prayer life update

I keep on praying for my family, in all places: the train, shower, church, bed, walking in the street, on the toilet.

I have been pretty good about doing it every day, though thinking back have missed a couple of days.

I tend to pray about something, a topic, for all of them at a time, like:

• to find the joy that I have found in the Lord
• to find peace and comfort for their issues
• to find purpose in their life that is more than them
• to be convinced and committed
• to have the love that I have in me from the Lord, so we can all share it
• to have a personal relationship with Jesus
• to be saved

Lord, thanks for the prayers so far. Give me the strength and love to carry on. Amen.

A great night on the street

Just gotta say that I had a great time at Pass The Plate last night.

Every time I go out God confirms to me we should be there. I speak to guys just out from Prison, in shelters from being homeless, lonely men, all sorts!

And they want to talk! They want to open up and share. And I get to talk to them about my faith and Jesus. A lot of the time they bring it up! ITS EASY!!!

It reminds me that men are often the most alone people.

What's so hard about choosing a church?

Now I know I may get shot down for expressing this '5 minute christian view' but sometimes is amazes me that hardcore mature christians have such difficulty in choosing a church. To me it seems simple:

• have a relationship with God as your only source of validation
• choose a church
• start serving at church and start loving your church family

If you have issues with the theology, practices, people at the church, fine. But don't let it stop you choosing, serving and loving.

I know church can be an 'institution', but I also see it as a 'fellowship of believers', most of whom are far less blessed than me, yet far more humble and loving.

If I have 'issues' with the church, I better make sure its not due to "all about me" type thinking. I know I am meant to be serving at church. I am blessed 'cause the Lord gives my heart joy doing it.

love, love, love...

I can remember growing up that there were always people that others rejected...
they were the ones who didn't look cool
who were outcasts
who everyone looked down on...

i am my Father's daughter because i never saw them this way...i saw people that the LORD loved...that within each of them was something worth loving, worth getting to know...it wasn't out of pity but out of love...i can say this because my spirit is soaring and i feel like celebrating who the LORD made me to be.

so when cool people made fun of them...I always stuck up for them, talked to them, laughed with them...my man was one of these cool people...but i could see behind his coolness too...I could see just how unique he was.

Maybe that's the answer to that old question how do you know he's the one??
when you can see behind the mask he shows the world and recognise how unique that person is from everyone else...when you see him with the LORD's eyes...and suddenly everyone else in the room disappears...and you only see him.

ONE PERSON MATTERS

I love the way the LORD makes you feel like he is speaking directly to you and there is no one else in the room...claire, zee and me experienced this sitting in the same service with 40 others.

reminds me of that virgin blue ad where it shows all these passengers on a plane with...i don't remember the name of the passenger...say Mr Jones. The catch lines go somethng like this...
This is how Mr Jones sees Virgin Blue (plane full of passengers, air hostess serving him a drink, lots of noise)

next scene...
This is how our customer service rep (air hostess)...say her name is Sarah...sees Mr Jones....
and it shows Mr Jones in an empty plane and all her attention is on him as if no one else exists but him.

That's like the LORD...he pours so much love on you, just ONE PERSON, that you feel like his little girl with your face in his hands as he whispers a message just for you and kisses you on your forehead....everything else melts away...and for a moment you life is crystal clear...and you know who you are.

For me...it's like catching a glimpse of him...and recognising him IN YOU...you know without a doubt who you serve...who you belong to.