This weekend we had heaps of fun. Saturday we spring cleaned. I love that. We have heaps of boxes waiting to be thrown out or given away. It started when we were given a bag of trucks and all things little boys love, so I made the boys reduce their existing car collection down so that everything including the new stuff would fit in the already overflowing box under Joel's bed. It was so gorgeous to see the boys saying things like...'I'll give this to another boy'...'some children can have this too'..I love teaching the boys life things.
(Just as an aside. I was challenged yesterday to concentrate on big life parenting goals rather than the smaller things. To aim for safe harbours inthe storms of parenting. Paints a nice picture doesn't it? But not just scrambling at the last minute for something to salvage your kids from wasting their lives. Like at the end of high school when you have little control and you say 'You'd better get good grades'.. or..'If only he'd just stick at his job'...'If she'd just marry a lovely young man'... Don't you think it starts before then? For example looking at real values and characters we want our children to have and encouraging them, rather than more superficial things like beauty, success and wealth. So teach our children to think of others, to be generous, to have a relationship with God. To help others, to give to the needy, rather than have our kids save up for fancy toys, clothes or holidays. The discussion I heard was also saying not to make a bit thing out of looks and beauty by putting cute photos up, and not making a big deal out of good marks at school to emphasise success. I like marking the height of the kids on the wall. Don't get that bit. But it did make me think about what it is I am saying in the Christmas letter when I talk about achievements and cuteness and activities. Should I be highlighting characteristics and values and lessons we've learned? Highlight How God is shaping us and working through us. Guess I'll give it some thought before then. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:4.
Back to the weekend. Rich's new work is haing a national conference next week and the Hunter region (us) are hosting a guest speaker from Canada before conference next week. He spoke at a breakfast Rich went to on Saturday morning and Rich fell in love with his personality, passion and enthiusiasm for God and what he does. So as we were cleaning up the house, Rich said 'I wonder if anything's organised for lunch with Phil tomorrow, maybe they could all come back here after being at our church'. Sounded good. Nothing like a bit of pressure to make sure you get the job finished. So we did. We had 8 extra adults for lunch until we all left in convoy for church service #2. Which also was great. While at our church Rich had a chance to explain what he does at YFCA and that although he's worked for them for a term now, he still is not paid. Which startled some people, especially those who still thought he taught at the school. It doesn't scare us to live the way we do on days like Sunday when we hang around people who work in 'faith-based' ministry too. It is actually really exciting.
For ages I was avoiding paying bills and not wanting to know who would be knocking at our door for money. But Rich and I talked about it. He said 'You agreed to us doing this and stepping out. You can't now be too scared to live trusting God. When has he let us down before?' I love it when my man steps up as Spiritual leader and reminds me of that stuff. You can't have the excitement and God coming through for you when you try to control your circumstances so much that there's no need for him. And when I did pay the bills, all of them with little money for food, it was then that people gave us money. Who? We don't know. There are people out there wanting to give God some of their money for a good cause. Wanting to share a blessing. God is bigger than the Telsta man. he can see the whole puzzle and all the teeny tiny pieces that all fit together when we let him be the Master and not try to do the whole puzzle on our own with only the three pieces we are clinging to. Get it!! Me I'm talking to. This will be a 'read next week when you've forgotten' blog. I'm sure.
It was exciting to see Rich proudly telling people what he does and seeing that he has a job finally that he loves and he must, to do it for months unpaid. He told me that he could see his future in what Phil did in Canada. And I can too. He needs a bit of encouraging to show us his full potential. God is showing me how to gently buff him shiny rather than sand his rough edges. He's a good egg. I'll keep him. And I have a job to do.
Sorry I know these pics are pretty dodge but what can I say...some celebs don't like the paparatzy(?). Had to be sneaky. You can see that Rich was getting pretty animated. Phill Cann is in the black shirt listening to Rich. The others are a couple from the board and Andrew with his wife Katie. Andrew is one of the co-ordinators. We'll see all of these fine people on Sunday when we go down to conference. More on that next week.
1 comment:
Good job guys, about a lot of the things in that post! Its awesome when God shows Himself, and His love and provision for us. He is very, very cool.
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