hey world
looks like we are all recovering from a full on weekend! This morning I was so tired that in my head I was thinking of excuses not to get out of bed...but none of them seemed good enough to run by the LORD :)
My man was so cool this morning. He dropped me off and as he drove away I was overwhelmed with missing him and wanted to run after the car and hug him. Within half an hour I received a text from him, normally i turn my phone off straight away, but today I forgot. I went for a quick toilet break and read - i love you, stay awake. aaahhhh
The LORD is so cool, he must have known i desperately needed that.
I survived the day...but I am having to seriously battle my mind to stay faithful with working.
My hourly prayers at work go something like this....LORD, please give me strength to bring you glory...please help me to stay awake....please help me to understand and clear my mind so I can learn this...help me to be faithful to you LORD....help me to do my best and not settle for just ok...help me to last 3 months pleaasee!!!
a key to surviving is renewing my mind....this is NOT just a job but an opportunity to build relationships with others. I treat everyone as precious to the LORD because I have no idea who are his children and who are not that's a judgement call the LORD makes with each individual ever created. My job is just to love.
Help me to love my co-workers Lord. Help me to love Janelle Lord.
Thanks for keeping me awake today and giving me the boost I needed from my man. Thanks for speaking to us in class tonite. Please bless our 40 days gathering tomorrow nite. Help us all to speak truth in love to each other, to encourage each other, but mostly to hear you and listen to your plans for us. Guide our choices, LORD and bind us together with you at the centre. Love you, LORD. Thanks so much for taking care of me and my loved ones.
Monday, October 31, 2005
quick update on me connecting with the family
hey - I sent emails to my Mom AND my Dad today! How "connecting" am I..!
They both sent me emails, and whereas I would have just said "I gotta reply to them when I get a good time to sit down and write" I just sat down and wrote. The time was not perfect. But the Lord was saying "just do it". So I did.
Maybe soon I will surprise them with sending an email first!!
They both sent me emails, and whereas I would have just said "I gotta reply to them when I get a good time to sit down and write" I just sat down and wrote. The time was not perfect. But the Lord was saying "just do it". So I did.
Maybe soon I will surprise them with sending an email first!!
God opportunities
yes this relationship building thing is tiring but its great that the Lord has slowly put other first in our lives by re-assuring us that we are first in his...
Bringing Adelle over with her husband was one of those relationships I had to renew..and it was great!We didnt really go over the past but we moved on from it. It was good to see her and catch up with her man too. Deep down she still wishes to see my family united, and i have seen what i didnt see before.That is the differences between us.When youre younger you thnk you can keep everyone on the same wavelength and everyone should operate like you but Thank God, he changes all that! He moves us from inward focus to outward focus, and this time the Lord reminded me that she isnt like me, nor is she like my other cousins, nor is she like my brothers, but she is just another fruit in this cocktail of personalities he has put together in one family! It is my duty as a member of his family to accept it and cherish it.I realise that i missed her friendship and she missed mine! She is determined to see the Christchurch boys and was encouraging me to bring my brothers so we can all meet and catch up on all this lost time.She sees now in her other cousins what I saw in her before and realises how important it is to love others, reach out to others and remind them that they are loved. I have learnt that I have to accept that people change and its not always for the worse, that God uses change to teach me something, and I realised that I was extremely selfish before, lacked wisdom and had no divine insight in dealing with her.
One day i will call upon her and she will be there for me without fail and i Thank You Lord for opportunities you moved heaven and earth to create just so I can keep on loving, forgiving, accepting and renewing. Without you, all this would have been impossible!
Im glad that though my relationship with my cousin might not be the same as we were before, but you have created a new one where we can both build on!
Youre awesome Lord and I love You!
Bringing Adelle over with her husband was one of those relationships I had to renew..and it was great!We didnt really go over the past but we moved on from it. It was good to see her and catch up with her man too. Deep down she still wishes to see my family united, and i have seen what i didnt see before.That is the differences between us.When youre younger you thnk you can keep everyone on the same wavelength and everyone should operate like you but Thank God, he changes all that! He moves us from inward focus to outward focus, and this time the Lord reminded me that she isnt like me, nor is she like my other cousins, nor is she like my brothers, but she is just another fruit in this cocktail of personalities he has put together in one family! It is my duty as a member of his family to accept it and cherish it.I realise that i missed her friendship and she missed mine! She is determined to see the Christchurch boys and was encouraging me to bring my brothers so we can all meet and catch up on all this lost time.She sees now in her other cousins what I saw in her before and realises how important it is to love others, reach out to others and remind them that they are loved. I have learnt that I have to accept that people change and its not always for the worse, that God uses change to teach me something, and I realised that I was extremely selfish before, lacked wisdom and had no divine insight in dealing with her.
One day i will call upon her and she will be there for me without fail and i Thank You Lord for opportunities you moved heaven and earth to create just so I can keep on loving, forgiving, accepting and renewing. Without you, all this would have been impossible!
Im glad that though my relationship with my cousin might not be the same as we were before, but you have created a new one where we can both build on!
Youre awesome Lord and I love You!
me too...
Since we are blogging about our weekend and 'serving goals' - here's my update.
The weekend was great - but tiring. Previously I would normally slip away for a sleep...and not relate. Let Tali do all that kind of stuff. The new me - well it meant I had to hang around, mingle, mix - BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. This "building relationships" thing is tiring!
But worth it. I had a great time. My schedule was:
The weekend was great - but tiring. Previously I would normally slip away for a sleep...and not relate. Let Tali do all that kind of stuff. The new me - well it meant I had to hang around, mingle, mix - BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. This "building relationships" thing is tiring!
But worth it. I had a great time. My schedule was:
- Friday night "Pass The Plate" (up till after midnight with our street ministry of feeding people in the street)
- Saturday night - The wedding - went to bed about 4.30am
- Sunday night - post-wedding socialising and trying to upload wedding photos online - went to bed after midnight.
As for my 'serving goal' - I have been trying to spend time with Tali's mom...and indeed we have had time alone and just chatting - I know I have been putting in more of an effort that previously. And it's been great. It's incredible what an ATTITUDE change can do to make something easy...and make you want to keep on doing it. Renew your mind folks!
Thank You
Its nearly time to meet again and I think I'm doing well with my task, the Lord has helped me relies the voice I had been using and I am now able to have a conversation with Phil without using it.
The good thing about this is that its something I know I can continue to do even though I only had to be able to do it for this week. I thank the Lord for giving me the strength to be able to accomplish this.
Once again the Lord has been with us and I just thank him for his protection and the blessings he has given us.
The good thing about this is that its something I know I can continue to do even though I only had to be able to do it for this week. I thank the Lord for giving me the strength to be able to accomplish this.
Once again the Lord has been with us and I just thank him for his protection and the blessings he has given us.
give me strength
feeling rather crappy actually! all weekend of wedding celebrations which was great, gatherings, no sleep and catching up with everyone...now its day light savings and struggling to get up little earlier than usual to get to work on time.Going to bed isnt a problem, its the getting up thats the problem!
Lord Give me strength, i could barely stay awake even as i am writing this entry!
Going well with my task of loving and being proactive at loving my mum, just being patient with her and being there for her because i know she needs me.This was confirmed at church, which was quite amazing, especially the bit about " tell your mum you love her, as it will set you free" the lord knows most of the time i just want to hug my mum and tell her God couldn't have picked a better mum for me, and that she did a good job, raising us all and feeding us with Gods word and Gods will for our lives even when we didin't listen.But she will do something or say something that will just put me right off.The sermon on sunday openned my eyes again to the fact that my battle is a spiritual battle not a battle with my mum, and i now realise that everytime the Lord prompts me to do somehting that will certainly make both of us grow closer and together I get sidetracked by the enemy and im back at square one. I will aspire to remind her every now and again of how much I love her even if she drives me up the wall and down again, because I am not perfect either and i have a mouth on me that is supposed to glorify God not do the opposite :p
The biggest thing i think the Lord is pushing me to teach my mum however is her punctuality! She is late everywhere my mum, and its beyond a joke now..i for one hated being early because it means i have to wait for everyone else to arrive, no matter where it is, church, work, social gatherings,family functions etc...etc..but in Gods eyes, thats being unfaithful and I have been convicted of this. My mum is yet to be free from this and so i must have patient, be gentle in dealing with her in this regard, and shut my mouth and just wait for her to be ready and get out the door.Its not so much the act of being late its the mindset of "its ok to be late" that needs to be removed. At one point we have all suffered from this rotten disease but slowly the Lord is removing it from us, because we cant ask him to "send us" and still find it ok to be late.
God gives us enough time to deal with everything, and its a matter of being wise enough to manage this time and its something my family have a hard time comprehending!
Its not cool to be late, nor is it cool to have the reputation of always being late!
Lord give me strength!
Lord Give me strength, i could barely stay awake even as i am writing this entry!
