... Christmas memories ...

" Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

Matthew  2 : 11

... Christmas archeology ...

Dear God, 

... oh how fast a week goes by ... especially a Christmas week ... but it is good to hang with family ... it always takes a while to settle back into Sydney life after going home for a visit ... somehow the sand shifts a little when I am away ... especially so at Christmas ... I come back different ... searching for something tangible ... 

... what a life Mary had ... mother of Jesus ... receiver of angels ... the faith of a mountaineer ... I wonder if  she felt the complexity of family dynamics ... pondering life ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... just as they had been told ...

" The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

Luke 2 : 20

... reminiscences ...

Dear God,

... memories of a Christmas past came flooding back last night ... I was thinking about  how as a teenager I went caroling at Christmas time ... we used to sit on the back of a big open tray truck and drive around the local streets ... it was a really fun activity ... I am a bad singer but very apt at smiling and waving ... thanks for memories ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... creation ...

" So God created human beings in his own image, 

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them."

Genesis 1 : 27

... gratitude 101 ...

Hey God, 

... the first thing that I am most grateful for is being created ... thanks God for taking 6 days and resting on the 7th ... thanks for being inspired to create us girls and boys ... thanks for the time to think and be me ... thanks for the opportunities and thanks for the ability to make choices ... especially thanks for my new NIV study bible (I love it) ... thanks for all these and many more ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... blessings all around ...

... thanks and adoration ...

Dear God, 

... I seem so focused on finding ways for other people to be thankful  that I have neglected my own thankful heart ... so today has made me think of writing a gratitude journal again ... the time is now ... this is my pushing through attitude ... Thanks God for growing a gratitude in me that truly is a garden ... You inspire me every day to me more like you ... Love and adoration abounds today ... 

Love ya always

Teena

... lean not on your own understanding ...

" Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3 : 5 - 6

... trust ...

Dear God, 

... today I have been thinking about my creativity ... especially when it comes to my new business ... can I sustain long term creativity ... always coming up with new and exciting ideas ... and on writing this I know, I should know you will sustain me ... but I am such a doubting Thomas ... where is my trust ... especially since the basis of my new business is you ... lesson for me is practice what you preach ... Help me to work on my Trust God ... Thanks ... couldn't do this without ya ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... but be excessive with God's Love ...

" Keep on loving each other as brothers.  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."

Hebrews 13 : 1 - 2

... all things in moderation ...

Dear God, 

...  my mind has been drifting around a lot lately ... pondering on life and all it's complexities ... just finished watching a cooking show ... the cook was making pancakes ... in went in all these ingredients that seemed excessive (and that was before cooking them) ... what ever happened to 1 cup flour 1 cup milk 1 egg ... the old fashioned way ... then you add all the sugary topping after when you eat them ... that's the best part for me ...  my absolute favorite is lemon and sugar on my pancakes  ... what happened to a simple life ... all that is needed is the basics ... Help me not to excess in anything ... remind me to live a sustainable life ... and help me to be generous in all that I have ... Thanks mate

Love ya always 

Teena

... stamped by Jesus ...

" Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?

We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

Matthew 2 : 2

... Christmas Fever ...

Dear God, 

... Christmas fever is upon us ... tonight I have started making my Christmas cards ... I know it is late ... so please help to hustle my hands and feet ... this is such a great way to start me thinking about how to celebrate you this season ... to remind me what's important ... and help me to open my ears to what you are saying  ... what is you message this season ... am I moving closer to you or am I stagnate ... Thanks mate for being King of Kings and Lord of Lords ...

Love ya always

Teena

... God gets my Love ...

" To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength ..."

Mark 12 : 33

... keeping up the momentum ...

Dear God,

 ... I am very needy at this busy time of the year ... I keep asking for a top up ... hope my focus changes soon ... my plans to start being community orientated will start in the new year and I have a few project ideas ... I started all my blog business planning with such gusto ... and now I am tired and my body needs some help to keep going ... please can you sort out what you want with this community project ... I need your hand on this for it to happen Your Way... Thanks

Love ya always 

Teena

... cupcakes and freckles ...

... 40 fun ...

Dear God, 

... I think I am going to need a lot of help this week ... I am so tired from the big 40th party on the weekend ... my bones are yawning ... help me get through all the work I need to get done for my business ... thanks a million ... 

... 'twas such a good time ... it is a joy to see someone else be blessed by their family ... the love is so so very evident in their eyes ... 

... and I enjoyed being needed ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... James 4 ...

" Do you know where your fights and arguments come from?  They come from the selfish desires that war within you.  You want things, but you do not have them."

