God’s Great Love and Mercy

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choices in life, creation, God's love, God's mercy, Jesus, mercy, salvation, universe

We have such a merciful heavenly Father! It’s hard to believe that he still loves us when we sin. It’s hard to believe that he really cares when we go off on our own way. It’s hard to take in that he loves us no matter what. It’s hard to comprehend how he knows every single thing that is going on in the whole universe… that’s everything to do with every star and planet, everything to do with every black hole and whatever else is out there, everything to do with absolutely everything on this earth–us humans and our thoughts and actions, the birds and animals, all of nature itself (remember he knows about every sparrow that falls to the ground). I cannot keep track of anything much, yet he sees it all, knows it all intimately, and loves all he has made.
What a thought! He loves all he has made… even the caterpillar that snacks on my vegies! He takes delight in his creation… and I suspect is longing for us to be able to enter into the beauty of all he has created.
I am so little, so small in my understanding and appreciation of God, and yet he is not daunted by my wayward ways. His love and patience with me covers the many years since I became a Christian, and even longer because he planted the seed in my heart and into my family line. Oh, that we would turn to Jesus and find the life he’s intended for us.

Christmas thot

Christmas is just around the corner and it’s a good time to pause and look back over the year that is rapidly drawing to a close.

We’ve seen world dramas with passenger planes being shot down, the continuing rise of ISL with their murderous hatred of Christians, Jews and the West in general, of terrorist attacks, of hostage situations, plus the many natural disasters occurring in various quarters of the globe. It’s all been incredible. Add to the pot the media’s graphic and incessant reporting of such events with a resultant stirring of fear. This also is incredible to behold.

We are celebrating Jesus’ first coming to our world with all “fairy floss” of the season. However, my question now is, is Jesus’ return imminent? I don’t know but it gives one pause to ponder the possibility.

My reading recently reminded me of God’s take on all things:

“God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he made the universe and everything in it.” (Heb 1:2b) and “[Jesus] sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command (1:3b).

So, no matter what happens – when or where or who or how – God has it in hand and under his control. The universe is sustained by the mighty power of Jesus!

Now Christmas is here, the time to joyfully and truly celebrate Jesus. May you experience something of the wonder of God sending his Son, Jesus, to this world – and, the why of it.

Whoops…

Whoops, indeed! My previous article on stress triggered a suspension by WordPress. I think perhaps because the quote was so long. If you have a problem with reading the article let me know.

Blessings for today!!

Why Stress is Contagious and How We can Override the Mirror Response

The following came into my inbox today from Breaking Christian News. It speaks of a phenomenon with which you may identify. Take a read, go back to the original article, think about occasions when you yourself have experienced this mirror effect and how you may or may not have dealt with it… you might find it instructive.

As well as the recommendations given below, I’d also suggest doing a literal handing it all over to Jesus, praying for the person, and asking for protection from taking on-board the other person’s pain.

I hope this is helpful to someone.

Why Stress is Contagious and How We can Override the Mirror Response

Aimee Herd (Oct 31, 2013)

“When someone dumps emotional toxins on you, you can choose not to accept the incoming by catching yourself when the bogus, catastrophic story of stress goes off and activates a wave of stupefying emotion.”

A recent Huffington Post article notes the natural tendency in people’s brains to mimic others’ emotions, in the case of stress; to our detriment.

No doubt you’ve noticed how other people’s emotions and actions can often be contagious, such as yawning or laughing.

Apparently our brains are hardwired to do so, as Italian scientists in the 1990s discovered. According to the report, our brains contain “mirror neurons,” which are brain cells that mimic the actions or emotions of others.

While this quality is often harmless or even somewhat therapeutic in the case of laughter; the mimic reflex becomes more of a problem when it comes to stress and fear.

The report notes that stress “suppresses the immune system, lowers the good cholesterol, increases the bad and…can lead to any number of illnesses and conditions.”

So, how do you counter your body’s natural tendency to copy another person’s emotions?

The HP report states:

The key to resisting the emotional contagion of stress is overriding the double-team autopilot of the stress response—reacting before you think—and your mirror neurons. When someone dumps emotional toxins on you, you can choose not to accept the incoming by catching yourself when the bogus, catastrophic story of stress goes off and activates a wave of stupefying emotion. Instead of latching on to the fear or panic because it’s in your head, contest it by reframing the irrational story to what’s actually the reality.

Instead of mirror neurons reflecting stress, you can use them as a tool to better understand why a person is going off, and, as a result, why you don’t have to.

I would add that saying a quick, silent prayer, inviting God to help you handle the given situation may help the most, as well as a quick prayer for the person you’re trying not to mimic.

