CURE??

Diabetes... well, it sucks. And, I would really, REALLY like a cure... not just for me, but all of the babies, children and adults out there. As a mum myself now, my biggest fear is my beautiful son being diagnosed... So please.. consider donating.


http://www.teamcurediabetes.org.au/katiemarie

For Riley, my son.

Darling Riley,

Its hard to believe that you are already more than 3 weeks old. You are the child I never thought I could have, the baby I never believed I would hold in my arms... and you are more than I ever wished for.

The months preceeding your birth were so hard for me, and for your dad. I was so ill, my diabetes was hard to control, I had morning sickness from about 5 weeks until the very day you were born, you tried to come early, at just 29 weeks, and then I spent the last 2 and a half weeks before you actually DID arrive stuck in hospital. I was frustrated, sick, scared, and struggled to believe that I could actually make it... the only things that kept me going were the love I GOT from your dad, and the love I felt for him, and for you. Every time you kicked me, or turned over, of I saw a scan of your beautiful face, I gained a little strength, just enough to keep me going... and when finally, FINALLY, I saw you for the first time, I knew that you were worth every second and more.

Your birth was traumatic. I reacted to the spinal block, and you were ill yourself. You spent your first four days in NICU, and then another 2 in Special Care. You were on a ventilator for your first 12 hours. Your platelets were dropping, with no explanation why. I didn't get to hold you until you were three days old... and that moment, the second that I finally held you in my arms, I knew what love TRULY was. I was trembling before the nurses put you in my arms, and I had tears streaming down my face, onto yours. Ar that moment, Riley, I knew that I would do it all again, a thousand times over, if it meant having you forever.

As I said, you are now more than 3 weeks old. Its 6am, and i have just put you into your cot after your 5am feed and cuddle. After I put you down, I just stood beside you for a moment, looking at you, wondering how such a tiny little creature can inspire so much love and tenderness, so much change. My heart aches at the thought of things that could hurt you, and I swear to you that for every moment I am alive, every moment you need me, I will do all that I can to protect you. I made you. I carried you for 37 weeks, and I went through hell to get you here safely. For every minute of the rest of my life, I will love you. I know there will be times we will fight, get angry, say things we may later regret, but through it all will be love, all I have.

You are beautiful, perfect, and I don't know how I made such an incredible creature.

I love you.

Mummy.xx

At times
I wonder if You're true
Or if its just a waste of time
When I pray prayers to you.

At times
I wonder where You are
If you're ever truly listening
When I cry out from the heart.

At times
I'm sad and weak with doubt
And wonder, if I call for you,
If I'll still be left without.

But when I'm at my weakest
When no human hand can heal
I cry your name, I call for you,
And at the cross I kneel.

You're my saviour and redeemer
and You call me close to You
And on the strength of Grace alone
I know I am made new.

Jesus Is Alive - Easter!!!

For all the earth had trembled
The sun had hid it's face and
All the men that walked with Him
Had turned and run away
They crucified the Savior
And laid Him in a tomb
The life that once
Brought love and hope
Slipped away that afternoon
Satan gleamed with pleasure
That day at Calvary
For he thought he had won
A mighty victory
And like him all of the demons
Of hell began to cheer
O but little did they know
Their end was growing near


'Cause early Sunday morning
Just like Jesus said
He broke the curse
Of sin and death
And He rose up from the dead
Now we have a new beginning
And a kingdom that has no ending
Hallelujah, hallelujah


Hallelujah Jesus is alive
Death has lost its victory
And the grave has been denied
Jesus lives forever
He's alive He's alive




He's the Alpha and Omega
The first and last is He
The curse of sin is broken
And we have perfect liberty
The Lamb of God is risen
He's alive He's alive


He's the author and
The finisher of our faith
The stone they threw away
Is the cornerstone today
Death has no more vict'ry
And the grave has no more sting
Hallelujah, hallelujah


Wonderful, Counselor
A mighty God is He
The Everlasting Father
He's the precious Prince of Peace
He's the Word that lives forever
He's alive, He's alive


He's alive, He's alive!

Free to Serve

"Free to serve"... it's written on our shift board at work every day, and its only today that it struck me... I work in the retail industry, and every single day, I make myself free to serve. Free to serve customers.

But, am I doing what God asks, and truly being Free to Serve HIM, His people?

So often when it comes to service, we have some sort of excuse... we're too tired, too busy. Too many work commitments. Too many family commitments. We need to see our friends. We need to do homework... or just chill out.

But, where would we be right now, if God was "too busy" to serve us? Where would we be if Jesus had been "too tired" to minister to the weak, the poor, the hungry? If He had too many social commitments to give His life to forgive OUR sin? As God's children, should we not do the little thing he asks, and make ourselves free to serve? Shouldn't we serve willingly, not because we feel we HAVE to, but because its what we want to do, to please God, to thank Him?

At my church, we sing a beautiful song that says "You gave me these hands to serve You, to raise You up and lift Your name on high".

It's not hard to serve God. It's not a chore, and it brings so much joy.

Make yourself free to serve.

Prayer of Invitation

Feel me.
Search me.
Read my mind.
Understand me like no other can.
Come closer, touch me.
Melt me.
Mold me.
Fill my heart and soul with your wondrous love.
Repair me.
Stripped of all pretense and fear,
I lay my life open to you.
Use it to your full purpose and satisfaction.
Amen.

A Prayer of Praise

If I curled up,
Just went to sleep for a hundred days,
Never calling on you,
Never whispering your name
Would you miss me?

If I hid,
Just kept to the shadows,
Never signaling I was there,
Never giving you a sign,
Would you notice?

If I was silent,
Just ignoring all your calls,
Never answering your questions,
Never answering your cries,
Would you keep trying?

I tried curling up.
I tried hiding.
I tried to be silent.

You never stopped missing me,
Never stopped calling on me,
Never stopped looking for me.

Lord God, You never stopped loving me.
And You never will.