Girlz 4 God

we will see God

2012-01-31T19:16:00.000+11:00

"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'"

This verse is one that I find so particularly beautiful. It's a promise from God.

Every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.

You see that word? Every. Every knee will bow before God and confess that He is God.

[confess]1. to acknowledge or avow... by way of revelation.2.to own or admit as true

We all live this life, right? No duh.

But not everyone believes that God is, well, God.

The world is going to discover this truth, that Jesus is alive, when He is glorified.

We gotta show them, the people. We gotta love them like Jesus loves them.

I pray that this world will see God.

With radiant hearts we will see God.

this is life, real life.

2012-01-30T19:19:00.000+11:00

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. -- Galatians 2:20

via pinterest

wall of words

2012-01-25T15:50:00.000+11:00

I took photos yesterday. And so I thought I'd post one of them. I like to call it...

Words on the Wall.

I thought I'd post another one, too. I love the chain attached to love, because... Jesus was held on that cross; and why? for love. Because He loves us. and the chain says hope and i think it's pretty beautiful. Oops, I was trying to write properly with capital letters in the right spot, but I get I failed. ;) We'll call this one...

Chains of Hope & Love

Hope you're having a wonderful week. I'm just reading Pride and Prejudice, still recovering from that sunburn... reading Romans -- one of my most-loved books in the Bible. Books ever, make that.

love must be sincere; hate what is evil, cling to what is good. [romans 12:9]

inspired, dreams, never give up

2012-01-21T09:52:00.001+11:00

This video goes for awhile. But if you want your day, your time, your dreams and your life to be inspired? Then twenty minutes isn't that long.

And remember you can make it full screen. :)
Have a beautiful, dream-inspired, never-give-up day, everyone.
Jesus loves you.

PS I found it over at Rachel Coker's blog -- teen author with an awesome-looking book soon to be published.

surfs up, dude!

2012-01-19T21:12:00.000+11:00

Today, I went surfing.
It was a lot of fun.
I was kind of expecting it to be really painful and the board to drop on top of my head and hurt me so bad.
But that didn't happen. I rode to shore. Then walked back into the ocean. Then went in on my knees. And the next step? ...okay, so it took me a couple of waves until I got brave enough, because you know, I just didn't want to fall. But then I... I stood!

We didn't go out so deep. But hey, we're beginners. And surfing? So. Much. Fun.

via pinterest

This little kid? Um, so cute. And the guy holding the board? Let me tell you, not such an easy feat. Those boards are heavy.

Yeah, we're gonna be pro surfers and move to the beach. Once we've finished school, anyway.
I'm off to buy a surfboard.
Also to read Boyfriends, Burritos and an Ocean of Trouble because I want to keep surfing and this is close enough. Also Christy Miller because that's pretty much Surfer Territory, is it not?

PS Always wear sunscreen. My face hurts.

via pinterest

Ever been surfing? Pro surfer? Who's your favourite surfer? Me, my surfing knowledge doesn't go past Bethany Hamilton and Kelly Slatter. I don't even know who Kelly Slatter is -- I just know that he's a surfer.

I'm tired, so I'm going now. The screen is kind of making my eyes hurt. And my face is still sore. Seriously, it's worth it -- SUN SCREEN! I mean, here I was, before we started, the one saying, "Slip slop slap!"
Yeah, well. I'm just letting you learn from my experience. :)

But it was a really fun day and oh, I was about to say that I'm going to read Pride and Prejudice, when I realized I've already got two books on the list.. nah, Jane Austen it is -- I'm already halfway through. The surfer books can wait. I wouldn't want to get too excited.

Can't wait to surf again, though. What fun.

“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get." Matthew 7:12 MSG

Until then,

Surf's up, dude!

Ooh, yes. In a Christy Miller book, some of the surfer dude's are speaking their surfer talk, and they say, well something like, "Naw, that dude totally blew chunks, dude!"

Of course of my friends translated that into, "I was totally eating blue chunks," *snorts* so we were saying that, you know, because using surfer slang while surfing is totally cool -- and not understanding why people gave us funny looks...

Yeah, turns out "blowing chunks" means throwing up.

So, another piece of advice; don't shout out that you're blowing, or eating, chunks. And unless you just consumed a blueberry smoothie, your vomit isn't blue. No matter what your friends say. Disgusting, yes. But I really just had to share that to spare you the humilation.

lifelifelife.mememe.no,Jesus.

2012-01-17T19:20:00.001+11:00

Judge not, that ye not be judged.

I wrote a song awhile ago, about just loving people because we're not God.

I was thinking yesterday. We've got eternity to live forever in Heaven with Jesus. Pure bliss of happiness. Joy, peace, laughter. For all of forever that will never end.

What are a few short years in this world that aren't always good, always happy?

I'm here to love people so that Jesus can show them that He loves them.

