Are you going to have a Martha Christmas or a Mary Christmas?
Ciao!
K.
"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us." Ephesians 3:20-21
Are you going to have a Martha Christmas or a Mary Christmas?
So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God's holy people, who live in the light.Colossians 1:9-12 (NLT)
While women weep as they do nowI'll fightWhile little children go hungry as they do nowI'll fightWhile men go to prison in and outI'll fightWhile there remains yet one dark soul without the light of GodI'll fightI'll fight to the very end.
I make a vow
My life will always honor Christ
Whether I live or die
I belong to Him
He bore my sin
I owe this life to my saving King
I am not my own
You are in control
For me to live is Christ
And to die is gain
No matter what price I pay
I choose to give this life away
The Lord your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
Alright already – I get the hint! … only because it’s been nearly a month since my last rambling!
I must update you all on Hudson. Not long after that photo, he tripped over and fell awkwardly on his ankle resulting in a fracture (which took the radiologist a few days to find!!) and a cast the full length of his leg! Needless to say, he was miserable for a good while but is now back to his usual self – albeit hobbling! – and is still able to point his wee finger and express himself completely!
Life has been ordinary to say the least – the pile of study waxes and wanes, week in week out. I suppose, really, that life has been so quiet there just hasn’t really been a lot to blog!
The yellow haze of pollen that settled on the Hutt (and can I say my clean car – no less than a day after it shone so brightly – ruining my bi-annual effort!!) is beginning to lessen and if anything, our timetable is about to really take-off. Come Friday, we’re off on another Mission Weekend this time to Hastings, the following week is full of assignments (four due on the Friday to be precise!) and then it’s the North Island Live Fire Youth Conference.
I could admit to being bitter about going to Matamata instead of Timaru (like some lucky people are!)… but I’m not! I get to spend a weekend just a few hours from home *sigh!*, I get to catch up with everyone from the Faith Factory that will be there AND I get to go with some pretty cool young people from Wellington City corps.
There is one thing that I truly, truly am missing and envy all you Aucklanders for having at your fingertips and that is… the NZ Herald!! I mean who really cares about news in Wellington ANYWAY!!! I’m stuck reading The Dominion Post every morning and well, quite frankly, I’m left feeling like I need something else to come before my morning cuppa!
Do I care that I won’t be able to cash in on any of the specials advertised – nope!
Do I care that I won’t be able to see with my own eyes the developments of troubles mentioned – nope!
Will I just be soothed by the thought-provoking, sometimes a little radical yet wildly honest Letters to the Editor, Side-Swipe and its funky little magazine additions – yep!
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Tim. 2:20-21
The tenacious 2 and a half year old... isn't he just gorgeous!
His imaginative play just cracks me up. Yesterday, while Marcus and Jen had a break, Hudson and I headed off to the playground where he proceeded to jump from a great height (off the seat of the bbq table at the playground) into his 'pool' (a pool of bark chips that would be!).
At one point, he jumped off then suddenly turned to me, eyes wide, and gasped:
"Karen!... I need my goggles! You wait right here (his little finger points to my seat) and I'll go home and get them!"
An employee applies themself by choice - officers are appointed.
Officers just need to apply themselves to their appointment.
...2 weeks of choosing what to do everyday is beginning to cause excitement beyond words!
My course is going well. We're at the tail end of the first semester so we are snowed under (haha! - where is David White when you need him?!) with assignments and an exam on the way. Most of us live in the library at the moment - not only is it warmer (saving our student budgets precious money!), but we're able to spread out without actually having to rent a desk and come and go as we please. Half the books we need to actually do the work are reference ones so it works well all round really - you only feel like you have no life when you realise that it's 9pm on a Saturday night, the rugby is on and you're just leaving the library!! ... I managed a few cries of "Come on boys!" from the couch shortly after so as not to disappoint my father ... just don't tell him it was in between watching a movie on DVD! - I know the score what more do I need!
Today's service was great. It was the Salvation Army's worldwide Self Denial Appeal where we are challenged to give One Week's Salary On Missionary Service (OWSOMS - or as some English cadets would like to write in their Meeting Lead transcript 'OSSUMS' ...hmmm!). We've had several weeks of watching DVD snippets of some of the work that is going on internationally and then this morning we got the chance to bring a separate offering forward - the amount of families that came forward, prayed and then gave an offering was pretty moving to say the least. If you're not called to missionary service, it's a great way to support it.
Well, this was just to let you know that I haven't suffocated under a pile of books - despite popular opinion! I'm living through life's usual ups and downs, studying all the while. I'm enjoying what most days bring and working at how to cope a little better with the rest! ... and I think of you all often and am looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible while I'm in Auckland.
