Monthly Archives: February 2017

THE ADVOCATE

EVERY child, every teen in fact has the right to feel safe in their community. It is the right of every child to be raised in safe homes with loving caring parents.

Ther is an old saying: ” it takes a community to raise a child” each home is at the heart of the community and it must all start there.

It is one thing to aim at the vision of having safe homes and therefore communities but it is yet another to have these rights of children upheld in the courts and by Legislation. It will take Wise Judges and Courts to tenaciously uphold Legislation that has been ratified in Government.

So to have safe futures for all of our children there must be a clear collaboration and cooperation at every level: Families, Schools, Community, Local Government, State and Federal Government and then the Law is administered through the Courts of Law which are inevitably in the hands of the Legal Fraternity.

I hope to share parts of my journey in advocacy, working with families, communities and Government through writing submissions and petitioning and lobbying to have them adopted.

Every child has the right to live and be raised in safety and love and enjoy being a child.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being

crushed ” Proverbs 31:8

I was impacted by this verse and several others many years ago. It has never left my heart, and has been like a fire burning i my heart . It is something I must do.

Re-Kindling The Fire

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Re- Kindling the Fire

I sat and watched as the flames of the little wood heater danced and leaped around the small logs and spread their warmth into the whole room. Somehow it was a beautiful feeling of comfort and warmth and I snuggled into my chair and enjoyed the special place, while a cold wind roared outside.

As I watched, I thought about a fire on the beach that Jesus lit for His disciples so long ago when they when they too needed some comfort and warmth. Fire is like that it has the ability to bring comfort and warmth but is also a tool that we can use for both benefit or damage.

Having lived on the land, most of my life, I’ve grown with the knowledge that fire is a great tool but a challenging master. Generally speaking, fire is a tool for regeneration for plant life. After a fire has gone over the land, seeds from many species are released by the heat to germinate and bring forth new life. It also destroys pests and brings refreshing to the land.

We have a combustion stove for the kitchen that we use mostly in the winter months. In today’s world, many have grown accustomed to being able to turn a switch to get power and light and heat instantly. We love the idea of microwaves, don’t we? Sometimes we even think microwave in our Christian lives. The combustion stove takes a little longer to heat, but is a very reliable source for heating and for food preparation. Requirements: To either start a fire or re-kindle one that has burned down, you simply need wood (fuel) and oxygen (air).

When a fire consumes the wood burns low, so long as there are some coals, one is able to rekindle that fire. With a combustion stove, you need some smaller kindle, then open the vents and allow oxygen to start the flame. I love to watch as the flames stir up and take hold on the wood, then curl around the wood, and start the process of burning to ashes. They leap and dance as they do their work of reducing the fuel and providing warmth. As I light or re-light my fire each time, I am reminded the challenges from the Bible.

2 Timothy 1:6 “For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” Other versions say: “keep ablaze the gift of God´´ & “fan into flame.”

Just as to start a stove fire, wood and oxygen are needed, so too to rekindle a fire in our hearts, the Word of God (wood/fuel) and oxygen the Spirit is needed to keep ablaze, to fan into flame, the fire that is in us. We are responsible for the condition of our hearts.

As I watch the flames, almost mezmerizingly, I ask myself: Do I need a fresh fire of the Spirit to inflame my heart to be a Light in the world? Do I need a fire to burn (reduce) to ashes the rubbish that I have allowed to accumulate in my life? Do I have crustaceans of hurt, pain, unforgivness around my heart that need the fire of God to crack open and allow the regeneration of new life and hope to a new and needy world? Only the Holy Spirit can do this, but we must fan the flame and allow Him to burn afresh in us, to ignite us with His Love, to set us aflame. Jeremiah had Gods Word burning in his heart like a fire.

As the disciples walked together after Jesus resurrection, they spoke to each other and said “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32) How long is it since my heart has burned within when I heard the Scriptures?

Let’s walk again with the Master as the disciples did and have His words burn within, have our fires re-kindled, aflame in the Holy Spirit to shed warmth and love to a lost and needy world.

A beautiful song we used to sing says: ‘light your fire, run to the world’ let’s get close to the flame so we are LIGHT and warmth to our communities, our world.

When all the excess, the rubbish is burned out of our lives, then we can burn afresh with the Holy Spirit. Is your fire within almost gone out? Do you need to light your fire, fan your flame?

