Healing increased my faith levels

I'm pretty excited about my day today. What started off looking like a disaster turned around and increased my faith levels.  I was up every two hours with my youngest who had a nasty cough and high temps and then in between with my eldest feeling much the same.  I was trying to ignore the fact that I was coming down with the same thing because Mums aren't aloud to get sick!  My husband left for work at 5am (ouch that's early) so there was no chance of any help with the girls.  After running up and down the stairs making breakfast in bed and getting drinks and medicine and rabbits and whatever else, I could feel myself falling apart.  I slumped on the toilet (its the only place to get a minute to myself) and couldn't get back up.  I was hot and cold, shaking, sniffing, nauseous, coughing, the works.  I need my Mum!!!  I cried out to God "Give me strength to get through this day... Please!!!"  It was like he was just sitting there waiting for me to ask for his help because in an instant I got up, shook it all off and got into my day.  Not only did I feel remarkably better I was able to enjoy the day having two very quiet and very cuddly girls.  Its as though God knows I don't have a Mum to come around in times of need so he gives me extra special care.  (oh yes, I'm one of his favourites, lol) I've prayed for healing before and waited and waited but this time he really did come through for me.  It's now 8.15pm and I'm still feeling good!  Luke 11 v 9 So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you.

Children are the fruit of what we sow.

Whilst watching my eldest daughter, hands on hips, face about 20cms from her sisters face, voice raised and attitude in high speed temper throw off, I was a little worried who she'd learnt this act from.  Ahh her father comes from italian decent, it must be from there, haha.  That night I asked God for some help with my child raising and as he speaks to us all in dreams I was excited to go to sleep.  The only problem was the dream I had was all about me and was more like a telling off than what I'd hoped for.  In my dream I was angry at my husband, I was blaming hormones and I was disgusted at my lack of self control.  Whoa, thats not so nice to be shown.  God spoke to me in the morning and said that my children are the fruit of what I sow.  He gave me a slide show of me on my 'off days'. You know, when you're tired and have had enough of been tugged at and demanded of and just let out a mighty roar and snap, losing control and teaching the children exactly what you don't want to see them doing.  (I'm sure I'm not alone here).  I went to God, I thanked him for showing me what I couldn't see with my own eyes and asked him to forgive my temper and lead me and teach me to keep self control.  Now before I lose it the holy spirit prompts me and I listen and obey. I either take a deep breath and think of a better approach or I walk out of temptations way ask for Gods peace put a smile on my face and deal in love. The difference it has made over the last week is incredible. God calls us to be teachers to our children, they copy all that they see, scary but true.  I love my girls and I want to show them unconditional love as best as I can, so they can grow up to be beautiful women that bear much fruit.

A God inspired letter

Today was an especially brilliant day.  A wonderful friend came over to watch my girls for a couple of hours so I could go out and have some 'me time'. This morning I had asked God for some quality time with him and so as I went to get out of my car at the shops I actually got back in the car and had 5mins with him first.  I was blessed with seeing two girlfriends (always a blessing to see friends) then blessed with some bargains for my girls and then to top it all off I was blessed by a beautiful shop assistant that God had a word for and I just didn't know how to say it without looking like some sort of crazy woman.  Firstly I felt that she was destined to be a singer (weird I know) so I asked her if she could sing. Hmm, well, she said she likes to sing to herself but not in public.  I left it at that and just chatted about the 'whatevers' until I left.  Tonight the girls were in bed early, my husband was working late so.. here was my time to soak in Gods presence that I so longed for.  I could not stop thinking about this girl.  So I wrote her a God inspired letter and I just have to share it with you.  Perhaps it will inspire you to do the same.  It's all about spreading the love right?
To the beautiful lady at the chicken shop,
When I was buying my chicken today I couldn't help but notice how beautiful you are. I felt like I already knew you and I know I already asked if you could sing but what I really wanted to tell you was that there is a God and he truly loves you more than you can imagine.  It was like he was showing me what he saw in you and he was saying that he has a song for you.  It's your song and he sings it over you as you sleep. Actually I think he's always singing it to you.  He loves you with a deep, unconditional, passionate love.  There is nothing you can do or say to stop his love for you.
This is seriously the first time I've written to someone that I don't even know, about how much God loves them but I have been thinking about you ever since and I just know God is so desperate to be your friend and your Daddy.  Try him out, next time you have some spare time alone, close your eyes and open your heart. Ask him to be with you. He always shows up.  I pray this touches your heart and you find what I've been writing about.
With love
Shona

Can you ask God to make the rain go away?

