shine like stars?

I found this quote on the end of someone's MSN name. Sure made me think.

"...Cuz my Jesus would never be accepted in my church; the blood and dirt on his feet may stain the carpet..."

Think about it...

Song of the moment: Shine like Stars by True Worshippers

Look at the world we live today
Look at the hurting everywhere
Let us see mercy and Your grace
Overflowed in every place
Let us be one with You today
And let Your glory fall

We will shine
Shine like stars above
Shining in Your light
Guided by Your love
Let Your fire burn in us
Burning like the sun
As we glorify
And show Your kingdom come
In all the earth

Teach us to live in righteousness
Teach us to love in one accord
Guide us to live life everyday
As we worship in Your court
Let us declare Your majesty
and let your glory fall

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:16)

Clouds.. of the nerdy variety

We all know I love clouds, but I have discovered the blogger tag cloud! If you scroll down, Isn't it pretty?

I wonder if those technologically minded people who can be bothered with fiddling around with HTML will have a go at it.

For those of us who aren't as technologically minded, there is this tool here to make something a little more simple.



Song of the moment: Dive by Steven Curtis Chapman

It's almost over!

(Well, MSTIE is over! Yay! Now I just gotta sit through exams and I'm 75% a teacher!)

trains, busses, taxi's, trams and a wedding!

This morning my alarm went off at 6:45. My alarm is pretty cool. It is Cara singing rise and shine, and give God the glory glory..

After snoozing the alarm for 5 minutes, I got up, had a shower, and got ready for a very long day. At about 8am I got in my car and drove my housemate and I down the station. We got on what was a very packed train. Once on the train this horrible feeling of Oh darnit I forgot my camera overcomes me. Dang!

The train only went as far as Sunbury, and after that I had to catch the bus the rest of the way to Southern Cross. Here started the organised chaos. There were well over 100 people trying to fit on busses, and people were running all over the place getting confused! Finally I got on a bus which went straight down the tollway and into spencer street. We made it in record time!

After briefly working out how to get to Doncaster, I waited for Turtle to get off her delayed train from Ballarat. It seems today is a good day for doing work on the train lines. After greeting her we took a sequence of trains and taxis and found ourselves out at Doncaster. Here we met with the wonderful Mel and Bray. Now the funny thing is, I have KNOWN Mel since about 2003, but I only just met her today! And man, it feels like I have known her for ages! I so wish that I could have met her so much sooner!

After lunch, we all went to the wedding together. The wedding was so incredibly beautiful. I was really struggling to fight back the tears. When I look at them I can't help but smile. I think I still couldnt stop smiling after I left Melbourne. In fact I'm still smiling! eeee!

The whole structure of the wedding was really different to anything I've seen before! And it was magnificent and so.. God honouring!

EEE I can't stop smiling! Guys, if you're reading this - :D

After the wedding Mel, Turtle, Bray and I went and hung out down on the beach for a while. But before we went to the beach we were travelling down the Eastern Freeway when Turtle and Mel point out this bus that reads Organ's Coaches Kyneton. In true South Australian tradition I got what was so funny half an hour later.

Turtle was snapping a photo of this bus when the people actually saw her. The people in the bus began to wave at us, and we waved back. This was going on, along with us three girls in hysterical laughter, they began to make faces at us! Finally we made a sign that said "Jesus loves you", but alas they were turning the corner so we dont think they saw it. But that was ok, because then whoever was driving behind us would see that nice little message! :D

After spending a bit of time at the coast, I caught a tram into the city to catch the bus/train back to Sunbury/Bendigo. I arrived into Spencer St, or should I say "Southern Cross" half an hour before my bus headed back to Sunbury. So I went and bought some half price pizza from DFO - potato and rosemary. Interesting!

I sat at the bus depot and ate my pizza as the crowd for Sunbury increased. After finishing my pizza we were informed that there would be a delay of 5 minutes because one of the busses had broken down. People were really angry and were swearing and getting really angry at the staff. I kept myself calm by talking to random people, usually elderly people. 20 minutes later, the bus arrives, and there are people pushing to get on. It reminded me of the day I quit barracking for the Adelaide crows (long story). I suddenly became pushed between people and was getting squished because everybody was so angry and eager to get to Sunbury. As we left the bus depot, we saw a man waving his finger at the staff.

Somewhere between Melbourne and Sunbury I saw the Organs bus again. Very funny stuff!

