Exploring faith and life
As I was walking the other day ….. I was drawn to the ‘Bog’ by a very loud noise. It took me a while to discover what was making the sound as this little fella was well camouflaged. I later discovered that he was a male trying to attract a female 😳 ! It gives a whole new meaning to having a ‘froggy throat’! 
Our lovely niece graduated from Epsom Girls Grammar School last night. She came from Rarotonga 4 years ago and boarded at the school. We’ve watched her grow from a shy young girl into a confident young woman. She has battled through changes in climate ….. culture ….. and covid! This year it didn’t look like she would be able to finish her education ….. but God opened doors for her at the right times ….. and here she is graduating! We give honour to her parents for their hard work and sacrifice ….. and to God for His provision and faithfulness. Go forward with Him, Alana. He has wonderful plans for your future!
It’s celebration season with graduations and end of year break ups. Some will receive certificates or trophies ….. the majority won’t. Most of us fall into the ‘average’ column! But whether you pass with honours ….. just scrape through ….. or even fail the exams ….. God sees you and has a plan for your life. Don’t let your school reports determine your future ….. and don’t let your awards ….. or lack of ….. determine your value or potential. Seek to be the best ‘you’ you can be ….. and ask God to show you how to fulfil His purpose for your life. Congratulations on finishing what has been a challenging year! You did great! 
After school yesterday I took my grandies to a park where they did some rock hunting. People hide painted rocks for others to find and re hide for someone else. It’s quite exciting to find one ….. but even better to know someone else will experience the same excitement. God loves to play this game! He hides treasures in His Word that have to be sought after ….. and sometimes dug out. Then the person who discovers the treasure shares it with others. He also puts treasure in people that has to be drawn out sometimes. The most precious things take time and effort to discover. Happy treasure hunting. 
We were doing a spot of babysitting yesterday when we suddenly realised Alayah wasn’t with us. We called her but no reply. We started searching inside the house ….. outside the house ….. down the driveway ….. but no Laylay to be found. By this time panic set in and my mind was going crazy! I ran back inside and called her name again. I heard a tiny voice say ‘I’m here’! I ran upstairs to find her happily playing with toys totally unaware of our dilemma. It reminded me again that fear is often ‘false evidence appearing real’!
Do you see yourself as a victim or a victor? Are you focussing on all the terrible things that have happened to you ….. or on all the things you have overcome? The strongest people are not the ones who have not failed ….. but the ones who have got back up again and continued the race. They are not the ones who have no fear ….. but the ones who ‘do it afraid’! Life can be like an obstacle course ….. but obstacles are to be overcome. If you are alive and breathing you are an overcomer! Here’s a prayer I pray often when facing a challenge. ‘Lord, I thank you that there is nothing I will face today that you and I together can’t handle!’
My theme song at this time of year is ‘One day at a time’! And sometimes even ‘One step at a time’! Jesus warned his disciples not to worry about tomorrow because today has enough to focus on. Much of our stress and anxiety is based on stuff that hasn’t happened yet ….. and may never happen! Have you noticed how the media sensationalises things to make you feel like you are living through something that hasn’t happened yet? Our minds and bodies can’t cope with that. We must learn to live in the present ….. and do life in bite sized pieces! Reading back through my journal ….. I can see that much of what I feared never happened ….. or help came just when I needed it! Commit each day to the Lord and He will determine the outcome! 