Five Minute Friday [7] - I Know/You Are Mine

I know that you're clay, My dear

And that you have these many fears

But I am the mighty Potter and your Maker

I will never be your bruiser or your breaker

Take my hand and your heart and soul will be full

I know you don't understand My thoughts or My will

But I have never left you alone before

And I never will, you can be sure

I know that trust is precious, but all of yours is safe with Me

Your thoughts are anxious but it's only because you can't see

I'm building a home for you to live in, I promise you

One day your tears will dry and your pain will be through

I long for you to abide here with Me for time unending

I long to show you everything, from end to beginning

How My heart suffered and broke and wept for you

And how there is love in every single thing I do

So put your faith in me always, My child

I know that it seems it could be a long while

But I am greater than the world and this barrier of time

And your place with me is secure, for you are Mine

-t.h.

written: 20/12/19

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Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' / Isaiah 45:9, NKJV

But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; and we are the work of Your hand. / Isaiah 64:8, NKJV

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD,the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary, His understanding is unsearchable. / Isaiah 40:28

A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. / Isaiah 42:3, NKJV

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A/N: Many a Christian reaches the point where they are just downright baffled at what God is doing in their lives. When it just doesn't feel like their spiritual battles are victorious or truimphant- when they start to wonder where God is in the midst of things- when they're confused about why the Lord is allowing certain things to happen- when they feel they are but a bruised reed, faltering and feeble. It's a hard, hard place to be. 

But there's only one way to hold on, and that is to trust in Him and His goodness. He is the same as He was yesterday, He is the same always. He is capable, He is mighty, He is worthy. And when darkness is threatening to suffocate, He is the light, He is the hand reaching down to pull you out of it, He is the only refuge.

Even when we can't understand and when we feel lost, He is with us then. He is molding us still. He is the only One to whom we can turn to.

Five Minute Friday [6] - Waiting on the Dawn

It's late at night or as the sun dips low in the sky

That my mind drifts to what has already gone by

The streets of this small town

I keep them beneath my ribs, in my heart

Every person I've ever let down

And those I've stuck with, from the very start

I'm someone who holds on for long

I don't ever walk away from anything easily

I cry long after the person I miss is gone

And I don't forget a face, not anybody

These tall and proud mountains that closely surround all of us

They echo lost sounds, glass dreams, and live, golden memories

I know they say the past is past, and to live in it is to distress

But every now and then I feel the past pick up, then fly by like breeze

Call it nostalgia, call it grief, call it something akin to pining

I keep all the recollections safe, in a cushioned and velvet little box

I take them out with care, I take out those dark, I take out those shining

I relive them, both the hurtful and the good, call it a paradox

But I look ahead as well, moving forward is to me no stranger

It's only that it's nice to go back once in a short while

Sometimes I want to stay, sometimes I want to dwell there longer

But whatever is ahead, whether it's joy or heavy trial

I know I cannot pause time, I know I can't give up or slow down

So I keep up with the changes, these turns, this frightening depth

Still all the while keeping what is no more in my arms, holding on

And facing the giants, taking small steps, taking deep breaths

And

Waiting on the dawn

-t.h.
written: 05/12/19

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A/N: Okay, this one also took longer than five minutes. Maybe ten minutes in total, not including the tiny smidge of editing that had to go into it? Haha :)

May you have a blessed day, wherever you are and whatever memories or thoughts continuously run through your mind.

A Party From Out of This World

Last week Saturday, we threw a party for Reilly and Levi, two of my younger brothers. Reilly is currently ten and Levi is seven, but both of their birthdays are coming around this December and soon they'll be eleven and eight. So headquarters (the parents) decided to have their combined birthday party a month earlier, since there was more chance friends would be away on holiday come early to mid December. We set it all up in our house, and by the time everyone had arrived, the place was packed. But in a totally good way ;) The food was fabulous (my older sister is a talented chef, so there was no shortage of good food) and plentiful, there were kids everywhere and we had both a candyfloss and slushy machine running. I think it has already been implied (unless you don't like candyfloss or slushies- and in which case, I'd have to ask you, where is your inner child?), but I'll say it, it was fun.

