Writing for charity.

I am very excited to have had a piece of my writing published.

It is found in a book,

that is being used to raise money 

for Children's charity.

It is going on pre-sale today,

if you want to take a look,

or purchase this book,

all money raised goes to 

children in hospital.

Inside the pages of this book, dozens of authors have given of themselves to share their unique perspective on the journey of parenthood and to make a difference in the lives of children along the way.  The result is a collection of stories and poems that track the fun, the challenging and the truly phenomenal aspects of parenting. 

From pregnancy worries and the miracle of birth to tough times and growing up, each unique triumph and challenge through a lifetime of parenthood palpitates on the page. 

From the Heart: 
A Collection of Stories and Poems from the Front Lines of Parenting
 will be released in a few short weeks, but have opened a limited pre-sale for the general public.  Please read below or visit www.writeforcharity.com and click on “The Book” for more details. 
Only 500 copies of the book are available at the public pre-sale price.  With several dozen authors promoting the book for public pre-sale, these books are going to move fast!

The Details:The ISBN for this title is 978-0-578-05737-8 and will be available through various distribution channels.  To carry this title in your store please contact Beth Davis at BethNDavis@writeforcharity.com. 

Public Pre-Sale Prices: Single Book: $22.50 + S&H
Carton (six books): $130 + S&H

Pre-sale orders will be taken on a first come, first served basis.  To take advantage of these prices please email the following information to presale@writeforcharity.com:

• Name
• Shipping Address
• Phone Number
• Number of Books Desired
• Payment Method
• Email (for invoice purposes)

Write for Charity accepts all major credit cards.  An invoice for the amount due will be sent to you with payment instructions.

Make a difference in the life of a child in need today!

Rewards of doing good.

Photo source

Love and Truth meet in the street,
      Right Living and Whole Living embrace and kiss!
   Truth sprouts green from the ground,
      Right Living pours down from the skies!
   Oh yes! God gives Goodness and Beauty;
      our land responds with Bounty and Blessing.
   Right Living strides out before him,
      and clears a path for his passage.

Psalm 85:10 

Only good things can come from living right before God!

"God gives Goodness and Beauty"

Galatians 6:9 

'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.'

Raw (e)

Raw (e) 

over @ 

Sailor & Co.

My daughter playing with a friend.

Taking a short break.

I have been taking a short break from de' internet.

For a few reasons,

but I just wanted to pop on here and 

share a lovely day we had as a family yesterday.

This lake is right around the corner from our home,

but it is hidden away.

We took a lovely walk all around it.

It has little stations for fisher men to sit, relax and catch fish,

at their leisure.

The children ran around the lake twice,

and enjoyed the scenery,

sitting by the edge of the lake,

watching the ducks

and the geese.

I sat on a bench,

taking in the view,

and watched enormous fish jumping

out of the water!

They were huge!

A big splosh!

Soon we were all sat on the bench,

looking out for ripples that suggested

a fish was near the surface,

ready to jump!

Hope you are all keeping well.

:0)

No weapon formed against you.

Isaiah 54:17

 ¹⁷ But in that coming day
      no weapon turned against you will succeed.
   You will silence every voice
      raised up to accuse you.
   These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
      their vindication will come from me.
      I, the Lord, have spoken!


Have you ever been on the receiving end of bitter words,
untruthful accusations?
Hurtful statements about you?
I have recently.
Particularly pointing the finger at my family,
the way we choose to be,
how we bring up our children,
and how we are perceived,
by these individuals.


Reading the words that were sent to me,
I knew in my heart that they were untruthful,
irrelevant,
and simply this persons perceptions.
Yet the situation still is unpleasant and 
has the ability to bring you down.
If you let it.


I had to make a choice,
listen to these words,
which held no conviction,
or trust in God,
who loves me.


There will always be times when 
we are understood in life.
Especially as christians.
Sometimes we may seem like fools,
to those who don't understand us.


But,
I choose to believe what Gods word 
says.

Isaiah 49:23

Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.

Isaiah 50:7

 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
       I will not be disgraced.
       Therefore have I set my face like flint,
       and I know I will not be put to shame.

