Coffee Break Lane: February 2006

Monday, February 27, 2006

Continuing...

I love lying in bed listening to the sound of rain outside. So soothing and you feel so cosy! And as I lay there doing so last night I started to think about all the things I had planned to do before uni started again, and how many of those I actually didn’t achieve. Not in a depressing way though, as my last week of ‘freedom’ hasn’t been all that bad...

Wednesday I had a bit of a random adventure day. Rebbi and I headed into the city to have lunch with a few friends in Hyde Park – a beautiful day, good food and good company! We then proceeded to visit a few more people at work in the city, including Dan and Jim - the HSBC boys - which is always fun. Then off to UNSW to hand in my assessment (yay!). Stage 4: To Newtown to visit Craig at Moore college, and where we discovered T2 – a little shop full of tea! We tasted, we smelt, and oh did we look on in amazement, til one of us gave in and purchased! So many teas out there – where have I been!?!

Friday PM: I led my Bible study in Psalm 51 – a great psalm in my opinion! Its so good seeing these girls get into the Word too! I was challenged to come before the Lord in the same way David does here:

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation a

nd grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.” (v10-13)

Kiama: Saturday I headed south with my mum, dad, and grandfather to Kiama for the day. The weather was absolutely beautiful – 30degrees and a clear blue sky! We stopped along the way at a lovely café overlooking a beach, at which I was treated to a King Prawn Salad – oh soo good! It had summer written all over it!
Kiama itself is a great little town! The blowhole was a no show but that didn’t da

mpen my spirits as soon some incense was purchased.
It was a lovely day, enjoying the time I had with my grandfather before he flew back to NZ on Sunday. Definitely a time to cherish.

Meanwhile, we continued with Colossians last night at church. Here are two main thoughts from the night:
A common Christian struggle is to question whether you have had the full Christian experience. To wonder whether you lack something that other Christians appear to have.
In reality, however, we don’t need to worry about this. Everyone’s experience will be slightly different. But ultimately if you are in Christ you have fullness and lack nothing!
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10

Paul tells the Colossians to just keep walking. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Col 2:6-7 They began with receiving Jesus as Lord, and so they are to simply continue to live in him. It’s a challenge! If we continue to walk with Jesus as Lord then by the end of 2006 we should be different from what we are now.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Photocopy Lady

For those of you who don’t know, I work part time in a newsagency to get me through uni.
Not the best job. Not the worst either though. It really does depend on your customers as to how bearable the day becomes.
Working in retail you definitely get to see a lot of different people – and sadly, a lot of rude and selfish people! That usually equals a bad day at work.

But today, I had the rare pleasure of a joyful customer.
Context: a photocopier that constantly causes us pain, and thus I was helping this woman with her copying – yup, page by page of a book….But it turns out that this book is a Christian book.
She proceeds to inform me that she is photocopying it to give to a friend who has cancer but is coming out of hospital today, and for whom she and another friend have been praying. She manages to include some important truths along the way, such as the comfort offered by Jesus. When she finds out that I too am a Christian, I think she felt slightly embarrassed to have preached to the converted, so to speak, but then was full with such joy, and we continued our little conversation about our churches, comfort, joy and worship.
Definitely a blessing to have such a conversation at work.

City on a Hill; Curly Fry in a Box; Rock Star at a Prayer Breakfast

The photocopy lady's boldness in proclaiming her faith to a complete stranger helping her with a simple chore challenged me.

Jason Mraz says “I'm one curly fry in the box of the regular”.
We are often the only curly fry amongst the regulars – like me on an average work day – but sometimes we are blessed with the company of other curls in that box of fries. Either way, be proud of your curliness because it will make an impact!

One person who is another example of this is Bono.
Ok, I am a U2 fan and thus love Bono dearly. But why I decided to bring him up at this point of time is today I was reading a speech he made at the National Prayer Breakfast. It is an interesting read, so if you have the time, read it!
But here are a few things I liked:
"all are searching our souls for how to better serve our family, our community, our nation, our God. I know I am."

One of the things that I picked up from my father and my mother was the sense that religion often gets in the way of God.

"It’s not about charity, it’s about justice."
"It’s annoying but justice and equality are mates."
"A preposterous idea: rich and poor are equal? And they say, “Yeah, ‘equal,’ that’s what it says here in this book. We’re all made in the image of God.” "

"That’s why I say there’s the law of the land… and then there is a higher standard."

"He said, stop asking God to bless what you’re doing. Get involved in what God is doing—because it’s already blessed."

Revelation part 2

"Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." Rev 2:10b
(stood out as we continued studying Revelation tonight in Bible study)

Balance

As there has been a lot of words on this page of late, I thought i'd just include a bit of colour....this is me in NZ....see I was there, I promise!....Although I think this was the view my family most saw of me, camera in hand focused on the view!
(sorry this is another long one!!)

Monday, February 20, 2006

Motivation

Motivation is a funny thing. It comes in various forms. You just never know when exactly it will strike. Or more importantly, just when it will escape you.

