For Times I Feel I've Failed

I can do nothing right
Or so it would seem
Should I stay and fight?
Is this just a dream?

I thought I was okay
I thought I was bright
But it seems that something
Was missed from my sight

My mind now in turmoil
My hope slowly fades
I thought I could make it
Without escapades

Just when I could reach it
Just when it was near
Success has stripped me
and left me in fear

Yet rejoice my soul says
Rejoice and be glad
How can I rejoice,
when I'm feeling so sad?

Because it's not the end yet
It's not even the start
Just wait patiently
Soon you'll find heart

Store your treasures in heaven
Not here on this earth
For you've been forgiven
And know not your worth.

The Wedding Feast

You're invited!!!

How exciting are weddings? Seriously!

A friend of mine got married on the weekend and I was honoured to be a part of her bridal party. A few weeks before the wedding; none of us were too excited. However, as the day grew closer and closer- the more excited we became.

The wedding was fantastic! Hardly anything went wrong. It was beautiful and we had the time of our lives. Just being in the company of others, eating, singing, dancing and being merry. We were all totally exhausted the next day... but that wasn't the point! And that's what got me thinking...

The point is that, if a wedding here on earth can cause so much excitement and joy... can you just imagine what the wedding feast in heaven is going to be like?!!!!! I can't! It's going to be 1 million times better than any earthly wedding. I cannot wait!

There'll be food like food you've never known before.... Amazing music.... Fantastic dancing! In fact I'm pretty sure you will be dancing like you have never danced in your entire life... and loving it!

And you know what's more exciting about the wedding feast in heaven?! Everyone's invited. It's not exclusive... it's way way way inclusive. Read Matthew 22:1-14 for more info on the best wedding you will ever be at! Or will you be there? That's up to you....

"Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" Revelation 19:9

Not as strong as you think

This is a song by Twila Paris that I just discovered. I thought it was really beautiful and just wanted to share it with you all and I highly recommend that you seek it out on youtube and have a listen. =)

The Warrior Is A Child

-

Lately I've been winning battles left and right

But even winners can get wounded in the fight

People say that I'm amazing, strong beyond my years

But they don't see inside of me, I'm hiding all the tears

-

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down

They don't know who picks me up when no one is around

I drop my sword and cry for just a while

Deep inside this armour - the warrior is a child.

-

Unafraid because His armour is the best

But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest.

People say that I'm amazing - never face retreat

But they don't see the enemies that lay me at His feet.

-

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down

They don't know who picks me up when no one is around

I drop my sword and look up for a smile

'Cause deep inside this armour...

-

Deep inside this armour...

Deep inside this armour...

The warrior is a child.

-

Are idle hands actually God's power tools?

Wow.

How busy life can be. I swear I haven't taken a breath since Christmas.

So I guess it's been awhile since I blogged properly... especially about me and where I'm at. So let me take some time to enlighten you all to the current state of my so called 'life' at the moment.

I am still working in the deli at Safeway... doing somewhere between 10-12 hours a week.
I have been working at the Community Health Centre since November, doing around 21 hours per week.
I have just begun my Graduate Diploma of Theology through the Melbourne College of Divnity... full time.
Tuesday nights I run bible study, whilst on Friday nights we hold youth group fortnightly. And on Sunday's I assist with the older children's discipleship program at church. Not to mention Songsters on a Wednesday evening and the visits to the dressmaker for my housemate's upcoming wedding.

Would it be an understatement to say I've been busy?

Being this busy has caused me to consider a number of things... First and foremost it has caused me more stress than I have known in my life, and I really must consider whether being this busy is truly healthy for one's self. It certainly can't be healthy for the soul if it allows no down time. Even Jesus needed time out from his busy lifestyle.

Secondly, this bussiness has caused me to consider whether one can fully accomplish one's purpose (sharing Jesus with the world) to the best of their ability when their life is so full.

