Joy comes in the morning.

How beautiful is this photo? I can't stop looking at it. I love the colours! It just releases joy doesn't it?! Cheerful pink flowers standing proudly to attention against the beautiful teal green backdrop, the Summer sun beaming down as petalled beauties wave peacefully in the breeze. And look at this little guy below... how stunning! 

This is a day of celebration. A day of NEW beginnings..

Weeping may last for the night, but there is a song of JOY in the morning. :)

Today is your opportunity to pick up a black slate, start afresh and begin a new season. :)
It's time to RUN!

Joy is yours today, so take it. And have a beautiful day!!

nat x

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Sing a NEW song.

All birds do is fly and sing. They sing, and they fly. What a fabulous life don't you think? What do you do with yourself? "Oh, I sing and fly!" I've had a bible verse buzzing around in my head the last few days....

"Awake, harp and lyre! 
I will awaken the dawn with my song!"

Something happens when we sing.
A new day dawns as we open our mouths and let the song come out. :)

Today is a NEW day. There is a new song in you.. and no one else can sing it. So let me encourage you, whatever your circumstance, let the song come out of you today.
Because as you sing, new things are awakened in you and joy is released!

Shout for JOY to the LORD, all the earth!

Burst into jubilant song with music!

Through our song we find peace. Through our song we find rest. So let us sing out today.. just like we did when we were little.. with no hindrances, no intimidation and no fear.

Have a happy happy Wednesday my friend!

nat x

Images - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 

Kill fear with faith.

I don't know about you, but I am getting a little sick of fear. That little tiny (annoying) voice that comes in (usually when you are doing the very thing that you have been called to do) and tries to convince you that you can't do it. Sorry.....

We can do ALL things. Fear is just a stupid lie that tries to exalt itself over everything else and convince us we can't do it. But we can. Fear is a liar and we must learn to kill it as soon as it appears. 

This can be a challenge at first, however we simply must accustom ourselves to 1) recognising it when it tries to come in and 2) ridding ourselves of it by standing against it and doing the thing anyway.

We all want to be fearless. Fearlessness is within us! It's natural, we were born with it. Fear, however, is a learned response. So we must unlearn it. How? God will help us. But when answering our prayers, he doesn't give us the whole oak tree at once, he gives us the seed, and we have to plant it. 

So to deal with our fear once and for all, we must face it and kill it... with faith. Today, what do you need to do to face your fear? 

So don't worry...... :)

Whatever you are facing, whatever challenge is staring you in the face, wanting you to give in, let us say SORRY! You picked the wronnnng person! And just do it anyway. :) Today we say NO to fear, and I release faith and peace. Today is your day!

Bless you guys and have an AWESOME Tuesday! :)

nat x

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Thankfulness releases joy.

Close your eyes for five seconds. Go on. Count to five with your eyes closed and notice the darkness.......... Pretty dark isn't it? I do that sometimes when I am outside, and imagine what it would be like to not be able to see. No colours, no sky, no grass, no people. And pretty quick smart I am snapped out of whatever "mood" I might be in, and immediately awakened to the reality of the many extravagant blessings I hold. 

Over the past few days I've been reflecting on thankfulness. It really is one of the fastest ways I know to release joy. It's such a simple thing to do, but yet when we find ourselves in a dark place, it's often the last thing we think of doing. :)

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances. 

Have you been thankful for your home today?

What about the food in your pantry? 

Or the use of your fingers? Or your legs?

Or the abundance of water running out of the tap when you simply turn the tap? 

Think about your family, where you would be without them? 

If you have a car, imagine being without it and how you'd get by?

If you catch the train, aren't you glad you don't have to walk?  

Are you thankful for your job? Think of the challenges you'd face if you lost it today? 

And think about the friends you can talk to over the phone because you have your hearing? 

~

These are some of the things we take for granted, but I guarantee that there are millions of people who would swap their circumstances in a heartbeat for some of the things we don't even think about. :) 

The funny thing is I actually wrote this blog on Tuesday night but I couldn't post it as my internet wasn't working. Then yesterday (Wednesday) morning I parked my car and saw an sweet elderly gentleman with a stick walking towards me with his little pomeranian dog on the lead. I said hello as he came near me and he stopped and smiled, looking in my direction. He apologised for not being able to see me, telling me he was almost fully blind, and could only see light and shadows. I felt immediately felt the heart of God for this beautiful man. We had a lovely chat for about 15 minutes after which I prayed for him. After leaving him to finish his walk I felt the weight of realisation hit me - this beautiful man is out walking and making the most of life, even though he can't see. I need to look around and recognise the many blessings that surround me in each moment. I have nothing to complain about. And everything to be thankful for.

