The ocean.

I sit on the sand in fear of the violent wind and waves. I walk to the water and dip my toe in, I find it isn't as comfortable as I expected. I leap in and start to swim. But I swim in my own strength- following my own pace and direction. Soon the wind and the waves overwhelm me and I cannot swim anymore. I raise my hand and yell- "I surrender all!", as my body begins to sink below the water. I feel a strong hand grab onto mine and pull me up from under the water. As my head lifts out of the water, I see other hands- People I had not been aware of. Struggle I had not seen. And then He speaks- "Child, you are not alone". Do you feel like this? Fearful, worn out, wandering. Surrender to Him, and he will not only rescue you, but open your eyes to others who feel the same as you do. "Child, you are not alone".

A true story of true love!

His story of Grace.

This is the testimony of my friend whose faced it all- sex, money, drugs, gunshots, knifings, even a murder scheme... But God's grace set him free and now he goes into the darkest places to shares God's love with prisoners, the homeless, the crippled, prostitutes, witches/satanists etc... Hallelujah!

Two

These two little girls have changed my life. Changed the way I view the world. Changed the way I view myself. Without even knowing it, their hugs have helped to heal the deepest parts of my heart.

They live in a girls rescue home here in Thailand. The come from a family where their parents are in a homosexual relationship (one of them is a 'lady boy'.) The eldest of the twogirls use to be forced to skip school and work like an adult to help earn money for her family. When coming to the rescue home they were both malnourished and pretty broken kids... but now they are healthy little girls, bubbling with joy and often singing praise songs to God.

The other day the youngest of the two was angry at me. She wouldn't talk to me or look at me. I kept praying "Lord, what have I done? How can I fix this?"

Not long after my prayer, I approached her and asked why she was angry? She simply said (trying her hardest to speak English) "You, Photo, Sister"

And then I realised what was wrong. I had spent the last couple of hours playing with her sister (taking photographs together) while she was off playing with some of the other kids.

So, I offered to play with her one on one. We sat together playing 'Angry Birds' on my IPhone. She smiled at me and high fived me everytime she passed a level. As I sat their with her I realised that this sweet little girl was just after some more love and attention!

I sit here wondering to myself...

'How many children will God put before me to love? 1, 50, 100, 2,000, 1 million?' However many it is, I choose to say "Yes!" because each and every child he has already put before me, has changed my heart in their own unique way- forever!

The secret place...

I look around. Bodies cover the church floor. Weeping, wailing, screams of freedom, shouts of joy! No judgment, no time frames… just broken people coming before a loving God- just as they are. No masks, no materialism to cover up their insecurities, just dirty feet and hands lifted high, exalting Him, the God who is always good.

Good through poverty.

Good through death.

Good through war.

Good through persecution and suffering.

Good through physical and sexual abuse.

Always good, always available.

While looking around the room I realise that in this church something is different. The people come to church expecting to receive from God, to hear from him, to see him move. They come to church with their hearts set on God and no one else.

A perfect example of this is the young girl beside me. She is hiding behind a plastic chair in the corner, crying out to God from her secret place.

I think to myself… What would our churches look like if we too would push aside our fears of judgement and enter into that vulnerable, secret place which God has prepared for each of us to enter into and taste of his love and goodness. 

This is our challenge-

To go to church EXPECTING God to move,

To push aside our fears,

To take off our masks…

And enter into his secret place for us!

Day One- Chiang Mai

Today I arrived in Chiang Mai. It is my first day of mission. My room is small... but it has a comfy double bed, hot water and air con- what more could I ask for?

Thai locals are currently celebrating 'Songkran' (the Thai new year). To celebrate this, massive water fights break out everywhere- water is thrown all over the roads, at people, cars and motorbikes. So, I spent my first 3 hours on the side of the road with about 15 kids, playing under a large hose and throwing buckets and pots and pans of water all over the road and anything/anyone that got in our way... The joy on each childs face was priceless and infectious!

