Annual Leave Anyone?
Light For Life December 2004
Don’t you just love holidays? When it gets to around this time of the year, I have one friend who tries to stop herself from getting into that ‘holiday mode’ to soon! Its that relaxed, laid back, easy breezy mode, she can’t let herself fully relax till its really the holidays as she is a busy Mum. Once we get into that 'holiday' frame of mind we begin to wind down, but in the midst of the crazy end of year season it is not time to rest just yet! Are you someone who has your annual leave around this time of year? Are you looking forward to a good break away from the usual routine, the mundane, the regular? Did you need it a month ago? Yep! Join the club.
I am a Mum who is on the go, I run kids around, am involved in many different things and I work. My work is part time, and my holidays can vary - not as rigid as ‘nine to five’ workers; which is fine because my job and my work are just perfect for me but when it is time for holidays I am hanging out for them and more than ready for them just like you. There are many people who are self-employed, and mums who work at home and don’t have an official title and so don’t have official paid or unpaid leave. If you are one of these, you don’t get this time off so you probably just keep on year round, that is okay for a while, that is until you are in a rough patch of life.
If you have followed my ‘Light For Life’ messages throughout this year, you may have noticed that I have learnt a lot of lessons this year, and not easy ones. We have seasons where things seem to come at us from every angle; I think this year was one of those seasons. Part way through this year, when things seemed most stressed to me I had ‘had enough’ of everything. I got this bright idea, a plan to provide myself an oasis in the desert. Actually it was most probably God’s idea, but it came to me very naturally so it seemed like me! I decided to put myself on annual leave. How about that? How you ask? Can I do that? Yes you can, it was quite simple. I looked at my diary, which is usually very full, and I decided that I needed at least three weeks break – right now would be good and I noticed that after the three weeks we would be going away for a week’s holiday, which we hadn’t had for a long time. Perfect.
So, I didn't‘ book in any more appointments and I cancelled a few as well to free up my time during this period of self-appointed ‘annual leave’. If anyone asked me if I could do something for him or her, or make an appointment, I was quite happy to say ‘Sorry I am on annual leave’. That seemed to work well and it was refreshing too, I felt a bit cheeky. It was so great to have a reason not to do anything, and a purpose in having a break. It was during the school term, so it also helped that the kids were at school and the time I had during the day was pretty much all mine.
I started to wind down, and I started to do some things around the house that I had wanted to do for a while. I did some things for myself; things that I enjoyed like watching a movie, reading a book or just go shopping and writing!!!. I think making this time for yourself should be do-able for most people if you give it a go. Another way of getting a break is by giving yourself, even one day off a month or a night or two a month. It doesn’t mean that you wag school or shirk work; it means you on purpose, free up some time for you. I used to try and give myself the last Friday in the month off. I don’t work on Fridays so that was the day for me. On that day I would do my best not to clean the house, make phone calls etc, just for that one day and it made a difference and was a welcome relief too.
So it is possible and do-able. Have a look at your diary today and schedule in some precious ‘you’ time. Give yourself a break and enjoy something, it shouldn’t need to be a luxury; it should be part of our plan to look after ourselves and our families. Like the nowadays work ethic, with power naps and other adjustments to make employees more happy in the work place, so too, if we are happy and fresh, those in our environment will also greatly benefit as will we, and it will be smiles all round. Go ahead – give yourself permission and make some space.
Thank you for you reading 'Light For Life' and for all the wonderful feedback and encouragement I get throughout the year.
I am His mouthpiece and these are His revelations not mine!
Bless you
Cam
God's blessing on you for the NEW year.
I pray that in 2005 we can trust God more in our daily lives and surrender ourselves to Him in
leading us into each NEW day and NEW experience. I pray that God empowers you with His grace
each day and that you will learn to lean on Him and His provision, letting go of the old so that
He can release to you the NEW! New creations, new life, new love, new peace, new start,
new leaf, new hope, new joy. He can make all things new!
Word For Life
New:
Having begun or been made only a short time ago, not used by anyone before, different from the earlier things done, just beginning or to be begun, new, fresh, recent.