The whole point of Jesus coming is so that we'll be saved and live in Heaven forever.

that's why we live, so that other people will know

and believe and come to Heaven, too.

i don't want anyone to die.

this life i'm living, it's Galations 2:20;

this isn't my life, i died to this world.

the life i'm living here, i live it for Jesus.

not me. i have Eternity in God's Kingdom which is more than beautiful and spectacular and awesome and good; it's God's place, and He's preparing my room; that's where i'll be happy.

but for now, i'm living here for Jesus.

not me not not me not me.

not what I want, not what i think, not what i say

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

We don't know everything. Instead of just thinking about what I want and blah blah blah, I gotta remember.

Yeah, life will be hard. Yeah, it's not going to be everything I want. But I'm here for Jesus. I want this world to be saved, I want them to know that Jesus loves them and I want them to love Jesus. What did Jesus say to that lady, the one all the people in town wanted to stone?

"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin.

Forgiveness. Jesus died so that He could love us and so that we could live forever with Him. And you know what, that's my dream.

That everyone will love Him.

That's why I live my life. I want every decision I make, every word I speak, to be of Jesus' love. Because for me, that is life.

"So, you want first place? Then take last place. Be the servant of all."

books, cupcakes, time and travel

2012-01-14T19:48:00.003+11:00

listening to: i lift my hands by chris tomlin. thanks k-love radio. :)

Anyone played that game called Settlers of Catan? Dangerous. Or maybe my lovely brother and sisters and I just shouldn't play it together. Just as bad as monopoly... ooh, does anyone remember Trouble? I used to love that game. I think. I haven't done a jigsaw puzzle in ages... I had a Powerpuff Girls one. What were their names? Bubbles, and... that's all I remember.

The cool things you find lying around... I just love this clock-treasure box thing. It's awesome.

To travel the world... would be a beautiful thing. England, [I adore English accents.] Paris, Switzerland, Rome... and, uh, that's only Europe! How did God create such an amazing place? He is just so... great. Is there a word God uses to describe Himself? I think maybe not. I suppose no word that our world could create, anyhow; if we cannot even begin to comprehend God and His love for us, then certainly we could not describe Him...

My aunt does make beautiful cupcakes. And they tasted wonderful, too.

listening to: 7x70 by chris august

“If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.”

You know what? It's not always easy. But we gotta do it. Loving God includes loving people. Ever wanted to show God that you really do love Him but what can you do because what does he really need from you? Well, here's something: love people.

dandelions, dreams, words

2012-01-13T09:50:00.002+11:00

God is greater than time itself.

So you see, with Him, you'll never run out out time.
follow Jesus and time means nothing at all. follow Jesus and you'll do everything He put you here for.
don't worry about time. when it feels like it's creeping through your grasp, pray.
and ask Jesus to remind you why you're here.
and then together, you and Him,
live.

the day of today

2012-01-12T18:34:00.001+11:00

listening to: strong enough to save, by tenth avenue north
i just finished my first draft. first time ever typing those two words, "the end".

thinking about: i'm not here for long. i gotta forget what people say about me and think about me and look to Jesus for every single thing i do and say and think. i'm going to spend eternity with my best friend and i want the whole world to be there. and the only way that's going to happen is if i forget about myself and wanting what i want, not give a stuff what people think of me and love like Jesus loves. impossible? sounds like it. but with Jesus? not at all. because i can do anything with Jesus who gives me strength.

i'm going to do my best this year. i'm going to do my homework. i could never figure out why things like that mattered in the picture of life, but i know now. because Jesus loves me and i gotta do my best just because, well, i died to this world -- the life i'm living i live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave himself for me.

Jesus is my life. i never ever want to forget this. i want to spend every moment of my life loving and singing about Jesus and writing about Jesus and spreading Jesus' hope into the hearts of this world. there's no time to think about me and being cool and thinking of the right things to say. because Jesus will give me the words to say -- He told me so Himself;

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. Matthew 10:19

i'm going to write music oh and yesterday we made cookies and they were scrumptious, we ate them all. Jesus has blessed me with life, and now i must live it with Him, for Him.

listening to: a song that feels like a childhood memory. ooh, it's who i am by casting crowns. i think it's been a long time since i've heard it.

no matter how many days i have left to live on this earth, one day or a hundred years -- every second i will be held by Jesus. i don't have to worry about anything, because i know who i am in Christ; and that is everything i am. Jesus' daughter, His servant, and Jesus, well, He is my life. everything i am.

it's not about writing a bestseller or making a million dollars or being voted most popular. it's about letting the world know that Jesus loves them, and that in Him there is Eternal happiness. a forever hope; a continual joy.

Jesus, I thankYou for giving me life.

fruit,fruit and.. more fruit?

2012-01-10T18:26:00.001+11:00

The other day I went to a fruit shop. Fascinating, I know. I had a camera, and I took photos.

