Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Why I don't write in my Bible

I use to, which is crazy because I hate it when people write in books. It is one thing that will always annoy me. So why did I start writing in my most precious book of all?

I was at a Christian youth camp and everyone else was doing it. I think there was a bit of 'superior spirituality' going on - the more verses you had underlined and the more notes you had in the margin the better Christian you were - or so we thought.

But later on I realised that if I started to read a passage that had a verse underlined or a note next to it I would always stop and read that. Often that verse would be the thing that stayed in my head. This is fine, but I would rather be hearing what God has to say in the passage to em right at this point in time, not what someone I heard preaching had to say a while ago.

Don't get me wrong, if you do underline and write in your Bible, that's fine. Just for me, I have decided to stop. I'm glad that I only ever wrote in my big Bible. My small-print,leather -bound, so-cute-and-small-you-can-pop-it-in-any-bag Bible is as clean and fresh as the day I was given it (besides the usual wear and tear from being used and popped in bags). I use that one the most because it's most convenient and also because I can read it and listen to what God is telling me in each passage without distraction.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Lord be my battle shield, sword for the fight

There are two types of Christians. Those that Satan can ignore and those that he has to fight against. (see quote in this post)

These are the people whose every waking moment is used for growing in a relationship with God, who can not keep the gospel to themselves, who strive to be full of the Spirit.

Even if it makes me a target I'd rather have Satan as my enemy than for him to think he can ignore me.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.
James 5:16 (the message)





Lord, help me to grow more each day in living right with you.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Everything we need

Our church is small, and unfortunately is getting smaller as a few people leave. They are moving from the area or 'moving on with their life'. We do have a committed group of key people but the things they are able to do is getting less as they get older, not physically able to do as much as they use too, or they have having families and understandably their children are taking up a lot of their time.

At the same time as this is happening we have decided to reach out more purposefully to the people in our community. Many of us feel that we just don't have the resources to keep doing all that we are doing and then do more.

I was reading Luke 9:1-9 ; in verse 3 Jesus sends out his disciples out with deliberately restricted resources. This restriction makes them focus on God instead of their own strengths and trust Him for everything.

Even though we are a small church, if we are doing God's work then he will provide everything we need; be it people, time, money, knowledge, resources. We need to just trust him and not worry about things from a earthly perspective.


His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

Saturday, October 20, 2007




The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1

Blogging in step with the Spirit

Dear Sister

While going through some older articles on Boundless I came across this one about blogging as a Christian.
It made me pause and think about why I blog, and who I am to be sharing with others. This blog is specifically to share what God is teaching me. I do not want people to feel that I think I am perfect. Far from it. I am reminded day after day what a sinful person I am. I can only trust that as I strive to grow closer to God He is changing me to be more like him.

Blogging is another form of talking and so all the commands God gives us regarding our words should be followed just as closely when writing.
I seek to encourage rather than criticise, and I pray that if I stray from that goal, God will send someone to rebuke me in love.

I also think it is important for me to remember the comments that I leave on other peoples blog. It is so easy to react angrily to something I disagree with, instead I should remember that just because I can comment doesn't mean I should.

One of the downfalls about blogging is that it is written. We can't always see the emotion that a person would be able to communicate in person. It is so easy to read things the wrong way. I need to be clear in what I write, and give people the benefit of the doubt about what they have written.

I'm not going to stop posting, but pray that God will continue to bring out the fruits of the Spirit in all that I do, whether in my daily life or in what I write.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Dearest of Ones

Dearest of ones, why are you sad?
Why do tears fall from your eyes?

Because I want to feel loved
I want someone to think that I'm special

Dearest of ones, don't you remember?
I loved you before you were formed

I want someone to love me so much
that they would give up their life for me

Dearest of ones, I gave up my son
He died, so that my love could reach you

I want little children to hold
little ones nurture and to love

Dearest of ones, I've asked you to care for the motherless,
and doing so, show them me.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

I have made a decision. No more romantic movies for me. They are meant to be harmless fun to relax with on a Saturday night, but really I just end up feeling awful and depressed and angry at God because I want a family of my own so badly.

And it's not about what I want, it's about God's perfect timing and will for my life. And being willing to accept that whatever he has planned.
So for me, it's easier to just stay out of temptations way.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Mobile Bible

Dear Sister

I admit I quite like my mobile phone. I'm not glued to it like many people I know, but it's cute and white and I have a pic of frangipani's as the background/wallpaper. Seeing as how I'm not a real social butterfly I don't even use it that much. It's my alarm clock, I talk to Mum most nights (yay, free minutes!) and i text a few friends. But that's about it.

Reading a mission newsletter I was struck by a small article. (I don't have it in front of me so I'll have to just write from memory)


"Imagine if we treated our Bibles like our mobile phones. What if we turned back after locking the front door when we realised we left it inside? What if we turned to it the second something goes wrong? What if we got upset if we dropped it? What if we pulled it out and just flicked through it when we have a few minutes to spare? What if we checked it a few times a day just to see if we got any new messages? What if it was the first thing we popped in our bag?"

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The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Friday, October 5, 2007

Let the Little Children Come

Dear Sister

I have been so busy doing prac for uni. Working all day is definatly one of the most exhursting but most rewarding things you can do.
So often people don't think much of the many, many childcare workers we have in Australia. But they work long hours, without much reward, day after day, looking after other peoples kids.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14) and "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me" (Mark 9:37)

I love that I worship the God who loves children.