Once again, I've fallen into the trap of blogging neglect. Since starting my job, things have been hectic for me. I was working 3 days a week when I first started, but now I have been doing only 1 shift a week. Please pray that I will get more shifts. At least 2 a week would be great!
I need to update everyone on Colour Conference!! Oh my goodness - so amazing! My experience this year was so different compared to last, because I actually was in the sessions (last year I served in kids). Even so, I was my team leader's right hand woman, so I had a radio and earpiece the whole conference, and people were constantly speaking on the radio. So even though I was present, I wasn't able to listen and comprehend what the speakers were saying sometimes. Thankfully, I had two conferences to catch what was spoken. (Both conferences were identical)
Here's the promo video for the conference (this footage is from previous Colour Conferences - probably mainly last year - no footage from Colour 2010 has been posted yet due to the fact that Hillsong London and Kiev haven't had their Colour Conference yet. Don't want to spoil anything for the European sisters!)
I served in hosting during the conference, which was so full on! I was quite worn out halfway through the first conference, and by the time second conference came around, I was flat out tired. But I'm learning how to serve whole-heartedly past feelings.
I honestly felt so task orientated the whole conference. Since I love fellowshipping, it was really hard because I wasn't really able to do that. I wanted to just talk with the ladies. I found myself a bit annoyed with the women though, because they would just be so mean or over the top sometimes. I would get smart-mouthed or nearly run over when I would "man" the internal doors before door opening for a session. We would flat out get told by some ladies that we were doing a bad job and then they would proceed to tell us how the hosting team should be run. Little did they know that they were complaining about a completely different section and team in hosting, but we just took the brunt of it. I was so impressed with my team leader, because she would handle complaints and accommodate the women so well. I think I learned a lot from the way she handled situations and found myself doing the same thing at second conference. I also learned that I will not complain or get angry with anyone inside church life anymore, because there's so much that goes on behind the scenes that I don't know about. But they weren't all a bunch of rude women. Haha! I actually did have quite a lot of really lovely women encourage me, give me a hug, just tell me that I was doing a great job, or just thank me.
All in all, it was a great experience! I had a total God moment at the end of both conferences. When everyone was walking out, I was checking up on my team to make sure they didn't need help and also to see what needed to be done. A lady walked up to me and asked me where the Western Foyer was, and when I explained it to her, she looked a bit annoyed because it was at the opposite side of the church and someone else had sent her the opposite direction. I told her I would just walk with her there. Along the way, I found out that she is actually the pastor over the women's ministry in her church in another part of Sydney. She explained to me that she had started the ministry 2 years ago and it was just difficult to break mindsets and move things forward. She expressed to me that Colour was such a huge blessing to her because it empowered her to go back to her church and "be the change". I asked her if it was her first time coming, and she said that it was her 4th time. Wow! I was amazed because I could tell it was a fresh annointing she had received. Her beautiful eyes were bloodshot red from crying so much. I got the amazing privilege to speak into her life and encourage her! What an honour to play a very very small, yet significant part in encouraging an amazing pastor to move her own group of sisters forward!
Hope life is treating everyone really really well! If by some chance it's not, know that God is faithful. Keep pressing into Him. Stay by His side. He will sustain you. He's got us no matter what season of life we are in!!
Make this your confession: "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand." - Psalm 73:23
God's always with you. Challenge yourself to always be with Him.
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Colour Your World, THIS WEEK!
So on Thursday Colour Conference starts! I'm stoked! I'm 2nd in charge for the hosting team (basically showing people to their seats). Also, I'm doing photography one of the days. Can't wait!!
I'm absolutely loving college! Had a meeting today with my team. We talked about launching the College Online Open Day. Basically, it's an open day for prospective college students, especially overseas. It's a 24 hour event, in which students and staff volunteer their time to chat with prospective students overseas who are inquiring about college. The initiative was first launched last year. It was thought of and trialled in a matter of about 4 weeks. This year we are trying to make the website and idea way more effective. A friend and I are doing the photography. I will be volunteering for it as well! It happens in April, so just keep that in mind! Friends back home, if you are thinking of attending college (why wouldn't ya?!?), then this is a great thing to join in on! You may even be able to chat with me on that day!! :)
At the moment, I have no internet. I went over my internet limit for the month (there's a limit in Australia), and now I have to resort to using McDonald's internet at 10pm. Haha. So I'm really ready to go home and sleep!
