allow yourself to rest

 Hello my friends, how's life?

I hope that you're having a really nice day.

Today I want, to share with you, to allow yourself to rest.

That it's ok, to have these times of rest.

What do we need rest from?

We are called to take the lords yoke, and allow him to give us rest.

it says in Matthew, 11:28. that he will give us rest.

and if we look at him, we will get that rest.

When Jesus moves, we move with him, he is not slow, in the way that we understanding slowness.

He's not a separate person, he is connected to us, we have his spirit in us.

And that same spirit is resting in us.

Now, since the spirit of God is moving in us, we need to open, up to the prophetic.

 to be listening to what he is saying to us.

And when we need to act, because he is calling us to act and not be on the benches, watching from the side lines.

When he is calling us to play the game for real.

Sometimes we need a break from life and that is good, we need to be refreshed in the word of God, and by others.

Mentally we need to take a break from the people that drain us, or use us  and put broundries up.

I'll give you an example, the lord came to me, and gave me a beautiful picture.

of it was a garden, now we have a beautiful garden here at home, one that offers therapy, to others.

but in it was a beautiful garden that he tendered to, and a fence, that was broken.

it was old, and needed work.

so here you had a beautiful garden, but a really old broken fence. and what he made beautiful, slowly died, and had no life in it.

And the fence still there, broken.

He told me, an interpretation, of this, was that, I had let everyone in, to care for this garden, and some people had broken the fence.

I had no boundaries. it wasn't till I asked my therapist, this.

and she said I have trust issues.

I was too trusting with some of my ''friends'' and they used me, and trampled my garden.

So my friends, if that's you, and you've let everyone in, without boundaries, and let everyone see you, and not kept your special thing for God.

He sees you a blameless, as that is the gift of his amazing grace.

So dear friends, if that's you today, and you're throwing caution to the wind. can I just tell you, to be careful of the fences, always have them in good repair.

Care about the small things, and they will grow into beautiful things.

Lots love
Chloe

 

Take it easy on yourself.

 Hello friends.

How are you?

I hope that you're having a really nice day.

I want to encourage you today, because we can all use some encouragement.

It's raining here in Dunedin, and I was rushing around with a full on head cold, that has no sign of giving up.

So  I came back home and had a chocolate muffin, and another cup of coffee. soon I will crash into bed.

The washing that is waiting to be folded can wait.

And sometimes things can wait, they don't need to be right now if you can't do them.

And sometimes we need to crash into that safe place, if we're just coping.

And sometimes we just need one small reason in life to make it easy for ourselves.

We can run around like a headless chicken trying to make things work, but until we really learn, that we're not called to do everything.

It doesn't give us the reason just to do a half job, by the way.

I'll give you an illustration.

And this happened recently in my work place, but I'm sharing it with you, so that you get the idea.

It was a normal day in the place everything was going to plan, before I left for the day, I said to the second person in charge, that the slices that was for the next day are in the fridge. so I felt comfortable, that things were to plan.

I was sick and was given the next 2 days, only to find, out that one slice was found, and they were raiding things for the boys,and gave them the items for afternoon tea early as their morning tea, and still didn't have enough.

Panic stations. and it set in.

Now like being on a bolting horse, uncontrollably it was hard to reign it all in.

it was too late.

This ship was sinking and it was sinking fast. now if they actually trusted me, and text ed me to find out where the second slice was, things would be fine, the boys would have enough.
Trust me if the boys aren't happy they start food fights. sometimes it's comedy.
I'm learning to trust myself, in my baking and my products.

But lately I've been stressed. I do miss the fun of the old chef, it was a fun place to be in the kitchen. and I found out that if I took his advice, for my dishes, at home they turned out really nice.

So open up like flower in the rain and take peoples advice. and stop running against the rain.

Sometimes we just need to stop and  take things in one at a time, and trust the lord, that he will give us the next stepping stone to move to.

No man is an island, and if you're left wondering why.

Here's why my friends, because he sets the lonely in families.

I came home tired from a normals day work, to check my emails, and here was a dear letter from my little girl Grace.
I haven't met little grace but I give money, to her so that the cycle of poverty is broken for her.

She had her birthday recently, so she's turned 5 years old, and off to school, and she wanted to say thank you for her presents.

It was so beautiful, that this girl has not only got provisons, to live well and happy, but she is kept safe against the virus, and now off to a safe school.

I know that one day she won't need my money, that my job will be done. But I clutch onto the thought, that Jesus loves her, and looks out for her.

My little Gracie.

So my friends if that's you at the moment, and you're left wondering, who, how and why.

Look for those posts in your life, those times that Jesus came for you, and carried you through things, to start the path of blessings.

He does turn lives around, and he won't start now, infact he's always working.

Mending everything, down to the small things, to the big things.

We need to trust him.