Going well with my task of loving and being proactive at loving my mum, just being patient with her and being there for her because i know she needs me.This was confirmed at church, which was quite amazing, especially the bit about " tell your mum you love her, as it will set you free" the lord knows most of the time i just want to hug my mum and tell her God couldn't have picked a better mum for me, and that she did a good job, raising us all and feeding us with Gods word and Gods will for our lives even when we didin't listen.But she will do something or say something that will just put me right off.The sermon on sunday openned my eyes again to the fact that my battle is a spiritual battle not a battle with my mum, and i now realise that everytime the Lord prompts me to do somehting that will certainly make both of us grow closer and together I get sidetracked by the enemy and im back at square one. I will aspire to remind her every now and again of how much I love her even if she drives me up the wall and down again, because I am not perfect either and i have a mouth on me that is supposed to glorify God not do the opposite :p
The biggest thing i think the Lord is pushing me to teach my mum however is her punctuality! She is late everywhere my mum, and its beyond a joke now..i for one hated being early because it means i have to wait for everyone else to arrive, no matter where it is, church, work, social gatherings,family functions etc...etc..but in Gods eyes, thats being unfaithful and I have been convicted of this. My mum is yet to be free from this and so i must have patient, be gentle in dealing with her in this regard, and shut my mouth and just wait for her to be ready and get out the door.Its not so much the act of being late its the mindset of "its ok to be late" that needs to be removed. At one point we have all suffered from this rotten disease but slowly the Lord is removing it from us, because we cant ask him to "send us" and still find it ok to be late.
God gives us enough time to deal with everything, and its a matter of being wise enough to manage this time and its something my family have a hard time comprehending!
Its not cool to be late, nor is it cool to have the reputation of always being late!
Lord give me strength!
Friday, October 28, 2005
Superhero
WHAT A DAY!!!
It all started heavy and full of complications, but its amazing when you choose to have a good attitude about it!
Today i had to make a hard decision about moving to the other half of our department,where it was more challenging and a lot of focus and attention to detail needed.the Logistics department!!
It was difficult but i prayed not long ago for the Lord to give me somehting that will reveal to me my abilities and talents as he purposed. I wanted to push myself and see how i go, reading about my SHAPE in The purpose driven life opened my eyes at just how complacent i can be,,,because i wasnt sure what my talents were, and what my God given abilities were.
so i asked...and as the Lord does, ever so faithful and true, he answers.One of my staff members who introduced me to this book is in this logistics section and i have been trying to find a way to connect with her...now she reports to me and we will be working very closely in the many projects ahead, basically she will be my right hand woman...and I am on my way to witness to others that dont know much about Jesus and what its like to have him in ones life. My current team are sad and sorry to give me up but i know right now, I must follow after the lord and what he wants me to do and where he wants me to be. 2 years ago of course, i would rather have quit than be transferred to the Logistics dept!
then just as i thought it was all too sad and scary, i get a call from 106.5 one of our major radio stations and asked me for my address at work so they can drop off my prizes as I have won an award..of course i freaked out and said "what award?" after much screaming and about a 100 "oh my goodness" i finally had to put the phone down, walk out the door and there they were..the 106.5 van with the radio blasting through with a huge cheq of $2000 and plenty of snacks, a huge torphy, tshirt and cap and a 5 sec of fame on the radio!!!
aaaaaaaaggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
It turns out I was nominated by my team for the "WORKPLACE SUPERHERO AWARD 2005" and I won!!!! Thats why they werent surprised when i screamed my head off saying " its 106.5,its 106.5"
I will always remember this surprise because it was a real surprise... i had no inkling of any sort whatsoever because I was so taken up by the complications of the morning!!
The amazing thing tho is not the award, its the hand of God in it all.
I have just started tithing and putting the Lord first in my finances, he knew it was a struggle for me, and it was a leap of faith i had to commit to, with all the weddings in our family this year, he knew i was stretching my budget to the limit and i went solely on his promise"that he will open up the gates of heaven and pour out his blessings if i give him my first fruits, and my best" With a major change happening next year as well he made some things possible through this financial reward, just by me choosing to live the life he pre-destined me to live. This is to me just a glimpse of how faithful the Lord is! Imagine him when we actually start doing the big things??
He is a God of awesome wonders and i thank him for my team and this blessing of working with great people. Im thankful that i can be a blessing to others and i thank him for bringing others in my life to be a blessing to me!To him be ALL the Glory, because his favour goes before me and his word never fails. It is him that has made all this possible!
I have new challenges ahead, with a new focus and new plan, I have no doubt God will take me through it because he brought me to it!!!!!
It all started heavy and full of complications, but its amazing when you choose to have a good attitude about it!
Today i had to make a hard decision about moving to the other half of our department,where it was more challenging and a lot of focus and attention to detail needed.the Logistics department!!
It was difficult but i prayed not long ago for the Lord to give me somehting that will reveal to me my abilities and talents as he purposed. I wanted to push myself and see how i go, reading about my SHAPE in The purpose driven life opened my eyes at just how complacent i can be,,,because i wasnt sure what my talents were, and what my God given abilities were.
so i asked...and as the Lord does, ever so faithful and true, he answers.One of my staff members who introduced me to this book is in this logistics section and i have been trying to find a way to connect with her...now she reports to me and we will be working very closely in the many projects ahead, basically she will be my right hand woman...and I am on my way to witness to others that dont know much about Jesus and what its like to have him in ones life. My current team are sad and sorry to give me up but i know right now, I must follow after the lord and what he wants me to do and where he wants me to be. 2 years ago of course, i would rather have quit than be transferred to the Logistics dept!
then just as i thought it was all too sad and scary, i get a call from 106.5 one of our major radio stations and asked me for my address at work so they can drop off my prizes as I have won an award..of course i freaked out and said "what award?" after much screaming and about a 100 "oh my goodness" i finally had to put the phone down, walk out the door and there they were..the 106.5 van with the radio blasting through with a huge cheq of $2000 and plenty of snacks, a huge torphy, tshirt and cap and a 5 sec of fame on the radio!!!
aaaaaaaaggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
It turns out I was nominated by my team for the "WORKPLACE SUPERHERO AWARD 2005" and I won!!!! Thats why they werent surprised when i screamed my head off saying " its 106.5,its 106.5"
I will always remember this surprise because it was a real surprise... i had no inkling of any sort whatsoever because I was so taken up by the complications of the morning!!
The amazing thing tho is not the award, its the hand of God in it all.
I have just started tithing and putting the Lord first in my finances, he knew it was a struggle for me, and it was a leap of faith i had to commit to, with all the weddings in our family this year, he knew i was stretching my budget to the limit and i went solely on his promise"that he will open up the gates of heaven and pour out his blessings if i give him my first fruits, and my best" With a major change happening next year as well he made some things possible through this financial reward, just by me choosing to live the life he pre-destined me to live. This is to me just a glimpse of how faithful the Lord is! Imagine him when we actually start doing the big things??
He is a God of awesome wonders and i thank him for my team and this blessing of working with great people. Im thankful that i can be a blessing to others and i thank him for bringing others in my life to be a blessing to me!To him be ALL the Glory, because his favour goes before me and his word never fails. It is him that has made all this possible!
I have new challenges ahead, with a new focus and new plan, I have no doubt God will take me through it because he brought me to it!!!!!
serving goals
How's everyone's goal going? So far I've managed to do it once. Lipo, did you go for a walk?
Just to recap our goals for this week were:
Myles - to build a relationship with my mum, make conversation with her, etc...
Lipo - to go for a walk with Claire 3 times before we meet next for at least half an hour
Claire - to not use her cute baby voice when talking to Lipo
Zella - to have a good attitude with her Mum and be proactive about loving her
Me - to clear the bed of all the junk that i pile on it during the day so that when Myles sleeps it's all tidy
Also, the purpose task:
Look through your purpose chapters and write down any ACTIONS we can do as a whole group. This includes questions we need to answer, ideas we can talk about from your purpose, and actions we can do.
Then when we meet next we will put together action plans for the next week, months, years, eternity, etc. It will be our first draft and because we are all so flexible we can change it as we go.
Looking forward to next Tues!
Just to recap our goals for this week were:
Myles - to build a relationship with my mum, make conversation with her, etc...
Lipo - to go for a walk with Claire 3 times before we meet next for at least half an hour
Claire - to not use her cute baby voice when talking to Lipo
Zella - to have a good attitude with her Mum and be proactive about loving her
Me - to clear the bed of all the junk that i pile on it during the day so that when Myles sleeps it's all tidy
Also, the purpose task:
Look through your purpose chapters and write down any ACTIONS we can do as a whole group. This includes questions we need to answer, ideas we can talk about from your purpose, and actions we can do.
Then when we meet next we will put together action plans for the next week, months, years, eternity, etc. It will be our first draft and because we are all so flexible we can change it as we go.
Looking forward to next Tues!