I had to refrain from taking too many, because I had a feeling I was suspected as the Fruit Inspector. But that kinda made me wanted to take more, because it sounded cool.

listening to: the hill, by glen hansard & marketa irglova

spent a few hours: writing

reading: pride and prejudice

ate: lasanga&salad

It's such a... Summery fruit. I do heart Summer.

Yes, I am just trying my hand at a picture post. How's it going? ;)

This is pineapple. In case you didn't know that.

Beetroot; I'd never actually seen a real, life beetroot in my life. Only the canned ones. And pears.

And if you'd like to read the post I wrote about control, by all means, click here. Ooh, and a question -- it's been a long while since we've had a mini-interview. Any inspiring people out there you'd love to hear from?

that word.. you know.. control.

2012-01-10T08:44:00.002+11:00

people want to be in control of their lives.
they steer clear of the whole God-thing because they want to be free to do what they want with their lives.
but something occurred to me the other day.
no-one's in control of their own life.
it's either the world who's got their hold on you...
or God IS holding you.

don't be afraid of crawling to God, begging Him to protect you. don't be afraid to live a life as God's beautiful daughter. you do know that He's the One who created the world, right? and that this Creator, the one who made this place and made you, loves you more than anything -- including the giraffe, who has a super-duper awesome neck? we let that notion of, "i won't be in control of my life," keep us from God.

I found this quote over at Tessa's blog.

"There are only two types of people in the world:slaves to sin and slaves to Christ."-- John Piper

"So, you want first place? Then take last place. Be the servant of all."

Does that make you freak out? Want to scream? Then so be it. But then, let's serve Jesus and this beautiful world with our whole hearts, hey? Let them know Jesus' love. ♥

Rain Ponchos

2012-01-07T11:10:00.002+11:00

I saw there was a photography contest, over at A Ray of Sunshine. The topic was winter and so I had a look through my photos in the days of wet and cold and rainy... and here we are.

Rain Ponchos

"i always feel my best when it's raining outside."

"Your real, new self (which is Christ's and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him. Does that sound strange? The same principle holds, you know, for more everyday matters. Even in social life, you will never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking about what sort of impression you are making. Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it. The principle runs through all life from top to bottom, Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in." — C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)

the days go by.

2012-01-06T21:36:00.005+11:00

Just a little something I got for Christmas.

You can open up a book and read that someone else has felt like you do, walked where you walked, said what you said and loved like you loved.

Never grow up... and leave Santa cookies. Which is really just an excuse for the cat to get a drink of milk, but you know.

Find chords and speak lyrics, and together you have what I like to call, a song. Actually, everyone calls them songs.

Because you never know. I love You Jesus.

God said, "I am holy. You be holy." 1 Peter 1:13

in our weakness.

2012-01-04T10:02:00.000+11:00

You know how sometimes you just want to be good at something?

But imagine if everyone was suddenly good at everything; we could all do everything perfectly. There'd be no way to strive for our best. There'd be no feeling of satisfaction when you complete something that, quite frankly, you wanted to give up on a long time ago.

This world isn't perfect.

2 Corinthians 12:7
"My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.

Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

I love what Paul's saying. "I used to just focus on what I couldn't do. The fact that with my weaknesses, I was a lost cause. But then I just let Jesus take over; in my weakness, I become stronger, because Jesus moves in on my weakness."

And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

That's a bit of a strange verse, isn't it? I mean, usually the weaker you get the weaker you become until you're nothing more than a couple of bones.

But that's not the case. Because when we realize that we're as high and mighty as we think we are, that nothing we accomplish is of our own accord, but of Jesus' -- we can let go, let God. Let Jesus, in our weaknesses, in the things we think we're a major fail at in life -- take over.

dear Jesus,
i pray that, in everything, You'll take over.
i pray that i'll become stronger in my weaknesses through You Jesus; that i forget about myself and look to You for everything.

Because you know, it's not me, it's not you, who does good things for God.
It's God who does good things for us.
And we've gotta pass on the blessing, right?
Love people, serve people, bless people.

Brandon Heath: give me your eyes

2012-01-03T14:59:00.006+11:00

no title

2011-12-31T19:41:00.000+11:00

it's the last day of the year; twenty-eleven sure has flown by, hasn't it? we've all learnt a lot, i'm sure. and to read a post about time and life and God i am going to direct you over to one of my favourite blogs, blooming in Christ.

listening to: falling slowly, beautiful song.
watched: lizzie mcGuire movie. love you Gordo.
writing: my good old novel.
just read: on writing, stephen king.
reading: a book i got for Christmas, not quite sure what it's called but it seems interesting.
feeling: contentedly happy to write and laugh and live and breathe.

i love music. i love quotes and looking at books. words and pictures and stories and memories. this place, this blog that i've written in for almost three years, it's a place where i can write and not be graded and break all the writing rules i want. although it probably wouldn't hurt to use capital letters in the right places, i suppose.

i love Jesus and these words that i heard the other day, that go like this;

i have to take a step; that's what faith is all about, isn't it, God? taking a step, not knowing what's ahead but going anyway. because i trust Jesus.

