working with animals has got to be easier.
These are the ones that don’t make the cut.
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It’s not often that I get the headspace to rest and appreciate everything that my Lord Jesus has done for me. But even if I don’t get that chance, I need to create it. This is the time to do it. Right here and now. All the time. Every minute and with every continuing breath I need to be thankful. Really thankful, not token thankful. A true and earthed heartfelt thankfulness.Even though I feel like I’m running as fast as I can just to stay where I am, this is the moment in time to realise my blessings. And to accept my tenuous hold on them. Because I’m not really meant to be grasping hold of them tightly. That would lead me to a bad state of mind. They are placed in my hands, for now, these earthly blessings. Placed for a time or for my entire time on earth for my good. And I don’t know which. And if my blessings leave, that too I should see is God’s way of growing me. Stretching me to trust him more and trust in “things” or other people less. For in riches or in poverty I can do all things through him who strengthens me. These blessings in health and wealth and family point to the generous giver of the blessings. I should focus on the greatest blessing of eternity- a chance to have a relationship with my creator. Blessings need to be appreciated while they’re there because this life is fleeting. My prayer in this Christmas season is to be a person worth imitating, for the sake of my children who need someone to show them the narrow path. For the sake of my husband who needs a strong godly wife by his side, encouraging him on and the sake of God’s people who I’m responsible for. It’s enough responsibility to make me call on God in prayerful dependence. So pray for me that I will pray. So that it’ll be in God’s strength, not my own that I endeavour this.
And in this season where we (Aussie society) still (somewhat) celebrate the Christian God, Jesus- you too should be thinking. Now is the only time to do it. Whenever the time is now (which if you think about it is always!) Think and reflect on whether you believe in who this baby lying in a manger grew up to be. The man (not a gurgling, non-speaking), Jesus. Who claimed that he was the saviour of our world. Do you think he is God? Because no matter how hard we try to grasp hold of what’s in front of us, the reality is that God can take that all away from us as quickly as he blessed us with it. People die and are gone. Don’t put your faith in the loved ones in your life bringing you security or even happiness. Wealth can very quickly strangle us and our joy and contentment before disappearing out of sight. Nothing is certain to remain. Nothing except the person who has been here since the beginning and will be around until the end. The triune God. So what do you think about him?
Wouldn’t it be sad if we went through life, busying ourselves so that we could put away thinking on this Christian Jesus? Wouldn’t it be sad if we ruined our chances at eternal happiness because we wanted to grasp hold of the temporary happiness that we have here as being “it”.
The Lord is God and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festival procession
up to the horns on the altar.
You are my God and I will give you thanks;
you are my God and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Love it, Nicole.
Well said.