We got into Sunbury and got I straight on the train. We sat there for a good half hour waiting for another bus to arrive. Finally, at the time we were supposed to arrive in Bendigo, we left Sunbury. As the train pulled out of the station, the whole carraige cheered.

When the conducter came out to collect our tickets, we learnt that we were waiting there for 10 minutes for an invisible bus - ie, it didn't exist!

Everybody was so angry. Perhaps I didn't care because I had all day. But the thing that annoys me the most is when people complain like this, when pathetic places such as South Australia don't have the luxary of a train that leaves every hour to the capital city! In fact, from Pinnaroo, you can't even go for a day trip in Adelaide using public transport.

And with that, dare I say it, I think I'm turning into a Melbourne girl (as opposed to Adelaide). I even think that I'm starting to loose the intentionalised habit of speaking with a toffi accent. I think I'm turning... dare I say it... VICTORIAN!

But all in all, I don't think I really cared about the 'hate' going on at the station. I was too busy smiling still :)

overwhelmed?

So here I am sitting here and finally the reality hits me that there is only one day of this rediculous practicum to go. Part of me is joyous and can't wait until I'm free as of monday afternoon (exams - such a release!), but part of me feels a little sad.

Although I have spent a majority of this prac complaining, and hating every minute, I will actually miss it. It gets to this point of the prac where I begin to evaluate how I've been - I'm not exactly happy.

So after exams, I turn 21 and head over to Indonesia. And suddenly everything becomes overwhelming as I enter into my fourth year. Where have the years gone?

I have a few friends that are actually finishing their university degree this year. Imagine how overwhelmed they must feel.

heavens in the backseat of the cinema

On my recent trip to South Australia, due to conditions mostly out of control, I went and saw a really awful movie. Now when I say an awful movie, I don't mean, like, Neighbours-bad-acting type movie, I actually mean a really, bad, typical extreme american sex-phased movie. I spent a lot of the time looking at the ceiling and asking God to help me get through the movie. I think I spent a lot of time also just praying for the people watching as well.

As we were leaving, I was in the back seat of my friends car. Her and my other friend were in the front saying how awesome they thought this movie was. I kind of just sat with no comment.

As we drove out of the cinema and headed back towards the Eastern Adelaide Suburbs, I couldn't help but notice this trashy 70's song that was on the radio.

"Heaven's in the back seat of my Cadillac, let me take you there - yeah yeah"

Despite knowing the real meaning of this song.. There I was, in the back seat, and all I wanted to do was cry out to the God of heaven!

We are called to be ambassadors of heaven. We are called to pray without ceasing. That means in everything we do, no matter how crazy, we should pray! On earth as it is in where? That's right - HEAVEN! :D

It was such a quirky, exciting, maybe even uplifting part of the whole night!

We, as human beings have choices not to go some places. I could have said, look, I don't want to see this movie, in fact, I probably should have. But when you're in situations - in the 'back seat', don't forget that heaven's with you - and that's powerful!

(eeep I'm getting cheesy!)

Shopping in Sedgwick

Today I went shoe shopping. Some retail therapy was in order. Then, at 5:30, I was booted out of rivers and found that alas all other shops were also closed.

My stomach was telling me that tea should be ready within the next two hours. Because I couldnt be bothered defrosting mince, I went to buy my own.

I was driving home when instead of taking a left, I kept going straight. Straight down Carpenter St, straight down Spring Gully Rd. I didn't know where I was going, I just kept driving. I just wanted to drive drive drive! I think I needed to think think think and pray pray pray too.

Where was I going? I was going shopping in Sedgwick.

However, upon my arrival in Sedgwick, I came to realise that there was not even a shop in Sedgwick to buy mince. There wasn't even one in Mandurang. There was a little general storey-thing but it looked closed.

So I kept driving, bypassing the suburbs, almost hitting an Echidna, to Strathfieldsaye, which is a busy little place. It was there that I bought some Lemon Lime and Bitters, and some mince off a freaky butcher dude.

Sometimes, I guess I just need to drive.. to places that are more isolated even moreso than Pinnaroo...

The conclusion, or the point of this story: there isn't one. I just hope you enjoyed hearing about my afternoon, 'shopping' in Sedgwick!

Countdown...