Last week I was back at uni for the first time since about november. 9 am starts 7 days a week and two assessments. I tell you, getting back into the swing of things is a struggle! I made it though, but only to collapse into 3hrs of sleep friday afternoon...oops!
Right now, however, I am sitting here writing this and listening to my newly purchased cd - Jason Mraz 'Waiting for my rocket to come' - instead of getting my assessment done...so maybe i should work on this whole motivation thing before next week when uni officially starts for the year!

Last night at church I received some motivation of a different kind. Looking at Colossians we were challenged to reasess our goals, to live life dangerously, by the example of Paul. "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. (1:28-29)

Paul's bold goal is to present EVERYONE perfect in Christ. Are we aiming to do this? And do we honestly proclaim this great truth to EVERYONE, or to just those people like ourselves? Are we motivated by the fact that the mystery of the gospel and Heaven has been revealed through Christ?
Paul does all this knowing that it is only possible with the energy given to him by God. Talk about motivation - it is all God working in us! I think thats a pretty encouarging verse! Its a struggle but He gives us the strength we need!

There were times i got too stressed today. Unnecessarily. But I will take the advice of Jason Mraz and say "I wont worry my life away".

Instead I will trust Him who works in and through me. And I will look to gain motivation in all the right places.
I'll let you know how that one goes....
For now, its back to the essay...wish me luck!

I'll just leave you with a quote from one of my fav songs on the new cd - Tonight not again -

"Well if you should nervously break down
When its time for the shakedown would you take it
It's when you cry just a little
but you laugh in the middle that you've made it"
Jason Mraz

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Now or never!

Today was a good day. It was not because I watched two films at uni for a subject about science in cinema which i am finding very interesting. Although this was enjoyable, it is not the highlight.
What was good about today is that I was challenged, encouraged and learnt a lot from our Lord!
Here's the highlight's package:

On the way to uni I read about the prayer life of Abraham and Moses. Not only was it a blessing that God gave me the time and a seat on the train so I could read these words, but I was challenged by one simple fact - When Abraham was promised a son and he had not yet been given it, he adn his wife took messures into their own hands. While they thought they were doing it for God, they infact regreted to pray about their decision. A simple mistake. And one we are more than likely to make in our own lives almost every day. But the point being that we shouldnt - every decision we make should be made with consultation with God at its heart, for He is the one who will provide the right path.
I have enjoyed been rebuked and challenged by brothers and sisters, some of whom I have not even met - this is a great experience of the body of Christ! Thank you to those people, you know who you are!
Tonight in Bible study we shared about how the bible studies we lead have started off this year. Every single one came with a positive report that reflected God's grace and answer to prayer! Awesome!
We also started a series on Revelation - the last book of the Bible that basically teaches us how we are to live in the mean time til Christ returns! I'm so excited about what I will learn from this book! And two things struck me tonight -
1. Does the way I live my life day to day reflect my knowledge that Jesus could return at any minute?! It it really did I would be making the most of every single opportunity God gave me to further His kingdom! Afterall, it is only by His grace we are even given this time for people to turn to Him! This requires an urgent response, does it not?!
2. The image of Jesus in 1:12-15 is amazing. "And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man", dressed in a robe reaching doen to his feet and with a golden sash round his chest. his head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His geet were like bronze glowing in a furnace and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance."
Is this not a frightening image? Powerful, overpowering, uncontrollable?! An image of someone worthy of all glory and honour! And to think this is the same person who humbled Himself, coming to this earth and dying on a cross!!! Wow! We are told not to be afraid of this image, this picture of Jesus, for He has conquered death and loves us more than we can imagine. But if you do not yet know Him I tell you now "repent and believe" for this is the powerful and frightening you will one day be faced with!

I must now head to bed as sleep is greatly needed. I am sorry this is long! But please, whoever you are, where ever you are, acknowledge Jesus for who He really is and make the most of this life He has given you!

Saturday, February 11, 2006

C is for Chelsea

Reading: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
and Remarkable Prayers of the Bible by Jim George

Listening: The Best of Bon Jovi

Watching: A Lot Like Love
Monday was my first experience of the story of Oliver and Emily. I embarked on this 7 year journey with great expectations having heard many good things. But I was not disappointed!
One of my fav quotes from the film: "honestly, if you're not willing to sound stupid you dont deserve to be in love." Interesting point, methinks!

Top left: Yes, this is infact me inside a C. Why not?! Lem and I thought we'd have some fun outside star city.

Right: Curl Curl at sunset.
Saturday night saw a bunch of us heading to curl curl beach for a picnic dinner, not to mention a stroll along the beach, feet in the waves and wine in the hand...ahh this is the life! Absolutely beautiful!