God’s Word
Isaiah 43:18-19
Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing now it springs forth; Shall you not know it. I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Monday, November 01, 2004
Can I Forgive Me?
Can I forgive me?
Light For Life November 2004
Do you ever struggle with forgiveness? Specifically forgiving ‘you’? I do. Last month I wrote about forgiving others on purpose, I had not planned to write about ‘forgiving myself’ or ' forgiving yourself' this month, but this follows on from that message and its worthwhile considering.
John 3:30 says “He must increase and I must decrease’. How this plays out in our lives, if we take up the challenge may not be all easy or pleasant. This year more than ever, I have been so confronted with my humanity, and that’s why I am feeling so yucky, at what seems every turn. It feels like I am on the increase, not decrease, but really it is the magnifying glass of God’s Light. Every stinking attitude, bad motivation, hurtful word, selfish decision is unveiling before my eyes and it is pretty hard to take for someone who thought she wasn’t doing too bad! The further I walk towards God, the more the holiness of God scrutinizes every area. It is not something that He inflicts on me, it is my choice to walk towards this holiness, it is my desire, and you know what happens when you walk towards the light – all the dirt shows up!
I find it difficult to forgive myself at times, at least recently I have. Perhaps its because I think I should know better; but then God is just reminding me that I am ‘only human’. But Lord, I can think of instances where I feel I have made the bad choices or I have not chosen correctly, isn’t that wilful? Strange as it might sound, sometimes I don’t even feel as if I am moving forward, sometimes I feel I am moving backwards. Am I a Christian at all?
Thing is, I need to forgive me to move forward. I think the key is I need to be willing to let go of things like the way I feel about myself, and that can be a process. If I don’t let go, one thing is for sure, round and round a mountain I will go. I am not perfect and in this lifetime I will never be, but when that imperfection rises to the surface, if I can face it and be willing to let go of it to God then I can keep moving forward.
I read a scripture today that really relates to all this, it gives me some peace in learning to forgive and accept myself in the face of this weakness. Psalm 51:16-17 – ‘For you do not require sacrifice or else I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise’.
God wants us all to know that the main thing we all we need to have is a broken spirit – humble and repenting. I think we have a broken spirit when we have seen the truth and are changed by it. This is all we can do, and then forgiving ourselves is a matter of grace, of choice and of discipline; after all these flaws are no surprise to our Father who has, and always will love us unconditionally. When I get a grip of that, it frees me up from thinking that this is something new in my life. It is not new, it has probably always been there.
In deciding to hold onto unforgiveness, shame and condemnation we are hindering the work of God in our lives and preventing the flow of the good things He wants to give us. Can we join each other in forgiving ourselves? - Lets make God's job a little easier!
Bless you
Cam
Word For Life
Contrite:
Feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offences.
Feeling regret for a fault or offence.
God’s Word
Psalm 51:16-17
‘For you do not require sacrifice or else I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise’.
Light For Life November 2004
Do you ever struggle with forgiveness? Specifically forgiving ‘you’? I do. Last month I wrote about forgiving others on purpose, I had not planned to write about ‘forgiving myself’ or ' forgiving yourself' this month, but this follows on from that message and its worthwhile considering.
John 3:30 says “He must increase and I must decrease’. How this plays out in our lives, if we take up the challenge may not be all easy or pleasant. This year more than ever, I have been so confronted with my humanity, and that’s why I am feeling so yucky, at what seems every turn. It feels like I am on the increase, not decrease, but really it is the magnifying glass of God’s Light. Every stinking attitude, bad motivation, hurtful word, selfish decision is unveiling before my eyes and it is pretty hard to take for someone who thought she wasn’t doing too bad! The further I walk towards God, the more the holiness of God scrutinizes every area. It is not something that He inflicts on me, it is my choice to walk towards this holiness, it is my desire, and you know what happens when you walk towards the light – all the dirt shows up!