That's my encouragement for you today.

I better fold that washing and get dinner going.

Lots of love
Chloe

Cycling into the wind.

 Hello there family and friends.
Well it's another day, and we have sunshine, and clear skies.
A very warm welcome to see the sun, we haven't seen the sun for a while, for 3 days.

I've managed to catch the families colds, so I am home sick today, hoping that this headyness of the cold will pass. thanks to Andrei telling me to make some soup with salt in it.

I hope that this cold or whatever it is, goes fast. because I'm back at work tomorrow. then my 2 days off.
But I digress from, the point.

And that my title of the post, cycling into the wind,  and we all know if you are cyclist, that the wind changes, and when the wind changes direction and we are cycling, that it's harder to get traction.

Perhaps that is you my friend and you're feeling like you're cycling into the wind.

If you're feeling like that, or you now you are, seek help my friends. because it will snow ball.

Have outlets to do de stress, because if we let hem stew in our minds, we aren't moving on, we're just going back to the same old thing.

In my own life at the moment, I'm learning to trust, because my sycolist, said I have trust issues.

And I'll give you an illustration, a beautiful thing, happened when I was out riding the the day, now I know I talk about horses, a bit, ok alot. But horses like us have a past, you only need to read Black Beauty by Anna Swell to learn that.

But onto my illustration.

I want to talk about courage. This is what I have learnt, on the horse farm recently.

My friend who owns it, is like a saturary for horses.  has this 9 year old stable hand. who knows all about horses. so she came with me to catch my horse I am riding at the moment, because Wilson is lame. so this small girl came with me to catch my horse. so here she was, with this big horse, called Roo. he's a big boy, and they are good friends because Roo is inquisitive and likes to follow her around.

We caught Chantalle to ride, and Roo came close, and I thought help he's going to follow us through the gate. and get between this small girl and my horse.  so she said to me, to fix the gate, and she'll creep underneath the electric fence.

and that took Courage, on her part, to separate the horses.

She's this tiny girl, but she knew her strength with these horses.

This small girl was giving me insight,  of the horses.

This helps me with my trust issues. when we're trotting, on the lunge rope, I know someone has the other end of the rope, and when you look up, and go around in a circle, and go with the motions of the horses you are trusting your horses, and yourself.

I know I am off point, but I want to tell you, rather than at you, that when you're up against it, and you're up against the wind, Jesus is there gripping your hand, because he loves you, no matter what.

So the message here is just to keep cycling, keep going at it, because you will reach your desintation. and it will be well worth it.

That's my message for you today.

Lots of love
Chloe

Dreams

 Hello dear friends.

It's me.

How are you?

I hope that you're having a really nice day.

I've been at work today, feeding the students and doing dishes.

After last nights home group, I have a new appreciation of dish hands. Because half my morning is cleaning up after the boys and doing the dishes.

 We are all called, to serve, because we are all hands and feet of God.

Last night, at home group, we talked about holy communion and study on it.

It wasn't just the elements that we take but there's power in them.

It's not just bread and juice, but the body of Christ, that is why there's so much power in comunion.

The more we press into Jesus the more he gives us, Amen?

So what is he talking to you and me about?

That the more we look to the world in these things, the more, we get discouraged.

But we are called not to be , because we have hope in him.

Times will get harder, even today when I said I go to church on Sundays nights, I got some flack, from a new chef, just because I go to church.

It wasn't upsetting, but this is the world that we are in.

And that is why we shall strengthen us in taking communion, it strengthens us.

And dream, Jesus doesn't only give us dreams at night, but dreams of being fulfilled in life.

The more we pray, and press into God, the more fountains he opens up and fills us with his holy spirit.

Jesus isn't as far away as you think.

He is simply close to you, so close you know it's him talking to you.

right here and now.

Dreams are important to us, but we shall not praise the dreams we have, but we need to praise the lord that is in us.

Taking communion connects you to Lord, in home group the other night, we talked about how God remembers us, now there's a special greek word which I have forgotten, but it the word remember means, that he actually does something about it. The lord sees our cause.

He really sees it dear friends, and does something about it.

He sees your condition, and he does something about it.

The lord sees you as made whole, without blemish.

New.

We are all in this together and we are called to fight for the others, to take up our armor in the lord and fight for the people.

Last night in home group, we talked, about angels, now they are big, I've seen them, but they are there to minister, to act on our behalf of the father of Heaven.

Jesus is the one that has given us dreams, and he gives us the strength to carry them through.

If you think there's nothing there, there is.

Like my spring tulip bulbs that are up this year, they spent all year hibernating in the ground, not rotting, but getting geared up underneath the ground to come up.

and grow.

Team right now, you might think there's nothing there, but there is.

A beautiful time of resting, to gearing up for something bigger.