See... there is this dilemma... I'm sure you've heard one of these sayings:
'Idle hands are the devil's workshop' or
'Idle hands are the devil's playground' or
'Idle hands are the devil's tools'
Although I'm not sure any of these are the particular phrase I'm looking for...

Anyway. The dilemma is that I'm either going to be busy or idle.
If I'm busy will that detract from the goodness and power of fulfilling God's will in my life?
If I'm idle will that mean I'm not fulfilling God's will?
Hmmm.
It really makes one wonder.
Or maybe I just have a bad case of binge thinking...

Well here's a thought for you.
Can idle hands really be God's power tools?
Maybe God uses idle hands better than he uses busy ones... Because maybe the busy ones are so caught up in what they are busy with that God's will is put to the back of the mind.
I certainly won't want that to be the case with my busy hands.
But don't you think God could use idle hands better and far more effectively than He could use busy hands?

Interesting.
Food for thought.

Praise You in This Storm

On Sunday night, I spent some time walking with God.
I decided I needed to get out into God's world and get closer to my creator. Which is entirely natural for me... because, afterall, I am human.
So I started out on a one hour walk to my mothers house just out of town. It was a great time to reflect upon my bussiness of late and to rejuvenate.

Which is exactly what I think I needed to prepare me for the next two days, as Monday morning I was on my way to Wallan; one of the various emergency relief centres for fire victims in Victoria.

The devastation that this fire has caused is incredible. Not just to properties... but to people... and animals. There was one lady on crutches who was able to escape the fire with her pet rabbit.... unfortunately however, she was unable to save her pet goats who were like family to her.

This fire however, has also caused a great banding together of people and communities. It's amazing how much people really do shine in the face of adversity. Constantly people were coming from all directions to donate their time and resources. Everyone wanted to help somehow.

On Tuesday morning, I had the opportunity of going out with my father to deliver food and basic necessities to those victims who needed it but were unable to leave their fire ravaged properties... It was a very eery atmosphere as we drove through the burnt trees and smoldering piles of ash where forest once stood... Houses had melted... we were only able to find one or two left standing.

At one house we came to, there was a lady there who was very lucky to escape. The fire had reached the windows of her house... What a nerve racking experience it must have been for her! Words cannot describe how she must be feeling.

It was only when returning home tonight that I listened to the song "Praise You in This Storm" by Casting Crowns and the enormity of the situation really struck me. It also struck me how soooooo very important it is to continue to praise our God through adverse time.

Our God works in mysterious ways... and may he continue to work in and amongst those affected by this disaster.

Trust and Obey

What a busy, confusing, uncertain and overwhelming past couple of months it has been!
The past few months have been a journey for me... about learning how to trust deeply in my Saviour and thus obey Him.

This week I returned from Insane. For those of you who don't know what that was, Insane was a Territorial Salvation Army youth camp. As I went to this camp the week before, I was filled with so many angsts and worries about my future, especially in regards to employment. I have always told myself not to worry about those kinds of things, and in Matthew Jesus tells us not to worry, but unfortunately I let it get to me. And as soon as I did.... all these decisions I HAD to make started to build up making me more and more stressed.

So during that week, I decided I would wait upon God for his answer to my problems.

The answer didn't come on Monday.
Or Tuesday.
Or Wednesday
Or Thursday.
Or Friday.

I was despairing at this point.. but still I waited.

It wasn't until Saturday that the Lord answer me loud and clear with what He wanted me to do. I already knew what it was, but I was waiting for some sort of confirmation.

And then it came. Simple. Clear. Obvious. God used another person to bring his answer to me. For some people... it may not have seemed like much... to others it might have been a shock, but to me it was what I had been waiting for all week.

And so now, I feel incredibly blessed. Blessed to have been given the answer I sought. Now I can say that I am certain of God's will for my life. When I think about the journey I have been on these past months and the point at which I have come to now... I cannot help but think of the words to the song "Trust and Obey" and how true they are for me.

But we never can prove

The delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows,

For the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.