Last night my grandfather arrived from NZ! He's staying for 2 weeks, and it seriously is really great to see him! I think he's quite excited to be here too! My brother was also home for the weekend, a rare occassion these days as he is working in Melbourne at the moment....and thus, today, after an excellent morning at TC, we enjoyed a family lunch all together! Something which also has not happened in a quite a while. Then this afternoon, we headed off to Church Point (left) to enjoy this privilege further, along with some more good food and drink in some beautiful surroundings. Good times!

Meanwhile, I was reading this article the other day about Seachange. It surprised me to discover that at least 2/3 of Australians are desiring a change, desiring something more. We all know the saying 'the grass is always greener'. Well it turns out that most of us are sitting at home enduring our jobs, and our lives, dreaming of what could be, of what the other person has, of the day they can do what they enjoy, they dont need to work, or they will be wealthy and successful. What was also surprising, or perhaps more concerning than anything, was the fact that the things most people desired in their seachange were remotely selfish! People wanted to improve things for them - wheather it be success, wealth, fame, or simply having more time to theirselves! A very small number actually said their seachange would include helping others. Although most dreams actually never occur as people think its too hard, i found this to a scary, although accurate, fact. Yes, this first half of this post, and perhaps the blog itself, is generally self-centred. Does this not worry you?!
But I hope that what i do with my life, dream of and plan to do will not be all about me!

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Summer Intensive

Yesterday I spent about 5 hours at church with a bunch of other people from my congregation to partake in the summer intensive program, where we looked at the reformation, Obadiah, and were challenged as to how we spend our time with regard to ministry.

Let me ask you this one question:
Does the message of a King dying on a cross to save His people sound foolish to you?

If it does, I tell you this:
"Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom,. it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe." 1 Cor 1:20-21

Yes, in the worlds eyes, in accordance with wisdom of the world, it may seem foolish. But it was by the wisdom of God. We preach Christ crucified, a message that is the power of God.

I was challenged in many ways throughout this day, but let me just say one more thing:
Being a Christian in the world is why you are not yet in Heaven.

Think about that!

Meanwhile, Last night I headed into the city with Lem for some evening photography. Here's a taste of the result:

"I love the spontaneity of street photography. I can go out of my door and not know what I am going to capture. A kind of 'daily hunt' that I find exhilierating."
Photographer Matt Stuart
I agree completely!

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Wamberal

These past few days have proved to be one of the best weekends ever, so let me share with you the events of the last 48 hrs...

It all started with coffee with a good friend friday AM.
Followed by lunch with two other good friends.
The first Bible study of the year was a success friday night, with a positive turnout, good vibes, good discussions about the body of Christ, and getting excited about the year ahead!
Post Bible study I headed up the coast with few friends to Dan's beach house for the weekend! Arriving there about 10pm, the day was topped off with a few fireworks on the beach, and with Paps getting out her guitar, we sung the night away while enjoying the beautiful view and sounds of the waves crashing in just ahead of our perfectly located abode. Yes, I could get used to this lifestyle.

The view from Dan's beach house at Wamberal!

But wait, theres more!

Saturday morning, us girls rose early for a stroll along the beach, returning just in time for a pre breakfast swim in the surf. A BBQ breakie of bacon and eggs, the saturday paper, more strolls on the beach and more food = one relaxed but tops saturday.
In the afternoon the crowd grew for a BBQ, to be accompanied with a little bit of beach cricket. And lets not forget the time spent running round in circles on the grass with a 3yr old - good times!

Some more beach walking and splashing in the the rock pools. A lot more food. A lot of photo taking. A bit of card playing. A few more fireworks - during which i feared for the life of those around me! And a good time lying out by the beach til the early hrs of the morning, gazing up at the stars, sharing stories of life and how we came to faith.
Sunday AM. Wake up 6:45 to get back for TC in time - an awesome morning of fellowship!

The view i was greeted with this morning!

And here I sit now, exhausted, but joyful. It was an awesome weekend! God has blessed me with some great friends and us with some pretty amazing places to enjoy!

Friday, February 03, 2006

Growing!

Today we recieved more photos of Jack!
I couldnt help myself - i wanted to share another one with you! He's growing so quickly! I'm sad I havent met the little guy yet, but thank God for email! Aint he cute?!

Hey there!
The proud grandfather (my uncle) holding the not so camera shy Jack!

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Sway

I have had 'Sway' by Michael Buble in my head all day...
luckily its a great song!

Anyone want to sway with me, sway with me?!

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

United in Christ

Good friends are such a blessing! As is the quality time spent with them. What was even more of a blessing is to be able to sit down with a friend one afternoon and just read and discuss the word of God! Motivating each other, thats exactly what Rebs and I did today, digging into the letter to the Ephesians.

As we read through chapters 1 and 2 the theme from my previsous post was reinforced - the power and authority of our King, Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 1 we see that Jesus was seated "at [God's] right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."
Yes, we are to live with this knowledge in our minds and our hearts - Jesus is king over ALL.

A lot can be learnt from these two chapters. I wont go into it all right now, but I will leave you with the end of chapter two - a beautiful image!

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." 2:19-22

Does this not further inspire a life of praise?!

Coffee Break Lane