Let me leave you with some encouragement someone left me a few weeks back:
(Be still those thoughts of 'Context! Context! Context!')
Isaiah 45: 2-3
I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
P.S. – true to form (check out the archives for February and you’ll know what I mean!), I managed to be late yet again this year – actually, I was so late, I missed my meeting altogether… much to the shock and horror of the other 12 or so cadets in the room who made it to the planning meeting… oops! My punishment – I have to model on the catwalk for our Mission Weekend in Kilbirnie! Standby for that blog! Mental note to self: DO NOT MISS ANY MORE MEETINGS!
Colossians 1:9-12
Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
Paul’s prayers teach us how to pray for others, whether we know them or not. We can request that they:
- understand what God wants them to do
- gain spiritual wisdom
- honour and please God
- continually do good kind things for others
- learn to know God better and better
- be strengthened with God’s glorious power
- have great patience and endurance
- stay full of Christ’s joy and
- give thanks always
Ah, Roma! My sister and I did Rome together last January and on the afternoon we arrived, we had a bit of an eventful time finding our accommodation (nowhere near enough room to go into that story tonight - let's just say that our hotel didn't actually exist!). So after Lorinda (LJ) had slept off the bulk of her fever, (Rome in the rain with a temperature trying to get out of a corrupt deal with an Italian weasel is no fun!), we did the typical Italian thing and went out for an afternoon walk.
As we rounded a corner not too far from our hostel, we stumbled across this! ... oh, just the Coliseum! Amazing! After both of us picked our jaws up off the ground, we ran down the road (granted Lorinda's was probably more of a wheeze and a hobble!) and took a few more photos.
Better than anything in Rome was the person I saw it all with, so this one's dedicated to LJ - without whom I would have had no idea what I was supposed to be looking at on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel... I plead artistic ignorance!
Grazie mille sorella for putting up with a sister who raced you through the Vatican Museum at a rate of knots!
Ciao tutti!
World Wide Day of Prayer for Children at Risk – June 4
Those of you that check in fairly regularly might remember an earlier blog that I removed back in February. It was about a child that I taught earlier on this year who came to school with 2nd degree burns to his hand that had been left uncovered for the better part of 4 days. I was a little rattled, to put it mildly, about the fact that parenting/home situations/finances could get so bad that a child is left without basic medical attention. In the end, I had to take the child up to A&E on behalf of the school and pay to get the burn cleaned and covered properly a week after the injury. My passion for the profession of teaching is part of what made it hard to leave but also a lot of the reason that I am where I am today. Who are the advocates for these children? Where are they? I was motivated further by becoming aware of the day of prayer coming up … things got pretty emotional for me pretty quick about here.
Just as an aside – if you’ve ever been so moved by something that all you can do is cry, don’t ever underestimate how God uses the cries of the heart…
The last part of the evening found us in yet another amazingly prepared room to focus on The Salvation Army itself. Part of this was the challenge to fast and pray on any of the days left this year for as long as we felt led and for whatever purpose whether it be an event or for The Salvation Army as a whole.
I found myself without hesitation writing my name down on June 4 – join me if you want to.
It’s hard to get this all down in words that do it all justice. Let’s just say that I don’t think that one person left tonight without being touched in some way and we didn’t come for ourselves tonight…
This would have to be another of my all time favourite photos. I was fortunate enough to spend some time in Paris in January 2004 - almost the heart of winter and I was by myself most of the time which meant I could amble around at my own speed, get lost and find my way home without too much stress. In saying that, it was pretty hard to get too lost with the Eiffel Tower in the background most of the time - it was a pretty good guide!
I loved the Louvre and went back twice! - those of you who have had to endure a museum with me will know that that in itself is quite near incredible *a thousand apologies again Andi & Ivanka - not to mention my poor sister!*
I also went to a Monet museum and this one, the D'Orsay Museum. The D'Orsay used to be a train station so the structure was pretty cool from the outset. I was amazed at how often cameras were allowed so I had a ball - from Monet originals to marble sculptures, I snapped it all! The sculptures on the ground floor were nothing short of amazing but this one caught my attention. Just look at it! - the detail is just so life-like... and it's marble! It was tucked away in a little corner with limited lighting which worked in my favour. It was taken on my SLR not the digital and was originally black and white.
I must say that I slipped up here though and didn't take a photo of the information so I don't even know the sculptor's name. I've done a quick internet search but if any of you have any more time on your hands than I do (slim chance I know!) and could help me give the artist the recognition they deserve then please email me what you find out (click on my profile for an email address).