James 4 : 1 - 2

... the selfish me ...

Dear God, 

... one constant struggle I have is with me, myself and I ... sometimes I can be my own worst enemy ... listening to the discouraging voices and forgetting so quickly your promised plan for me ... not that I exactly know what the plan is exactly but I do know the big picture idea ... You want the very Best for me ... so why then am I so easily discouraged ... where is my "faith like a mustard seed" ... 

... then I read James 4 and had an insight into myself ... my selfish desires want worldly recognition ... I need to keep laying that one at your feet to heal ... Thanks mate ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... holy spirit of truth ...

" I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever - the spirit of truth."

John 14 : 16 - 17

... thanks for surprising me ...

Dear God, 

... you are hilarious sometimes ... the entry in my journal a week ago was ... " I think my word for 2011 is going to be surrender ... let go and let God ... thanks for the reminder that God must get the Glory " ... a funny thing happened this Sunday ... the message was "saved - called - surrender" ... it was about stepping up to surrender ... so I guess what your saying is ... that the I think now becomes I know ...  Thanks mate

Love ya always 

Teena

... a time for everything ...

" There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has it's special season."

Ecclesiastes 3 : 1

... Countdown ...

Hey God,

Today is countdown ... one month until Christmas ... so I am reminded that I need to think about what to make for Christmas cards ... Thanks for a great 11 months so far this year ... I am a little anxious about the deadline for my business coming up ... only 2 months until I open ... wondering what Christmas will mean for my family this year ... the words that come to mind for me are expectation and surrender ... 

... also God I have been thinking about living to excess ... how I have an apartment full of things ... I heard someone talking the other day about living sustainably ... this is a concept I need to work towards ... I will admit that the most used item in my house is my mini kettle and cuppa ... Thanks for simple pleasures ...

Love ya always

Teena

... the first ...

" that the Christ would die, and as the first to rise from the dead, he would bring light to all people."

Acts 26 : 23

... radical moments ...

Dear God, 

... I was reading Acts last night ... about Paul's radical encounter with You ... and wondering what it must feel like to have been part of history at such a pivotal time ... I wonder if his family knew the impact he was having ... and if his family were supportive if him ... if I could time travel I would love to meet him and listen to how he speaks ... feel his passion ... see some of his personality ... this person chosen by God ... to good great works ...

... the verse that stood out to me was ... " as the first to rise from the dead " ...  so You didn't just conquer death but You created a way for us to be with You ... eternity ... thanks for thinking of me ... thanks for including me ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... heart felt ...

... choose your words carefully ...

Dear God, 

... what makes us truly great ... is it the way we rise to meet the challenges or is it the humble heart that sacrifices for others ... over my life I can remember times where despite the circumstances I behaved in a way that was Grace Given ... that God spoke through me ... and my actions were inspired ... but then there are also times when I spoken words that caused harm ...  I wish I could have taken back those soul destroying moments  ... but it took time to forgive myself and come to that place of acceptance ...  and there are still things that I am not willing to let go of yet ... 

... maybe a defining moment of greatness for me would be ... to not feel the need to belittle another, to make myself feel better ... to speak only words that build up and encourage ... Help me God ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... encouragement that lasts for eternity ...

" ... do not give up.  Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new everyday.  We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles.  We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see.  What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever."

2 Corinthians 4 : 16 - 18

... A God perspective ...

Dear God, 

... was just reading my bible and thinking back over the past week ... you are so good to me ... thanks for holding me fast to you ... I have had such a big change in attitude this week ... but also need to keep my perspective on things that are not seen ... eternity last forever ... 

Love ya always 

Teena

... growth in God ...

" Be humble under God's powerful hand so he will lift you up when the right time comes.  Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you."

1 Peter 5 : 6 - 7

... uplevel time ...

Hey God, 

 ... it's time to move out of my comfort zone ... so far my business plan has been on paper and net research ... but now I have to start contacting people for quotes and start to actually order the nuts and bolts ... I need to speak to a computer person this week and find myself a letterpress printer ... This feels a little nerve wrecking ... letting down my walls ... life is changing everyday ... thanks God for this experience ... thanks for opening my eyes to possibility ...

Love ya always

Teena

... who will you fight for ...

" Suppose a woman has ten silver coins , but  loses one.  She will light a lamp, sweep the house, and look carefully for the coin until she finds it.  And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say, 'Be happy with me because I have found the coin that I lost."

Luke 15 : 8-9

... my choice ...