My first shift is on Monday! Stoked!! My shift is from 9am-2pm. Can't wait!!
Also, just to clear up any confusion (apparently I wasn't very clear in my last post), I am going to Paris with a college friend. Her brother lives in Paris and works at Disneyland in Paris, so that is why I get free accommodation and also free entry into Disneyland Paris! I'm going from May 8 - 20. It's going to be an AMAZING trip!!! I've already started learning a bit of French (I bought a computer learning program that teaches me the basics!)
Well, anyways, just thought I would update everyone with what's going on with me really quickly. I won't be on the internet for a while again probably (so give me a little more time to answer emails than usual, please) because of the fact that I've gone over my limit, and because of Colour Conference!
Love you all!!
P.S. I really encourage you to read "Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say 'Yes' To God" by Kay Warren (Rick Warren's wife). AMAZING WOMAN. AMAZING BOOK! Just finished it. The last sentence just made me cry. What a great book!!
I'm absolutely loving college! Had a meeting today with my team. We talked about launching the College Online Open Day. Basically, it's an open day for prospective college students, especially overseas. It's a 24 hour event, in which students and staff volunteer their time to chat with prospective students overseas who are inquiring about college. The initiative was first launched last year. It was thought of and trialled in a matter of about 4 weeks. This year we are trying to make the website and idea way more effective. A friend and I are doing the photography. I will be volunteering for it as well! It happens in April, so just keep that in mind! Friends back home, if you are thinking of attending college (why wouldn't ya?!?), then this is a great thing to join in on! You may even be able to chat with me on that day!! :)
At the moment, I have no internet. I went over my internet limit for the month (there's a limit in Australia), and now I have to resort to using McDonald's internet at 10pm. Haha. So I'm really ready to go home and sleep!
My first shift is on Monday! Stoked!! My shift is from 9am-2pm. Can't wait!!
Also, just to clear up any confusion (apparently I wasn't very clear in my last post), I am going to Paris with a college friend. Her brother lives in Paris and works at Disneyland in Paris, so that is why I get free accommodation and also free entry into Disneyland Paris! I'm going from May 8 - 20. It's going to be an AMAZING trip!!! I've already started learning a bit of French (I bought a computer learning program that teaches me the basics!)
Well, anyways, just thought I would update everyone with what's going on with me really quickly. I won't be on the internet for a while again probably (so give me a little more time to answer emails than usual, please) because of the fact that I've gone over my limit, and because of Colour Conference!
Love you all!!
P.S. I really encourage you to read "Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say 'Yes' To God" by Kay Warren (Rick Warren's wife). AMAZING WOMAN. AMAZING BOOK! Just finished it. The last sentence just made me cry. What a great book!!
Thursday, 4 March 2010
J'aime ce jour
I love this day.
I started off going to Sisterhood (the Hillsong women's service). I have been chatting with this amazing lady, who has inspired me so much in my devotion. Every time I talk to her, I reevaluate my level of commitment to the cause, to the House (A.K.A. the Church). I met her a few weeks ago. While most of the other women were mingling in the foyers with raisin toast and coffee, she was sitting by herself inside the auditorium long before the start of the service. I sat down and had a chat with her until service started. Then I grabbed her number afterwards and have been in touch. She lives about 2 hours away from the church. Her and her husband used to drive down every Sunday, rising at 2 or 3AM to make it to the early service, then sometimes staying until the night service and driving back in the wee hours of the night. This is not a "young adult" couple either, they have children in their late 20's. It breaks my heart, because she said she and husband just can't continue driving down constantly because of gas. It just burns their money. So today was the last time she was going to be at church, and today we sat together at Sisterhood. What an honor to sit next to such a dedicated sister in Christ.
