Tamar 2nd samuel, 13.

It's been a while since I've done a bible study here, so I thought it was time to get one going again.

You might be reading this, and you might think wow, seriously, Tamar?
 why?
Because church I believe, that it's time to not to turn a blind, eye, to the fact of what's going on in our cities, in our nation.
It's time to actually make a stand, A stand that makes us, be the Christians we are called to be, to go where we're needed and to heal the people that hide away.

Tamar, if you read the story, is pretty innocent, and this isn't is post about bagging people, or labeling, or warning, or whatever you've done, and you can't move on.
it's not a post like that, and I don't intend it to be.
there are plenty of good Christian guys out there, and good people, let me tell you that.

so there's my disclaimer, if you like.

Tamar, daughter of King David, the brother of Absolom.
 and we don't know how old she is, but probably of age, to be a young girl.
Ammon, had another idea, and was so infactuated, about her, that he was made sick,  not only was he also the brother of Absolom.
Amnon, had an advisor, called, Jonadab, and he gave some interesting advice.
he said ''go to bed and pretend to be ill.'' so he did, he went to bed, and pretended to be ill.
 he had other plans, and other things going on.
She was summoned in to feed her brother, in royal robes, worn by only ones that were pure.
Once she feed him, he reached out and grabbed her hand pulled her into bed, and raped her, it was then that with such intensive actions, love turned very quickly to dark hatred.
and Tamar wanted to do the right thing she wanted to stay, because of what happened, being turned out wouldn't have done any good.
but she was, and into the right hands.
into Absolom, where he looked after her.

And that's where I want to stop, because, I want to just give you the ideas, and perhaps the love that needs to happen over your life.

If you've been miss treated, by anyone, perhaps it was rape, perhaps it was a picture perfect thing, and is no more.
God knows, and at the moment, it happened he never turned away, he is always there, even when it hurts, even when people give you the wrong advice.
And sometimes you need to trust your hurt.
Tamar, was innocent, but was taken advantage of, of someone who didn't love her. Perhaps it was like that, for you, perhaps you've always questioned, love, perhaps from people who have miss trusted you, or haven't told you.
Is got telling you that things are closed, that no matter how hard you push that door open, it's not the time to have closed doors. we pray for doors to be open, in our lives, but perhaps you're going through a season, that sometimes it feels like every door is closed, that advice has been wrong, and there's nothing wrong with that, it's when it turns to bitterness, that it becomes a problem.
Love perfect love, always hurts, and it hurts to let them go, and it hurts even still when people want you to be strong, but you're finding that it's hard to stand up  in  the rain.
God is always there to answer your prayer, he is easy on his children who has gone through pain, and after the rain, there's still colour on the earth.
My friend if you've gone through something hard, when it crushes even your being, just keep walking towards the light, open your heart to God, and love him with all his heart, and keep watching out for people who need that love.
Tamar, had beautiful clothes before what happened to her, never stop believing in beautiful things, don't give up, yes walk back, to where God wants you to be, but keep believing, keep going strong.
that is my encouragment for you.
there's not a mistake on earth, that God doesn't know about, he can hold onto that glass heart of yours, and you know what, it won't crack.

Is life a Merry go round?

My year in in Timaru is coming to an end.
If someone said to me, is it all that it is expected of it what would you say?
At first, I was homesick, I told God what I felt of everything.
I left my beautiful home by the sea, garden, parents, friends to come.
I have felt lonely, and afraid.
I have found God in a way that only change can do to you.
I found out that I was incredibly bitter, and would judge people.
Not seeing their kindness.
However now, all that has blown away, like a vapor that rolls in from Caroline Bay. you can see it just holding out until the sun goes down.
I have found that my life has been like a merry go round.
The faster you go, the more risk you are of coming off.
But it's in those times that when you fly off, one, that you really think, God's got you.
What I want to write today, is, not to think about material things, not these earthly plans,
If you see runners practicing for their big race, you see them running down at the track, morning, afternoon and evening, they have a support crew, they have people around them that will encourage them on.
They have physio's medics, doctors, to keep them going strong.

