It is well...

Photo - Janelle Leanne

My heart sings with joy though my body is weary with uncertainty.  Unsure of so many things yet sure of His providence.  My soul dances before Him in worship even when I can barely stand. My heart sings for joy at his name, even when I am silent.  He sees through the uncertainty, through the pain and through the tears.  He knows when my heart is full and when I am in need of His abundant grace.  He has set a path before me.  In my weakness I find His strength.  He cares with a deep love that I cannot fathom within the confines of my own humanity.

photo - Janelle Leanne

Be encouraged!  God does not forsake you.  He never leaves you and will never let you fall... He still has a plan no matter what comes your way.  I am a living, breathing testament to this fact.   He loves you!

It is well with me...

Love Nel  xx

Learning to pray again

Prayer… what is it and how does it work?  You would think that having grown up in the church I would know the answer to this one.  Oh, I could rattle off some theological explanation that may or may not impress but there’s got to be more to it than that. It’s got to be real. It’s got to affect you and it definitely has to change you.

Going through any sort of crisis in life can rattle the foundations you have built your life upon.  We all go through crisis at some stage.  Some bigger than others and some that seem to come all at once just to make sure you're well and truly on your knees and sometimes even laying prostrate on the ground.  Needless to say the last 18 months has well and truly rattled mine in ways I did not see coming.  But this is not about the past, it's about moving forward.

I struggle with prayer, who doesn’t?  But I need prayer, I need it in my life for so many different reasons.  Not just for me but for others too.  I am not at the point yet of having much to give out but if I can pray, something, then I can grow and heal and slowly get back up on my feet again.  I have made physical changes in my life in moving home but the funniest thing is the baggage goes with you.  Huh!!  Who would have thought ;)  It’s not that I didn’t expect it to I definitely did and I love where I live.  My point is that now I am here, I have stopped running and need to face my spiritual, emotional and physical reality… that I am tired.  I am ok, but I am tired…

That’s why I am going back to basics.  Taking off all the baggage and laying it at His feet.  Falling to my knees not physically but in the spiritual sense.  I don’t know how to pray in this season of life but I am going to try.  

I love Max Lucado.  What a wonderful writer he is and what a great place to start in being encouraged by someone who understands the realities of life!!  His book ‘before amen’ is where I am starting.  It is such a simple, beautifully rich read on the basics of prayer as inspired by Jesus.  Where do you start?  “Abba, Father”.  It’s that simple and some days it’s all any of us can muster.  And the beautiful thing is I am learning that that is OK!  

Love Nel  xx

Life in Robbo...

It's no secret amongst those that know me well that I love taking photos, love going on adventures and love sharing it with others.  I have had a handful of friends suggest over the last couple of years that I should blog more regularly and share my photos and stories of my adventures and life in general.

Well... here goes!!

I'm not really sure what it will look like but I guess half the fun is seeing it unfold.  I am excited about sharing my photos and stories of places I visit in and around home and on adventures a little further afield.  I am loving exploring my new surroundings, going for long drives or little trips on my motorbike as I gain more confidence!  Now I intend to make sure I always have my trusty camera by my side and my notebook.

So if you're interested, you're welcome to come along for the journey :)  I'll post as regularly as time will permit but aim for once a week.  It may be as simple as going to the local markets or heading off road to see where a new and unknown path will take me.  Who knows where we will end up!

Look forward to sharing my next adventure with you... J xx

Courage

A simple word loaded with meaning.  How courageous we think we are until our true strength is tested in a weak moment of life's circumstances.  I knew this word would be a challenge yet I also knew at my heart, I was courageous.  Not in my own strength but in who I knew I was created to be through Christ and his love and his strength at work in me through the power of his Holy Spirit.  The love of a Father...

Phew... sometimes I need that reminder.  That I am not alone, I am not without purpose and I am not a mistake.  I love that God constantly reminds me of those things in his plans for my life and I love that when I doubt what I am doing and where I am that he confirms it through others.  He encourages me through the words of others who have no idea how much that word is needed at that very point in time.  God's timing hey!   It's perfect :)

It's funny how I see myself rushing in to get my life in order, to gain some sort of purpose or reason why I am where I am and when I stop for just even a moment, I see God's plans slowly, so slowly and gently being worked out in my life.  He hasn't forgotten what he promised me, I have.  He hasn't forgotten I am useful, I have.  He hasn't forgotten I need hope, I have.  He hasn't forgotten anything, I have...

I am learning to slow down, to do what is needed one day at a time.  To stop rushing and to  focus on the task at hand.  To not panic because I don't have a job or a plan in place because God has.  To keep seeking him and he will lead me where he wants me and where he needs me!  Closed doors are closed doors for a reason.  Another one will open, in time.  I need rest, I need healing.  Last year sucked in so many ways and the hurt is still as raw and real as if it was yesterday.  I learnt a lesson from a friend the other day who suffered a great loss recently.  His goal is to be independent and strong, one day at a time.  To grieve when he needs to grieve and that's OK.  To  laugh when he needs to laugh and that is ok too!  He is in no rush to be further ahead than where he needs to be one day at a time.  He kept saying the words over to me, 'independent and strong' as if he knew I needed to hear them.  He could see something I couldn't.  He doesn't know the impact they had on me but one day if it's right I will tell him.

It takes courage to be independent and strong.  It takes courage to know you're not alone and to wait for God's plan to be set about in your life.  I am happy where I am and I know it's home for me.  I am also scared... but I am not disabled by my fear.  I still have much to let go of but I have much to take hold of as well.  To embrace and let it fill my heart with a new joy, a new peace and new beginnings.

God bless...   J xx