God stuff | 1000 Fields of Roses

Thoughts And Prayers…

…and kindness displayed.

I was going to do a photo post today on spring (such as it is!).
This morning there was an unexpected earthquake in Victoria, and of course there are various disasters, natural and man–made, across the Earth right now. In everyday life it feels like people are biting and snapping at each other lately.

Some days are heavier than others.

These days I hesitate to say that my thoughts and prayers are with those who are suffering and weary, with those who need help. It’s a phrase that has often been used as a way of distancing ourselves from actually doing something – of sounding pious and compassionate without having to prove otherwise that we are.
It’s unfortunate that the words evoke those meanings in people. I will continue to send my “thoughts and prayers” for those in need, because I truly believe that bringing those needs before a loving, compassionate, kind God is a powerful first step to healing and renewal.
But…it’s still a first step!
I do acknowledge that some of us are physically or financially unable to be hands-on with a lot of things. In that case – pray on! It does make a difference 🙂
There are still meals to make, cards or phone calls to send, finances to release, gardens to weed, cakes to bake, houses to raise, kids to love and mentor…and maybe even justice and mercy to extend, laws to change, or conventions to be overturned.
Prayer provides the blueprint, and then we build.
(Having said that, if your mental and emotional state right now means you’re unable to do any of that – it’s OK!
You don’t have to “do stuff” to be worth loving ❤ )

I can’t encompass the whole world, but that’s why we have community. Everyone has a place to sing hope into!
I’m going to think and pray, and spend time asking my Father what to do and where.

Here is where my heart sits today…

Published in:

on September 22, 2021 at 2:25 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Afghanistan, Earthquake Victoria, Housefires

Driving, Dads And Doughnuts

Sunday just gone was Fathers’ Day. We didn’t celebrate riotously, but I think my Babe enjoyed it.
We went very early to church for the morning service, as Sweet Bean was on the camera. When we got there, a car was parked in the cafe…

Beautiful, but unexpected…
There were other classic cars out the front for the Dads to drool over. I quite enjoyed looking at them as well – they may not be the best choice for economising on petrol, but they are gorgeous to look at!
The men (18+) were given a Krispy Kreme doughnut to enjoy after the service. Sweet Bean just missed out – he turns 18 on Friday ❤
Back home for a substantial lunch, then an afternoon snooze – after opening presents!

It was a good day.
One of the best things was the morning sermon…
Feeling unsure about fatherhood – either yours to your kids, or your father’s to you?
Have a listen to some wisdom and experience –

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God stuff

on September 8, 2021 at 8:56 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: catalyst, Father's Day

Held

Not sure what’s happening with winter…
Lately it’s felt like spring, and sometimes even summer. The last couple of nights have seen the return of a slight chill, though, and the duvet has made a comeback

I’ve been doing a few hours of work – I came in late, so didn’t get a lot done, but it was nice to earn a few dollars 🙂
The job was, basically, making calls online to other people. Pretending to have a conversation about various topics with certain keywords, particularly geared towards an Australian accent. Over the last week I’ve opened various bank accounts, taken out loans, bought a tractor (and a farm!), stocked an organic herbal tea shop, and set up a fish farm. No wonder I’m tired! 😆

I’ve always had problems with phones. There was a time, years ago, when I yearned to be allowed to use the phone like the grown ups, but now I’m happy to text. Over the years I’ve learned basic “scripts” to cover most phone calls, but this job involved an undercurrent of low level terror each time I did a call.
I survived!

Today was meant to be a catching-up day, but plans can get a bit wonky. I roamed through various sites, and stumbled across this reminder that all is well – even when tiptoeing over the terror to get to the end of a phone conversation…

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on August 19, 2021 at 8:33 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Colour Conference

Content

I’ve had a couple of low energy/fatiguey days lately, so I’ve mostly been in bed.
Thankfully I’ve also been in the process of changing the area by my bed so I can easily reach books, pens/pencils/paper etc when I need them. There’s still more to do (I do a bit, then run out of steam) but I should have a useable workspace soon.
It still feels a bit lazy, but I came to the conclusion that it was better to get some work done in bed rather than not getting anything done while waiting to feel better…
It’s not like I haven’t done any writing or drawing while sitting up in bed before – it’s just been quite uncomfortable. I finally got myself a little lap table with a tilting top, and a new “bedside table” (a trolley with drawers from Officeworks).

