Sixty years ago today was the happiest of my life. Last Sat 27th I happened to go for a walk, down to the creek where I often go. As I looked across to the park around the creek, I saw a big familiar marquee. I knew immediately it was the annual beach mission set up for anther 10 days.
So of course I went across to see if anyone was there. I do this each year, find someone over there to see if I could encourage them with the story of the happiest day of my life. I did find a lad called Matthew from Sydney. "I'll be praying for your ministry," I said, "and its because of this ministry I know Jesus, it will be 60 years ago on January 4th! God has kept me true to Him."
I didn't tell Matthew the full story of how I encouraged my sister to learn the memory passage in January 1966 at the beach mission (an interdenominational group mainly from Sydney) so as we would earn the book prize. In those days books were valuable. On collecting the book prizes my sister's teacher asked where my sister was, "Back at the tent", I replied. As we walked up from the park to the tent Miss Gummerson began to ask me if I knew what the verses I learned meant. As a child I hadn't thought much about those beautiful words.
"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one
with another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
1
John 1: 7-9
This Illuminated text I did years ago of my salvation verses, and it hangs in our loungeroom, testimony of God's saving work.
l learnt these verses simply to
win a book prize, but I gained oh, so much
more. Until this day in 1966 I'd never realised it was my sin that put Jesus on the cross, as He took my punishment. So under those trees I prayed for for forgiveness from sin, accepting Jesus as my Saviour. I passed from death to life, instead of eternal condemnation I now had eternal life, covered by the blood of Jesus. That dear teacher told me the verse that the angels are rejoicing in heaven..
Luke 15:10 "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." This filled my heart with wondrous joy! When we went back to our tent and I told my mother I'd just asked Jesus to be my Saviour. She burst into tears, something she rarely did. A long time later when I asked her why, her reply surprised me, "Because you looked so happy". And I was, I had a home in heaven, I'd made the angels rejoice, and I went down to the beach and sang with all my heart the beach mission songs I love even today.
Things that are eternal, like what I gained that day, eternal life with our Saviour - they make life worth living.
To close I'd like to share this short video by Joni Eareckson Tada, or link here.
The verse which Joni refers to is:
1 Cor 2:2 For I determined (or resolved) not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. This is best daily resolution for 2026!
Thank you for popping over and thanks too if you are able to comment.
Prayer hugs in Him, 🙏🤗 Shaz in Oz.x
If you are not sure if you are a Christian, a Christ follower, please read this post here - Who or What is a Christian?
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In all our tribulations, sadnesses, pain and suffering can we still focus on the big picture. Gods big picture not ours!
THE ONE TALENT
Hide not thy talent in the earth,
However small it be;
Its faithful use, its utmost worth,
God will require of thee.
His own, which He hath lent on trust,
He asks of thee again;
Little or much, the claim is just,
And thine excuses vain.
Go, then, and strive to do thy part,
Though humble it may be;
The ready hand, the willing heart,
Are all heaven asks of thee.
- William Cutler
1Pet 1.6-8
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Isn’t that wonderful? we rejoice with joy unspeakable, though we see Him not.. we believe! Amen!
Pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining day by day!
PS. If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ... link HERE. Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😁
If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link, which is on the top of sidebar. 😊 thank you!
“Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail:...” Isaiah 33:21
“O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.” Isaiah 54:11
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:8
Still I will trust, though all my hopes lie shattered
In broken fragments at my feet;
Though all my plans, like driven leaves, are scattered
By winds of darkness and defeat;
For in my need I hear my Saviour saying,
In answer to my pleading and my praying,
“I am thy God; be not afraid;
I will be near; be not dismayed “.
Looking upon this page in my daily calendar, I thought of prayers not seemingly answered!
Of burdens so heavy upon my heart..
I was comforted by these words.
After all the children of Israel for 400 years in bondage in Egypt cried unto the Lord, and God heard all of those sorrowful cries (Exodus2: 23, 24) “God heard their groaning..”
If we look through scripture and or if we are saved for a while, in our own experience we see when the LORD moved mightily.
And so He will again.
In HIS TIME!
Not OURS! These thoughts came to mind.. the need to look up.
In all things as believers in Christ Jesus, our Saviour, we need to
keep the UPWARD a look,
NOT the OUTWARD a look
Or the INWARD look!
Focussing on our Lord is keeping our perspective on TRUTH!
For Jesus said “I am the Way, the TRUTH and the Life..”. With a “Jesus” focus we will be obeying my life verse.
“Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith,
Who for the joy that was set before Him,
endured the cross, despising the shame
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2
We will in our walk be given grace for the day, strength for the way.
Tomorrow’s strength grace and mercy for tomorrow’s burdens will not come until tomorrow.... if it comes!
We will not be given the grace and strength for another’s burdens... only for our own, so don’t try to bear another’s burdens yourself, as we will fail.
Except in prayer and practical help.. for there we are commanded to “bear ye one another’s burden and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Gal 6:2
This refers to practical help - like a meal, a word of encouragement, and most of all prayer.
Greatest gift is to pray earnestly and regularly for them to seek God’s strength for themselves.
For Jesus said “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
How can this be?
Ah, it’s ONLY when we get the order right!
And seek grace just for the day and burdens at hand.
when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Isaiah 25:4
I don’t know about you, but when health fails, the world around you seems so anti God, seemingly even more so today, Satan loves to torment that all this is not worth while.
However remember history - violent persecution under Roman rule, through the dark ages, and many centuries till today, in China, Iran, Burma, many countries and all ages, God’s people have suffered.