Here's where things get really good. :) We were just chatting long before service was starting, and Pastor Bobbie came in and stopped and chatted with us. For those of you who don't know who Pastor Bobbie is, she and Pastor Brian are the senior pastors of the church - Pastor Brian and Bobbie Houston. Pastor Bobbie has a huge heart for women, and the vision of Sisterhood was rooted in her spirit before it became a reality. Colour Conference, which I mentioned in the last blog post, also came from Bobbie's vision for the Sisterhood. Anyways, all that being said, she just came up, with no agenda, and chatted with us for a few minutes. It was lovely, because she was in no rush and just listened to what was on this lady's heart that I was with. I told Bobbie about how amazing this lady was to travel so much to get to church. We all chatted for a bit and then Bobbie went on her way. It was awesome to see that even the "big-time" (the way they are perceived by the world) pastors at Hillsong are very personable and do truly preach what they practice.
Geez, I'm not even finished with Sisterhood yet...this is just the morning time. Haha!! :) We had a clothes swap, where I brought some clothes that I didn't want anymore, and in exchange, got to pick out a bunch of free clothes!! SO EXCITING! Seriously, there's not much more exciting than free clothes. Okay, maybe there is....
And this brings me to the next part of my day. After Sisterhood, I went to the travel agent down the road with my friend, and guess what? I'M GOING TO PARIS IN MAY!!! THANK YOU DAD! Seriously, I am so incredibly blessed BEYOND WORDS. How many people get the opportunity to say when they are in their 30s, "Yeah, well I moved to Australia when I was 18. When I was 19 I visited New Zealand, and when I was 20 I visited Paris. Oh, and then I returned to Australia, because I still was living there." ----> CRAZINESS!!! I am forever grateful to my family (especially my dad for the expenses he pays!!) for making this all happen, for being so releasing, for being so loving, for being so supportive, and for praying for me throughout every step of the journey.
So May 4th, I will be flying out to Paris. The ONLY thing that will not be so fun is that it takes about the same amount of time to get there as it does to fly home. But at least I will have a friend with me! :) I arrive back in Sydney on the 20th. Along the way, we may take the train to London and Rome. The perk about Europe, as opposed to America, is that you can travel SUPER cheap! And every place we go, we have FREE accommodation! Also a perk of attending an international college!
After all that excitement, I went into my job to sort out all the technical stuff, like bank account stuff and signing all the liability forms. Okay, odd as it seems, after that meeting, I actually got really excited about the job. And I want to start. Now. :) But in reality, my first shift is on March 15th, from 9am-2pm, and then that night there is a get together to meet all the staff (they just hired a bunch of new people). Anyways, I was honestly pretty nervous at first about the job, but I feel confident now about it.
Tonight I went to make calls for Powerhouse. I love doing that for some reason. Basically we have lists of people who need Connect Groups or are new to church or are new Christians, and we call them accordingly. I love it because I have the opportunity to bring joy to someone's day. I'm beginning to understand more about this cause that I live for. I live for something much, much bigger than myself.
Sometimes I'm a bit wary and unsure of the future, but I know I don't need to be. I don't need to have it all, or even any of it, figured out. I just need to be faithful with what's in my hand right now, and allow God to cultivate me for what lies ahead.
Mom sent me an email recently about destiny. I pulled this quote from it:
- Jean de La Fontaine, a French (oh, the irony) poet
I started off going to Sisterhood (the Hillsong women's service). I have been chatting with this amazing lady, who has inspired me so much in my devotion. Every time I talk to her, I reevaluate my level of commitment to the cause, to the House (A.K.A. the Church). I met her a few weeks ago. While most of the other women were mingling in the foyers with raisin toast and coffee, she was sitting by herself inside the auditorium long before the start of the service. I sat down and had a chat with her until service started. Then I grabbed her number afterwards and have been in touch. She lives about 2 hours away from the church. Her and her husband used to drive down every Sunday, rising at 2 or 3AM to make it to the early service, then sometimes staying until the night service and driving back in the wee hours of the night. This is not a "young adult" couple either, they have children in their late 20's. It breaks my heart, because she said she and husband just can't continue driving down constantly because of gas. It just burns their money. So today was the last time she was going to be at church, and today we sat together at Sisterhood. What an honor to sit next to such a dedicated sister in Christ.
