Sunday, January 29, 2012

Young. Blood.

I was stopped in my tracks this morning when I was at church. I've been going to Changepoint church here in Tauranga. I know God is always speaking but he hasn't really been speaking the past few weeks in the way that I'm used to at least. So on my way I was like "alright lord, if you have something to say then say it." Well I didn't doubt that he would so he did. It was real funny because I could feel him just laughing and saying you have no idea what's going on or what's going to happen. Which is true, I have some sort of idea but for big picture stuff I don't quite have that sussed yet. 
 I think the Lord quite enjoys watching me, because I kinda like to have some sort of plan or something to be able to say ya that's what I'm doing. But right now I'm at a standstill not really knowing what to do but rather having a hard time just being. 
"Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked Lord, 'don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' Martha Martha, the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." - Luke 10:39-42
I love that passage, the question always is who are you a Martha or a Mary. Or as the saying goes "Trying to be a Mary in a Martha's world." It's so hard to just sit at the Lord's feet when there is so much to do and so much to look after. I mean I can't say for myself but when you have a family and a home to care for it's a lot of responsibility. I have had a hard time just sitting and waiting for him to move. But then I was reminded that when the Lord isn't speaking a lot or if you can't really see what he's doing that means he's working on something big for you to enjoy! 
Another verse that has been sticking with me in this time is this one:
"Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves." - Luke 10:3
As well as:
"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." - Luke 9:58
I've been getting a lot of my inspiration from Luke lately. I get so excited when I read through it because it's a real good story with lots of wisdom! Anyways the first verse talking about lambs and wolves makes so much sense because we are all lambs in this world and the wolves of this world are all hunting and trying to eat them because they are hungry. Lambs are never waiting to be attacked though they are just going about their days like no ones business. We can't wait to be attacked we just need to live our lives day by day moment by moment. We can't plan for attack or for someone to die, it just happens. When it does we can be prepared. The second verse has brought me a lot of comfort! Because I'm living in a new place and up here the Lord has really reminded me of how much of a nomad I am. Jesus wasn't even welcome in his own home town.
I saw this quote and totally felt like it was for me and all the other travelers out there! We are all connected and we are all family living our lives day by day. I mean sure some days I do wish I was home since it's been a year since I've touched american soil. But you just make home wherever you are!
"He told them: 'Take nothing for the journey - no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." - Luke 9:3-5
So wherever you go whatever you do, the lord will provide and take care of you! That's a big thing I had to learn eh?! I had to learn that yes he is calling me up here but where am I staying, what am I doing, what should I look for etc. And the only response I would get is don't worry. We are human and it's super hard for us to not worry. But in Luke we find that when Jesus sent out the twelve disciples he told them to take nothing because everything would be provided. I guess we can't worry about the little things because things tend to take care of themselves. Sometimes in a miraculous way too!
This is why I think God has the biggest sense of humor! He laughs at us when we figure it out! Reading my journal from last year and looking at this year was so funny. Because of all the times God would say something but then a few months later it would come to pass. He's funny and I like it!
 

Monday, January 16, 2012

inspiration


Inspiration much?

Today, I've been the biggest hermit I think I've ever been! I think sleep deprivation and being on vacation has caught up with me. I was thinking what would really get me going? That answer is a ride on my longboard. I grew up not a skater at all! I used to hate it because I couldn't stand on the board but now I absolutely love it! I mean I only learned a few months ago but it is so amazing and I can't believe I didn't get into it before! It can be addicting to. Then I was thinking that all the things you like to do are probably addicting so in this case the addiction is a good thing! Summer has hit and my board has hit the pavement. After a few night rides on the road there are no words for how charged I feel! 
"Fill my heart with joy when their gain and new wine abound." - Psalms 4:7
What inspires you? 

Different much?

DIFFERENCES:

AMERICAN     -     NEW ZEALAND

How are you doing?     -     How are you going?
Powdered Sugar     -     Icing Sugar
Green Pepper     -     Capsicum
Zucchini     -     Courgette
Cups     -     Grams
Inches     -     Milliliters
Cell Phone     -    Mobile
Sending Mail     -     Posting 
Chips     -     Crisps
Fries     -     Chups
Gas     -     Petrol
Soccer     -     Football
Hoodie     -     Jumper
Pants     -     Trousers 
Diaper     -     Nappy
Flashlight     -     Torch
Band-Aid     -     Plaster
Jelly     -     Jam
Jell-o     -     Jelly
Trunk     -     Boot
Eggplant     -     Aubergine
Galoshes     -     Gum Boots
Sidewalk     -     Pavement
Cookie     -     Biscuit
Disappointed     -     Gutted
No Problem     -     No Worries
Thank You     -     Cheers
I'll Call you     -     I'll Ring you
I'm not worried     -     Can't be bothered/fagged
Corn Syrup     -      Golden Syrup
Apartment     -     Flat
Ketchup     -     Tomato Sauce
Dinner     -     Tea
Dessert     -     Supper
What?     -     Hey?


