Scripture & a Snapshot #6

Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:19

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Self Belief

“We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” - E. E. Cummings

My prayer is that one day she will believe in herself...

Why not venture over to her blog at Through the Lens and give her some well deserved encouragement. She has a great gift in photography & writing.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

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Scripture & A Snapshot #4

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Develop an Attitude of Gratitude

As all my blogger friends in the US celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I am reminded of my decision to live a life of thanks and to give thanks EVERY DAY.

Earlier this year, I came across a brilliant book called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and her blog called A Holy Experience. I was challenged to start my own Gratitude Journal which can be found at the top of my blog. I have not managed to record something every day as I had planned BUT I have chosen every day to find something good.

Many of the photography challenges these last couple of weeks have had a theme of gratitude and I have been encouraged to take up the challenge again of recording the things I am grateful for daily, rather than every week. It really is amazing how choosing to live a life of thanks can change your focus. Keeping a gratitude list has been scientifically proven to decrease anxiety, enrich relationships & make you 25% happier! These last few weeks I have seen the proof of that in my own life.

You see, I live daily with chronic illness. I have multiple health problems; 2 heart conditions, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Chronic Neuropathic Pain, Neuromyofascial Pain Syndrome, Peripheral Neuropathy, Fibromyalgia, nerve damage to my neck, arms, my right hip & leg (from a car accident in 2009), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome... I live with severe pain on a daily basis. I am told I hardly complain BUT I used to cry out to God daily asking, "Why me??"

I raised my 4 children alone for 12 years (they are all adults now); my eldest son is a prodigal, my youngest daughter suffers anorexia... and I continued to cry, "Why me??"

My new marriage was falling apart after just 12 months and I was having huge struggles with my 5 step-daughters... and I cried, "Why me??"

I wanted to live daily with Thanksgiving... I wanted to live Eucharisteo!!

MORE THAN ANYTHING, I wanted life to be different, to be happy in the mess of ill health, lost children, a struggling second marriage, problems with step-children... I knew that the only way to be happy was to live in THANKS. So since April, I have been counting. I became slack for a while and only counted one a week but I am getting there! After reading Ann's blog over the last week of her trip to Ecuador with Compassion, I was challenged again to get back on track with counting the things I am grateful for daily.

Research has proven that living in thanks DOES change your life, decrease anxiety, improve relationships and make you more than 25% happier!!

Many of the circumstances in my life are still the same. However, living in Thanks, Eucaristeo, Gracias... I am happy again.

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

I am thankful for my, now even LARGER, family. I am the middle child of 5 children, and have 4 children of my own, a son-in-law and almost 2 grandchildren (my oldest son has an 18 month old son, and a daughter due in December). My husband is the middle child of 5 children and has 5 daughters of his own.

My beautiful family (taken at my eldest daughter’s Sarah’s wedding on 27th March 2010)
Back - Ben (now 20) & Daniel (22).
Front – Bec (19), me, Sarah (27), Oscar (Sarah’s husband), and my wonderful parents.

My husband and his 5 daughters (taken on our wedding day 5th December, 2009)
From L to R: Jessica (now 16), Amy (23), Michael, Tamsyn (20), Lizzie (14), Kathryn (18).
- Photo credit to DeeZigner Images

Michael & me (May 2011) - Photo credit to RAD Photography (my daughter, Bec) over at Through the Lens; RAD Photography

My amazing best friend Nat & her husband Greg (Sept 2011) – Photo credit to RAD Photography (Bec)

Also grateful for more:

45.  For rain to soak the dry earth.
46.  For rainbows after the rain, signalling His promise.
47.  For joy.
48.  For 5 more daughters to love.
49.  For time to breathe.
50.  For time to love.
51.  For time to laugh.
52.  For time to cry.
53.  For time to live fully in Him.
54.  For blessings in time of need.
  



Scripture & A Snapshot #3

Last Thursday, my husband and I took an impromptu drive up into the D'Aguilar Range, north-west of Brisbane. It is a beautiful National Park area with remote gorges, open eucalypt woodlands, gum forests, subtropical rainforests, spectacular views and plenty of wildlife.

Here is one of the beautiful views taken from Jolly's Lookout.

As I looked out on this beautiful scenery, I was reminded of God's unfailing love, His incredible patience, His blessing of grace and His great faithfulness that is extended to us. We don't deserve it, but He gives it anyway.

This particular day marked a HUGE turning point for my husband and I in our relationship. And what better way to spend the afternoon than time alone enjoying & marvelling at God's creation.

Thanking Him for:

37.     For the blessing of new found friendships.

38.     For beauty all around.
39.     For drives in the mountains.
40.     For laughter.
41.     For reconciliation with loved ones.
42.     For new beginnings.
43.     For forgiveness.
44.     For His love, patience, grace and faithfulness even though we don’t deserve it.

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Scripture & A Snapshot #2

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,"

Psalm 23:2 (NIV)

Scripture & A Snapshot #1

Today I went out for a short walk armed with my camera, of course. I wish I could walk for longer but, since my car accident almost 2 years ago, my walks are dictated by pain levels and doctors orders. The sole reason for my walk today was to get some new bird shots to go with my chosen scripture. I was a little disappointed as the birds were not as cooperative as I would have liked. However, I managed to snap a few.