"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world."
I have been reading D. Martyn Lloyd Jones' book "Spiritual Depression", and today's message focused on these verses.
One of the greatest trials of my fatigue and breakdown has been the loss of hope, the loss of dreams, the loss of confidence in my ability to do something well. Lloyd-Jones points out that God has never used a person without first 'testing' them. And i praise God, for the times I have been through have only pressed me to be more prayerful, more faithful in reading and learning His word. I do not know what is ahead, but God is renewing my hope, my dreams, and my confidence - that in Him I can ...
"So be truly glad..."
Sunday, 19 December 2010
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
The Promise of Raro
When i was a kid, Raro was a sachet of goodness promising to transform a jug of water into jug of sweet fruity satisfaction - however, in our home it was always watered down to make it go further, so it never delivered what it promised!!
This week Bridget and i are preparing to go to Raro(tonga) to celebrate our upcoming 15th wedding anniversary - and we can't wait :-)
Here's hoping it fulfills better than my childhood memories of it!!
+ it's been a long time since my last post - a long time of adjusting to Chronic Fatigue - post Raro i hope to take the time to spill
May God bless you if you stumble onto this
This week Bridget and i are preparing to go to Raro(tonga) to celebrate our upcoming 15th wedding anniversary - and we can't wait :-)
Here's hoping it fulfills better than my childhood memories of it!!
+ it's been a long time since my last post - a long time of adjusting to Chronic Fatigue - post Raro i hope to take the time to spill
May God bless you if you stumble onto this
Monday, 5 May 2008
Wow – time flies when you’re burning
Looking back at my last post “9 October 07” - What happened?
Well, let me tell you about November 07 & April 08 – don’t remember a lot between those two!!
November 07 – The Stubbs hit America – and it hit back ;-)
We had a great time, first with good friends in Chicago @ JPUSA – an amazing community – and probably the highlight of our trip!! Check Jezza on http://freeingprisoners.blogspot.com/ – he writes about as regularly as me J We had a great time seeing some of Chicago with Jezza, Beth, Cyrus & Muriwai, as well as seeing their home & community & just hanging with them – could definitely do it again!!
Next we were off to see friends in Franklin – which was also a great blessing. Very different - & that took some adjusting, but it was great to catch up with some good ol’ friends. We loved the chance to hang out & yak, see the sights a bit & just be with them for a few days. The girls loved getting to know their distant cousies Phynley & Eden – they enjoyed a crazy blend of “Little House on The Prairie” & “Rock n Roll” & it was hard to leave. Check some of their ministry offerings on http://www.deliberatepeople.com/
But the next stage of our trip was our main purpose for being there & we were looking forward to it. We saw a bunch of Christian camps ALL over California with good friends & workmates “the Burches”. We saw some great places, were inspired – particularly @ Hume Lake (see http://joshuawilderness.org/), and learnt many things - but eventually the travel got to us!! We finished of at conference in SanDiego – which was okay, but we were ready for home by then!!
April 08 – Coach Soccer, Sell House, MeltDown
Wow, here I am @ the beginning of May, marvelling @ April & all that has happened - & I honestly have no recollection of Dec, Jan, Feb, March!!
I am now coaching Breahn’s soccer team - & LOVING it!! This has replaced my playing & my biggest concern is that I enjoy it more than BB!!
Yes we sold our house!! Move out June 13 – where we go next is a major matter for prayer J
OhhhKay – last year I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Seemed a bit of a joke – I would battle with fatigue regularly, but to call it Chronic seemed over the top!! I remember feeling better around Jan, then worse in March, then the last Sunday of April I crashed & burned – big-time!! Was due to speak at our kids camp the next day, but I was a goner!! My boss/friend has been very supportive& arranged cover for me, and now I am working my way back – prayerfully trying to figure how much I should do now & how much I shouldn’t!!
Ultimately I recognise that this is the best thing God could have done. I have recognised how much I have been living in my own strength & how unfamiliar I am with God & talking with Him – this is all about God pulling my handbrake before I cause any more damage! I am grateful, but that doesn’t make it easy. I don’t know how long I will be off work – returning should be all about “pacing” – but how fast is too fast & how slow is too slow?? I’m seeing a specialist sometime in the next month (I hope) so here’s hoping they shed some light. For now I need to est. good habits, make the most of this time & trust in God’s provision – he has never let us down!!
Oh well, there’s the big catch up!! Hope to have some time to think now & shed some reflections here!! Onwards & upwards …
Well, let me tell you about November 07 & April 08 – don’t remember a lot between those two!!
