there are moments in this sunshine

when I’m lying next to you in a hammock

and listening to beautiful music

and my heart just leaps into praise

He is so good to us

you are such an undeserved blessing

Valentine’s Day

You said to meet you at 5pm, at Circular Quay. I didn’t want to be late but I wasn’t feeling the best that day, so I didn’t get much of a chance to get ready really. So I sat on the train, nervously, excitedly, nibbling on a piece of ginger to keep the dizziness at bay. I got there before you did and as I waited for you, I watched as men of all sorts were running around with blooms for their loved ones. One lady ran after another girl who’d dropped a card from her Valentine. It made me smile. You know I’ve always liked Valentine’s Day. I’ve looked past the Hallmark and the tacky, and you know how I like to make little gifts (this year it was Oreo truffle kisses, complete with sweet little messages). I guess I genuinely enjoy romance because it’s such a beautiful gift from God. You showed up and walked down the stairs with a big bunch of roses and these beautiful tiny little purple flowers. I noticed it was wrapped in brown paper. You know how I love brown paper, and how much more I like it compared to that plastic wrapping. I got so excited that you’d asked the florist for brown paper - and that’s when you revealed that the florist didn’t have anything really other than the plastic love heart wrapping underneath the brown paper, and that you’d run to the nearest newsagent for the kraft wrapping to put a smile on my face. You bought us some ferry tickets and I had no idea where we were going. But as we enjoyed the surprise of the sun on the water, our hearts grew increasingly warm with joy and thanksgiving to the LORD. How wonderful He is to give us such sweetness. You pointed out all the sights - Cockatoo Island, Anzac Bridge, St Leonard’s Station - and we pulled up in Woolwich. I have no idea where that is (I still don’t..somewhere on the Parramatta River?) but you surprised me when I found your 1985 Skyline parked. You let me in on the secret - the night before you’d left dinner at my house early, so that you and your friend could park the car here in preparation for our night out. You drove us to Cucinetta, a beautiful Italian restaurant overlooking the lake. The waiter looked at my big bouquet and laughed as he pointed to the single rose on the table, “What do we do with these? I guess you don’t need that one after all!” and offered us a vase. There was an acoustic guitarist and we laughed because he was so much better than the hilariously loud music (LOVE IS IN THE AIIIIIR) we’d enjoyed on previous dates. He played wonderful covers of my favourite songs - Eric Clapton’s Wonderful Tonight and a lovely chilled out version of Bruno’s Just The Way You Are - and we got to pick our meals. You were unfortunately allergic to all four entrees on the Valentine’s Day menu but they whipped up an alternative to the zucchini flowers that you could eat. We were so happy. So happy. I couldn’t stop smiling and you couldn’t stop smiling because I couldn’t stop smiling. You slid a Valentine across the table. I hope this is our most special Valentine’s Day yet! And it was. It really was. You made me close my eyes and you placed a little love heart button for my button collection that you’d bought for me on holiday in Nepal, because you’d been thinking of me. We sat outside the restaurant and watched the sun set. It was a clear night but there were still a few clouds and we picked out the shapes (a little turtle, a little dragon with a big chubby tail, Australia with a lopsided Tasmania). We went for a walk but it was too dark and a bat made me jump! Still, I felt safe with you. We sat in the Skyline and for a while sang our favourite hymns in harmony, practising so you would get used to not being distracted by my voice so we could sing harmonies more often. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee - how great Thou art, how great Thou art! And you drove us to our spot in Balmain, where the city lights shine in the harbour, and we went for a little walk. And there, you gave me the most beautiful necklace and told me I’d captured your heart.

You’ve captured mine. There is no-one I’d rather have by my side in this race.

Friday is our two year anniversary

And I have to say, my heart overflows with praise right now.

God, You are so good.

wonderful things we have done this weekend

• done the chicken dance with your grandma
• eaten dessert in front of a fire in a beautiful Italian restaurant
• smiled at pretty city lights near the harbour
• wrestled with predestination
• sang christmas carols with your brother
• celebrated my new ability to blow bubbles when chewing hubba bubba gum

foolishness to those who are perishing

Preach the gospel, not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

The cross is crazy.

The cross doesn’t make sense.

The cross is the beautiful collision of justice & mercy in a way our minds can never comprehend.

In Christ we see His faithfulness; His willingness to keep every promise of the Old Testament - all the promises of His dwelling with His people, all the promises of having the crimson stain of sin washed as white as snow - despite the cost.

The cross is where the King of kings embraced shame, punishment, and the scorn of others for our sake. The cross is where the Lord of lords looked at this mess that we’d made,  and still looked at us in love.

The cross of Christ is ridiculous. The cross of Christ is foolishness to those who are perishing.

And let it be so. He loves us so much, in a way that can never be articulated. Your words can never capture what happened at Calvary. You cannot win people over with words. Don’t ever play down the simply crazy nature of His love at the cross. I pray that the mystery of His love will hit your heart in a way words never can.

Amazing love, how can it be that You my King should die for me?

you, only you

I really am so madly in love with you. I wish I could express it in words; I wish I could describe the warmth in my heart, that it could be captured in orthography. My heart overflows with thanks tonight. It was late, but we still managed to cook up a storm. And as we laughed and ran faster for the prize together, I looked at you and realised that I respect you more today than I ever have before. Your heart was beating for the LORD and in that moment I realised why my hand fits so perfectly in yours. May He continue to guide us and grow us, and as we find our purpose daily in Him, may we learn to love Him and each other more.