So today it is exactly a month until I am off my P's again. How exciting it is to be counting down again, and I haven't even broken the law! That will mean I will be a fully licenced Victorian licence holder! And due to the harsh Victorian drivers laws, I should be able to do much more and have more freedom! I'll be able to teach L platers! The question though is, do I WANT to teach them?? :P

Funnily enough, I turn 21 on that same day.

I'm having a bit of trouble though, what should I do for my 21st? At the moment I'm thinking of having it in a park. My dillemma though is which day to have it on, because not every day suits people. Eep!

And in the topic of count downs.. It is one month and 6 days until I fly to Indonesia! I'm so scared and excited all at once! I'm so glad Steff is coming with me :)

[Image from: a Public Domain Image a Day]

a post about prac

Well. For those who don't know I've been on prac for two weeks now. I'm at a school in the same suburb I work with 5/6's, which has prooved to be incredibly interesting. If you know me, I'm more of a lower primary person.

Now this prac is different to most others. The first thing you will notice is I'm doing it incredibly late. The second is you wont see me doing as much outside work for it. The third is I'm doing it with a friend of mine. The fourth, I seem to be only teaching maths and science!

And am I enjoying it? No!

In fact, when the lecturer came out to see us the other day, I yelled at him!

Why don't I like this prac? Well, it's not because I have 5/6. It's moreso the point that next year I will be entering the fourth year of my course. I really need to learn how to be independant, and I can't be, because us student teachers are 'relying' on each other. It's difficult to teach in this way, because we are both two completely different teaching styles.

What's worse, is the kids pick and choose which one they like better. Because I'm not as cool and don't seem to relate as much, I'm not the favorite. But alas I am not there to be their friend, I am there to teach them!

I know that sounds harsh, and I know that the girl I told I didn't care about what she was doing on the weekend would agree (thanks for the 'strategy' Turtle ;)). I've discovered it's really about balance. I'm not there to make their happy lives miserable, but there needs to be a point that 'friendship' is not interrupting class time.

The issue also with working with pairs is, it doesn't matter how much you try to avoid it, someone always ends up doing more work. And unforunately, it seems I havent done a lot. I'm thankful that this prac hasn't ruined my friendship with the person I'm working with.

All in all, the prac is a good idea. You create a unit of work, you teach it. You become more familiar with the science side of things (an ever important topic in schools). Just not at this stage, in third year. I feel like I have taken a step backwards.

Given the circumstances, this could have been a good prac if it was 'normal'.

So to my friends up at La Trobe: What were you thinking?

Dear anonymous

I don't know who you are
For all I know, because of my silly memory, perhaps you're not real.
But if you are, and you read my blog, and you know what this is about..
It really confuses as to why you're so generous.. but thanks. God Bless You :)

(If this makes absolutely no sense to you, then don't worry, it has nothing to do with you probably :P)

little bit o love

This is the way you left me

I'm not pretending
No hope, no love, no glory
No happy ending
This is the way that we love
like it's forever
then live the rest of our life
but not together

Mika - "Happy Ending"

There is a real danger in secular (and sometimes, not-so-secular) music. I believe that people underestimate the power that music can have in ones life. I believe that many christians don't have an understanding that it can open up doors for the enemy to come and rob you of the abundance of life God has planned for you!

Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 peter 5:8)

Although I know this all too very well, somehow this song kinda represented how I was feeling (don't start assuming because you're probably way off - hence the 'somehow'). The problem with this kind of music is that while it does some how express how you feel, dwelling on this song, singing it, does not help the situation. In fact, it magnifies how bad I'm feeling, rather than magnifying an awesome powerful creator who is above every situation and circumstance no matter what I'm feeling! Because I KNOW that whatever I go through, God is still awesome and alive and real, and no less worthy of my praise!

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thess. 5)

So here I am, feeling utterly like rubbish singing this song in my car, by the lake, and it gets to the emotional keychange and it suddenly starts pouring down with rain. At this stage I am fully crying about this whole horrible situation, the heavy rain pitter pattering and the 'intense' part of the song makes it all oh so much more real.

Suddenly, I see the rain ease, and out from my car, I see this:

12 And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; (Genesis 9)

A rainbow!!! You know what that symbolises, right? That God will keep His promises! A timely reminder that God won't leave me stuck in this situation! That my God is a God of power! Sometimes I can't see the result, but He's the Alpha and Omega!