SPEAR GRASS COUNTRY

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Spear Grass Country

Last year we experienced a long, cold and dry winter. (2016) It has been followed by some useful rain which was the first decent fall since February. After rain in spring come the grass fires, burning off all the last season’s rubbish and giving way to fresh grass and food for the cattle. Along with the lovely green paddocks comes a particular grass that grows in our area. It is called spear grass.
It is good stock feed while it is fresh but quickly grows rank and at times quite matted on the tops with the seeds for next season which then break off the grass and attach to anything walking through it, whether human or animal. It is necessary to remove these as soon as possible, and to make sure none a left in your clothing. Cattle often carry these particularly in the tail hair.

When our property was settled in 1868, our early family members tried to introduce sheep to the area but soon found that it was almost impossible to breed them. The spears, from spear grass, an introduced species, would get caught in the sheep’s wool and work their way down to pierce the skin of the sheep. There they inevitably would become infected and at times travel around the sheep’s body causing nasty infection and opening the skin for further blowfly infection. These grass heads, actually shaped like a speak head and very sharp and strong, are rather nasty and we do need to take care as they enter the human body very easily. It also has a tail of attached to the head, which is capable of moving the spear head along. When working in the spear grass country, it is wise to wear strong material jeans and long sleeve shirts.

Recently my husband noticed a small red infection on his leg. Having experienced these infections from spear-grass previously, we immediately believed to be spear grass and as it had not long appeared, we thought we could remove it was sharp tweezers. Not so, and it took some weeks of treating infection and then finally using an old-fashioned poultice to draw the spear-grass towards the surface of the skin. We were then able to remove the spear with a sharp pair of tweezers. Amazingly once spear grass is actually removed the infection heals quite quickly. At times these little spears have been known to travel quite a distance under the skin and invade quite deeply into the muscles where the infection can be painful.

In life, we receive an offence, harsh words, lie, misunderstanding from someone and rather than deal with the issue, we at times allow that word or deed, to go deep within us, and just like the spear-grass, create a wound. We sometimes re-act out of that source within our hearts (the wound). This wound is like the infection around the spear-grass head, and is the source of what we do and say. The spear grass wound is like un-forgiveness. We then hurt and wound others all because we chose to live out of our hurt emotions. . Worse still, we go to the social media and give others “a mouthful of infection”. Or we ‘act up” against others who may cross our path. Words can be so wounding, and once spoken, it is difficult to take them back. We need to guard our hearts just as we use protective clothing when working with spear-grass. If, however, we happen to be wounded, we need to deal with the issue and not allow it to infect our lives and hurts others. We need to learn to live in forgiveness.

Stephen when he was being stoned to death, not for an offence, he was innocent, did not throw stones back at his attackers but simply and lovingly asked Father to forgive them and what beautiful chain re-action that started!! Paul, then Saul was the recipient of those precious forgiving words and changed his life forever as he then bowed to Jesus. Come and walk with the Master today. Read and be blessed. Acts 7:54-60; Acts 9:1-20. Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 18:21-22; 1John1:9; Colossians 3:13.

Who is Spinning Your Web?

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Above: An amazing rare and intricate web near our Dam on a dewy morning

One evening I watched a small spider swinging in the breeze out of the huge old fig tree at the bottom my garden. Then it just landed on another tree with its web attached. From there it climbed back up its thread to the first point and fastened again, and dropped again to the other tree. This process continued while it finished the main spokes of his web. It climbed to the middle, and started completing its web by attaching radius connections. These little insects are quite amazing to watch. Just one single thread and the risk of launching from a branch, forms the basis of this intricate web.

I was reminded of my childhood days and riding on horseback through some scrub country after cattle. Inevitably there were many spider webs as they easily string their webs between the scrub trees. I hated the sticky webs of the big cross stick spiders, as they clung to skin. I would grab that web off my face hoping there wasn’t a spider. I realise from a little study that the spider would intuitively know not to come when something big ran into its web. I still would not hang round to find out!

