This made me laugh:

“An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets, the more interested he is in her.” – Coffee News 25. 4. 2011

You cannot miss the ad in the local paper (The Northland Age, Thursday, April, 28, 2011) which says in big print:

“New

Blood

wanted”

and

“SAVE LIVES

GIVE BLOOD”

Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood,…”

“If you want to get up, step down;

if you want to be seen, get out of sight;

if you want to live the ‘more abundant life’, die to self.”

“I like walking in the rain cause no one knows I’m crying.”

“Women’s Refuge” says the advertisement in the paper today.  ( The Northland Age, Thursday, April, 28, 2011) There are “Safe Houses for Unsafe Homes.”

Storms in the Homes!

It did not take me long to find the hymn with the title “A Shelter in the Time of  Storm.” ( Vernon J. Charlesworth from Psalm 94:22, ed Ira D. Sankey)

But not only women in unsafe homes need a refuge where they can hide from the storms of life. All of us need a refuge.

I am glad that I can say that the living God is my refuge. I say with David “….; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” (Psalm 18:2)

There is the storm of doubt.  Luke 24:38; Romans 14:23; James 1:6.

There is the storm of fear. Isaiah 43:1

There is the storm of anxiety. Philippians 4:6

There is the storm of loneliness. Matthew 28:20

There is the storm of despair. Second Corinthians 4:8

And finally ther is the storm of  DEATH. John 11:25,26

FRANCISCAN BENEDICTION

“May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with  anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with  tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world so that you can do what others claim cannot be done: to bring kindness and justice to all our children and the poor.”

I have been told that GIRL GUIDES  is not a spiritual organization.

That’s why I am so glad that GIRL GUIDES is included in the Ministry of the NEW LYNN ( Auckland / NZ)  Salvation Army! (New Lynn Corps)

“Take care of our children. Take care of what they hear. Take care of what they see and take care of what they feel.

For how the children grow so shall be the shape of Aotearoa.” – Dame Whina Cooper

What did the disciples do to those who brought the little children  to Jesus?

The disciples rebuked them!

What did the Lord Jesus Christ do?

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'”

He placed his hands on the children.

Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17.