Hope

Everlasting Happiness, December 21
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11. AG 363.1
During His ministry Jesus lived to a great degree an outdoor life.... Much of His teaching was given in the open air. AG 363.2
In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called “a country” (Hebrews 11:16). There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the service of the nations. There are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord. There the wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty, and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains, beside those living streams, God’s people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home. AG 363.3
The Bible presents to our view the unsearchable riches and immortal treasures of heaven. Man’s strongest impulse urges him to seek his own happiness, and the Bible recognizes this desire and shows us that all heaven will unite with man in his efforts to gain true happiness. It reveals the condition upon which the peace of Christ is given to men. It describes a home of everlasting happiness and sunshine, where no tears nor want shall ever be known. AG 363.4
Let all that is beautiful in our earthly home remind us of the crystal river and green fields, the waving trees and living fountains, the shining city and the white-robed singers, of our heavenly home—that world of beauty which no artist can picture, mortal tongue describe.... AG 363.5
To dwell forever in this home of the blest, to bear in soul, body, and spirit, not the dark traces of sin and the curse, but the perfect likeness of our Creator, and through ceaseless ages to advance in wisdom, in knowledge, and in holiness, ever exploring new fields of thought, ever finding new wonders and new glories, ever increasing in capacity to know and to enjoy and to love, and knowing that there is still beyond us joy and love and wisdom infinite—such is the object to which the Christian’s hope is pointing. AG 363.6

Life as a gluten free vegan

So life a gluten free vegan isn't the easiest thing. I had a great day out with my good friend "Elly" today. We went to a craft fayre which interestingly enough consisted mostly of sweets chocolate and jewellery....go figure! Needless to say I bought nothing!
There was also a stall with some amazingly sweet smelling natural products. I wanted to to buy it all...so expensive! Walk away slowly.
Why was "Santa" offering us sweets?? I don't think Santa and I can be friends. He kinda freaks me out!
Then it was on to the vegan food open day! Great!!! Food! I was famished!
Being my naive self...I held on to hope that there might be at least one thing I could eat....ummm try nothing!!!
Everything was baked and wheat filled! *tears* the fun day out ended with a hungry little wheat intolerant vegan going to the chip shop...(1st time in years) and ordering chips. Life as a wheat intolerant vegan....good times!

Me me me!

So you know when you realise that you aren't actually the centre of the universe....it's like what....? You mean I've been living a lie all this time??! God has a way of showing us things that stop us in our tracks and, if we are attentive, rethink our way of thinking. If we aren't attentive...it will probably just make us momentarily unhappy but ultimately we carry on with life as we have always known it. I'm sad to say that for a large part of my short life, I have done the latter. Merrily floating along thinking "it's all good" when in reality...it's not even remotely good. Recently I've been learning me in an interesting way and I've come to realise that when God shows us who we really are...it's not always a pretty picture. Sometimes it's downright scary! So how does one deal? A wise man once wrote that many people are afraid of God's will but the sweetest and best thing one could ever do is to surrender one's own will to the FATHER and have His will instead. I'm learning that this fear is actually irrational...that in fact "Perfect love casteth out fear" but there's a catch...*gasp* For the fear to be cast out...we first need perfect love! And there is only one source...Neither Tom, Adam, nor Jerry can give me perfect love...this only comes from the Father...He is so misunderstood!

So here begins the documentation of my journey towards perfect love...stick around...I think it's gonna be an interesting one.