November 07 – The Stubbs hit America – and it hit back ;-)
We had a great time, first with good friends in Chicago @ JPUSA – an amazing community – and probably the highlight of our trip!! Check Jezza on http://freeingprisoners.blogspot.com/ – he writes about as regularly as me J We had a great time seeing some of Chicago with Jezza, Beth, Cyrus & Muriwai, as well as seeing their home & community & just hanging with them – could definitely do it again!!
Next we were off to see friends in Franklin – which was also a great blessing. Very different - & that took some adjusting, but it was great to catch up with some good ol’ friends. We loved the chance to hang out & yak, see the sights a bit & just be with them for a few days. The girls loved getting to know their distant cousies Phynley & Eden – they enjoyed a crazy blend of “Little House on The Prairie” & “Rock n Roll” & it was hard to leave. Check some of their ministry offerings on http://www.deliberatepeople.com/
But the next stage of our trip was our main purpose for being there & we were looking forward to it. We saw a bunch of Christian camps ALL over California with good friends & workmates “the Burches”. We saw some great places, were inspired – particularly @ Hume Lake (see http://joshuawilderness.org/), and learnt many things - but eventually the travel got to us!! We finished of at conference in SanDiego – which was okay, but we were ready for home by then!!
April 08 – Coach Soccer, Sell House, MeltDown
Wow, here I am @ the beginning of May, marvelling @ April & all that has happened - & I honestly have no recollection of Dec, Jan, Feb, March!!
I am now coaching Breahn’s soccer team - & LOVING it!! This has replaced my playing & my biggest concern is that I enjoy it more than BB!!
Yes we sold our house!! Move out June 13 – where we go next is a major matter for prayer J
OhhhKay – last year I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Seemed a bit of a joke – I would battle with fatigue regularly, but to call it Chronic seemed over the top!! I remember feeling better around Jan, then worse in March, then the last Sunday of April I crashed & burned – big-time!! Was due to speak at our kids camp the next day, but I was a goner!! My boss/friend has been very supportive& arranged cover for me, and now I am working my way back – prayerfully trying to figure how much I should do now & how much I shouldn’t!!
Ultimately I recognise that this is the best thing God could have done. I have recognised how much I have been living in my own strength & how unfamiliar I am with God & talking with Him – this is all about God pulling my handbrake before I cause any more damage! I am grateful, but that doesn’t make it easy. I don’t know how long I will be off work – returning should be all about “pacing” – but how fast is too fast & how slow is too slow?? I’m seeing a specialist sometime in the next month (I hope) so here’s hoping they shed some light. For now I need to est. good habits, make the most of this time & trust in God’s provision – he has never let us down!!
Oh well, there’s the big catch up!! Hope to have some time to think now & shed some reflections here!! Onwards & upwards …
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Music - i love it :-)
WHEW - what a busy month!!
we had a great kids camp & now i am having a week off to breathe
part of my breathing often includes music - & i love it when its free :-) here's some links to sites i've enjoyed:
http://www.sphereofhiphop.com/mp3/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=30 - heaps of hip-hop freebies :-)
http://www.rappersiknow.com/?p=93 - a cat's hip hop / beat album with a conscience :-)
http://joshgarrels.com/mp3s.htm - sweeeeet sounds - check the merch pages too :-)
http://www.last.fm/music/surreal+%2526+the+sound+providers?setlang=en - nice jazz infused hip hop
http://www.last.fm/music/Lifesavas - more nice hip hop
http://www.pastestore.com/radio/mp3/ - a whole bunch of alt sounds - some real goodies in here :)
http://www.last.fm/music/Pigeon+John - quirky hip hop :-P
http://www.emusic.com/ - nice starting offer & lotsa nice music & a bunch of great Christian sounds!! - but beware it's addictive after the freebies :-\
http://payplay.fm/ - a nice sample / freebie arrangement, with primarily indie music (Josh Garrels is in here, & enjoyed "Halalujah" & lots of instrumental down tempo / trip hop/ etc + the procussions :-)
so there's enough to get you started - enjoy
We're now also on the homestraight to our trip - excited & trying to plan well - trying...