After that I was invited into my friend 'Cassies' house (where she runs a girls rescue home). I sat on a plastic rug on the dusty floor, surrounded by 6 little girls, who a prompted for me to say grace- shouting "Pii Sam, Pray!" ('Pii' in Thai is placed before someone's name when they are older than you). We ate dinner- rice, egg and some sort of pork and eggplant meal and as I looked around this tiny home of beautiful children and watched the bugs crawl around on my plate, I thought to myself- my world just doesn't compare to this!

Hello Thailand!

On Saturday I left my beautiful home in Sydney to meet my wonderful mother, father and little brother- who had flown from their home in Melbourne.

For one week I am enjoying the blessing of a relaxing holiday in Phuket, Thailand.

On our arrival we were upgraded to the 'Penthouse Ocean View room'. Our room is bigger than any house I'll ever live in! Private spa bath, private hot tub, queen beds, plasma tv's and a view overlooking the ocean.

We will be elephant riding, monkey see'ing, jet skiing, snorkelling... and enjoying the huge swimming pool and beautiful beach.

The highlight of my trip so far being a cuddle and kiss I enjoyed from an elephant on the beach (see picture)!

However next week I am off somewhere else...on my own adventure to Chang Mai, Thailand- vulenteering for ten days.

A beautiful friend of mine 'Bel' and her gorgeous nine year old daughter 'Samara' prayed over me before I left and Bel said something that really stuck with me... She said that my first week will be about enjoying the blessing of spending quality time with my family, enjoying God's creation and growing deeper in my intimacy with God and my prayer life. And the following ten days will be about pouring out all that LOVE i've received from God to others.

Since arriving I already feel this coming true. God has been calling me closer to himself and speaking to me through his word.

Today I read Matthew 11: 28-30 (The Message Bible) and it said "Are you tired? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly!"

I felt God speaking to me through these words, and I wonder today if he is speaking to you through them to?

Take a moment to ask God what he is trying to speak to you through the verse...

Perhaps God want's to call you home "Come to me!"

Maybe God want's you to learn how to rest in him "Get away with me!"

God might be simply asking you to "Walk with me!"

Perhaps he is seeking your obedience "Work with me"

or maybe he is calling you back to that deep place of intimacy with him "Keep company with me!"

Whatever it is- let God speak.

Sign out of Facebook for a couple of minutes.

Turn your phone on silent and ignore your text messages for a bit.

Put down the X-box controller.

And simply wait on God...

What is he saying to you today?

God is a healing God!

Make sure you check out this video- It is a collection of stories of how God has changed people's lives, written on cardboard... God is a healing God! Copy & Paste this into your internet bar:

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KWDD7LNX

Our Baptism

On the 1st of April my wonderful boyfriend Joshua and I were baptised in the Woronora River, Sydney, with our friends, family and new church home 'Engadine Community Church'.

For me this day was symbolic of the fact that:

'I know that my old self was crucified with Christ, so that my body which was ruled by sin is now gone, and I will no longer be a slave to sin- because I have died to my old self and been set free from sin. Now I know that if I died with Christ, I believe that I will also live with him!'

(Romans 6: 6-8, paraphrased my way.)

As I went beneath the water that day, I felt myself being cleansed and embraced by God. I came up overwhelmed by The Holy Spirit, with tears of joy!

I stood on the river bank

as my family, my church family, Josh and a group of the girls from 'kids church' laid hands on me and prayed.

During the whole day, I felt this reassuring peace and joy that this is right where God wants me- Laughing, playing, swimming, skipping, dancing, with the Children he places before me!

What a beautiful day it was, and what a blessing it is- to be baptised with Christ!

We are all on a journey...

I was humbled and challenged by a story I heard the other day.

It was about a youth pastor who was locking up the church after a youth meeting, when he saw a drunken man sitting out the front. The youth pastor’s immediate reaction was to ask the man to leave, as he was worried for the safety of the youth who were still hanging around. But then Jesus entered the picture…

The drunken man looked the youth pastor in the eyes and began to bless him in Jesus name and encourage him to ‘never stop doing what you’re doing for God.’

