Tuesday arvo at work ...

Good news ... Brett's brother was brought out of his coma on Sunday, and is progressing slowly. Keep praying for his salvation and healing.

God has blessed me in so many ways. It is something that I have always been concious of, but I have experienced a real spirit of thankfulness lately. Reminds me of the words of that Kathryn Scott song ... "every blessing You pour out I turn back to praise, Blessed be the name of the Lord" ... because that typifies what God wants us to do every moment of every day. God has been honing me and releasing several gifts in my life lately, and I know that He is melting my heart and reshaping it!

Just the other week at work around the lunchroom table, we were talking about our childhood experiences, and how they shaped our lives. My childhood was not an easy one - even though I was blessed to be born into a Christian family - as my recollections of primary and high schools bring back memories that I would rather forget. As I recounted the emotional pain that I endured, and verbal abuse that I copped when I was younger, Brett remarked that it was not surprising then that I stuttered when I was a child. The truth was that I had actually forgotten that I used to stutter badly, and I know that God has done a marvelous work of healing in my life. At this same time, I felt challenged that I should contact one of my old primary school teachers to tell him that I forgive him for the emotional torment that he put me through. Hmmm - I know that I can't do that one in my one strength, so I guess it's time to ask God for a miracle.

You might be wondering why I need to tell him that I've forgiven him, if I haven't spoken to or seen him for nearly 30 years. The answer is found in the content of a sermon I heard in Chiang Mai this year - preached by an american guy called Steve ( must be a good guy with a name like that) . The greatest gift Jesus passed on to us (sorry all of you prophets, teachers, tongues speakers, healers, etc) is the gift of the power to forgive, and to do it, he had to lay hands on his disciples so that they had the power within them to do this impossible task. If I am ever asked to preach a sermon at church, it will most certainly be on the subject of forgiveness. Jesus said in that passage that he was giving to us (his church) the power to forgive, or not to forgive - the choice is ours, and history will be shaped by the decisions that we make in this regard. Have you ever wondered what would have become of Paul if Stephen (in Acts) had not prayed that prayer of intercession and forgiveness for Paul and his cronies? Your choice (and mine) whether to forgive or not to forgive may change the future course of history - and maybe someone else's life - scary isn't it!

My childhood memories are not all bad news though ... when I was in 3rd year at Merredin High School, God brought a friend across my path who would prove to be a lifeline. I was boarding at Merredin from Monday to Friday with a lady who I will call Mrs K (not her real name). I hated being in Merredin, having no real friends, and life sucked to put it bluntly. For lunch EVERY day, I would be given MOULDY cheese and pickles sandwiches. That is why even until this day, I cannot stomach the sight or smell of pickles. When my new friend - Noel - invited me home to eat my lunch with him and his mother one day, his mum just about freaked out when I opened my lunchbox, and she saw what I had to eat. I used to open the mouldy sandwiches, wipe the pickles off the cheese, eat the cheese for lunch, and then throw the rest into the bin. From that day onwards, I had an open invitation to go home with him at lunchtime and share fresh bread and all sorts of different toppings. Noel became my closest friend, and would often come home with me to our farm on weekends. Then we grew up ... and apart. Well just last week, Alan (the keyboard player from Bethel) told me that Noel, his wife Deb, and their kids were coming over to his place for dinner last Wednesday. I hadn't seen Noel in over 12 years as they now live in Mt Barker, so I jumped at the chance to gatecrash the party and to catch up with him again.

I can still clearly remember the day when my eldest brother - whose name is also Noel - became a hero in my 11 year old eyes. It was morning, and THE schoolteacher (who boarded with us on the farm) was harassing me about getting ready for school, on his insistence that I had to ride to school with him, rather than make my Mum drive me the 2 Kms to school. My brother Noel walked into the kitchen at that time, and upon hearing the proceedings, promptly told my teacher to leave me alone and to get off my back. He became a hero to me that day (and continues to be a hero in my eyes even until this day, but that is another long story).

Bitterness is not just something that will screw up your face - it can screw up your life as well! Remember that one of the conditions of us being forgiven by God is that we must forgive others that have wronged us. Look for the lifelines that He has brought across your life, and then thank Him for them.

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

This verse became a lifeline to me and Karen the first time we heard it ... but more about that later!