Sydney Harbour Bridge - Australia

I was born at Paddington Royal Hospital for Women, in view of Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Sydney is the capitol of New South Wales, the state I grew up in.
I have always had a strong love for Sydney harbour and that wonderful iconic bridge that spans its waters.  

The Sydney Harbour Bridge crosses the harbour at its narrowest point between Dawes Point and Milsons Point.
It is a double-hinged, riveted steel arch bridge.
It has a reinforced concrete deck and reinforced concrete pylons.
On its completion in 1932, it was considered the essence of modern bridge design and engineering

creativity.

At different times of day, the bridge becomes almost magical.

Many enjoy to take the three and a half hour climb of the bridge for a great view of the harbour and city.

My daughter Femia and her husband David enjoyed their climb a few years ago. 

    "The earth belongs to the Lord, and everything in it -- 

      the world and all its people."

     Psalm 24:1

Share the Love and Pass it on.

I have been feeling dried out of late..
Why? I don't know, just aging I suppose..
I can't seem to think or concentrate for long..
Maybe I need a Sabbatical from life?

THEN... I received TWO blessings on Facebook and both stirred my spirit.
The first one was from a man who I don't know personally but who loves the Lord and continually rejoices in His love.
This man, Murriel sent me (and others) the loveliest surprise.

THEN...
I discovered a lovely message sent from my TN Crossroads Church.
It featured Pastor Stephen, his wife Latonia, son Corey and daughters Cara and Kaylen.
They shared from the church and from their hearts.

How my heart thrilled to hear this, and see those joyous faces..

God is so good.

NEXT,  I saw this photo on a friend Facebook page.. and I know I am so much more fortunate that this.

Or am I?

Love shared and Love given... that's what life is all about.

"I love you, God— you make me strong.
   God is bedrock under my feet,
      the castle in which I live,
      my rescuing knight."

Psalm 18:1

The Valley Rattler Steam Train Gympie Queensland

The Valley Rattler won't be running while its flooding.

Old Photos of days gone-by:

  
When the sunshines again..
There will be the thrill of the journey...

Colour Your World With Happiness

What do you do when you spoil  something?

When you feel it can't be fixed and should be thrown away.

I paint flowers over the problem....

This makes a change, it produces a new creation.

 Here's another problem.

All fixed and made ready to use again.

I used to love to paint... and what a difference some colour and effort can make.


Isn't this the same with life?
When things go wrong often we want to give up and hide away?
Yet there is nothing that can't be fixed...with a little love.

So many times I feel like throwing in the towel..
I have loads of excuses..
I'm getting too old.
I'm tired.
I can't be bothered.
Who cares anyway..
BUT...
Someone does, and His name is JESUS.

Jesus says to me: "Crystal I forgive you and I love you."
Place your name here, and read it again.
"................, I forgive you and I love you."
Doesn't that make you feel good!

Colour your world with happiness: 

Photo by my daughter Femia Shirtliff.

 LORD! 
Praise, O servants of the LORD, 

Praise the name of the LORD! 

Blessed be the name of the LORD From this time forth and forevermore! 

From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD's name is to be praised.

The LORD is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens.

Australian Son. John Farnham - Burn For You

Going to live in the USA from my own country, Australia I was home sick.
Some of the things I missed besides my family were:

1. Vegemite, a spread you eat on bread.

2. The eucalyptus trees and smell.

3. Meat pies.

4. Our wild beaches.

5. AND.....Hearing John Farnham on the radio.
So I am sharing him here with you now...

Johnny began singing at fifteen years old.
He is sixty two and still going strong..

A Christian

What makes a Christian?
The other day I was startled to see someone state, that belonging to their particular religion, made them the perfect Christian..
Needless to say there were many comments.
And you can imagine, I also had mine.

At times like this I try not to get angry..
As what would that say about me?

However, I do point out something I discovered many years ago..
That the very first Christian church was called the Sect of the Nazarene..
 Acts 24:5, 24:14 and 28:22.

Amazingly, Peter was not called the leader of this sect, or church, but Paul was.
They had no church building as such but met in homes.
Was this a fore taste of how the church should be?
To me, this spells humble.
Yet, they all stood firm on the salvation of Jesus Christ.

Speaking for myself, I rarely answer to a particular denomination, although I do worship in one.
I prefer to be, a part of the Body of Christ.
To me this encompasses, many Christian denomination believing in Father, Son and Holy Spirit.


On the cross...Jesus put to death the hostility between Jew and Gentile...
Ephesians 2:15-16
Surely He would want us to love each other..
After all, He loved us enough to die for us..
Shouldn't we then, love one another??

   Daughter Daniella with my grandson Izaiah.   Love conquers all.

Sunshine and Happiness

I cannot imagine the world without the sun shining.
Today it came out in full force and we rejoiced.
For days it has rained and rained...
Occasionally there was some reprieve, and the sun would peek through..
But then the rain came pouring down once more.
On the side of town where we live, we are safe from the floods.
SO it was a shock to hear the other side of town was flooding again..
NOT AGAIN!!
On Saturday I went to the shops and purchased milk, bread and eggs..
Little did I realise that some people would soon be panicking for these items.
Yes, our main highway in and out of town was underwater.
The two bridges leading to the other side of town, our church and my son's were flooded.
Water was some 16 meters (53ft) above the water line.
Here are some pictures.

And the road tore up in the next town..
Flash flooding caught many unaware.
Thankfully no one drove onto this is the dark.

NOW, the sun is shining again,  and its time to clean up the mess.