Monday, July 30, 2012

"What was he wearing?"

A couple of weeks ago we went to the "Katherine Show"--rodeo/stock show, and had a bit more excitement than we were anticipating.

There were SO MANY PEOPLE at the fairgrounds, and booths of various games and rides and everything else that goes with the fair.  The line to get in was about 1 city block long.  For those of you in CO, it resembled the line at 6 pm at Casa Bonita.  Praise the Lord Cheri bought our tickets online! :)

We went to several exhibits as a family, including a horse jumping show and polo crosse game.  It was cool to see those guys in action on their horses!  The whole time we were watching the show, the kids were asking to go to the ferris wheel.  So, after a few shows, we headed over that direction.  Unfortunately, it was closed for repairs.

As we were walking away, it occurred to us that we didn't hear Cam, so we started looking around--casually at first(at a quick pace) and then the panic which every parent feels started to kick in after about 5 minutes of searching, and seeing a TON of children and adults, but no Cameron!

By God's grace, a police officer was walking past us at that very moment, and we told him what our situation was.  For some reason, when I woke up that morning, and Cam was getting dressed, I thought, "Memorize what he's wearing."  I didn't think of it again until...  I described Cameron to him, what he was wearing, etc. and he told me he would radio the other policemen in the fairgrounds to start looking for him.  In the meantime, I started walking up and down the rows of booths and looking at the hundreds of kids/adults everywhere.

As I walked I prayed, "Lord, please let me find him!  Please let him be safe.  Please watch over and protect him."  Thoughts were going through my mind, horrible 'what if's'..."Where could he be?  What if someone has kidnapped him?" and all the worse thoughts of what might happen...  My pace quickened and my prayers were as fervent as ever, looking and praying, looking and praying.

After about 15 minutes of searching, by God's grace I saw Cameron hiding behind one of the stalls, just barely out of regular view.  He was standing there crying,  poor boy.  When I reached him I said, "CAMERON MULLET!"  and scooped him up, and hugged him tight.

"I couldn't find you!" he sobbed.  Praise the Lord I found him.

Sitting back from the whole situation, I thought, "Isn't that just like us and God?"  I think it is.  When we go astray and can't seem to find Him, I believe He is actively seeking us out and will not give up until his lost son or daughter is found.  He loves people just like I love Cameron; and I know his heart shouts for joy when we turn and find him--just like my heart shouted for joy when I found my precious little boy.

Check out Luke 15. (the whole chapter!)

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."  Luke 15:7  

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Not there yet...

It's hard for me to believe my oldest daughter is already 7 years old.  It seems like only yesterday she was born, and in seven years so much has happened in her life:  She's moved over 12 times, had open heart surgery, learned to ride a bike, ...  Before I know it, she'll be driving.  --But I don't want to think about that right now.  :)

It's odd, because it seems like just yesterday I was saying, "I wish I was seven!  Second graders are so old!"  Time really goes by quickly.  My life will be coming to a close before I know it, and when I look  back I hope to have lived a life that is pleasing to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Something I've been thinking about a lot has been my lack of ability to "live right" and truly follow Christ.  I feel truly inadequate, desperately sinful and hypocritical.  I understand it's a journey, and God is daily working on me and making me into the person I am created to be, but I seem to throw a bunch of "spanners in the works". (Aussie for "mess things up"...)

I want my life to be a blessing to my Lord, and to the people I interact with.  I want to practice what the Bible says, not just say what the Bible says.  I don't want to look into the Mirror, and then walk away and forget what I look like.(Check out James.)  When it comes to the final day of judgement, I know I will not be able to hold my head high.  Christ is my righteousness.  Apart from him, I am nothing.   With his help, I can do the impossible; whatever the "impossible" is.  "With God, all things are possible."  He who began a good work in me will be faithful to bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

So, what can I do?  Simply cling to him, trust him, and take it a day at a time--because before I know it my days will be finished.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Who needs a gun...

...When you've got a Cruiser?

I was asked by my "brother" to give a ride to him and his family from Barunga to a neighbouring community.  It was dark out, and the community was about a half an hour down the road.
  Driving in the evening/twilight time in the Northern Territory is not always a good idea.  It's during that time, and during the night, when the wallabies and kangaroos come out of the bush to eat, and sit by the road.  However, since I have driven many times at night here, I was okay with it.
  On my way home from the community, a kangaroo jumped out of the bush, and smacked the side of the Cruiser.  It wasn't a large kangaroo, so there wasn't damage to the car, but my thought was, "I wonder if I killed it?"  So, I hopped out, and there it lay, "finished".  I thought about just driving away and forgetting about it, but then I remember how many times indigenous friends from up here have said, "We hit a kangaroo, and so we chucked it onto the roof, took it home and cooked it up!"  The kangaroo wasn't mangled, just "finished".  So, I chucked it onto our roof, and drove the 15 remaining minutes back to Barunga.
  As I was driving past my "Nana's" camp, I told them what had happened, and asked if they wanted the kangaroo.  They told me yes, and thank you!
  We unexpectedly ran out of bread today so I drove over to the shop to pick up some more, but it was closed.  I was about to drive home and simply tell Cheri I had no bread, but then I thought of Nana Jocelyn.

I went over to her house, and she asked me what I had come for.  I explained that we ran out of  bread, and asked if she had any.  She came back with 2 loaves of bread!  She also told me that they had cut up the kangaroo, and were going to cook it today or tomorrow.
  We are deepening our relationships with folks.  When I asked for the bread, and she gave it, she said, "I know I can ask you for things too."