Zach's 1st birthday

First. Updates:

• It's the 'peakest' of my year end peak season at work now. Worked thru the weekends so that means two weeks of continuous work. It's taking a toll on me..
• We've been miraculously blessed by a recent job offer for Kevin that literally fell from the heavens (most definitely spilt from God's cup and off His lap!) and that's helped us make one big step toward my being SAHM
  
• Zachary decided today that he's pretty much done with crawling and decided walking is THE mode of transport - that's kept K and I pretty much on our toes and feet the whole day as you can imagine
  
• Mum and Dad will be in Darwin, Melbourne and Tasmania over the next three weeks - miss them. Plus it stirs my wanderlust!
• We (seriously) prayed for Baby No.2 to come our way next year
  

And now an excerpt from Zach's birthday pic collection:


We did a collage of his pics from birth. I love this!


Our li't charmer. We love his smile :-D


He was obviously awed by the sight of sooo many adults smiling and singing to him :-)


Just before his test drive...

His birthday meal at Globetrotters, United Sq.

Zachary was having such fun in their playroom


















(pics below) Testing his agility...

Maturing in the Lord

Following last Sunday's sermon on keeping covenants, God's reminding me of little promises I've made to Him and others that I've forgotten! God is good. He puts His Spirit of truth in us to help us obey Him.

Just wanna share this thought on maturity and maturing in the Lord:
"The marks of maturity? Self-sustaining in spiritual devotions. Wise in human relationships. Humble and serving. Comfortable and functional in the everyday world where people of faith can be in short supply. Substantial in conversation; prudent in acquisition; respectful in conflict; faithful in commitments."

These marks of maturity are so lacking in me at times. I yearn to see spiritual fruit. Yet I'm reminded in John 15 that it's back to the basics, to the Cross.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

It's horrible to be hated without reason. My pride and self-righteousness probably justifies the anger within me. But Christ suffered the same, and He pleaded they be forgiven 'cos they do not know what they are doing. I would've turned my face away from opposition, let alone hatred. The grace of the Lord is amazing. And He's extended it to me that I may extend it to others.

Random Thought (#8) - Marriage and Weddings

Mum and Dad celebrated their wedding anniversary yesterday.
Years down, I wanna be like them. Serving the Lord and active. Loving and committed to each other. They're not perfect - they still have tiffs, idiosyncracies that sometimes drive each other up the wall - but they remain committed and faithful to each other.

They have no idea how important it is to me (and for the world) to see them this way.
Faithfulness is not a hallmark of marriages nowadays.

"To have and to hold...till death parts us"
...means choosing to remain faithful in the most difficult of times
...means choosing to love even when I don't feel like it
...means choosing to hope in God together

I Can, I Must, I Will

Three imperatives that sum up the attitude of the Christian life.

Nowhere in our spirits should be found: I wish, I hope, I try

(reflections from prayer meeting)