You see, what the youth pastor hadn’t realised was that this man was saved by grace and had his own personal relationship with Jesus. The drunken man then shared of how before he encountered Jesus he was a drug addict, who wouldn’t have been able to hold a conversation, as his whole body was in obedience to his addiction. But Jesus had completely freed him off that addiction!

This story really spoke to me and reminded me that… We are all on a journey and none of our journeys look the same.

This drunken man had his life radically transformed by the love of Jesus! Sure, he wasn’t sober and he was still addicted to alcohol. But Jesus had healed him of his previous drug addiction, making it possible for him to have this conversation and proclaim God’s word wherever he goes.

It reminded me of a man who attended the Salvation Army church and outreach centre I worked in last year. For privacy, we shall call him *Jonno.

*Jonno was a homeless, alcoholic and with one glance of him, most of you (like I did myself) would have quickly walked past him- nervous, perhaps even scared of him. But the Lord taught me something through *Jonno.

One day I was on my way home when I bumped into *Jonno. I smiled at him and as I was about to pass by quickly, he started to preach the gospel.

He started declaring that the kingdom of heaven is here… and that the love of Jesus is real. Jesus was using this man to proclaim his truth to Melbourne city!

So on regular occasions I would walk past *Jonno on the streets and see him drunk, yet still mumbling truths about who Jesus is and what he has done for him.

I had the privilege of seeing *Jonno sober for a couple of weeks. The change was radical and he claimed it to be the work of Jesus. However *Jonno is still homeless and battling his alcohol addiction again. But he is on a journey! His own, intimate, personal journey with Jesus! So who are we to judge?

Help us to see with your eyes Jesus,

Help us to love with your heart Father,

Holy Spirit rid us of all judgement, so that we may see your face and hear your voice in the world around us!

Amen!

Jehovah Jireh

Hello! I wanted to fill you all in on what God's been up to in my life recently...

As all of you know... Before moving to Sydney I had given it a lot of thought and prayer!

I had prayed in specific for God to be ...

'Jehovah Jireh' "THE LORD WHO PROVIDES" and he has been so faithful to that!

I prayed for:

1-A house where I can be of use for God's glory

2-A part time job (working with kids/youth) or ideally a job in ministry

3-A home church

4-An older mentor

5-An opportunity to go overseas (whether this be to Africa or somewhere else)

6- For God to make it clear if he wanted Josh and me to be serving him together (at the same church) or individually.

And God has been so faithful to my move to Sydney and provided all of these! (Sorry if I've repeated a bit of stuff you've already heard...)

1- I had a place to board that was $150 a week, however when I went their to meet the family (before I moved up) I felt God telling me that he had bigger plans, and I was so unsettled by the idea of living their. 2 days after I had decided to decline living with the family (and had no where else to live, no friends up here and no connections to find somewhere) I went on a church camp with Josh. Josh had invited his mate from work who was not a Christian and his mates girlfriend came along to. They ended up giving their lives to Jesus on the same day and that evening they asked me to live with them to help disciple, pray with them and keep them accountable to their decision to follow Christ! So God provided me with too new Christian flat mates to disciple and grow with, a lovely house and a cheap as $50 rent a week!

2- Last week I got offered a job as the 'Youth & Childrens Minister' of Engadine Community Church! The crazy part is, that I hadn't even applied for the job!

My mentor from Melbourne is an intercessor for their church's growth and ministry. She suggested me for the job and before me even meeting me the minister, his prayer team had felt God reveal to them that I was the one for the job! How crazy is God! I accepted the job a couple of days ago and have felt this excitement and peace wash over me since.

3- The church is exactly my kind of church. They all move in the spirit, however the church and it's people are so humble and real and they are passionate about mission too (sponsoring past members of their congregation to work in Uganda and reaching out to the wider community). As well as this, the majority of the people their (including the minister) have all studied at Tabor in Sydney and their teaching's and sermons are so deep and help me to think deeper and grow in my knowledge of the bible.

4- As well as this, an older woman at the church has offered to mentor me... She see's in the spiritual realm (like me) and hears from God through visions! So I am excited to spend more time learning from her.

