We enjoyed watching The Wedding sooooo much!
Congratulations William and Catherine!

A VERSE FOR TODAY
1 John 1:5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

As I write this post, it is only a couple of hours to the Royal Wedding of Prince William and his bride, Catherine (Kate) Middleton. I am looking forward to the next few hours here at home in Sydney to watch the event on television, with millions of other people watching around the world. I wish them happiness always!

A QUOTE FOR TODAY

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see
when you take your eyes off your goal."

- Henry Ford (1863-1947)

A QUOTE FOR TODAY
God gives you answers in three ways: he says yes and gives you want you want, he says no and gives you something better, or he says wait and gives you the best.

Money will buy -
A bed but not SLEEP
Books but not BRAINS
Food but not APPETITE
Finery but not BEAUTY
A house but not a HOME
Medicine but not HEALTH
Amusements but not HAPPINESS
Religion but not SALVATION.

A Child's View of Thunderstorms......

A little girl walked to and from school daily.

Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the primary school.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with lightning.

The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she feared the electrical storm might harm her child. Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school.

As she did, she saw her little girl walking along.

At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile.

Another and another flash of lighting followed quickly and with each, the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.

When the mother's car drew up beside the child, she lowered the window and called to her

'What are you doing?'

The child answered,

'I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture.'

Just have a good day today and everyday

as you face the storms that come your way.

A VERSE FOR TODAY

Colossians 1:27-28
“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”

WOW, CHRIST IS RISEN!

Dear family and friends, on the this beautiful morning I wish you all the blessings of a Happy, safe and healthly Easter!

JESUS IS RISEN

JOHN 20 1-9
The Empty Tomb
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

"For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting."
—John 3:16

"A friend is one who strengthens you with prayers, blesses you with love and encourages you with hope."

I went to a fantastic Good Friday service today, and caught up with my friend Penny that I had not seen for over a year!

WOW, it was so good to go and have coffee with Penny and another new friend Sue, and have a real catch up chat! I have thought of Penny often, and I found out that she had been thinking of me and praying for my son and me.

Sometimes when we are busy in our lives, and time rushes by, we should take a minute stop and say even a quick 'Hi, how are you' to our friends, it might just be that they need only that minute or two to know that you care, and your still around!

Thank you for today Penny and Sue, you really blessed me!!

Father God, thank you for this day, and as we go into Easter and Good Friday, I thank you for sending us your Son, who gave His life for us, so that we may be saved. Thank you for the blessings you have given me and my family and friends, I pray that the people who are feeling lost, as I once was, come to know you as I do now, and that your love is forever,
and unfailing,
in Jesus name,
Amen

Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar. It celebrates the resurrection from the dead of Jesus, three days after he was executed. The Easter story is at the heart of Christianity.

Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday marks Jesus' resurrection.

After Jesus was crucified on the Friday (now known as Good Friday), his body was taken down from the cross, and buried in a cave tomb. The tomb was guarded by Roman Soldiers and an enormous stone was put over the entrance, so that no-one could steal the body.

On the Sunday, Mary Magdalene, followed later by some of Jesus' disciples visited the tomb and found that the stone had been moved, and that Jesus' body had gone.

Jesus himself was seen that day by Mary and the disciples, and for forty days afterwards by many people. His followers realised that God had raised Jesus from the dead. Christians call this the Resurrection.

The week leading up to Easter is called Holy Week.
Holy Week
Palm Sunday
This is the Sunday before Easter Day.

It is the first day of Holy Week and celebrates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Crowds of people came out of the city to greet him, throwing down palm branches on the road.

Anglican and Roman Catholic churches give out small crosses made from palm leaves, as a reminder of Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem and his death on the cross. Some Christians keep these in their homes all year as a symbol of their faith.

Maundy Thursday
This is the Thursday before Easter Day

Last Supper: On Maundy Thursday Christians remember when Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples, breaking bread and drinking wine, which is now known as the Last Supper.

Many Christians remember this by sharing bread and wine together in a service called Holy Communion, Eucharist or Mass. It is a reminder that Jesus sacrificed his life for mankind.

At this meal Jesus told his followers that they should love and serve one another. He demonstrated this by washing the feet of the disciples - something a servant would normally do. You can read this story in the Bible in John Ch.13v1-15

The word maundy comes from the command (mandate) given by Jesus at the Last Supper, that we should love one another.

Roman Catholic church services include a ceremony in which the priest washes the feet of 12 people to commemorate Jesus' washing the feet of his disciples.

Good Friday
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday. It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.

Good Friday is a day of mourning in church. During special Good Friday services Christians remember Jesus' suffering and death on the cross, and what this means for their faith.

In some countries, there are special Good Friday processions, or re-enactments of the Crucifixion.

The main service on Good Friday takes place between midday and 3pm. In many churches it takes the form of a meditation based on the seven last words of Jesus on the cross, with hymns, prayers, and short sermons.

A VERSE FOR TODAY
Please, LORD, be kind to us! We depend on you.
Make us strong each morning, and come to save us when we are in trouble.
Isaiah 33:2

WHAT ABOUT THAT.wmv

Thank you to my friend © Col Johnston
for his wonderful christian music and lyrics!

WOW !! this is a world first,,,, What About That!!!

No matter how steep the mountain - the Lord is going to climb it with you. - Helen Steiner Rice

WOW!! It's been a very very challenging week this week my friends!! My neighbour in the apartment below me, had a fire in the kitchen, thank you God that there was no-one hurt, when I went to help, the fire was out, but the place was filled with smoke. We managed to get the balcony door open, all rushed to get fresh air. Thank you to the fireman and paramedics that come to our aid!! Today my car radiator hose blew off, what a shock, steam coming out from under the bonnet!! And I was parked outside church!! My poor old car was towed away, and I will phone the mechanic in the morning!! Through all this, and as hard as 'the mountain is to climb,' I know God never leaves me!!!

