The Passion Translation puts it this way: “Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Sometimes amidst the hustle and bustle of life it is hard to hear from God.

Life can become endlessly filled with noise and distractions. Work and family commitments are bread and butter something we must do. Hanging out with friends is something we enjoy, and we must find the time, as it’s good and right to support and encourage others and enjoy their company.

As a result, free time, or more so, ‘quiet time’, unless we guard it diligently, can dry up. It can be encroached upon by our infatuation with electronic media such as mobile phones, tablets and computers, texting, face book, email, video games, watching television to mention a few.

Mothers with young ones find their times of peace, few and far between.

So she has time for herself. I’m sure even wildlife commune with their Creator.

The truth of the matter is, life itself can drown out God’s still small voice. He likes to have relationship with us. The Bible tells us “He delights in us!” (Zephaniah 3:17). We are His children. But we need to make time to seek Him. Scripture tells us “You will seek me first and find Me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

Believe me, that quiet time with God at the beginning of your day is invaluable.

As we invite God into our lives, we build relationship with Him (the intimate connection between God and His child).  At the start of our day we can bring before Him our plans, where we may seek His blessing and  ask for His direction.

As we study His Word, we learn to discern His will and what is right in His sight. We learn to live in a way that honours and pleases Him.  We live more fulfilling lives as the Holy Spirit, directs, guides, comforts, and influences us, as it produces in us the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). And spending time with God brings forth countless opportunities and good things, a flourishing career, answers to prayer, healing and even miracles no matter how small. Nothing is impossible with God! (Luke 1:37)

Stop striving alone. Press into God today and find your rest in Him. Listen quietly for that still small voice.

Blessings,

Marilyn

The Word tells us “Two are better than one! and when I look at our Tawny Frogmouths (below) they provide an excellent example.

Meet our resident Tawny Frogmouths. I always think of them as “owls”, but they aren’t really classified as owls. However like an owl they appear wise with their big penetrating eyes.

During the day our “Froggies” I call them Freddie and Frannie, (all our resident birds I have names), sleep high up in one of our palm trees. Whether it be in sunshine or in rain they are there. You have to look twice to detect them as they blend in so well with the palms.

And they are a pair. You never see one without the other. It is easy to tell the difference between the male and female.

Don’t you just love his dominant, but protective stance. He is there,  looking after his partner. Brings to mind a Bible Verse.

 ^“Two….are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one ..falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT

Always on the alert. Even when half asleep.

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to add one last thought, as their wise appearance brings the concept of wisdom to top of mind. The Bible tells us there is a difference between God’s wisdom and that of this world. Now looking at this fellow below, how could you doubt that?

Blessings,

Marilyn

Think about the names we are given and the names we are called through our lives. Do they define us?

HI, THANKS FOR STOPPING BY MY BLOG COMING FROM THE GREAT LAKE DOWNUNDER IN AUS!

When I was young I had a pretty all yellow canary in a cage. Canaries were more common as a pet then. Now more Aussie’s would own budgerigars.

Canaries were whistlers and very uplifting, whereas budgies chatter and are people friendly. Plus owners like to teach them to talk. Some have quite a broad vocabulary.

Putting my canary outside for fresh air in my young informative years required intense responsibility due to the presence of butcher birds which lived in the area and were said to hypnotize canaries in their cages. This allowed the predator to get its beak into the cage and kill the canary. And so we had to observe them very closely.

Butcher Birds incidentally are native only to Australasia and are of the magpie genus. Butcher Birds, however are not the only birds to kill the chicks of other birds. Kookaburras do too, and there are others.

No one ever told me what a Butcher Bird looked like and I imagined they were like crow or even a buzzard – big and mean. Their name was defined by their habits. When they kill baby birds, they tend to ‘hang’ their food on a twig – like meat on a butcher’s hook!

In our garden on the Quiet Side of the Great Lake we have two resident butcher birds. Yes, they are a couple. I was pleasantly surprised to find that these are very cute little birds. Take a look!

Not only is the butcher bird, (I call ours Billy), cute to look at, he has one of the most musical bird-calls and songs, a little like the Australian Magpie of the same family who is larger and is also a great caroller.

Take a listen just follow the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlAb-ObjIH4

My perception of this bird was based on his name. Meat hanging on a butcher’s hook is not a pretty sight. And so it begged the question:

“What’s in a name?”

Some people don’t like the name they were given at birth, and they let those bad feelings define them. Others are given nick names – some of them cruel and find themselves so defined.

The wonderful thing is in our salvation God sees us through Christ – perfect and pure and He delights in every one of us. The Bible says so – many times. As a child of God you are special. He meets you at the point of your life where you are and with all the baggage you are carrying, no matter the sin; thankfully He doesn’t leave you there. In His grace He brings forgiveness, love, joy, peace eternal life and so much more.