Other than that, just enjoy it for what it is! Magnificent...
Just in case you doubted my commitment to good coffee...! I have my sister to thank for teaching me how to perk good coffee (molto grazie sorella!). Now I'm living in coffee heaven - no truly! My favourite coffee (Caffe L'Affare) is bagged right here in Wellington. The real shop is not far from home - check them out: www.laffare.co.nz ... Now back to the photo!
I'm sorry you have to suffer it but it is my attempt at being 'Arty'!! Inspired by a coffee bean shot Shawn McDonald showed me at Parachute this year. As well as being a great musician, he carries his laptop and AMAZING digital SLR with him everywhere (and some other funky old camera that I've forgotten the name of) ... we swapped photo stories in the Green Room where I picked up as many hints as possible.
I must admit (not that you can't guess!), this has had a few touch-ups thanks to Picasa (not a good look when your reflection is in the stainless steel!!) but the original was taken in my homey little kitchen. Go gas-top stoves - retro, funky and very cool!
This one's a favourite. It was taken at the Dachau concentration camp in Munich, Germany. Vicks and I had just finished looking around the parade ground, barracks and memorials and were on our way through to the crematorium.
It was freezing... As we went through the gate I looked back through the barbed wire fence and saw this shot. The fence was rusting away... just amazing and so incredibly sobering all at once.
Like the memorial in the parade ground reads - Never Again ...
RE: Salvation Army Studies – “The Role of Women Officers”
In preparation for this lecture, it is my wish to allow cadets to experience the essence of this subject and have decided that the following will take place:From today until the end of this lecture, all married female cadets are to serve morning tea drinks and refreshments to their husbands, and ensure that the used utensils are cleared away at the completion of that break.
Single female cadets will report no later than 10.35am each day where instructions will be given and the orders for morning tea to be delivered to all male staff.Until further notice, all married female cadets will walk one metre to the rear and right of their husband with their heads lowered.
Single female cadets will be issued with a cardboard cut out fixed to the end of a one-metre stick, which they will extend in front of themselves, and they are then to walk in the same manner.
I’m sure that you will agree that this will assist in ensuring that all cadets are aware of their special place in this great institution we serve.
Look forward to seeing you all on the 6th.
Somebody stop our male cadets (who just seem to have too much time on their hands!) from watching past episodes of Sledgehammer (male chauvinist!) and drinking copious amounts of coke all in one go. Rumour has it they split their sides every week… and the memos are only just beginning!
On the up-side, I have been offered cardboard cut-outs of Brad Pitt and Yoda… tough decision there!
I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
He won't let you stumble, your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
God's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you ...
God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.
Firstly, I'm sure manufacturers purposely shrink stockings by at least 2 sizes purely to make us feel as though we have to get into those puppies otherwise we'll cry our way through the rest of the morning over how much weight we've put on since the last pair!
Secondly, no-one warned me about the nylon burns I would receive on my thumbs if I tried too hard and too fast to just make the suckers fit!
Thirdly, no-one mentioned that you would be extremely uncomfortable for the entire duration of wearing them and that if you attempted to consume food, you would be limited to a small number of delicate mouthfuls or your circulation would cease from the snug waist-band down!
Fourthly, my apologies to all males reading this saga as it is probably more than you've ever wanted to know about stockings. However, I do think you should have just that little bit more sympathy for your other half if they have to live through this nasty experience themselves!
Note to you: Kindly turn the other way as we contort to get them on - Cirque du Soleil would be proud to have any woman that survives the ordeal on a regular basis!
Fifthly, if I'm doing something grossly wrong and this need not be so painful, someone please comment and give me advice!!!Sixthly... someone find the man who created stockings and bring him to me!
"Wellington is just a series of separate little towns - once you get your head around that you'll be fine!!"
"Wellington is just one big city that all joins together - once you work that out you'll be fine!"
... the jury is still out but I'm leaning towards separate towns at the present time!
Secondly, to a couple of my dear friends who tend to be having 'Senior Moments' a little more regularly than the rest of us and just in case any of you were wondering what my parents (of Maori and European descent I might add!) may have been thinking when flicking through the book of baby names:
MY MIDDLE NAME IS NOT JAZMINDA!!!
... and that's all I have to say on that matter! :-)
Colossians 3: 23-24
Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ.
Be assured, I miss you all heaps especially my Faith Factory family.
Roll on 7am!! … Brasso here I come!
“What do we live for but to make sport for our neighbours and laugh at them in our turn!”
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice