a quote for you

"If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life."

-Rachel Carson

via beliefnet.com

Wise Link November 2007

The November Edition of WISELink is now available online.

I will once again be publishing the feature article(s), please feel free to discuss the article in the comments area of each post.

New Life

It is Spring. and in spite of the lack of rain, many gardens are bursting into bloom. Everywhere I go, gardens have thrown off there winter drabness- and brilliant blues and lavenders, oranges and yellows greet the eye.

Just recently I was reflecting on God’s grace and mercy and recognised that we take so much for granted and do not really appreciate that God’s mercies are new every day. It is so because we spend an inordinate amount of time looking backwards! What a waste! The reality is that our God is a God of new beginnings so is always out in front of us, inviting us to follow new paths and new opportunities.

Humans are strange creatures, though. We find it very difficult to let the past go and venture into the unknown. The “past” even if it has not been a good experience, is still a “safe” place to be. Rather than moving forward, we spend a lot of time reflecting on the “what might have
been”! We look back and ponder how different things might have been had we just said this or done that, or, indeed, chosen a different path.

The reality, however, is that what is done cannot be changed. What has been said can never be taken back. The moment is passed and gone and regrets are of no value. It seems to me that life is faced most positively and to best advantage when we learn to let go and let God lead us into the places God has already prepared for us. Those places are places of growth and inspiration and challenge. God does not ever take us to a place for which God has not already prepared us—
even if we have yet to realise that is so!

When we seize the moment and give it our best shot, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit and acting with integrity and grace, we discover ourselves to be blessed beyond imagination. If we open ourselves, daily, to the possibility that God might actually choose to use this day to reveal God’s self to another through us, we can embrace the day with certainty and anticipation. We will find
ourselves being able to forget what is behind and move into that which is yet to come.

I would encourage you that if you MUST look back, then do so only to see how much God has already done in your life and draw confidence and assurance that there is nothing that you and God together can not handle and appreciate that every day with God is the beginning of Spring.

MD

Wise Link October 2007

The October Edition of WISELink is now available online.

This month's WISELink we are looking at the new life.

I will again be publishing the feature article, please feel free to discuss the article in the comments area of the post.

one flaw in women

Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they
hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe
there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about
you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Passion:

Pronunciation: 'pash & n (n) from Latin pati to suffer –1: the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death –2: the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces; –3: the emotions as distinguished from reason –4: intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction –5: an outbreak of anger; ardent affection –6: a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept –7: an object of desire or deep interest.

Just recently, I have been thinking about the effect of passionate feelings on our lives and the way we live them out. We can be passionate about anything we choose, and sometimes we will throw our every waking moment into pursuing it.

Recently I went with my family to an AFL game at Telstra Dome in Melbourne to see St Kilda play West Coast. Apart from some passionate West Coast supporters who had travelled from Perth to see the game (there were many on our flight across to Melbourne) by far the most were there to support St Kilda. We couldn’t miss the true blue supporters who showed proudly their team colours and paraphernalia. (I know one ardent supporter who proudly has worn their colours for years even when they were at the bottom of the ladder!)

Back to the game though. We were surrounded by a continual out pouring of passion throughout the game. There were some there that I thought were going to have a coronary or such like in the way they reacted to the umpiring decisions or opposing teams players. Then there was one man who got up from his seat and ran down the concourse to give the umpires a real serve when he didn’t agree with their decision.

I, not having any particular care on who won the match, sat back, watched and wondered. “What difference would it make to the church today (as we know it) if we were as passionate for the Lord’s team if we followed the Christian life as passionately as the AFL team supporters do, or whatever sporting team or interests that you follow.

It is not just football fans who follow their interest so intently – there are those who are passionate about their hobbies, their craft, their car, their garden, their fishing, their music, etc. and many of us put a great deal of effort into having the necessary tools and items needed to follow our passion.

So where is this going? No, its not an excuse to talk about football but a way to look at how we respond to our passions, and line up how passionate we may be about the Lord and His impact on our lives.

To be the person Christ called us to be, we need to be passionate about Christ and the difference He has made in our life, and therefore show and tell it to the world. It is easy for us to be closet Christians because then we don't have to stand out and wear our team colours. We can just go along with the crowd or we can be passionate about the team – that we are not just supporters but members, and we need to Stand Up for Christ in all we do, say and act as it is the mission we have in life.

Christ stood up for us and was willing to go all the way to the Cross for us. How much then do we owe to Him for what He has done for us.

Let’s nail our colours to the Cross and really Follow Him.

Wise Link September 2007

The September Edition of WISELink is now available online.

This month's WISELink we are looking at the value of life and how we look at it through God's eyes.

I will again be publishing the feature article, please feel free to discuss the article in the comments area of the post.

We all need a Tree

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one ton truck refused to start While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.

On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children…

So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again." "Funny thing is," he smiled," when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

Wise Link August 2007

The August Edition of WISELink is now available online.

This month's WISELink we are looking at the value of life and how we look at it through God's eyes.

I will again be publishing the feature article, please feel free to discuss the article in the comments area of the post.

WISELink back copies

If you are looking for back copies of WISELink please click the tab (circled) at the top of this page

or click here to take you to the site.

You then need only click on the month that you require and it will allow you to download that month.

Thx
Web Chick