Here's where things get really good. :) We were just chatting long before service was starting, and Pastor Bobbie came in and stopped and chatted with us. For those of you who don't know who Pastor Bobbie is, she and Pastor Brian are the senior pastors of the church - Pastor Brian and Bobbie Houston. Pastor Bobbie has a huge heart for women, and the vision of Sisterhood was rooted in her spirit before it became a reality. Colour Conference, which I mentioned in the last blog post, also came from Bobbie's vision for the Sisterhood. Anyways, all that being said, she just came up, with no agenda, and chatted with us for a few minutes. It was lovely, because she was in no rush and just listened to what was on this lady's heart that I was with. I told Bobbie about how amazing this lady was to travel so much to get to church. We all chatted for a bit and then Bobbie went on her way. It was awesome to see that even the "big-time" (the way they are perceived by the world) pastors at Hillsong are very personable and do truly preach what they practice.
Geez, I'm not even finished with Sisterhood yet...this is just the morning time. Haha!! :) We had a clothes swap, where I brought some clothes that I didn't want anymore, and in exchange, got to pick out a bunch of free clothes!! SO EXCITING! Seriously, there's not much more exciting than free clothes. Okay, maybe there is....
And this brings me to the next part of my day. After Sisterhood, I went to the travel agent down the road with my friend, and guess what? I'M GOING TO PARIS IN MAY!!! THANK YOU DAD! Seriously, I am so incredibly blessed BEYOND WORDS. How many people get the opportunity to say when they are in their 30s, "Yeah, well I moved to Australia when I was 18. When I was 19 I visited New Zealand, and when I was 20 I visited Paris. Oh, and then I returned to Australia, because I still was living there." ----> CRAZINESS!!! I am forever grateful to my family (especially my dad for the expenses he pays!!) for making this all happen, for being so releasing, for being so loving, for being so supportive, and for praying for me throughout every step of the journey.
So May 4th, I will be flying out to Paris. The ONLY thing that will not be so fun is that it takes about the same amount of time to get there as it does to fly home. But at least I will have a friend with me! :) I arrive back in Sydney on the 20th. Along the way, we may take the train to London and Rome. The perk about Europe, as opposed to America, is that you can travel SUPER cheap! And every place we go, we have FREE accommodation! Also a perk of attending an international college!
After all that excitement, I went into my job to sort out all the technical stuff, like bank account stuff and signing all the liability forms. Okay, odd as it seems, after that meeting, I actually got really excited about the job. And I want to start. Now. :) But in reality, my first shift is on March 15th, from 9am-2pm, and then that night there is a get together to meet all the staff (they just hired a bunch of new people). Anyways, I was honestly pretty nervous at first about the job, but I feel confident now about it.
Tonight I went to make calls for Powerhouse. I love doing that for some reason. Basically we have lists of people who need Connect Groups or are new to church or are new Christians, and we call them accordingly. I love it because I have the opportunity to bring joy to someone's day. I'm beginning to understand more about this cause that I live for. I live for something much, much bigger than myself.
Sometimes I'm a bit wary and unsure of the future, but I know I don't need to be. I don't need to have it all, or even any of it, figured out. I just need to be faithful with what's in my hand right now, and allow God to cultivate me for what lies ahead.
Mom sent me an email recently about destiny. I pulled this quote from it:
"A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it."
- Jean de La Fontaine, a French (oh, the irony) poet
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Job!
A small update:
So for the past couple weeks I have been searching for jobs. Well, technically, I started the search last semester. You would be surprised how hard it is to find a job in Sydney. By the time I got one call back last semester, I was about to visit home for 2 months. So anyways, I have been praying about it for a good while now, and with prayer and handing out my resume to what seems like a thousand different stores, I finally have a job! :) I'm going to be working at a café. I know mom is concerned with my already busy schedule, but just know that I am learning time management through it all. :)
I have lots coming up in the next couple of weeks. Right now I am waiting on my tax file number to come through so I can work. Colour Conference (the Hillsong women's conference) is coming up soon and I will be serving. That begins March 11. So don't expect to hear much from me during that time. :)
Please keep me in your prayers, as I am a bit under the weather at the moment. My sinuses and allergies are flaring up. Also, pray for my job - that everything will run smoothly with that! :) I really appreciate those of you who lift me up in prayer! Can't say how much that means to me! I love all of you back home and miss you!