So when we see ungodly men in high places, we must not despair no matter how dark it seems!
Especially here in Aust for those in the state of Victoria, the anti -God government has made it a criminal offence if a parent prays for their child, even at the child’s request, on matters relating to LGBTQI.
This legislation reaches beyond state borders to criminalise anyone anywhere who says anything that causes “harm” by their definition to a LGBTQI person in the state of Vic. A prayer for your child in this legislation makes you guilty of child assault.
Just look at that conglomerate of letters! 🤔
Doesn’t that reflect the level of confusion they are evolving from, and inflicting of others by this? and we know who is the author of confusion. It’s not God, but the evil one..
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, ..” 1 Cor 14:3a
Watch this video (link here if not showing), it will make you weep with sorrow, but informed hearts will truly pray earnestly ... why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem? Because of what He saw and knew, and He prayed the more earnestly... than we in our finite minds do!
We need to pray for those ones in power to be saved and/or removed.
We are commanded to pray for them.
I think of US, UK Europe Middle East and Asia we see Satan so busy in every corner of the earth... this is his domain, but his power is limited and his days are numbered.
God does hear, and answers every prayer, in His time and way..
Wherever you are, whatever your burden, I pray for you to be comforted by our Lord God. He alone is our Anchor, our Stronghold in a time of storm.
This world is a place of sorrows and great grief, but one glorious day we shall be free from this fallen, broken world.
Broken hearts will be mended and saved as we pray and trust.
Even if it takes 55 years of prayer, as it did with my darling dad to know the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, or many centuries of waiting as they did for Jesus the Promised One to first come.
And Glory!
Jesus is coming again... perhaps today?
“Therefore be ye also ready: for n such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” Matt 24:44
We need to pray for all men everywhere to repent before the Lord comes.
For it will be an hour when we don’t expect it.
“Surely I come quickly!
Amen, even so Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev 22:20
THIS is the last prayer in the bible.
It should be ours daily.
Praying God’s watch-care upon you and all you love - wherever you maybe.
“Our Heavenly Father knoweth.”
“He careth for you.”
“Keep looking UP, NOT at the mud underneath.” (Bro. Mac)
Prayer Hugs, 🙏🤗❤️
Shaz in Oz.x
Special message to Rita R. Sorry, I did not get your email. I have added the same email link to this blog too, and tested it and correct email came up. Your message not in spam, so not sure where it went. Maybe try again?
God bless you in all things, and keep you looking up.
PS If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ... link HERE. Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊
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Well, want to say first of all I am sorry for not sharing here as much as would like, despite the shut down it seems I’m busier! Also to be honest I have been struggling with the isolation .. even though not really feeling alone, I’m missing my family so much - brethren, friends, church, etc. like everyone else. And am sure it’s worse where you are, so I really am grateful. And good news today! ... ta dah!
Things are loosening a little on visiting family this Fri, here in NSW of Aust. Yay! Pray it will with you too soon.. ❤
I was just now writing to a dear sister and as I wrote these verses and this poem came to mind! I've love this passage and the key thought, so let us meditate briefly!
Psalm 107:24-31
These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Love these verses or really the whole Psalm, especially He hears their cries and brings them out of the their sore distresses!
How rich are we to have our Father’s loving watchcare upon us!!
Then He makes the storm calm.. then they’re glad because they be quiet! (Oh yesss!) And He brings them to their desired haven.
The hymn "Haven of Rest" comes to mind, so sharing 😊 (link also here). This beautiful poem is really wonderfully woven around this Psalm. Often shown with no authorship, but a dear sister in Christ is given credit at end. Took this from Bible Truth Publishers, US, they've copies of it for sale there.
Are You At Wits' End Corner?
Are you standing at “Wits' End Corner”, Christian, with troubled brow? Are you thinking of what is before you, And all you are bearing now? Does all the world seem against you, And you in the battle alone? Remember at Wits' End Corner Is where God’s power is shown.
Are you standing at “Wits' End Corner” Blinded with wearying pain? Feeling you cannot endure it, You cannot bear the strain. Bruised through the constant suffering, Dizzy and dazed, and numb Remember at Wits' End Corner, Is where Jesus loves to come.
Are you standing at “Wits' End Corner” Your work before you spread? Or lying begun, unfinished And pressing on heart and head. Longing for strength to do it. Stretching out trembling hands Remember at “Wits' End Corner” The Burden Bearer stands.
Are you standing at “Wits' End Corner” Yearning for those you love, Longing and praying and watching, Pleading their cause above, Trying to lead them to Jesus Wondering if you’ve been true? He whispers at “Wits' End Corner” “I’ll win them as I won you.”
Are you standing at “Wits' End Corner” Then you’re just in the very spot. To learn the wondrous resources Of Him Who faileth not! No doubt to a brighter pathway Your footsteps will soon be moved But only at Wits' End Corner Is the God who is able, “proved.” Antoinette Wilson
Love the verses of the poem but the second last one really speaks to me specifically in spiritual longing for my family to know our sweet LORD, as I have come to know Him, most of all for salvation, but those Who know Him that they would read and heed His Word! And of course the work spread before me fills so much of my days, too often I do not take all my burdens to my wonderful LORD in prayer.🙏🙏🙏
Love the key thought in this! "God doesn't give us what we can handle,
God helps us handle what we are given!"
Thanks for popping over dear ones, truly appreciate those who are able to comment more than I can say, may the LORD bless you all and keep you and your dear ones, well and safe in the hollow of His hands.
Prayer hugs,
Shaz in Oz.x 🙏🏻🤗
PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ... link HERE. Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊 If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link. Thank YOU