I love this quote: “God is love. He didn’t need us. But he wanted us. And that is the most amazing thing.”  ~ Rick Warren – Christian author and preacher

Enjoy your week,

Blessings,

Marilyn

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7 (NIV)

In the Book of Leviticus God commanded His people to use hyssop in the ceremonial cleansing of people and houses.

In the Christian life purity of heart is what we strive for.

In the Bible white is a symbol of purity, innocence and holiness. As a writer on one website states:

“In our understanding of the symbolism of colors, “snow-white” is considered the ultimate in white, the whitest of white, as pure and unsullied a white as possible. David’s expectation was that God’s cleansing power would exceed even that ultimate white – “I shall be whiter than snow.” We can only relate this to absolute spiritual, moral perfection, the very state in which Almighty God exists.”

http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/CGG/ID/5142/White-as-Symbol-Purity.htm

HI AND THANKS FOR STOPPING BY MY BLOG ON THE QUIET SIDE OF THE GREAT LAKE

When I see an Egret with their snow-white feathers – we have a few locals out front in the Great Lake – I think of purity, sanctification (being made right with God – forgiven and justified), spiritual and moral perfection. Just to see their spotless white feathers, reminds me of my sin and that it’s time to pray.

Psalm 51 (The Passion Translation) is entitled “A PRAYER OF REPENTANCE” below are a few beautiful words that really spoke to me.

“Wash me in your love until I am pure in heart…

….Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires,

ready to please You.

O God, my saving God,

Deliver me fully from every sin

For the source of your pleasure is not in my performance

Or the sacrifices I might offer to You.

The fountain of your pleasure is found

In the sacrifice of my shattered heart before you.”

Psalm 51:10,17 TPT

Even the young (you can see his beak is still black), are pristine and perfect.

Enjoy your week,

Blessings,

MARILYN

MAKE A SPECTACULAR SOUND OF JOY!

Hi! and thanks for stopping by my blog,

I love to sing! Anyone who knows me well would know that. Give me music with a beat and I’m into it. I’ve been a performer and been a worship leader. My favourite is the latter because it leaves out the “me” part and lets me lift up my praise and worship to my God in heaven and give Him the glory.

We humans love to make a joyful noise. Some of us sing, some may hum, others whistle, still others play musical instruments. But have you noticed that most of God’s Creation is also capable of making a joyful noise. Elephants trumpet, frogs croak, birds sing or squawk, my dog yips with excitement. I believe that even those creatures which appear silent give praise their maker in the way only they can. Whales and dolphins have a special sound and love to frolic in the water. Trees and flowers glow with vibrant colours of health. isaiah writes: “You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!” (Isaiah 55:12 NLT)

I love sulphur crested cockatoos – they always seem to be about fun. In the wild they make a rather raucous noise, but raucous or not – it is full of joy!

The scriptures on the photos below are all taken from Psalm 33 (The Passion Translation – TPT), which is a psalm of King David’s and is entitled, ‘A Song of Praise’.

Lastly, top billing goes to the Australian Magpie whose warbling is something to behold.

Magpies are very creative. They make up their own signature melodies. They are also great at mimicking the sounds they hear. We have one who sings the first line of the children’s rhyme “Old MacDonald had a Farm” and repeats the last few notes, three times. Quite inventive.

If you are feeling down today, lift up your own song of praise. The God who loves you will delight in it! And you will feel blessed too.

Blessings,

Marilyn

THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE POWER OF GOD….

Thanks for stopping by my blog coming from the Quiet Side of the Great Lake Downunder in Aus!

Sometimes we have bad storms that boom out their thunder over the Great Lake while the forked lightning in stark contrast illuminates the lake below and the landscape around it.

From the second story of our home we can see the storms approaching over the trees. The distant rumbling of the thunder and the moan of the wind as it begins to approach can be heard long before it sweeps across the lake. It is eerie.

But as all of Creation does, it brings to front of mind the Great Creator Himself as the elements demonstrate the power of our living God.

Psalm 29 comes to mind, and the following are verses from the Passion Translation.

“His tympanic thunder topples the strongest of trees.

His symphonic sound splinters the mighty forests.” Psalm 29:5

I always think of God riding his chariot through the stormy skies when I experience storms. It is somehow wild, but comforting to know he is near watching over us.

The voice of the Lord echoes through the skies and seas

The Glory-God reigns as He thunders through the clouds. Psalm 29:3

So powerful is His voice, so brilliant and bright,

How majestic as He thunders over the greatest waters! Psalm 29:4

I trust your week is not stormy, and rather be filled with sunshine and joy!