Jesus, thankYou for this year. i pray for the people who've been hurt, and the people who lost people who they loved. thankYou for everything You've taught me, for the good things and the bad things where i learned that You love me. for blessing me and for loving me. for holding my hand. and for singing with me and writing with me and taking my heart and slowly, in every moment, guiding me, showing me, leading me, Your way; with Your heart. so that i can become just like You Jesus; one day, one day. ♥

But glory, honour and peace for everyone who does good.
You love us, Daddy! You want us to be safe. You give us so many good things; You bless us. I pray that everyday of my life, I will trust You.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
We think we know it all! But to let go, let God, well... we have to trust Him with all of our hearts. And... not depend on our own understanding. Because, honestly? Even the brainiest, smartest, most knowledgeable person in the entire world, their understanding... really isn't that much. Trust God.

as we enter twenty-twelve, i pray that we'll remember that life on earth isn't just some place we live for about eighty years and then we cease to exist. no, it's so much more than that. it doesn't end. because Jesus, he died on a cross on this exact planet... He came from Heaven, from perfection, from glory. the presence of God.. he IS God. i'm not going to pretend to understand, but i know one thing: Jesus loves You and he's preparing a place for You in His glorious house and He wants you to accept; he wants you to run into His open arms and He'll love you. no matter what, Jesus loves you and nothing will ever, ever change that.

Movie Review: We Bought a Zoo

2011-12-28T19:29:00.000+11:00

You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.

Today I went and saw the movie, We Bought a Zoo. It was beautiful. The actors were wonderful, the moments were powerful, and the setting serene.

The innocent romance between Dylan and Lily; the healing of a wounded family, and the new friendships that come with the hilariously random purchase of a zoo.

Starring Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Colin Ford and Elle Fanning, amongst others -- this film will make you smile, bring a tear to your eye and have you hoping that each character's dreams come true.

You leave some movies thinking, "Why on earth did I just watch that? What a waste of time." We Bought a Zoo is not like that. No, you leave thinking it was lovely and peaceful and full of hope. Based on a true story, the 124 minute movie will bring a feeling of contentment. You won't regret it. At least, I didn't.

to save me.

2011-12-24T22:44:00.003+11:00

Happy birthday, Jesus. ♥

from you: words of truth

2011-12-23T10:34:00.000+11:00

Chloe over at Blooming in Christ wrote this comment and I just have to share it.

I know how easy it is to get wrapped up in "stuff." I need to keep in mind that, though enjoying things on earth is not wrong, I need to make Jesus my Treasure.

Recently, I read a quote by J.I. Packer, which said, "In the order of creation, pleasures are meant to serve as pointers to God." We even enjoy things for God. Our mindset should be, "Wow, this stuff is great...just think how much better God is!"

It's all good to love that pair of Converse you're getting for Christmas, and the new iPod dock you wish you were getting -- but let that show you how much more awesome, amazing, how good God is.

Sit outside and listen to the birdies tweet and meet with God. Just be with Him.

And if I don't post before then... I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, tearing apart the wrapping on those presents, listening to carols, eating lollies and sitting down to tell Jesus, "Happy birthday."

Merry Christmas. How fast does the year go?

Oh, and one of my favourite parts of Christmas? The way you go to the shops, you buy something, and the shopkeeper smiles and says "Merry Christmas!"

Happy Birthday Jesus.
God went to so much to make sure that You were safe here, the day you were born. People didn't want you around, Your whole life; but You had a purpose, a reason; You were here to serve God, to save us.
And You did.
ThankYou, Jesus.
for everything.
for life.

three days three days THREE DAYS!

2011-12-22T14:57:00.003+11:00

It's three days until Christmas. The sun is getting hotter and I painted my toenails.

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.

I was riding my bike for the first time in two years and I noticed how rusty it was.
I haven't even ridden it before. Why's it gone all rusty?

Why do things go rusty? Because they've been in the rain. Because you've totally neglected them.

The thing is, when you put something in storage, as much as you expect to get it out in the same condition you left it -- it just doesn't happen, does it? A book comes out of the box crinkled. Bread gets squished. Clothes get wrinkled. Hats get bent out of shape and photo frames get dusty.

Your phone gets stolen, someone tears apart your dream.

We rely on things. We invest in them.
But the fact is... they're not gonna last. Don't store up treasure's here on earth. In my last post, I wrote about giving up your warm fuzzy coat and everything, and why should we have to give it away? Well, we were never going to be able to keep it, anyway.

We're here to learn to love God. All of us; you and me. Every person on this planet. And a way to do that, I think, is to love each other.

Waking up early Christmas morning, rushing to the tree... well, our tree -- a fake one, mind you -- was covered in spider webs, so let's make that an imaginery tree -- opening presents, going as slow as possible so that it will last longer and finally just tearing the paper off because it's too much fun... it's wonderful.