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Lasting Legacy
Thanks Tali,
Indeed our riches must be stored in things of God rather than things of this world.Thats not to say God doesnt want us to have things and strive to succeed and prosper.But in allowing them to master our souls and making it a God before OUR God we are deceiving ourselves of what the Lord really meant when he said "his plans are to prosper you"
In reading the below, consider how you would answer each question and ask yourself what legacy you will leave behind.I know when i received this I started to think of the kind of person I would like to be remmebered as and whether I would be able to answer each question with confidence when i stand before the Lord.Thanks Clare for sending this to me!
Im so glad Im not in charge of the world!!
Indeed our riches must be stored in things of God rather than things of this world.Thats not to say God doesnt want us to have things and strive to succeed and prosper.But in allowing them to master our souls and making it a God before OUR God we are deceiving ourselves of what the Lord really meant when he said "his plans are to prosper you"
In reading the below, consider how you would answer each question and ask yourself what legacy you will leave behind.I know when i received this I started to think of the kind of person I would like to be remmebered as and whether I would be able to answer each question with confidence when i stand before the Lord.Thanks Clare for sending this to me!
NINE THINGS GOD WON'T ASK ON THAT DAY.
1... God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't 't have transportation.
2... God won't! Ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you u welcomed into your home.
3... God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.
4... God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
5.... God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
6... God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
7.... God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.
8... God won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character.
9... God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.
What more do we need?
"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions,
and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means
hurt you." Luke 10:19
How awesome is our God! He has entrusted his power to us.What else do we need!We can bring that 6 billion to the Lord...
I love this scripture, it is my personal favourite because it is victorious, it is red in the bible which means Jesus spoke it.As disciples, WE have been given the power to overcome the enemy, nothing whatsoever, shall harm us. Nothing!!
People often think of "harm" as physical harm i.e car accident, falling off the cliff, tripping over a brick..but neglect spiritual harm. Then we think of "power" as superhero powers, freezing our enemies to death, striking those who persecute us with lighting bolts from our hands, magically sending those we dont like to oblivion, or send them swirling around in the air with our pointy fingers until they learn their lesson. WRONG!
This wonderous power Jesus entrusted us with is LOVE and true love is humble.It is choosing the low road when everyone is flying around you shooting lighting bolts at each other and at you.It is choosing to give in when you really feel like ripping someones hair out, it is being a peacemaker in the midst of division, it is being the steady calm when you are misunderstood, falsely accused and criticised,it is being Christlike in a 'me-conscious' society.When Christ spoke this, he meant it!
So to me this scripture means "Satan needs to ask ME for permission to do whatever he does best" How cool is that?? He listens to me!!!
Its victorious, I say this scripture and I imagine the enemy shrinking away from me, hiding his face as if blinded by light and holding on to his head between his legs blocking his ears and protecting himself from being stomped on my the truth of Christ.I love it!
So many struggles, so much confusion, so much doubt and fear of failing is in our midst, but by Christ YOU have been given that power to read,believe, speak, act and overcome it!
We know in whom we believe and greater, so much greater is he who lives in us, than the little stupid fool that roams this world!
and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means
hurt you." Luke 10:19
How awesome is our God! He has entrusted his power to us.What else do we need!We can bring that 6 billion to the Lord...
I love this scripture, it is my personal favourite because it is victorious, it is red in the bible which means Jesus spoke it.As disciples, WE have been given the power to overcome the enemy, nothing whatsoever, shall harm us. Nothing!!
People often think of "harm" as physical harm i.e car accident, falling off the cliff, tripping over a brick..but neglect spiritual harm. Then we think of "power" as superhero powers, freezing our enemies to death, striking those who persecute us with lighting bolts from our hands, magically sending those we dont like to oblivion, or send them swirling around in the air with our pointy fingers until they learn their lesson. WRONG!
This wonderous power Jesus entrusted us with is LOVE and true love is humble.It is choosing the low road when everyone is flying around you shooting lighting bolts at each other and at you.It is choosing to give in when you really feel like ripping someones hair out, it is being a peacemaker in the midst of division, it is being the steady calm when you are misunderstood, falsely accused and criticised,it is being Christlike in a 'me-conscious' society.When Christ spoke this, he meant it!
So to me this scripture means "Satan needs to ask ME for permission to do whatever he does best" How cool is that?? He listens to me!!!
Its victorious, I say this scripture and I imagine the enemy shrinking away from me, hiding his face as if blinded by light and holding on to his head between his legs blocking his ears and protecting himself from being stomped on my the truth of Christ.I love it!
So many struggles, so much confusion, so much doubt and fear of failing is in our midst, but by Christ YOU have been given that power to read,believe, speak, act and overcome it!
We know in whom we believe and greater, so much greater is he who lives in us, than the little stupid fool that roams this world!
family invasion
Family have started to arrive to celebrate my cousin's wedding. When everyone is happy there is nothing like being surrounded by your cousins, aunties and uncles. There is so much laughter, coffee flowing till all hours of the morning, 3am feasts...joking and having deep and meaningfuls. Love it!
JOB - I have been praying constantly at work for the LORD to give me his strength so that I don't let him down. He gave me this job and it's a test of my faithfulness, and building self-discipline (something I lack big time!). Plus I want to be a blessing to Janelle. There are a few workers there - now on my prayer list.
I don't know that I can do the whole morning person routine without giving up. Plus I'm worried I will get bored...and i hate routine....it's like a box with walls closing in on me.
That's why I love travelling and visiting different places, why i love scifi programmes because it's a huge adventure and when you're exploring you never know what's around the corner.
Even now as I live in this flat, yes it's comfortable and it's home, but I find myself looking up real estate web pages for a new home to rent...I don't know that I can be tied to one house with a mortgage for the rest of my life.
That's never been one of my dreams...I don't get that whole mortgage mentality. I don't like huge life time debts. People think of it as an investment they can leave for their children...for when they are old. But seriously I would rather leave a different legacy for my children one they can pass on to the next generation.
It's a legacy of who they are and who they belong to....my LORD and King.
If the Lord doesn't return in my generation I want to make sure my children are ready. And if he doesn't come in their generation then they need to prepare their children. Because when the Lord does return he's not going to say - NICE HOUSE, NICE CAR PACK IT UP AND TAKE IT WITH US TO ETERNITY. I imagine him saying: well done good and faithful servant....welcome home to eternity.
The LORD is not going to care whether I left a legacy of material things to sustain my children in this world. He IS going to care that I leave a legacy that will sustain my children FOR ALL ETERNITY.
JOB - I have been praying constantly at work for the LORD to give me his strength so that I don't let him down. He gave me this job and it's a test of my faithfulness, and building self-discipline (something I lack big time!). Plus I want to be a blessing to Janelle. There are a few workers there - now on my prayer list.
I don't know that I can do the whole morning person routine without giving up. Plus I'm worried I will get bored...and i hate routine....it's like a box with walls closing in on me.
That's why I love travelling and visiting different places, why i love scifi programmes because it's a huge adventure and when you're exploring you never know what's around the corner.
Even now as I live in this flat, yes it's comfortable and it's home, but I find myself looking up real estate web pages for a new home to rent...I don't know that I can be tied to one house with a mortgage for the rest of my life.
That's never been one of my dreams...I don't get that whole mortgage mentality. I don't like huge life time debts. People think of it as an investment they can leave for their children...for when they are old. But seriously I would rather leave a different legacy for my children one they can pass on to the next generation.
It's a legacy of who they are and who they belong to....my LORD and King.
If the Lord doesn't return in my generation I want to make sure my children are ready. And if he doesn't come in their generation then they need to prepare their children. Because when the Lord does return he's not going to say - NICE HOUSE, NICE CAR PACK IT UP AND TAKE IT WITH US TO ETERNITY. I imagine him saying: well done good and faithful servant....welcome home to eternity.
The LORD is not going to care whether I left a legacy of material things to sustain my children in this world. He IS going to care that I leave a legacy that will sustain my children FOR ALL ETERNITY.
_________________________
IMAGINE IF THE LORD WANTED TO SAVE EVERY HUMAN BEING?? ALL 6 BILLION OR HOWEVER MANY.....
IMAGINE IF THAT IS WHAT THE LORD IS WAITING FOR??? FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING TO BE SAVED??
THEN WE WILL BE WAITING FOR MANY GENERATIONS TO COME...SO LETS LEAVE A LEGACY THAT WILL LAST MANY GENERATIONS
...not just footprints in the sand that will only last a moment.
ONLY THE LORD HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME.
He has done that through us....from our grandparents, to our parents, to us.
ONLY THE LORD HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME.
He has done that through us....from our grandparents, to our parents, to us.
His love lasts forever. That's the legacy I want to pass on to my children not a house.
More than 2,000 years later we still believe in him...that's his legacy to us:
More than 2,000 years later we still believe in him...that's his legacy to us:
he is who we are, he is who we belong to. (LOVE YA LORD)
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
A quick one...
...to praise God for the blessings he gives us. And also to pray his protection over Zella who could not be with us all tonight. Be with her Lord.
Monday, October 24, 2005
GOD'S UPSIDE DOWN THINKING...
Been working on my assigned purpose - made for a mission.
