It Snowed!!!!

Last weekend we went up to Oldina Lodge at Falls Creek in Victoria for a staff retreat. It was expected to be very cold but nothing like what eventuated!! After starting to rain on the Friday afternoon (which made for a scary trip up the mountain in the fog and rain), raining all day Saturday, we awoke Sunday morning to a blanket of snow!

There was only a few centimetres so I decided to go for a walk - after about 15 minutes it started to come down heavier and I quickly lost my bearings and retraced my footprints, just barely visible in the deepening snow. Most of the photos I've taken were from behind the glass in the upstairs window - the best way to look at the snow - in the warmth and comfort with a roaring fire behind me!














After lunch we headed home very slowly down the mountain ... such a beautiful sight.


Some of the things that I learned from the retreat:

• The body can defend or grow - but it cannot do both at the same time!
• That health is Optimum physical, mental and social well being and not necessarily the absence of disease.
• There is no such thing as failure, there are only results.
• Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there - Will Rogers.
• Have positive goals and not negative ones.
• Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.

I was challenged to be more aware of the decisions I make and to this end I have decided on a few goals;

To live a more satisfying life I will:

1. Count my blessings
2. Practice random acts of kindness
3. Savour life's joys
4. Thank a mentor
5. Learn to forgive
6. Invest time in friends and family
7. Take care of my body
8. Develop strategies for coping with stress and hardship

It was a good weekend -and I was reminded that people pray for me and care for me
"So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in Him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 ( Thanks Judy!)

It's been awhile....

.... since I posted to my blog.

The events that have devastated our nation in the last weeks have been on every one's mind. My heart goes out to those that have lost everything in the Victorian Bush fires - I cannot imagine what you must be going through or how you are coping with the overwhelming sense of loss. Even here, 400+ kms north we experienced the smoke from the fires!

To those in Queensland and NSW who are experiencing such terrible floods - you are in my thoughts and prayers as well. Having grown up in a flood prone area and experiencing many floods, I do know what you are going through and the next weeks and months will be hard to imagine for you too as you start to pick up the pieces.

To our farmers in this area and many parts of our country we have entered the 12th year of drought, I wish I had more words of encouragement but what else can I say except that I pray for an end to this and that God will heal our land.

The wonderful thing has been to see Australians unite as they battle the different 'enemies' together. It has warmed my heart to see such love and caring. The words of a song written by Jenny Ellis has comforted and strengthen me on many occasions as it does now. We can choose to let the disasters take over our lives or we can pick ourselves up and choose life. As I watched so many people on television who had every right to be bitter and angry, instead chose to be supportive, encouraging and thankful for what they 'do' have - what role models they have become. So often we get caught up in the 'trappings' of life and forget what is really important - love, friendship, family, faith - this will see us through!

'I cling to you Lord
For You are my life
And the length of my days
I love you Lord
And I'll obey Your voice
And walk in Your Ways

I choose life and I choose blessing
I choose to live abundantly by Your grace
I will walk in Your goodness
And live in the light of Your face.
You are my Lord, my rock, my salvation
My hope, my peace and my joy
You say, You'll never leave me or forsake me
I'm the apple of Your eye."

Circumcise my heart Lord
May it be open to you
Circumcise my heart Lord
Make it brand new
That I may hear Your voice
and know Your ways
That I might love You more
And seek your face

Copyright Jenny Ellis 2003
Grace Christian Fellowship

Change in the Wind?

As I listened to Barack Obama give his speech at his inauguration I couldn't help but see the parallels between America and Australia. It is time that we also as a nation need to realise that we have serious challenges ahead and that we must chose hope over fear, and unity of conflict. May God bless him as he leads his nation into the future.

He said, ( in part, you can see it here ) ....

America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we, the people, have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

Serious challenges

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

We have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

Choices

I was thinking today - yes I do that occassionally! As I sorted through papers etc to get together for the accountant - they were in a mess - it gave me plenty of time to think.

Our lives are a sum of the choices that we make each day - some days we make good, wise choices and other days our choices leave a lot to be desired.

We can choose life and blessing,living each day abundantly, or we can focus on the negative things that happens to us all. This year I have resolved to live abundantly - to concentrate on all the wonderful people that are in my life, all the blessings that I have and know that I am loved beyond measure.

(I have also resolved not to let my papers get in such a mess again! lol)

Persevere

My word for 2009!!!! I have been doing a little reading and this word has been cropping up quite a lot!
I read this in the Word For Today last Friday.

It's said that Walt Disney's request for a loan was rejected by 301 banks before he finally got a "yes". But because he refused to quit, he built the world's most famous theme park.
So, this year remember two things: (1) Perseverance is needed to win the prize. At a sales convention the manager said to 2000 of his firm's sales force, "Did the Wright brothers ever quit?" "No!" they responded. "Did Charles Lindburg ever quit?" "No!" they shouted. "Did Lance Armstrong ever quit?" "No!" they bellowed. "Did Thorndike McKester ever quit?" There was a long, confused silence. Then a salesperson shouted, "Who in the world is Thorndike McKester? Nobody's ever heard of him." The sales manager snapped back, "Of course you haven't - that's because he quit!" Quitters never win, and winners never quit.
(2) Perseverance turns adversity into advancement. Paul writes, "Everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News" (Philp 1:12 NLT). Paul didn't give up - he rose up! How did he do it? He found the benefit to him personally that comes from every trial. One Christian author writes: "Today we're obsessed with speed, but God is more interested in strength and stability. We want the quick fix, the shortcut, the on-the-spot solution. We want a sermon, a seminar or an experience that will instantly resolve all problems, remove all temptation and release us from all growing pains. But real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving." Growth is gradual. The Bible says, "And we...are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord" (2 Cor 3:18 NIV).

Last year was a real time of testing but I realised the importance of moving on, of persevering even when all around is not looking good. So , 2009, for me is going to be consolidating that moving onwards, looking ahead and not to what has passed! Yay 2009!