Life At Avalon: September 2011

The Habit of Rest

Today at sunset it will all be over. The Feast of Trumpets. A day that God set aside in the Old Testament for His people to celebrate, to rest, to reflect and to repent. Rosh Hashanah, a Jewish holiday that celebrates the New Year in the Hebrew calendar AND the creation of the universe – the birthday of the world! And what an awesome world it is, with its millions of galaxies reflecting God’s glory and greatness! Happy Birthday World my heart sings...

But it’s not just about celebrating, it’s about resting too. How sad that we have unlearned the habit of rest. That our lives have become so fast-paced, so intense, so driven, especially in this economy with petrol prices soaring, that we cannot afford to step off for a minute to rest, to reflect - to repent.

How many nights does he not toil until midnight, getting all the invoices off after a long day battling the technical demons that torment clients’ computers? How many times does he not serve me as he bends over the earth, sacrifices his plans to help me realize mine? How many weekends did he not create delightful edible art by my side – a silent, beautiful offering to strengthen our covenant relationship?

My response? An overwhelming sense of gratitude, love and a determination to make time for rest. To plan for rest, to cultivate the habit of rest.

A new year… an opportunity for new beginnings – the Habit of Rest?

Weekends are for fun, friends and family

They call this the human flag :-)

We call this touching base...

reflecting...

getting into sync...

...practising gratitude.

The Global God Who Gives the Great Commission

The Global God Who Gives the Great Commission
Towards the middle of this video (click on the link above) Louie Giglio shares an amazing sound clip of the Universe worshipping our awesome God. So powerful.

A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.
~ CS Lewis

It is officially Spring!!!

Today is the long awaited Spring Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere! Today the sun will be over the equator at noon and our day and night should be approximately equally long.

Today my heart celebrates:
The heavens declare the GLORY of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands!
Psalm 19:1

The Practice of Hope

He arrives home at the end of a long week to be met by despair and heaviness. He holds me close and I tremble, waves of fear and exhaustion wash over me. It's tiring to nurture in the face of lack. Simple purchases become complicated decisions. How does one feed five adults on R30 a day? When a Prince says that he's so happy to be invited to a friend for the weekend because there's always so much food, I cringe. When he says he hates this time of the month when he's so hungry and just wants to eat all the time, this mother-heart sinks."Have faith" the King breathes into my hair, "creditors could pay". Oh, how I wish my shield of faith were bigger to extinguish the fiery darts of fear.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say "God helps those who help themselves." But it does tell us that God helps those who wait for him and hope in him.

These words touch me...

How often am I not patient enough to wait, to hope, to trust? How often do I not give in to fear, the enemy of faith, instead of giving thanks?

Three times this month our bank accounts have run dry and three times this month God has come through at the exact perfect time. Every time it becomes easier to wait, to trust, to give thanks, to practice hope and to live by faith one day at a time.

This weekend past...

We had morning tea on the new Bench Swing that Prince 1 had made during the week.

I admired the Emerging Seedlings in the old veggie patch: the mustard, peas, beans and a few potatoes have raised their brave heads. There are a few missing beans though (the birds probably took them)...

I planted Artichoke seeds where we had removed the roses, some Morning Glories up steel obelisks, Scarlet Runner Beans and Jack-Be-Little Pumpkins up the arch over the new veggie patch gate and the King made two more raised beds.

The Princes were immersed in their School Work. They had helped out at Forest Way Outdoor Centre for 3 days during the week and had catching up to do. A group from a large East London primary school had been visiting and extra staff had been needed to take them abseiling, raft building, through the obstacle course, up to the waterfall and to teach them how to use bows and arrows. The Princes helped cheerfully - the hearty cooked meals and interesting teachers they met (and impressed) served as incentives. Prince 1 is busy with exam prep, the other two are on a mission to get through their syllabi in record time!

On Saturday evening we dressed up to attend a Dance Show at the Guild theatre in East London. The Princesses that float into our lives make sure we get our dose of cultural enrichment every once in a while! Last month we attended Princess A's show and this month it was Princess K's turn to enchant us. Both girls were the tallest in their groups - how fast (and beautifully) they grow up!

Early this morning we had our first gentle rain - only 3 more days to the Spring Equinox!

Double Blessing

I clearly remember that day when we were told that we were expecting twins. The sonogram was a birthday gift (we had no medical aid) and hadn't had any until then. I was nearly 28 weeks pregnant. I remember the disbelief, the excitement, the shock, the elation, the fear ...and the peace. I recalled the dreams - had He not been telling me for weeks?

Princes 3 and 2...

...2 and 3

One compassionate and kind - the peacemaker and bridge-builder. The other competitive and driven - the voice of logic and reason, the one that cannot let a wrong go by unnoticed.

In November it will be 16 years ago that they changed my life forever - made it more complicated, more fulfilling, more challenging, more beautiful.

They make me laugh, they make make me ponder - they make me proud!

They engage me, they challenge me, they serve me, they delight me - they have changed me, they have changed my world.

By God's amazing grace they display maturity beyond their age. They are perceptive, gracious, patient and thankful.

They pay attention to detail, delight in the little things, appreciate the small mercies.

They harbour no resentment and make no demands.

They are motivated and wise beyond their years.

They are my double blessing!

On my mind today: Gratitude

He wakes me with tea and kisses... and I am grateful. As he climbs out of the shower he reminds me to drink my tea and then kisses me again, saying that he's trying to establish where I am. "I'm still sleeping" I respond, but I know what he means and I am grateful. Before I rush off to the office the Princes stumble into the kitchen one by one, give me hugs, make me coffee and I am grateful. We plan their day and we plan my day, I catch a glimpse of where they're at and I am grateful. I'm grateful that we allow each other into our secret places, I'm grateful that we feel safe enough to share and I'm grateful for time - time to take a moment to ask, to share... and to be grateful.