Isaiah 51:7 

 “Listen to me, you who know right from wrong

      you who cherish my law in your hearts.
   Do not be afraid of people’s scorn,
      nor fear their insults.

Be encouraged if this relates to you,
God is for you,
not against you.
Take everything that concerns you,
to him in prayer.
He is faithful.

Treasure chests

photo source

I was drifting off to sleep a few nights ago,

as I  drifted between sleep and wake,

I found Jesus waiting for me in a dream like vision.

He held my hand and took the lead.

I found myself in a darkened place,

that looked like an old wooden cellar,

with 2 inter joining  rooms.

We were standing facing a wall,

dark and laden with treasure chests,

on shelves made of wood.

These chests were old,

tatty looking,

covered in cobwebs.

I knew I was in heaven,

somewhere,

being shown something of importance.

I knew that these chests,

represented peoples lives.

I questioned,

"Are these humble lives of your saints?"

"No, these are not."

Jesus replied.

"Here, things are a little different.

Whoever finds his life ( on earth) will lose it,

 and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

I looked closely at the small chests, 

as I did my eyes had the ability to see within 

each chest.

I saw a young man,

late 30's roughly,

I saw tall city buildings,

i heard the noise of busy traffic below,

I watched him,

in his grey tailored suit,

clutch at his hair and 

pull his head toward his chest.

I heard his thoughts race,

his stress levels rise,

the spin and pull,

tug and push,

I saw money,

swimming around in his mind,

it was causing him great anguish.

I saw his friends, 

speak about his early,

stress related death.

I looked at Jesus,

sadness filled my mind.

He remained motionless,

acknowledging my mental pause,

then he lifted his chin a little,

motioning me to look into another box.

My eyes fell upon a box,

not far from the one I had just studied,

It pulled me in,

like a cinematic screen..

This time a woman,

also not that old,

A wild crazy red head,

tight bouncy curls,

red lipstick,

I watched her throw her head back in laughter.

Around her,

circling like a whirlwind,

were expensive items,

handbags,

shoes,

expensive trips,

beauty therapy,

cocktail parties,

laughter,

city lights,

lavish living,

selfishness,

but when the end came,

there was only silence.

The laughter ceased,

the items dropped to the floor

like they were made of lead.

A loud crash.

Then nothing.

My head turned quickly, 

to face Jesus.

There was something terribly unnerving,

 about the content of these boxes.

He turned and walked into the adjoining 

room.

In here were two opposing walls.

On the left, also in the dark, 

were shelves of neatly stored medium sized boxes.

These boxes looked less damaged and 

slightly more presentable.

But Jesus was not looking at those.

His attentions were turned to the shelves,

 on the right hand side of the room.

photo source

These chests were lined up,

on the shelves, but there was such energy within them.

There was a strange sense of community amongst them,

that I could not quite decipher.

I knew at once, that these were 

the lives of people who had lived for Jesus.

I heard children,

mothers,

families,

communities.

I saw nations,

living as one,

mixed races,

eating from the same table,

Women laughing,

with 

JOY.

Serving one another 

in 

LOVE.

"God...

I whispered, 

feeling the awe of his presence fill that room.

Which chest am I?"

Which Chest are you?

Matthew 6:21 

'For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also'

Tears for Jessie.

photo source

Tonight, I was a little overwhelmed.

It happens at varying stages in my children's life, when I suddenly notice their growth, or when I get a special glimpse of who they are.

Tonight, we had had a lovely family time before getting into bed, the girls had performed little worship shows for us.

They had made a stage {2 towels on the bedroom floor} a microphone stand { a camera tripod} and set to work, showing us their talents!

Singing and dancing along to Seeds of family worship, they sung their little hearts out, danced for God and in my opinion, expressed their worship to him.

It was precious to watch.

Then we cleaned teeth, jammies on and  settled down for a 'made up' story, by Mummy and a time of prayer before bed.

They were kissed and left in their room, drifting off to the sound of the worship CD.

Hours later, I came up to turn off their night lamp and kiss their heads, as I did,

I was struck. There lay my first born Jessie, all legs and arms, long and skinny, two front teeeth missing, hugging onto her teddies, who she has had since the day she was born.

