BET'S BITS

Mum told us another story about Don, our oldest bro`..

2011-01-21T08:27:00.003+11:00

Mum was telling us yesterday of an incident that she recalls when Don first married Margaret & they were renting a house opposite from her, they used to leave their empty milk bottles out with money for the milky each morning, he would replace it with full bottles in exchange for the money, well Mum recalls Don telling her that some children were stealing the money before the milky could get it, so Don decided one day to wait for the culprit...he sat hiding just waiting for the boy to show up.
Eventually he returned, reaching his hand in to take the money, he was shocked, because instead of moeny in his hands he felt a big hand holding onto him, scared him so bad, he never did return..

Amazes me the stories that keep popping into Mum`s mind, I ask her to tell me anything like that when she remembers it, these stories are priceless, would never know of them if she didn`t recall them, even Don had to be reminded of this story, he had forgotten it.

Marriage

2010-07-28T08:57:00.003+10:00

<>MARRIAGE

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly.

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company.

She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane.

When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day.

She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside
the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.

On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.

I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart.

Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead.
My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband....

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

Don & his brand new bike

2010-05-13T15:14:00.004+10:00

When Don was 7 , he received a brand new bike for christmas..he could`nt wait to ride it out on the street...he went out onto Epping road, following some older boys on bikes.

While riding down the road a car came from behind, Don sensed the car was there & did a panic...instead of moving off the road he moved further into the centre of the road, to his dismay the car seemed to follow him, guess he was trying to get past the bike..the end result was that the man in the car ran right over Don & his bike, everyone thought Don would be a goner for sure...but amazingly he was unhurt..

Old Mr Sanderland

2010-05-13T15:07:00.003+10:00

Old Mr Sanderland was driving his car along the unmade road heading toward my little 2 to 3 year old brother Allen, who was sitting playing in the road...because Mr Sanderland was so old,he sat low down in the seat.. therefore could`nt see out the front window too well...he failed to notice Allen on the road & proceeded to run right over top of him...thankfully the big old car was high off the ground...otherwise who knows the result...as it was Allen remained untouched by the incident at all..Mr Sanderland happened to be a Dr, he thoroughly checked Allen over, making sure he was ok..Why he was playing in the road in the first place was a mystery..

Skippy Dog.

2010-05-13T14:54:00.002+10:00

Mum rembered a fabulous story today, after telling her of David & Linda`s milo dog..

She remembered an incident with her little dog she named Skippy..she said he was a very smart dog...& told us of this time when he proved just how smart he really was..

She heard him barking at the back door, it was just beginning to get dark...after going to see what all the fuss was about, Skippy, when asked what was the matter, ran to the back of the yard, (where there was a bungalow my sister & her family lived in for awhile..) then he came running back to Mum to try to get her to come...Mum soon realized he was wanting her to follow. ...he went right round the back of the bungalow...where Mum found the young boy from next door, trying to hide in the corner...he had a heap of crumpled papers along with a box of matches...he`d been planning to set the paper alight, which could have resulted in burning down the bungalow..

Mum said the boy was so frightened of the dog, he had him cornered..

Who knows what may have happened had Mum`s smart little Skippy dog not have intervened!! Good boy Skippy....

Lovely words to ponder, at the loss of a loved one.

2010-05-13T14:49:00.002+10:00

Let us not flounder in the winter of our grief.

Nor bear the parching summer of our loss.

Beyond the proper seasons of our lives.

For life is lost if life is not retained.

Through, memories that cannot be erased.

Through goodness that is giving of ourselves and,

Through the understanding, that our love will never die.

Gaining more info on my Mum each time I visit..

2010-04-29T16:27:00.002+10:00

Mum was telling me today that she was married at the age of 21 our Dad was 22...The first job they had together when they were married, was milking cows on someone`s farm, Mum said she did`nt do it long as it became increasingly hard work, so Dad went to work in a pottery making factory..Was`nt there all that long when his half brother`s started up a business with a saw mill..he became a partner with them in it....working then in the timber yard, sawing timber etc..

Unfortunately he only remained there for a few years, as he took ill & died within weeks..

He was 33, they only had 10 years of marriage, in that time they produced 6 children.
Mum said all the boys gave her was a 100 pound..for his share in the business..

When they moved to Thomastown, while waiting for the house in Clarke st to be built, they stayed in a huge house on Main st Thomastown, Mum said two of her sister`s & a brother, all came to stay at different times, while they were waiting on their houses. Auntie Rose (Mum`s twin sister) & her husband Lindsay were the first to stay...then Don ( Mum`s brother) & his wife Mary stayed...after that Mum`s other sister Linda came to stay also..mind you each one did`nt stay all that long, as Mum said they were only in that house for a couple of months until they moved into Clarke st.

Jen discovered an address when searching for info on my parents, that stated they both lived in Robinsons rd Thomastown, I asked Mum about this.. she said that is what Settlement rd used to be called...that was their old address before moving..so no mystery there at all Jen...lol

Ancient tea-pot

2010-04-21T07:00:00.002+10:00

Dawn my sister, was telling us on Thursday at Mum`s, the story about a little tea-pot..

Apparently we have a very far removed cousin living in Geelong, who upon making a family tree, discovered us cousins, & got in contact with Dawn.. As I remeber it, Dawn went to visit her some time ago, her name is Dorrie Berry, she is 94 years of age...& still able bodied & of a sound mind.

After quite some time, she again got in touch with Dawn asking her if she`d be interested in having a family airloom, as none of her family seemed to be interested in it.

Dawn of course jumped at the opportunity, the only catch was that she had to go to Geelong to receive it, well that was`nt too difficult as she has family living in Geelong. So while there last week she went to visit Dorrie, who showed her this beautiful little tea-pot, someone had given her a long time ago as an engagement present.It is said to be well over 100 years old, yet looks brand new, so she has obviously treasured this little tea-pot, put it on a shelf so nobody could get their hands on it..I t was obvious to Dawn that it meant a lot to Dorrie, so for her to be willing to hand it over to Dawn, made Dawn feel very privileged indeed. I know that Dawn will also treasure it & take just as good care of it as Dorrie had..

A little history about where Dorrie comes from: Apparently she mentioned to Dawn, that she had always been keen on our Father Bert, but she said he only had eyes for our Mum Violet..aint that sweet?

After that bit of trivia, to the history side...Dorrie`s Mother was our Grandmother`s cousin..See how far removed we are? lol Her name was... wait for it Sarah!! Yes, you guessed it, or perhaps already knew...Sarah Elizabeth....maybe this is why Dorrie chose Dawn to give the tea-pot to, she had named a daughter the same name as her Mother.

It`s all in a name hey? Enjoy your little tea-pot Dawn that comes with a lot of our family history..

Why our Mum was called "Sella" By by some of her siblings.

2010-03-15T07:17:00.003+11:00

Mum`s older brother Laurie was well known for nick naming people, he had a special name for all he knew apparently.....( his older sister because of this decided he needed a nick name too, so she called him faulty...which was very appropriate, seeing as the names he chose were always faulty ones)

When Mum & her twin sister Rose were born in their own home, the nurse who delivered them, put it to their mother that she wanted to buy one of the twins, seeing as they already had 6 children now & the times were very tough, so she thought it a good suggestion all round. She chose our Mum saying she would give her $100 for her....Of course any Mum would know that no amount of money would be taken in exchange for their precious child, no matter how many you had.

Of course Laurie pipes up at this stage & offers his Mother some advice by saying to her to "Why don`t you "sell her?" So this is where that name began...from then on a lot of her siblings named her that instead of her actual birth name of Violet..