So for the past couple weeks I have been searching for jobs. Well, technically, I started the search last semester. You would be surprised how hard it is to find a job in Sydney. By the time I got one call back last semester, I was about to visit home for 2 months. So anyways, I have been praying about it for a good while now, and with prayer and handing out my resume to what seems like a thousand different stores, I finally have a job! :) I'm going to be working at a café. I know mom is concerned with my already busy schedule, but just know that I am learning time management through it all. :)
I have lots coming up in the next couple of weeks. Right now I am waiting on my tax file number to come through so I can work. Colour Conference (the Hillsong women's conference) is coming up soon and I will be serving. That begins March 11. So don't expect to hear much from me during that time. :)
Please keep me in your prayers, as I am a bit under the weather at the moment. My sinuses and allergies are flaring up. Also, pray for my job - that everything will run smoothly with that! :) I really appreciate those of you who lift me up in prayer! Can't say how much that means to me! I love all of you back home and miss you!
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Tidbits
This semester has been so exciting thus far, and I can't wait to experience everything that is going to happen throughout 2010!
Currently, I am working with a team of college students to promote the college via a college blog, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and re-doing the entire college website, as well as preparing for online open day. I'm going to be overseeing the Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and Blog, as well as doing some photography, which, if you know me, you would know I am STOKED about!
Another thing I am really excited about this semester is getting my connect group going. I just started one last Tuesday, and I am so excited to continue and grow it! Connect Group is the same thing as small group, Bible study, etc. I love Connect Groups, because in such a huge church, it is the best way to get people connected and feeling like home. It's a great way to keep a big church small.
Life is so busy right now, but I am enjoying every moment of it. College is great, as is church! I'm learning so much, and growing in God more and more each day.
(A PICTURE I TOOK OF WORSHIP DURING ONE OF OUR COLLEGE CHAPELS THIS PAST WEEK):
Check out my church's vision for 2010:
http://www.myhillsong.com/visionsunday
Also, I was reading this quote tonight, and I thought I would share with you; It really spoke to my heart:
Currently, I am working with a team of college students to promote the college via a college blog, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and re-doing the entire college website, as well as preparing for online open day. I'm going to be overseeing the Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and Blog, as well as doing some photography, which, if you know me, you would know I am STOKED about!
Another thing I am really excited about this semester is getting my connect group going. I just started one last Tuesday, and I am so excited to continue and grow it! Connect Group is the same thing as small group, Bible study, etc. I love Connect Groups, because in such a huge church, it is the best way to get people connected and feeling like home. It's a great way to keep a big church small.
Life is so busy right now, but I am enjoying every moment of it. College is great, as is church! I'm learning so much, and growing in God more and more each day.
(A PICTURE I TOOK OF WORSHIP DURING ONE OF OUR COLLEGE CHAPELS THIS PAST WEEK):
Check out my church's vision for 2010:
http://www.myhillsong.com/visionsunday
Also, I was reading this quote tonight, and I thought I would share with you; It really spoke to my heart:
"When you were a child, you might have sat on a small stool and looked at your mother's embroidery. From your point of view, it was a confusion of zigzags, knots, and loose threads. Then your mother, to help you understand, turned the embroidery on the right side so you could see and appreciate the design.
You must stop looking on the wrong side of things...Lift your hearts to heavenly places and look down upon events from that vantage point. You will see life's temporary sufferings as a gathering of pearls and jewels with which we will be adorned in eternity."
- Richard Wurmbrand
Imprisoned for a total of 14 years
Romania, 1940's, 50's, and 60's
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Matchless Love
First I must say a big CONGRATULATIONS to my Aunt Faith and Uncle Michael, who are pregnant with their 3rd child. YAY! I love children. I love family. What a great thing to look forward to this Christmas!
Secondly, Happy Love Day (aka, Valentines Day)! Though a well-known holiday thanks to major marketing schemes and card companies, it nevertheless is a day to reflect and savor the love we have in life. Again, thanks to Hallmark and the likes, Valentines Day is usually signified by romantic love, and due to this many feel an increased sense of loneliness on this day. To those of us who are single (myself included), how about we relish the love that we do have in life? - such as friends, family, and ultimately, the matchless Love of God, who is actually the very definition of Love. Sometimes, I ponder what the world would look like if we all knew just how God loves us, without any restrictions, boundaries, walls, limits, fear, or facades, and then how it would look like if we could give that love right back to Him and the people in our world. Then God reminds me to wait a bit longer: Heaven is approaching more each day.