We are only trusting in ourselves, and to a degree, that only goes so far.
I'm not wanting you to live life in a box, or limit your expectation.
You have your own life, to live, you're one of a kind.
And God takes that, and he gives you everything that is needed for you to live your life out to the fullest.
You are your own special kind of person.
And it's ok to take a longer journey to get to where you are wanting to go.
Don't look back, keep looking forward, the past is in the past, and God knows all the plans, from today, to tomorrow to next week, to the months that come your way.
So my question for you is, what sort of merry go round are you on?
Do you want to change it's course?
Moving, on to see how and what God does in your life, and see how you can be free from it's past.
I'm glad that I'm not living in my past, I'm glad that I've got forgiveness from God not to go back there.
See going back in the past doesn't really do anything for us, it's a closed door that will never open. it will only open if God lets us to see it, and to learn from it.
A merry go round is only fun, if you start to hop on it, and spin around. without it moving it isn't a merry go round it's another piece of equipment on a play ground.
Sometimes in life, the ones that we hurt the most are often the ones closed to us. it's not because we're greater or less than God, it's not that we're not equal to the ones around us.
it's not that we don't deserve love, or out of love, or the fact that our generation didn't know how to give it.
My life behind closed doors were very interesting, it was only going through the bible, and reading it, and fully believe in God, that I knew that in my physical life, that I knew how tight walking with God really is.
As a girl I was physically, emotionally, sexually abused.
I thought it was my fault as I had a disability, that no one really saw, I would wish to God, that if someone saw it, then, they would believe me.
I thought I was a monster, I'd start to run, run like nothing else, to try and run away from it all. God doesn't work like that.
And it takes a lot of courage, and godly friends to really get past the past.
No matter how hard it is to move forward you can, with God's strength.
Letting love move in your life, and not hate is key, to move forward, to move onto the next thing, to really see your life as an advenuture, not boxed in like your living in a cereal box.
Taking the risk to move on, is scary, you can't always see life through the fog through the voices of the past, but let me tell you, it's worth it.
You might have been severally disappointed, in the past I don't know, but I do know God has big enough hands to take all those things that have disappointed you, to make you stronger.
It's time to hop off the merry go round, and start to live life.
Live life to the it's fullest, to make good friends, and to trust God with everything that you have got.
Even if it means to walk into the past just a little bit, to get a Godly understanding, and to shake off the old coats of the past, to start to live life, not on bases of anyone telling you how to live. but to make your own journey.

Lets end this with a prayer.

Dear God, lord of all our lives.
We give you the right to work in us, to dig up old things that have held us down, that have chained us up, that have whispered into our lives, the lies of old.
We say to the past we've had enough, of going around the merry go round.
and we let you plan out your course for our lives.
No matter where it takes us.

We kneel down at the foot of the cross, where the evil things that are in us, and that have had to much power over us, we say it is finished, that the cross has the final word, and we will leave them there. not wanting them back.
no matter how comfortable it is, no matter what sort of faulse security it is.
we let them go, and we take up your way of life.
To be the ones, that live children of God, to live without shame, or condemnation. Because  this world is full of it.
We live to serve others, that are broken, that need your peace and love in their lives.
We make a stand for people who have walked the path similar to ours, and we will help them.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.

Facing the fear that Only God knows.

When I was little I had dreams of making an author.
I had something in my heart and I knew I should always write.
I have something to share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjNZf878ISQ&index=32&list=RDMMKoyNlVQbUPc&ytbChannel=CastingCrownsVEVO

And my thoughts are in this song.

Because what we face in our daily lives, and what is truth and what is fear.

And what is my fear?
What is normal human fear and what is fearing God?

And do we confuse them together?

I had fear of leaving home?
What happens if I just absoloutly fail my course?
what if my living thing just got to hard and I had to leave?
what happens if I couldn't pay my rent?

My friends these are normal human fears, but what do we do if we just keep them as rules over us?