They all thought this was a funny joke, but I in fact think it`s an insult to be named something with such an awfully sad meaning attached to it..

Thankfully Mum never seemed to worry about it, she took it in her stride..actually there is one of our cousins who to this day still calls her Aunty Sella..

2010-01-26T14:04:00.003+11:00

Don asked Mum how come not one of her 5 brothers was ever called to serve in the army..
She replied immediately with, "Because I prayed they would`nt have to. "She said when she heard that they were calling young men to go to war, she immediately prayed & asked God to not let them be called..they never were, pity she didn`t pray for her brother`s in law, coz 2 of them went to war..
One of them was our Uncle Reg who told the story that one night while crawling through the heavy scrub, he felt a hand touch his head, then a voice said, "It`s alright digger"
Don seems to think that it would have been a Polish soldier, he said they were the best soldiers ever, they were noted for being able to slip into the enemy territory without being detected.
Don said that they would have known what kind of soldier he was by his hair cut..as they touched his head they knew he was an Aussie..
Is`nt that incredible?
Chris my son in law says there is a book I can purchase that asks all manner of questions of the older generation to bring out any history we might want to know, he has left the site on my computer, I will buy that book very soon..it will be good to see what questions they have & my mum`s response to them..Thanks Chris!

2010-01-26T13:51:00.002+11:00

Mum was telling us of a very old song our Dad used to sing, it`s called "Paddy McGinty`s Goat" This is what she remembers of the words...there are a lot more in the original, but I think it`s amazing at 93 she remembers as much as she does..

Paddy McGinty an Irishman of note
Came into a fortune & bought himself a goat
Now this goat of Paddy`s had,
a very large appetite
One morning for breakfast
He swallowed some dinamite
A big box of matches & a pint of kerosine
He laid down by the fire side coz he was all serene
He did`nt give a hoot & he didn`t give a hang
Till out jumped a spark
And he went off with a bang
And when you get to heaven
Bet you a dollar note
The angel with the whiskers
Is Paddy McGinty`s goat.

42nd Wedding Anniversary

2009-12-02T08:37:00.002+11:00

Today is a very special day for me, as I reflect back to the time I first met my precious hubby, it was to be one of the best days of my life..

We have enjoyed every minute we have had together, I have discovered him to be the most generous, kind, thoughtful & loving man I have ever known. Not having a Father figure in my life from a baby, I noticed the men around me, being mostly Uncle`s or neighbours Dad`s, to be mainly angry people, or grumpy might be a better word, so was not overly impressed with men really. Thought they were all that way for a long time..

God knew what He was doing when He caused me to meet Geoff. He knows exactly what we need.

Geoff has always been a hard worker, provided well for both myself & our 4 children, now our 6 grandbabies as well..we have not lacked for anything, he doesn`t complain about money (much) hahaha He eventually will let me have whatever I want, so it puts the responsibility back on me to be careful not to take advantage of his generosity.

I can talk to him about anything, he is a good listener, when no-one else is around...hahaha
I try not to ring him at work too often, but lately there have been many a moment when I just needed his reassurance & understanding concerning our oldest daughter Lisa, who gives me grief a lot of the time..just to hear his voice or have him pray with me about the situation, helps tremendously.

He is my closest friend, apart from Jesus of course..we have a very close bond, seem to know when the other is hurting or in need, even when we are apart.

Thank You Lord for bringing Geoff into my life, he has become my life along with You!!

Captive No More.

2009-11-15T05:48:00.001+11:00

Captive No More

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Is there a certain sin that seems to have a foothold in your life? And does it almost seem as though the sin is getting more and more powerful each month, each year, and tragically, each decade?Do you wonder if you ever will gain victory over it? Or worse, are you beginning to wonder if you are really a Christian?Sin is a horrible master, and it finds a willing servant in the human body. Sin wants to dominate you, but the good news is that as a Christian, you don't have to be dominated by sin any longer.The Bible says, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (Romans 6:6 NIV).There is a part of us that is drawn to the holy things of God, and there is a part of us that can still be drawn to the unholy things of this world. We all have that struggle. It is almost shocking, especially if you have been a believer for many years, that there still can be an attraction to sinful things.Here is what we need to remember: We will never get to a point where we are temptation-proof. But I do think we can get to a point where sin will not be so alluring. It comes with growing deeply in our faith, learning more about Jesus, and being so enraptured with His love that we see this world for what it is.I think the classic hymn says it well: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."To overcome sin, we need to know, we need to reckon, and we need to yield. Romans 6:11 says, "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (NKJV).
To know has to do with the mind, and it is implied in the phrase, "likewise you also." These three words refer back to the truths in Romans 6:1–10.The apostle Paul laid the groundwork, showing us that we are no longer under the jurisdiction of sin, and it no longer has a rightful claim over our lives as children of God. For Christians to live out the fullness of their new lives in Christ, they must realize what God has done for them. We are not merely remodeled sinners; we are remade saints.To reckon focuses on the heart. The word "reckon" used in Romans 6:11 means "to take into account," or "to count as true."Reckoning is not acting as if it were so; it is acting because it is so. Reckoning is not claiming a promise as much as it is acting on a fact. God does not command us to be dead to sin. Rather, He tells us that we are dead to sin and alive to God. Then He commands us to act on it. And even if we don't act on it, it is still true.To yield deals primarily with the will. Romans 6:13 tells us, "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (NKJV).The word "present" means "to give into." God is saying, "Yield to Me. Present yourself to Me." Each and every day, we are to present ourselves to God.Think of those in the Bible who presented their lives and their bodies to God and how powerfully they were used. For example, a sling in David's hand defeated the Philistines. Paul's dedicated feet took him from city to city to proclaim the gospel. John's eyes saw visions of the future, his ears heard God's message, and his fingers wrote it all down in the Book of Revelation.It is your choice to what and to whom you are going to yield yourself. And it is an intelligent decision to base your actions on what God has said in His Word.You have more than enough power to live this Christian life. You have the righteousness purchased by Christ with His own blood. So start taking hold of what God has already given you. Live in the newness of life for which Jesus gave His own.
Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write to let him know!Greg@harvest.org

True Repentance.

2009-11-11T08:04:00.001+11:00

True Repentance
"Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones."
— Luke 3:8 What do you think of when you hear the word "repent"? Maybe you think of someone wearing a sandwich board with flames on it who is yelling, "Repent!" It's a word we don't hear very much today.You might be surprised to know that the first word to fall from the lips of Jesus Christ after He began His public ministry was "repent" (see Matthew 4:17).The word "repent" means more than mere regret or sorrow. You can be sorry for something and not be repentant. You can feel sorry about a certain sin, especially if you reap the consequences of it. The person who gets caught in a lie is sorry. The criminal who gets caught is sorry. But the question is whether that sorrow leads to change. It might not. The liar might just be more careful. The criminal may plot his next crime with more foresight. There are people who are sorry for reaping the consequences of what they have done, but they have never made any changes in their lives.Real sorrow, according to the Bible, will lead to repentance. It will lead to change. John the Baptist preached to the multitudes, "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance . . . " (Luke 3:8). Many people have never really repented of their sins. They have never really brought forth fruit in keeping with repentance. But this is absolutely necessary if you want to be forgiven of your sin. Recognition of personal sin is always the first step in receiving forgiveness.However, you can recognize that you need to repent and still not do it. You can recognize your personal sin and not necessarily take action. The two need to come together. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Forever the same!

