confidence in ..

We have this kind of confidence at heart,

because of our trust in this God through Christ.

Yet we don't see ourselves (when seen “apart”)

as capable enough, we don't suffice.

Our strength, our competence  is not just sourced

(because he made us up - long time ago)

in God, as though we now are all (of course)

grown up. It’s more like Mum, and embryo!

Or Dad, and then his tiny little son,

who grows to be a man by watching all,

and listening, sharing life (both sad, and fun).

But this Dad doesn't need kids, big or small!

He has another categ’ry called 'love-

ing-kindness’ (Hes-ed is the Hebrew word).

Because he’s bless-ed overall, above

all others, he’s for giving quite absurd-

-ly like a mum who feeds from her own breast

her newborn babe, devoting focussed will.

Her body gives both food and drink that’s best

to help her babe grow up and so fulfil

the hopes and dreams that God had there in mind

the possibilities that must be trained.

And so a trust, surrender of a kind,

is needed after all that we have gained.

Resist your independent “self-abort”,

and you will find decay and rot will flee.

And let your parents clean you (as they 'ought' -

if love were true). So, come close, “taste” and see.

---

We have this confidence in our hearts because of our trust in God through Christ. Yet we don't see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our own strength, but our competence comes from God and him alone!!  2 Corinthians 3:4-5. (PM Version)

Surrender to God, resist the devil and he will turn and run away from you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. James 4:7-8 (PM Version)

---

old hand hairclippers... (bin there..1)

Are these clippers yours dad?
I found them on top of the white cuboard in the bathroom with a cap gun (which I left there). I claimed them a month or so ago cause I had never seen u use them, and thought they were probobly a previous tenants... Son

They are mine. I hid them there so your mum wouldn't find them and throw them out. But being hidden in Bendigo is even better. If you could oil them every now and then and keep them working by cutting something easy, like human hair (then clean if off and oil them again), that would be good. Dad.

Hahaha u and mum are grear! Yeah will do and I can return them soon :) Son

No. If you are willing 
to put 'em to good use,
or save them from silling
on a window pane, obtuse.

If you won't just throw them
as though they aren't worth much,
because you don't know when
you'd use them in a rush,

then your place might well be
a safer place for them;
something happens near me
if I can't say quite when

any given thing will
be utilized again.
They disappear or spill
into the garbage bin.

I haven't pers' n'lly seen
them jump right out the house,
but I've returning, been
surprised that some quiet mouse

has been collecting things
and thrown them in the bin,
or else they have grown wings,
and put themselves within.

And on some occasions
my wife's good things as well,
like passport, and relations 
letters have gone there to dwell.

struggling = wrestling

A young person struggles with pretty bad depression or anxiety.

---

God, please now do help young mate as he's crook,
& help him see just how to handle this,
and running to your arms, help him to look
and know support from you and Lord Jesus!

And any ways that we can help as well
please bring to mind, and help his Dad & Mum,
espec'lly as we all work against "hell",
and pray that here and now your kingdom come.

---

… Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.  

…

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:5‭-‬9‭, ‬13‭-‬18 NIVUK

..be gone!

I've got a cough from getting a cold in cold weather, that turns into an asthma sort of thing. Death to disease, and malfunction….it is to be  banished away….

---

God's special body made for me will not
have any Sickness, so be gone, for good!
You act like you continue on, you've got..
..got nothing on the love that this God would

bestow and give for free, in ev'rything
that happens to us here, in time and space,
and though we're learning to rule, as his kings
and queens, he is the High King whom we'll trace

and follow after, for eternity,
that's growing in creative love and pow'r,
this God makes me to be amazing free
& even when this second body's hour

is nearly here upon it, I will wait,
& see what God will do. It will be good!
O God, I will not waste much time in hate,
I want to love like you said that I should.

my hope is in...

My hope is in the Lord, His loving kind -

-ness never ceases. None are quite like him.

The kind of loving people that we meet

in this life are reflecting him, some dim.

His faithful love dain't end - then some - we find.

His faithful love is new as each morning

repeats, yet unrepeated is unique.

Your faithfulness displayed on each day's sheet

of canvas that is piled for those who seek,

with second shots, as inverted dawning

and even in one day, for pref-er-ence.

Great is your faithfulness, creatively

expressed. Lord I would be my best, complete.