Something hit me when I was rereading it in the chapter about balancing your life. Quote: 'every problem is purpose-driven'....so right now in our group there seem to be a lot of relationship problems.
ASK YOURSELF:
what is the purpose God is trying to teach you about right now with the problems you are facing right now?
He is giving you an opportunity to use these problems you are going through to practice one or more of these 5 purposes:
Something hit me when I was rereading it in the chapter about balancing your life. Quote: 'every problem is purpose-driven'....so right now in our group there seem to be a lot of relationship problems.
ASK YOURSELF:
what is the purpose God is trying to teach you about right now with the problems you are facing right now?
He is giving you an opportunity to use these problems you are going through to practice one or more of these 5 purposes:
- love God with all your heart - worship
- love your neighbour as yourself - ministry
- go and make disciples - evangelism
- baptise them - fellowship
- teach them to do all things - discipleship
Are we using this as opportunity? (GOD'S UPSIDE THINKING)
Stil Wondering What Happened
Wel I am stil not happy that the continuation of my last entry did not register.. And that is why it took me a while to get back to this,..
Maybe the reason why it didnt register is because God wasnt happy with me at the time.. Or maybe Im just too stupid or maybe this computer doesnt like me.. Whatever it is ,I hope this one will go through because if it doesnt then I think this is not for me, even though I know its a good cause for God...
Wel never mind about that now cos I know this is going to go through..
Last week was very very tough for me, I was actually been put through a big test of my new walk in the Lord to see whether I could stand the pressure.
The Lord used my main weakness to see whether I am ready for His work or not.. It was tough, it was rough and it hurt because I felt like a failure again,
But even though I felt distant from Him, He never let go, He lavished me with His love..
I did not fail even though the devil wanted me to feel like a failure, I stil wonder sometimes and ask, "Why me?" I do not know the answer for it, but one thing I know is that God is preparing me for His ministry...
Maybe the reason why it didnt register is because God wasnt happy with me at the time.. Or maybe Im just too stupid or maybe this computer doesnt like me.. Whatever it is ,I hope this one will go through because if it doesnt then I think this is not for me, even though I know its a good cause for God...
Wel never mind about that now cos I know this is going to go through..
Last week was very very tough for me, I was actually been put through a big test of my new walk in the Lord to see whether I could stand the pressure.
The Lord used my main weakness to see whether I am ready for His work or not.. It was tough, it was rough and it hurt because I felt like a failure again,
But even though I felt distant from Him, He never let go, He lavished me with His love..
I did not fail even though the devil wanted me to feel like a failure, I stil wonder sometimes and ask, "Why me?" I do not know the answer for it, but one thing I know is that God is preparing me for His ministry...
Love + Unity = Christ
Myles I will hold you accountable!!
United!!! It has just hit me how much the Lord wants us united! It only occured to me on the weekend in my recovery from the hens night how much the lord desires unity.I was aware of it before but there comes a time when you are so convicted you just cant help but be in awe of our God!
You know when you read a verse over and over you start to loose its significance then when you read it again it suddenly jumps out and grabs you and you cant shake it? well if its never happenned to you then consider yourself fortunate...because Jesus's prayer before he was crucified jumped out at me on the weekend and it occured to me that he did not pray for his followers to be 'perfect' instead he prayed for us to be united.
He knew we would have trouble but he knew that if we are united, we will be strengthened.It is our union as christians, as followers of christ, as believers, as God creations that will see the enemy defeated everyday!
Now if we could just get the world to understand that.......wouldnt it be wonderful!!
and another thing...why is it that people ask you, whether you are christian or catholic?? what is that all about??
when is the world going to understand that God doesnt care what your denomination is!
Wake up people......the Lord is one and under his Lordship WE are one!
United!!! It has just hit me how much the Lord wants us united! It only occured to me on the weekend in my recovery from the hens night how much the lord desires unity.I was aware of it before but there comes a time when you are so convicted you just cant help but be in awe of our God!
You know when you read a verse over and over you start to loose its significance then when you read it again it suddenly jumps out and grabs you and you cant shake it? well if its never happenned to you then consider yourself fortunate...because Jesus's prayer before he was crucified jumped out at me on the weekend and it occured to me that he did not pray for his followers to be 'perfect' instead he prayed for us to be united.
He knew we would have trouble but he knew that if we are united, we will be strengthened.It is our union as christians, as followers of christ, as believers, as God creations that will see the enemy defeated everyday!
Now if we could just get the world to understand that.......wouldnt it be wonderful!!
and another thing...why is it that people ask you, whether you are christian or catholic?? what is that all about??
when is the world going to understand that God doesnt care what your denomination is!
Wake up people......the Lord is one and under his Lordship WE are one!
Why I believe in God #2
Since becoming a Christian I accept how incredible the world is and how only God could have come up with it!
I know there are a lot of 'intellectuals' out there that continue to discount the 'creation' theory. Don't get me wrong, I agree things evolve. I am too ignorant to make a call on the big bang. But I believe that God created it all. He's that BIG.
But I think he reveals himself in the small details. Look at this photo.
These are not orange starfish on a rocky seabed, but tiny star-shaped hairs on the underside of a plant’s leaf. These projections, called trichomes, have a protective function. They can help to stop insects from feeding on the leaf and also prevent excessive water loss.
WOW. You telling me that (along with all the other details in the world) that a big bang and evolution created these Trichomes? Only GOD would be so creative and have the power to make it so. So I believe.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Myles issue #1 - family relationships
So people - let's talk about issues. One of mine - building family relationships. I am sure there are a whole bunch of 'back ground' reasons (parent's divorce, conflict avoiding upbringing, isolation, a 'generational' pattern of family 'scattering') but I am a person who reckons despite ones upbringing one can overcome. Dang it - I am too intellectual to have my childhood rule my adulthood. Yeah right.
So why am I so crap at building relationships with my family? I reckon its because as an adult I was crap! I was self-centred, escapist and now thinking (eg: I did not remember my past or reflect on my future). But the Lord has changed me! Those things aren't me anymore. I have different behaviours and motivations. Dont I?
Yes I do...if I focus on the Lord. If I love how he wants me to love. If my focus is on his purposes for my life. I need to, I MUST, connect with my family more. The Lord's been very clear on this. I cannot deny it. I cannot delay!
So my TO DO list for connecting with my family is:
So why am I so crap at building relationships with my family? I reckon its because as an adult I was crap! I was self-centred, escapist and now thinking (eg: I did not remember my past or reflect on my future). But the Lord has changed me! Those things aren't me anymore. I have different behaviours and motivations. Dont I?
Yes I do...if I focus on the Lord. If I love how he wants me to love. If my focus is on his purposes for my life. I need to, I MUST, connect with my family more. The Lord's been very clear on this. I cannot deny it. I cannot delay!
So my TO DO list for connecting with my family is:
- Ring my dad
- Email 'once a week' to all my family
Who is going to hold me accountable? :-)
Friday, October 21, 2005
back on track
Has anyone studied their chapters?? I know zee has already started. I haven't even started, have lots of thoughts and ideas but have yet to commit them to paper. Tonight, I will do it! I'm excited and looking forward to it.
Nothing but busy days ahead...tomorrow have a hen's night, sunday- a breakfast then a bday dinner, monday- course, tues - 40 days, wed - family meeting at my house (thanks to my mum!), then a church meeting, thursday - connect group, frid - nothing...hooray! And now I'm working Mon-Wed days.
I'm not a morning person and I have to start work at 8am...bus is at 7:19am....i am sooo not going to be doing this in my own strength (HELP LORD!)
now somehow I have to fit the gym in to those days and nites....what about my man and my mum??? OK this simplifying thing has to happen soon.....aaahhhh!
Nothing but busy days ahead...tomorrow have a hen's night, sunday- a breakfast then a bday dinner, monday- course, tues - 40 days, wed - family meeting at my house (thanks to my mum!), then a church meeting, thursday - connect group, frid - nothing...hooray! And now I'm working Mon-Wed days.
I'm not a morning person and I have to start work at 8am...bus is at 7:19am....i am sooo not going to be doing this in my own strength (HELP LORD!)
now somehow I have to fit the gym in to those days and nites....what about my man and my mum??? OK this simplifying thing has to happen soon.....aaahhhh!
It's OK to be a freak - but don't be wierd
5 minute Christian here again. My previous post talked about being OK with being a Jesus Freak. And today I was listening to Australian Christian TV online ( mms://acc.streamit.com.au/accbroadcast ) and I heard someone talking about not being wierd.
He was saying Christianity is not mainstream. Don't hide that you go to church on sundays cause people might think you are weird. It's weird to hide and lie. So don’t lie that you go to church on sundays. As a new christian its not always easy when people ask "what did you do on the weekend?" to say "Church on Sunday was amazing...then I did some bible study with my wife'. In some societies that's normal to say - in our socierty now that's seen as wierd!