2009-11-06T05:14:00.001+11:00

Thursday, November 5, 2009 Forever the Same
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
— Hebrews 13:8 The Bible describes a time in Israel's history when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6). But I also think that is a good description of our time. Rather than living by a set of absolute standards like the Ten Commandments, many people are making up their own standards and using a sliding scale for morality, thinking they are at least better than the next person.It reminds me of the prophet Isaiah's warning, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20). That is where our culture is today. We mock what is good and pure, and we celebrate what is wicked and sinful. Good is called evil and evil is called good in our upside-down world.That is why I think our generation could easily be called the iGeneration, because we think it is all about us. It is all about our getting what we want, when we want to get it. Now that we can get our information on demand, we don't want to be told what we can see or hear—or let others decide when we can hear and see it. We want what we want, and we want it when we want it. And many are taking the same approach to morality. So how do we reach a culture like this? Answer: we reach it the same way Christians reached their culture 100 years ago and 300 years ago and 500 years ago and 2,000 years ago. We reach our culture with the authority and the message of God's Word, because that never changes, no matter what. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

When we doubt!

2009-10-29T07:27:00.001+11:00

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 When We Doubt
Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
— Acts 12:16 Some people say that when you pray, you must have faith, and if you have even a doubt, then your prayer won't be answered. But that is simply not true.How much faith did Lazarus have when Jesus raised him from the dead? None. How about the people at the tomb who were weeping? Probably not much. How about the man who said, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24), and Jesus answered his prayer anyway?We all will have times when our faith isn't as strong as it ought to be. But God can work, even when we don't have as much faith as we should. That does not excuse us from having faith. We still should pray with faith. And we should pray with persistence.When Peter needed a miracle to get out of prison, God waited until the last moment to deliver him. And you really have to admire Peter. Not knowing what his fate would be, he still was sleeping so deeply that the angel had to wake him up. Psalm 127:2 tells us that God "gives His beloved sleep," and He certainly gave sleep to his beloved Peter.So even though the early church prayed with passion and persistence, they still were shocked when God actually answered their prayers and saw Peter standing before them. Obviously they had prayed with some doubt. But even though their prayer was weak, it was mightier than Herod and mightier than the forces of hell.That gives me great hope, because I am not always a man of great faith. There are times when I will pray for something and wonder if it would really happen. And it is encouraging to know that even when I am weak, God can still intervene and answer my prayer. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Mum remembers when she was 15..

2009-10-26T14:48:00.003+11:00

Mum said she was to go stay with her Aunt Mary who lived in Benalla, her twin sister Rose had been there for a week & Mum was to take her place & stay another week...Mum said she didn`t want to go, she had never left home before.. She cried all the way in the train...there were Nuns in the carriage, they asked if she wanted to go with them..

When she finally arrived she asked Rose to stay on with her....which she did..My Mum was a big sook...now I know where I get it from...hahahaha

Don was telling of the very first time he took up painting, he was 12...his Uncle Geoff wanted him to paint the chook pen roof with black tar...it was a fairly large pen yet not too high off the ground..
He was having a great time painting the roof...flinging black tar everywhere, before he realized it he`d backed himself into a corner, he had nowhere to go, he had painted all round himself...eventually he decided to move onto the painted roof, in so doing he slipped & fell off the roof with bucket of tar in hand, it spilt all over his face...he said all that was able to be seen was the whites of his eyes..Must`ve been a funny sight, thankfully he did`nt hurt himself..Our Grandma washed the paint off of him while supplying him with clean clothes to wear..He said he has never forgotten that..hahahaha He does`nt remember if the spot he missed ever did get painted..

Family stories cont..

2009-10-23T12:00:00.004+11:00

Mum`s younger brother Colin fell into a well full of water once, he was hanging on by his fingers, Mum grabbed his arm & held onto him for dear life, until someone was able to go get their Mum, who then pulled him out..

Allen saved his nephew Aaron..
Aaron was about 2 or 3 at the time, all the adults were in the lounge talking, when suddenly Steven (( who would`ve been 7 )walked in with a strange look on his face. Donnie knew by his expression something was wrong, he ran outside to discover Aaron at the bottom of the pool, (a parents worst nightmare.).. he dove into the pool & pulled Aaron out...where Allen proceeded to do CPR...saving Aaron`s life...The amazing thing was that Allen said he had only been watching how to save someone from drowning on the telly the day before..so he knew exactly what to do..coincidence? I don`t think so!!

Don said he had a huge pool in their backyard at that time, it was 10 feet at one end & 4 feet at the other...However, after this incident he said they sold their house & moved to Cockatoo to live with their oldest son for awhile..

One day all we kids went to play in the paddock`s near our house in Thomastown...the boys were throwing stones at a possum up a tree, we were all standing around at the bottom of the tree watching, looking up at the possum, when a stone came down & landed fair in the middle of my forehead...causing immense bleeding, my oldest sister, Vera, who normally faints at the sight of blood, picked me up & carried me home.. I remembered Vera telling me that once she got me safely home she then passed out, but Mum said she didn`t, so not quite sure about that part now.. Eventually a huge cyst developed on my forehead, which meant another trip to the Children`s hospital, Mum said again she had to trek in there weekly for a few weeks, it was`nt until she asked when they were going to take it out that the Dr acted, she complained about having to come so far each week...the Dr then agreed to remove the cyst...I can still remember his cold fingers on my forehead. He told Mum he had gotten it all out cleanly & that I would have know problems with it anymore, which I never have..

When we were talking about this incident it prompted Mum of another. She said Dawn fell off the stool we used to all sit on at the table & hit her head, causing it to bleed a lot, Vera fainted at the sight of the blood..

Family stories..

2009-10-23T08:45:00.003+11:00

Don recalled an incident that happened when he was 6 or 7 in Thomastown..He was out riding his bike with 2 other boys on the main rd, where he was`nt meant to be..as they were riding he heard a driver toot his horn, which caused him to ride across the rd, directly in front of the oncoming car...the car hit the bike knocking Don off thankfully, as his bike ended up under the car in pieces....he said he found himself lying flat down in front of the car..unharmed...God`s protection..

Mum was telling then a story she recalls about our younger brother Allen when he was 3, he was playing outside in the yard so she thought, when she heard a screech, like the sound you`d hear from the brakes on a car.. she ran out to see what was happening, just in time to see Allen climbing out from under a car..he also was unhurt...but you could imagine the poor driver, he was beside himself, yelling at Mum to keep her kids inside...it only takes a few minutes...I thank God again for His promise to protect widow`s..

Another time Allen was playing outside with 2 of his cousins, they were playing in an old trailer that had been left outside...the bolts were all rusted through, an accident waiting to happen really...as he was playing around the trailer one of the bolts went into his leg..it was a mess, as you could imagine..
Mum said she had to travel by train into the Children`s Hospital once a week for 4 weeks, so he could receive injections..It seems ridiculous nowadays to think she had to go all that way..Must ask Allen if he still has the scar from that incident!

Vera my oldest sister was playing near the dam when she was very little, she accidently fell in...Don was trying to get her out with a stick, trying to get her to grab onto the stick so he could drag her out..he obviously was`nt old enough to have even learnt to swim yet..Mum heard Don calling to her so came running out...lept into the dam & dragged her out by grabbing a hold of her dress...Mum also could`nt swim, still can`t..Mum said her mouth was full of dirty water..she`d been under water a couple of times..Whew a very close call..

To be continued......

