As Cara and Sammy were going home from the airport on Monday, Cara realised that the water in her water bottle, was in fact from New South Wales! Interstate water! Sammy then came to the realisation that her water was indeed from South Australia, as her mother gave her an abundance of this under the realisation that Bendigo is indeed in a drought. Cara and Sammy rejoiced in the fact that there was water from two states in the one place, not the state we were currently located. The duo then looked over to notice that their travelling buddy, Luke, also obtained some water, and it occurred to the trio that Luke in fact had Victorian water. The trio (more so Cara and Sammy) then rejoiced in the happiness of having water from three states.

The end

This is just a preview of what you will find in The Adventures of Sammy and Cara.

Yes another blog!

RSS it today! Remember the URL: http://samara-adventures.blogspot.com

Hungry!

(Sammy amuses herself further...)

*Meanwhile, back at the ranch (mission HQ), Cara and Sammy outside having a 'd 'n' m'.. Rach then walks outside*
Rach: "girls, dinner's ready!"
Sammy: "I'm not hungry"
Cara: "You told me before you were hungry!"
Sammy: "I meant in a biblical sense, you twat!"

Have you ever felt so hungry for God that you just want to eat him? Ok, enough of the silliness now. I'm serious, I have these days where all I want to do is know God more and more and it's just like, wow!

You can be hungry for many things, but in my honest opinion, and what I've come to know, is that knowing who God is, and knowing his character, comes from his word. It is a crucial link that I see is lost in so many scenarios today. The way to know God is to know His word. I encourage you - read it, it's tasty! Get into it, it has so much good stuff in it, and it's so so so so powerful!

(then what? Pray about what you've read, that's another crucial way of getting to know him too!)

Amazing grace.. how sweet the sound...

"There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less"

I actually read a book, and finished it.

The book: What's so amazing about Grace by Phillip Yancy.

And I know, I know, you've probably read it. But I think it came up with some good points.

"Church! Why would I want to go there? It would just make me feel worse!"

You know what's funny, though, is that many Sunday mornings I have woken up and thought that same thing in my own church! I think it is impossible to find a church that is fully 'graced'. We get so tied up in condemning people who don't follow the rules, that we completely overlook forgiveness.

"God in heaven holds each person by a string. When you sin, you cut the string. Then God ties it up again, making a knot - and thereby bringing you a little closer to Him. Again and again your sins cut the string - and with each knot God keeps drawing you closer and closer."

I really like that quote. It is how I want to view my life at the moment. I'll let you reflect on that...

Review:

Good things:

• Real life situations
  
• Easy to understand
• Thought provoking
• Can be applied to everyday life
• 
  

Not so good things:

• American (haha, sorry Jamie :P )
• I really would have liked to have seen more scripture references to see how it links back to the bible. That could just be me and the way I learn.
• Still a good read and I HIGHLY recommend it!
  

Blasphemy Challenge?

I don't know about you, but I find this really sad!

http://www.blasphemychallenge.com/


My 2 cents is that they are in such a position of influnce, and so many people don't even know what they're doing. It disturbs me!

hatiku percaya

(title is Indonesian for "my heart believes")

Over the course of the mission in Bendigo, I was constantly reminded about my desire to be a missionary in Indonesia.

Things were really confirmed for me on Sunday at church when my friend Zoe told me that she was serious about coming with me. She said that we probably couldn't do it this year, and I don't think that God is really calling me there yet, but I think that when He does, it may happen all very quickly. I have no time frame at the moment, but I know God does. Yagh! It freaks me out that there is a possibility that this is probably what God has in store for me, yet it is all exciting at the same time...

Before mission, I didn't want to go. I didn't want the stress, I didn't want to be tired, I didn't think I could do it, and I didn't think I could handle the heat... How ironic, hey? God put that all back to me and said that if I couldn't handle these things here in Bendigo, how on earth would I survive over in Indonesia?

For those who don't know.. I have actually been there before. I went back in 2002 with my school to places now you could only dream of going to (due to the danger). There was so much poverty. I grew up so much. I remember sitting on a bus, going through the city of Yogyakarta (yeah, no exotic trip to Bali), and watching all of the native Indonesians go about their business, and I thought to myself that God has made them, just like He has made me.. But nobody here knows Him. It broke my heart. My heart is absolutely broken for this country.