I had friend, that told me to have fun while studying?
How come now, after more than half way through I'm suddenly enjoying my course?
 The thing was, I like competition, and I was wanting to be at the top, but then that took over, so I came to realization, that if I sat back and really enjoyed making my products then I'm already succeeding.

Some of you might know that I have a disability, not many people can pick it up, and thats good that is how God made me, and I am happy with how I am.
It's taken a long time for me to get to that stage.
I always had to blame someone, I couldn't take responsibility for myself, in fact I completely gave up on maths, and I took into the kitchen because that is where I am in my happiness part.

I'm dead to my disability, yes it's part of me everyday, but I'm free in God.
When you're in chains you can't be free.
My disability was a medical accident, if it all went to plan I wouldn't be the person I would be, but God has other plans, and his plans always work.

And sometimes, you need to tell that heart to beat again, sometimes it's hard to get back up off the floor, and listen to the still quiet voice of God.
Why is there pain?
Is it because we deserve it?

I don't believe so, but it's simply because of the fallen world, and I do believe, that if Adam and Eve didn't sin, well the next person would have.

You might have thought, well if God placed me in that garden, I'd be strong, I wouldn't do what they did.

My friend you miss the point, and the point is, the snake planted a seed, and that was doubt.

It wasn't necessary the choice between good and evil, though that did have a bit to do with it, it was.

''Did, God really tell you.''' and we always have those things in life.

When we had Israeli people staying in our place, we had spies, and I always wanted to know what they did.

''Your secret is safe with me.'' sort of things.
Friends who know me, know necessary know that's not always true.

But they couldn't tell me what they did in the secret services.

Why?
Because, they are loyal to their country, and work.
They knew the risks involved in going behind enemy lines.

My friends, when we pick ourselves up, our task isn't always over, it's just began.

No matter if you think your job is small and meaningless, or you work in a big corporate job. There's no ladder to climb in God's plan.

So if you're in the middle of facing fear, or if you simply know, you have to go to God with it.

Well that's me, for today.
Chloe

Burn out

Hi there.
How are you?
 Today I want to share about somethings that I've been thinking about durring the past month.

I've been thinking about, life.
Not just the normal mundane life that goes around, day in day out.
Check in, check out.

My friends are going overseas, some are finding relationships, and I am just being at home, enjoying my holidays, my bakery course and my church.

But you can only think of those for a while until you get bored.
I don't know if you're like me, but your a task person, you have your list, you even want weeks planned.
And trust me, when I don't have a plan, I do a tantrum, and I don't like the word, "Relax.'' I'm a bit like a cabbin fever border collie, I have to do something on my weekends.

Have you gone through that feeling?

We have our plans and we want something a bit more exciting, a little bit of plan.

The first thing, of burn out is tiredness, even though you're getting sleep you still can't get enough.

You over commit,  everything starts to feel glitzy and fantastic.
It takes a while to actually see things for the things that they are.
Peoples enthusiasm gets to you, and you just don't want to see anyone or anything.

You have a sharp attention span, and only cope with small things.

You want people to leave you alone, and being alone isn't wrong, it's actually quite healing.

Everything seems wrong, wrong timing,  for anything and everything.

It's in the this spot where you find grace, it's not that you hid rock bottom, but you are actually trusting God to carry you, and letting him do it.

Burn out, can happen, to anyone.

So how can we avoid burnout?

We probably can't avoid it all together, but we are not alone together.

We have our friends to share the journey, and the bible, the proper weapon to read when we are feeling overwhelmed.

Look at the things we are doing, what still needs to have a place on the calender and what doesn't.

Try and have some fun, you are allowed, to be free and be the person you are called to b e, you are free and are under no  condemnation, and guilt.
Say how things really are, because chances are if you don't no one will know what you are thinking.
Speak it in love and in truth.
Chloe

June thoughts.

Hi there.
Well it's a bit cold in Timaru today.
We have spring bulbs a bit confused at this time of year because they are spring up and growing.
With the frosts and ice, it's amazing to see their bright green spears coming through the cold frosted dirt.