Time is a good gift - i love time to read, time to spend with loved ones, time to think, time to talk,
i love time to draw near to God - to read & think of Him, to talk with him
i need time, like i need water
May you use time to grow well - bless ya
we had a great kids camp & now i am having a week off to breathe
part of my breathing often includes music - & i love it when its free :-) here's some links to sites i've enjoyed:
http://www.sphereofhiphop.com/mp3/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=30 - heaps of hip-hop freebies :-)
http://www.rappersiknow.com/?p=93 - a cat's hip hop / beat album with a conscience :-)
http://joshgarrels.com/mp3s.htm - sweeeeet sounds - check the merch pages too :-)
http://www.last.fm/music/surreal+%2526+the+sound+providers?setlang=en - nice jazz infused hip hop
http://www.last.fm/music/Lifesavas - more nice hip hop
http://www.pastestore.com/radio/mp3/ - a whole bunch of alt sounds - some real goodies in here :)
http://www.last.fm/music/Pigeon+John - quirky hip hop :-P
http://www.emusic.com/ - nice starting offer & lotsa nice music & a bunch of great Christian sounds!! - but beware it's addictive after the freebies :-\
http://payplay.fm/ - a nice sample / freebie arrangement, with primarily indie music (Josh Garrels is in here, & enjoyed "Halalujah" & lots of instrumental down tempo / trip hop/ etc + the procussions :-)
so there's enough to get you started - enjoy
We're now also on the homestraight to our trip - excited & trying to plan well - trying...
Time is a good gift - i love time to read, time to spend with loved ones, time to think, time to talk,
i love time to draw near to God - to read & think of Him, to talk with him
i need time, like i need water
May you use time to grow well - bless ya
Monday, 27 August 2007
"What Say U Mr Gull?"
I just enjoyed a few days of personal retreat. My loving wife encouraged me to do what i'd never considered since being a hubby & dad - take some time out by myself - so off i went to Sandspit on Tuesday night, Wednesday, Thursday, & then Friday avo i returned home.
It was great - i'd been flat-stick since my last post & hanging out for a chance to breathe!! & this was it!!
Time to read
Time to think
Time to start again to pray
Time to walk
i went for a walk down to "the spit" & sat on the wharf - enjoying time & space to sit in the quiet - to consider God in the universe - to thank Him for the space... When a seagull came & perched itself 3metres from me on this large post. I sat there looking at it, & it sat there looking at me, so i asked it a question:
"What say u Mr Gull - are you aware of your creator? Do you sing His praise? In your existence driven by instinct & innate drives - do you know God?"
not sure what i expected - always hope for something miraculous i guess ...
He didn't say anything, but did do this funky pose - balanced on one leg & fully extended one wing out, while he held the other right in - he held the pose for like5 minutes - i was waiting for him to speak, but then he flew off - so i was left laughing at my own mentality!!
then another one came & hung on the same post - so i asked the same question:
"What say u Mr Gull - are you aware of your creator? Do you sing His praise? In your existence driven by instinct & innate drives - do you know God?"
no response - then i realised i'd offended - for it was not a mr, but a mrs!!! it was obvious for her lips & toes were far more red than the other!!
i apologised, but she flew off soon after!!
again i was left to laugh at my own mentality!!
i picjked myself up & walked back to the bach - thanking God for time & space to think stupid things - to think & talk & pray anything, because there was nothing that needed to be done!!
Oh how that time was good!! Now i need to find & make such time in my normal weeks
Time to read,
Time to think,
Time to start again to pray,
Time to walk,
Time to talk to seagulls!!!
May our smiling God bless you with such time also :-)
It was great - i'd been flat-stick since my last post & hanging out for a chance to breathe!! & this was it!!
Time to read
Time to think
Time to start again to pray
Time to walk
i went for a walk down to "the spit" & sat on the wharf - enjoying time & space to sit in the quiet - to consider God in the universe - to thank Him for the space... When a seagull came & perched itself 3metres from me on this large post. I sat there looking at it, & it sat there looking at me, so i asked it a question:
"What say u Mr Gull - are you aware of your creator? Do you sing His praise? In your existence driven by instinct & innate drives - do you know God?"
not sure what i expected - always hope for something miraculous i guess ...
He didn't say anything, but did do this funky pose - balanced on one leg & fully extended one wing out, while he held the other right in - he held the pose for like5 minutes - i was waiting for him to speak, but then he flew off - so i was left laughing at my own mentality!!
then another one came & hung on the same post - so i asked the same question:
"What say u Mr Gull - are you aware of your creator? Do you sing His praise? In your existence driven by instinct & innate drives - do you know God?"
no response - then i realised i'd offended - for it was not a mr, but a mrs!!! it was obvious for her lips & toes were far more red than the other!!
i apologised, but she flew off soon after!!
again i was left to laugh at my own mentality!!
i picjked myself up & walked back to the bach - thanking God for time & space to think stupid things - to think & talk & pray anything, because there was nothing that needed to be done!!
Oh how that time was good!! Now i need to find & make such time in my normal weeks
Time to read,
Time to think,
Time to start again to pray,
Time to walk,
Time to talk to seagulls!!!
May our smiling God bless you with such time also :-)
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