Posted by toomanyflowers | Under Uncategorized
Tuesday May 12, 2009
I have just finished watching one of my favourite movies
AMAZING GRACE
I have finally captured some quotes that always impact me, but why does this movie stir me so?
William Wilberforce a Christian man, he was a man inspired and anointed by God to change his world, it cost him his health, his freedom, his money, his time, his reputation and nearly his life.
He had choices, even as a Christian, he could have become a Missionary, a Preacher or a Pastor…..but God wanted to use him where he found him and powerfully used William to change the political world and social world of England, the force of which we still feel today.
I have heard this hymn Amazing Grace played in almost every realm of society, Weddings, Funerals, Church, Memorials and Services. It has echoed around the Red Square in Moscow the humanistic capital of the world, why is this hymn and the story so powerful? It transcends religion, politics, gender and time!
Why? God inspired this song and the fulfilment of His dream on earth through it, and the abolition of the evil and demonic reign and oppression of slavery. It is a powerful testimony that God is real and will free those who are in bondage.
William Wilberforce was a normal man, with a passion…. ignited, inspired and sustained by God
My God, give me passion to change my world permanently and leave an indelible mark for you behind me.
Love Cathy
Some of my favourite quotes
On Wilberforce’s confession of his new found faith and subsequent confusion of roles to his servant, his servant said…
“ “It is a sad fate for a man to die too well known to everyone else, and still unknown to himself” Francis Bacon. I don’t just dust your books sir!!”
When Margaret and Wilberforce begin to talk, he is hesitant to share and express the extreme disappointment and despair over his continual rebuffs and failures to change the slave trade in Parliament. She said this to him…
” “Tell me about it…….[silence]……it seems to me if there is a bad taste in your mouth you spit it out!
You do not keep constantly swallowing it back.” “
Billy (now the Prime Minister) is having a race with Wilberforce on the lawns of his grounds, begin to talk about the abolition of the slave trade…..he made these comments to Wilberforce……
“ “You were born for this Wilber……”
“Sometimes I feel giddy….” says Wilberforce.
As they start to walk on the grass Billy says ” Why is it you only feel the thorns on your feet when you STOP running?”
“Is that some heavy handed metaphorical advice from you Mr Pitt?”
“Yes, yes I suppose it is! You must keep going, keep going fast….” “
Wilberforce’s Prayer and Vision
“Africa, your suffering has been the theme that has engaged and arrested my heart.
Your sufferings no tongue can express, no language can impart…..
God has set before me two great objectives,
The suppression of the Slave Trade
and the reformation of society…………..”
Charles Fox addressing the British Parliament after the victory of the Abolition of Slavery Bill
“ “When people speak of great men, they think of men like Napoleon…..Men of violence.
Rarely do they think of peaceful men. But contrast the reception they will receive when they return home from their battles…..Napoleon will arrive in great pomp and power, a man who has achieved the summit of earthly ambition.
Yet…..his dreams will be haunted by the oppressions of war.
William Wilberforce however will return home to his family and lay his head on his pillow and remember the slave trade is no more!” “
Postscript/ trailer at the end of the movie
“William Wilberforce continued to battle injustice for the rest of his life. He transformed the hearts and the minds of his countrymen on education. healthcare and prison reform to accomplish his second great dream- of making a better world”
Truly it is Amazing Grace that He would use such frail and untrustworthy vessels to do His will on earth
If only we will believe He wants to do the same with us!
Enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6Cv5P9H9qU
Posted by toomanyflowers | Under Uncategorized
Saturday Sep 27, 2008
A Touch With the Tsars
In the last couple of days I have once again been thinking of this time last year….So, today in honour of my memories I did another 4 pages of my Scrapbook Journal what I coin “Our Grand Day Out!”
Yes….you are correct from the Wallis and Grommit film involving some very suspicious engineering in the basement and some very “extreme sports” and wild walking on the moon.
To me out trip was a
GRAND DAY OUT
So I scrapbook to commemorate the event, today I achieved a big 4 pages…WOW I remembered how Sarah my 12 year old danced on a 60 foot stage at GORKY PARK in Moscow (yes the one in the film)
I also started to journal the Military Tattoo, that Josh my then 14 year old and hubby performed in with a MASSED PIPE BAND from around the world, in front of St Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin wall, with the Red Square under their feet and Lenin’s Tomb in the background……all lit up like a Christmas Tree sparkling and glorious…..Can’t repeat those memories. EVER.
But there is a story to tell that needs an audience….