Please teach me Lord, so that less hate-ive-ly,

your street I'll be at home in, your ways hence

will show out in the sculpture of this life

so I enjoy the fruit of following

your ways and paths, till they become  my street,

I live in them, take up abode, and sing,

rewarded in the spin-offs that are rife!

Give me an understanding heart and mind,

oh source of intuitional logic,

so I can know and person-al-ly greet

and live with rightly, not as country hick,

much more than just “obey” all  truth I find,

or more than likely, that I've been found by.

Lord help me turn my life away from these

quick “fixes” that don't really. Though I eat,

I am not filled, though I become obese.

I will pursue life true, not only “try”.

And yet, I can't “just do it”, with no aid!

I'm gunna trust your word that you'd join in.

For Jesus' messy ways are  very neat!

A true and lasting peace with God! I grin...

The land-lord says that all the rent’s been paid!

---

My hope is in the Lord, His loving kindness never ceases.His faithful love never ends. They are new every morning. Great is His  faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23 (PM Version)

Lord teach me your ways so I can enjoy the reward of following them fully!!
Give me an understanding heart so that I can know and obey your truth!!
Lord help me to turn my eyes away from illusions, so that I pursue only that which is true and give me life, as I walk in your ways. Psalm 119:33,34&37. (PM Version)

Our faith in Jesus transfers God's righteousness to us and he now declares us flawless in His eyes. This means we can now enjoy true and lasting peace with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus has done for us.  Romans 5:1 (PM Version)

---

My Mantra*

(After “Penny’s prayer” )

Within God’s “fam-il-y” (why live without?

He's what child-, sibling-, parent-, -hood’s about)

I’m infinitely loved, by the true one;

The mind of Christ we have in us no doubt,

So everything we need - we have! It’s done!

Unseemly precious in God's eyes, one lamb,

’N’ honoured by his love for me, I am.

---

* Text in Doc.

serendipities like these

So, thank you God for serendipities
that come to us in this world here of yours-
reminds us of our food, and air we breathe,
and friendships that you've given us "because"...

We're seeing why, "because", with eyes from you
of body, but of heart and mind as well...
We dare not say it too loudly, though true,
we think that you just love us. We can tell

whenever we look in the face of him,
the Son of Adarm who exemplified
your word to all humanity to win
your children back from drugged-out zombie life…

... like father, like son ...

Amazing men, like Neil, & Michael are "amazing. And somehow God let me be your friend! How is that even possible? I am so blessed!"

---

Wow, God you are good,
and God, you are great!
Not just what you should
be. You are our fate!

stirred but not shaken..

So tell them all the good news:  "The Lord reigns";

the world appears unstable, but stands firm;

& it cannot be shaken! Even stains

of our self-will will help folk more to learn.

And at this news the heavens will be glad,

the earth rejoices, ev’ry element

is raised to new dimensions - that we've had

just inklings of through artists who were sent.

For Earth will Heaven’s ecosystem be,

to care for it we all will learn to do.

And all of it itself (and in) the Sea

will shout with praise! Imagine now that boom!

And let the fields and crops burst out with joy!

And all the trees of forests sing their song

with all creation, for He (and his boy)

is coming, and it won't be very long!

For righteous people cry out, and the Lord

hears them and will deliver them from all...

the troubles they may have may be a hoard

but final judgement's fuller when first intervention's small!

It’s when I hold this true and trust this One,

that human life begins inside of me;

the life of Christ, that's God's begotten son,

rests at my very source of life, you see.

Since you’ve been raised to new life now with Christ,

set all your sights on what is really true,

and lovely, good, and praiseworthy, sufficed

to say, that he is thinking now of you.

---

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness, tremble before him, all the earth. Declare to the nations "The Lord reigns" the world stands firm cannot be shaken!! Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout with praise!! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy! Let all creation rejoice for He is coming!! Psalm 96:9-13 (PM Version)

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.  ... The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.  Psalm 34:17‭, ‬19‭-‬20 NIVUK

Walk by faith and the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, the resting place of His love will become the very source of your life. Ephesians 3:17 (PM Version)

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand, at the place of all power, honour and authority!! Think about the things of heaven not the things of earth. Colossians 3:1-2 (PM Version)

---

power at work

So never doubt God's mighty power to work

within you to accomplish truly great

things through you. He’ll achieve much more (berserk-

ly) than you can imagine, no abate-

ing. Pow-er that’s miraculous refines

in you yourself - all glory be to God -

his Legislative new Assembly shines

with leadership, where Jesus Christ has trod,

and will through all the generations more

for such is the virility of Christ.