These are just a few of the many words that are different. Being here they also pronounce some words differently that are the same. I've had to learn to adapt to the culture here. I may have a bit of an accent but I definitely pronounce the words so that the people here can understand me. It's funny because you could be talking about the same thing but have different words for it. Along with all this in the north here they tend to mumble a bit more than in the south.

so when someone says: "Grab your jumper and your gum boots" or we're going for "fush & chups" or "I need a plaster because I forgot my torch" or "I'm so gutted!" or "I can't be bothered" you now know what they're talking about. 


Friday, January 13, 2012

Calming

"The teaching of the wise is the fountain of life, turning the person from the snares of death." - Proverbs 13:14


Now that the holidays are over and there has been time to settle I have been going on walks and just learning to sit. There is an awesome walk going down to the river here where I'm staying. When I did walk down it, the water is so clear that in the deepest spot you can still see the bottom. Water always calms me and makes me appreciate how big the Lord is! Canoeing is one of my favorite things to do. I've been reflecting on my life these past few weeks and just the journey I've been on for my whole life. It's quite amazing when you sit and think about all the adventures that you've been on! Canoeing is something I grew up with, I was always mesmerized by how when the paddle hit the water it would make a little current. When you turn the paddle a certain way it moves the massive boat. As well how the director of the boat is in the back of the boat. Like God is always behind us leading us and guiding us. The little things in life amaze me.
When I read this quote, it was perplexing at first. I enjoy it though because it gives me more ambition to go out and do more! Think about it, we get to create who we are! We have the choice in life from day to day to decide what we wear, do, eat, hang out with. As I go into this new year it's going to be full of amazing new things. I'm excited although some of the things may be uncharted territory but it will be fun diving into the unknown. 










 So I've decided to just go for it. All in. 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

So

I have a secret.....

That is, I really love to bake. I know not a really big deal but when I need to think straight or clear my head, I bake. So today I made:

Homemade Reese's Peanut butter cup

and

Smores bars

I will have the recipes for you at the end of this post.... Anyways I've been jonesing to bake... It may be an addiction to baking but man it's the biggest comfort for me and the thing that makes me feel most at home. I love making new things and this being the new year it is amazing to try new things in a new place. 
These turned out amazing! Better than I had hoped for. The sun is shining today which is a miracle because it's been raining the past two weeks. 
So here are the links to the recipes.... 

Enjoy! 
-C


Friday, January 6, 2012

Nek Minnit


"There is no limit to the good you can do, if you don't care who gets the credit" - General George Marshall
Why not.... The new year is full of new things to be discovered and new things to explore. Today in church the pastor talked about what it means when we say Bless me God. He described it in a way of really saying "B-LESS ME GOD" Which really made sense. The last shall be the first and the first shall be the last. I enjoyed it this morning mainly because he was talking about how the little people in the world are the ones that change it. The little people may not get the fame but they stand their ground and fight! They are not afraid to back down because they are going low for the Lord as servants. We all have fight in us but what or who are we fighting for? During the last school I staffed, my main goal was to go low. Remembering it's not for me or about me but about him and his glory! Going all in for him is what it's about. So my question to myself was "Why Not?" (my grandfather's famous line) Why not try something new and exciting!

2012 my goal is to let go and not hold on to past things. I have learned in the 8 days of this year that this is not an easy thing to do. But I am learning to really move on from the things that God taught me in the past to see what the future holds for he and I. With letting go I am also learning to pick up the things that are new and the things that he wants me to pick up. I found this quote that brightened my day. Living each day to the fullest is all you can do. You can't worry about tomorrow or the days or years to come because you will wear yourself out! Looking only at today and saying right, what does it hold is all you can do!





This picture of a canoe is one of my favourites! Canoeing is something I grew up with doing. Being out in nature with nothing but the water and you.

Pray that success will not come away faster than you are able to endure it. - Unkown 

"Legacy comes from what you do not know you are doing."

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

2012

B     U     S     Y
E     N     A    O
I      D     T    K
N     E     A    E
G     R     N    !
          S

Did you really know what busy stood for? It makes sense though, we can go somewhere and do all these things but not actually sit and listen to the Lord. Like there would be times when I was staffing and I would go into my room early to spend some quiet time, but I would realize that since I'm so busy my room is not the tidiest so I should probably clean then that turned into cleaning the whole house. When I was really intentionally trying to spend time with the Lord. Now that I'm on holiday and that I have spend endless hours just sitting, I have come to the conclusion that this saying is really true! We can just fill our day with things and always have something to do or always be doing something but in the end, it's not about us it's about HIM! 
It is the hardest thing to go from doing things everyday to just sitting. It was so hard for me that when I actually make a transition like that or when I have in the past, I always get sick. As in I get a cold. Just because my body can't go from being busy and doing things full on to going to full stop. It is hard to sit in  a room where you see things to do but to discipline yourself to actually sit there and just BE... I've learned this the hard way let's just say that the way the lord shows me these things is quite humorous. I think he just looks at me sometimes and laughs and says really?! You haven't got it yet? It's a hard thing to do to gain the self control and to sit and actually listen. God is always speaking we just need to stop and hear what he's saying. 
This year one of my goals is to not be busy. To sit and listen to what he is actually telling me and directing me to do is better than sliced bread. What are your goals? 


"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." - Philippians 4:11-12