There’s also a lot to be said for breathing—it’s highly underrated! Stepping back before you respond; taking a few minutes to breathe deeply, giving your brain maximum oxygen with which to work, can only help.

What the locusts ate…

Tags

God, life experiences, Religion and Spirituality, restoration

A thought from a friend:

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten….” Joel 2:25 NIV

For everything you’ve loved or lost, God has something else. For everything that’s been stolen from you, God has something else. The situation you are in right now is not the end of the story; God wants to write a new chapter. – He’s not through with you!

My artwork for sale

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art greeting cards, digital art, Fine art, fine art gallery, Gifts, greeting cards, photo art, photo art greeting cards, Stationery

Needing unique greeting cards? Do check out my photo art greeting cards for sale at the following link:

Greeting Cards

Coolac, NSW (Oil Expressive)

I also have unique photos and digital art for sale at:

Fran Woods Fine Art Gallery

Trees in the winter fog (sepia toned)

Do consider buying.

Enjoy!!

God has plan and purpose for us

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God, hope, plan, purpose

“…I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.” Jeremiah 29:11b NIRV

There’s an appointment on God’s calendar with your name on it. God has an appointed task for you to accomplish and appointed blessings for you to enjoy. He has called you with an “eternal purpose” and He will bring it to pass.

Isn’t that just great? What a hope!

Goodbye 2011, Welcome 2012!

Tags

choices in life, new year resolution, symbolic significance

Saturday, December 31, 2011
Last day of 2011 — and the sun shines — lovely blue sky — lovely, lovely, lovely!!
This is just a day like another. And tomorrow will be another. Yet today and tomorrow have symbolic significance for us human beings — end of the old > beginning of the new. We aspire to do better than we have before. We aspire to do good things — to live more honourably, more honestly, more truthfully. We aspire to put away the bad and put on what’s good.
YET…
any change is cosmetic. To reach our aspirations we need an interior change — a transformation of the heart. Who can do that? We may try mightily and seem to succeed for a time but we still end up reverting to our default mode. A mode that has decades of imprinting by our upbringing, our choices in life, our experiences, our sufferings, failures, successes, and so on.
Who or what can change our default mode? How do we get out of this rut of reverting? Can we never make a real difference in our own lives? Or, in our family’s? Or, our community’s? Or, our nation’s? Or, our world’s? Will all things revert to that default which we deem unacceptable, untruthful, unloving?
Seems pretty bleak.
We can’t change ourselves let alone anyone else.
But, Jesus Christ can change us. He changes our hearts. He alone makes it possible to reach our aspirations. He alone is the transformer — not a new year resolution or wish, not a promise on our part. We are weak; he is strong.
Sadly, we have legislated anything to do with Jesus out of our schools, our communities, our nation… and, thus too out of our lives, and out of the lives of our children. Sad really. The one person who can sort it all out is relegated to the dustbin.
YET…
Psalm 113: 4,5 “For the LORD [Jesus] is high above the nations; his glory is far greater than the heavens. Who can be compared with the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high?”
For those who seek Jesus… God bless you!
If you don’t, may you be surprised to discover how great is his love for you in 2012!

Grape Hyacinths – photo art

Grape Hyacinths – photo art, a photo by bhojman on Flickr.

Spring has arrived here in Oz. So welcome! The warming days and the absolutely gorgeous flowers are so healing to the soul.
Here we have some Grape Hyacinths, one of my most favourites. Their delicate little bells proclaim to me that God remembers me and loves me.
I turned this into a piece of photo art by using software from Topaz Labs.

Incline my heart to you

Tags

God, Heart, loneliness, Lord, self-pity

Some years ago I wrote the following poem. It really speaks of issues that can cause us grief in our pursuit of health and wholeness in life as well as in our walk with Jesus. I trust is blesses and encourages you!

Incline my heart to you

My heart is inclined to you, O Lord
Yet not all
So often I see myself withholding
some thought, some desire
some bit of the old
declaring with shaking fist
this is mine,
don’t touch.

A so-called friend offends me
I’m enraged
I want revenge, tit for tat.
Don’t tell me to forgive,
it’s unforgivable…
so my heart inclines to hatred
this is mine
don’t touch.

There’s much to do, and
I’m tired of doing
I want to play
to go where I want to go
and do what I want to do
so my heart inclines to selfishness
this is mine
don’t touch.

And so the list goes on
I spiral down
lost to myself in whirling self-pity
deeper into loneliness,
so my heart inclines to
hopelessness and despair
O God, I am yours, You are mine
touch me.

Written as a result of reflecting on 1 Kings 8:54-61
Copyright © 2005 Fran Woods

via Incline my heart to you.