My friends it's time to call on those dreams that you have and put them into work.

Don't let them just lie wasted, in the dirt, but if we pray, and let God grow us, we will achieve so much more than we can do it in our own strength.

So dream big people, now is the time to enlarge your tent, make those tent pegs a bit bigger than you think

And Jesus will do the rest, just let Jesus grow you.

Those are my thoughts for today.

Chloe

It's all a learning curve

 Hello there my friends.

How are you?

I hope that you're having a really awesome week, and some things are working out for you.

I have had a good week, filled with lots of good things.
But also some sad things, as work has a reshuffle of jobs, and sadly some people have left work, to find other jobs.

So we've had 2 new chefs join the crew, and see how they get on in the kitchen.

The main focus here is, that we keep bringing our goals to the front line and keep up the work that we have started.

Today was a good day, my friend Sarah and I had a practice drive around town, got our coffee and dough nuts feeling like true Americans. And enjoying them in the gardens and by the beach. We then shot through to Port Charmbers, via the back roads.

I had a hospital appointment the other day, and we brought up the meaning of trust, which I find hard, I find it hard to do sometimes.

Especially if you have been rejected like I have. it's a hard thing trust, because you trust yourself every day with driving, working at your job. but yet some of us have this fear of trust. we put ourselves through so much, don't we so many bars are set to high, and we can't reach them.

The level of exception goes up, in ourselves and for others. the way we like to perform, to think we're bullet proof only to find out that we're not.

There's nothing wrong, in thinking this way, in our weakness, Jesus has made us strong.

You are a loved in the growing process, and it is a learning curve.

I have been like a closed up flower, afraid of the dark, for so long. it's only know I'm beginning to grow.

You know to grow  through things rather than having the perfectionist thinking that we can't make a single mistake, is not how we grow.

We can't grow if we're aiming for perfection all the time. 

We are called to put our best efforts in, and have it blessed by God.

It is he that brings the rain to make us grow, and if you're feeling a bit dry by it, pray into your job, your hobbies, your things that you enjoy. pray for God to bless them.

And he will.

We are all called by Jesus to pray and watch.

He loves it when we seek him, and he has favor on us.

 I was going to go out riding, my horse yesterday, but my instructor had to cancel the lesson, so I couldn't ride.

I was really disappointed, as I wanted to get back on my horse again, as it has been many a month since I rode.

But I will ride again this Friday. if I have no hospital appointments as I loathe the doctors ones with a passion so I try to keep up beat, and book in a lesson when I can.

One thing about learning about horseman ship and Me, is that the horses they take ques from you, you need to be confident, clear with instructions, and have to be kind on them.

And that is what I'm learning, about myself.

And that is what my encouragement for you today is.

Know your goals, know your game, and play it to your ability.

Lots of love
Chloe

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Psalm 101 and my thoughts about it.

Hello there my friends.
I hope that you're having a really nice day.

It is clear in Dunedin, a beautiful still day. with no wind,which is a mercy.

I don't know about you, but sometimes we go through valleys and mountains in life. It is natural to do so.

So my question is, dear friends where are you at the moment?

Are you thinking everything is fine, and it is. Or are you feeling isolated and lonely?

Sometimes we can have heaps of friends and still be lonely, sometimes we can have a lot of friends and feel lonely. shall we go that deep?

Sometimes, we think we are fine by ourselves, that we don't need anyone to ''fix us'' or meet our needs.

This was me and the lord recently, I was just using him, and not having communication with him. just thanking him for all he's done.

But then he told me, that he's got some work to do in my life, that he's not a rescue blanket.
He's alive and living.

I was at church recently, and other people were getting vissions, and dreams, and I was just seeing sheets of rain come down, and watering the wells of people.

Then a light went on, and it was the fact that the more Jesus gives to the person who seeks him the more gifts he gives. so we need to spend time in his word, and not just rattle off prayers, and other things. that we want.

I was becoming quite selfish in this area.

I was climbing a mountain of self righteousness, and it was very lonely.

So what did I do? I asked the lord to open my eyes, to where he is working in my life.

I asked for some guidance along the way, that I didn't want to do this trek alone.
and be vulnerable for others.

So I've chosen Psalm 101, today for my bible study. Because this world needs hope.

It is riddeled with fear and lies, and we need shafts of hope to come and fill us up.
These are what the lord gave me, in the ''wells'' that have been stopped, we have been stopped, by people too long, to say it can't be done.

or that project is too big, or your a small person you can't be a person of influence.
but we can.

Let Psalm 101 be your map for your life, sing of God's goodness to you, let him hold you when you feel frail.
 when things are unknown let him tell you that things come at the right time.

Verse 2, Says, I will walk in my house, with a blameless life.

That could go for work too, be of good cheer and courage.