The actual completion of the web is far more intricate and clever than what appears to the naked eye. The spider easily grips the thin threads with special serrated claws, a smooth hook and a series of barbed hairs on the end of its legs. Then it combs the threads over the tiny hairs located in his hind legs to give them electrostatic charge. The spider does not coat the frame and radius threads with sticky material until completing its structure. Cleverly the spider can then use the non-sticky radius threads, for movement round the web, and a sticky spiral for catching bugs. Then the spider sits still and monitors the radius threads for vibrations of an insect getting caught. These web spinning spiders have an innate ability to tell the difference between vibrations from an insect prey and vibrations from other sources such as leaves, twigs falling into the web. Some species are so clever they can distinguish the characteristic vibrations of a dangerous insect such as a wasp.

The next morning I checked on the spider web. It was just glittering with dew like diamonds, the early morning sun turning it into such beauty, and the little spider had caught himself a couple of meals. I feel so privileged to watch the magnificent work of God’s creation and the perfection of this insect. And what a lesson it is to us to watch a spider build his business in such a way. You see the amazing web provides food and a place to live. They are truly entrepreneurial little insects.This amazing blueprint design is in the DNA of the spider.

So ingenious and amazing is the work of web building spiders that scientists are now learning from these techniques and methods. The majority of spider threads are on the micrometer scale, the ability to produce nano-scale fibres has intrigued scientists who are studying the composition of the special silk used by the spiders in construction. It is hoped these studies will assist them in the production of nano-scale filaments which could help scientists develop stronger and more versatile fibres.

Today, take some time to think about this little spider. It has an assignment, its hope of the future. With abandon, it launches from the branch not knowing if it will be taken by a bird, caught up by a gust of wind, or miss its landing spot. Perhaps you have the challenge of a new business venture, a new vocation, a special assignment, and afraid to move forward, to take that step and launch out. Nothing will be gained till you venture forward, take the first step, make that phone call. So, who is spinning your web, preparing blue print? We have the blue print, the DNA from heaven, for an assignment from God, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, the right breeze to carry us forward. Yet so often we struggle and stay firmly on safe ground, our limb of safety, refusing to launch into the unknown. Are you willing to swing out into His atmosphere and find you are firmly attached to Him and he will never let you go? You will not fall into nothingness but right into that place He has called you to.

There is risk, but no risk that God will turn up. “For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:12. Note also Proverbs 4:12. Look to the spider and launch out today.

Nuggets of Gold

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The Photo above is of an one of the older methods of mining Gold.

Our Property “Live and Let Live ” and many areas around Kilkivan were mined for gold in the early days of settlement.

Above is alluvial gold which has to be washed and extracted from the soil it has become trapped in over thousands of years. This picture shows some alluvial Gold that has been dug from nearby ground and taken to a creek or water supply to wash it by hand in a gold pan. Sometimes this is quite a process and these days with huge machines like washing machine. are used to extract alluvial gold.

Nuggets of Gold were also found as the still are across many areas of Australia. These nuggets are pure and perfect and beautiful as they are. Gold is spoken of many times in Gods Word:

“ Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.”1 Peter 1:7 This goes on to describe the way we , as Christians, after suffering come as pure Gold if we will give God licence to work in us, perhaps sometimes through the washing machine, the trundle experience.

The mining of gold is very interesting. Bars of Gold are smelted from smaller pieces, exposed to great heat, and allowed to cool to form bars. It is all an amazing process and there are just so many Nuggets of Gold that we can find in God’s Word, if we will take the time to search, to become miners of God’s WORD. Start to be a miner of God’s Word seek the precious Gold from Gods word. In this post I will share some of the nuggets I have found in Gods Word over the years.

Building Strong Communities

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Strong Communities are only as healthy and thriving as the strong families within that community.

At the heart of every vibrant and healthy and safe community :

Healthy family relationships,
Community participation,
And government participation.
Law upheld and supported by that community.

These communities will thrive in every aspect, from its child care through education, training and then to thriiving Business and strong Church participation outside the walls of Churches.

It is a circle of life that starts with the healthy condition of the family which is built on strong moral values gleaned from Gods Book of direction and guidance, the Bible.

In this blog we will look and many aspects of Community life and its ability to raise resilient families where all:

Its children are safe,
Its aged cared for,
Issues of disability addressed.
Homeless cared for (perhaps there should not be homeless & needy in such a community)

Door of Hope

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Hurting ? Lonely? Suffered Abuse as Child?

Violence as and Adult? Challenged by addiction?

These are very real issues BUT there ANSWERS.