Be mainstream - say grace in public. Carry and read your bible in public. Talk about God. Act like Jesus. Behave as if it is normal. The more normal it gets, the more the people in the church will chill out and stop acting as if it is weird and start evangelising.
It will stop being weird, when we stop acting awkward about it, and act as if it is normal. Make it part of your mainstream life. Be a witness by being normal, being happy, being good and not being weird about Jesus. Then people will realise 'can I have what he is having?' Rather than think - weird people go to boring non-relevant 'put me in a coma in 2 minutes' churches on Sunday.
If we ALL start being normal and make christianity mainstream in our lives...only then will we see it mainstream in our communities. Just imagine Christ being a normal non-wierd part of all society! woooohoooo
He was saying Christianity is not mainstream. Don't hide that you go to church on sundays cause people might think you are weird. It's weird to hide and lie. So don’t lie that you go to church on sundays. As a new christian its not always easy when people ask "what did you do on the weekend?" to say "Church on Sunday was amazing...then I did some bible study with my wife'. In some societies that's normal to say - in our socierty now that's seen as wierd!
Be mainstream - say grace in public. Carry and read your bible in public. Talk about God. Act like Jesus. Behave as if it is normal. The more normal it gets, the more the people in the church will chill out and stop acting as if it is weird and start evangelising.
It will stop being weird, when we stop acting awkward about it, and act as if it is normal. Make it part of your mainstream life. Be a witness by being normal, being happy, being good and not being weird about Jesus. Then people will realise 'can I have what he is having?' Rather than think - weird people go to boring non-relevant 'put me in a coma in 2 minutes' churches on Sunday.
If we ALL start being normal and make christianity mainstream in our lives...only then will we see it mainstream in our communities. Just imagine Christ being a normal non-wierd part of all society! woooohoooo
Love is Everything
Satan is so trying to destroy my relationships, but I wont let him the more he tries the more Love I will give. He can not beat me when the Lord is on my side. He is trying so hard to bring me down, but the Lord will only put me through what I can handle.
So instead of looking at the bad thing that have happened this week I'm going to look at the positive side of things. I'm no longer going to let Satan defeat me I will never be going back to him no matter what he tries to throw at me.
Once again the Lord answered my prayers this morning. When I came into work this was my morning scripture I received.
Today's scripture is John 15:17
"These things I command you, that ye love one another."
In Luke 6:47-48, Jesus said:"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."
That's probably a familiar scripture to you. But today I want you to do something new with it. I want you to put it together with whatJesus said in John 15:17:
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Love. That one word sums up all Jesus said for us to do. If you'll build your life on it, even the most violent storms of this world will be unable to shake you. It will make you solid in every area of your life.If you'll build your family on love, you can win back those the devil
has stolen from you. You can win them to Jesus with the love of God.If you'll build your business on love, you'll prosper beyond your wildest dreams.
I had a friend who did that. He went into a television and radio business in his church. He wanted to buy a station from a Jewish man and he offered such a good price for it that the owner was stunned. "Why would you offer me such a wonderful price?" asked the Jewish owner. "Because the Word of God says that if I will bless you, God will bless me. So I'm going to see to it that you get the better part of this deal," answered my friend.Before it was all over, that Jewish station owner had made Jesus Lord of His life.
He and my friend ended up prospering and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ together on the radio.
When love rules, prosperity can flow!Commit to living the life of love today. Commit to building your house upon the rock. Then when the storms of life begin to blow--at home, at
work, or in any situation--you can enjoy the solid security of knowing that love never fails.
So instead of looking at the bad thing that have happened this week I'm going to look at the positive side of things. I'm no longer going to let Satan defeat me I will never be going back to him no matter what he tries to throw at me.
Once again the Lord answered my prayers this morning. When I came into work this was my morning scripture I received.
Today's scripture is John 15:17
"These things I command you, that ye love one another."
In Luke 6:47-48, Jesus said:"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."
That's probably a familiar scripture to you. But today I want you to do something new with it. I want you to put it together with whatJesus said in John 15:17:
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Love. That one word sums up all Jesus said for us to do. If you'll build your life on it, even the most violent storms of this world will be unable to shake you. It will make you solid in every area of your life.If you'll build your family on love, you can win back those the devil
has stolen from you. You can win them to Jesus with the love of God.If you'll build your business on love, you'll prosper beyond your wildest dreams.
I had a friend who did that. He went into a television and radio business in his church. He wanted to buy a station from a Jewish man and he offered such a good price for it that the owner was stunned. "Why would you offer me such a wonderful price?" asked the Jewish owner. "Because the Word of God says that if I will bless you, God will bless me. So I'm going to see to it that you get the better part of this deal," answered my friend.Before it was all over, that Jewish station owner had made Jesus Lord of His life.
He and my friend ended up prospering and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ together on the radio.
When love rules, prosperity can flow!Commit to living the life of love today. Commit to building your house upon the rock. Then when the storms of life begin to blow--at home, at
work, or in any situation--you can enjoy the solid security of knowing that love never fails.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
battlefield
LORD
we need your help to work out our personal relationships. It seems to be the current battlefield that Satan is attacking us in. WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHO WE ARE.
We are your children. You are in control. Satan and his little army of helpers want to keep us in a cage. You died LORD Jesus to set us free. Are we going to let Satan think that you sufferred rejection, hate, evil, pain, spilt your blood for nothing??? No you sufferred what we deserved so evil could no longer hold us, so we wouldn't have to feel condemned for our weaknesses. There is no condemnation in you. You overcame death and Satan so we would have life, and enjoy our lives.
LORD, I want everything you want for me, everything you want for each of us in our group. Your plans are so much better than ours. Your purpose lasts for all eternity. Remind us who we are LORD.
There is nothing in this world worth losing you. All we have you have given us. All we are you made us to be. Help us LORD to shake of evil, shake off all our sin, so we can get back up and fight.
Help us to fight with your weapons LORD, which are not the weapons of this world. Help us to take back the light from the dark that surrounds us.
We do not have a spirit of timidity but of love and power. Thank you LORD FOR ANSWERING WITH YOUR WORD FOR US.
2 Tim 1: 7-14
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
we need your help to work out our personal relationships. It seems to be the current battlefield that Satan is attacking us in. WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHO WE ARE.
We are your children. You are in control. Satan and his little army of helpers want to keep us in a cage. You died LORD Jesus to set us free. Are we going to let Satan think that you sufferred rejection, hate, evil, pain, spilt your blood for nothing??? No you sufferred what we deserved so evil could no longer hold us, so we wouldn't have to feel condemned for our weaknesses. There is no condemnation in you. You overcame death and Satan so we would have life, and enjoy our lives.
LORD, I want everything you want for me, everything you want for each of us in our group. Your plans are so much better than ours. Your purpose lasts for all eternity. Remind us who we are LORD.
There is nothing in this world worth losing you. All we have you have given us. All we are you made us to be. Help us LORD to shake of evil, shake off all our sin, so we can get back up and fight.
Help us to fight with your weapons LORD, which are not the weapons of this world. Help us to take back the light from the dark that surrounds us.
We do not have a spirit of timidity but of love and power. Thank you LORD FOR ANSWERING WITH YOUR WORD FOR US.
2 Tim 1: 7-14
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
a simple life...
just about to go shopping and now my aunty rang to speak to my mum...gives me a moment to do a quick post. My mum is over from NZ and soon the whole family will invade for our cousin's wedding.
I am looking forward to the wedding...(LORD, please bless the day and let it be full of joy and peace so that we will all be reminded of how much we love each other.)
This is going to be a very challenging time for me with my mum here. She takes up a lot of my time and it's during a 'busy' period in my life. God must know because I only have one more week of our nite class.
This is a good opportunity for me to practice balance. I am feeling it because times like this in the past my man starts closing shop and it's very hard to read how he's feeling. It becomes all about my mum and family. Especially since he's so busy at work.
The LORD and I are still working on simplifying my life but at the same time stirring me to act and be single minded about the specific purpose he has for me. Hopefully, in the next few weeks as we look more in depth into each purpose and put together some action plans I will have a clearer picture.
contd...after shopping:
cooking dinner and get this phone call for a job. It starts tomorrow. It's weird how I was just looking at simplifying my life and now I have a job.
+ve:
- go to bed early with my man instead of staying up late with my mum
- it answers a major prayer for me about getting a job for the next three months, to help my family with their increasing debts, increase our tithing and offering at church to be more of a kingdom builder...which is flexible and allows me to connect people with the LORD.
- the job is with one of the ladies from church (someone I have been thinking the LORD wants me to connect with - she's great)
Now back to simplifying my life...........
Keeping the Lord busy
I sure know how to do this....as i was writing my last entry i received another bible verse through my emails which re-confirms what has already been confirmed, just so I dont doubt for another second...How awesome is he?? He knows me too well, to let this matter go down easy without another push...bizarre tho, i only get one scripture reading for the day?
anyway here is the scripture :
1 Timothy 2:1-2 "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings,
and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
We must not give up praying for our loved one, our enemies (if we have any) our nation, our workplaces, our church, our world, each other ...even if it seems too difficult :)
anyway here is the scripture :
1 Timothy 2:1-2 "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings,
and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
We must not give up praying for our loved one, our enemies (if we have any) our nation, our workplaces, our church, our world, each other ...even if it seems too difficult :)
why me Lord?