I love Christmas. I'm getting excited right now.

Oh! I was about to finish the post and I'm like, "Wait. What was the point in this? There's something missing."

But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them.

Store your treasure's in Heaven. Where they'll last forever; they won't go rusty and they won't get dusty. God will look after them for you and nobody, no-one, will be able to take them.

Your heart will be where your treasure is.

Be willing to give. It's better to give than to receive -- really. That's what Jesus says. And He knows.

how do we love people? what's it mean?

2011-12-19T09:09:00.000+11:00

Jesus said to love people. And how do we love them?

By serving them.

When I heard that, I was like, Oh! I know that I'm supposed to love everyone -- as if my life depended on it. But that word, LOVE, I didn't understand how I was supposed to do that.

I heard an illustration and it looked like this:

See, it's not about me. It's not about you. It's about us reaching out and serving people. Forgetting about ourselves and loving people; doing for them what we want them to do for us, except.. without expecting anything in return. In this world it's all about not being ripped off and everything -- but it says here, in Luke 6, and this is pretty scary...

When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.

If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice servant life? Are you serious, Jesus? What does He even mean by this?

We forget that we weren't made to live in this place forever. That this world, this planet, this Earth, this isn't the end. No siree. It's hardly the beginning. I think what Jesus is trying to remind us of here, is that...

You don't need your best coat. You know, the one you paid a whole lot of money for and it's really warm and fuzzy. He's reminding you that you can't take it to Heaven anyway, so... let's bless this person with this coat.

Um, but I'm cold? I want to wear my coat? Why on earth would I give it away to some person who already took my favourite t-shirt?! That's my question, anyway.

But maybe Jesus is trying to explain to us stubborn, clueless people that... these things don't matter. That it's okay if we have to wear our thin, colour-faded jacket instead. He knows that when we get to Heaven, we're not gonna care anymore -- that even though this world is all about being treated right and people getting what they deserve, which does definitely not include our fuzzy warm coat -- well, we need to look beyond it.

I mean, we're called to serve people. Other people. We're not called to serve ourselves. Luke 6:39 [NLT],

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

Jesus gives us this generosity; he pours it onto our laps! So, I'm wondering. How do we become generous? How do we serve people when we don't even know what they need?

Pray.
Ask Jesus.

dear Jesus,
i want to serve. to forget about myself and serve people.
please show me how. please pour your love, your generosity, a desire to serve... onto my lap, into my soul. let it captivate my thoughts; loving You, serving people just like You did.
thanks Jesus.

listening to these days: count on you, bruno mars

reading right now: in the eye of the storm, max lucado

a psalm, a song and glimpse's of God's beauty.

2011-12-17T10:25:00.001+11:00

some of the words from psalm ninety-six. like the lyrics in What do I know of Holy by Adison Road... I think I made God too small.

via pinterest

God made the heavens -- royal splendor radiates from Him,

a powerful beauty sets Him apart.

via pinterest

Bravo, God, Bravo!

Everyone join in the great shout: Encore!

In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.

via pinterest

Let's hear it from Sky,

With Earth joining in,

And a huge round of applause from Sea.

via pinterest

Let Wilderness turn cartwheels,

Animals, come dance,

Put every tree of the forest in the choir --

via pinterest

An extravanganza before God as He comes,

As He comes to set everything right, treat everyone fair.

dear God,

2011-12-16T09:32:00.000+11:00

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. -- 1 Peter 1:8-9 NLT]

i think this song is beautiful.

wherever you are today,
whatever troubles you face
and decisions you have to make.
places you have to go and
people you'll meet.
i pray that You'll hold Jesus' hand
and rely on Him every second,
every breath you take and every word
you speak.
because He loves you
and He hears your heartache,
your happiness and your pondering.
and He wants you to know that you're His
beautiful child and that because you believe in Him, because you trust Him...
because you love Him;
your soul will be saved.

a little bit random, but hold me Jesus

2011-12-15T17:25:00.000+11:00

So I'm here listening to music, staring outside my window at the cloudy Summer day, thinking.

my favourite moment in life is when i'm silent and it hits me. Jesus is real and He loves me.
that part in time, a mark in history, when He has never been so real.

It's holidays and Christmas is coming up in ten days and I've got this new house that we've moved into and I can breathe.

I've been writing a lot of words lately. Lyrics, thoughts. I can't wait to unpack my books so that I can read Pride and Prejudice, something I never would have dared to do before I picked up Jane Eyre.

Watched Amazing Grace today; I do love this movie. Because William Wilberforce aspired to do what God wanted him to do; when no-one else really gets what he's saying. He was brought down so many times... but he never gave up. I admire him.

Taking photos, attempting another draft of my novel. But I'm stumped; where am I supposed to find my character's problem? Her thing to solve? Because I've got nothing big enough... I guess I'll keep on writin'.