Dear God, 

... my choice is to pray ... pray for my friends and family ... sometimes I feel a little wearisome ... like time is short and little is happening ... sometime I feel like fear and materialism have such a strong pull ... I feel like I need something ... what do I need God to shift this ... 

Love ya always 

Teena

... of God ...

" How great is the love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called of God!  And that is what we are! "

1 John 3 : 1

... God JUST IS ...

Dear God,

 ... I have been doing a lot of research about my new venture ... all the business plans say to research properly .. so I have been using the internet as my tool ... and it has been very productive ... but it has got me thinking about my relationship with you ...

... there are some things in life that just are ... and you JUST ARE ... it is a very strange thing to explain ... but I just know You to be You ... I did not research to find you ... you were just living in me ... Thanks for just being my God ...

 ... so I suppose the research part of our relationship began when I wanted to find out more about you ... thanks for the help ... and thanks for the gift of inner strength to stay strong for you ... you are so good to me ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... Revelations ...

" Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.  On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing 12 crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.  And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."

Revelation 22 : 1 - 2

 

... nations to be healed ...

Dear God, 

... I was reading Revelations last night ... what really struck me was ' and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations' ... oh how I wish this was now ... with so many innocent victims caught in the horrors of wars and unrest ...  healing please ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... laughter is ...

Hey God,

... In all my seriousness this week I have a put aside my funny bone ... where has the laughter gone ... I have been so consumed by my business to organize that I have forgotten the fun ... Life is supposed to be fun ... laughter is coming back ... Thanks for the little reminder .. you are so good to me ... Thanks for having my back ..

Love ya always

Teena

... planting seed ...

" A farmer went out to plant his seed.  While he was planting, some seed fell on the road.  

People walked on the seed, and the birds ate it up.  Some seed fell on rock, and when it began to grow, it died because it had no water ... And some seed fell on good ground and grew and made a hundred times more."

Luke 8 : 5 - 8

... investing my energies ...

Dear God, 

... where am I investing my energies ... am I spending all my energy working for God things and eternal treasures ... and am I expending my energies at a realistic rate ... a rate that is sustainable ... more questions ... some I know the answers to and some I need you to fill me in on ... 

... one thing I do know, is that I want to make my Life matter ... build a life that reflects You ... and shines your light ... so that at the end it is not about how flashy my grave looks but what I did with the gifts you gave me ...

... now to answer my second question ... I need help with working at a consistent rate and not sitting on my computer to midnight ... Thanks for the insight about my limitations ... please help me to balance my excitement about creating my new venture ... 

Love ya always 

Teena

... treasures in heaven ...

" Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6 : 19 - 21

... What are my treasues ...

Dear God,

 ... my gut tells me to strive for the fruit of the spirit ... to value Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self control ... they are such beautiful words ... but words that are empty without your strength working within me to make my intention true ... because maybe that's the secret ... intention ... unselfish, free hearted  ... clear intention for my eyes not to be on me but entirely on someone else ...

... God I am constantly thinking how self focused I am ... how much is all about what I can gain ... when do I become more like you ... concerned for your people ... looking out  ... God move me ... move the me out ...

... and as I write these words I see that it is not about moving me out ...  but helping me embrace the me time and then making room for everyone else time ... God open the room of my understanding to believe your truths and act  ...

... beyond everything I know  ... I know you to be My Living God ... You asked me to LISTEN last New Year ... now finally I am making room to listen ...

... Thanks a million Trillion ...

Love ya always

Teena

... wisdom ...

" By wisdom a house is built,
   and through understanding it is established;
 through knowledge its rooms are filled
   with rare and beautiful treasures."

Proverbs 24 : 3 - 4

... do I care about understanding ...

Dear God, 

...  I want to build a strong community ... but am I willing to spend time understanding? ... I want my soul filled with the treasures of heaven ... but am I prepared to put down my agenda? ... 

... I am filled with the neediness of  ME  ... have I really spent the time saying to you 'break the me and mine'?... are my prayers filled with 'mold me to be more like You Jesus'? ...

... The answer to all of this is no ... Help me to know it is all about you ... Help me to always ask your opinion first ... Help align my heart with your heart ... I think I am very hardened to what breaks your heart ... Help to soften my heart to feel your tears ... then I will be a lot closer to spending time understanding your people ...    

Love ya always 

Teena

... looking up and looking out ...

" Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others.  Be good servants of God's various gifts of grace.  Anyone who speaks should speak words from God.  Anyone who serves should serve with the strength God gives so that in everything God will be praised "

1 Peter 4 : 10 - 11

... perspective ...

