Gecko Goodness

Isn't this just incredible? This "Satanic leaf-tailed gecko" was found camouflaging itself in a national park in Madagascar. It was hidden so well that when I first saw the photo, it took me a few moments to realise what I was actually looking at.

Depsite it's devilish name, I think the following Bible verse sums up this photo just brilliantly. 

"For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." - Romans 1:20 ESV

God's creation at times just leaves me speechless.

Flooding gone wild

 It's been a crazy couple of days of rain, rain, and wait for it... more rain!
This is the road up to Mum and Dads. Yup! They were trapped in.

 Ben and I went for a drive up to Primrose Hill yesterday which happened to be where everybody was last night. Notice the bridge in the centre of the picture. Flooded road after it. They closed it off.

 This is out in the Karangahake Gorge which they also closed off and is still closed off.

 And this is why. There have been slips and water right over the road in some places which have resulted in some people getting stuck out there.

We live on a hill so we've upgraded to some nice water views at our place but thankfully the rain has eased off in Paeroa and the rivers are calming down some now too. Crazy days.

Grace, at it's finest.

Ben, Steph and I watched The boy in the striped pajamas a few weeks ago and I found that it was one of those movies that at the end, you just sit there, staring at the wall in silence, and taking in what you just saw. I was appauled at the level that the Nazi's went to kill the Jews and without even realising, killed the commandants son along with them. Discrimination. Hate.

On the flip side, Ben and I watched the Passion of the Christ on Sunday night and I found that although, it was likewise, one of those movies that at the end, you just sit there, staring at the wall in silence, and taking in what you just saw, in this case, I was just dumbfounded by the grace of God. Yes! Even though I've known this for many many years now, it was great to be reminded of the level of pain that Christ undertook for me. We stand in the grace of God!  Joy. Love.

Romans 5:1-2 "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we  rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Although the Passion seemed to be highly Catholic based by having Mary just holy at Christ, the movie still really struck me. Jesus knew that what he was doing was the Father's will and he did it with joy (Hebrews 12:2) and completely submitting to the Father. Even though God the Father poured out His wrath on Christ, he didn't lose hope in his Father altogether as he suffered divine judgment for the sins of his people.  He stood in my place. That pain, that anquish, and being forsaken by God, was meant to be mine. He took on himself the curse that lay upon me.

Galatians 3:13 - "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"

Isaiah 53:5 - "But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed."

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
 
Why oh why, Lord!? 
Needless to say, His grace is sufficient for me! :) Hallelujah! Glory to God!


  “Grace, then, is grace,–that is to say, it is sovereign, it is free, it is sure, it is unconditional, and it is everlasting.” ~ Alexander Whyte

Something much greater.

It was one year ago today that I set foot in the US of A to meet up with my now, beloved husband. Wow, how time flies.

Ben and I were reminiscing a few nights ago about our numerous airport/train station moments after what seemed like eternities apart, yet they were only ranging between 1 week and 7 months - far from anything eternal. Still to this day though, we've spent more time apart in our relationship than together, but hopefully in the months ahead, that will reverse.

However, that time apart changed and challenged our relationship for the better. We couldn't cuddle on the couch watching movies, we couldn't play tennis, and we couldn't even take a walk on the beach together. Instead, we talked on skype, talked on the phone and wrote letters, more letters and even more letters. We were forced to talk, to communicate, to get down to the nitty gritty deep issues and put our relationship in the right place, with God and without the physicality getting in the way. It was communication or nothing, but it was an excellent way to start our relationship and we've most definitely continued to develop what we learnt through that time.

In some ways, we felt distant (no pun intended) and at times, it put a strain on our relationship. But what relationship doesn't have it's struggles anyway? They either make you or break you. In this instance, it made us. We had to be disciplined to set time aside to chat even during our busy schedules and even during those times when we didn't really want to talk to anybody. But when we didn't, we found ourselves slowly growing apart. Our relationship at that stage was soley based on communication while at the same time, we earnestly desired to be in each others arms again and being with each other face-to-face developing out relationship into something much greater; marriage.

I remember the day after we got engaged, Ben compared a long distance relationship to that of the Christian and God. Jesus is no longer walking on this earth with us and it takes a unusual commitment to pursue a relationship when you physically can't spend time with somebody. Our relationship with Jesus is likewise based on communication; prayer (phone/skype conversations) and the word of God (love letters). When we don't communicate with Him, we also found ourselves slowly drifting away, and our relationship becoming more and more distant by the day. We likewise long to be face-to-face with God one day soon and also developing our relationship into something much greater; marriage.

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." - Ephesians 5:31-32 ESV

Wedding Bands

This past weekend, Ben & I headed to the beach (yup, in the middle of winter - it was a nice day okay!), had a picnic and took some photos of our wedding bands. Was such a blast and he gave me a few tips in photography.  It was a lot of fun seeing the people out for a stroll taking a nosy at what we were doing. Got all sorts of funny comments and looks. These were a couple of my favourites that we took