I was with my best friend yesterday, and she was going through a lot, and recently she got her car stolen from Christchurch, and my heart went out to her. She has been in Timaru for 5 years and loving it.

I gently smile at  how courageous she has been with this situation.

We were talking about how we hear from God, and how to live our lives well.

We are all in different chapters of our lives, we raise our kids to grow toward the light of the Lord, we all are different.

After all, when God made the world, he didn't only just make one type of human, one type of tree, flower, and tree. he made different types.

Life is so short, we need to live it well.

And as we get older, we get more tired, and how do we know that God is still with us?

These are some of my thoughts that I am thinking.

It's not that I doubt God, it's not that I'm not trusting him with the things that I am thinking.
So what do we do with the things we're thinking about? we're told to take every thought captive, and we come to God with it.

It takes courage to reach out to God, with everything we've got, because we often want to trust in the things we see, not in the things that are unseen.
So what does that look like?
And I struggle, with this sometimes, because the more we reach out, the more we might get hurt. and trusting God with that hurt.

You might think I don't have any hurt, I have it, I have somethings that have been done, said, acted on, that I can't write down, but I know that's not my load to carry anymore.

God is the one carrying it for me,  and who better to understand me, than God.
Faith comes by hearing,  I didn't come to God, because it was a good idea, or that I was brought up in a Christian home, and yes we did have struggles.

When I  moved away from home, I had to embrace change I had to go with it.

Change is good, and needed in our lives everyday, if we do things every day some thing, day in day out, we get bored and despondent.

As my friends talked over lunch today at my friends farm, we talked about Naomi, and what changes she had to make.

She was bitter, bitter and probably rightly so, she was picked up, and placed in an area that wasn't her own country, she had one daughter in-law turn back, but Ruth stayed with her.

Naomi  was also a match maker, and she decided to change her game plan, and see and believe good things for her.
And I believe we need to believe good things for ourselves.
We need to encourage others, and ourselves, in God's word, we need to help when we are needed, and to seek God's face every day.

How do we do that?  we listen to what God says to us each day.
it will be a small voice, but it will grow believe me.

See God knows your dreams, and each day you'll see a silver lining in the clouds, and you'll see each day that you are moved to love.

Competition is big,  but God calls us to put that aside, and to serve others, what God wants us to do.

Me included can separate who God is and what Jesus has done for us, but they are the same person.

You might not agree on somethings I've done, but you might agree that we do need to grow up and make the world a better place, and we're not doing that if we sit on down with our hands in our pockets.
Everyday there's a blessing a new thing to unwrap it's up to us on what we choose to see, and what do with it.
Chloe

Sometimes you can't make it on your own

Hi there,
How are you getting on?
I hope that you're well.
I don't know about you, but I've had a good week.
I had a nice time with my best friend and her boyfriend, and we were talking about things.
And someone said, ''Goodness, you're amazing Chloe, whipping up a meal from nothing, I can't believe you've been snapped up.''
And sometimes, we feel let down, and sometimes we want to run back to our parents or someone safe, and just cry.
I'm not looking out for someone special, I'm not saying that I'm perfect, infact, I'm saying that I am struggling, with this thought.

I like cooking good food, and this year, might be the hardest year yet.
But I know that I can, face tomorrow. and I can face, what comes my way, I can trust in God, and he will bring me through times when I just want to scream.

And I know that sometimes we can't make it on our own, many times we think we can, if I just say that, or smile at the right times, or be witty, funny or childish, if only I can do that.

And you know what? Eve and Adam were the first people to believe it.
Passing down to us, passing on the baton.

And sometimes, things do sound too good to be true, and sometimes we get told, oh such and such said that, ''or yes do believe that'' I've had ''it's from God.''
What is from God?
My brokenness, my trails are they from God, only to produce perseverance?
My disability, is that from God?
And when I tell people, they don't believe me, they don't believe that I am 29 years old, and have something that they can not see?
Am I lying what I believe my self?
Am I just a good going church girl. that's another label that has, been place on me.

