Finding joy in the everyday

The end of the year has arrived and in a few short weeks 2017 will be here. What a year it has been — I have written over 150 blog posts and numerous Facebook entries covering many different topics from looking after our home, contentment in whatever situation we find ourselves, coping with death, the importances of friendships, leaning on the Lord, understanding our bibles better, modern modesty (which was very popular), dealing with fear, bringing up children, motherhood and a number of current affair topics including politics. And each week I have included a variety of art which I hope you have enjoyed. Its now time to take a break and enjoy Christmas with my family. But before I go, I would like to thank the many wonderful people who have left comments, or just stopped by to read what I have written. It humbles me greatly to know that there are those of you who find my blog interesting and useful.  I read each comment that is left and try to response as quickly as I c...

. . . . It could be any suburb near the city. Bird droppings smear footpaths already stained with spilt food and drink and spit. Discarded papers and cigarette butts swirl in the gutter. Amid all this, a frail, elderly woman, well dressed with a big floppy hat, edges a shopping trolley loaded with groceries painfully slowly along the path, battling the wind and a body sapped of strength.  It's awful to watch. A couple of high school kids accidentally bump the trolley and snigger. A trade (tradesman) leaning against a wall gnawing on a kebab catches my eye and looks away. I'm walking two dogs who are straining at the leash, intoxicated with the smells on the ground and in the air. No one is willing to help the woman. And so for the next 20 minutes she grabs my offered arm and we inch our way to a cab rank two intersections away, wrestling with the trolley, the dogs and dozens of passers-by who couldn't give a toss. At one stage a taxi rolls by. I plead with the driver, ...

One of the most famous rooms is the Hall of Mirrors. It has 17 huge mirrored arches opposite 17 windows. Each one of the arch contains 21 mirrors, which makes it a massive 357 in all. The hall is 73 meters (239.5 feet)  long, 10.5 meters (34.4 feet)  wide, and 12.3 meters (40.4 feet) high. The ceilings of the hall have intricate paintings and the borders of the wall are decorated with gilded statues. The several glass chandeliers that hang from its ceiling, are another beautiful aspect of the hall. On special occasions, the Hall of Mirrors was lit with as many as 20,000 candles to transform it into a “corridor of light”. The Palace of Versailles Last weekend I attended an exhibition of 130 pieces of art, sculpture, carpets, tapestries and other treasures from the Palace of Versailles. It is very rare for anything from this grand palace to leave France, so Australia has been very fortunate to see these beautiful masterpieces. Even this very small selection showed the...

The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. (Proverbs 31: 11-12) There is two schools of thought: 1. As a submissive wife, we should never disagree with our husbands because he is the head of the household and his word is final, we should share the same views as our husband in all things and never question his decisions. 2. Yes, we can have different view points to our husbands and as adults we can discuss and debate these ideas. Just imagine if all wives thought the same as their husbands and didn't dare have an opinion on anything. Our husbands wouldn't have anyone to bounce ideas off,  to discuss different view points, to have a true intellectual conversation—it would be no different to living with one's housekeeper (as in the old days). Being a helpmate meanings helping your husband by sharing your views and ideas, having discussion about issues and its not...

“There are naive questions, tedious questions, ill-phrased questions, questions put after inadequate self-criticism. But every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question.”   ― Carl Sagan No question is EVER stupid. We should never be afraid to ask questions and those receiving the questions should never mock or make fun of questions received. What might appear silly to you may be a genuine concern for someone else or they simply don’t know the answer. We learn by asking questions, what would happen if we told our children that their questions were stupid—they would be upset, offended and stop asking. Adults can also be upset by these sorts of comments too. I work as a researcher and provide information to a select range of clients. I always tell my clients “there is no stupid questions” and that I will assist them any way I can. I never make fun of their questions, I never belittle their questions, I never tell others tha...

Artist: Franco Matticchio

PHOTO CREDIT:  Drew Hopper We are BOMBARDED by a worldly mindset through the electronic media that constantly clamours for our attention.  . . . television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the internet, social media all blasting out their message and trying their hardest to push out the Word of God.  Timothy didn't have to contend with all this noise, however he did have to keep his flock from wandering back to their pagan ways. Paul, in his letters to Timothy understood this threat and wrote the following: But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complet...

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth. (2 Timothy 2:24) I  love the array of Christian women bloggers, it is wonderful to see so many spreading the Word of God to others. So many being supportive of other women, kind and caring and so very encouraging. However it saddens me when I read blogs where the author assume they are always right and never listen to others, never stops to listen to other women’s stories and situations, lacking empathy. Just because a blog post contains bible verses doesn’t make it accurate—interpretations of the bible has causes many an argument and disagreement throughout history. Just because someone says they have “the truth” doesn’t always meant that. The bible is the Truth, we are just weak servants who often make mistakes when we read and interpreted the Word ...

Australia Summer When one thinks of Australia, beaches and summer is often the first thing that springs to mind - here are some photos taken at the Sunshine Coast, in the State of Queensland. I spend a few days in Queensland in early November, the weather was very warm so a trip to the seaside was very welcome as the sea breezes were beautiful and cooling. This area is very popular with visitors and there are many apartments to stay at. The weather is warm and much more humid than southern Australia.  I took this from the car window on our way to the Sunshine Coast. We all agreed that the tall trees made for a very interesting photo.  The following three photos were taken in Brisbane, the capital of the State of Queensland - otherwise known as the Sunshine State as it is usually warm and sunny (probably a bit like Florida in climate).