Memories

2009-10-20T07:11:00.003+11:00

Again Mum was telling me stories of the past...One day the Police came to her door, she had Allen then 4, sitting on the step while talking to the policemen...they had come to talk with an Allen Young, Mum asked don`t you mean Don Young...(who incidently, was away with an Uncle at the time) they assured her no it was definately Allen Young..Apparently 3 teenage boys who lived at the corner of the street, had told the policemen that an Allen Young had thrown a stone which broke the window situated high above on a paper storage building at the top of our street..

They kept insisting it was Allen Young, Mum directed their attention to the little boy at her feet,this is Allen Young, she said.. they were dumb founded...yet they continued by asking him to show them how far he could throw a stone...he threw as far as his little arm could throw...which was`nt very far, certainly not strong enough to throw it as high as the tall building where the window was broken..

Mum told them that she thinks they need to go back to talk to the boys who gave them this false information..They were very apologetic..

Mum said this sort of thing happened all the time, people seemed to think they had the right to blame a widow`s children for any wrong done in the area....

I am being blessed more & more at what a wonderful Mum I have...the things she had to put up with when we were growing up, we had know idea..I don`t ever recall her complaining about any of this...we were oblivious to it all!!

Thanks Mum, I know God has a special reward waiting for you in Heaven...

People reaching people.

2009-10-20T07:10:00.003+11:00

Pastor Greg Laurie will be speaking, October 26-28, at the Billy Graham Training Center in North Carolina. Click here for more information.Monday, October 19, 2009People Reaching People
So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you."
— Acts 10:33Acts 10 records the story of a man named Cornelius, a centurion who lived in Caesarea. Caesarea was a Roman outpost in Israel, named after Caesar. As a Roman military officer who commanded a group of 100 soldiers, Cornelius would have been taught to worship the gods of Rome that mostly were from Greece, which Rome conquered. He also would have been taught to worship Caesar as a god. Yet this worship apparently left Cornelius feeling empty.Being around the Jewish people all the time, maybe he thought, You know, I believe they are worshiping the true God. So he started giving money to the poor, and he started praying to the God of Israel. Even though he was a non-Jew, he called out to their God. God will reveal Himself to the true seeker (see Jeremiah 29:13), and because Cornelius was truly seeking God, He sent an angel to tell him to summon Peter, who would have a message for him.But the angel didn't cut to the chase and say, "Hey, Cornelius! You need to believe in Jesus, who died and rose again." Why not give him the gospel right then and there? Because the primary way that God reaches people is through people. Romans 10:14 says, "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?"Peter was the man whom God wanted to use to reach Cornelius. God wanted Cornelius to be saved, and He also wanted to use the conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile, to open Peter's eyes to the fact that there is a big world out there that needs to hear the gospel. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

A face with the sin..

2009-10-17T07:41:00.003+11:00

Pastor Greg Laurie will be speaking, October 26-28, at the Billy Graham Training Center in North Carolina. Click here for more information.Friday, October 16, 2009A Face with the Sin
Peter told them, "You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean."
— Acts 10:28It is very easy to rail against someone who is caught up in a certain sin until you personally know them. It is easy to say that certain things are a sin until you know someone who is trapped by that sin. Maybe you have a close friend, even a family member, who is gay or who struggles with alcohol or drug abuse. Maybe you know someone with a child who has gone astray. Maybe your own child has gone astray. Suddenly when it is on your doorstep, it is not the same, because now there is a face with the sin.Now I am not suggesting that sin is any less a sin. But I am saying that when it is someone you know, you see it a little bit differently all of the sudden. There is a little more compassion for that person. You want to help rather than simply condemn.That is what happened with the apostle Peter, who was a Jew. Jews were taught from youth to have nothing to do with Gentiles. They were never to eat food prepared by Gentile hands. A strict Jew never would be a guest in a Gentile's home or invite a Gentile into his home. It was part of the Jewish culture, and Peter felt this way. He didn't want to leave his comfort zone and go to non-Jews with the message of the gospel. Yet God softened his heart, and Peter began to see things differently.As believers, we too can write off large groups of people with whom we don't agree. Sometimes Christians will maintain a philosophy of "us four and no more." Some will divide over anything, and as a result, they are missing out on what God can do. They are missing out on opportunities. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Causing a disturbance.

2009-10-14T11:52:00.001+11:00

Pastor Greg Laurie will be speaking, October 26-28, at the Billy Graham Training Center in North Carolina. Click here for more information.Tuesday, October 13, 2009Causing a Disturbance
The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
— Acts 9:31Acts 9 tells us that after Saul's conversion, the church had peace. Why could they heave a sigh of relief? Because Saul had stopped hunting them down, arresting them, and throwing them into prison. But for as long as he lived, the world never had peace again, because he took the same zeal that had driven him to hunt down Christians and applied it to preaching the gospel.I wish that Christians would serve God with as much zeal as they once served the devil. Many of us did whatever the devil wanted us to do. He would tell us to jump, and we would ask how high. But once we became Christians, we suddenly became timid. Instead of being bold men and women of God who are making a difference, we think, Well, I don't want to offend anyone. . . . Well, I don't want to say that. . . . Well, I am not sure if people would like that.The world didn't have rest, because Saul was the kind of guy who got things done. And when he was filled with the Holy Spirit and led by God, he was out preaching the gospel and causing what could be described as a holy disturbance.Are you causing a disturbance in a good way? Or are you just fitting in—blending in with the woodwork? Instead, may God help you to be the man or woman He has called you to be.I thank God for heroes like Paul. But I thank God for unsung heroes too. So whether you're a hero or an unsung hero, make your life count. Because you don't decide when your life starts, and you don't decide when it ends. But you can decide what you will do with the days in between. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Stories told me by my Mum!

2009-10-13T08:22:00.003+11:00

There are two very funny stories mum has told me over the past two weeks...the first one my sister Dawn was there as well, got to write them down so I don`t ever forget ..

Mum was telling us that she used to often have one of her brother`s family ( Colin & Val) for Christmas dinner, when we were all still very young..

This particular time we had all eaten our chrissy meal & we children went outside to play...my Uncle Colin had apparently brought a bottle of wine with him..he offered them all a drink while sitting around the table...Obviously none of them were accustomed to drinking alcohol too much, as it was`nt long before they all went to sleep...not just a nap mind you, they all slept for 2 hours...can you believe that...all the time we children were amusing ourselves outside unsupervised...hahahaha Is there any wonder our Mum does`nt drink alcohol very much now after it having that effect on her.. She is still known though to like a weak shandy & Don used to buy her a bottle of sherry when she was at the Hostel, she loved it mixed with lemonade..She was horrified when she realized what had happened & the dishes were still waiting to be done..hahaha

The second story is about moi...