Sometimes, it takes time, to get it all in, and you know what, would I want to change? what could I change if I went back into the past?
Will my kids have the same struggle, will they struggle with a disability, will something be passed down because of my accident that happened?

Sometimes we don't understand accidents, and you know what? it's ok to struggle with that, and we're not here to struggle by ourselves.
We have a God, that knows every human way.

He knows that, he knows that I miss home, he knows my wants, and my needs, and when I was young, my needs were many.

We had our mothers and fathers, who brought us clothes, and cared for our needs.
We put so many things on ourselves, and when we need to let go, and let God heal us, we doubt.
I am one of those people, could God care for me, the same way he does when I'm away from home?
Could God stop me from judging others?
What about giving, could God help me with giving?
Sometimes we put God in a bubble, and we just see ourselves as a man made thing, not really living.

Everything has been made beautiful made in it's time.

Jesus is alive, he's alive in you, and he gives you the courage to do amazing things, and he loves you just the way you are.
 You don't have to get it all together, to come to church on Sundays, and have it all together.
So if there's anything you can take away from this. is that the one thing. is.
That you need to know 2 things.
1. You don't need to make it on your own.
2. God is able to take all your cares and needs, and heal you just where you are.

Having courage like Joshua.

Hi there,

At the moment as a family were are reading the old testement.
And we have just finished reading Joshua.

And as I look out from the window onto the water, I can't but help that Joshua was so courageous, at a time when the Israelites needed a leader.

You have to think that at this point in time, that all the Israelites had was the 10 commandments, and they had leaders, and God.
Now we have new verisons of the bible, and all sorts of books about God, what we should be reading, what is reccomended to us.
And they are all helpful, but sometimes we need to take a step back and see God for who he is, and what he has done.

When God told Joshua to move, he did.

Sometimes we need ''Joshua's'' in our lives, people who instruct us and  tell us to move, and not be afraid of what lies ahead.

I was talking to my dear friend in Christchurch, and she is going away to PNG, for 7 weeks as a nurse, and on a short term misson trip.

We often think we're not called to the task, we think ''oh someone, will be better at the job than me, I'm not qualified, to do that.'' Joshua felt the same, he didn't have to fill anyones shoes, he was called to encourage the people to step forward into the promise land. and other tasks, like taking on their enemies, so they were living in the dessert that's number one,. but taking them from there into a place that God promised them.

Are you feeling a bit discouraged? are you thinking well other things just seem to work for other people, but I'm always left out?

Perhaps, too long you've heard other voices inside your head, and that that's what is stopping you from reaching your goal.
What's stopping you now?
What is stopping you from making that first contact to that organisation, or that dream of yours?
A kite doesn't fly along the ground it flies up in the air, but to get it up there, you need a weight, a tail, to get it flying.
Perhaps you're dreams are on the ground, and perhaps you're wondering if you're living 2 lives, a Christian church one and who cares about me on the week one.
I say, get in contact with a friend, a good friend that knows you well, a ''Joshua'' one that will steer you into the right direction, one that makes you move.
One that knows your ways, and know when you're stuck, and can't get back up.

Jesus carried a cross, and he stumbled while carrying it, no one helped him, because that was our sins on that cross.
And as easter has closed, we forget that that same power that rose him from the dead is in us.
We only need to look to him, to find our way.
There is a way back, and it is believing in a better outcome, not just because we need it, not because it's a ''good thing'' to do.
But when we hand our lives over to him, we are saying '' you know best'' and you know what I'm like.
We might be called for something bigger than our lives, we might be called to do a program in mission work, we might be called to fly planes to help M. A. F.
we also need people here on the ground to get our kites up in the air.
So believe that you can do it, believe that God can do more in your life, than what you're doing now.
Chloe

over coming what has happened in the past

Hi friends
How are you?
I hope that you're having a really good afternoon.
I trust for those who have found a church, that it was a blessing for you, and for those people who just need a little glimpse of hope at the end of the tunnel, you'll find it.

I went out to my friends farm the other day, and it was just a  wonderful thing to see, all the beautiful trees, and all the stories of hope, persevering.