"What have i ever done, to deserve even one ...of the pleasures I know"
Lord thank you for always hearing the cries and frustrations of my heart. Once again you have reminded me of how I easily fall into the trap of focusing on circumstances instead of focusing on you. You heard my despair and my discouragement and you replaced it with renewed faith and trust by reminding me again that i must walk by FAITH not by SIGHT. That i dont give up praying for my loved ones, that I dont give up loving them and helping them, that I dont give up putting others first even when its hard and looks hopeless, that i dont give up on YOU!
Today, you gave me just the right scripture to confirm what you taught me lastnight "That Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" and I am forever grateful for i know one thing is that you are never early nor late, but always right on time to rescue your people from the enemy...in this case you rescued me from myself!
I stand here in awe of your ways...and I ask why Lord of all the billions in the world you still choose to hear my prayers, especially when so many are in more desperate situations than I? Why me Lord? Oh thats right...because its my heart that you see, and it is the freddom and salavation of my loved ones that my heart cries about the most. (thanks for that Lord)
I praise you Lord for drawing near to me, even when i am so far away in my own little brain trying to be in control of situations and people I have no control over and lashing out because I cannot fix things or make things better.
I thank you for being a God of 'second chances everyday' because here I am surrendering all my anxieties unto you as you asked....... AGAIN!!
No wonder you are called "the saviour"
Amen
Lord thank you for always hearing the cries and frustrations of my heart. Once again you have reminded me of how I easily fall into the trap of focusing on circumstances instead of focusing on you. You heard my despair and my discouragement and you replaced it with renewed faith and trust by reminding me again that i must walk by FAITH not by SIGHT. That i dont give up praying for my loved ones, that I dont give up loving them and helping them, that I dont give up putting others first even when its hard and looks hopeless, that i dont give up on YOU!
Today, you gave me just the right scripture to confirm what you taught me lastnight "That Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" and I am forever grateful for i know one thing is that you are never early nor late, but always right on time to rescue your people from the enemy...in this case you rescued me from myself!
I stand here in awe of your ways...and I ask why Lord of all the billions in the world you still choose to hear my prayers, especially when so many are in more desperate situations than I? Why me Lord? Oh thats right...because its my heart that you see, and it is the freddom and salavation of my loved ones that my heart cries about the most. (thanks for that Lord)
I praise you Lord for drawing near to me, even when i am so far away in my own little brain trying to be in control of situations and people I have no control over and lashing out because I cannot fix things or make things better.
I thank you for being a God of 'second chances everyday' because here I am surrendering all my anxieties unto you as you asked....... AGAIN!!
No wonder you are called "the saviour"
Amen
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
What will people think?
There is a song whose lyrics really resonate with me...and where I have come from. The opening verse goes:
Separated, I cut myself clean
From a past that comes back in my darkest of dreams
Been apprehended by a spiritual force
And a grace that replaced all the me I've divorced
The name of the song? Jesus Freak (by DC Talk).
Being labelled a Jesus Freak was one of the reasons it took me so long to be a Christian. How could I be one with all the perceptions that go with being a Christian. Now of course I dont mind. I tell people. Being a young Christian though - it took a little while to get the courage. To get the lines down pat. To the point where it rolls off the tongue. I dont want to be a Christian that turns people off from becoming a Christian.
So, why does the song resonate with me so? Cause I feel like I have "cut myself clean". I have been "apprehended by a spiritual force". And God's grace has replaced the old me. It's amazing that it has changed everything. BUT this post is not my testimonial. Maybe another time! :-)
hoooraaaaaaaaay!!
Lipo made it!!! Glad - if youre all wondering what the heck this means...it is "Lipo finally made it" in webdings!! :p
meanwhile back at the ranch, Myles is falling asleep.
Bro its so good to have you on board this eternity train, it was getting quite empty without ya.
well peoples, its been one heck of a day and half.Its the hardest thing breaking bad news to students and being the one to see them cry and beg you for understanding.
It is a conflict I constantly face and the Lord knows i hate having to be the one to uphold the rules and policies of my workplace. However its getting better, the Lord is good!
It is quite a challenge trying to live a christ like life in the corporate environment because you are expected to be something totally different, you are expected to have all the answers, be indifferent, uphold rules you dont agree with and not take your job home!I thank God though for the fact that my team and collegues are understanding of Christ values when dealing with complicated issues.That I can cry and scream, and get angry without them thinking im leading a revolt.
Still it doesnt make it any easier!
I had a challenging one today, he flew into my office first thing in the morning spitting fire and ready to take all of us to court and make an admin error public record demanded to speak to no one else but the manager....oh boy...my initial response was that of a manager and i was ready to fly out of my office and spit fire back, but God had other plans. I was to be the peace maker not the manager, and i was to shut up and listen rather than talk and correct, I was to nod in silence rather than offer solutions!
I scared my team because I said absolutely nothing to a raging student...how bizarre?
try being me!!! God is so funny, his peace overflowed in our midst and i felt no anger, no need to justify, no need to defend anyone, because he did it for me by keeping me silent.And it worked!
The problem was solved as his story unravelled.I didnt have to do anything or say anything.The student calmed down, apologised for being angry and thanked me for my understanding! For me it was a big challenge, for the Lord is was just "another day in the office" :p
Lord ....luv your work!
meanwhile back at the ranch, Myles is falling asleep.
Bro its so good to have you on board this eternity train, it was getting quite empty without ya.
well peoples, its been one heck of a day and half.Its the hardest thing breaking bad news to students and being the one to see them cry and beg you for understanding.
It is a conflict I constantly face and the Lord knows i hate having to be the one to uphold the rules and policies of my workplace. However its getting better, the Lord is good!
It is quite a challenge trying to live a christ like life in the corporate environment because you are expected to be something totally different, you are expected to have all the answers, be indifferent, uphold rules you dont agree with and not take your job home!I thank God though for the fact that my team and collegues are understanding of Christ values when dealing with complicated issues.That I can cry and scream, and get angry without them thinking im leading a revolt.
Still it doesnt make it any easier!
I had a challenging one today, he flew into my office first thing in the morning spitting fire and ready to take all of us to court and make an admin error public record demanded to speak to no one else but the manager....oh boy...my initial response was that of a manager and i was ready to fly out of my office and spit fire back, but God had other plans. I was to be the peace maker not the manager, and i was to shut up and listen rather than talk and correct, I was to nod in silence rather than offer solutions!
I scared my team because I said absolutely nothing to a raging student...how bizarre?
try being me!!! God is so funny, his peace overflowed in our midst and i felt no anger, no need to justify, no need to defend anyone, because he did it for me by keeping me silent.And it worked!
The problem was solved as his story unravelled.I didnt have to do anything or say anything.The student calmed down, apologised for being angry and thanked me for my understanding! For me it was a big challenge, for the Lord is was just "another day in the office" :p
Lord ....luv your work!
FINALLY ON BOARD
Hi everybody, its me Phil (aka Lipo) finally on board the ship. Wel, I bought my ticket a while ago but I was in the que, thats why I was late.. ha ha ha.. jus kidding. Didnt really know how to work this but now I do..
Wel I guess this is how I see my life, I had God as my ticket but I was waiting in line, He was calling me on board but I didnt know if I should go or not, didnt know how to believe and have that faith in Him..
Now, I do believe, I have faith in Him cos I have finally taken the step and am on board.. But it wasnt my doing, it was all His timing and His master Plan for me..
One(1) faith is easy to break but having Five(5) is going to be very had to break, this is why I believe its Gods master Plan, cos I would never thought of doing this if it wasnt His calling.. The reason is because I dont like people knowing things about my life and Im more of a lone- ranger, but now its NOT ABOUT ME.. (to be continued)
Wel I guess this is how I see my life, I had God as my ticket but I was waiting in line, He was calling me on board but I didnt know if I should go or not, didnt know how to believe and have that faith in Him..
Now, I do believe, I have faith in Him cos I have finally taken the step and am on board.. But it wasnt my doing, it was all His timing and His master Plan for me..
One(1) faith is easy to break but having Five(5) is going to be very had to break, this is why I believe its Gods master Plan, cos I would never thought of doing this if it wasnt His calling.. The reason is because I dont like people knowing things about my life and Im more of a lone- ranger, but now its NOT ABOUT ME.. (to be continued)
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
CHATTING TO MY LIFE'S ARCHITECT
thanks for loving us LORD. thanks for caring about our every day lives. thanks for putting 5 very different and yet similar people together. We all have things in common and we all have things which make us unique.
reading myles' post made me realise just how different you must communicate to each of us.
there I was walking by faith on my own, yes you saved my man after 14 years, but still for most of my life I have walked mostly with you alone. Now at this point in my life you are getting me to build close relationships with a small group because right now this is what I need. This is what we all need.