I am reminded today that I will not settle. When it comes my time for the romance, I want to make sure I have waited for the right man, and nothing less. Just because something good comes along doesn't mean it's the best for me. Through the years (I know, I sound like a geezer using that phrase) I have learned through experience, taking the advice of those who go before me, observing others, and following God that the hard decisions are the most rewarding, and boy, do I have so much more to learn! God, give me wisdom through it all. This song is one that I have always kept the lyrics to in the back of my mind. They give me a hope that I am on the right track and always encourage me that I am going to have an amazing man:
I know life isn't a chick flick, where the girl waits by her window for the man of her dreams and the man goes on this long journey to get there, and when they meet, they live happily ever after. No. That's not how it works. And sometimes I think, "Shame on Disney for forming that ideology in my head as a child." Still, there is something pure about that kind of love and passion. There is a reason little girls are so ready to accept it. There is a reason why young teenage girls these days are buying into the lies boys are whispering into their ears. There is a reason for the naïveté. It is not sheer stupidity. It is a longing to be deeply and truly loved. The reason so many girls (and even guys) go in circles, in relationship after relationship after relationship, is because they are looking for this matchless love that only God can give. Sounds so cliché, but the reason it's been uttered so many times is probably because, well, it's the only timeless, undying truth. True love, God's love, will never die. It is the only consistent thing on this earth. Better than love from your family, friends, or lover, God's love is matchless.
My prayer is that you enjoy this Day of Love, or Valentine's Day - whatever you choose to call it - with the people you love, with the realization that God's love is even greater.
Secondly, Happy Love Day (aka, Valentines Day)! Though a well-known holiday thanks to major marketing schemes and card companies, it nevertheless is a day to reflect and savor the love we have in life. Again, thanks to Hallmark and the likes, Valentines Day is usually signified by romantic love, and due to this many feel an increased sense of loneliness on this day. To those of us who are single (myself included), how about we relish the love that we do have in life? - such as friends, family, and ultimately, the matchless Love of God, who is actually the very definition of Love. Sometimes, I ponder what the world would look like if we all knew just how God loves us, without any restrictions, boundaries, walls, limits, fear, or facades, and then how it would look like if we could give that love right back to Him and the people in our world. Then God reminds me to wait a bit longer: Heaven is approaching more each day.
I am reminded today that I will not settle. When it comes my time for the romance, I want to make sure I have waited for the right man, and nothing less. Just because something good comes along doesn't mean it's the best for me. Through the years (I know, I sound like a geezer using that phrase) I have learned through experience, taking the advice of those who go before me, observing others, and following God that the hard decisions are the most rewarding, and boy, do I have so much more to learn! God, give me wisdom through it all. This song is one that I have always kept the lyrics to in the back of my mind. They give me a hope that I am on the right track and always encourage me that I am going to have an amazing man:
Love, where is your fire?
I've been sitting here, smoking away
Making signals with sticks and odd ends and bits
Still there's no sign of a flame
Imposters have been passing,
Offering a good-feeling glow
But I'm holding out for what you are about,
An inferno that burns to the bone
Some urge me to be temperate,
But luke warm will never do.
'Cuz I wanna blaze with you
So I'm holding my heart out to you
I'm holding my heart out...
- taken from Love, Where is Your Fire? by Brooke Fraser
I know life isn't a chick flick, where the girl waits by her window for the man of her dreams and the man goes on this long journey to get there, and when they meet, they live happily ever after. No. That's not how it works. And sometimes I think, "Shame on Disney for forming that ideology in my head as a child." Still, there is something pure about that kind of love and passion. There is a reason little girls are so ready to accept it. There is a reason why young teenage girls these days are buying into the lies boys are whispering into their ears. There is a reason for the naïveté. It is not sheer stupidity. It is a longing to be deeply and truly loved. The reason so many girls (and even guys) go in circles, in relationship after relationship after relationship, is because they are looking for this matchless love that only God can give. Sounds so cliché, but the reason it's been uttered so many times is probably because, well, it's the only timeless, undying truth. True love, God's love, will never die. It is the only consistent thing on this earth. Better than love from your family, friends, or lover, God's love is matchless.
My prayer is that you enjoy this Day of Love, or Valentine's Day - whatever you choose to call it - with the people you love, with the realization that God's love is even greater.