Listening to: Beyond Words, Tenth Avenue North

"Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.

"If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.

"Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.'"

John 12:24-28

a tattooed number

2011-12-12T17:47:00.000+11:00

the numbers tattooed on his arm.

You see, it was real, the Holocaust was.

Six months ago I couldn't even spell the word -- but now I've realized that it's still happening today. That people are being persecuted because of their face, their race... which determines their place in this world.

It wasn't so long ago, the Holocaust; before our parents' time, perhaps, but that's all. When innocent people -- six million Jews, and that's not counting Christians and whatever else people were discriminated for -- were killed.

Why? Because Hitler was out to create the perfect race. Blonde hair, blue eyes. But, uh, Hitler himself? Brown hair. His eyes weren't blue. He said something like, "I'm part of the problem -- but I'm going to help you fix it."

"It is fortunate," he said, "That men do not think."

Do you know what they did in those times, to convince little kids that Jews were bad? They took things like children's books and games and things -- and created ones about Jews and they made up things about them that weren't true. It's called propaganda. So you'd just grow up that way, believing lies about Jews.

When refugee's come to Australia seeking their place of refuge, why don't we let them in? And when we do let the occasional freedom-seeking people into this country, what happens? Oh, we just lock them away in these little prisons we've got over here where we cram in plasma TV's and couches so that it looks humane or something.

In the death camps in Auschwitz and all those places, the whole plan was to take away the humanity of the people. As soon as they entered the camp, a number was tattooed onto their arm.

"From that moment on, I was never called by my name again; I was a number."

Toilets? Um. Bedding? Uh. Showers? They weren't really showers.

Some of us are raised to think that just because a person is black or from a war-fighting country or someplace, that they should stay there and not come to our country.

I hate it. I really do. I know that hate is a strong word, but I also know that this world doesn't belong to me or you -- I mean, God made this place.

We were watching this documentry called 7 Up in class the other day, and there's this one black kid among a whole bunch of white kids. There's rich kids, poor kids and middle class kids.

And I thought, watching this one girl say that she, "Didn't care for coloured people; wouldn't care if she never saw one in her life," -- what would it be like if there was just one white kid and six black kids?

Just because we have no need to run for our lives in this part of the world doesn't mean that we can say we're better or we belong more or something!

These thoughts are probably all over the place, but I really needed to share it with you. Because propaganda sticks hard and it's not good.

There comes a time when we heed a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And its time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone, somehow will soon make a change
We are all a part of Gods great big family
And the truth, you know,
Love is all we need

-- we are the world

Song: Here to Love

2011-12-09T19:57:00.001+11:00

at the end of the day, instead of judging a person and not liking who they are and just ignoring them... take the time and ask them how their day has been, how their life is going; because life doesn't last forever.
we figure, "hey, yeah I'm going to live these days, doing whatever I want... and then I'll get serious and think about stuff once I'm finished and old and lived a fun life."

But what if we don't live for that long?
because we can't control everything. things happen and we can do nothing to change it.

We think we got it made

And then something happens

And we have no control

Nothing we say or do

Can change it

We wonder why it is

That life ends up like this

With tragedy and death

With sadness and depress

CHORUS:

If we could do anything

To make a difference

In the hearts of people

If we could just love them

Because we’re not God

If we could just love them

Because we’re not God

And we’re here

To love.

No matter how hard we try

How loud we raise our voice

How rich we are how many friends we have

In the bigness of the universe

Could anything be heard?

CHORUS

We hold people’s mistakes against them

As if we could ever forgive them

But you know all of us

We mess up every day and

Jesus he sacrificed himself

So that we never have to die

CHORUS

He took my place

He never judged me

And if I believe

I am truly set free

To live for eternity

With Jesus

Until then,

If we could do anything

To make a difference

In the hearts of people

If we could just love them

Because we’re not God

If we could just love them

Like God

And we’re here

To love.

if we could just love them, because we're not God.
you see, it's really not up to us to judge people.
we need to love them.

i mean, maybe this is going to sound really out there and like, are you serious? but... reach out to people. actually reach out to people and love them. care about people.

Live a life of love, just as Christ did.

Another Summer Day

2011-12-06T21:56:00.002+11:00

Hey, girlz!

It's officially summer over here, which is pretty beautiful. I'm writing my book, which makes me happy -- and I've been listening to music. This is life! I've discovered some powerful words in the Bible which I can't wait to share -- some great stuff in Corinthians. Check out 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 -- I have this incomplete thought that I'd like to share. Also 2Corinthians 12:7-10 -- that's a really great passage. A part of it goes, "my grace is enough, it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness."

Something else I've discovered is that God hears me; and when my hearts desire's are like those of Jesus, you can bet than when we knock, the door will be opened.