I find it difficult to forgive myself at times, at least recently I have. Perhaps its because I think I should know better; but then God is just reminding me that I am ‘only human’. But Lord, I can think of instances where I feel I have made the bad choices or I have not chosen correctly, isn’t that wilful? Strange as it might sound, sometimes I don’t even feel as if I am moving forward, sometimes I feel I am moving backwards. Am I a Christian at all?
Thing is, I need to forgive me to move forward. I think the key is I need to be willing to let go of things like the way I feel about myself, and that can be a process. If I don’t let go, one thing is for sure, round and round a mountain I will go. I am not perfect and in this lifetime I will never be, but when that imperfection rises to the surface, if I can face it and be willing to let go of it to God then I can keep moving forward.
I read a scripture today that really relates to all this, it gives me some peace in learning to forgive and accept myself in the face of this weakness. Psalm 51:16-17 – ‘For you do not require sacrifice or else I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise’.
God wants us all to know that the main thing we all we need to have is a broken spirit – humble and repenting. I think we have a broken spirit when we have seen the truth and are changed by it. This is all we can do, and then forgiving ourselves is a matter of grace, of choice and of discipline; after all these flaws are no surprise to our Father who has, and always will love us unconditionally. When I get a grip of that, it frees me up from thinking that this is something new in my life. It is not new, it has probably always been there.
In deciding to hold onto unforgiveness, shame and condemnation we are hindering the work of God in our lives and preventing the flow of the good things He wants to give us. Can we join each other in forgiving ourselves? - Lets make God's job a little easier!
Bless you
Cam
Word For Life
Contrite:
Feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offences.
Feeling regret for a fault or offence.
God’s Word
Psalm 51:16-17
‘For you do not require sacrifice or else I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise’.
Friday, October 01, 2004
Ouch That Hurts... Forgiveness!!!
Ouch that hurt! Forgiveness.
Light For Life October 2004
Forgiveness is something that I sometimes take for granted and don’t really think too much about. It's not so much me asking for forgiveness that I forget, but actually forgiving others! I am a fairly forgiving person and so I automatically feel as if I have forgiven people, going into this mode out of habit rather than forgiving on purpose anyway.
I started thinking about this because of discussion with my kids. Being the regular parents that we are, we are always speaking to our sons about different areas of their lives. It might be folding up their clothes or turning off the television, but as with all kids there is always something. We have been speaking to them about tone of voice, about speaking nicely and how to ask for things and respond to instructions. They tended to snap a lot and answers came out of their mouths in a gruff way, which is not acceptable. As emerging teenagers it is something that is important to get in order. It seems we have been speaking about this for a long time but with only periods of change. We would talk and then things would right themselves for a season and then slip back again. The intention was always good and I could see that efforts were being made toward trying to change but I wondered why we were not seeing lasting change.
One morning we had another one of those grumpy conversations with one of them, which can be normal for kids at this hormonal stage, but it is still no excuse for bad behaviour. As we talked, all of a sudden I realised he needed to forgive us! This is why we had not seem long term change! The 'forgiveness' was not because we have done anything wrong or bad, but because our requests made him angry and so he had internalized his feelings of anger and these had turned to resentment. As we talked, I explained to him how bad feelings that are left alone on the inside of us fester. When we forgive we release people and burdens and that is very important for us, not just the other person.
A few days later I saw another pattern emerging to do with another relationship. I again realised that forgiveness was an issue here; and not because the other person has actually done anything wrong, it was because an 'apple cart' had been upset, things were made difficult, something was required of us and we were peeved!
I often ask for forgiveness, but I don’t often think to pray and say ‘Lord, I forgive such and such, who said something stupid and insensitive to me today and hurt me’. I didn’t think I held grudges! I usually feel annoyed or upset and then work through it, rationalizing it, by saying something like, ‘Oh well, she had no idea, she tends to put her foot in her mouth sometimes, she didn’t hear what she said to you from your side, Lord help me to let it pass'.
Is this actually forgiveness? Working through something till you feel ok is not necessarily forgiving them! After I had talked to my boys about forgiveness several times in a few days, I realised that I too carry these feelings that cause me to react to people in the wrong way. I needed and need to forgive. One of the tell tale signs that you need to forgive can be the sentence that you replay over and over again in your mind and you just can't get past it and let it go.