We were looking through some old photo`s yesterday, actually it was an old school newsletter, while reading a section about the students from Norris Bank Primary School spending the day at the Whittlesea Show, it somehow reminded Mum of a time when I was running in a race at the School Sports...she said I got about half way into the race then stopped still, turning around to look at her, she said,she could`nt believe I just stopped, so she was encouraging me to keep running...which of course I immeditaely started to do, being the obedient little girl that I was...needless to say I didn`t win the race...I asked Mum why on earth did I just stop running, she said I think it was because you could see you were`nt going to win, so you didn`t want to run anymore....Karina tells me I was a bad sport...probably right Karina...Not good..is funny though.hahahahah

Encouragers

2009-10-13T06:34:00.003+11:00

Pastor Greg Laurie will be speaking, October 26-28, at the Billy Graham Training Center in North Carolina. Click here for more information.Monday, October 12, 2009Encouragers
For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means "Son of Encouragement"). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus.
— Acts 4:36Acts 9 tells us that it was Barnabas who brought the newly converted Paul to the apostles in Jerusalem. The name Barnabas means "son of encouragement," and his actions reveal that he was an encouraging guy. We all know a Barnabas—the one who always has an encouraging word. When you are down, that is the person you want to call, because you know he or she will encourage you.You may not be called to preach and teach like Paul did, but you can be an encourager like Barnabas was. You can do your part, because right now, you probably know someone who needs some encouragement—someone who has failed in life, someone who is hurting, or someone who is a brand-new believer. They need someone like you to stand in the gap. You don't have to know every verse in the Bible. You don't have to have the answer to every theological question. You just need to be a real Christian who can show them what it is like to live in the real world.You can be a Barnabas, an encourager, because everybody needs encouragement. And everyone needs help. Everyone stumbles and falls in some way, shape, or form. Everyone has their down days, even the heroes of life. They may wake up on the wrong side of the bed, be feeling a little cranky, or don't always have the perfect answer for every question. They are human like you are. They need someone to just encourage them. So be an encourager.Thank God for the Barnabases of the world who help those in need—and all of us need it at one time or another. These are the unsung heroes who play an important part in the lives of great men and women of God. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

A matter of the heart!

2009-10-11T04:10:00.001+11:00

A Matter of the Heart

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Is a Christian entitled to self-defense? If that is the case, how does that work with the teaching of Jesus that we are to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile?Should a true follower of Jesus be a complete pacifist? Or can a Christian actually be in favor of war? More specifically, can a Christian, in good conscience, serve in the military or as a law enforcement officer?These questions have been asked for hundreds of years, and they are valid questions. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), Jesus deals with this issue and far more.Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount to His disciples. Its standards are not those by which a society is governed as much as they are principles by which a true follower of Jesus is to live. The real theme of the Sermon on the Mount is simply this: the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.That is why Jesus saved His most scathing words not for tax collectors or for prostitutes, but for Pharisees. He told them, "Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matthew 23:28).Jesus was looking at their hearts. And God is still looking at human hearts today.Have you ever actually wanted to kill someone? Has someone ever made you so angry that you almost could have? Let me put it another way: Have you ever driven on a freeway during rush hour?Let's be honest. We have all felt that kind of anger. This is why we are warned about going "in the way of Cain" in Jude 1:11.Cain was a murderer. His murderous motive started with envy when he saw that God accepted his brother Abel's sacrifice over his. That envy ultimately led to murder. And that is why we have to nip these things in the bud.
Jesus said, "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (Matthew 5:22). The word Jesus used for "angry" in this verse means a settled anger, malice that is nursed inwardly.Jesus was speaking of people who become bitter and then develop a grudge and nurse it. They are not letting go. Every day, they are fueling the fire.This is wrong. And this actually can lead to the kind of sin Jesus was referring to.There are times when anger is proper. There is such a thing as righteous indignation. Certainly Jesus demonstrated that when He drove the moneychangers out of the temple, not once but twice.Of course, there is also wicked anger. This is the kind of anger where we let something settle in and turn into hatred. According to 1 John 3:15, "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."Anger is murder in the heart, just as lust is adultery in the heart. Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment' " (Matthew 5:21). In the original language, the word used in this verse for "murder" is very specific.Sometimes people will quote this verse and say, "It is a sin to kill. That is why there should be no wars and no one should ever use a gun or try to defend their lives." But the Bible does not say that. Rather, it says, "You shall not murder."Let's understand the difference. All murder is killing, but not all killing is necessarily murder.There are times when killing is acceptable, though not desirable. The Bible makes allowance for war. Throughout the Old Testament, there were many occasions when God told the Israelites to go to war. So there is a place for peace and a place for war. There is a place for the use of force and a place for turning the other cheek.Jesus was not refuting capital punishment or the proper use of force, but He was essentially saying, "You pride yourselves on the fact that you have never actually murdered someone. But have you ever wanted, in your heart, to kill someone?"If we only focus on the outward, we won't get to the real issue: Righteousness is a matter of the heart.
Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write to let him know!Greg@harvest.org

Strength in weakness..

2009-10-03T09:18:00.003+10:00

Strength in Weakness
That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
— 2 Corinthians 12:10We love the exciting aspects of the Christian life—except for the suffering. But Paul wrote, "Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).If you want to be used by God, then you will be attacked. If you want to mix in with the crowd and never stand up for your faith in Christ, then you probably will not have much opposition. But if you say, "I want my life to make a difference. I want to stand up for Jesus Christ wherever I am," then you will face opposition.Paul faced a lot of it—from unexpected sources. He said,
I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. . . . I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. (2 Corinthians 11:23–26)In spite of this, Paul stated, "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death" (Philippians 3:10). Part of knowing God is not only in the power of His resurrection, but also in His suffering.God can work through human weakness and suffering. But if you face calamity, if you have a physical infirmity or challenge and can still rejoice and praise God, then that is a powerful witness. And in some ways it can be more powerful than the person who has no infirmity at all. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed

Close to the Kingdom.

2009-09-29T09:11:00.003+10:00

Monday, September 28, 2009Close to the Kingdom
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
— Galatians 6:9Does it ever seem to you as though God could not save certain people— people you know, but can't imagine their being a follower of Jesus? Here is what we need to remember: No one is beyond the reach of God. Sometimes the people we think are far away from God are closer than we realize.There might be someone you talk with about your faith who is very pleasant and even nods as you speak. But then he or she says, "Well, I can see that your faith has made you a much happier person. You seem to be full of joy, and I am glad that you have found Jesus."So you say, "Well, thank you so much. Hey, would you like to come with me to church next Sunday?""Uh, no." It was said nicely, but the answer was clearly no.Then there is that coworker who is always hassling you. It seems as though every Monday, this person has come up with 10 new questions to fire at you and even gets a little angry about it. Or maybe it is your neighbor, your husband or wife, your mother or father, or your son or daughter who is hostile toward your faith. You think, That person is so far from the kingdom of God. Yet the very opposite may be true. The person who is giving you the hardest time might be very close to coming to Christ.As an old proverb says, "If you throw a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that barks the loudest is the one that got hit." And sometimes the one who protests the most, the one who argues the most with you about your faith is the one who actually is closest to the kingdom of God. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Raising thirsty children.