So then, after that, I turned the song into a parody of God and How great He is!

Maybe one day I'll blog about music properly. Maybe...
And maybe, maybe one day, I will blog a parody :P

the key

(You can do it! Education)

Organisation
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him (Luke 1:76)

Persistence
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it (1 Cor. 9:24)

Getting Along
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34)

Confidence
So we may boldly say: “ The LORD is my helper, I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

Resilience
But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. (2 Thes 3:13)

If one cannot get this right in their own life, how can they encourage students to do the same?

I guess the best part of this is, despite anything,

"You can do it!"

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8)

one for all

I have uninentionally stumbled accross the following verse twice in 24 hours. One would get the feeling God is trying to say something.

Luke 12

54 Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

This got me thinking. Although there are people who are certainly 'gifted' discerners, it appears that Jesus has commanded everybody to be discerners to an extent. For each of us to use our brains!

It's just like the passage says. We're so quick to judge and work out what is going on in the world, the newest fashion, the breaking news, and it's impact, but we're not discerning what's going on in the church today or kingdom-wise at 'this time'.

Interesting.

bring back, bring back, bring back Georgie to me, TO ME!

A few weeks ago, I was watching my favorite TV show, All Saints (the old series). It was an intense episode of a bomb going off in the hospital.

The episode ended on a total cliff hanger at the end of the week.

What, NO! I can't wait until monday! And plus, I'm going to Pinnaroo! They don't get channel 7, or Prime!

But ever a clever thinker, I set the video player for every day the next week.

After having an All Saints-less week, I came home to Bendigo, to sit down and take some
time out with my friends Terri, Mitch and Von. I pressed play only to find no trace of All Saints! All I could find was some weird science show. Noooooooo! And according to the tv guide, it wasnt coming back any time soon!

After much sadness, I finally got over it. However today, talking with my friend Elizabeth, it turns out that All Saints was just taking a break over the school holidays. Of course!

However, on the flipside to that, I begin a 3 week placement next week, so I will not be home to watch it, but I am ever so happy to have a housemate with a video player!

little outside delights

I have been for a 4.6 km powerwalk, had a creative breakfast, and am currently sitting in the back yard with listening to Life FM with my brand spanking new wireless internet!

I feel so. eee. happy! Content!

It's true, walking is good for the soul, and all of that vitamin D mustve done me good!
:D

I could stay like this all day, but alas, MSTIE awaits!

warning signs

Today I witnessed somebody talking about depression like they realy knew what they were on about, almost like they were diagnosing the person to not have it - like they were making it up.

This really made me angry. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues arent a joke. Just like typhoid fever, they are a sickness. Like when we get sick with anything, we need to take appropriate measures to get better. Sometimes these measures seem extreme, sometimes they don't. But nonetheless, if these things are left untreated, the symptoms can get worse, and can lead to some very unpleasant experiences.

I don't care if you suspect your friend is faking it, it's a real and an issue that needs to be dealt with. There is help from trained professionals. If you're not a doctor then don't diagnose! Rather than talk about them "faking it" behind their back, support them and do something about it!

I dont know about the greater Bendigo population, but here in Pinnaroo, I constantly hear this behind-the-back carry on of "such and such thinks they have depression but they're just faking it to get attention".

And to the "just pray about it" response: Prayer is a great thing, but faith without works is dead. God gave us a brain, we need to take action and do something! Even though medication often seems extreme, I've seen it save peoples lives. Like I said, these things (when are ongoing) are sicknesses, and they need to be dealt with. If you were diagnosed tomorrow with Leukemia, would you refuse the treatment?

Does anyone get what I'm on about? Does anyone see the cry of my heart that christians are fed this lie that if they are suffering an illness to the point of medication or consultation, that they lack faith, or become a second class christian? Anyone!?

Stop speaking lies over people and start declaring the truth!

the list

I found an interesting list when I was looking for a notebook this morning. It was written probably in 2001, when I would have been in year 9, when "career advice" is being fed down your throat.

"Careers"
Flight attendant
pilot
female priest
park ranger youth worker/councilor
photographer
website designer
worker for World Vision in East Timor
Carer
Air Force
Cartoonist/Animator
Horticulturalist
Assistant Nurse
Accountant
Own my own airline: "Sammy Airways"
Army
Chiropractor
Post Office worker
writer
a DJ
Tour Guide

Does anyone else find it interesting that with all this diversity of jobs, teacher was not on the list? One thing I guess is important to note was this list would have been made before I went to Indonesia.

