Birthday Blog

Young me!

Happy Birthday to me. Wow, it's a while since 1961, and so far it's been amazing, surprising and at times a dark and challenging journey. I'm glad to report that I am happier than I have ever been today thanks to the fact that I will soon be celebrating (on September 25th) 10 years since I was 'born again'. I have a brand of happiness deep within that comes from God. It's so different from the party high happiness of my teenage days and into my thirties where I was up and down like a rollercoaster and my state of mind was dependent on external things. With God - He is the same everyday, His Holy Spirit lives in me, and my value is a given through Him. .. 'the joy of the Lord is our strength' Nehemiah 8:10

At the moment I am enjoying 'scoping' (broadcasting from a mobile phone), and my account is www.periscope.tv/vivianwade Through scoping I have connected with an awesome group called Perisisters in Christ. www.perisistersinchrist.com . The group has been going a couple of months, one of the founding perisisters is Kim Cash Tate www.kimcashtate.com. Kim scopes every weekday in the morning (in the US) - I listen at 3pm here - and it's a wonderful bible class - in scoping world a #devoscope. We have themes and this week's has been 'pursuit'. Up to now we've had seasons, courage, soldier. Each week's theme has really spoken to me and I have a real sense of growing in God.

As we have been thinking about 'pursuit' I have had a revelation about what pursuing God diligently and earnestly actually means. In the world - one I very much grew up in - all about achieving and striving ( I went to Cambridge University - and there were expectations....) the word pursuit, the act of pursuing, at first made me think of running about chasing after something. Quite often like the proverbial headless chicken. Also, because of my bipolar diagnosis - it's not hard for me to build up steam running about firing on all cylinders. But, and it's a big BUT, God has revealed to me this week, that 'pursuing' Him, the one who is in me, is about settling down, getting quiet and being with Him. Psalm 46:10 'Be still,and know that I am God' and 1Kings 19:11-12..those beautiful verses about hearing from God through a 'still, small voice'.

At the beginning of the week I was thinking about pursuit and about pursuing God - and His purpose for my life. As I was taking one of my regular prayer walks with our little dog Pete, I looked at the trees swaying effortlessly in the breeze. I reflected on how the natural world lives out its purpose - knowing what to do and when to do it. I know that's how God wants us to live - easily - yoked to Him, in obedience to Him, and He'll lead us and direct our steps. It's a blessed relief to stop striving, to let go and let God. My prayer is to walk with Him in the way Jesus puts it in Matthew 11:28-30 '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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'

All these beautiful pictures were taken by my 14 year old son Dylan