A Day of Bliss

Yesterday, Wellington turned on the charm... grey, cold and wet was the order of the day - ALL day - and yet, when I went out for dinner last night I heard someone say:

"Wasn't it a great day today?..."

I sat up in my chair thinking to myself:

"Are you nuts?!! No blue sky - no sun - no warmth -
winter all over again!!"

All the while, though, something was niggling in the back of my mind about how strangely pleasant the day had been. Then the puzzle was made complete as the conversation continued:

"... No wind! Just lovely!"

...only from the mouths of TRUE Wellingtonians!

...Ahem!

Can you believe it's been 7 weeks already?!

Can you believe 2 years have flown by?!

Well, they have - so without further delay,

my first appointment is...

Divisional Youth and Candidates Secretary

Central Division

...and my thoughts so far on the appointment...

roll on Kaivata! (Fiji - January 2007)

...but seriously - the feelings range from excitement to being simply overwhelmed at times - not to mention the fact that I just want to get started!

At New Zeal over the weekend we got the opportunity to go and grab a verse from the basket (the baskets had hundreds of verses in them) with the prayer that it would be a word from God, just for where you were at. Here was mine:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
John 15:16 (NIV)

I thought that was pretty special. Not much more to add really!

That's Gross

I can handle being up at 7am to clean...
I can handle having to clean the toilets...

What I can't handle is when cleaning the toilet bowl, water splashes into my face... Needless to say, I have discovered another one of those times in life when it's best to keep one's mouth closed!

Random

For those of you who have know me for a long time, you'll know that 'Random' was a nickname from way back (referring to my driving in case your wondering!) but yesterday, there truly was a random event in the Hutt...

...it snowed!

I kid you not! I got caught outside in it as I ran from the car to the safety of Countdown! How cool is that?!

There has to be some perk to living in the windy capital now doesn't there!

Yee haa!

A bit of fun for the afternoon thanks to Lucy's

brother-in-law... cheers!

If you're a little bored, like I was this avo, try it for yourself.

Freedom

Ever had one of those weeks where you know that things are progressing, life is going on, on the whole things are good but you just can't help but feel like you've been wading through a swamp? You know, everything's all wet and clammy, thigh-high squirmy mud stretches between you and the bank and there's just that general feeling of moving forward but with weights around your ankles?

Well that's me this week until finally something hit me. "Shake off the sin that so easily entangles..." (my paraphrase of part of Heb 12:1!!) that was the first revelation and the second has been weighing on my mind for some time. In one of our classes here at college, a lecturer has kind of been hounding the point that the most common cause of people's problems along their journey, results from a lack of thorough repentance when they first come to Christ. Food for thought isn't it? It has challenged me on repentance in general.

It got me thinking anyway and I remembered several times in my life, kind of like spiritual markers I suppose you would say, where the Holy Spirit revealed to me that I had to repent... again! I've been working my way through the Experiencing God bible study as well and when the author was waiting to hear from God on something, if there was a time of silence, he would pull out his 'sin checklist' and pray through it.

How often can we just get into the pattern of doing life without actually taking time to carry out a 'sin checklist' regularly? It can sound a strange thing to do but all it does is jog your memory of what has been happening in your life since you last pulled it out and it's amazing what comes to mind! I know it should be part of our devotional life as well, but for me, if I was being honest, it is something that can too easily be missed out, especially when time runs short and work pressures mount.

In saying all of this, I picked up an amazing resource I used at one of those landmark moments of mine and on flicking through, I've decided to work through it again. Ever come across 'The Steps to Freedom in Christ' by Neil Anderson? Awesome. Very thorough and what a tool to put into a disciple's hands at the right moment...

Anyway, all that to say that I've had a great end to my week. I'm feeling like I've reached the other side of the swamp - learnt another lesson and am almost ready to face another week of it all!

Miss Hills

Happy blogday to me! - It's my 100th post... just happened to see my total when I logged in this morning!

I must share that at around 11pm last night, I breathed a huge and rather weary sigh - said to myself, "I need help!!" and then turned out the light... with a small smile on my face!