Only 3 times in my life have you planted me in a church. Two of those times have been at major turning points. So this 3rd time what's happening? What are you building me up for? You have never equiped me without a purpose...what is this new turning point LORD? What is around the corner that I can't see but you can see?
It's obviously something that I can't deal with on my own. My beloved is a Christian and I have real siblings in Christ...the kind that aren't going to freak when I break down, siblings who will hold me accountable and I can trust.
You said to me I was out of balance in the whole being strong for everyone area and that it was your will for me to have a few close friends that I could confide in and trust. You have given me this...and I wonder why now? What's happening around the corner that requires me to trust and rely on others like I have never done before?
Are you doing a new thing in me that does not require a new level of testing but maybe it's about equiping others? LORD, am I making you smile...thinking yip my daughter completely overanalyses :)
If Lipo reads this he's going to think...'I thought I asked lots of questions' :)
Whatever it is LORD, I know that you are the awesome master planner and that you will reveal only what I need to know and it will be according to your will and not mine. I look forward to it LORD because I know it will bring me closer to you and it will help me to prepare for eternity.
Good nite.
reading myles' post made me realise just how different you must communicate to each of us.
there I was walking by faith on my own, yes you saved my man after 14 years, but still for most of my life I have walked mostly with you alone. Now at this point in my life you are getting me to build close relationships with a small group because right now this is what I need. This is what we all need.
Only 3 times in my life have you planted me in a church. Two of those times have been at major turning points. So this 3rd time what's happening? What are you building me up for? You have never equiped me without a purpose...what is this new turning point LORD? What is around the corner that I can't see but you can see?
It's obviously something that I can't deal with on my own. My beloved is a Christian and I have real siblings in Christ...the kind that aren't going to freak when I break down, siblings who will hold me accountable and I can trust.
You said to me I was out of balance in the whole being strong for everyone area and that it was your will for me to have a few close friends that I could confide in and trust. You have given me this...and I wonder why now? What's happening around the corner that requires me to trust and rely on others like I have never done before?
Are you doing a new thing in me that does not require a new level of testing but maybe it's about equiping others? LORD, am I making you smile...thinking yip my daughter completely overanalyses :)
If Lipo reads this he's going to think...'I thought I asked lots of questions' :)
Whatever it is LORD, I know that you are the awesome master planner and that you will reveal only what I need to know and it will be according to your will and not mine. I look forward to it LORD because I know it will bring me closer to you and it will help me to prepare for eternity.
Good nite.
What would I do to serve?
People like to do good things. It makes us feel good. But if God asks you to serve others, strangers who will never repay you, how far would you go? Last few days I heard an example that is inspiring.
Let me paint the scene. A homeless "bag lady" shits her pants. Its in the middle of a busy shopping mall area. Lots of people passing by. Shops open all around you. She is struggling to get her soiled pants off. She is "not all there". Would you stop to help? Would you talk to her, physically help her with her pants. The smell of shit all over the place. What if the woman started off nice, then got cranky at you!!! What if the shop keepers did not want to help you.
I heard a story of someone who served like this. You don't have to goto the slums of Calcutta to wipe the bums of the homeless. Just be prepared to do it in your own streets!
Let me paint the scene. A homeless "bag lady" shits her pants. Its in the middle of a busy shopping mall area. Lots of people passing by. Shops open all around you. She is struggling to get her soiled pants off. She is "not all there". Would you stop to help? Would you talk to her, physically help her with her pants. The smell of shit all over the place. What if the woman started off nice, then got cranky at you!!! What if the shop keepers did not want to help you.
I heard a story of someone who served like this. You don't have to goto the slums of Calcutta to wipe the bums of the homeless. Just be prepared to do it in your own streets!
What kind of Christian am I?
When people know I am a Christian, one of the first questions they ask me is "What kind of Christian are you?". They mean what denomination of Church do I attend. The answer I give will provide a 'perceived generalisation' of what kind of Christian I am. Catholic? Anglican? Pentecostal? Lutheran?
Well, let me tell you I ain't big on denominations. We need to be seen as united! We need to be united. God loves difference that's why there are different types.
I wish when people asked me that question they meant - "what ministry are you in?" or "whats your mission area?". Far more relevant or interesting. Far more descriptive. So I could say things like "play drums in worship", "feeding the homeless", "youth group leader". Or I could say "I dont have one...I dont do anything". These answers are a better description of what kind of Christian I am, I reckon.
Well, let me tell you I ain't big on denominations. We need to be seen as united! We need to be united. God loves difference that's why there are different types.
I wish when people asked me that question they meant - "what ministry are you in?" or "whats your mission area?". Far more relevant or interesting. Far more descriptive. So I could say things like "play drums in worship", "feeding the homeless", "youth group leader". Or I could say "I dont have one...I dont do anything". These answers are a better description of what kind of Christian I am, I reckon.
Why I believe in God #1
First let me put a framework around this post. I am a 5 minute Christian. I have been a Christian just over 1 year. Also I am an analytical person. Some would call me an intellectual. So God talks to me in this way.
So, I was on the train reading about how when we graze our skin a scab form and underneath soft pink skin grows. Pretty simple. We all take it for granted.
You can't tell me that billions of years ago 'matter' exploded and evolved into the ability for grazed skin to form a protective coat and for fresh new skin to grow back. How incredibly complex is that! What are the chances of this, and the process of a caterpillar growing into a butterfly happening on the same rocky planet within the space of a relatively short period of time. Too big a chance. Only God could have created these crazy ideas!
So, I was on the train reading about how when we graze our skin a scab form and underneath soft pink skin grows. Pretty simple. We all take it for granted.
You can't tell me that billions of years ago 'matter' exploded and evolved into the ability for grazed skin to form a protective coat and for fresh new skin to grow back. How incredibly complex is that! What are the chances of this, and the process of a caterpillar growing into a butterfly happening on the same rocky planet within the space of a relatively short period of time. Too big a chance. Only God could have created these crazy ideas!
Our God......he Reigns!!
Claire....you definetly deserve a group hug!!!
What an awesome feeling it was to breathe fresh air after the Lord is done with us...last night i just wanted to run through an open field shouting how great is how God!!!
Claire, you were like Abraham, when the Lord asked him to sacrifice his only son to him and he went willing without any questions...knowing full well that God will not disregard him and how much he loves his son and trusting that God will provide a way!
You took that first step of faith and you now know how much God loves you and has your interests and hearts desire in his heart too.
How awesome!!! Keep up the good fight and always remember that our Lord did not say " Seek first his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you" for no reason.
What an awesome feeling it was to breathe fresh air after the Lord is done with us...last night i just wanted to run through an open field shouting how great is how God!!!
Claire, you were like Abraham, when the Lord asked him to sacrifice his only son to him and he went willing without any questions...knowing full well that God will not disregard him and how much he loves his son and trusting that God will provide a way!
You took that first step of faith and you now know how much God loves you and has your interests and hearts desire in his heart too.
How awesome!!! Keep up the good fight and always remember that our Lord did not say " Seek first his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you" for no reason.
Thank you Lord
Well its been a tough start to the week. Everybody has been feeling unsettled and Satan has been working overtime trying to prevent us from doing the Lords work.
Its so beautiful to see the Lords power when we put him first in our lives.
I personally have had the biggest test this week and I can now say I am able to surrender everything to the Lord nothing is holding me back anymore.
I now have to learn to start putting what I read into action. I am slowly getting there and I know that with continual prayers and help from our group I will get there.
Thank you Lord for your strength and blessings this week.
Its so beautiful to see the Lords power when we put him first in our lives.
I personally have had the biggest test this week and I can now say I am able to surrender everything to the Lord nothing is holding me back anymore.
I now have to learn to start putting what I read into action. I am slowly getting there and I know that with continual prayers and help from our group I will get there.
Thank you Lord for your strength and blessings this week.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Send me Lord
Well....its my first time and ive decided im going to stay!!
It has indeed been a hectic weekend, very stocked up with 'stuff'.Mentally, physically, emotionally drained, and doesnt help with the lingering flu i have that just wont go away. I feel the need to balance my life out so my non-christian friends, my workmates and not so christian family members do not isolate me because I have a passion for God! I prayed yesterday that the Lord will show me what Im doing wrong or not so right that might tempt others to consider me conceited because i love spending time with him and with others that love him. I know i must balance my life out, otherwise i will leave the wrong impression of the God I serve on others as a God who isolates people, and doesnt share! That is soooooo not our God!
Our God loves to share his love with others, and I just happen to be stumbling past when he chose me to be one who demonstrates this love to the unloved, the irritating, the untrustworthy, the gossiper, the winger, the "never happy with anything", the stubborn, the arrogant, the self righteous, the rebellious teenager, the misunderstood,the unforgiving, the disobedient, the drugged, the alcoholic, the lonely, the low self esteemed.....I asked the Lord to "SEND ME" because I was these people, still am some but, I thank God im no longer where i used to be even though im not where im supposed to be!