Something else that struck me (I assume I did this in 2004 - year 12) is that I crossed out everything and wrote "whatever God wants me to do!"

Now this strikes me with a question: How much control do we really have over our career choice? I believe that while we are quite capable of making our choices (whether they be good or bad according to the driving motivation) God opens and closes doors of opportunities.

Thinking about my career so far, I watched God open doors I thought would be padlocked. He allowed me to move all the way to Bendigo, and get me into a course my enter simply didn't 'benchmark'. Then the opportunity to go to Indonesia came up. Wow. How did that happen?

When we commit our ways to God, He will "make the path straight". That is an actual surrendering of our lives and our ambitions. The thing with straight paths though, as simple as that sounds, once you get past the surrender, and have the straight path, there are still distractions, there can still be things in front of you that you need to face! But aha, never fear, God is here! (and so come forth the cheesiness)

The other day I went for a walk. It's like my house mate continuously tells me, "walking is good for the soul". I was in a bit of a dilemma. I had to make a choice about the Indonesia trip really fast. There were voices all around me, some concerned for me telling me to stay, some eagerly pulling me by my shirt pleading with me to come.

As I walked on that sunny day down Sommerville St, praying about this matter, I felt God placing on my heart something that happened when I went in 2002.

Last time I went, I didn't really want to go. But while I was over there, I was absolutely heartbroken with the poverty and crazy things I saw. I was hurting for a hurting nation.

While I was walking, I felt God kind of talking to me about the orphanage. (I was actually unsure at the time whether we were actually going to an orphanage or not. Later clarification with Steff assured me that, yes, we are going to an orphanage.) I felt like God was really just like, "I hate to break it to you, but this is gonna break your heart."

Often God can use heartbreak as a motivating force to change our world. This motivating heartbreak I felt back in 2002 will be renewed when I go Indonesia. Just seeing the way these people live, you think, "how am I so darn lucky?" It's a bit like this I suppose. It's exciting, but it's also very scary. (I want to be heartbroken and motivated over my homework hehe)

Indonesia isn't the only thing I have heartbreak for. I have a massive ache for the children in this country (well, ok, even the world) and the things they go through. The things I experience on pracs is often a driving force to do something big in my community!

Back on track (pardon the pun), straight may not always mean logical. Straight may cost you something. Straight often seems crooked (but just remember who has the Perception). Life isn't just a highway you can ride all night long, as Mr. Tom Petty says. Jesus said go through the Narrow gate.. Why would you go through a narrow gate when it seems logical to keep following through on the freeway?

Quite honestly, I think it's still early days in my 'career'.

Seek out God's Will, it's beyond your wildest dreams!

turn back time

After Sammy got lost in White Hills (honestly, how hard is it to just follow a darn tram line?) she finally wades her way through 3 suburbs to the Calder Highway, that leads her home.

Thanks to the nice lady at the Charlton roadhouse for shouting me a coffee, and some very uplifting music, Sammy perseveres a long 5 hours, makes it toward the finish line with a count down,

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... WELCOME TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA!"

Pushing through the fruit fly inspection point, delighted by the sight of many Stobie Poles, she crosses into the town named after limestone, more commonly known as Pinnaroo.

She then enjoys a welcome home feast of fruchocs and fritz, with a nice serving of Farmers Union Iced Coffee.*

(* - Mum didnt have any fruchocs, nor did she have fritz, not even a Farmers Union. So we had kids4life fundraising chocolate and a sweet chilli stir fry, along with Angrusta Lemon Lime and Bitters)

I got the power!

Spatch... You're going down!

(Who woulda thought.. a Port and Geelong grand final.. I almost feel sorry for you)

anybody out there..?

What's with this!?

I am so anxious to go home. Today I delayed my travel home by one more day. I initially was going to leave yesterday afternoon. I am now not leaving until sunday morning.

Why is it that I don't want to go home? Why is it that Bendigo means so much - that if I go away for a week something big is going to happen and I'll miss it? Why dont I want to just go home, far far away, especially when I am spending every waking moment here in Bendigo wanting to get out?

And November - how will I survive then..?

What am I - Let's face it - I'm nor Victorian nor South Australian.. Where do I belong, exactly?

Gah, I hate insecurity!