Sometimes I really don’t like getting the bus to work. Especially when it drives away just as you get to the bus stop…very annoying! Or when there are very noisy people travelling with you and you just want a bit of piece and quiet.
But sometimes I do enjoy the daily journey, watching the world go by out of the window. It’s a time when God often speaks to me, or whispers something that resonates with my heart. Something to comfort me, or to encourage me, or to assure me that things are ok.
As I sat on the bus home the other day I noticed that a whole row of trees were full of new green leaves. The last time I noticed these trees they were bare. I didn’t remember seeing any buds or the start of any leaf growth. I only noticed them once they had almost fully changed.
I realised that this has happened to me, in my life too. Sometimes it’s only after we have changed quite a bit that we look back and remember how we were. Then we can see the difference.
We often don’t notice the changes as they happen, the process is sometimes small and gradual. But after some time, the changes become more noticeable and there is an obvious difference. We are not the person we were.
Change is natural and often necessary. The trees change due to the seasons and they need to change to stay alive, to reproduce, to be fruitful. They cannot stay in one state and survive the different elements the seasons bring throughout the year.
But the trees are created to change with the seasons. They do it naturally. They do not decide to change, but they also cannot choose not to change.
As humans we have the power to choose to change. But we also have the power to choose not to change. Sometimes it can seem of little consequence, but it is a great potential that God has placed in us. It is the potential to grow, be better, to love more.
Over the last few years my life has changed a lot and as I look back I can see that I have changed too. I have left university and started full time employment, gone from being a singleton to a girlfriend to a fiancée to a wife, relocated twice, changed jobs twice and many other things along the way.
Whilst all of these things have been great, they have also been stressful, and they have all had an impact on my life. As I look back over the past few years I am happy that these things have had an impact on me, I am happy that I have changed. They have helped me to know myself, know my heart and know God’s heart for me.
I hope that I will continue to change and be open to change in the future. To learn to adapt to the different elements in my life. It’s how I’ll learn to survive and be fruitful with the seasons.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Sunday, 26 April 2009
The Little White Island
Last weekend we were fortunate and had lovely weather, a rare occurance for our location at this time of year. We tried to make the most of it and headed out to the seaside for a few hours.
I love being near the sea. It's just so refreshing!
Anyhow, whilst I was looking around at the scenery I noticed that Bass Rock, a small island just of the coast, was looking very white. At first I thought it must be covered with white flowers or blossom, but upon closer inspection, I noticed that the white was actually from the birds that were landing on it. And there were so many birds that the island literally turns white!
Why they choose to land on this island and not the other ones nearby I have no idea. But I thought it was pretty cool!
If you look closely you can see them flying around the island.
I love being near the sea. It's just so refreshing!
Anyhow, whilst I was looking around at the scenery I noticed that Bass Rock, a small island just of the coast, was looking very white. At first I thought it must be covered with white flowers or blossom, but upon closer inspection, I noticed that the white was actually from the birds that were landing on it. And there were so many birds that the island literally turns white!
Why they choose to land on this island and not the other ones nearby I have no idea. But I thought it was pretty cool!
If you look closely you can see them flying around the island.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Friday, 24 April 2009
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Another sunny day...another garden!
The weekend was lovely and sunny so I headed out with my husband and while he did some important work, I took pictures of some interesting things in the garden.
My favourite photo from the day...
Closed...
Open...
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Ugh...!
It was bright and vibrant yet soft to the touch. Kinda the way you want it. Looking like it’s gonna taste nice, real nice. Juicy and fruity and good. So I started to tear away the peel and divide the flesh into its neatly packaged segments.
Only once the peel had been shed, the inside didn’t look too good. All dimply and shrivelled. And it tasted even worse! Yuck! And the taste lingered in my mouth tainting everything else that passed my lips. Ugh!
That’s the problem with Satsumas and their fruity relatives. You can’t always tell what they’re going to taste like by looking at the outside, at the peel.
Sometimes you can. Sometimes the inside is so bad that it shows on the outside. But sometimes you can’t. Sometimes the outside is made to look nice, while the inside is allowed to rot and decay.
When we focus on taking care of our outside, of our surface appearance, we can forget about what’s going on inside.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
1 Peter 3:3-4
But what matter’s to God, and what will last for eternity, is our inner self. Our soul, our spirit.