And as a 29 year old, I have learn about being out on a beautiful farm. because with farming, you never know what the season will bring, it might a dry summer, and stock suffer, or it might be a wet summer which is great for growth, you see, with farming there's a lot of risks.
And our walk with Christ is like that.
How then if God is calling you to something that is way beyond you, how do you know it's time to move?
How did I trust in God that moving away from home for the year, how can I trust God for myself, not because my parents say so, no relying on their trust, that I've done for so many years.
But figure out for myself, that God  will meet every need.
Without of job, but have a rich collection of friends, friends that I can just say that I'm coming around and they'll accept me just the way I am.
Let me say this, your plan B is God's plan A.

WHen I was diagnosed with a disability at age 3, my parents worried about what life will have for me, I got super jealous of my brothers, who got what I thought was everything, but they were taking me up to Christchurch for trips, to the hospitals for brain scans,  homeschooling me because the reality was that I'd propbably not cope in a proper school.
I lost my friend at 18 to suicide, that was upsetting, cried out to God, because we had no idea what she was going through, then all of sudden she'd gone.
I had ideas of hopelessness.
I probably have secrets that I will have to learn from, and learn to give them to God.
So how do we overcome what has happened to us in the past?
You might have heard that God doesn't see the way that we see ourselves.
You might have been abused as a child, you might have thought you've made a big mistake and you want to turn around, you might feel all hope has gone.
My friend, all can be redemed, things can be mended.
When Jesus died for you on the cross he said it was finished. he said everything that has been done, things that you'll do it's all right, it's finished, you can close the door on it, and walk through another door, and it will be right.

My friend Rose who died, she knew that in her heart that she would be redeemed, her favourite song was how great thou art.
I'm not saying it was a right way of doing it, it's painful, sucide is painful, trust me, I thought about doing it, but each attempt, God stopped me.
Why then didn't I go for help?
Because I wanted others to suffer.
I wanted all the miss understandings to stop, I wanted to get free of my labels, free of the chains that had stopped me from getting to where I was wanting to be.
I wasn't depressed in this time, I had God, and through it all, Jesus was saying to me, that I'll be right, that Rose went because she couldn't face another day, even though, she had so many musical talents, so many things to just offer to others.
I hadn't really thought about, it until now, until last night, when I was wanting to go home for the weekend, as I've been very tired from no reason, and home sounded so good.
Sometimes you just need to head home, for a time, time to get perspective on, time to just see how things are, not doing anything for others, but just heading home, just because you want to.

I think in the Christian world, we really forget to care about ourselves, we get talked about numbers in church, we forget that God made his first church and that was teaching his disciples a group of people, normal men.
Jesus didn't need anything else, he just offered what he had.
We need to offer what we have and hand it over to Christ, and sit at his feet, not just at easter time, not just when it feels good, not when it suits you, but actually physically sit down and be with him, and be mended ourselves.

This is how we over come things in our past, that might have been too hard to go through, to hard to face, too awkward, to complex, to jolly impossible, perhaps was impossible, to hard to go back and say sorry face to face with the person who wronged you, who wasn't there when you need it most.
I don't know, but what I do know is.
That by going to Christ is the first step to overcoming things that has happened to you in the past.
Don't let another day go by, by being shackled in chains, don't set things to hard in your head, don't put it off for another day.
Don't become your own slave to things that you've been tied down to for too long.
Chloe

