Life Unscripted

Sometimes it would be so nice if there was a script for this life. Like I could read ahead and know that everything was going to end up being ok. I could see what was going to happen in year 24, month 6, week 4 of my life in order to prepare myself for the challenges that I will face. But guess what! Life is unscripted. I don't know what's going to happen from one month, week, or day to the next. Life just happens. Yes, as Christians ultimately we do know the future...that Christ will return and bring those that confess with their mouths and believe in there hearts with Him into eternal life. But as for this life, we must trust the strength of the Lord to carry us through and the Spirit of God to direct our steps and give wisdom to every situation we face. If only I could react with wisdom to every challenge I face instead of the impulse of my own feelings. Better yet, that my impulse would be to respond with the wisdom of the Spirit. As for right now, I will pick up the armor on God and wear it diligently as I relish in the grace of God that makes a way for me to live in accordance with His purpose for my life.

Heart Day

Today I had a heart day:) It was a day devoted to taking care of my heart so that I am able to continue loving others well. It started with a sleep-in. I didn't sleep the day away, but just slept until I woke up naturally, which happened to be around 9:30. I love the feeling of going to bed at night knowing that I have no reason that I must set the alarm...and I won't miss something important if I keep sleeping. It's good for my heart every now and then. After I woke up, I read for about 1 or 2 hours and just enjoyed reading. I am reading a book called, "Sons of Encouragement" by Francine Rivers. It is a wonderful book that tells the stories of Aaron and four other encouragers of God's main men in the Bible. The stories are in narrative form and then follows each with a character study using the Scripture that story comes from. I highly recommend this book!

Around 1ish I met my dear friend Julia for lunch, coffee, and a walk on the beach. It was great to have time to catch up with her and spend time investing in each other. We were not in a rush and could just enjoy being in the company of encouraging and loving friends. I was so blessed. Once we left the beach, we went to Julia's and spent the rest of the afternoon making cards. So great! Before we knew it, it was 6pm! Time flies when life is peaceful.

I know that every good and perfect gift comes from above and I know that today, God gave me a wonderful gift by allowing me to spend the day in ways that take care of my heart.

With this said, you can stop worrying mom:) I slowed down to take care of myself today, better yet, Jesus took care of me!

Be Still

My mind really has not stopped spinning since my last post, however, I am reminded of something God spoke to my heart recently, "Be Still."

Tragically, this is something I seem to have forgotten how to do. While I was away a couple weeks ago down in Taupo, I did take some time to just be. I sat by the lake and laid on the shore just taking in the sunshine, cool air, birds singing and the Voice of Truth. "Be Still" these were the words that came to my heart. I was likely in one of my question asking modes and going on and on...when Jesus just had to stop me and say, "Shhhhh...Be Still."

I want to move forward, I need to keep going. The Lord must be my strength and my salvation. I know that this life is not about me, yet my selfishness still scares the heart within me...it must be purified daily! For the sake of Christ, He must purify my heart and renew my mind according to His purposes.

Yes, I have questions and yes, I would love to know exactly where God is moving around me and how exactly He wants to use me, if at all.

This Song by Steven Curtis Chapman really speaks of where I'm at mentally, Spiritually, and physically right now.

His Strength Is Perfect

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength,
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me;
No great success to show, No glory on my own,
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know . . .

CHORUS
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone;
He'll carry us when we can't carry on.
Raised in His power, the weak become strong;
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.

We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes;
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end.
He hears our humble cry and proves again . . .

(chorus)

All Over

My mind is all over tonight. I can't seem to concentrate on one thing or topic for more than five minutes. I've started writing this blog three times now because I wasn't sure how to start. So what's on my mind??

Students: I just got home a bit ago from school. We had rehearsal after school again today and then I bring a few students home and then I come home:) My heart breaks for so many of them. I just want them to know Jesus, I want them to have a fair shot at life, I don't want to see them living in abusive, drug ridden, broken or dangerous homes! I love them, as much as they give me headaches, I can't stop loving them. I get frustrated with myself for not being able to show them the love of Christ fully, why do my emotions and responses have to get in the way?

Netball: I am going to play net ball again tonight with a group of people and I'm looking forward to it but dreading it at the same time. I'm not sure how to explain. I know I will feel great when I'm finished and I know it will be fun, but for some reason I would just rather sleep.

Family: I love my family so so much, even though I have moved to the other side of the world. I didn't move to get away from them, I didn't move to make them miss me. I moved because God said, "Go!" It's more miserable to say no to God than to be separated from family. I want God to be glorified in and through me, so I must be willing to be where He wants me, and that happens to be NZ, I can't imagine being anywhere else right now.

Church Planting: A few years ago God put a desire in my heart to be part of planting churches to grow His Kingdom. Circumstances in life are changing around me and I know that I will have to take some steps of faith in the next few months to see where God is leading in order to follow.

The weather: it's cold, not freezing but cold. Most of the day is fine, but when I get home, I find it hard to get warm unless I go into my room, turn on the heater and stay in there. This house doesn't have very good insulation, so the living room is really cold after dark.

Responsibilities: I was trying to figure out how to have fewer responsibilities so that I'm not so stressed out right now. The problem is I can only think of more things I should do rather than things I could do without doing?? Hmm...this is a problem.

I could likely list about ten more places my mind has been in the past couple hours, but I think this is enough randomness for now.

IWU in NZ

Last week Tuesday I had to say goodbye to a dear friend and a team of seven IWU students who came to NZ to work along side of and encourage the church here in New Zealand. They spent time ministering mostly with the Papakura church and built neat relationships within that church. They also came over to Redoubt North to assist with Youth Group and CIA twice. It was a blessing to have them involved with those activities. In addition to these things they helped prepare 21 banners/paintings for the children's program at the Gathering Wesleyan Convention in Taupo. (That's another post)

To be honest, it was a bit surreal to have them here. It seems like ages since I was here with the first team that came out. While they were here, I wanted to take them to some of my favorite places in the area. They did a lot of work, but they needed to see some of God's beautiful creation out in NZ as well. (I couldn't let them leave if they didn't)

The first place I took them was Fairy Falls. This is a beautiful series of waterfalls out in west Auckland. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes to trek into the bush a little ways to get to the falls but they sure are beautiful and we had a gorgeous day as well, so that made it even better.

Next, we were off to Bethells lake. Not only is this a fun place to go because there are huge sand dunes, it is absolutely stunning beautiful. We spent a bit of time there walking across the dunes, running down the dunes and soaking in the beauty of God's creation.

After Bethells lake, we drove down the road five minutes to Bethells beach. Another one of my favorites! We made here just before sunset:) The tide was perfect so we could walk over to the surf beach and watch the sunset from there. I couldn't believe how perfect the timing was in everything. God blessed our day and travels and timing in order to reveal Himself in everything we did.

A few of the students decided that it would a good idea to have a swim and thankfully I anticipated this before hand and told them to bring a dry pair of clothes. It was a bit chilly for swimming if you ask me, but they had fun and it's probably the only time they'll get to swim in the Tasman sea.