TooManyFlowers

Being an eternal optimist is not always a comfortable place……

Sometimes when life is a little pressured and sad no one believes that you are struggling or really wants to know

Even as I write I feel a pressure

There are many people out there who suffer in a far greater way than me, and when I think of suffering I scoff because my suffering pales into nothing as I see others in other countries and circumstances crushed by their lives

What have I got to complain about, in reality nothing.

But in many ways I am still human and feel and groan and weep……….the balance is allusive to me

I am alone but never alone

I am pained but not crushed

I feel grief but not despair

I am sad but not without joy

So many people live and die without any relief from these things, I cringe for them and weep for them

They suffer and die without consolation and healing in their hearts…….

I am a priveledged person…..

I have the Healer that heals all wounds and cares with love deeper than a man….

Nevertheless

Human and a woman, I suppose I feel and beat different to the men in my life…..

They must think I am mad, or maybe just a woman

Oh well I cannot help who I am emotion and all

I am just who I am

Just me!

Isaiah 61:3

He gave me beauty for ashes

The oil of joy for mourning

The garment of praise

For the spirit of heaviness

That we might be trees of righteousness

The planting of the Lord

That He might be glorified

[youtube=

When I was in Baseco God began to speak to me about this beautiful reality from Malachi 3:3-4

Malachi 3:2-4 (New King James Version)

² “ But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
³ He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the LORD
An offering in righteousness.
⁴ “ Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem
Will be pleasant to the LORD,
As in the days of old,
As in former years.

What an amazing reality that our God WILL do these things to us in His infinite love and gentleness

God IS

1. Like a Refiners Fire, making us beautiful like a golden ring or diamond

2. Like a Fullers Soap (or a launderers soap) I do not know about you but when you scrub clothes by hand they become magnificently clean!We too are made magnificently clean.

3. A Purifier of Silver, he promises to purify us!

4. A Purger of Gold and Silver, not only cleaned but purged with impurities rooted out and cast into the sea

Why would He do that???

It tells us in Verse 4……that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness……we offer back to Him the thing He created in us “Righteousness”…what a marvellous transaction, what a deal, what a joy

Just a little thought that I wanted to share with you….

Love Cath

I have been challenged today to simply let my faith be outworked

Go on just do it………..

Don’t think too hard just let people see Jesus…….

About 2 months ago a girl I have never met in all my life told me AT THE CHECKOUT she had an abortion, there were people there no privacy…….but she still told me (and the people before me too) she was hurting and bleeding her heart all over everyone.

I was so shocked I was speechless……….I did not say anything except ummmm errrrrr……..HMMMMMM

WHAT WAS THAT?????

I was not ready to preach in and out of season, I was unprepared and caught off guard…….I missed a God chance to DO something

I  bet Jesus would have said something………he just EXPECTS garbage to surface when He is around………….why am I different???? I should not be, Lord help me

This scripture is becoming more important to me daily

2 Peter 1:4-6 (New International Version)

⁴Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;

WHY…………………it speaks of action, Godliness is action……………..Lord hear my cry and help my unbelief!!!

On the tail of Friday’s heartfelt blog,

with my heart so full

I want to testify to God’s mercy and deliverance.

WITHOUT THE RISK OF APPEARING MELODRAMATIC…..

That very night I was involved in a car accident that literally WROTE OFF our 2 tonne Delica 4WD.  It was pure human error,  with I believe a design to “take me home” earlier than God really intended. I was simply waiting to turn right in the middle of the road, indicator on, foot on brake, watching for a break in the traffic to cross over the oncoming traffic (peak hour 5.30pm , just turned dark). I looked up and saw a sedan with a man’s head silloutted  by other’s headlight’s  in the rear-view mirror and JUST KNEW he was not going to stop……he didn’t and struck me at about 50-60 k’s/hr full in the backside!!

