Humans have a propensity towards worry. I have a propensity towards worry! This is why, I believe, Christ explicitly taught his people not to worry. If it was an easy task for us to put down the mental baggage of things that hold no eternal value, then it would have been an unnecessary lesson when Jesus addressed it in the famous Sermon on the Mount. But, in His infinite wisdom, He knows us. He knows our frailties and our earthly worries. He is aware of how things press on us and weigh us down. 

What, then, is the antidote? 

Matthew 6:33

Let's back up and briefly survey the context. 

Jesus was speaking to a substantial number of people from a Mount. This portion of scripture comes directly after Jesus addresses the matter of eternal treasures. After demonstrating the fleeting and corrupt nature of things on this earth (Matt 6:19), He goes on to address our human worries about earthly things. 

Jesus poses two key object lessons - perhaps drawn from the nature which surrounded them. 

1) Behold the fowls of the air - they are fed by the heavenly Father, yet they do not sow and reap as we do. God cares intimately for their daily need for nourishment. 

2) Consider the lilies - they grow and are arrayed in beauty as garments. God 'clothes' the fields in beauty yet they do not spin or toil to gain this. 

The concerns for food and clothing are the most basic of human needs, yet Christ tells us to not be anxious about them. Why? Because our "heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." 

Does this mean that we sit around and wait for God to provide? Well, in reflecting on other scriptures (e.g. 2 Thessalonians 3:10), I'd suggest that no we aren't to just sit around and wait for provision to drop in our laps, but this sermon speaks to the matter of our priorities. When our minds are consumed by earthly worries and needs, we miss the bigger picture. We miss the opportunities to seek His Kingdom. We miss the call to spread the message of His kingdom because we are too absorbed with the here and now. 

So, what do we replace our worry with? A focus on Christ's kingdom. An occupation with a heavenly agenda. 

Seek first the kingdom of God. 

Not too many people know this about me, but I feel that it is time to share it. Over the past year I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I have struggled with forms of one or the other intermittently for years, but never to the extent that I have recently. While this diagnosis has been hard to accept, I am beginning to understand that perhaps God has a purpose.

As I was thinking on some of the mental battles I have faced recently, this verse came to my mind and it was on my heart to share it with you all. This verse has been precious to me for many years, as my Nanna used to quote it to me when it was a child, but today I reflected anew on the applications this verse has for my life today. God does not want his children to live life in a state of turmoil, and even in the darkest of days I can cling to promises like these. I hope that you find comfort meditating on this scripture, as I have.



If you are struggling, I strongly encourage you to reach out and seek help whether that's from a friend, family member, pastor/minister, or a medical professional. Know that you are not alone in this battle, and with the right treatment and the Lord by your side you can recover (preaching to myself here too! :) ).

God bless,
Hannah x

One Sunday morning after our Easter Sunday service at church, I was driving home and couldn't help but be in awe of the beauty in the clouds that day. It reminded me of this verse in Matthew 28:6 when the angel proclaimed to the women at the tomb of Christ, "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." What a joy it is to us that the Lord Jesus Christ rose again!

This is a beautiful song from Matt and Christy Taylor's Album "Gentle Voice" called "Here is Love." Hope you enjoy listening to it :)

Over the past few weeks, our Pastor has been preaching on the necessity and importance of Christ's 1st coming to earth (His birth). So, I thought that seeing as Christmas is almost upon us I would share a few of the points outlined in the sermons. :)



The Necessity of Christ's 1st Coming
1 John 4:11-21
Jesus did not just come to be a part of a nativity scene, or part of a holiday; His purposes in coming to earth were much greater than that.

Why did Jesus come to earth?

1) He came to be our sin bearer. (1 John 3:5)

Just last week I had the great privilege of attending the National Baptist Fellowship Meetings in South Australia. The meetings were such a blessing and I came away challenged and encouraged in the Lord. Over the next few months I plan to share some of the notes I took during the messages in the hope that they will be a blessing to someone else. And as the audio files get uploaded to the internet, I will put a link to them in my post so that you can go listen to the sermons for yourself. :)

3/10/2013 {2nd Morning Session}

Not Ashamed - Pastor James Herringson 

Lately, I have been thinking a lot on the topic of living a life set apart for Christ. And thinking over the question, 'What does it truly mean to live a set-apart life?'
As I was thinking about it, these verses came to my mind. So, I thought I would share a few things that sort of "jumped out" to me as I read it in the hope that it encourages someone else to pursue a life fully surrendered to Him, as it encouraged me.
(Please note: I am not claiming to be a great theologian, nor do I claim to know much about the Bible. - I still have so much to learn about our precious Saviour and His Word!- I am simply sharing what I personally noticed about these verses when I came across them :) All the credit and Glory goes to the Lord, because it is only through HIM that I can even write this)

Romans 12:1-2
Psalm 139:33-34 "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

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Hi everyone,
First of all i'd like to apologize for the lack of posts recently... I have been really busy these past few months. Next year, I'm *planning* to start posting at least once a month with a new wallpaper, because at the moment the posts around here are pretty irregular.
Nevertheless, I hope you all like this wallpaper; and have a safe and blessed holiday season. :)

Hi, :-)
I know that ususally I post photo wallpapers, but this week I tried my hand at some computer artwork/illustration. Hope you like it :-)
Hannah