If you’ve ever seen an episode of America’s Next Top Model, you’ll know how fleeting, temporary and false a beautiful outside can be. Just wait until one of those stunners is angry, upset or feeling moody about something, and the ugliness that comes out of their mouth instantly covers any beauty they have on the outside.
Their outbursts and the way they interact with their fellow models is a much bigger vision of their beauty then their photographs will ever be. Why? Because it shows their spirit, it shows their heart.
True beauty does not come from a bottle. Or a jar / spray / needle / surgeon’s knife.
It is not a single image or idea that we are to strive for. It is not judgemental or critical, and it is not based solely on the physical.
True beauty comes from within. And it grows.
It wraps itself around any form and delights in it just the way it is. It brings joy and life and encouragement. It is positive and balanced and seeks to serve others before itself. It is kindness and compassion. It is eternal.
This is something I feel quite passionate about…the distortion of what it means to be beautiful and how that affects our feelings of value and worth. It’s something I hope one day to help to change, to restore it and bring back God’s true vision of beauty.
If you feel the same check out
http://www.truecampaign.org/
Only once the peel had been shed, the inside didn’t look too good. All dimply and shrivelled. And it tasted even worse! Yuck! And the taste lingered in my mouth tainting everything else that passed my lips. Ugh!
That’s the problem with Satsumas and their fruity relatives. You can’t always tell what they’re going to taste like by looking at the outside, at the peel.
Sometimes you can. Sometimes the inside is so bad that it shows on the outside. But sometimes you can’t. Sometimes the outside is made to look nice, while the inside is allowed to rot and decay.
When we focus on taking care of our outside, of our surface appearance, we can forget about what’s going on inside.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
1 Peter 3:3-4
But what matter’s to God, and what will last for eternity, is our inner self. Our soul, our spirit.
If you’ve ever seen an episode of America’s Next Top Model, you’ll know how fleeting, temporary and false a beautiful outside can be. Just wait until one of those stunners is angry, upset or feeling moody about something, and the ugliness that comes out of their mouth instantly covers any beauty they have on the outside.
Their outbursts and the way they interact with their fellow models is a much bigger vision of their beauty then their photographs will ever be. Why? Because it shows their spirit, it shows their heart.
True beauty does not come from a bottle. Or a jar / spray / needle / surgeon’s knife.
It is not a single image or idea that we are to strive for. It is not judgemental or critical, and it is not based solely on the physical.
True beauty comes from within. And it grows.
It wraps itself around any form and delights in it just the way it is. It brings joy and life and encouragement. It is positive and balanced and seeks to serve others before itself. It is kindness and compassion. It is eternal.
This is something I feel quite passionate about…the distortion of what it means to be beautiful and how that affects our feelings of value and worth. It’s something I hope one day to help to change, to restore it and bring back God’s true vision of beauty.
If you feel the same check out
http://www.truecampaign.org/
The Shack
I'm reading this book as recommended by many of my family, and I have to say it's great.
I couldn't possibly begin to summarise it or do it any justice with my words...other than to say...go buy it...or borrow it.
There are so many great and challenging words in it that have caused me to stop and reassess the way I think and feel about things. I'm sure that I will expand on some of these thoughts here over the next few days and weeks.
I couldn't possibly begin to summarise it or do it any justice with my words...other than to say...go buy it...or borrow it.
There are so many great and challenging words in it that have caused me to stop and reassess the way I think and feel about things. I'm sure that I will expand on some of these thoughts here over the next few days and weeks.
Monday, 20 April 2009
Plans
I had a good weekend enjoying the sunshine and relaxing (lots of pictures to post soon). However my body has gone into a bit of a melt down and I am currently fighting various germs and nasties...not nice...at all!
So, my plans for this evening are simple...
1. Ironing - I have put this off for several days now so even if I just do a little bit it will be better than nothing!
2. Editing photos - so much to show you!
3. Eat - I'm eagerly looking forward to lamb stew, loving prepared by my personal chef!
4. Sleep - I need to do lots of this. Lots and lots and lots and lots...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
So, my plans for this evening are simple...
1. Ironing - I have put this off for several days now so even if I just do a little bit it will be better than nothing!
2. Editing photos - so much to show you!
3. Eat - I'm eagerly looking forward to lamb stew, loving prepared by my personal chef!
4. Sleep - I need to do lots of this. Lots and lots and lots and lots...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
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