Oh and Luke 15 -- I've been thinking about that, too... Keep lovin' God and remember that He hears our prayers and that He loves you so much. And remember to live a life of love as if your life depended on it -- because it does. Oh yes, I'm also loving 1 and 2 Peter.

Remember -- bless, that's our job, to bless.(1 Peter 3:8-12)-- Emii

Wanting, wanting, wanting

2011-11-30T18:15:00.000+11:00

I read 1 John 2:15-17 today, and it just made me nod and go, "Oh yes, I so get that. It's so true and I needed to hear it because that's exactly me."

Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

time in between

2011-11-26T20:29:00.000+11:00

I discovered a new song when I bought my $5 Fransesca Batistelli CD, My Paper Heart. It's called, "Time in Between" and for me? That first verse strike me as something so powerful.

It says, Jesus is real. He was glorified in Heaven and then God whispered, "Hey, Son... you have to leave tonight." And Jesus grew up in this place here, just like you and me. You know what I think? Jesus knew what He had ahead of Him, what was coming once He lived His purpose for His life on earth -- the majesty of Heaven, the air soaked in love, the angelic choruses -- literal angelic choruses, seeing as that's where the angels live. Facing trials on this planet, Jesus knew that this wasn't His final destination, and that no matter what, He wasn't giving up -- He was here to die for us, and that He would do. And that He did do.

thankYou Jesus. that's really the only words i have.

New Zealand

2011-11-25T20:50:00.000+11:00

Hey there! A week away in New Zealand and I'm back. Thanks for the comments left while I was away -- and Nicole, you said something about not buying the Sierra Jensen books because you don't like to re-read -- well, this could be just me, but... I've read all the books in the series about six times. So it's definitely worth it. For me, anyway! And about the mini-interviews? Just go to the authors site and ask them for a mini-interview. They're lovely people.

Reading: Jane Eyre. I know -- me? I've never gotten past the first chapter in these "classics" in my entire life -- and here I am, can't put it down!

Truly a beautiful place. The water, so clear; the mountains, so... snow-topped and... mountain-y.

Instead of sandy beaches, New Zealand has rocky lakes.

Peace Hope Care Joy Faith Smile Understand Forgive Never Give Up

I've been reading Psalms; the poetic lyrics speak truths we still feel and know and understand today. They bring comfort of our Daddy and knowledge that He's here for us and He's not going anywhere. Ever.

Titled, "A Pilgrim Song," Psalm 121:
I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
   No, my strength comes from God,
      who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

  He won't let you stumble,
      your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
   Not on your life! Israel's
      Guardian will never doze or sleep.

God's your Guardian,
      right at your side to protect you—
   Shielding you from sunstroke,
      sheltering you from moonstroke.

  God guards you from every evil,
      he guards your very life.
   He guards you when you leave and when you return,
      he guards you now, he guards you always.

Book Review: Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii

2011-11-23T12:21:00.001+11:00

Can I just say, Robin's books stick with me. I read the third Katie book -- and that night I dreamed of those chimchanga things from Casa de Pedro. Like, I watched the shop keeper make it and then I ate it. I don't even know what a chimichanga is. It was like Subway in my mind. Just to let you all know.

I read this absolutely wonderful book by Robin Jones Gunn about a week ago, and I can still see images of the big waves in Hawaii and a broken staircase with a big, loud storm and Jordan clicking away on his camera and Sierra's wild hair moving in the wind and that beautiful peace I always feel when I read one of Robin's books.

Set in what I guess we'd call two different point of views -- moving from Jordan to Sierra -- this romance was innocent and wonderful and I could literally see myself right there on the beach, watching as Jordan (You'll meet him once you start the book, in case you have no idea who I'm talkin' about!) takes photos. Feeling the sadness of characters and making decisions right alongside Sierra.

The beautiful God-things demonstrated in the book that delve right into my life. The advice, the love, the words.

So, here it is. The beginning of Sierra's life after Brazil. It's been four years since Rancho Corono and that awesome as frozen yoghurt machine that I've always wanted -- and Sierra's friend is shouting her on a vacation to Hawaii. (Did I really just write vacation? I'm not American. I meant holiday.)

If you love the Christy books, the Sierra books, the Katie books and you've always wondered what on earth happened to Sierra... well, may I recommend this book? Because you'll love it. You really will.

born to try

2011-11-18T08:24:00.002+11:00

ever failed at something you wanted to do well?
remember the time you just wanted to fall into some hole in the floor and die?
that moment when people you know watched you mess up?
when you laughed but all you wanted to do was cry?
well, this song is for you.

born to try, delta goodrem

when we feel like we should give up and close our eyes and sleep for a hundred and fifty three days.
when you wonder why Jesus didn't sweep in and make you look good.

"Um, God? What happened to glorifying Yourself through me?"
I realize. God glorifying Himself through me doesn't mean He's going to make me look good. That'd be more like God glorifying me.
As much as I wish in this world that it did mean that -- what people think means so much to me, to us, doesn't it?