2009-09-26T18:30:00.003+10:00

Raising Thirsty Children

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A verse that we often quote, especially when our kids are going astray, is Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (NKJV).We think the way to do that is to raise our kids, basically from birth, in a Christian environment. So, from their very early days, we send them off to Sunday School. We send them to Christian camps. We enroll them in Christian schools. We only let them listen to Christian music, and we try to make sure they have Christian friends. We seem to be doing all of the right things.Even so, when they get a little older, they go into rebellion in some cases. We think, Wait a second! Where did I go wrong?But maybe it's a failure to understand what it really means to train up a child in the way that he or she should go.The phrase "train up" in the original Hebrew speaks of the actions of a midwife who would dip her finger into crushed dates and then put it in the mouth of a newborn child. The purpose of this was to stimulate the infant's thirst for milk. So drawing from this concept, we see that to "train up" a child means to create a thirst within him or her.Also, the word "child" used in Proverbs 22:6 is used in different ways in various passages. In one passage, the word relates to an infant. In another, it speaks of a young boy. In another, it references Joseph at age 17. In another, it is associated with a young man ready for marriage.So this verse is really speaking of training children from their infant stages all the way into young adulthood. So, to put it all together, the verse is saying, "Create a thirst in and also give your child external boundaries from the beginning to the end, from infancy to young adulthood."That is what God has called us to do. We are establishing external boundaries for our children's protection, but we are also seeking to develop within them an internal motivation to know and love the Lord.What is the best way to create thirst? The same way you stir an appetite.
Imagine going out with friends who want to go get something to eat, but you aren't all that hungry. You go to the restaurant with them anyway, where they order big hamburgers, fries, and shakes.When the food arrives, it smells so good. So you ask, "Mind if I have one of those fries?" The next thing you know, you've ordered your own meal. What happened? Their food came. You smelled it. You tasted it. And then you wanted your own.In the same way, the best thing we can do to create a hunger and thirst for Jesus Christ in others is to live it ourselves. It is to be what God has called us to be.If we are being the salt of the earth (see Matthew 5:13), then we will create a thirst for spiritual things in others, and they will see something in us that they will admire. So, in leading our children and training our children, the most important thing we must do is to live it first.Moses said to the people of Israel, "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:6–7 NKJV).Moses is saying that what you teach your children must be real to you first of all. Faith in Jesus Christ is something that permeates every area of our lives, and it is something that we should be talking about—not just at church or at a set time, such as family devotions.It should be all of the time, when you sit down . . . when you rise up . . . when you are walking on the way. It is a part of our lives, and we need to teach our kids that Jesus Christ is to be a part of everything that we do.As we model that for them and teach it to them, it will create a thirst in them as well. But first, we must be good examples.
Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write to let him know!Greg@harvest.org

God`s Work.

2009-09-25T06:16:00.003+10:00

Thursday, September 24, 2009It's God's Work
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
— 1 Corinthians 3:6–7You cannot really find an instance in the New Testament of anyone who came to faith apart from another person's involvement. Although there are exceptions, this is how most people become Christians.Take for example, the Philippian jailer, whose conversion is recorded in Acts 16. God could have reached him in many ways, but He chose to use Paul and Silas, whom he allowed to be imprisoned for preaching the gospel. They were mistreated by this jailer, but when an earthquake struck and the jailer faced execution because the prisoners would have gone free, Paul and the others chose to stay in the prison. The jailer asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30), and the Bible tells us that not only did the jailer come to faith, but so did his entire household.Another example is found in the story of Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Regiment who had a heart to know God. An angel appeared to him and told him he needed to talk to a guy named Simon Peter, who was in Joppa. So Cornelius sent for Peter, and Peter shared the gospel with Cornelius.Even Saul of Tarsus, whom we know as Paul, was converted on the Damascus Road, having a direct encounter with Jesus. Yet he had his heart opened and softened through the testimony of young Stephen, the first martyr of the church who prayed as he was dying, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin" (Acts 7:60).Yes, God uses people to reach people, but God is the one who saves them—not us. This seems rather obvious, but sometimes we forget it. God will prepare a person's heart to hear and receive the gospel. He uses us, but He is the one who does the work. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Walk Of Faith.

2009-09-23T04:42:00.001+10:00

Tuesday, September 22, 2009A Walk of Faith
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

— Romans 5:1The Bible tells the story of a man who had everything this world says one should have to feel happy and fulfilled: power, wealth, influence, and fame. But along with that came an emptiness that sent him on a search for God. As secretary of the treasury for a powerful nation, he was second only to the queen. But there was a hole in his heart, so it led him on a search to the spiritual capital of the world, Jerusalem. He did not find what he was looking for, but as he was returning home, he unexpectedly found the answer to his questions. He had an appointment with God that resulted in his conversion and complete transformation.His story shows what happens when a person becomes a Christian. When someone truly believes in Jesus Christ, his or her life changes dramatically. This man went from emptiness and misery to overflowing joy. His story ends with the statement, "He went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39). It is no exaggeration when the Bible says that we pass from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God, when we believe in Jesus Christ. It is describing what takes place in our lives.But we also need to recognize that not every case is identical. There are different types of people who come to faith in different ways. Some have a tremendous emotional response, while others have no emotional experience at all.An emotional experience has little to do with the reality of a person's conversion. When I prayed and asked Christ to come into my life, I felt nothing. And because of this, I falsely concluded that God had rejected me. Thankfully, I discovered later that Christianity is a walk of faith and not of feeling.

Chasing Rainbows

2009-09-22T04:47:00.001+10:00

Monday, September 21, 2009Chasing Rainbows
Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

— Ecclesiastes 4:4
One Saturday morning I was up very early because of jet lag, so I went out for a walk. Much to my delight, I saw a beautiful rainbow. I pulled out my phone to snap a quick picture, but the rainbow was barely visible in the photo. The further I walked, the more stunning the rainbow became, so I decided to go home and get my camera. But when I made it back to the spot where I saw the rainbow at its best, it was gone.I thought, This is why people should not chase rainbows. It can be a metaphor for life. We chase after things that aren't quite there.When we are young, we think, When I graduate from high school, then I will be complete. So we finally get out of high school, and we think, Now I have to get a job and actually make a living. I'd better get more education. So we further our education. Then we start our careers, and as we begin working, we hope to climb the ladder of success in our chosen profession. Then we start to think, Well, it is a relationship I need. I need to be married. And so we get married, and after awhile, we think, Kids are what I need. After the kids come along, we start dreaming about what it will be like when the kids are grown.Life just goes on, and we find ourselves chasing rainbows. Then one day we wake up to discover there is more life behind us than there is ahead of us. So don't spend your life chasing after all the things this world has to offer, because you will never find fulfillment on this earth. You will only find it in a relationship with Christ. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

2009-09-16T05:34:00.000+10:00

In All Things Charity.

2009-09-16T04:40:00.003+10:00

Tuesday, September 15, 2009In All Things, Charity
But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

— Acts 6:1
In the days when the early church was growing by leaps and bounds, when miracles were being performed, when many were being saved, people started complaining. Doesn't that sound like today?You see, the devil tried to stop the church through persecution. But instead of arresting its development, he helped the church get on with the job of being what God called it to be. Rather than cowering in fear, the church became a lean, mean, preaching machine. Next, Satan tried to infiltrate the church through two blatant hypocrites, Ananias and Sapphira. We know how God dealt with them. Then the devil tried to stop the church through division—divide and conquer. He slipped into its ranks, and people started complaining about the smallest things.At issue in the first century church were cultural differences. Greek culture was prevalent because of the conquest of Alexander the Great. And after the Romans conquered the Greeks and effectively bludgeoned the world into submission, they adopted much of the Greek culture, its language, and even some of its religion. Therefore, Greek influence was very strong in the ancient world of the New Testament.Some widows in the church were Jews who spoke Greek and probably had been raised outside of Jerusalem. Having returned to the Holy Land, they were mixing with what might be described as old-school Hebrews. So basically, the church had a culture clash.And we still have the same problem today. Every generation has the musical style and dress they prefer. They have certain cultural mores they think are important. Sometimes they are based on a biblical concept, and other times they are simply personal preferences. But the church should never divide over these things. As theologian Philipp Melanchthon stated, "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity." Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you?

Unlikely Instruments.

