The Garden of kindness

Today I drove past the local school. Outside on the fence I saw lots and lots of beautifully drawn and colorfully painted flowers, fastened in a hap hazard way to the fence.  Next to these read the sign " the Garden of Kindness". as it flapped in the wind children walked to and fro for it was the end of the day.

That sign had a profound and meaningful effect on me. I literally felt it's words as if loving arms engulfed me in them.This lovely experience also lifted this local school in my sight. Where once before stood a school now I saw a school that cared about feelings. A beautiful thing that. I also realised with sadness that our school could grow in this area. I pray and hope and want to be a part of growing our very own garden of kindness.  What a beautiful thought!

The Fun and funny side of Easter- in our home

Life in the Falconer home this Easter was full and noisy. It was coming to the end of the two week school holidays and we had had a very busy visiting time. I like to do some crafty/ arty things around Easter so that we can remind ourselves about Jesus and what he did for us each on the cross. This year I decided that it might be nice to make a gospel bracelet each. Whenever we tackle one of these projects I know that they will never quite turn out like they do in books or on other people blogs. I actually quite like this. So the gospel bracelet making project began. The best part about these projects for me is the discussion and conversations that arise .

This time was no different. We talked about each colour and James read what each meant. I came to the Born Again bit and trusting Jesus for our forgiveness of sins bit and one son said " yes I have done that s o many times". I replied, ' ah, this is about Assurance." and quick of the mark he says, " oh, no mom. It is about Insurance."

Along with some other fun ideas I gleaned off the internet we decided to make Resurrection cookies. Dad pitched in and we got going. I remember from a few years ago that the "cookies" did not go down to well with the vinegar and the nuts so I decided to make plain old meringues.
To do this I used 2 different recipes and both had different ways to cook the meringues. Well in the end we landed up with delicious 'cookies' but alas with no cave like tomb inside. What a laugh. We had a yummy eat none the less.

The Safe Place

I long for this.
My soul cries out,
change me!
In that deep, deep place within,
Oh Lord, grant me this prayer
be merciful to me
a wretch
a sinner.
Transform my mind
and heart
draw me out and expose me
those secret, hidden things
no-one else can see
But you, you can.
I lie naked before you
my soul open and my heart is offered.
Tear away my filth
my sad excuses to cover that which is an affront to your .
But you oh King stand tall and offer your all
for me.
You give everything
and spare nothing at the cross.
Help me embrace you as you enfold me
in your care and love and tenderness.
Restore me to that place
The Safe Place
where you are
Beautiful and holy and pure
and you invite me to come
"Come", you say.
and when I do I find I can stand again
free from the burden that has clothed me for sometime
the sad and sorrowful excuse that held me back and caused me not to come
Jesus!
Jesus! Be my all in all again.
Break me and lift me up once more
so that I may be changed and whole
in you.
I am weak and frail and vulnerable before you
your powerful work within me overwhelms me
and I can not hold that.
I long to desire you and only you.
I long to stand again in grace that flows and pours
like a river of love
so that I may feel it again.
What it is to be a child of the living God

I rest again in The Safe Place
where colours are felt and my load is left behind
so once more I can breath
I can feel and live
for you.

Thank you Jesus!

Repentance

As we come again to this cherished and treasure time of year, Easter, I attended our churches annual Easter Convention. Our special guest speaker this year is Frank Retief. Frank is no stranger to us at St James and we love to hear him expound God's word for us. Last night was no different. Frank spoke to us of Jesus. He reminded us that it is Jesus who has reconciled us to God in his voluntary sacrifice on the cross. Along with the message from God's word and the wonderful worship , it was a good evening.

Why then am I so down cast. Why does my heart not soar as the music soars and why does my soul not stir at the words that bring life. And I know they do. So I begin the struggle that befalls me too often again. I wrestle with myself and then this afternoon I wrestle with God. I had the fortunate opportunity of having some time while I waited for one of our sons. 45 minutes to read and pray. I had taken along one of my favourite reads by John Piper called "What Jesus demands from the World". The reason I love this book is because each chapter is short. If you have had the good fortune of reading Piper you will totally understand what I mean when I say, Short is good. He packs each sentence with so much to think about in his usual style, that the shorter the better for me.

So, there I sit and start. I started with my notes from last night and then I began to read again Piper's chapter on Repentance. Jesus came with these words from the start. He said Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. His message was about repentance and his message was a call on each and every person alive and once again I came face to face with that call on my soul.

The thing I came to realise again today is that I am a sinner and I need God to help me and need his work in my life to change my mind , continuously about who he and who I am. The inward change of my mind and heart is indeed a miracle and I need him to do that for me. So I found myself writing and writing and praying. I found myself in The Safe Place . How beautiful this safe place is. It is a feeling and it is a colour. It is the most perfect place to be and I love to be here. It is here, in The Safe Place that I know God has spoken and he has heard me and I thank Him.

After all this was done - again- I wrote a poem about it. Ill publish that next. God bless you reader and know that the God who flung the stars into space and causes the sun to shine on you is the God who loves you and died for you. This Easter , wont you come to him.