"She won't always be like this" came the thoughts to my mind, "One day, she wont be this little girl, who holds her favorite teddies as she sleeps...One day she will be a grown woman, a teenager. This sweet tender age, is only for such a short while."

I stroked her cheek, overcome with maternal sadness, for this child of mine, whom I Iove so much, who will some day fly my nest and lead her own life.

I told her how much I loved her, as she slept. I prayed for her heart, that it would always be secure in love. That God would keep her, by his side, when my role weakened. I found myself praying, that He would be her source of comfort, eternally.

I turned off the lamp, crept out the room and felt I wanted to write her a note, like she writes me, telling her how much I loved her. I made one for Ellie to. As I wrote their individual notes, the thought crossed my mind, 'This feels like taking all of what I have, something so precious and spilling it all over my children, I want them to be lavished with my love. It feels like giving my all, my best, to them....It feels expensive, but so, so worth it! For they are here in my nest, for only a short time..."

As these thoughts swam around my mind, I suddenly saw the picture of Mary, at Jesus feet, spilling out the expensive perfume, giving her all, and Jesus replying to those that questioned her actions, " You will always have the poor, but you wont always have me."

I felt filled with Gods love, for my children. His children, who are a gift to me. I wont always have them, under my roof, depending on me, as they do now. So while they are, I wish not to hold any love back, I want them to grow in an environment of love, acceptance, praise, security, where they are lifted up, strengthened, encouraged, corrected, and taught. For one day, they wont be in my home, clutching at their teddies, performing little shows and talking of child like things. 

I choose to cherish each moment, with Gods grace,  to pour out all of my love, into them and my husband, for this is the gift , that I have been given.

I wrote this last night, then I read my blogs  this morning and found two relevant posts,

here, and here. Take a look. 

Must I?

Photo source

Beloved

 I slept but my heart was awake.
       Listen! My lover is knocking:
       "Open to me, my sister, my darling,
       my dove, my flawless one.
       My head is drenched with dew,
       my hair with the dampness of the night."

  I have taken off my robe—

       must I put it on again?

       I have washed my feet—

       must I soil them again?

 My lover thrust his hand through the latch-opening;

       my heart began to pound for him.

  I arose to open for my lover,

       and my hands dripped with myrrh,

       my fingers with flowing myrrh,

       on the handles of the lock.

  I opened for my lover,

       but my lover had left; he was gone.

       My heart sank at his departure. 

       I looked for him but did not find him.

       I called him but he did not answer.

{Song of Solomon 5:2-6}

I was reading this portion of scripture this morning,

thinking about the fruits of the spirit,

how we must aim to improve our characters,

in Gods strength,

to become more holy and pleasing to him.

It was a string of thoughts, 

that led me to the song of solomon,

here,

Beloved

"Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! 

Blow on my garden, 

that its fragrance may spread abroad. 

Let my lover come into his garden and taste its choice fruits."

This part of scripture,

is found in the chapter directly before the chapter above.

See here,

how the beloved,

invites her lover into his garden,

to taste its choice fruits,

yet above,

she hears her lover coming to the door and

cries out to him,

"I have taken off my robe— 

       must I put it on again? "

{emphasis mine}

It made me wonder, what happened in between

those two chapters to cause such a change of heart?

One minute the beloved is inviting

her lover to taste of all the choice fruits,

next,

she cant be bothered to get to door,

she has just washed her feet..

taken off her robe,

.......

When she realized that in fact, she did long to see him,

he had gone...

Now, Song of Solomon is full of symbolism,

Christ's love for us,

his bride,

his church.

Yet,

this nudged my heart,

how are we like this so often....

One minute we are love struck for our saviour,

delving into his word,

every given moment,

praying constantly,

singing praises,

loving on him,

then all too easily,

we get distracted,

pulled away by other things.

until we find ourselves saying,

"Must I?"

"Must I go and sit and read?

Must I seek him, right now?"

{I am just busy doing this....and that}

Lets not become the One who says,

"Must I?"

Lets be the One who say,

"Come lord!

Meet me here,

in your garden! I cant wait to see you!"

Get your desperation back!

Photo source