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Life of an Ordinary Aussie Woman

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Guarding your heart...

Recently I’ve been blessed to have a new friendship come about in my life…

A surprise blessing that’s been given just at the right time J

A friendship that is pure, honest and satisfying…

However I’m sure you can relate, when I say that we all know how easily prone we can be to seeking too much of a good thing, in expense of our own best interest…

Tasting something that is good, new and fulfilling can quickly lead to over indulgence!

Maturity and self-discipline is what is called for, and if you’re anything like me, just mentioning those words brings about an internal sigh as we know what it requires J

Sometimes it’s tough being mature and disciplined…


Sometimes I just want to over indulge and toss caution to the wind; being free like a little girl and also have an internal tantrum, like a small girl who desires gratification over education.

However the reality is that by practicing faithfulness to God and self-control over indulgences of the flesh…you will remain safely under His wings and your heart will be guarded.

I am NOT saying that we must abstain from things that are good in our lives…indeed God blesses us abundantly!  However we must be firm in our resolve to maintain God as number one in our lives.

Yes, I did say maintain…maintain because we are in relationship with God through Jesus…and relationships need to be maintained…

Friendships, food, leisure, work and so on and so forth…all of these and more, are indeed good gifts from God…but when we over indulge we are heading towards idolatry…

Your heart is precious and of immense worth to God…So maintain your number one relationship and practice guarding your heart…no matter how much you’d like to tantrum about it J

Melanie…

Thursday 16 May 2013

Trash or Treasure


How were you raised?  Was someone else’s trash your treasure?


Were you allowed to forage and go on treasure hunts?

I have a vivid early memory of being pushed in my pram by my mother, around a home building site near where we lived, while my mother and older siblings collected leftover aluminium cans for recycling…wow, treasure just left lying around!

When I was a young girl, maybe around 8 years of age, Mum and us kids went for a drive to the nearby tip (rubbish dump or refuse site for you non-Aussies).  We lived in a rural farming area and were probably going to dump garden clippings…but I’ll never forget the excitement of my mother and sister, when they discovered some woman’s discarded ‘treasures’.  I remember hearing a comment that all the stuff must have been from a deceased estate as it was ‘so good’ that no-one would dump it otherwise…and although I did feel a bit saddened by this thought, it wasn’t long before I was caught up in the excitement and was rummaging seeking something of worth...

The excitement of finding treasure, or a good bargain I must admit has not left me, and although I no longer rummage tip sites (it is illegal now for safety reasons) I do like to visit op-shops (charity stores) and I still like to not waste if possible.

The problem today however in our western countries, is that we are more and more a use and discard society.  I’m sure you’ve heard it said or have probably said it yourself more than once…that things aren’t made to last anymore…

Technological devices are made for a season and to be discarded when upgraded…and to be honest we do need to discard many things when they’re no longer useful, otherwise we’d be inundated with STUFF…hmmm, perhaps too much impulsive buying contributes here too L 

I know people who are swamped with an overload of STUFF…even to the point where the STUFF is controlling them! 

Australia has changed…my grandmother was in the ‘depression’.  Times were tough and luxuries were scarce…when I was a girl my mother was careful with every dollar…I think it would be a safe assumption to say that the majority of Australians today have savings and or available spending money (even if they do grumble about not having enough :P)

But my real point here is that many young Australians (IMO) let’s say adults under the age of 45yrs…do not know the meaning of true treasure…let me explain…

Discarded is the skill of master craftsmen…now it’s all factory manufactured quick fixes…the opinion seems to be why spend $2,000 and be stuck with the same item for 20 years, when you can spend $500 and keep updating with the trends…

Discarded are the crafting skills passed on by women through generations…the question asked seems to be ‘why spend the whole day sewing when you can go to the super-store?’  Not many ask ‘can we bond as a family through teaching and learning?’

Discarded are the life-long marriages... ‘why stay with the old model, when you can update to a newer one?’

Discarded are the family relationships… ‘why spend time catching up with family when you can see all their status updates online?’

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!

All this STUFF that you hold so close to you, so close that it consumes you…is TRASH (cause that’s where it’ll end up)!
 
 

What is your view on treasure?

Jesus is MY treasure and the relationships He provides me with…in love Melanie.



Thursday 2 May 2013

Don't sweat the small stuff...


I was at a hockey program late today with my 3 sons…YES I did say 3 sons J

As I was watching the kids complete drills to improve their skills, I was quite impressed by one young player in particular…

This kid was a natural…eyes focused upon the ball…their body moving like fluid towards the goal…

This kid was not distracted by their opponent…not flustered one bit!

On the contrary, it seemed this child enjoyed the competition and the chance to have someone run alongside…

In a matter of seconds the ball was shot towards the goal…and it was a miss

Still, a smile lit up this kid’s face…they had been in the zone and enjoyed every minute of it and they were ready for the next opportunity to score…

This kid did not sweat the small stuff…

 


Small stuff…but they missed the shot? Yes, but they didn’t get caught up with what didn’t happen!

 

Wow…how I’d like to be more like that kid…


Eyes focused, moving like fluid as I serve my Lord, with a smile on my face…even enjoying the near misses, as I rejoice in the LIFE He’s given!

Not distracted by stray flying balls, or the frustrations of others…

I think sometimes we’re so distracted and we lose our focus when we get caught up in unnecessary details…

Yes, ok some details need focusing upon for a time, but ultimately our focus needs to be much wider and not limited by small details…

Sometimes we need to get over ourselves…


Sometimes we can’t afford to let other people’s negativity side-track us…

I think I can imagine Jesus saying, with a gentle, understanding smile…don’t sweat the small stuff…keep your eyes focused upon me, you of little faith :)

Just my thoughts…