Sunday, April 29, 2007

"Why wait any longer for the rest of your life to start happening dear?"
- The Guild League

I have to say this line rings home quite loudly right now! As many of you know I am currently in the process of finding employment. I mentioned about a month ago how I had made some promising contacts at a TV shoot - and I am pleased to announce that they have proved to be just that! Heres the story...

1. Hunters Hill Theatre
Here I will be taking the role of Lighting Operator. This is such a cute little theatre is a great little location with some lovely people involved and keen to have me on board!

2. Wesley Institute.
Many of you would probably know Wesley as a charity or the college... well, the college is putting on a production of Fiddler on the Roof later this year and as of friday night I am going to be working on this production as an assistant to the set designer! While I dont know all the details of the role, this is a particularly exciting opportunitiy as set design/construction has always been my passion in the theatre and this was what i wanted to get into! Praise God I say! He is so faithful to provide! It is such an answer to prayer to have this chance to see if this is where I actually want to be! And its great just to continue building experience as this industry seems to be all about getting in there, getting involved, and making contacts!

If you have ever seen the film A lot like Love you will remember the character played by Ashton Kutcher - a guy falling in love but believing he needed to 'get his ducks in a row' in order to then be able to settle down and get on with life. After relationship after relationship fails and his business also goes pear shaped, he finds himself slightly lost. His brother so rightly points out to him, however, that this is his life, right now, right here - it isnt going to wait for him to get back on track, so he better start making the most of it!
How true is that?!

I think we can often fall into the trap of thinking this way too - this is the plan i have for my life - finish uni, get this job, get married then, etc etc.... reality can often prove to be quite different! And thats ok, cos thats just life!

This year has definitely panned out very differently to what I expected it to be - but thats ok, it has still being filled with many great experiences - and bad ones too for that matter - learning through all and realising -this is life, right now!

I may not have a job set out for me, but I have been blessed with these opportunities to experience something I greatly enjoy and see where that can take me; and in the meantime I have a bit of extra time too, time i can use to start getting stuck into the Bible further with some PTC courses, time to further a number of relationships, time to paint, time to serve God in a number of ways, and to grow in love and knowledge of our Lord - because this is the stuff of life, so
why wait any longer for the rest of my life to start happening - this is it!
And bring it on I say!!

Praise God for these opportunities, for these answers to prayer, and for the chance to make the most of this stage of life! (And pray that I might be able to do that everyday!)

How about you post a comment here and let me know what I can praise God in your life?
Meanwhile, just cos I love photos, here's another one from the other day...Hows this for a picnic spot?!

Lets have some interactive blogging - whats your favourite picnic spot??

Friday, April 20, 2007

The Stuff of life...

The last couple of days have been awesome. JT finally got a break from college so we decided to make the most of it. And lets just say, what a blessing this time has been! A day spent at Kiama enjoying time in God's beautiful creation and His word, takin a few snaps, soaking up some sun and of course, eating a lot...
And a day of R&R in the lovely city of sydney...picnics, "300" and "Paris Jet'aime", photos, and once again, food...mmm...

I wont go into all the details now, however, as I am now sick with a cold (possibly flu, though I hope not) and am about to head to my church houseparty! (woohoo!), so for now I will leave you with some pics of the last few days...

Praise God for days like this, for His word, and His creation.
Praise God for further developments with work opportunities (will update post HP).
And please pray for this weekend away - what an blessing to spend time with brothers and sisters, enjoying fellowship and getting stuck into what God has to say on Relationships! Only hope I will be well enough to make the most of it!!
See y'all soon!

Saturday, April 07, 2007

'It is finished'

This Good Friday was in fact , for a number of reasons, a very good friday indeed.
In the morning I headed to JT's church for the Good Friday service, and it was a very encouraging experience. It was great to experience a smaller church community after being apart of such a large one for such a long time. The numbers may be small, but their heart & love for our Lord certainly isnt! It was great to see Josh in action up the front and to see the support and encouragement he recieved from members of the congregation. As I shared in communion with a bunch of people Id never met it was so encouraging to remember how we are united in Christ.
Furthermore, we were presented with a brilliant sermon. As we read the words of John 18 & 19, we focused on 3 simple yet hugely significant words of Jesus - "It is finished".

At the moment when Jesus breathed his last up on that cross His purpose on this earth was fulfilled, His mission completed. Completed. Finished. That means that all sin of the world was dealt with. It does not still need to be dealt with, it was faithfully and effectively dealt with in one death, the death of Jesus. If that isnt reason to praise God now and forever, I dont know what is!

I hope and pray you all had an enjoyable good friday and have the same for the rest of easter, but that mostly you will remember the significance of these days - that it is finished and that life and hope are offered!

Here are the words to the song 'Kneeling' by Garage Hymnal to help you reflect on the bitter sweet truth of the cross and the glory of the resurrection...

Kneeling in that garden, death before Him
From His brow the sweat dripped crimson red
And in that place He felt so God forsaken
Yet "Father not my will but Yours," He said
And with that kiss of death He met betrayal
And trial for these crimes He did not do
But willingly He suffered there in silence
Its eternal worth outweighed the pain He knew

The crowd cried for a murderer "release him"
Replaced him with this man of innocence
But still His worthy plea remained unspoken
At last my pure Lord was sentenced death
And walking up that hill His heart was broken
With torture such my body never knew
But still He kept on walking right towards
The pain that sealed the gift for me and you

Those nails that drove into His hands of freedom
That locked Him to the cross of pain He knew
Were crafted by the sins I have committed
The punishment for all that I would do
And how His body on that cross was broken
That crown of thorns that pierced His head so pure
In those dying breaths He breathed forgiveness
The sting of death at last would meet its cure.

Darkness fell upon the land for hours
And mocking insults all around Him flew
Until at last His voice cried up in anguish
The curtain in the temple ripped in two
And limp His body hung for my salvation
And in a grave so cold they laid His head
But when they did return they found Him risen
Returned to life again just as He said

Thursday, April 05, 2007

painting fun times!

one of the good things about this time off in between jobs is the ability to spend more time on my art. I gotta say I am very grateful of the way JT has encouraged me to do this.

In the past I have stuck to pencil drawing, and while I still love this and have been making the effort to do more of that lately too, I have recently decided to experiment more with painting! Oh the joy of having a blank cavas before you!

I havent got anything very exciting to show you yet - just a 'work in progress' image - but I am enjoying the feeling of painting rather than caring too much about the final result - enjoying the freedom & relaxation of having a paint brush in hand!
If or when I create something more worthwhile of sharing I shall post it asap. Keep me to this - I want to make it happen!

In the meantime...im off to listen to some tunes and let the paint flow!