5- I have a friend who lives in Thailand and is a 'house mum' for a dorm of girls at an orphanage. My friend referred me to the the boss and so... I am going to Chang Mai in April to do 10 days mission work with these children and missionaries! I still feel God calling me to Africa to learn more about mission. However I feel that he is putting me on hold for the year to finish my Diploma and work at this church. I think Thailand is God's way of giving me an opportunity to do some short term mission, yet get the qualifications and experience I need before Africa or maybe even longer term mission.

6- Josh and I had been praying since I took the job, that God would make it clear if he wanted Josh to attend Engadine Community Church with me or not.

4 days after I accepted the job and had been praying about this the minister of my new church offered Josh a job in the same position as me, working along side each other and with the kids and youth of the church! God is sooo good!

So now begins a new journey with God! Studying his word 2 days a week (at Tabor college) and working 3 days a week with Josh as the Youth/Childrens ministers!- running youth group, youth church, youth band, bible studies, prayer groups, kids club and after school kid's activities... And I am sooo excited!

May this be an encouragement to all of you... that not only is God...

'Jehovah Jireh' "THE LORD WHO PROVIDES"

but that...

"GOD DOESN'T CALL THE EQUIPPED...
BUT HE EQUIPS THE CALLED!"

May God pour out his blessings on all your lifes this year!

Recipe for Revival

"Stop for the one, but believe for the multitudes.This is the face of revival!"

Amen

"Going to church doesn't make you clean... Going to Jesus does!"

My new home...

Goodbye Melbourne, today I am leaving for Sydney!

A goodbye to my special little brother behind me, a ten-hour drive with my mumma ahead of me, and a lifetime of following wherever my God leads me. Pretty darn scary- yet very excited to see where I end up!

Up until recently I was going to board with a family in Sydney, but after a lot of prayer I felt God whispering that he had another plan for me.

Two days after deciding that this was not God’s plan for me, I met two beautiful people- Amy and Zach.

Zach is a friend of my boyfriend Josh’s. They worked together at a surf shop, skate together and talk boy stuff like ‘Call.Of.Duty’ – hmmmm… perhaps I will find other things to talk about with Zach.

& Amy is a bubbly, intelligent girl, who like me has very long brown hair and is quite fond of the bohemian style!

During my week of hanging out with them, I watched Amy and Zach come to faith in Jesus and encounter God’s furious love and never ending grace for them. Not long after that, they asked me to move into their South/West Sydney unit with them and I have had a peace from God wash over me ever since.

So… our home will be filled with a lot of laughter, friendship, prayer and… study!

I will be studying Christian Ministry/Theology at Tabor College.

I already have plans to head to Thailand in April for a week’s holiday with my family and 7-10 days of mission work in a children’s home & I am dreaming up the idea of doing a 3-month mission school in Mozambique, Africa at the end of this year or early next year!

Ahhh life is looking pretty darn great!

So what has God been doing in my life recently?

Well, for starters he is teaching me the art of trusting in him no matter what’s ahead, and he is showing me his amazing provision and faithfulness everyday.

Some days I wake up surrounded by his light and I can literally feel his presence filling my room, and other days I have to fight to be in relationship with him because it becomes too easy to push God aside.

Everyday for me is a choice.

A choice to pray,

A choice to do what’s right,

A choice to smile,

A choice to cry out to God for help…

A choice to live in his kingdom, rather than this world.

And do you know what I love?... The fact that my God loves and trusts me enough to let me make choices!

Let’s be honest… It becomes pretty easy to sin when your God gives you the choice between good and evil.

I was reminded of something recently whilst chatting with another one of my beautiful new Sydney friends, Jasmine.

She asked me why God didn’t make it so that everyone has to love him.

I asked her in return… How would you like it if every single person in your life HAD to love you, HAD to be your friend? You wouldn’t feel very loved would you?

And then it hit me again… like us, God just longs to be loved! Loved by you and loved by me!

He reminded me through this conversation that although prayer is very important, so is worship!– for worship is when we love on and adore God!

So this year I am determined to find as much time as I can to worship my God. Just loving on him and seeking nothing in return… I think in that I will find true joy!