Blessings,

Marilyn

DO YOU WANT TO FEEL LOVED?

We have a big God whose DNA is love…and He loves us. The Bible says: “We love, because He first loved us”.

We are told how much He loves us in John 3:16

“For this is how much God loved the world [us] – He gave His uniquely conceived Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life.”

The Passion Translation.

WELCOME TO THE QUIET SIDE OF THE GREAT LAKE DOWN IN AUS!

Fifteen years ago my husband and I were led to a new home where we were ‘made to lie down in green pastures and led beside still waters’. Each and every day this is our outlook and I am brought to think of the Psalm 23. The various translations of the Bible bring uplifting descriptions.

The Eternal is my shepherd, He cares for me always.
He provides me rest in rich, green fields
beside streams of refreshing water.
He soothes my fears;
He makes me whole again,
steering me off worn, hard paths
to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.

The Voice Translation

You cannot help feeling loved when you look out on the beauty of God’s Creation.

What tends to look like ‘sheep’ in the ‘green pastures’ above, are actually a flock of Australian Ibis. To me they are my ‘sheep’!

Below is the Passion Translation of the beginning of Psalm 23

The Lord is my Fierce Protector and my Pastor

                                   I always have more than enough.                                           

He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love.

His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.

That’s where he restores and revives my life.

Psalm 23:1-3

Feeling loved? I hope so.

Blessings,

Marilyn

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

Life can be lonely, but as a child of God you are never alone.

When we give our lives to Christ, we are never alone. Not only is God with us 24/7 and available to listen to our concerns we bring in prayer, He softly rains his love and grace over our lives day in and out – whether we choose to receive it or not. Some people tend to see the Christian life as lacking joy. It is so not the case.  We are all sinners and when we stumble He picks us up and brushes us off and points us in the right direction.

The Word says “He delights in us!” Me? You say. Hard to believe isn’t it? He even builds a family of believers around us if we let Him. Some of us may be the only Christian in a family. But in church we will find people who become our brothers and sisters in Christ. They support us, love us and encourage us.

This blog is about seeing God through His creation. We all need people around us to encourage us. The Australian Corellas are a great example. They travel in flocks and  always sound happy and are always chattering and squawking at each other. So I have added scriptures to these photos just to remind us of what the Bible says about encouragement.

Being a Christian is about relationship – our relationship with God and with each other. It’s about feeling loved, feeling encouraged and supported, being comforted, having others to pray for you in times of need, and having the opportunity to stand in the gap and pray for others.

I’ll let this little guy have the last word, as he hangs by one toe. Bet you can’t do that!

Blessings,

Marilyn    

ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL  – THE LORD GOD THEM ALL

I love these words from the Psalms that give praise to Our God the Great Creator for the mighty works of His hands.

Psalm 19 continues this theme:

God’s splendour is a tale that is told, His testament is written in the stars, 

Space itself speaks his story every day, through the marvels of the heavens

His truth is in on tour in the starry-vault of the sky showing His skill in creation’s craftsmanship,                                                                                     

Each day gushes out its message to the next, without a sound, without a word, without a voice being heard, yet all the world can see its story.                                          Psalm 19:1-4 The Passion Translation

Verse 2 of the precious children’s hymn “All things bright and beautiful” reads thus:

The purple-headed mountain,
the river running by,
the sunset, and the morning
that brightens up the sky:

Put into pictures (which speak more than a thousand words) – here we go!

If you feel stressed today, just sit and rest amidst God’s Creation knowing He has everything in hand.

I wish you blessings of peace,

Marilyn

Each little flower that opens …….

Following on from my last post featuring the hymn “All things bright and beautiful”- we started with the refrain and this is actually the first verse.

Each little flower that opens

Each little bird that sings

God made their glowing colors

God made their tiny wings.

I have no idea what the name of this flower is. If you know – let me know. I am not a gardener rather I’m a writer and lover of God’s creation. I took the photo because I felt it as beautiful.

This little guy has the most beautiful birdsong, besides being very cute. We will overlook his rather garish habits with how he hangs his kills – butcher by name, butcher by nature.

This beautiful feathered friend is a Rainbow Lorikeet. His coloring is brilliant and he loves nectar. When in the company of his flock they are very noisy and quite boisterous.

An Australian Black Swan and her babies. We rarely see cygnets on this side of the Great Lake. And as swans are so very shy even walking near the lake’s edge will send them paddling out in the lake – so I took this photo from the back balcony of my home using a 500mm lens. She looks rather proud of her two babies.

Coming up next time – Verse 2 of this very special hymn.

Blessings,

Marilyn