New Zealand

God is continuing to bless the Christian House Sitters web site with fabulous homes. Places where a Christian can enjoy a rent-free holiday.

The featured property this week is in Christchurch New Zealand.

The house is only 5 years old and it is a large sunny 3 bedroomed home, on a hillside in the very small community of Diamond Harbour on Banks Peninsula, overlooking the Port of Lyttelton. It is a 40 min drive from  Christchurch.

The main living area is upstairs along with a double and a single bedroom. Downstairs is rather like a self contained flat with a double bedroom, lounge room , and a shower room/toilet. There are very large windows which allow much sun into the house and offers marvellous views over the sea to the Port of Lyttelton.  There are many ships coming and going into the Port, so it’s great to be able to watch that movement, often aided by either the binoculars or the telescope. The trip to Christchurch city takes about 40 minutes either by car, winding round the harbour which is very picturesque, or the local ferry which runs hourly, taking approximately 7 minutes, and then connecting with the bus into the city.  

There are many native birds around here, including bellbirds and the large wood pigeons. Also there are some walking tracks in the area, and kayaking available in the next bay around the harbour called Purau.

The owner has one sandy coloured cat, who needs company, and this is actually the main reason for wanting a house sitter,although the owner is very happy to share her lovely place with others, and think a house is better lived in than shut up for a season.

Full details on the website

www.christian-housesitters.com

Still Growing

Although I have been less than faithful in maintaining this blog many of you have been very faithful in keeping in contact. Thank you. It is really encouraging to know that there are people all over the world praying for me and for Christian House Sitters.

The site is now becoming very well known. I am astounded when I look at where our visitors come from. When you have a moment visit the site and click on the link Where Visitors are From. This is updated on the site 3 or 4 times a week and shows visitors from almost every country.

Houses are still being added.  Some have pets to look after while others, such as the beautiful place in Granada Spain have no responsibilities other than looking after the home. We have just taken down our last featured house which was just outside London and replaced it with one near Christchurch in New Zealand.

It is exciting to see houses and sitters getting matched up.

Please continue to pray and to make this service known to your friends and church.

 Keep in touch,

God bless you,

Ray

www.christian-housesitters.com

Thankful

This was sent to me by a friend. Yes it is true I do have friends.

Through Jesus let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise. Hebrews 13:15

I am thankful:
for the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes
because it means she is at home,
not on the streets.

For the taxes I pay
because it means
I am employed.

For the mess to clean after a party
because it means I have
been surrounded by friends.

For the clothes that fit a little too snug
because it means
I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work
because it means
I am out in the sunshine

for a lawn that needs mowing,
windows that need cleaning,
and gutters that need fixing
because it means I have a home.

For all the complaining
I hear about the government
because it means
we have freedom of speech..

For the parking spot
I find at the far end of the parking lot
because it means I am capable of walking
and I have been blessed with transportation.

For my heating bill
because it means
I am warm.

For the lady behind me in church
who sings off key because it means
I can hear.

For the pile of laundry and ironing
because it means
I have clothes to wear.

For weariness and aching muscles
at the end of the day
because it means I have been
capable of working hard.

For the alarm clock that goes off
in the early morning hours
because it means I am alive.

And finally, for too much e-mail
because it means I have
friends who are thinking of me.
 

God bless you,

Ray

www.Christian-housesitters.com

Sorry

I have been neglecting my blog. Sorry.

Life has been rather hectic and somehow I just never seem to get around to writing in the blog. Do other bloggers have the same problem?

So why has life been hectic? Well in addition to running Christian House Sitters we also  own and run TLC Stress Management Services www.stress-help.co.uk

This is or should I say was a service to the business community and government organizations. Now that I am semi-retired my wife and I decided that it was time for things to change so we have completely redesigned TLC into a specifically Christian Stress Management Service offering help and training to churches, Ministries etc and a greatly reduced price. Less than 10% of what we previously charged.

This has taken up my time and so the blog was neglected.

However Christian House Sitters continues to go from strength to strength. Please continue to support us in prayer and ask your church to make our services known.

If you need more details just let me know.

God bless you,

Ray

www.christian-housesitters.com

My God Loves You

In my spare time, yes I do have a little spare time when I am not working on the Christian House Sitters website http://www.christian-housesitters.com , I belong to an online Christian Forum called Christian Forum Site. It is a great place to meet other Christians. Why not have a look yourself. You can reach it by clicking on this link.

http://www.christianforumsite.com/index.php?referrerid=1009

Anyway back to my point.

A couple of days ago while I was looking around the forum I discovered some poetry written by one of the members. His name is Tom Anderson and Tom has very kindly given me permission to reproduce it here. Thanks and God bless you Tom.

 My God Loves You

You may be a
Newborn Baby fair
With a wonderful smile
And silky hair

You may be facing
Certain death
You may be drawing
Your last breath

But there’s one thing that I know is true
My God loves you
My God loves you

He loves you in the morning
He loves you in the night
He loves you when you’re wrong
He loves you when you’re right
He loves you wherever you might be
He loves you from the moon
To the bottom of the sea

You may be brilliant
With a light to shine
You may be suffering
With a blinded mind
You may be treated so unkind
But my God loves you
My God loves you

You may have a family strong
Or the one you loved
May have said so-long
You could be drowning
In your own tears
You may be paralyzed
By your fears

But there’s one thing that I know is true
My God loves you
My God loves you

He loves you in the morning
He loves you in the night
He loves you when you’re wrong
He loves you when you’re right
He loves you wherever you might be
He loves you from the moon
To the bottom of the sea

Copyright 2007 Tom Anderson

Granada Spain

Once again it is a pleasure for me to highlight another wonderful property made available rent free for Christians to enjoy a holiday.

This week Christian House Sitters  features a home in

Granada Spain

Available 1st to 25th August

Also available for dates in December and February

Gardens of La Alhambra in Granada

Two bedroom Flat (apartment). Kitchen, livingroom, rooftop terrace with bbq. Close to three major bus lines into center of town (10 minutes by bus). 1 Queen size bed and 2 singles. 1bath.

Adorable fully furnished flat with dishwasher, dvd TV, washing machine, rooftop terrace, gas bbq, airconditioning and heat. 10 minutes away from center of town by bus.

Come see the Alhambra and charming downtown of Granada. 10 minutes away from the international Baptist Church (services in Spanish, but many English speakers attend) as well as 60 minutes driving away from the Mediterranean.. We are close to places like Nerja (1 hr 20 min) Malaga (1 hr 30) Sevilla (2 1/2 hrs) Cordoba (2 hrs). Come make Granada your base and enjoy the beach in the summer and the skiing in the winter (Sierra Nevada 45 min).

NO Pets just some plants to take care of! This is actually a three bed flat, but our third bedroom is our office and no room for any guests. We are media missionaries and work out of our home. We will answer any questions about the Alhambra, center, and any other questions. We have books that describe the area in depth to borrow as well.

Full details are available on our website www.christian-housesitters.com