When I came back to Australia, my friend Kylie described me as a 'fly buzzing around in a jar'. I felt so depressed, and heartbroken about this country, about how they could not see the light of God..

For those who are statistically minded or want to know, Indonesia is made up of: Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1998)

... Is this hope?

(youtube video)



The words to this song are
TUHANLAH KEKUATAN DAN MAZMURKU
DIA GUNUNG BATU DAN KES'LAMATANKU
HANYA PADA-MU HATIKU PERCAYA
KAULAH MENARA DAN KOTA PERLINDUNGAN

REFF :
KU MAU S'LALU BERSYUKUR
S'BAB CINTA-MU PADAKU
TAK KAN PERNAH BERUBAH
HATIKU PERCAYA

WALAU BUMI BERGUNCANG
GUNUNG-GUNUNG BERANJAK
NAMUN KASIH SETIA-MU
TAK PERGI DARIKU

I dare you to try and sing along! And for those who are not Steff (I expect you Steff to know all this... says the girl whose about to get their dictionary to translate this), the rough translation of this is:

God who is strong and my song
He is a strong mountain and my happiness
Only unto You my heart believes
You are a tower and a city of protection

I always want to thank God
Because my love is in You
It cannot be erased
My heart Believes

Even though the land may shake
Mountains move
Your love is always there
It won't leave from me

Does this look like an Indonesian Hillsong to anybody else? Me being against 'shiny christianity', this concerns me for some reason.. I'm guessing these guys would be in the city of Jakarta, but this isn't what Christianity is about? Worshipping God, yes, but it is really hard to imagine it is in Indonesia? After what I saw when I was there?

Bizarre...

kids4life

I'm sure a few of you have noticed my absence for the past few weeks, the reason for this is I have been away being a missionary. I'm amused that I am the first (Trav, you don't count! You get half a point :P) one out of the immediate Bendigo team to actually blog about this, and I thought I was slack!! I'm sure they are all catching up on some much needed rest! Wait, no. I was wrong, Craig has bet me.

Now when we think of being a missionary, we always think of being in an exotic place overseas, near a beach (for those from Bendigo usually involved in mission there was beach mission to Warnambool). This mission was at the drought stricken land of Bendigo.

It made me think about how we can get extremely concerned about things going on a fair distance from us, but there is always a 'mission' closer to home. That said I do believe Jesus does send us out into the world.

At first I didn't want to go on mission. I didn't feel like I was 'fit' enough in many aspects, and also another contributing factor was that in the past few weeks the Bendigo weather had been making me sick (I'm DEFINITELY a winter person!), luckily, God pulled me through, and, haha God you are funny, it rained! On top of all of that, my anxiety has been a bit rough.

Upon arriving (we stayed at the Bendigo AOG, while the mission itself was held at a school in Golden Square), it was clear to us that satan didn't like what we were doing in the city. One of our team members (and I think others) had become unwell. Prayer for team health was a priority.

Every day we were blessed by having 'quiet time' for about half an hour each day. I spent my quiet time trying numerous different activities. Usually I spent it outside at the end of Soloman Street watching the sunset over the city (a truly remarkable experience), praying, one day I actually had a shower. Oh the possibilities!

Back to seriousness now. It came to me (well, I kind of have known this for a while now) that Satan sometimes can attack us in ways that others can't see. For me it has really been anxiety. Although my anxiety levels on mission were remarkably lower, there was the odd occasion where I would feel unbelievably feel anxious and loose focus. I almost didn't go on mission because of my anxiety. It's a growing progress, I really just want to be 'healed'!

Another strange thing that happened at mission is this. I had my bible out, ready to read from it to the kids, and suddenly something just grabbed me, like, it literally felt like someone had put their arms around me and squeezed me so tight I couldn't breathe! I went away for a moment, just crying out to God to help me. Slowly whatever it was let me go. The whole thing probably only lasted merely 30 seconds.

I have been on many camps in my 20 years of life, but this was my first mission. I found that some people struggle to distinguish the difference between 'mission' and 'camp'. Camps are usually where we go out bush somewhere and build ourselves up, learn about God etc, have a great week. A mission is different. We are literally on a mission. We need to be focussed on what the Will of God is, and the task at hand.

That said, mission has been an immense time of spiritual growth for me. I feel as though I have matured five years. God has revealed many things to me, I even have realised who I really am. From this, however, I have a lot of things to work on now that I'm back in reality.