Wally is a Russian immigrant from South Australia, he diligantly taught my hubby James to play Tenor Drums (the twirlly ones that have fluffy sticks). He is about 65 years old…..he went with the band to Russia, he had not seen his Russian family for 35 years, his little brother he had never even met before.
During the Tattoo his family traveled for 3 days (remember Russia is huge and spans a 1/3 of the globe, 12 or so time zones!!!) One brother, sister and his baby brother (now in his late 30’s) made their way to Moscow and visited together……
Imagine their conversation, the exquisite moments of sheer joy especially between the 2 brothers that have never “met” before…..that was a moment I will never forget let alone those involved, they spent 1 night and morning together……they did not sleep….they talked and talked, laughed (Russians do not laugh all that much), drank vodka and smoked Russia Cigarettes. Then morning came, the band went to rehersals and when we drove away on the bus waving them goodbye tears welled in my eyes….oh my!!!
Wally also explained to us the honour that our bands were experiencing. There is a gate in the Kremlin that opens up onto the majestic Red Square called the Saviour’s Gate. This Gate has been hallowed for years the only people that have ever walked or been driven through that gate were TSARSand RULERS… PRESIDENTS like Putin. In a majestic and concillatory gesture thee Russians allowed Pipe Bands from around the world to march from those sacred gates.
The down to earth Aussie Blokes in our band probably did not realise the significance of this Russian gesture, but Wally did!
He left Russia feeling like a Blessed and very happy man, to see those most beloved whom he had never touched or latched eyes on before, and to tread where few Russian Men have trod, in the Paths of a Tsar…..what an enormous experience it was for the Russian Immigrant from Croydon South Australian, and what an experience and priveledge to watch him feel those things.
I love life,
God has given us such a capacity to feel, think and be grateful, oh that we may be grateful to Him for his many Blessings He gives us, just like Wally was humbly grateful for the opportunity the Russia Military Tattoo gave him!
Signing of for now
Cath
Posted by toomanyflowers | Under Uncategorized
Thursday Sep 25, 2008
Time in a day!!!
Do you guys feel like me that we NEVER have enough time in the day…not for yucky things like housework, bookwork or whatever…but whatabout crafts, knitting, sewing, crosstitching, like a a scrapbooking project on my HUGE adventure to Russia….
Like time for a bath and a snooze…..
NOT THAT I AM MOANING OR RANTING
HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
I guess that is what I am doing now, some time for me, free expression, and the freedom to rant if I want to…..
I guess the diff is this is quicker…. a scrapbook page takes hours and this takes minutes. HUH small mercies thanks God!!!
Today a year ago we woul have been in Edinburgh in Scotland, visiting a Farm and seeing the awesome HIGHLAND COW…huge ugly snotty muddy things they are.
We went to a kilt shop and explored our tartens….sigh
Yesterday we visted the Edinburgh Castle….what a sight….what history…..this was our first castle. I cannot explain what it is like to walk around places that Queens and Kings have walked. There is such a sense of history…….my history too. God is so good!een there
It is warm here in Adelaide today, it was blowy and cold in Scotland, dry here lush and green there. What a contrast.
Life is like that, today I touch my heritage…we go to Highland Dancing…..so maybe I am not there in person but I can taste and feel the essence of the past. As I watch my kids dance I realise that they have something i never had, a link with my past…..I may be a different person who knows.
Blessings to all
Cathy
Posted by toomanyflowers | Under Uncategorized
Friday Sep 19, 2008
I BEGIN
This day a year ago I was walking around the banks of Loch Ness….exploring the Loch and a 400 year old croft….
Last week I was walking through the Metro in Russia with MILLIONS literally of Russians and 5 kids!! Watching hubby and 15 year old perform a Military Tattoo in a Massed Band from all over the world…..playing Amazing Grace in front of Lenin’s Tomb in the Red Sqaure…now that is Amazing Grace.
Not many people experience that (in the pouring rain under humungous rain ponchos with a Toddler on your knee, in a stand with no safety nets and a 2 foot gap under your legs, and a 40 foot drop…. mind you!!!)
BUT
Today I schooled my 6 kids, talked about Scotland and Russia, tested, finished Beijing Olympic Project and was so exhausted by 2.00pm I had to lie down with Essie, feed her and slept myself!!!
How life can change from year to year!!
Holidays, new babies, church life, your own spirituality, your relationships with hubbies and kids!!!…..So i decided I would Blog, at least I could look back on it and laugh …no-one else may care or laugh….but life really is not about ME…so I understand really!!
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