2009-09-15T06:28:00.001+10:00

Monday, September 14, 2009Unlikely Instruments
Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

— Acts 6:8
Stephen, the first martyr of the church, died at an early age. Some might look at the way he died and think, What a waste! But in the words of Jim Elliot, another young martyr for the faith, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."What kind of person does God look for to use for His glory? What qualifies a person to be selected by God to be His instrument? Is it a towering intellect or how many PhDs a person has on the wall? Do you have to be physically attractive? Do you need to be a born leader? How about someone who is a little timid? What about the person who isn't the most physically attractive? What about people whom many would classify as ordinary? Is there a place for someone like that?I would suggest to you there is. Because one of the things that stands out from the pages of Scripture is that God seems to go out of His way to use people whom you'd never imagine He would. And if my life is evidence of anything, it is evidence of that.So why does God do this? We find the answer in 1 Corinthians 1:27–29:
Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
God is looking for unexpected people to use for His glory. Are you willing to be one of them? Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Divine Discipline

2009-09-13T06:43:00.003+10:00

Divine Discipline
This may sound strange, but the time to put up your guard as a Christian is when things are going well.When we are facing times of crisis, we are usually looking to the Lord. When a hardship hits, when a difficulty comes, we say, "God, if you don't come through for me, I am not going to make it." Those are not the times to be extra careful.The time to be extra careful is when things are going reasonably well, when the bills are paid, when the health is good, and when there is no crisis looming on the horizon—at least that you know of. Sometimes we can get a little lazy and forget God. It is not that we turn against God. We just forget about Him.That is exactly what happened with David when he committed adultery with Bathsheba. He had set the scene for his defeat with things he had already done in direct disobedience to God. David had multiple wives and took concubines after he became king (see 2 Samuel 5:13), even though God specifically warned in Deuteronomy 17:17 that a king was never to do this. David's heart was slowly but surely turning away from God, and he was allowing lust to consume his life.Perhaps David thought he was above the law. Yet the Bible warns, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV).Sins we commit today may not have their full impact until much later. In other words, some people are sowing the seeds of sin today and may not see immediate repercussions. So they mistakenly conclude that they won't have to pray a price for what they are doing.But Galatians 6:7 says, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (NKJV).David's sin with Bathsheba was the outcome of earlier sins that he had committed. He didn't fall suddenly. It was a process, as it is with everyone.David should have been leading his troops into war, which is what a king in his day would do. But David wasn't in battle; he was in bed. There is nothing wrong with taking a vacation, but we need to remember there is no rest from the spiritual battle. The devil never takes a day off. The Bible describes him as "a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV).David was kicking back, lowering his spiritual guard. So when he saw the beautiful Bathsheba, he took immediate action to have her brought into his chambers. As David was driven by his lust, all rational thinking went out the door, along with any regard for the repercussions or his reputation.The sin was committed. The wrong had been done. Then a little time passed, and Bathsheba sent word to David that she was pregnant. At that point, David should have said, "I have sinned against God." But David would not come clean. He thought he could cover up what he had done.But the Bible says, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13 NKJV). David had not considered one important thing: he had displeased the Lord (see 2 Samuel 11:27).Despite his extreme wickedness, David was still a believer—a very disobedient one, but a believer nonetheless. And in Psalms 32 and 51, he wrote about the tortured state he was in as a result of the unconfessed sin in his life. For 12 months, he fought the conviction of the Holy Spirit and was not experiencing the presence of God as he had before. He described it as having his strength evaporated.David's life serves as a reminder that God simply will not allow His children to get away with sin. And as His children, He will tell us what is right and what is wrong.If we are crossing the line as His sons or daughters, then He will tell us. Hebrews 12:11 says, "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (NKJV).So if you start to go the wrong way and roadblocks are placed in your path, if conviction kicks in along with guilt, then rejoice. It means that you are a child of God. And God is disciplining you because He loves you.

Full Life..

2009-09-12T06:46:00.001+10:00

Friday, September 11, 2009A Full Life
Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

— Philippians 3:8Today people are thinking about what to do to prolong their lives, whether it is through stem cell research, cloning, cryonics, or the latest potion or lotion. I find myself laughing at some of the things I see advertised with the implication they will help me live longer. I realize that people can eat all the tofu and wheat germ they want, but their lives will end when they are going to end.Yet some people become obsessed with the concept of living longer. According to a LIFE magazine cover story, there are some scientists who suggest that we can and will stop aging. But the article went on to ask whether we would really want to stop aging. In other words, do we really want to live forever? I guess it comes down to what kind of life you are living. Medical science can seek to add years to your life, but only God can add life to your years and give you a life that is worth living.Our objective as Christians should not be to merely live long lives; our objective should be to live full lives, meaningful lives, and purposeful lives.Jim Eliot is one example of a Christian who did this. As a young man, he felt God was calling him to take the gospel to a tribe in Ecuador then known as the Auca. Tragically, Jim was martyred along with four other missionaries in their attempt to share the gospel. Jim once wrote in his journal, "I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus." That is a good thought: Life is not a matter of years; it is a matter of what we do with them. What are you doing with the years God has given you? Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!

Choose well..

2009-09-11T05:19:00.003+10:00

Thursday, September 10, 2009Choose Well
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them."

— Ecclesiastes 12:1A French proverb says, "Forty is the old age of youth and fifty is the youth of old age." So according to the French, I am still a young person, relatively speaking.However, my wife and I went to a movie theater the other day, where I noticed they give discounts to seniors. So I asked for one regular and one senior admission, expecting to be questioned about it. But without any hesitation, the young employee just gave me my ticket.I am at a point in my life called "middle age," which I wouldn't mind so much if I only knew a few more 100-year-olds. When you are middle-aged, you begin to wonder who put the quicksand in the hourglass of time, because your days, months, and years go by so quickly.So let me ask you, what story is your life telling? My story is a simple one: God can take a mess of a life with the deck stacked against it and redeem it. That is my story. What is yours? We all have a story to tell. And we all need to take stock of our lives and ask, "What is my life all about? What is the legacy that I will leave? How will I be remembered?"It is really important to not only think of this as you are getting older, but it is also crucial to think about when you are young, because that is when you are charting the course your life will take. That is when you are developing habits and making decisions like the career path you will follow and the person you will marry.You will decide the evening of your life by the morning of it, or the end by the beginning. So make the right choices. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!

Face the music.

2009-09-10T06:31:00.003+10:00

Wednesday, September 9, 2009The recent Southern California Harvest drew 126,000 people to Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, with 11,969 people making professions of faith in Christ. Click here to see a special recap video of the event.
Face the Music
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

— Romans 3:23
Remember the group Milli Vanilli? They enjoyed great success until it was revealed that they did not sing on their own records. Everyone found out that Milli Vanilli didn't really do what they said they did. Milli Vanilli had to face the music.There is coming a day when we will all have to face the music. The phrase, "face the music," originated in Japan. A man was a part of the Imperial Orchestra, but he could not play a note. But because he was a man of great influence and wealth, he demanded a place in the group, because he wanted to perform before the emperor. The conductor gave him a seat in the second row of the orchestra, and he was given a little flute. During each concert, he would raise his instrument, pucker his lips, and move his fingers as though he were playing. But he never made a sound.This deception went on for two years until a new conductor took over and wanted to personally audition every player. One by one, the musicians performed in his presence. Then came the flautist's turn, and he had to admit he was a fake. He couldn't "face the music." None of us can live this life perfectly and flawlessly. All of us will fall short of God's glory, time and time again. But there is a difference between a person who seeks to live a godly life, but has their human failures and weaknesses, and a person who tries to appear to be more spiritual than he or she really is.It has been said that you can fool all of the people some of the time, you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool God any of the time. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Wheat & Tares

2009-09-09T07:29:00.001+10:00

Tuesday, September 8, 2009Wheat and Tares
Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat.

