51/2 months ago. Our little long awaited miracle who has been prayed for and wept over for many years.

Motherhood, some days it doesn’t seem real.

Motherhood, some days it feels tiring and mundane.

Motherhood, most days it feels mystical, joyous and calm.

I love the verse in Luke 2:19 where it talks about Mary’s quiet “treasuring”- her storing-up of moments of love mystery, wonder and tenderness.

            ‘But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart’

Becoming a mother has taught me so much about myself, my capacity to love, my surprising selfishness at times and my utter delight in the smallest parts of my day, a smile, a giggle or a cuddle on the sofa on a stormy afternoon.

Or... doing laundry for my son.

Thank you Lord.

Life is full of ordinary everyday tasks, but always know that your Father will reveal the wonder of His faithfulness through them.

This Tuesday the 22nd of December I get to celebrate my birthday as a mum for the very first time. I imagined this moment many times over the years. I will have a seemingly ordinary tea party in a rather hip cafe, with friends and a wonderful husband and dad to Finn by my side.

Thank you Lord.

No Need To Fear

By Sylvia Burnside

No need to fear, when times of trouble come.  Oppression's storm beats at your door - No need to fear.    No need to fear though evil seems so strong, their pride and their power is not for long.  

Graham Kendrick

Looking and seeing the almost continuous chain of sad news which fills our headlines, you could indeed be forgiven, for fearing the days ahead and sensing the heaviness of humanity.  So many of us can further identify with personal set backs, work related upheavals, family difficulties and health uncertainty that brings our lives to a stand still; a curious and often times mysterious place where the prevailing thought becomes..."where can I place my confidence?"

I so desire to have confidence -  It's that unspoken hope that rises up like a little fountain in your belly and a warmth that lingers like a hot water bottle placed over your heart ...AND I chase it with passion.   

From the day and hour I was born, I sought this warmth; a comfort, a refuge and that all encompassing confident feeling that all is safe and well.   As a child I accepted this assurance initially from my mother, then my father and as I grew I learned to accept assurances from wider family circles, then friends and then society.   

As a Christian, I was taught from the earliest age, that confidence is found in Christ and in all honesty, I accepted (in my child like manner) that this 'important' point was completely true - I just didn't quite understand it.

Be still my soul and trust in God and place your life into His hands, for He will never fail you and in the morning you'll see His face.    Graham Kendrick

Looking back at those early days and through the window of a loving family, I can just about recall sensing the gaps in society's confidence.   These gaps were not just confined to school and friends, but existed within our church community too.    I'd see people falling over themselves in genuine (and less genuine) attempts to 'climb' an unseen ladder of success that inevitably put them under pressure.   I'd see struggles, joys, fears, surprises and conflicts and hear many noises from bliss to agitation; all of which, for a child, was quite ....well interesting.  

Today as I write, I giggle while remembering the thought - I never could quite see 'the ladder', or particularly understand the confusion, but I knew it existed because adults talked about these things regularly.  

Jump 30 (or more) years ahead to another age and season when I'm..a good bit older (goodness) and we in our family believed that we just might lose everything.   Stability toppled and with no rhyme or reason we watched like spectators as whole shelves of our lives seem to dismantle and crash into a confusing scene.  Suddenly old memories make sense...suddenly struggle comes into perspective...yes, suddenly and without warning.

In our uncertain lives, there cooks a crock pot of stewed life experiences, vivid creative ideas with daft notions, blessed surprises with unfulfilled hopes, mysteries with discoveries, night with day, all seasoned with theological salt and social pepper and served with a large slice of crusty, well baked mindfulness.

I ask myself the question - How can I feel anything but fear!? Where is my childlike confidence that I used to have? 

No need to fear the envy and the scorn of those who boast in what they own.  For what remains, when life's brief day is done, their glories are a setting sun. Graham Kendrick

Jesus says...

"come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11.28-29 NLT

The Message translation would put it this way...

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Presently, I sit and wonder about the striving within my own heart amidst the many external life experiences.   I look, not so much with sorrow, but more, with a sense of 'lack' that I know is not a feeling my 'abundant' Father has designed for me.   

Let me explain... My life isn't all bad, nor has it been unfulfilling. There have been difficult trials for sure, but there have also been many incredible times of blessing and celebration. Life's experiences are everywhere and I'm learning that they, on their own, can't bring confidence, that they, on their own, can't bring inner rest and perhaps more fascinating...they on their own don't endure. It is instead WHO is with us as we journey through life's experiences that creates in us what IS lasting, what IS eternal and what DOES endure. 

But as for me, of this I'm sure, God will redeem my soul from death. Graham Kendrick

Right in the middle of all life experiences, right at the point when you'd think "is this it?" ...is a wonderful realisation...more than that....a life giving friend...

He is to me, a quiet peaceful and calm gentleman and I'm indebted to Him for His love, His warmth, His compassion, His ever strong reassuring arms.   When life has hurled surprises, His Spirit has held me tightly.  When the days seemed confusing and mixed up, He has assured me with companions and a confident peace.  When I am happy, He and His company have laughed with me.   When I do well, He smiles broadly.   When I don't do so well, He sympathises, reassures and helps me stand up and try again.   He is JESUS, He is SPECIAL and He has said that I am SPECIAL, ACCEPTED, FORGIVEN, LOVED, TREASURED ABOVE ALL, PLANNED, ADORED, ADOPTED, ASSURED and ETERNALLY DESTINED FOR MORE. 

And do you know what else - He has FRIENDS!  My husband, my family, my friends and the many others who reach out with His grace, His love, His warmth and His compassion so that whatever life throws, I will never need journey alone or without community.   

HE is CREATOR, He is PROVIDER and He is WONDERFUL and HE is my CONFIDENCE!

And He will never forsake you and in the morning You'll see His face. No need to fear - Don't fear!  Graham Kendrick

May Jesus BLESS and enrich your days.  

Ps..No Need To Fear by Graham Kendrick; my most requested song in 20 years of singing http://youtu.be/Zes1rpuCvxA