Not stir the pot and agree with the wrong things, but help each other out.
When we work as a team, we communicate as a team and you'll be much better in your job.

I was at a supermarket, and for me it was a job, it was money, I wanted to add a little girl to my sponsor family. and I didn't want to have another christmas, so while I was happy at the supermarket, I prayed for a better job.

I saw that the lord opened the door, and  left it open for me to try out at the school.
now I get holidays, and paid ones, and I can use my money to do other projects.

but I have to walk with a blameless life, because it will go well with you, if you keep communication open with the lord.
The lord will bless you.


Verse 6 says, ''My eyes will be on the faithful, in the land, and that they may dwell with me. He whose walk is blameless will minister to me.''


We also have a social duty.

If you see someone in need serve them.

I'm beginning to pray in tongues in the school. and I pray for the boys who will have my baking.

I also have social duty to my children who I sponsor, as one friend said her adoptive daughter, and I love that.

It is a really scary time for them, at the moment with Covid, they are in countries that aren't as well off  as us.

So they need relief parcels, as well.

If you have the money, please give to the people who give it to the children, make sure that 100% goes to the organization.

I am thinking of dear Grace, and Tallato, as they go about their day, I can't be there humanly, but I can be praying for them.

What I love about Tear-fund, is that they are thankful for the things, that you do as you sponsor or give donations.

Now if you can't that's fine, perhaps you find other ways in blessing people.


In conclusion, verse 8. it says ''Every morning, I will put to silence all the wicked, in the land.

Now sometimes we can't do that, but we can put to silence our wrong thinking.

Surround, yourself with good people, who uplift you, and bring out the good.

Not be friends with people who have no filters, and or be very wary of them.

 Keep your distance.

So keep up the good work.
You're doing well.

Those are my thoughts for today.

 

August thoughts.

Hello team.

I hope that you're having a really nice time.

Lately I've been thinking and praying, but mostly thinking about how I can change my attitude.  I am getting to the point I spin out.

And what makes me spin out, ever feel like something is out of your control?

What pushes your buttons to react the way you do?

Or the way I do, and that is something I check daily.

Today everything went to plan, I am sticking to a plan in my work place you have to, because without a plan everything goes out the window, pretty fast.

So now I have a plan, and I am liking it.
But I got home after seeing my brother, and I noticed that someone opened up a gift of chocolate, and was offering them around.
Now I was saving this gift for someone at work, and I got annoyed, I also said bout other gifted chocolate, and how that is probably eaten up.

Chocolate in any house, doesn't' last that long, but I was annoyed that someone had decided to open up some chocolate and offer it around.
No big problem. you just buy a replacement.

Problem fixed, in fact it wasn't a problem, the person didn't know that it was a gift.

Work is starting to ask more of me as well, and I don't want to offer my second best, I want to offer them my first best.
I'm also putting on weight, as well that makes me un-happy.

 I'm going to do the 45 day challenge at the gym and hopefully shift this fat.

I just want peace to come to this place, and just rest.

I am also learning that it's not all about myself, it's about other people.

and there's a lot to learn, about how to learn that in a respectful way.

And to trust and really understand.


Check the signs, because if we don't we can be like my car at the moment, with no break pads, and make a noise and do further damage.

If we don't check in with how everyone is going, how are we suposed to know, what the other person is thinking.

Like the chocolate, if I left in the pantry, for everyone to use, then it would be opened up, but if I put it in my room, then everyone will know it's for someone.

And not to think to much into things, if a person is busy, then they are busy, they will get back to you, in their time.

You know one thing that I want to do this spring is to go down to the tulip fields down south and take photos, of the tulip bulbs, and just be in the moment.

And see some friends, and not to be tied to things so much.

Sometimes we feel like we're living like a balloon on a string, and we come with strings attached. it's time to cut those strings and live.

And call things into faith.

What do I mean by that?

Well if you have a strong urge to do something, and there is a reason why, you should do it, then do it.
and do it with love and mercy.

In my job, I don't know the names of the boys I feed, but I pray over the food I'm preparing. and it goes well with me.
 This is not a boast, nor do I want a badge  for it or a medal.
But just being generally nice to children and everyone is a good way to be.

Don't agree with the latest thing that is going around.
Nor tear down people behind their backs, they will see your falseness.

But cling to goodness and righteousness, and it will go with with you.

Honesty and trust will give you more than just flattering lips.

It will go with with you. and things will go to plan.

Right down things that you want to do, and do them, and go for them with all you have.
And let you yes be yes and you no be no.

It's more than ok, to move on, it is healthy for us, and to take off the blinkers and start to live life.
And to be thankful, being thankful for things, and not just respect it. But being thankful to that person who did your meal or provided for you at that time in your life when you needed it.

And get around people who make a difference in the world, those are rare gems. pack them on the journey with you.
Lots of love
Chloe