Dear God,

 ... Your Word is like an energy drink ... every time I read something I feel revived and energized ... well maybe that is an exaggeration ... sometimes I go through dry patches where I read and read ... it's okay but nothing jumps out or my spirit doesn't go aha ... at the moment though ... Your Word seems alive ... as though it reads my thoughts and is leading me along ... the message of Your Word is ' the time is now to serve you and your people ' ... step up  ... 

... not only is Your Word speaking to me ... and the book that I am reading magnifying Your Word ... but my church also speaking the same message ...  

... the world seems to be catching on too ... microcredit is an idea that really interests me ... small loans to help families in poverty start self employment projects to earn income ... 

... I know you are leading me and I will follow ... help me to keep me eye on the prize ...  I don't want to get distracted ... I feel like I am in the zone ... please help me keep this perspective ...  Thanks God ...

Love ya always

Teena

... memories of Japan ...

... being thankful ...

Dear God, 

 ... I struggle to understand how people get through life without you ... thanks for hanging on tight to me  ... thanks for carrying me ... I am filled with gratitude today ... for the life I have ... I only hope that my life can be a reflection of your Love ... that you will be able to say  ' well done ' ... so I am trying my best ...

Love ya always   

Teena

... has God got your attention ...

 ^" Some of the Pharisees asked Jesus, "When will the kingdom of God come?"    Jesus answered, "God's kingdom is coming, but not in a way that you will be able to see with your eyes. People will not say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!'

because God's kingdom is within you."

Then Jesus said to his followers, "The time will come when you will want very much to see one of the days of the Son of Man. But you will not see it.  People will say to you, 'Look, there he is!' or, 'Look, here he is!' Stay where you are; don't go away and search."

Luke 17 : 20 - 23

God's Kingdom Is Within You

... don't get distracted from the truth ...

Hey God,

...  seems like there is a lot going on in my head right now ... lots of thinking about my intentions ... and the way I interact with people ... combined with the busyness of planning and doing my new venture for next year ... I really have to make an effort not to go off on a tangent ... but to stay focused ... keep my heart open to Your Ways ... 

... please God help me to be guided by Your Hand ... Help me to hear Your Whisper in the crowd ... Help me to respond straight away to Your Truth ... because Your Truth is MY TRUTH ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... heart prayers ...

"...to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know him better.  I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart "

Ephesians 1 : 17 - 18

... learnt behaviours ...

Dear God, 

... since I have been 'reading  my life backwards' I have noticed many things about the way I behave ... some habits that I have learned and repeated over a lifetime of reacting ... and since it is not about changing other people but me learning new ways of being in situations ... better behaviors for me  ...

... did you notice that I tend to dwell in the New Testament more than the old ... so feel free to fill me in on why I do that ... But being more serious ... I also tend to get defensive about a lot of stuff ... Why do I react in that way? ... please help ...

Thanks

Love ya always 

Teena

... gifts and talents ...

" God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible."

2 Timothy 1 : 7   (msg)

... all the little pieces ...

Dear God, 

... still reading Max Lucado "Cure for the Common Life" ... and finding it a very helpful reminder ... just read a chapter today that spoke about  'Read your Life Backwards' ... which is about studying your habits over your life so far to find out your strengths and common patterns ... then it is about putting all the pieces together ... 

... words that jumped out about me were planner and organizer .... facilitator ... thanks God for filling my knack sack with many useful skills ... all of this is forming into a BIG jigsaw puzzle that is becoming clearer day by day ... and my excitement is building ... I know you have BIG plans ... bring it on ... Thanks ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... Love Leads ...

" Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others ."

Philippians 2 : 4

" because God is working in you to help you want to do and be able to do what pleases him."

Philippians 2 : 13

... life is about community ...

Dear God, 

 ... life goes through cycles ... a time of planting ... a time of growth ... a time for producing fruit ... a time for harvest ... as you know I live a very insular life and invest a lot of time in me ... but I feel that you are calling me to step up and step out of my comfort zone ... to act on my compassion to help women reach beyond their circumstances ... locally and globally ... I hear you saying THE TIME IS NOW ... so God I am opening my heart to your next step ... let me know what you want me to do ...

Love ya always

Teena

... Dana Sparkle ...

www.danasparkle.blogspot.com

... tribute to a real trooper ...

Hi God, 

 ... as you know Dana has been the biggest inspiration to me ... in starting my blogging journey ... she is the one who introduced me to the world of blogging and e-courses ... she continues to inspire me to evolve and develop my blog ... Dana has a beautiful blog  ... I love her amazing art and her honesty ... 