Another thing I have come to realise over the duration of mission is that to see change, we sometimes need to make sacrifices. Many have sacrificed family, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, finances, time etc to see change. It's that whole 'storing up treasure in heaven' thing.

I've learnt a whole heap about being genuine. We had a few 'situations' on mission where things just didn't sit right with me. In fact, in one of these situations, I got up, and ran out of the room! Now I was seriously so upset, I went and sat on the curb and cried, and I didn't understand what God was doing, but then I realised (with a little help from other wise individuals, you know who you are) that I really had discernment that night.

I hunger to know God as He is, not in the places so many people put Him. I know the way to do this is to read His word and, yep, pray.

But more about the program itself. I was the head-leader-doosy-whatsit person for the kinder-prep group (being the prep expert that I am! haha). Although they're only preps, amazing things happened. God really 'facilitated' a discussion and we were all running around so happy! God really worked in these kids lives.

I began to get discouraged on the last day as there were not any 'decisions' been made from the kids to follow Christ. Sometimes we can be so concerned that we get them 'over that line', that we forget that God is even working in their lives, preparing them to make the decision.

Anyway, here are some key memories from mission:

• The kinder-preps saying "It's ok, God loves you anyway".. became a bit of a catch-phrase
• That whole "poof" thing
• I said a Boom-chicka Boom!
• We don't burn down the school, we don't eat soap, we don't drink vinegar (eeewgh!)
• Doug, Dougless and Dougette (yay, I was Dougette!)
• McFlumpy
  
• "one" - haha, on ya Craig!
• The whole joke thing
• The censored word: M-ne
• Hey ain't that funky now
• Praise the Lord, I saw the light!
• I feel like Royal- Tea. Woah woah (Sammy's pathetic rip-off of Hillsong Kids song "royalty")
• Steff and Sammy's stupidity on friday night. (Think Sammy with a red cup on her head and Steff very much ROFLing. Gotta love tiredness)
• Late nights
• Early mornings!
• And above all, God and his power moving in everything.

And just for the record, check out what I wrote about mission back in September

wiiouch!

who needs a gym when you have the wii. I was going mad in baseball New Years Eve, and I woke up with the SOREST arms. I woke up this morning and they're even looking bruised.

Ouch. :(

a bronze babe and a chocolate Steff

On Wednesday night, Steff and I dyed our hair at about 1 in the morning. Oh the things you do when you're tired and under the influence of Sammy!

The lovely Steff went a lovely brown chocolate, while I went for a bronze babe. (How wrong does that sound!?) The results were impressive.

We also watched a retro movie called Down with Love. Well, Steff watched it, I slept through parts, munched on chicken twisties to try and stay awake, and still managed to get the general jist of the movie. It inspired me to invest in a beret.

4-5am saw us in bed, sending hilarious 1c texts across the house. I somehow managed to get up at 10am and cleaned parts of the house.

Pictures? Well, because it's either my dial-up or blogger being stupid I have uploaded them to my deviantart. Click here to see before and after pics. Click here to see even more pics!!!

Your Hair Should Be Orange

Expressive, deep, and one of a kind.You pull off "weird" well - hardly anyone notices.

What's" Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

so this is christmas...

I have noticed that so many people get caught up in the commercialism and business of Christmas. It doesn't have to be like this, there is a choice.

In John Lennon's song "So this is Christmas", the end line repeats and fades into the end of the song: "war is over, if you want it". It's true. Christmas is like a war. A war with commercialism. But it doesn't have to be like that at all. It is only this commercialised stress because that's what you make it. The war can be over, but only if you want it...

community scale

This is what I call the 'community scale'. The orange pentagon is the church, the green is our community (not the church community, for example, for me, it would be Greater City of Bendigo), and then the blue is more on the world scale.

This has come from me thinking about how I see churches 'reach out' to the community. Vinyard Church run breakfast for people who don't have enough to eat, the salvos, well, do lots. And our church? I'm not sure what we do. I guess we are reaching out to the community of Epsom by planting a church there.

Me, personally on the scale? I can be in many places. I can be very church-centric, hiding between the walls of the church. I am involved in a mission that is reaching out to kids from Bendigo, and then then I am a bit in the blue, too. I'm here and there in SA, I sponsor a child in Senegal, and I plan to go back to Indonesia.

Jesus told us to go out into the world. Where are you?

the worship language of Sammy

after God's own heart.... by ~notsoemobadger on deviantART

^ If you can't see the picture in the embedded object up there, click here.