Is this ringing any bells for you? Perhaps there are people coming to your mind right now that have hurt or upset you, perhaps they have been insensitive and you have let it get down on the inside of you and cause you to ‘react’ to them. Now when something happens to me and I feel hurt, I am trying to be more aware of actually saying ‘Lord I forgive him/her, I don’t hold that against them’. With your sacrifice I wipe that hurt or offence off the board. I hold no scores!’
Who do you need to forgive and release today?
Bless you
Cam
Word For Life
Forgiving:
To do a favour, show kindness unconditionally, give freely, grant forgiveness, forgive freely.
To say or feel that one is no longer angry about and/or wishing to give punishment to someone for something.
God’s Word
Colossians 3:13
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must also do.
Light For Life October 2004
Forgiveness is something that I sometimes take for granted and don’t really think too much about. It's not so much me asking for forgiveness that I forget, but actually forgiving others! I am a fairly forgiving person and so I automatically feel as if I have forgiven people, going into this mode out of habit rather than forgiving on purpose anyway.
I started thinking about this because of discussion with my kids. Being the regular parents that we are, we are always speaking to our sons about different areas of their lives. It might be folding up their clothes or turning off the television, but as with all kids there is always something. We have been speaking to them about tone of voice, about speaking nicely and how to ask for things and respond to instructions. They tended to snap a lot and answers came out of their mouths in a gruff way, which is not acceptable. As emerging teenagers it is something that is important to get in order. It seems we have been speaking about this for a long time but with only periods of change. We would talk and then things would right themselves for a season and then slip back again. The intention was always good and I could see that efforts were being made toward trying to change but I wondered why we were not seeing lasting change.
One morning we had another one of those grumpy conversations with one of them, which can be normal for kids at this hormonal stage, but it is still no excuse for bad behaviour. As we talked, all of a sudden I realised he needed to forgive us! This is why we had not seem long term change! The 'forgiveness' was not because we have done anything wrong or bad, but because our requests made him angry and so he had internalized his feelings of anger and these had turned to resentment. As we talked, I explained to him how bad feelings that are left alone on the inside of us fester. When we forgive we release people and burdens and that is very important for us, not just the other person.
A few days later I saw another pattern emerging to do with another relationship. I again realised that forgiveness was an issue here; and not because the other person has actually done anything wrong, it was because an 'apple cart' had been upset, things were made difficult, something was required of us and we were peeved!
I often ask for forgiveness, but I don’t often think to pray and say ‘Lord, I forgive such and such, who said something stupid and insensitive to me today and hurt me’. I didn’t think I held grudges! I usually feel annoyed or upset and then work through it, rationalizing it, by saying something like, ‘Oh well, she had no idea, she tends to put her foot in her mouth sometimes, she didn’t hear what she said to you from your side, Lord help me to let it pass'.
Is this actually forgiveness? Working through something till you feel ok is not necessarily forgiving them! After I had talked to my boys about forgiveness several times in a few days, I realised that I too carry these feelings that cause me to react to people in the wrong way. I needed and need to forgive. One of the tell tale signs that you need to forgive can be the sentence that you replay over and over again in your mind and you just can't get past it and let it go.
Is this ringing any bells for you? Perhaps there are people coming to your mind right now that have hurt or upset you, perhaps they have been insensitive and you have let it get down on the inside of you and cause you to ‘react’ to them. Now when something happens to me and I feel hurt, I am trying to be more aware of actually saying ‘Lord I forgive him/her, I don’t hold that against them’. With your sacrifice I wipe that hurt or offence off the board. I hold no scores!’
Who do you need to forgive and release today?
Bless you
Cam
Word For Life
Forgiving:
To do a favour, show kindness unconditionally, give freely, grant forgiveness, forgive freely.
To say or feel that one is no longer angry about and/or wishing to give punishment to someone for something.
God’s Word
Colossians 3:13
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must also do.
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