Supremacy

Ah... so many good things today! Most recently, an incredibly tasty green curry chicken dinner with Trade Aid dark chocolate for dessert (so rich that even I can only eat 2 pieces and I'm done!). My head is just swimming with deep and ever meaningful tidbits! - where to start?!

I was watching The Bourne Supremacy yesterday and in one of the interviews in the special features, Karl Urban talked about his character who had hardly any lines in the entire movie. The way he described how he approached the character has stuck with me - he said:

"An ounce of behaviour is worth a pound of words."

Very similar to St Francis of Assisi who said:

"Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

Then I started today with an interesting thought from the Experiencing God bible study:

Watch to see where God is working and join Him.

I realised that I had been approaching each day with the mentality that God would use me but that for some reason I kind of had a tunnel vision approach to it all - you know, me versus the world! What hit me after reading this was what a privilege it actually is to join God in His work. Simple but true - no?

And then to top it all off, an officer in one of our classes today shared how instead of asking how someone was, she would always ask: "How's your soul?" because someone once asked it of her. How's your soul?! It hit me like a brick wall! ...How is my soul?... It took me ages before I could even answer. How easily do we sing the words of It Is Well With My Soul without even considering how we are actually feeling? Try it on someone this week but be prepared - you won't get a flippant answer because this is a question that makes you think!

By the way... how is your soul?

The Last Decade

30 years ago to the day, after 10 months in the womb, I finally decided to arrive!! – my poor mother! From what I hear, pregnancy for 9 months is a long enough haul, let alone anyone adding another month to it! I think it’s been the pattern of my life though – I still love to take my time about things!

I have had an awesome day so far. Presents have arrived from all around the country and the phone calls and texts have been pretty steady. I had lunch with my session mates which was a great time to just escape from College and enjoy each others company… my chai latte was also superb! I’ve just had a full-on back massage as well so with a nap on the agenda anytime soon, I’m curled up in front of the heater with ‘The Italian Job’ on in the background, contemplating life – I still want to drive a mini like Charlize Theron does!

I’ve heard of some people freaking out a bit as they hit 30 so I guess I’ve been preparing for it for a little while to save myself the grief! As I was sitting at my dining room table reflecting the other night, I remembered setting some goals in my late teens of where I thought I’d be…then I roared with laughter and felt incredibly thankful for where I am today!

My 20s have been great. I love my life, I am loved and I love the friends & family that I have. And the biggest blessing of the last decade? – that’s simple. I’ve spent all of it with God. By the world’s standards, I don’t have much to show for being 30 - no house, no whiz-bang big company job, no salary! - and since I became a student I have even less (!!) but I have never been left wanting. I am rich in God and that works for me and anyway, if I wanted to rave about anything, I figured this was the best guide:

As the Scriptures say, "The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done."
1 Cor. 1:31 (NLT)

Ah….so much to look forward to! I’m excited about what’s ahead – a little apprehensive at times but on the whole, just plain excited! Don’t forget – big party (or dinner at least!) – for all those who can join me in Auckland in July. Thanks for all of you who made contact today – you’ve made it all the more special!

High Highs

It's kind of been my phrase of late - 'High highs and low lows'... it tended to sum up my world for a while! These two amazing young women, Megan and Juanita (and Rachel who unfortunately missed the kodak moment!), were an absolute highlight of Christchurch. They are all involved in their local corps and are seeking after God with such a hunger and thirst (not to mention slightly whacky tendencies!!), it's just awesome to see!

I have great memories of little red foil wrapped easter eggs, bags of pick'n'mix and pringles with the chick flick and some superb musical moments - all yours of course Megan!... The photographer (and his family) weren't too bad company either!

I'm a bit of a M.I.L.K. fan in my spare time (and I find 'encouragement' in their design ideas!!) and I just couldn't decide which of these two quotes suited the photo best so you get to enjoy them both:

Wherever you are it is your friends who make your world
William James

No road is long with good company...

Thanks for the company guys - you made my world that weekend! I still laugh at the craziest of things when I think back to my time away, especially Easter Camp. Thanks for the high highs!

Photo #13

Another round of photos and this is my pick of the moment. Luca is just gorgeous... and has a habit of doing the haka (Maori war dance) at the ripe old age of just 1!! He keeps his mainly music class pretty well entertained each week with it as well! Tracy and Malcolm are officers in The Salvation Army as well and we had loads of good times in Christchurch together.

Well, I'm back and settled in the Hutt again and life has returned to normal... well as normal as Training College ever gets! It's back to 7am cleaning duties and life by a timetable again but the changes that have gone on while we've been away are working out well.

We're having our Fair Trade Cuppa as part of Fair Trade fortnight tomorrow so, with a little bit of Shirlee Bond magic (!!), our display looks great and hopefully we'll get everyone on board. I've been challenged of late that sacrificial living is not just about the bigger sacrifices in life, but that it's also about all the little things we can do like changing products to be more environmentally friendly and becoming Fair Trade supporters - paying a little more to serve a greater purpose.

Well, God has done some amazing things in my life of late but my brain is still sorting through it all! More on all that later! The most prominent thing that comes to mind tonight would be His ability to work tough times into something good. We serve a mighty God and I'm grateful that His mercies are new every morning!