Today has been another catch up day – because of events the last few months, I’m behind in some classes and seminars.
I’m enjoying the content of the two sites I’m working on, and I am content with my new space and the new things I’m learning!
🙂

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on July 14, 2021 at 2:57 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Bright City, Elevation Worship, Maverick City

Refresh (Again)

The last week has been a bit quiet – a period of adjusting, and reclaiming some routines.
Unfortunately, I’ve done something to my hip – not sure what, but it has involved creeping sideways occasionally and screeching when sitting down or standing up. It’s getting better, though – I walked a bit today, did some shopping and went out for a coffee… breathing out a prayer of thanks every time I could move painlessly!

Music always cheers me up, and sometimes reminds me of truth when I’m feeling unmoored.
Here’s some songs from an artist I like, reminding me where my hope comes from ❤

Now, the question is…
should I buy the album? 🤔

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on June 26, 2021 at 9:38 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Ellie Holcomb

Tripping Over The Pots Of Gold

The last few weeks have had their challenges, and I feel like I’ve stumbled through most of the time. Some days have been a bit of a blur, some have dragged on relentlessly…colours merge and almalgamate into grey.
But sometimes – there’s a rainbow.

I’ve always enjoyed rainbows.
They’re the reward after rain, and they carry a promise.
You can sing about them, make art about them, even bake them…
and in life’s greyest moments they turn up unexpectedly, to shine a bit of hope and happiness.
There may not be a real pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but there’s always the possibility of tripping over treasure around the next corner.

Hope always rises.
Love always prevails.

Tomorrow, we say goodbye to a beautiful person.
When I think of her, I think colour, joy, dancing, and exuberant praise for her God, Whom she loved unreservedly.
Our lives may be greyer, with a sense of loss
but we will have the memories.

…and there will still be unexpected rainbows,
glimpses of gold waiting to surprise us,
and a promise to come.

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on June 12, 2021 at 10:52 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: rainbow

Emptying The Thought Patterns

I wrote here a few days ago about being in my favourite cafe without anyone else around – it was “empty” for a good period of time.
Here’s a view towards where I was sitting.

It occurs to me now that this is obviously not an empty room – it’s just empty of people.

I was talking to my Biggest Boy this morning about unconscious bias – he’s studying screen and media, and has been learning about storytelling and scriptwriting. We discussed the fact that we all have prejudices and blind spots. We come from our own unique backgrounds and experiences, so the way we see the world will not be the way the next person sees their world. To a large extent that just creates variety… but sometimes it allows cruelty and offensiveness towards others. We just don’t see where our blind spots are obscuring another’s reality.
The cafe dining room was full – cluttered, in fact. There were many obstacles to my chosen seat (the couch at the back) but I was able to navigate there safely because I could see the chairs/tables clearly, and I have been there often enough to know my way around – I don’t really “see” those other things anymore.
What else am I not seeing? What unconscious biases am I letting slide because I don’t realise they’re there?
As Maria and Captain von Trapp (and also the Bible!) say – “Nothing comes from nothing…”

What am I unconscious of?

As it’s the weekend, and you probably need to sit down and have a cuppa, I’ll just share a couple of songs that came to my notice today.
🙂
❤

Published in:

on May 8, 2021 at 5:03 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Ellie Holcomb, NEEDTOBREATHE, rafter and rose

Cooling Down To Light The Fire

We’re definitely hurtling toward winter, but there are still days when I need the fan on.
It’s time to set some things in place, though, as the light dwindles… I’ve bought some bulbs (iris and jonquils) to plant. They’ll need to go in soon, or at least I think so! I have no real experience with these sorts of flowers, except for buying them, years ago, with part of my pay packet on a Friday afternoon – they were cheap and bright and cheerful, and shone through the gloom of an English winter.
I’ll harvest the sage, although it’s past it’s best. There’s quite a lot of it. I’ll freeze some in olive oil, but might also try preserving some in honey, for use in tea.

I’ve been watching seminars this week – some on a livestream from a conference associated with our church, some on a Facebook series on changing artistic mindset. I’ve already talked about the way the colder weather tends to ignite possibilities in my mind, and these various teachings have been inspiring, in different ways and for different disciplines.
Perhaps there will be wonderfully innovative creations flowing onto paper or canvas, as I sip honey sage tea!

I’ve been singing some different songs this week. The first one I’ve sung repeatedly, along with the online gathering, in the last few days. The second one I heard for the first time last night, and the last one I was introduced to this evening…