I wish I could say I was spiritual and cried out to Jesus at the moment of impact, but all I did and thought was- Oh my goodness, looked down closed my eyes (I am so brave… NOT!!) and braced my leg (Owwww)  and thought about explaining this to James!!! Hee hee, sorry honey! I think I screamed a little too…..I moved about a foot he was wedged under my high car….I really thought the other driver was a dead man.  What eventuated was a lot of lights and uniformed members (ambos, firey’s and Police not to mention 3 tow trucks!!)  of our community fussing (in a good way) over us for 2 hours then I went HOME! No hospital (although I have had a sore neck,  Cat Scan and XRays) Nothing is wrong except for bruising and swelling from the seatbelt.  The man driving was not only OK but arguing!!! Hee hee……he bumped his head. ONLY!!

All I can say is that God is so so so good, He delivered me from a potentially BAD situation, my unsaved brother asked me “How often do you drive without the kids?” the answer is “Hardly ever, rarely!!”  I was ALONE, DOING THE RIGHT THING and UNSCATHED……Hallelujah!

It could have been so so so so much worse, I could have had 6 children in the car, I could have been turning into oncoming traffic,  the other driver could be dead, I could have broken my neck (at the speed he was going it was on the cards), I could have been in a smaller 4 cylinder car with little or no boot!

All this is possible but DID NOT!! The could haves are no longer a reality

THEY DID NOT!!! I was a sheltered under the wings of the Almighty God!

I have shared this scripture with 2 people this week now I remind myself of it too! I am so grateful to God He delivered me from the snare or trap of the devil, and I live another day to kiss my husband,  my babies and my kids, another day to honour my parents and relatives and another chance to hug my dear friends and sisters and brothers…..I want to live for them!

Psalm 91

¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ^[a]

² I will say ^[b] of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

¹⁰ then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

¹³ You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

¹⁵ He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Thank you Lord, for the gift of life, for the opportunity and the means to outwork your purpose here on earth. You saved me and rescued me from the  fowler and his designs for me. I am grateful to be able to serve you and the Kingdom you are building here on earth. Thank you that ONLY you have the keys of life and death, and no weapon formed against us will stand or prosper.

I belong to you and dedicate my life afresh and rejoice that I have life to give. In you I have my life and being, in you I live. There is no good in me except what you have created and achieved as I yielded to you. You are all I am, and all I ever have wanted. You have made me into the women I always wanted to be, free whole and alive. Thank you my dear friend God, your loving daughter Cathy

PS If you do not know God, or you do not know Him to tell Him these sort of things, just reach out, accept the gift of His Son Jesus who died  so that you can live,  and embrace the Bible and His teachings. He loves you way more than you know. He does not want puppets but willing people, able to live and love and be His  hands and feet on the earth. It costs you nothing……. but your whole heart…….your whole mind…………… and your whole soul.  In exchange for total freedom liberty and peace to be who God intended you to be………………. YOU!

Unique, beautiful, glorious, pure and true!

Love you Cathy

I am so overwhelmed this morning so full of gratefulness to God that He cares, that He saved me that He even bothered with a woman like me!

Oh the beauty and the joy of my salvation just makes me want to dance and shout

That is why I love beautiful pictures, sunsets and  flowers, I feel like Queen Esther bathing in myrrh and sweet spices preparing for the King…..I relish in  beauty and exalt in its majestic worship and reflection of the beauty of God. It reminds me of of who I am in His eyes

WHOLE PURE SWEET FRESH COLOURFUL MAGNIFICENT GLORIOUS ALIVE

I say it because now I know it!

I feel His pleasure, and rejoice because I do not fear but LIVE in Him

This scripture is churning in me this morning

Isaiah 61:3 (King James Version)

³To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

I was speaking to an unsaved friend last night and shared with her my testimony, it stirred me up.

Oh when I remember the torment and the fear and the insecurity of my former life I want to weep with gratefulness to God.

He has given me more than I have ever given him! I am consumed and humble and grateful all over again for His mercy towards a wretch like me!

Blessings to all Cathy