My entire teaching career, I devoted hours to correcting that innate desire in some children to just have to call me Miss Hills. "I'm one hill not a mountain!" became my cry!

These last few weeks have been 'rather busy' in terms of assessment and last night, as the last assignment was having it's cover page paper-clipped (not stapled!!) to the front, I realised that in my slightly weary state, I was handing in an assignment from none other than...

Karen Hills!

...I do believe I have just become a mountain!

Perspective

Scroll down slowly as there are some photos that may
disturb you on this one...

I'll never forget a sermon series that Malcolm did a few years back. It was on Jonah and the main thing that I took away from it was to get perspective in my circumstances, particularly when things are getting me down, you know - are you really in the belly of a whale or are you just thinking that it's that bad?!!

Well, I'm fine - a little worn out, but fine.

I'm feeling like I'm crawling towards the end of the year instead of running this race, but I'm fine.

I'm wishing I had a few of the finer things in life occasionally, but I really want for nothing... I'm fine.

I'm feeling a little sorry for myself at times, but... I'm fine.

Today, I received some rather disturbing photos that have certainly given me 'perspective' once again.

These are hard to look at but my thoughts in sharing them are so that perhaps what God has used to challenge me today, He may also use to speak to you in some way.

For me, these photos give me a lot more perspective on my circumstances. I am way more than just fine - I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, running water never more than a quick jog away and food in my stomach. Everything within me now screams: "Get a grip!" ...my occasional need to wallow has definitely had some perspective added to it.

These photos make me give a little more thought and prayer to those whose circumstances in life are completely and utterly beyond anything I could ever care to imagine... and I'm encouraged to get back up and get into this race again - a lot more thankful than before and with a renewed zeal. These problems may seem a world away but there are so many little things I can do - least of all, pray.

These may break your heart as they did mine - photos of children always do - but if it makes you do nothing more than pray for people in these circumstances, then that's something... it's all quite sobering but I hope that at the same time, it gives you a little more perspective as you go through the rest of your week and that you're even more thankful than usual...

... for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Matt 19:14

It's confidential?... Really?

Confidential: entrusted with secrets

Oxford Dictionary

You know, ever since I was a little girl I have never been able to keep a secret. I was always the first to play with the presents under the tree at Christmas - I'd squeeze them, smell them, peek through any bit of the paper that would lift (without ripping of course!) and I was the QUEEN of placing them back so that no-one would know... or so I thought anyway!

I was told secrets less and less as I grew up (especially birthday presents or surprises) as I just couldn't do it! Before I knew it, often at the most inopportune moment, I would spill the beans - 9 times out of 10 quite unintentionally!

And what secret am I entrusted with now you ask? ...Try knowing my appointment for 2007!

And what's the biggest problem this poses - beyond the obvious effort at being all grown-up and over my childhood inability to keep confidentiality?! ...Try the fact that I can't share it with ANYONE until the 19th of October!

OCTOBER!! Keep a secret until OCTOBER?! It's torture - absolute and utter torture!

My only consolation is that my sessionmates are in exactly the same predicament. I'd love to say that every time the topic comes up (as it inevitably does!) that we just smile a cheeky smile and change the topic... but the reality would have to be more like this...!

And trust me when I say that underneath that tape (or well-placed spouse's hand!) the conversation is carrying on ten-to-the-dozen!!

The eyes are flashing... the mouth is smiling... and yet, we know nothing of each other's appointments! (bar insignificant details that could leave any one of us church planting in Eketahuna!)

Pray for us poor souls as the temptation is high... I think the temptation for a sweepstakes could be even higher!!

I don't think there's one of us who hasn't gone to bed without the dispo in hand yet, trying madly to figure out someone elses appointment! We're a sad bunch but this little bit of excitement will keep us going for a while!!

Make Poverty History

I must confess, I've been looking at the banner on Lucy's blog since she put it up and I've been meaning to click the link and follow the trail but have just procrastinated over that very thing for AGES!

Well, I finally got there the other day, hence the banner on my blog now. It's worth a look and kind of gives a new spin on things as you go through your day. I hope it encourages you and inspires you to think of the little things that you could do differently to help with the bigger changes that need to happen...