"Unless you change & become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven"

Yesterday evening I found myself completely undone by the Holy Spirit, and Jesus took me on a journey and revealed to me a future ministry...

I saw myself from behind, walking along a dusty yellow brick road. I got the sense that someone was following me…

I kept turning around to look if there was, and after a few glances I saw this beautiful face pop out from behind a broken brick wall.

She was bald, of African decent & had this huge beaming white smile on her face. She began to follow my every step, walking behind me. She was much taller than me, very skinny and looked to be about fifteen years old. She continued to smile.

Suddenly we reached this large plant. In the middle of the plant was two huge leaves that sat overlapping each other. I knew that if I just pushed the plants to the side and walked through something beautiful was awaiting me.

I began to ask God whether I could take the girl into this special place with me… and as I turned around to invite her through, I saw at least 100 more children standing in a line behind her- waiting to come through with us.

I lead the children through the leaves and on the other side was a huge field of green grass with an oak tree in the centre- light streaming down on!

I began to walk the children in a circle around the tree…and then I began to run… The children chasing behind me! Eventually we all collapsed below the tree in a pile of laughter... The joy in their faces pierced my heart.

I know that through this God was confirming that my ministry will be to Children. It will be a ministry of true joy and laughter! I am so excited to see where he leads & wherever that is, I say "YES LORD!"

(Matthew 18: 3)- "And Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!"

He also showed me that the children in my vision were filled with true JOY and worship- They danced, they laughed, they ran, they skipped... because their hearts were filled with joy and through that joy, came worship! God want's me and you to live in that place of joy and worship and to do that we must humble ourselves and become like little children!

Some great video's on Love & Sex

What does Christmas look like?

‎"What if Christmas looked a lot more like Jesus?...
This Christmas what if you bought one less present?
And used that money to bless someone in need?

Less spending, more giving.
Less me, more Jesus!"

Check out this website-

http://www.usefulgifts.org/

I am Peter

Today as I was reading the book 'Kisses from Katie' which I got as an early Christmas present and it was literally as if God 'bolded' this specific part and I found myself reading over it again and again and realising, like Katie... I am Peter.

"I am Peter.

Jesus tells Peter that he (Peter) will deny Jesus 3 times.

Peter says, "No! I love you, I could never deny you, Lord."

Yet we all know that Peter does infact deny Jesus three times.

I know in my heart and core of my being that I love the Lord, that I would do anything for him, go to the ends of the earth for him, but how often do I forget to give the glory to his name? How often do I take compliments without giving him the credit? Do I, like Peter, deny Jesus the glory that is his?

Jesus told his disciples that it was God's will for him to be arrested. He went willingly when the soldiers came to take him, but enthusiastic, loving Peter raised his sword and cut off a soldier's ear. "Put your sword away" Jesus commanded. "Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

I am Peter.

I have my own time frame. When I don't see things happening, I try to make them happen. And Jesus says, "Put away your sword, put away your plans. Shall we not do what the Father has asked of us?"

So like Peter, I put away my plans, my defences, and watch as everything happens perfectly, in God's own timing.

After Jesus had risen, he appeared to his disciples while they were fishing.

When Peter saw his beloved Saviour, he excitedly jumped out of the boat and began swimming to where Jesus stood. Needless to say, the boat probably reached the shore long before Peter.

I am Peter- excitedly jumping into things and then standing, sopping wet, at the feet of the Lord, smiling at my stupidity. I get excited, forget to think things through, and end up doing them the long way. Every time, though, just as with Peter, Jesus welcomes my soaking wet self into his arms and is simply happy to see me!

I am Peter who made many mistakes, but I am Peter for whom God had great plans, whom God established to do his work.

For each time I deny God the glory that is his, for each time I follow my will instead of listening to his, for each time I jump ahead without first consulting my Lord, he asks, "Daughter, do you truely love me?" and I do.

I am Peter. I mess up. I make mistakes. I am far from perfect, but God will use my weakness'. God will establish great things through me.

You are Peter.

God already knows that you will make a mess, but his plan for you is great!

GO. Feed his sheep."