I have realised that I need to paint more.

I believe we have different 'worship langauges', and I don't think they should be limited by what a book says, if that is there are only 5. Some people do it through singing, some dancing, some through conversation (another one of mine).

Worship is a when you are 'connected' with God. I discovered my connection when I painted this picture.

I have always liked art (yet this doesn't mean I am good at it!). It is a way I can just sit back, relax, and draw/paint what's on my mind. I notice that when I don't do it once in a while, I begin to get agitated! I felt like I could really connect with God by doing this. I listened to a sermon, and some music while doing it. I could pray, I expressed to God through what I was doing. Worship is a verb, it's an action!

The painting I did this morning was inspired by David, known as a Man after Gods own Heart. And you can see that through the kind of things he wrote in the bible (if this is wrong please correct me!). That's what I want to be. A woman after God's own heart.

My worship language is seemingly art, and I'm happy with that.

smokin'

Last Friday I spent all day in the smoke with my friend Cara.

The smoke was so thick, you could barely see 5m in front of you.

This was the cathedral at about 11am,



and this is the same thing a few hours later..


If it is this bad here, it must be really bad where the fires are, over 300 km away from here...

wally and grace

I brought some fish yesterday, redirect to my dA for more:

• My fish
• A Christmas for my fish
  

Feel free to comment here

a song that saved my life

over a month ago I was going through a really bad patch. A friend of mine e-mailed me out of concern. He emailed me a copy of this song:

Skillet- The last night

[ listen to it on YouTube ]

You come to me with scars on your wrist,

You tell me this will be the last night feeling like this.

“I just came to say goodbye,

I didn’t want you to see me cry, I’m fine”

But I know it’s a lie

This is the last night you’ll spend alone

Look me in the eye so I know you know

I’m everywhere you want me to be

The last night you’ll spend alone

I’ll wrap you in my arms and I won’t let go

I’m everything you need me to be

Your parents say everything is your fault

But they don’t know you like I know you; they don’t know you at all

“I’m so sick of when they say:

‘It’s just a phase, you’ll be okay. You’re fine’”

But I know it’s a lie

This is the last night you’ll spend alone

Look me in the eye so I know you know

I’m everywhere you want me to be

The last night you’ll spend alone

I’ll wrap you in my arms and I won’t let go

I’m everything you need me to be

The last night away from me

The night is so long when everything’s wrong

And if you give me your hand, I’ll help you hold on

Tonight, tonight

This is the last night you’ll spend alone

Look me in the eye so I know you know

I’m everywhere you want me to be

The last night you’ll spend alone

I’ll wrap you in my arms and I won’t let go

I’m everything you need me to be

I won’t let you say goodbye

And I’ll be your reason why

The last night away from me, away from me

First of all I need to confirm that I was not suicidal. I am not a suicidal person, because I would be absolutely scared to a) die, and b) face God after I did something like that.

Now before you get all angry about this being a song that sounds suicidal, it has a fantastic point to it.

I just think this is a fantastic song, because it has so much truth in it. God is everything we need. We will never be alone. It's just wow. Self explanatory. This song made me cry, it made me feel valued, and a bit special.

So the thanks for this goes out to Tim. This song 'saved my life', share it with a friend today and save theirs.

walking on egg shells

Have you ever felt like to be in ministry you need to be almost perfect or fit into a certain criterea?

I strongly believe that you will never find a church that is 100% perfect. We are made to be imperfect; it is God that makes us perfect in his sight.

So the criteria I've noticed? Of course firstly you need to be a fully committed Christian, and that is definitely always going to be a must have, and I fully agree. Other things that you maybe shouldn’t do are date a non-Christian, watch certain movies, gamble, etc etc. I guess what is most scary is that I could tick a few of these off, that if I were to have such a place in ministry, I’d be long gone. I think that it is important though to have these rules, because ministry is where you become a role model to other people, however what about the sins that we can hide deep in our hearts that nobody sees? The lust, greed, and everything else?

So this one day, I decided that I wanted to live my life like this: I tried not to sin. I tried not to do anything that if anyone found out would kick me out of my imaginary ministry. And I can tell you, with all that was going on at the time, and with everything life threw at me, it felt like I was walking on egg shells. Soon I realised that it was hard not to sin, and that we were made sinful, and I’d just have to live with it. I also realised that I was too busy trying not to do things that wouldn’t let me be in this ministry, that I forgot all about what it was that God actually required of me.