God picked our Son of Adam from a score

of world’s best leaders, and he has sufficed!

And when I honour him as : “Your Highness”,

he’s been to ev’ry place that’s underneath,

gives meaning to that old word  “Holiness”

and “Boss-hood”, “Lordship”, “TRUE”, are his bequeath.

Before him I would “tremble” as a muscle

that gives all that it’s got, to do a job.

So all the earth’s good work and all the bustle

of cities that’s worth-while, will not be robbed.

And I’d count it an honour to declare

to any people group within this globe

"The Lord, he reigns" the world stands firm, beware

of what will not sit with that, and then woe-

betide me if I don't announce this when

the cynics seem to win their pow-er-plays.

This truth brings celebration with it, then

the heavens and the earth call out in praise!

---

Never doubt God's mighty power to work in you and accomplish amazing things through you. He will achieve infinitely more than you can ever imagine. For His miraculous power is constantly working in you. Glory to God in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever Amen!! Ephesians 3:20-21 (PM Version)

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness, tremble before him, all the earth. Declare to the nations "The Lord reigns" the world stands firm cannot be shaken!! Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Let the sea and everything in it shout with praise!! Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy! Let all creation rejoice for He is coming!! Psalm 96:9-13 (PM Version)

---

God imagines, plans, and is able to bring them about. We are called to follow a.m.a.p.

All Glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we ask or can imagine. Ephesians 3:20 (PM Version)

..my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.  Philippians 4:8 GNTD

---

All Glory be to God,
  who is able, through
the mighty power he's got
  within us now, to

accomplish infinite-
  -ly more than we can
now ask, or even might
  speak of, imagine!

I think he knows us well
  (even DNA)
knows more than we can tell,
  even hairs and names.


So if all that is true,
  challenge for us is:
do best that we can do -
  join with his good wish;

think of the best we can.
  Will that be a waste?
No, that is his command,
  follow him "post haste".

at Penny's* parting...

Dear God, I'm feeling hurt, and full of pain

it comes in waves that wash right over me,

then disappears, but then comes on again.

It’s like those tidal waves within the sea.

And sometimes in the serendipities

of life, the pain & loss come side by side

with goodness & creative energies,

that seem so contr’y - no place left to hide!

A marriage seems a good model for this,

the “opposites”, are not just “good” & “bad”,

they function best together when they kiss,

acknowledging each other, being glad

of diff'rences and diff’rent vantage points,

because they love the truth, as it displays,

and too, in truth they love. ‘Muscles’ and ‘joints’,

can work together, though in diff’rent ways.

And now I see the quieter other side,

the certainty that we're not here for long.

My longing for Renewed World, I can't hide,

it’s just that all the old is not just “wrong”.

And learning to be grateful when someone,

another person, gets a lovely gift

before me, and to celebrate with fun,

to let the bigger story do it's “shift”.

Ah, then there’s also losses that are mine,

as consequence of her graduation.

Admitting them don't feel quite like sublime,

but here they are, and this is celebration!

---

* Penny Barringham was hit by a car on a road crossing, while walking the dog near a hospital. She died, but was gratefully revived by passing medical people. After more than a week with no vital signs and growing inflammation, her ventilator was turned off at 2pm on Monday 16 July 2018. Her body stopped breathing in the next 5 minutes. She was in the presence of her husband and two sons. She responded to the twin call of loving truth, and of truly loving, that she saw lived out by Jesus, and heard his call to follow, in his company! She was an extraordinary older sister to me, as her husband Neil was an older brother. We (& many, many more) feel our loss of her.

down stairs, eating alone

Frail old lady, with emphysema. Don't want to give her “my” cold/cough.
Txt from me: I keep doing little coughs... So I'll see if the cough mixture kicks in in 5 or ten min...
Txt to me: Sure thing. “Nanna” says come up. ... :-)

Then food came down!

---

Her tell,
“I smell”.
And, well
...
this food
is good!
No rude-
...
ness meant.
I went,
Doc. sent
...
med-cine
to win
and fin-

ish cough
e-nough
to slough

it off.
Hat doffed.
Food scoffed!

Than-Q
to you
all who

take care.
I'm ware-
y, there!