Sunday, 31 January 2010
All In for 2010
Hey everyone! This is my first blog in a long while. I am so happy to have a new computer that actually will let me write blogs. Macs are heaven sent.
Some of you back home are probably wondering what the heck is going on with me. Well, I just got back from Powerhouse (the 18-25 year old ministry) Summer Retreat.
It was a life-changing experience. Here's a little something I wrote on my facebook account:
We got there Thursday evening, where we had our first night rally. Then we had a morning and night rallies on Friday and Saturday. In between the morning and night rallies, we headed to the beach. Terrigal Beach to be exact.
Here are some highlights to the messages that were spoken there that really stood out to me:
Danielle Jeyaratnam (one of the youth pastor's wife) spoke about living set apart. One thing she said that stood out to me was:
The most impacting message for me was the last night's message. April Miller (another one of the youth pastor's wife) made an analogy to following God and poker. Sounds like a weird combination, I know. But she explained how in poker there is a term that most people know called "going all in". She explained that there are many different ways to play poker - you can play afraid, you can play rough, you can play bluffing. You can back out when you think you've got a bad hand. Or you can go all in, despite the possibility of failure.
She did all this to demonstrate what life is like. We are all in different situations. Different seasons in life bring different things (or "hands"). Will we choose to back out and give up, or will we choose to go all in, give it all, despite the fear and possibility of failure?
April explained that we need to go all in for Christ, just as David did in 1 Samuel 17 with Goliath. Everyone around him was saying that he couldn't do it, but David didn't listen. Further on in verse 56, David is no longer referred to as a boy, but a man. A significant sacrifice was required of him - possibly his very own life. But David knew who God was and who he was in God. So he went all in. What an amazing testimony.
These messages, and the rest that were preached, really challenged me to make a decision. Either I can go all in or not go in at all. There's no room for half-heartedness in the Kingdom. I feel like I have been half-hearted for quite a while now in my relationship with God. If there is one thing I would like to see happen this year in my life, it's that God be praised and glorified. I'm all in for 2010.
Some of you back home are probably wondering what the heck is going on with me. Well, I just got back from Powerhouse (the 18-25 year old ministry) Summer Retreat.
It was a life-changing experience. Here's a little something I wrote on my facebook account:
It's amazing to me that just when you feel like you're standing strong, God reminds you that you still need Him to hold you up. Retreat was a GREAT time of refreshing, a time to reevaluate my relationship with my Creator, and fall in love with Him all over again. I'M ALL IN FOR 2010.
We got there Thursday evening, where we had our first night rally. Then we had a morning and night rallies on Friday and Saturday. In between the morning and night rallies, we headed to the beach. Terrigal Beach to be exact.
Here are some highlights to the messages that were spoken there that really stood out to me:
Danielle Jeyaratnam (one of the youth pastor's wife) spoke about living set apart. One thing she said that stood out to me was:
"We are set apart by Him, but are we set apart for Him?"
The most impacting message for me was the last night's message. April Miller (another one of the youth pastor's wife) made an analogy to following God and poker. Sounds like a weird combination, I know. But she explained how in poker there is a term that most people know called "going all in". She explained that there are many different ways to play poker - you can play afraid, you can play rough, you can play bluffing. You can back out when you think you've got a bad hand. Or you can go all in, despite the possibility of failure.
She did all this to demonstrate what life is like. We are all in different situations. Different seasons in life bring different things (or "hands"). Will we choose to back out and give up, or will we choose to go all in, give it all, despite the fear and possibility of failure?
April explained that we need to go all in for Christ, just as David did in 1 Samuel 17 with Goliath. Everyone around him was saying that he couldn't do it, but David didn't listen. Further on in verse 56, David is no longer referred to as a boy, but a man. A significant sacrifice was required of him - possibly his very own life. But David knew who God was and who he was in God. So he went all in. What an amazing testimony.
These messages, and the rest that were preached, really challenged me to make a decision. Either I can go all in or not go in at all. There's no room for half-heartedness in the Kingdom. I feel like I have been half-hearted for quite a while now in my relationship with God. If there is one thing I would like to see happen this year in my life, it's that God be praised and glorified. I'm all in for 2010.
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