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Showing posts from November, 2009

About Me

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Janine Claire Robinson
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Welcome to my little writing corner. I count my many blessings to be a cherished wife and an ever-learning-loving-growing mother to 3 amazing children this side of Heaven and a precious little boy in Heaven. Together as a family we pastor a precious church community called Redeeming Hope Church. I've had the privilege of loving and following Jesus Christ since my earliest memories as a child. No matter what I've gone through in life, He has always been so present. At heart, I'm an encourager ... so this is a place where I get to wear my heart on my sleeve and share my journey of learning to live a life of love in action.

Contemplating His open arms

I've mentioned before that my hubby and I facilitate engaged couples courses - I just love it!! The privilege of walking with couples at such an exciting time in their lives. So often I sense the Father's smile as He watches the celebration of love between these precious couples. It makes me glimpse just how much God loves to lavish His love on us. When I see how "love struck" some of the couples are - how they can see no fault in each other ... I am challenged anew with the strength of God's love that blots out our transgressions when we repent and looks at us with with an everlasting, all embracing love.  His love is so refreshing ... always drawing us close with open arms. May you sense His drawing love today and be encouraged by His promise of a new start every day. "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins." Isaiah 43:25 "I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your trangressions, A

Counting my Blessings ... "One ... two ... three ..."

The role of motherhood is not always glamorous nor easy. I choose to live my life as an open book and the honest truth is that this week I haven't exactly been practicing too much thankfulness - naughty I know, in light of the whole "Thanksgiving" reminders from my American friends. I guess, sometimes I get so wrapped up in trying to survive the roller coaster ride of parenthood that when the day finally comes to an end and I see how short I fall, because, let's face it ... kids know how to expose the downright u-g-l-y in us at times ;) ... I wonder when I am ever going to get it all right?! I even contemplated trying to come up with a new blog name ... I mean "love in action" is hard to keep practicing when you have a strong willed child who just HAS TO test every last one of your boundaries and parenting pointers.  An illustration for you ... I decided to teach my girls about the whole Thanksgiving tradition in the US. My mom has been living in VA for the

Oh how He loves us ...

I read a post today that reminded me just how much attention to detail God pays to each of us. Sometimes in our everyday journeys through this adventure of life we forget to look out for His little reminders of love. For one friend ... it was a surprise present in the post on her first birthday without her mom. For another friend this week it was the miraculous way that God confirmed His will in their adoption and was able to draw away all her fears with His perfect love. For someone close to my heart it is the precious new love that God has finally crossed her path with ... and for me, it was having tea with a new friend who God has drawn out of witchcraft and into His glorious light and freedom. Just seeing the peace in my new friend has refreshed my heart at knowing how dearly God loves us and how He longs for our freedom and abundant life. I am going to be much more aware of His little "love messages" to me this week ... Click the link below to hear my most favorite son

Moments of Sheer Delight

I had one of those days ... you know those ones when nothing seems to cheer you up?! I have had my neck in a brace with such a sore neck for days. The Chiropractor has tried to click it into place, the physio has tried to manipulate it, they've x-rayed it and all I can see is my "Christmas budget" flying out the window while the bills pile up and they just can't work out why the heck it is so sore. Anyway ... after gulping back the payment for the x-rays that revealed NOTHING ... I just kinda sat back and had a good old sulk ... and then I bumped into the loveliest little blog that brought a smile to my face ... it's called "Sweet tea and biscuits" . Well it did the trick for me. It inspired me to take my stiff-sore neck off into the kitchen and whip up a yummy batch of comfort peanut butter-choc-chip cookies. Sigh!!! Nothing beats the smell of cookies baking in the oven. In no time I could feel the edges of my mouth tip up into a little tentative smile

A fresh new look

After yesterday's post about adding some "freshness" into my days ... I decided to freshen up my blog page. This is one of the many things that I love about being a woman ... we can do "pretty" on all that we touch ;) I am just loving the colour green at the moment! It is just so fresh and alive ... the colour of life!!

Rise and Shine

Oh my goodness ... 3 months since I last posted??? What's up with this crazy pace of life?! Thank goodness that here in South Africa we are in the last school term and it is almost holiday time!!! 1 more month. Yippeee!! I must admit that I had quite a grumpy day yesterday. Maybe it's just that end-of-year, worn out feeling. All the routine of keeping everything together with the kids and family. But I woke up to a glorious day today - so full of sunshine and so fresh. As a wife of 12 years and mother of 2 for the last 8 years ... I recon there is a lesson in there for me. It must be possible for me (a not-so-friendly morning person) to wake up and bring sunshine and "fresh air" to those around me. How do we keep things "fresh" in our relationships? I hear His quiet voice saying to me ... "Start by receiving the refreshing breeze of My love washing over you.". I feel it in the cool breeze that touches my face. I see it in the way the light makes ev