Loving others

Hi there,
How's things?
Today I want to talk to you about, taking time out and having time to yourself, and think about how we can show people we care.
What can we do, to make the most of our lives, what can we do, to ensure we aren't wasting our talents, to let others go, and to extend ourselves.
Where abouts in the word of God can we encourage ourselves up in this?
In times of trouble when you can't see between the woods, when we're not getting it together, and when we just are stuck.
Today, I went out to visit some friends, who are amazing, and they care for each other, and for others in unbelievable ways.
You might have turned down a wrong road in life, you might have fears of doubt, fears of what others will think of me, what will I be when I get older, will I make it through the woods.
My friend whatever it is, you need to know that the bible is your weapon of choice.
We can't think that we're fine, if our walls are down, and we can get through this without a battle plan.
I'm not saying to approach things with all guns blazing, but do it out of love.
My friends who I spent time with today, if you could meet them, they open their place for anyone who needs to find their feet.
I had plans this year, and I doubted that this was going to be the year, I thought it was was.
Jesus died for you and me, not just to save us, from death but to deliver us from all sorts of trouble.
Trouble that you might think, is, trouble that you might think it's God's plan.
God's plan isn't for hardship, God's plan isn't for you to fail.
Rather to walk in freedom, to walk in the you, you were made to be free in, walk, sprint run.
The truth is, we can't fake it till we make it, we can't make it happen with a wave of a wand.
A wish on a star, we can't live our lives through others.
We have a God who is bigger, a God who knows how lonely you are, a God who comes to your aid, to not insure that you're just going to be ok.
But also to lift you up, and carry you all the way through, what you're going through.
Never give up hope, he is the chain breaker, just because you're going through a hard time now doesn't mean that you're going to have all your life like this.
You are created in the most amazing way, and not let anyone steal that joy, snuff out that candle of hope, come to God just as you are.
You don't need any money to purchase anything, you don't need to pretend anymore. Come to the cross, come to the brokeness and be made new, clean, a new garment that isn't stained ripped or town.
You don't need to act in anyway to be noticed, you don't need to prove to anyone you're someone.
God knows.
When you love yourself, you're loving others, when you look after yourself you look after others.
Pray, pray hard for the times that are coming up, because prayer is important.
Sometimes we don't know how important it is, it could just be praying for, safety for someone who is driving along a wet road, it might be praying for that person to recieve the care and love they haven't known as a child.
It might be just that you need to lift up your hand and believe again.
I don't know, but one thing I do know, reach out to love others just they way they are.
And sometimes we can't make it on our own.
Chloe

Inspiration

Hi there,
Today I want to talk to you about getting inspiration.
I hope that you're having a really nice day and things are looking up for you.
I was out with a friend last night, who is a care worker, for people who need it.
People who need care, but still live in their own homes.
We were catching up, and we were talking about what inspires us, and my friend does, you see care work isn't just making sure they get the right medication, it's showering, people it's finding a way in their daily  lives to have joy and pride that they do.
It's important not just waiting for the big exciting thing, but the small things that matter.
Do you ever have  time just to sit, and write down what needs to be down on a micro managing role or do you want to take time to connect?
If we're on this roller coaster we are heading for burnout, because we are always looking for the next biggest job, and making ourselves important.
Am I just talking through a hole in my head?
My life book is my bible, and recently I've heard God say, '' take me at my word and I'll show you what can be done.''
We need to get out there, in the strength that he gives us, and connect with people, on a level to them.
God never stops looking for us.
Recently I watched the movie Lion, and it's a really good watch, because Sarroo's mother didn't give up looking for him for over 25 years, and God is like that no matter if we're in pews in church, or we're walking the broken lonely road, or the  wide and easy road that we find out isn't for us.
God's plans always work,  he is always watching out for us, he is like that mother, who never gives up, no matter what we've done, even the depths of the ocean, if we go down there, God isn't surprised.
He wasn't surprised by the things we've done either good or bad,  by or own strength or his.
Does God make it hard for us to believe in what we're doing?
Do we just do a spiritual pin the tail on the donkey and just hope for the best?
Jesus came and he experienced humanness, he called his 12 friends, and taught them because Jesus wasn't welcome anywhere in his home town, even if he did make people's lives better, or healed them, they were still stubborn.
When God asks us to change, our way of thinking it's hard not to take up the ownership of what we knew.
Because it's unknown and we like to believe in what we see.
As January unfolds,  and as you wonder what the year has in store for you, just walk in God's light, and be children of the light, and be aware of things around us, not giving into the wrong things, even though it's hard.
Pray continually, for yourself, give to others, and bless them, and in those ways God will give you more plan for your life.
Chloe