There is a DOOR waiting for you to walk through to HOPE

Hosea 2:15 New King James Version (NKJV)

I will give her her vineyards from there,
And the Valley of Achor as a door of hope;
She shall sing there,
As in the days of her youth,
As in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.

this speaks of coming through to Joy and Hope from the Valleys of Pain.

This Scripture calls this place a Valley of Achor. It was the place where Achor was stoned to death for disobeying Gods instruction to Israel. Sometimes this “stoning” may seem and feel very real as when we are suffering from violence and abuse, it may feel like everybody is talking about you, judging you . It can be an awful pace and this is because we can have a low self image and shame. God is waiting to touch you and bring healing, to lift you up above all your past pain and bring you to a place of HOPE.

Jeremiah 31:3 New King James Version (NKJV)

³The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you.

He is coming down your dusty difficult road today, wherever your life’s journey has taken you. He, Jesus comes with LOVE and HOPE in His Heart for you. There is HOPE , HEALING and JOY for YOU. Experience real freedom from the past NOW!

Bits and Pieces of Paper

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As I have been on a Journey of recording studies and learning from years of study, I came across so many “Bits of Paper” in my note books On many of these I scribbled notes form different sources, I found some real gems.

They were ‘little stories’, precious verses of Scripture and nuggets of Gold. I plan over time to share these little pits of paper that meant so much to me.

I remember one time when I was going away for a short mission trip, one young son was feeling anxious and unsettled. I wrote out some Scriptures and stuck them inside the kitchen cupboard door and told him to read them whenever he felt lonely or afraid. It was “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh your Joy from you.” John 16:22.

One early morning my boy awoke feeling very anxious and lonely for Mum. Coming from the room there was a piece of paper on the floor, with the words: “I will see you again and your heart will rejoice”. Wow! no one seems to still know how that piece of paper got on the floor in 2 pieces. But when I arrived home I was told that amazing story over and over… Bits and Pieces of Paper. In the time ahead I share more of these stories from my “bits and pieces of paper” and trust they will bless.

About Finishing

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In today’s’ world we are faced daily with challenges of life. Many times people set out with good intentions but do no find the strength and courage to stay the distance to the finishing line.

We are all faced with challenges on a daily basis with varying degrees of severity. Generally life is not a ‘rose garden’ these days. So many

find themselves climbing rugged mountains and steeps , going through deep valleys, through fire and flood or just the chaos of everyday life. At these times we must keep the end in view.

“You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs, but one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after the one that gold externally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else about it, and then missing out myself.” ( Corinthians 9:24 to 27 The Message)

I love these verses as they speak about, planning, training, preparing physically and mentally, actually not only intending to, but having the courage to FINISH!

In this post I will share truths I have learned along the road and in everyday life in good and bad times, chaos and joy.

Finishing line

Welcome to Our Place “Live & Let Live”

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A Winter’s Morning at Live & Let Live

“Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day.” Remember that old song. I really can’t remember what musical it came from but I think the song continued “everything’s going my way”.

I have learned over time that it is not because ‘everything is going my way’ that a day is beautiful, it is more because I have acknowledged WHO is in my day, I have taken time to rest in what God has planned for my day. All His Promises are new every morning and even as the dew settles overnight so I can allow the dew of His Presence settle on my life.

A few days ago on a cold morning, I decided to enjoy the warmth of the sun on our northern veranda. The frost had melted and the fog lifted, giving way to beautiful sunshine and a lovely day, the air was still crisp and fresh.

As I sat quietly, I could hear the many different species of birds around our home. The Lorikeets, finches, doves, magpies, Guinea fowls and one duck had all finished their breakfast and were settled in the sunshine too. It all made for a very pleasant setting.

Then from the old tress a little further away can the clear laugh of the Kookaburras. I love their joyful song though on this occasion it sounded like they were having a conference. They kept it up for a while and then, conference over, they flew away to come back and check on us later.

Many of the old Fig Trees on our property are over 100 years old. My, could they tell stories of children learning to climb, of swings built for the children, cubby houses, picnics under their shady canopies, horses tied up at lunch time, bantams and guinea fowl roosting in their protective branches and so much more.

It was hard to pull myself away from my spot in the sun that day but there comes a time …….. when one needs to move on with the day ahead. They were precious moments and memories of if when we raised our children on the Live & Let Live. I’ll share some stories from time to time. So till ne next time, enjoy your day. Till next time, may you too be aware of all the good things provided from the Fathers Hand.