Smoke, smoke or Not, 
Some may see this and go, oh no something is on fire, there is smoke. There must be a disastrous catastrophe taking place right now. While another may look at the picture and go, look at those beautiful clouds they look a bit like smoke coming from a warm fire. Same picture, two very different ways of viewing it. One that went to the point of disaster, while the other that was focused on a warm happy memory. If you are someone who often finds yourself thinking of the worst disaster that could ever happen, then maybe it is time to have a look at this pattern? Do you want to live your life with the worst case scenario always playing in your mind? What do you need to do, to let go of the negative focus and focus on the truth of the reality, which is that there are some clouds in the photo, along with a beautiful sunrise. If you need help doing this, send us a Message.
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited.

It Is Not Broken, 
Sometimes I think we can look at our lives and feel like everything is broken. Like its all shattered and something has happened that can never be repaired. But maybe instead of looking down, if you lifted you head up and saw the bigger picture, you would see that in fact it is not broken, you are just seeing things from a different angle. Have you ever wondered about seeing things from a different perspective? Maybe it is not such a bad thing that you can now see things in two different views, maybe it will allow you to work out what you want to focus us? Do you want to focus on the truth or on the “broken” reflection of what actually is? Lift up you head and get a new vision, where things are much clearer.
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited. 

Feelings Are Not Everything, 
When I look at this picture, it looks a bit like a fence and something that is designed to keep something inside. If I allow the appearance of what is to get in my spirit, I could become burdened by the weight, feeling like I am trapped. But the thing is that these are only posts, it is not a fence and so no matter if they go all the way around me, I can just swim through them or even jump over them, these things will never stop me, shut me down or hold me back. Don’t allow your thoughts and feelings to control you, because you have been given the ability to take authority over every thought. So, it is time to determine in your heart, that no matter what 2020 throws at you, that you will come out victorious. Because nothing can take away who you are and what you are called to do.

Reflections, 
When we see but a dim reflection of what could be, it can be easy to get discouraged by the how dull things seem to be and the fact that it feels like we are treading water; almost as though not only are we not going anywhere, but maybe in fact we are going backwards. It can be easy to get caught up in a sea of emotions and looking at that reflection so long that we don’t see where the reality of the real thing starts and the reflection begins. Maybe it is time to stop looking at a secondhand version of the real thing, to stop listening to other people’s views about how bad it is and to lift our eyes up to see the truth. Lift your eyes up and the crisp clear picture ahead. When we have our head down, it is easy to lose sight of where we are going. So, head held high and keep going towards the goal.

The T Intersection That Stopped You, 
Sometimes we come to a T intersection in life and we have to make a choice; will we go to the left or to the right, will we choose this or that, maybe even will we choose right or wrong, money or family. Sometimes this decision is simple and one that can be made without much thought, other times, we need to weigh up the pros and cons or seek advice. But one thing is for sure, we cannot stay still. Yes, we need to be careful that we don’t make choices that will damage relationships or cause problems down the track, but at the same time, we cannot sit still waiting for all the lights to go green before we move. If you think about a car moving, it is much easier to steer when it is in motion, once it stops, it becomes hard to manoeuvre and to make it go where it needs to. So, keep moving, seek advice, spend time with your Father and make a choice, but don’t sit still (unless it is for a time of rest), but lack of movement will not reach the goal. 

Sheltered Under His Wings, 
What are you sheltering under? Are you sheltered under the pain of the past, the fear of tomorrow or are you sheltering under the one who is our hope, our peace, our joy, the one in whom we can trust? We all need to be able to have a safe place, a refuge, somewhere we can run to in times of need, a place we know is secure and won’t be shaken. Maybe it is time we took a look again, at where we are putting our hope. In what are we trusting? Is, it something that will be found still standing or are we putting our faith in things that will fail us.  In this season especially make it a priority to put your faith in the rock, the sure foundation of Jesus Christ, which will not be moved. He won’t let you down. He is the rock beneath your feet, the shelter above your head and the fortress surrounding you.
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited. 