So, what is ministry? I believe that ministry can be a leadership, or ministering to ministerees (I just made that word up) of any shape, size or form. I don’t think you need to be up on a stage to be involved in ministry. I don’t think you even need a police check. Ministry can be one beggar, trying to help another beggar to find bread. I don’t think you need to be ‘official’ in anything to be in a ministry. Jesus ministry is for everyone.

We are all sinners. The one in ministry is no better than the one in the pew. I think that it is important for those leaders to be an example of Gods saving grace. That they are not worth it, but because of God’s grace in their life, they are justified and made righteous.

Jesus has called us to have a free life, that doesn't mean being reckless, but it doesnt mean walking on eggshells either.

Guess what! If you’re a Christian, you’re in ministry. It’s our job to tell people about Jesus, and build up those who already know about Him. So how is your ministry going, anyway?

Day by Day

(I'm so sorry about my use of you tube, its the only means I can find - can you help me out, Tim?)

Point of Grace - Day by Day
I'm not unhappy but I'd take the train today
If you'd let me
If you'd let me
They may be clapping for me but I wait for you to come get me
Come, come get me

Cause day by day you're coming closer
Making our way clearer and straighter
Turning our faces into the light
And I can't wait to fall at your glory
On my face, God of the morning
You're coming closer
Day by day

Somebody told me I could travel the world
To find beauty
To find beauty
But to behold it I would have to carry it within me
Yeah well it's in me

Cause day by day you're coming closer
Making our way clearer and straighter
Turning our faces into the light
And I can't wait to fall at your glory
On my face, God of the morning

You're coming closer
Day by day

Give me a mission if I've still got the time
Cause I'm open
Yeah I'm open
Be my vision and I'll be your delight
Cause I'm going wherever you're going

Turning faces into the light
And I can't wait to fall at your glory
On my face, God of the morning
You're coming closer
Day by day

Cause day by day you're coming closer
Making our way clearer and straighter
Turning our faces into the light
And I can't wait to fall at your glory
On my face, God of the morning
You're coming closer
Day by day

Cause day by day you're coming closer
Making our way clearer and straighter
Turning our faces into the light
And I can't wait to fall at your glory
On my face, God of the morning
You're coming closer
Day by day

[I encourage you to listen to this song and read/sing along to the lyrics]

I heard this song on lifeFM today. I don't know if I'm getting caught up in the wonder of the song, but it has made me think.

This song seems to be that we cant wait to fall at Gods glory, yet there's worlds to be saved, and we're to busy sitting and waiting. This can very much be applied to my own life.

The end of the world really scares me. Like, I know i shouldn't be worried, but quite honestly, I dont know what is going to happen! But again this is something I know that I trust God on..

"And I can't wait to fall at your glory, on my face, God of the morning, You're coming closer, day by day"

This line gives me a bit of comfort. Being a bit of a sucker for the 'supernatural' stuff of God, I think that its going to be an absolutely amazing thing to actually FALL on our faces to God! And we cant even to begin to comprehend how, why and what! And despite we probably think that wont be that good now, I'm pretty sure when we're at that point we'll not be able to do anything but worship God for ever and ever!

*insert bible verses here*

Comments or anything anyone wants to add?

The Abused

"When you were abused, so was He..."

I came up with the idea for this drawing on a bus last week, while I was pondering about how horrible my somebody had been to me.

I felt violated, upset and this really hurt. I felt like I'd been emotionally and verbally abused.

This made me think about abuse a bit. Millions of children all over the world are abused in many different ways, be it physically, emotionally, spiritually or verbally, or however else. Emotional abuse is the leader in child abuse, with 34% of cases. [read this PDF!]

In a spiritual sense, we always would tell someone that God is there. And if you try to visualise it, where do you think he would be? I think that many would visualise Him standing there watching. I don't think that at all. I think that Jesus was there, in that situation, feeling the same, if not more, pain that you were. In fact, there would be NOTHING he wouldn't understand. That's what I'm trying to represent in the painting. All those scars, he has them, and more.

"If God really cared about me he wouldn't have let this happen to me." My friend, he does care. In fact one day you will probably realise something good come out of this situation. It could be you become a good friend for someone else. Like Adrian Rowse says, use the situation to get closer to God.