And he has convicted me to start my work for his kingdom, and in this little group we have I became more willing than ever before. But I cant do this without balance.
My professional life, my family life, my relational life with my friends outside and inside of church, my church life . It is hard..but I trust God will guide me and keep me focused on doing all things for his glory and not my own. That i rely on him for strength and not Coke or a short black!
I pray that God will keep me from ever stealing his Glory even if its for a second, because I am nothing without him. So you wonder why i am so keen on reaching and loving all these people?because when i was that rebellious alcoholic misunderstood teenager, he came for me, loved me and gave me rest.
It has indeed been a hectic weekend, very stocked up with 'stuff'.Mentally, physically, emotionally drained, and doesnt help with the lingering flu i have that just wont go away. I feel the need to balance my life out so my non-christian friends, my workmates and not so christian family members do not isolate me because I have a passion for God! I prayed yesterday that the Lord will show me what Im doing wrong or not so right that might tempt others to consider me conceited because i love spending time with him and with others that love him. I know i must balance my life out, otherwise i will leave the wrong impression of the God I serve on others as a God who isolates people, and doesnt share! That is soooooo not our God!
Our God loves to share his love with others, and I just happen to be stumbling past when he chose me to be one who demonstrates this love to the unloved, the irritating, the untrustworthy, the gossiper, the winger, the "never happy with anything", the stubborn, the arrogant, the self righteous, the rebellious teenager, the misunderstood,the unforgiving, the disobedient, the drugged, the alcoholic, the lonely, the low self esteemed.....I asked the Lord to "SEND ME" because I was these people, still am some but, I thank God im no longer where i used to be even though im not where im supposed to be!
And he has convicted me to start my work for his kingdom, and in this little group we have I became more willing than ever before. But I cant do this without balance.
My professional life, my family life, my relational life with my friends outside and inside of church, my church life . It is hard..but I trust God will guide me and keep me focused on doing all things for his glory and not my own. That i rely on him for strength and not Coke or a short black!
I pray that God will keep me from ever stealing his Glory even if its for a second, because I am nothing without him. So you wonder why i am so keen on reaching and loving all these people?because when i was that rebellious alcoholic misunderstood teenager, he came for me, loved me and gave me rest.
PRAYER
Lord
why is loving so hard? you gave us a new command to love one another. As you loved us so we must love one another. By this all men will know that we are your disciples, if we love one another.
you word says that love never fails. that love covers a multitude of sins and so we should love deeply. show us how to do this LORD. Give us the strength to do this.
when loving is hard, when it means I might have to put someone else before me, when you ask me to love unconditionally then you are asking us to love like you. It doesn't mean you always give us what we want because then how do we learn to put others first? But you always give us what we need.
There is my answer. Thanks LORD you are awesome. So we have to ask ourselves when loving a person is hard - what does that person need right now? how can I put this person before myself? It's not about what I want. It's not even about what they want - it's about what they need.
So what do our loved ones need right now LORD because loving is very hard?
why is loving so hard? you gave us a new command to love one another. As you loved us so we must love one another. By this all men will know that we are your disciples, if we love one another.
you word says that love never fails. that love covers a multitude of sins and so we should love deeply. show us how to do this LORD. Give us the strength to do this.
when loving is hard, when it means I might have to put someone else before me, when you ask me to love unconditionally then you are asking us to love like you. It doesn't mean you always give us what we want because then how do we learn to put others first? But you always give us what we need.
There is my answer. Thanks LORD you are awesome. So we have to ask ourselves when loving a person is hard - what does that person need right now? how can I put this person before myself? It's not about what I want. It's not even about what they want - it's about what they need.
So what do our loved ones need right now LORD because loving is very hard?
Sunday, October 16, 2005
MY SPIRIT IS STRONG BUT MY BODY IS WEAK!
unsettled oppressive day...
we all felt it today - even at church, our pastor mentioned and prayed to bind it up before he spoke on his sermon.
we are doing something new and we are all stepping out for the LORD...fresh start, new level of commitment...new level of everything. So already Satan is attacking...trying to isolate us, trying to tempt us - not so much to give up because he knows we already know too much.
The temptation is to give less than our best, to slow down now the 40 days is over...we don't have to try as hard, give as much time, we can afford to be a bit more slack...complacent. We're still going to do it, but it doesn't have to be so intense.
BUT we have to be careful not to let this happen otherwise we will be giving our second best to the LORD and not our first fruits.
In our 40 days study Lipo (Phil) and I wanted to find that purpose which we would be so passionate about. But it just occurred to me that for 40 days we were so passionate to study our purpose that we met twice a week and talked for hours each time.
We can't afford to lose this passion just because the book is finished. Now is the time for the REAL work. We have to make the lessons and truths that we discovered a part of WHO we are. Then and only then will we see the fruits of a changed life that the LORD expects of us.
Only God can change us and the purpose filled life is the tool he is using RIGHT NOW to wake us up and move us from walking...to a slow jog...to running freely...like when we were children and the only thing that stopped us running around was the sun going down. We need to get back that joy.
Claire, Zella and I were talking about that last night...we all had that in common - we loved to run around outside. We didn't stop until it was dark.
We still have a race to run and the LORD is trying to remind us that we all loved being physically active..I am beginning to realise it's God's plan for us all to work on our fitness right now. We need more energy to do his work with JOY.
The LORD's observation of his disciples 'watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak'. This applies to us. God made the five of us physically fit so to be lazy and unhealthy is falling into this temptation.
So this is a priority for me. What's the point of a strong spirit if I am tired all the time...I will burn out before I have even started at this new level!!! So no more excuses!!
we all felt it today - even at church, our pastor mentioned and prayed to bind it up before he spoke on his sermon.
we are doing something new and we are all stepping out for the LORD...fresh start, new level of commitment...new level of everything. So already Satan is attacking...trying to isolate us, trying to tempt us - not so much to give up because he knows we already know too much.
The temptation is to give less than our best, to slow down now the 40 days is over...we don't have to try as hard, give as much time, we can afford to be a bit more slack...complacent. We're still going to do it, but it doesn't have to be so intense.
BUT we have to be careful not to let this happen otherwise we will be giving our second best to the LORD and not our first fruits.
In our 40 days study Lipo (Phil) and I wanted to find that purpose which we would be so passionate about. But it just occurred to me that for 40 days we were so passionate to study our purpose that we met twice a week and talked for hours each time.
We can't afford to lose this passion just because the book is finished. Now is the time for the REAL work. We have to make the lessons and truths that we discovered a part of WHO we are. Then and only then will we see the fruits of a changed life that the LORD expects of us.
Only God can change us and the purpose filled life is the tool he is using RIGHT NOW to wake us up and move us from walking...to a slow jog...to running freely...like when we were children and the only thing that stopped us running around was the sun going down. We need to get back that joy.
Claire, Zella and I were talking about that last night...we all had that in common - we loved to run around outside. We didn't stop until it was dark.
We still have a race to run and the LORD is trying to remind us that we all loved being physically active..I am beginning to realise it's God's plan for us all to work on our fitness right now. We need more energy to do his work with JOY.
The LORD's observation of his disciples 'watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak'. This applies to us. God made the five of us physically fit so to be lazy and unhealthy is falling into this temptation.
So this is a priority for me. What's the point of a strong spirit if I am tired all the time...I will burn out before I have even started at this new level!!! So no more excuses!!
I want to be an OPEN BOOK
I want to be an open book. It's not fun being closed. I can't do what I am meant to do being closed. Having the DO NOT DISTURB sign up. Rather than say everything in my first blog let me say three things I wanna 'be':
- unity - doing things together. connecting. showing the 'one way' in one way.
Just a small vision. All wrapped up in a 'it's not about me' character. I think this blog thing is going to be funny as we see our individual styles coming through. God loves difference...I do it to please him...but sure hope other people enjoy it to!
Saturday, October 15, 2005
OUR FIRST ENTRY....IN OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER
I'm excited that I have people to share this journey with now. I feel like the disciples when the LORD left them behind to do his work...I think I have caught some of their passion for fulfilling the mission he left us with...to go out into the world...to serve and be a servant...the harvest is ready and I am bursting to go out and work....my life has become less about me and more and more about being my Father's daughter and fulfilling everything he has planned for me to do!!!
I want to see my heavenly Father in eternity and rush up to him and say 'did I miss anything?? did I do it all, Father??' and have him hug me so tight and speak with such love 'daughter you did it, welcome home beloved'....and then I will seek out my loved ones...my Dad and my child.
It will take my whole life but I will be who I say I am - my Father's daughter and I will prepare for eternity.
I want to see my heavenly Father in eternity and rush up to him and say 'did I miss anything?? did I do it all, Father??' and have him hug me so tight and speak with such love 'daughter you did it, welcome home beloved'....and then I will seek out my loved ones...my Dad and my child.
It will take my whole life but I will be who I say I am - my Father's daughter and I will prepare for eternity.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)