... please can you watch over her ... guide and protect her God  ... she has so many roles to fulfill in her life  ... she is a helper, healer, counselor and family cornerstone ... please refresh her anew everyday ... fill her to overflowing with endurance to run a good race ... let her know how valued and loved she is ... 

... please please please ... tell her in a LOUD RESOUNDING VOICE that she is AMAZING ... given to this world  ... to love and be loved ... for eternity ... 


... Thanks mate ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... what an awesome creation ...

" So the sky, the earth, and all that filled them were finished. By the seventh day God finished the work he had been doing, so he rested from all his work."

Genesis 2 : 1-2

... an hour of listening and looking ...

Hi God, 

... spent an hour at the beach today ... having fish and chips on my picnic blanket ...watching the ocean ... listening to the mesmerizing roar of the crashing waves  ... watching the surfers being tossed around  in the wake ... getting a dose of vitamin D ... an hour lost in thoughts about nothing and everything ... 

... thanks God for the time out ... and the blessing of your creation ... I feel a clarity ... my journey is on it's way ... soon I will share all ... need to write it all down first ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... from my last adventure ...

... the idea of my perfect seat ... with a view ... in speckled sunshine ...

... photo adventure ...

Dear God, 

... this weekend  I am going on a little adventure in my own suburb ... to take photos of your creation ... I will follow where you lead ... I am a bit excited ... to learn your ways and hear your voice ... to see what You want me to see ... please help me be an open vessel ... Thanks

Love ya always 

Teena

... uniqueness ...

 ...

" Each person is given something to do that shows who God is "

1 Corinthians 12 : 7  MSG

..

... reading Max ...

Dear God, 

... as you know I started reading "Cure for the Common Life" by Max Lucado ...  not so sold on the title he gave it but was taken in by the sub text title "Living in your Sweet Spot" ... and the back cover explanation about swinging a baseball bat and the moment when everything aligns ... sight line, swing, connect, smooth follow through ... thanks for gifting Max with this book ... at page 2 he has me again with our uniqueness ... page 4 'make a big deal out of God' ... and how You distribute strengths and abilities to unfurl Your goodness ... why does it take a book to be reminded how much I love your Word and how Life giving Your word is ... 

... so God, thanks for your living Word ... and the reminder ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... the way we view the world ...

... sad eye's ...

Dear God,

... I was editing a photo of my niece ... and saw how sad and serious her eyes looked ... God please watch over and protect her and her brother ... I feel sad that she is sad ... I feel sad that her life has changed ... I feel sad for her brother too ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... the beauty of now ...

... practicing the art of slowing down ...

Dear God, 

... did you see me practicing to slow down today ... I was trying my best not to be doing two things at once ... I was on my computer with the television off ... I sat on the park bench listening to my ipod ... Life seemed a little bit slower ... 

... I noticed how much I live projecting into the future ... paying attention to today's moments seems a better way ... not the past and the future ... living in the now ... thanks for reminding me how important the now is ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... faith in Love conquers ...

" because everyone who is a child of God conquers the world.  And this is the victory that conquers the world - our faith."

1 John 5 : 4

... Love ...

Hey God, 

... went and saw 'Eat Pray Love' movie tonite ... came away with lots of thoughts ... loved the soundtrack ... also that time is a healer ... my heart is hardened ... and that the world is loud and busy but to hear your voice through all the noise is my balance ... it is bringing you into all of my day ... the crazy busy noisy and the quiet calm moments ... to acknowledge your presence ... in all ... so many love lessons this year ... Thanks a million ...

Love ya always 

Teena

... sing praises ...

" My whole being, praise the Lord; all my being, praise his holy name.  My whole being, praise the Lord and do not forget all his kindnesses."

Psalm 103 : 1-2

... blessed ...

Dear God,

... I feel very warm and fuzzy today ... excited about my blogging journey that is unfolding day by day ...  also feeling very grateful for a wonderful family and fantastic friends ... so stuck gold when you chose my parents ... a little be scared about my business planning especially because everyone knows and my own expectations of perfection ... ha ha ... see I still need lots of molding ... but thanks for a life of abundance ... You are the BEST ...

 

Love ya always 

 Teena

... with prayer ...

... endless possibilities ...

... passion ...

Dear God,

 ... I feel a little bit excited ... as though something Good is on it's way ... You are so amazing ... my feet are finally walking in step with something I don't quiet understand but I know is Good ... I just cant wait to see what it is ...

... Thanks in advance ... 

Love ya always 

Teena