Abuse is wrong. Tell someone about it. I cannot stress this enough. Be it you or a friend, or yourself, tell someone! (Take the risk) Often this is easier said than done.

This is something I am afraid of. In 2 years I will be a fully qualified teacher. Child abuse often goes unnoticed in so many children. How can I put a stop to that?

Anyway, I'll leave it there, but I'd really appreciate some comments on this.

Isaiah 53:4-5

4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

Singular hope

I heard this really good sermon by a guest speaker at my church a few weeks ago. He spoke about being 'single', and it wasn't merely aimed at young people. I didn't realise that so many older people are single, and this can be for various reasons such as they never married, widowed, divorced, etc. I am not single, nor do intend on becoming that. But something I have learnt from this is that we all nonetheless in a relationship need that 'God space'.

The focus scripture of this is 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, 32-35:

17Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.
19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.
20Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.
21Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.
22For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.
23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to
...
32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord.
33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.
35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Going back to verse 17:

Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.

We are 'called' every day. For example, what is the role of a teacher, mother, father, .. Mother Theresa? Now Mother Theresa, her calling would have been very different if she did not have kids. In a biblical sense, Hagar raised Ishmael alone, Naomi raised her sons alone and Moses was raised by Pharaohs daughter!

So, is being single a good or bad thing?
Going back to verses 32-34:

I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.

In this scripture, Paul is implying that it can be better to NOT be married! Like, woah. Being single (if just for now, times to come, or even for ever) can be a chance to devote and grow in God. Now that actually sounds good. Some people are actually single because they feel they want to grow in Christ.

Another passage noteworthy at the moment, Phillippians 4:12-14.

12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

Coming out of a failed marriage people can feel like a 'second class christian'. This can usually be the way people treat others.. in a church!! God shows us grace and love. Do we show the same back?

So, does it feel like your dreams are fading away? I know it sounds cliché, but PRAY. God fufills the desires of our heart! And He uses circumstances! Jesus didn't promise a care free life, but one that is full in christ!

The hurting

I've been thinking about why people church-hop so much.

People go to one church, they get what they can from that church, until they've got there entertainment from that church, and move on to the next one. This happens over and over again. Church isnt about sitting back and watching, taking in, and getting spoon fed. I really, really believe that it is about relationship. Because God didnt put us on this earth to be alone, and made us to be not only in relationship with him, but also with others. And when people come to a church, and cant get a relationship, this can cause them to leave. I would rather go to a desolate old church with an organ, and have relationship with people, than go to a massive church with millions of people, have awesome 'annointed' worship, but nobody notice me.

2 Corinthians 9:13: Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

A lady I know used to have this 'gift', when she knew if someone was hurting, or in trouble, and she continuously would be getting these 'vibes' about this one girl in our youth group. I'm pretty sure she still does to this day. I dont know if this is a spiritual gift, or just something God stirs in your spirit. And how to fix things when you feel like someone is hurting? I believe it is prayer, understanding, compassion, love, and relationship. People think that just by praying for someone, it will fix things. Dont get me wrong, it can, and prayer is wonderful and works! But dont limit God in the ways he works. God can work through YOU! My main point here is relationship is important.

God may put someone on your heart that you just can't stop thinking about (realistically speaking, Im not talking about like being in love, more out of concern or something.) When our youth group in my home town had just been established, and the bunch of us were only month-old christiansour youth leader was explaining to us the above concept, of how sometimes thats how God wants us to pray for someone. One of the girls said that she had one of her friends on her mind constantly in the past week. So we prayed for that girl. The next day, on the front page of the newspaper was a report of a murder. The person murdered? That girls cousin.. See what I mean! A bit too freaky to be a coincidence?

The Dish

This morning I was procrastinating (as I am now) and watching TV, when an ad came on for New South Wales tourism. Now, I dont have much of a knowledge about New South Wales, in fact, my only travels usually get to about Moama. I realised today that there is a dream of mine that has not yet been fufilled.

What's that dream? I know that this may seem strange, but, I really really want to go to Parkes!

Why Parkes? Do you ask? Because I want to go and see the massive sattelite dish! Have you ever seen the movie, The Dish? Well, since it came out in 2001ish, I've always wanted to go there!

I was pondering a visit there this morning, and then realised that this dream was always a dream I had when I lived in South Australia, and I havent thought about it up until today in Victoria. And to that I realised that I am probably not that far away from Parkes anymore!!

I was wrong. It's probably about 8 hours away. Dang.