I asked God to give me an aerial view, like a heavenly perspective on life.  He is so funny this is what he did.. I sat down with my girls to watch some cartoons and every single one had either astronauts, the moon or some sort of outer space content.  I had a little laugh because it wasn't exactly what I had in mind but then I wasn't too sure what I was really asking for anyway.  Then it dawned on me on Sunday as I was out for the day at the beach.  Now, it is winter so honestly going to the beach for the day is a little on the crazy side but the forecast was for a nice day and we really needed to get the jet ski out! On the way it started to rain and my daughter said "Mum, can you ask God to make the rain go away?" "I already have last night" I said. "Well Mum, can you ask him again...please!"So that's what I did, I asked God for a lovely day, no rain and no wind, then I added in a few extras that our friends we were meeting there would arrive safely and that we would be close by a good fish and chip shop and that God would pave the way for a fantastic day.  We arrived earlier than our friends and it was... cold and windy, with rain.  Come on God, don't let me down.  As we all met up and put the skis in the water the wind disappeared, the sun came out, we found perfect car parks right in front of where we wanted to sit on the beach and just around the corner from the best fish and chip shop ever!  It was a perfect day.  When you put God first and give him the way to pave he always puts a heavenly look on it. He brings heaven on earth in so many ways, this is just one little touch.  I call it a kiss from Jesus.

Out of the dark room

I love my husband and I love my children but after a lot of late nights with the little one waking up through the night and other pressures of life I was tired and irritable and not feeling 'the love'.  I really thought I was managing, keeping my smile on whilst in public but falling apart at home.  Friday morning I'd had enough. It was the biggest fight my husband and I had ever had and I was completely shaken.  I checked out flights for NZ, looked at rentals, I was ready to pack up and go.  I cried out to God, a lot.  I was sitting in the dark room of my heart for two days.  U know what I mean? There's the lovely room, where you hangout all the time when you first meet your spouse. U paint pretty pictures of them, dream about how wonderful they are.. you get the picture.  Over time you swap from room to room. The dark room which if you spend too much time in leads to divorce, is full of every time they say the wrong thing, forget an important date and basically mess up. Thats where I was hanging out. I was looking for anything I could get my hands on for ammunition and since its been 11years you can imagine there's a lot. I'd hate to see his dark room! By the end of saturday I went into my bedroom, sat down on my bed with my laptop and started to watch a livestream from glory gatherings from the thursday night.  It didn't really matter much about what they were talking about it was more the presence of God that flowed through the screen and started to shift me on the inside.  When I stopped trying to control the situation and work it out for myself and let God take on the battle for me... guess what? Thats exactly what he did.  Gods love took over, he told the lies that had been nursing themselves in my heart to leave.  My husband walked in and I jumped off the bed , threw my arms around him and we said sorry.  From that moment when I let God take over I had release.  Every piece of pain and sadness vanished.  I have never felt this much in love with my husband before.  We've got a long way to go to being the perfect couple and perfect parents but we're a whole lot closer when Gods in the middle.  I just want to give my thanks to Daddy God who never fails me. I love his extra long arms that wrap around and protect me.  He knows whats around the corner and its in him that I trust.

"God, you have half an hour to show up"

The more I'm getting to know God and how great he is the more I recognise the constant love he has for me.  It was friday afternoon and as I glanced through my Facebook I noticed a picture of a friend sitting in a deckchair waiting in line at citipoint church.  Instantly I remembered that Joyce Meyer was coming to Brisbane and I thought... could it be tonight?  Flicking through my laptop I was happily surprised that yes it was her and I'd better get my girls together late notice! I sent the message out, found a babysitter, cooked dinner picked up a friend got the youngest in bed and was out the door by 6pm.  Smelling like burnt pork chops mind you but out the door all the same.  There were four of us in the car, all very excited and expectant, and happy to have a night out.. no children.  Secured a nice carpark and walked a fair distance past the first overflow hall up to the second and oh no... we didn't make it into the main hall, it was full. So into the next overflow room we went.  Two of the girls went to the bathroom and the other two of us stayed in our seats.  Next to me (bless her) was an ever so slightly annoying lady who thought everything I said to my girlfriend was to her and I thought "God I know you love this woman and I do too, but I think she may be a bit of a distraction".  I turned to my girlfriend and suggested that if it wasn't any good in the first half hour we'd still have time to get to 'Glory Gatherings' to get in some worship time.  I then said out loud "God, you have half an hour to show up".  In less than a second my sister came up to us and said "We have seats in the main auditorium".  WHATTTTT???????  God you never let me down!  How great is our God.  Seriously he is always one better, always showering with his love, he's never-ending!! To top off a great night (Joyce Meyer is amazing and so funny) we were right at the side of the hall by the bookstall so had first option to buy books on our way out. Straight to the car, no waiting around or queuing and straight home. Start your everyday by asking God to pave the way and he does, his ways work!