I Hate Numbers.

Well I just have to say that my suspicion that I hate numbers has been conformed this week. I need to brush up my numeracy skills to go along with my qualification in Child Care and I am not doing so well. I have done 4 practices papers and only passed one. I really hate numbers, why do I need to know how to work out the volume of something, or the amount of fence I need to go around a lake. OK, I know that if I work in schools then my numeracy skills are not upto par but at the moment I am planning on working with preschool children.

Numbers to me could be a foreign language and I would have as much chance at understanding. But ho hum, as they say, I will keep practising.

Give me words any day; they tell a story, keep me informed of world events, confuse me with poetry, interest me with history, intrigue me with a comment on life, challenge me spiritually, make me laugh with their sheer humour if crafted well, shock me with facts about just how sinful man is, open up the door to friendships, allow me to express myself in speech and on paper (or should that be blog) etc. Oh yes, indeed I love words ...... but once I have got this test passed I don't want numbers invading my life any more!

A new horizon ahead.

So we are on the move in the summer. I am realising more and more the enormity of what we are doing. Along with that I am excited about a new challenge. We have been where we are for 13 years and have become comfortable; like an old jumper - warm and soft. Where we are going we will be completely new. I am determined by God's grace to become a member of my new community quicker than I did here. I am looking forward to the opportunities to get to know new people, build on things I have learnt here and hopefully not make the same mistakes!

God has shown me over the past few years that I am not 'all-sorted' and that company is good for me. I love people, always have, but I used to want them to be conformed to my image!! I praise God for the work He is doing. People can be wonderful even if they disagree with me. I want to make a difference for God in this world and pray that I will be open.

God-willing by the time I get to our new place I will have more qualifications in Child Care and am excited as to how I can use them in Kingdom work. I feel that my love for children is something that I would like to train in more so perhaps more study is ahead.

I praise God for His leading us to move to a new place and pray that we can work well for Him.

I have something to say!

So I haven't blogged for a while; I suppose nothing much has struck me as that interesting to tell the world about. I had a wonderful moment of clarity this morning. I had to do the children's talk at church; not something I do much but I had offered to cover for someone who was on holiday. Well, at this point in my life I have a memory like Dorie on 'Finding Nemo' - about 8 seconds in length (P Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, SYDNEY!). I only remembered last night that I said I would do it. As I slipped into sleep last night I still had no talk.

This morning the matter that are called my 'little grey cells' started processing and I decided to talk about Simeon and Anna. Over Christmas I realised that everyone has visitors and/or visits. Jesus was a visitor at 8 days old; He went to the temple with His parents as was the custom of the time. Two things struck me this morning:

• Simeon and Anna recognised that Jesus was the Saviour when He was an 8 day old baby. What faith they had. Simeon says, ' “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,"' After seeing Jesus He was ready to leave this earth and meet His creator.
• At the beginning of Jesus' earthly life the gentiles are mentioned. '"...a light for revelation to the Gentiles,and for glory to your people Israel.”' Wow, that is me. The Gentiles were not just an afterthought in the plan of Salvation, we were involved. The great thing about this plan is that ALL nations, colours and creeds can be part of it. I love that God invented multi-culturalism. Praise God.

Perhaps, these thoughts are not revolutionary but they came home to me this morning in a real way and I thank God for the opportunity of having them brought to my attention again. Sometimes, we miss so much in the familiar parts of scripture.

Currently Reading

For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men By Shaunti Feldhahn

What no blogging!

Nothing much to say at the moment (well there probably is loads but I can't think straight to word it!).

Just wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a blessed 2008. May we all know the joy of our Saviour in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.

Take care and God Bless you.

Currently Reading

The Unquenchable Worshipper: Coming Back to the Heart of Worship (Worship Series) By Matt Redman

Too good to be true.

Do you ever meet people who are just too good to be true? I do. Some folks I have an uneasy feeling about everything they tell me about themselves but it isn't anything I can put my finger on. They just don't seem real and I tend to take all they say with a pinch of salt. I long when this happens for something to prove me right or wrong about those nagging feelings.

As a Christian I am so glad that Jesus isn't like that. Over the summer I have been doing a lot of thinking about my position in Christ. I praise Him that the claims He makes are real and can be totally trusted. He is the Christ, the son of the Living God. He did die and was raised to life again. He has called me to Himself and 'by grace I have been saved through faith, and that not of myself, it is the gift of God, ...' I am so full of thankfulness that 'In Him I also trusted, after I heard the word of truth, the gospel of my salvation, I was sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of my inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.' (Quotes from Ephesians in the Bible)

So perhaps when I meet these people in my daily walk I need to remember these verses and praise God for His willingness to share Himself with me.