Be the Light, 
Instantly when I see this picture, I am drawn to the light. What would this world be like, if each person reflected the light of their Father in Heaven and didn’t hide it under a table, or switch it off when people might notice it. Every single one of us has an opportunity to be someone who shines a light, for others to see the way to the one who is the truth. When people see us, they should see the same us, behind closed doors as they do on the street; someone who is always radiant. This doesn’t mean you have to always be happy, even when you are going through a tough time, but it does mean that your character should display the fact that you live in the light and carry the light of Jesus, in every season. Joy is a gift; happiness is a feeling. We can have the joy even in the midst of hardship and others will see and know who we belong to.
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited.

Walk the Walk, 
Sometimes we get so caught up in the stuff we are doing, that we are so focused on one aspect of our lives that we just walk the walk and don’t even stop to rest, enjoy or celebrate what has gone by. Someone who is walking along the edge of the water could easily continue along straight and not even bother to look to the left of the right. Now sometimes granted, we should be keeping our eyes fixed on the road ahead and not looking to the left or the right. But I am not talking about getting caught up in the mess to the side, or taking a detour that will take you off course, from where you are meant to be heading. I am talking about making sure that you are not so fixed on just one aspect of your life, that you miss everything else. Don’t be someone who is so caught up in work, that you don’t have time to even listen to the love of your life tell you about their day. Do you really find it so boring, that you can’t even take a few minutes, to show them you care? Maybe it is time to walk the walk, to walk out on the pier and enjoy the cool breeze in your face, the sound of your child’s excitement as the exclaim look a bird or the touch of your spouse as you hold hands and remember that you love them.
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited. 

Self-care, 
When was the last time you took a break and went to a quiet place to enjoy nature, to enjoy God’s creation and to allow yourself to just rest in Him? To unwind from the day and to get refreshed and reminded of the plans and purposes for this year. Yes, we are halfway through the year and if you are anything like many of us, it probably hasn’t turned out anything like you planned. For some of you that may be a good thing, but for the majority of you that may have seemed to be a bad thing. But I want to remind you that the promises of God are yes and amen and if he promised you something at the start of the year or gave you a vision, then don’t let go of it, don’t drop the ball and get caught up in a merry-go-round of chaos. He is faithful to what he promised and you can trust him, but maybe it is time you took some time out to spend with him to get back on course. However, for some of you, just me saying that, may have brought up all sorts of thoughts like, how does she think I can go somewhere, we can’t go anywhere, or does she realise how busy I am? It is not about adding something else to your list, it is about spending time with your Father, who wants to remind you where you are going, refresh and restore you. He doesn’t want you to get to the end of the year burnout and any moment spent with God will never be wasted. And it's not about where you go, it is about who is there with you. So, for all I care you could go to your local stormwater “creek” and spend time with him there. It reminds me of when I was young and we would have a picnic lunch at the tip (well sort of recycling centre/tip) and we thought it was so much fun. It was not about where, but about who was there. He’s inviting you to come away with him. The nation may be in lockdown, but God is not.
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited. 

Light That Pierces the Darkness, 
What a powerful thing light is. Without light the world would be a very dull place indeed and so I am thankful to God for creating light, when he made the world. But without the darkness there would be no contrast to the light and we wouldn’t even have a concept of what light was or the need for it. You might be wondering why am I talking about light when this picture seems quite dark. Sure, maybe at first glance it does, but if you look a bit closer you will see that there is quite a lot of light in the picture, for without the light there would be no shadow. So, this led me to ponder on what the light was revealing, that without the light you would not have noticed. The light has highlighted the fact that the leaves on the trees are unique in their beauty and that there is yellow colour, on the ground. So I ask you the question; what is it your light is shining on? Are you highlighting beauty in others or are you highlighting the mistakes of yourself and those around you? In this season we need more people who will reflect the light of the Father, the love of our saviour Jesus Christ and the compassion of the Holy Spirit, so that the light will bring about unity, joy, hope, peace and refreshing, even if there might be some things brought to light that are ugly, the focus will not be on the difference, not on the bad or the mess, but on Jesus. Be one who shines the light, that points those around to the one who is the author of all light, the light of the world.
Image credit: Ros Willis. Used with Permission © prohibited.