Bless you heaps. :) nat x

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There's so much MORE.

My first word wasn't mum. Or Dad. It was MORE. Yes, yes, granted it was generally based on food....ha ha. However, I believe that first declaration out of my mouth was more than just a random word. I think it was prophetic.

The definition of more: to have something in greater quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number.

The definition of thirst: to have a strong desire or craving for something,
(and you're willing to do anything to get it).

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
 I thirst for God, the living God.

Look at this guy. He has decided what he wants and he has gone after it! Do you ever have that feeling when you're just not satisfied? It's like, what you currently have is good, even great, but you just know there is so much MORE?! 

As frustrating as that feeling of dissatisfaction is, it's a good thing! It pushes us to step out and reach for more. It forces us out of our comfort zone and into the unknown. And it brings us to that place of absolute desperation, that "I-seriously-can't-take-another-day-living-on-this-level-I-just-need-more" hunger.

Look! And be utterly amazed! For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if someone told you about it! Hab 1:5

I believe this is our season! A new chapter. Chapter 2. God has sooo much more for us, we just have to ask, step out and receive it!

Have an awesome day friends! :)

nat x

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Ever faithful.

God answered one of my prayers yesterday. If the days and months, and all the moments of faithful prayer and petition on my behalf, was the sowing of the seed.. then yesterday was definitely a great harvest. :)

Whatever you are believing for at the moment.. HE has got it sorted! Trust me. His timing is perfect and His plan for your life is the best. Even better than you imagine.

So let us be encouraged today. Anything can happen. 

His mercies are FRESH and NEW today!

So today I am thankful. Our God is ever faithful! He never leaves us or forsakes us. He's always listening. The moment our prayers reach His ears He begins to act. Let me encourage you to stir our faith today, because this is the beginning of an incredible week! What are you thankful for?

  Happy Monday! 

nat x

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5 Minute Vacation :: Seychelles.

Ok lovelies.. today we are off to Seychelles. Have you heard of it? (It's officially République des Seychelles), a stunning island country comprising of 115 islands located north-east of Madagascar near the east coast of Africa.  

How would you like to stay in one of these luxurious villas at  Banyan Tree Resort?

You'll have your own private villa complete with private pool, stunning scenery and everything you could imagine.

Then you'll hit the beach. Isn't there just something about the beach that brings such peace to the soul. Beautiful.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you REST.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find
REST for your souls.

So, even though most of us are unable to have a "tropical holiday" this weekend, we are still able to enter that place of REST.

Rest is a free gift, we can access it at anytime. So let us seek out the rest and peace that is freely and readily available to us today. :)

Have a beautiful weekend everyone!

nat x

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Perseverance.

Perseverance is defined as a steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. It's a tenacious, unshakable, not-letting-go determination deep inside that says, despite what the natural circumstances might be screaming at me - I WILL NOT GIVE UP.

We know that suffering produces perseverance... 

And perseverance produces character... 

And character produces hope...

And hope does not disappoint.

I pray right now that whatever you are facing in life, that HOPE arises within you. And as you read these words that you would know the hope to which you are called. :)

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. :)

We have a great and precious promise. And as we persistently, resolutely and unwaveringly hold on to this we will surely see it come to pass! Let me encourage you today. You are making progress. You are taking ground. At times it may seem like you have been climbing forever and the mountain is getting bigger, but make sure you keep turning around as you're climbing.. to see just how far you have come. ;)

Have a wonderful day!

nat x

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5 ways to brighten someone's day :-)

Someone really encouraged me last night, and let me tell you it was such a blessing. I love inspiring and encouraging others, but last night I realised that it is also a wonderful honour to be encouraged yourself. Here are some cute ways you can make a BIG impact in someone else's life today.

1. Buy or make someone a cute little gift for no reason. Wrap it yourself with brown paper, doilies and beautiful ribbon.

2. Cut some fresh pastel flowers and place them a jar on your colleague's desk

3. Buy a friend their favourite mag, make them a tea or coffee and send them
off for a ten minute break. :)

4.  Handmake a card and fill it to the brim with pretty words that will encourage and inspire.

5. Write an old fashioned letter and seal it up with twine or ribbon just for the fun of it!

So today YOU have this wonderful opportunity to brighten someone's day. Your task today (if you shall accept it) is to encourage at least one person (if not 2 or 3) in one of these ways. And, the best thing is, it doesn't matter what we may be going through at the moment, we are always in a position to sow a seed of encouragement.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Have a great day!

nat x

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