Ever wonder about the abbreviation of ASAP?
Generally we think in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives. If we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we may begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way.

There's work to do, deadlines to meet.
You've got no time to spare.
But as you hurry and scurry...
(Always Say A Prayer)
ASAP


In the midst of family chaos,
"quality time" is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest...
(Always Say A Prayer)
ASAP


It may seem like your worries
are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather...
(Always Say A Prayer)
ASAP




God knows how stressful life can be
and wants to ease our cares.
He'll respond to all your needs...
(Always Say A Prayer)
ASAP




Today I'm saying a little prayer
that God will send a smile to you
and send you special blessings
through everything you have to do.

A VERSE FOR TODAY

Psalm 116:1-2

“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”

A Thought For Today
May your joys be as deep as the ocean, your sorrows as light as it's foam.


Cronulla Beach, where I grew up, WOW!

Daily Devotional

Written by Bob & Debby Gass & Ruth Gass Halliday.


Does your prayer life need a tune-up?

"He will call upon Me, and I will answer him."
Psalm 91:15 NAS

It's impossible to be a healthy Christian without a good prayer life. How's yours at the moment? Check out these three questions:
1. How's my consistency? If you can't remember when you last took time to pray, you need to do something about it! Without prayer you're uncovered and unprotected (2 Ch 32:8).
2. How's my sincerity? Are my prayers more liturgy than life? Daily, but dull and dry? That's because you don't know enough about who you're talking to, or how He feels about you. The better you know Him, the more time you'll want to spend with Him (Phil 3:10).
3. How's my faith? Do you wonder if prayer really changes anything? Or why on earth a God in heaven would want to talk to you, or hear anything you had to say? If He already knows it all, what can you tell Him anyway? And if He decides everything, why even bother?
Prayer is not for God's benefit - it's for yours! Where else can you go to bare your soul without fear, and walk away cleansed, comforted, counselled, and corrected? Your prayers work, not because of how well you say them, but because of how well He hears them.
You don't have to understand prayer to enjoy its benefits, anymore than you have to understand aerodynamics in order to fly. Just do it. Pray! Get on the plane and trust the pilot to take you where you need to go.
Forget about the wrapping, and just give the gift! It's better to pray awkwardly than not at all. Listen, "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him" (Ps 91:15 NAS). There it is in black and white - God's invitation to ask and His promise to answer. What more do you need?

Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

This proverb has been around for a long time, and always reminds me that we have a choice each day, to try and stay positive, and keep smiling, Have a Great Days my Friends!!!

VERSE FOR TODAY
1 John 3:16
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Be Deaf to Negativity Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs.... who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants.... The race began.... Honestly: No one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You heard statements such as: "Oh, WAY too difficult!!" "They will NEVER make it to the top." or: "Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!" The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one. Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher.... The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!" More tiny frogs got tired and gave up.... But ONE continued higher and higher and higher.... This one wouldn't give up! At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top! THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it? A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal? It turned out.... That the winner was DEAF!!!! The wisdom of this story is: Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic.... because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart! Always think of the power words have. Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions! Therefore: ALWAYS be.... POSITIVE!! And above all: Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfil your dreams! Always think: God and I can do this!!

Hello my friends, I have just been thinking how lucky I am to be able to sit here and have access to the world, via the Internet, how amazing life is, and to have God in my life. Life is not always easy, working is becoming a challenge each day as I get older, but I thank God I can get up each morning, and I know He puts people in my life for a reason. Sometimes just a smile is all someone needs, sometimes just a kind understanding word or even a hug, so be kind today to someone, smile and remember, God Is Love!!!

A life without dreams is like a garden without flowers.

Author Unknown

VERSE FOR TODAY

Hebrews 12:14

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

A QUOTE FOR TODAY

Everyone who has ever taken a shower has had an idea. It's the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it that makes a difference.

VERSE FOR TODAY

"Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified;
do not be discouraged,
for the LORD your God
will be with you wherever you go."

-Joshua 1:9

WOW......I love the trees near my apartment, and today was the most beautiful autumn day!

The bark on this tree looked amazing!!

Wow, I love frangapani's and I took this photo today at home!

'Be kind and compassionate...forgiving each other...' Ephesians 4:32 NIV

A counsellor writes, 'We have all been wounded. Who wounds us? Those we love and those who love us. When we feel rejected, abandoned, abused, manipulated or violated it's usually by people close to us: our parents, our friends, our marriage partners, our children, our teachers, our pastors. This is what makes forgiveness so difficult. It's our hearts that are wounded! We cry out, You, who I expected to be there for me, have failed me. How can I ever forgive you for that? Though forgiveness may seem impossible, the God who lives within us will give us the grace to go beyond our wounded selves and say, In the name of Christ, I forgive you. But remember, there are two sides to forgiveness: giving and receiving. Although at first sight, giving seems harder, often we are not able to offer forgiveness because we haven't fully received it ourselves. Only as people who have tasted the joy of forgiveness can we find the inner motivation to give it. Why is receiving forgiveness so difficult? Because it's hard to acknowledge that without your forgiveness I'm still affected by what happened between us. I need you to help set me free and make me whole again. That requires not only a confession that we've been hurt, but also the humility to admit our dependence on the very one who hurt us. Yet, only when we're able to receive forgiveness, can we truly extend it to others.' That's why the Bible says, 'Get rid of all bitterness... Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.'

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