I was the "photographer" (and by that I mean I took a few snapshots here and there in between chatting to people and eating brownies) and I got enough pictures to show y'all the basic theme and content of the party spread. The photos are bad quality, I know, and I apologize for it, but maybe you'll still be able to enjoy the whimsy of our alien/space/galactical get together through the digital representations I have for you here :)

Exhibit A, B, C and D are all of the super duper cool cake my sister (Perrin) thought up and constructed. The spaceship part of the cake came together smoothly and nicely, but we had had hopes of using fishing reel to tie the cow and stick it to the vase (the sucking up portal thingy. Please comment below if you know the actual term) to make it look as if the cow really was being levitated/lifted, but sadly that didn't work out. So, we settled for putting the cow on the board of butter icing lawn, where it stood as the unsuspecting and innocent character that would shortly be abducted by two little green creatures in a giant and sugary cake spaceship. Or, at least, that was how it was supposed to look, and I think it did the trick. Also, I can testify to the fact that the cake was entirely delicious and that despite being rather large, it was eaten up far too quickly for my liking. (I like leftovers, peeps)

A blurry shot of one of the lil birthday dudes, Levi, and the feast upon the table.

Reilly working the candyfloss machine while a queue of kids waiting for their cotton candy steadily grew. (again, who doesn't secretly, or better yet, openly still like this stuff, no matter how old they get?)

My personal favourite, due both to the way they tasted and because of the creativity that went into making them look amazing: galaxy brownie bites, topped with caramel panacotta/mousse stuff and sticky galaxy icing.

These were also a hit. My three sisters never run out energy to doodle, and you can see what I mean if you closely observe the different expressions and characters of the "alien faces" they drew with edible ink on these green alien brownies. People loved the diversity and humour of the illustrated faces.

And these perfectly in theme cookies were made by my lovely twelve-year-old sister, Mila. Not only did the rockets and stars go perfectly with the whole space/nebula feel, they were also very tasty. 

Mid party, we gathered everyone back to the dining room (it was nice and cozy, haha) to pray for and then sing for the boys. The two of them standing with my dad as he thanked everyone for coming and then prayed for them made for a very cute photo oppurtunity.

Reilly blew first...

...and Levi made a quick job of finishing up.

And then, at the end of the afternoon, there was a stunning rainbow falling in front of the mountainscape that could be seen from our front veranda. It was a lovely ending to the party and to me was a reminder of the might and intricate inventiveness of our God. He is the One from Whom all blessings flow, and to be able to gather together with friends and family and celebrate two of His precious children was indeed a blessing.

All in all, the party was an exciting occasion and the boys were thrilled by it. I didn't originally think to post about it here, but I had fun taking the pictures and reckoned there was no harm in sharing them with you guys. 

When was the last kid's party you were at, and did it have a theme? What was the best party you had as a kid? Let me know in a comment below. and have an astronomically great afternoon further. (Sorry. Puns are a weakness of mine)

Five Minute Friday [5] - Not Giving Up

Not giving up is difficult. And there are so many things I’d love to give up on at the moment, if I’m being perfectly honest. I’m weary of and irritated with myself. Every time I don’t get something right again, my heart feels a little heavier. I desire to see improvement and structured progress, but sometimes I just can’t seem to get rid of the short-term tunnel vision I have going on. My mind likes to think that getting through a day is enough for now at least, and I lose track of what I might need to still prepare in advance of the future. I fall behind.

However, I don’t have to focus on those things. I don’t have to try to find all I need in myself. If I thought that I did, things would be hopeless. If I relied on myself for strength and perseverance, giving up would be my default, not only a temptation. If it was just me, myself and I, there would be no will.

BUT. My hope lives. The Lord is fighting my battles, He is coming to my defence. He’s reminding me that I’m loved. He’s holding my arms up in praise towards Him when I am too broken or too tired to. He is MIGHTY. He’s carrying me in however many pieces I come in, and He’s making me whole again.

Not giving up is how I’ll live. Because my God is showing me how to.

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Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. / Isaiah 41:10, NKJV

Wednesday Words [7] - I Will Praise

Do you see, Lord?
In my weakness, in my fickleness
In my pain, my confusion
And in all of my brokenness
Can you see how the human in me
Is settling into stubbornness?
Can You reach me, please?
Cause this heart wants to sing Your praises
But all this doubt is crashing in
Can You please bring me back to my knees?
I know who I am and I know I’m Your child
I know the things You’ve done and how your might is endless
Remind me now in all of this darkness
You’re the same, yesterday, today, forever and always
Hold onto me because I don’t have the strength
Touch my soul again because my faith is trembling
Don’t let this heart grow cold
Don’t let it turn to stone
Pull me back towards You and Your fathomless grace
Thaw me with the warmth of Your glorious face
And I will stand here and I will praise
It’s a choice, it’s a decision, it’s an embrace
Let this be my stance and my song for all my days
I will fight this and I will fight it with praise

-t.h.

written: 20/11/19