— Matthew 13:24–25
Jesus told a story known as the parable of the wheat and tares. In this particular story, He talked about a farmer who planted a crop of wheat. And during the night his enemy, probably a competitor, came along and sowed tares, or weeds, among the wheat.The tare that Jesus described in this parable was also known as the darnel seed, which looks almost exactly like wheat in the beginning stages of its growth. But after it grows a little more, it becomes evident that it is a weed, and it actually uproots the wheat.When one of the farmer's workers asked him, "Shall we pull out the weeds?" the farmer replied, "No, you'll hurt the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn."Jesus told this story to point out that there are people in the church who have infiltrated our ranks. While there is wheat, there are also tares. We don't know who is who, necessarily. You will find them sitting side by side in a pew, breathing the same air, and singing the same songs. One may be a believer, while the other may be an unbeliever. One may be wheat, and one may be a tare.We always will have people who infiltrate our ranks, the Ananiases and Sapphiras and the Judas Iscariots—the satanic plants that undermine the Word of God. But it is not our job to weed those people out. We don't see a person's heart. Our concern should not be who the hypocrites are, but whether we are hypocrites ourselves. Our job is to take care of ourselves, to take heed and make sure that we are true believers. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

No Pretending.

2009-09-08T09:37:00.001+10:00

Monday, September 7, 2009No Pretending
Then Peter said, "Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.

— Acts 5:3
Acts 5 tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira, a husband and wife who lied to the Holy Spirit. By lying to the Holy Spirit, they were pretending to be something they were not. Ananias and Sapphira wanted others to think they were more devoted to God than they really were.Ironically, the name Ananias means "God is gracious," but Ananias also found out that God is holy. Sapphira means "beautiful," but she found out how ugly sin can be.At this time the church was living together communally, because there was a lot of persecution against believers. Some had lost their homes and their income, so other believers who had resources and means were helping out. Everyone had the option of doing whatever God led them to do, and some were selling properties and giving the money to the church. Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property, but they acted as though they gave more of the money to God than they really did. The issue here was not about giving or not giving; the issue was lying—saying they did one thing when they really did another.This is what Jesus warned about: "Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. . . . Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you" (Matthew 6:1, 4).We have all done this. We have all tried to appear more spiritual than we really are. But it is better to be a sinner and admit it than to pretend to be something you are really not. This was Ananias and Sapphira's problem. They were actors, hypocrites. They put on a show, and no one bought it—especially God. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Getting it right

2009-09-06T16:54:00.001+10:00

Wednesday, August 12, 2009Getting It Right
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

— 1 Timothy 4:16
Every now and then someone comes along and claims that believers can have a great new experience with the Holy Spirit, such as laughing uncontrollably or making animal noises. And my response is, "Excuse me, where is that in the Bible?" Because if I can't find it in the Bible, then frankly I am not interested.If it is not in God's Word, then it is not of God. We should always be able to have a scriptural basis for what we are doing. By that I don't mean spiritualizing a text and taking it out of context. I mean truly having a biblical basis where we can say, "Here it is happening in the Book of Acts, taught in the Epistles," and so forth.When someone claims to be a prophet of God with a new revelation for the church that has never been revealed before, just remember that if it is new, then it is not true. And if it is true, then it is not new. I am not looking for a new revelation; I have more than enough in the Bible.Yet there are people today who are looking for "new words from the Lord" when they never have even read God's written word, the Bible, from cover to cover. There is plenty in Scripture to occupy ourselves with. So don't look for new revelations. Instead, look at the Scripture and always have a scriptural basis for everything that you say and do.Just as an artist knows how to use her pens and brushes (and nowadays her computer software), just as a chef knows how to use his knives, and just as a soldier knows how to use his weapons, we need to know how to use the Word of God. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Sacrifice of Praise

2009-09-06T16:48:00.001+10:00

Monday, August 24, 2009The Sacrifice of Praise
"Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name."

— Hebrews 13:15
There are times when we are not in the mood to praise God. But did the first-century believers always feel like praising God? They were harassed. They were beaten. They were mocked. And that was all before breakfast. Yet they worshipped the Lord nonetheless.The Bible doesn't say to give thanks to the Lord because you feel good. Rather, the Bible says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever" (Psalm 106:1). The Bible also tells us to "offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name" (Hebrews 13:15). Yes, praise and worship can sometimes be a sacrifice. There are times when we are down or depressed or things aren't going well, when there is a hardship or a tragedy, and we don't want to thank God.But do you think Job felt like praising God when he lost everything? He lost his family. He lost his home. He lost his possessions. He lost his health—all in one fell swoop, in effect. But what does the Bible say he did? He "fell to the ground to worship" and said, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!" (Job 1:20–21). Now that is the sacrifice of praise.The sacrifice of praise is also something we are to verbalize. Notice Hebrews 13:15 says that offering a continual sacrifice of praise to God includes "proclaiming our allegiance to his name." We need to verbalize our praise to God. It is not that God needs praise from us, but He wants it. And He tells us to verbalize our praise. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Staying Power

2009-09-06T16:47:00.000+10:00

Thursday, August 13, 2009Staying Power
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

— Hebrews 13:8
We are living in a time now that is described as postmodern. And in church circles, there is a lot of talk about how to reach the postmodern generation. But the gospel doesn't change, whether it is for the ancient culture, the modern culture, the premodern, the postmodern, or the post-postmodern. The gospel never will change.Sometimes in our attempts to relate, we end up becoming more like the people we are trying to reach. They are bringing us their way more than we are bringing them our way. So we need to be very careful in this area. The rationalization is, Well, you know Jesus hung around sinners. . . . But to be specific, Jesus didn't really hang around sinners. Yes, He had plenty of contact with them. But He hung around His disciples for the most part. And when He came into contact with sinners, they were changed.He conversed with the Samaritan woman, but He also confronted her about her sin, and she became a believer that day. He didn't say, "Hey, it's cool. Whatever! Let's just hang out." When He spoke to the woman who was caught in the act of adultery, He pointed out what she had done wrong, and she submitted to His lordship. When He was a guest in the home of Zacchaeus, the once-corrupt tax collector emerged into a changed man.So when Jesus spent time around sinners, they were changed. And this is what we must always want to accomplish as we seek to reach unbelievers with the gospel. We want to bring them to faith in Christ, not end up being like them. We must be careful that we don't overcompromise. Because when we lower our standards to extend our reach, we will end up reaching no one. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him!Greg@harvest.org

Why Does God bother with us people?

2009-09-05T15:08:00.000+10:00

I have had a very traumatic day today, one I am going to try hard to forget..
Yet, good comes out of these awful situations..

On the one hand you have those trying to force their opinions on you, then you have those who are only too willing to help you in your predicament...Is amazing how these things happen when you are in a vulnerable position too..Alone, left wondering who can I turn to for help!

I have had people harassing me, simply because I would`nt agree with their views...
Why is it that unless you agree with them, you are deemed the enemy?

I believe there is always 2 sides to ever story...Don`t you?

Can`t abide someone who is always bad mouthing another person, who is`nt there to defend themselves..I find myself standing in their defense..getting myself into very hot water indeed!

It`s times such as these that I can relate to the Psalmist who wrote...:"What is man the You ( God) are mindful of him.."

Jen thinks `i` ll like this, so has kindly built me a blog...lol

2009-09-03T16:12:00.000+10:00

Have know idea what to write about, but guess you`ll possibly find me commenting on what yall say a bit...Like both Sarah & Jen`s comments on Jeanne`s page about...ahhh "Fairies" & the like..