I don't want it to.

I opened my Bible this morning, praying for a verse.

My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

God hears me. God hears me. He answers me. And He's telling me to love. Read this verse again. Oh, it speaks to me. Are you hearing this? It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. Love. Real, God-love.

And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God!

We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him.

Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.

dear Jesus,
no matter how many times i mess up,
say the wrong thing,
go the wrong way.
You love me.
and You wrap Your arms around me and take me back to You.

Oh, and also... check out Nobody's Perfect by Hannah Montana.
I'm totally serious. Listen to the lyrics; we're not perfect. We all make mistakes. We can't give up, though.
dear Jesus...
we can do anything through You. and that means get back up again, and follow You right on through the crowd and on our way.

And hey, learn to laugh at ourselves. Next time you're on stage singing half asleep because it's ten at night and you forget the words and make up the wrong ones and stop singing and stop playing and wonder, oh am I seriously just sitting here in front of all these people? It's all good. They don't really care.

I'm following Jesus. And life with Jesus, well, that's the greatest adventure.

dear God,

2011-11-16T18:32:00.000+11:00

I'll be praying. For all of us. That we... love God. Know God. Obey God. And that He becomes our everything in every day, every moment. in every worry, in every accomplishment.i want God to be my everything.

Love God, Serve Others

2011-11-14T20:28:00.000+11:00

listening to: alice in wonderland, lisa mitchell

I'm just here, writing a song. Playing guitar. Listening to music. You know, living life.

Love God, Serve Others
I'm guessing God gave me those words because I've being thinking them all day without even wondering where they came from.

I once heard this saying, "You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving."

It doesn't say, "Serve God, love others." [Referring to Love God, Serve Others. Good thing I'm reading through this.:P]

You know why? Well, what I think?

To do anything, anything in this world with God... it's gotta be through loving God. Because God is love and that's just how life goes.

Love God, Serve Others.

If we're loving God and really loving Him... we're going to have Jesus rolling through every piece of our hearts and our minds and lives. It's going to make a difference on the way the world sees us and the way that we see the world. We're going to be serving people just as Jesus said -- the way that Jesus served.

a single poppy

2011-11-11T08:21:00.000+11:00

it's the day where we pause for a minute and remember those who went to war and fought for our country. we remember the young men who had a life and ambitions and dreams that didn't include putting their lives onto the battlefield, where they were never the same. where they lost pieces of themselves; their arms and their hearts. and some of them didn't come home.

like these soldiers who gave their lives for their country... i have to give up my life, too. my plans, my dreams, my wants and my needs. absolutely needing an iPod touch and a camera and the perfect day.

I have to give up my life to God. Like them, I will never be the same.

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet.

Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon.

In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. [Ephesians 6, MSG]

Truth. Righteousness. Peace. Faith. Salvation. Prayer.

"Mum? What can I do? I'm bored."

2011-11-10T18:42:00.001+11:00

"I'm bored."
"There's never anything to do."
"I've done everything. A thousand times over!"

Ever found yourself repeating those lines for anyone within hearing distance? I try not to say them too loud too often, because otherwise I'm presented with a cleaning job of some form, and, well...

Oh, and while we're at it. "Come and unload the dishwasher!" Doesn't it just make you want to scream? I've gotta work on that.

Reading a post by Raquel over at her blog, God's Daughter, I read this post. And it inspired me. It made me think -- why don't we ever have anything to do? Why are we so bored and spend countless hours feeling like life is hardly worth living because we're doing something that gives us nothing, no fulfillment?

Take Facebook, for example. I deleted it awhile ago, and I know this will sound really dumb, but... my life is different. Because I don't sit down, think, Okay, this is boring -- and then pick up my laptop and type in those dreaded keys, f-a-c-e-b-o-o-k-.-c-o-m and spend the next fourteen hours online clicking the refresh button on the homepage.

Is it because we think, "Well, I don't know my 'mission' in life, what I'm going to be when I grow up -- so I've got nothing to work to." The beautiful thing is that life doesn't work like that. I can open my Bible and my world, my perspective, can be changed.

While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. Because he honored God, God answered him. Though he was God's Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do.

Are we hiding from God's grace, from God's love, from God's plan... do we think we're not good enough, not able, and, like Moses -- "Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!"

I know one thing.
God hears our whispers, our calls, our hearts.
Oh, and I know another thing, too.
God loves you.

a storm

2011-11-09T17:39:00.001+11:00

i'm watching a thunderstorm.
God's power astounds me.
i think it's beautiful.

the unforced rhythms of grace

2011-11-08T08:08:00.000+11:00

Are you tired? Worn out? 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. [Matthew 11:28-30, MSG]

up to me? but... it's impossible.

2011-11-07T08:29:00.001+11:00

It's up to me to make myself a better person, right?

Nope. It's not. Who do we think we are? As if we can change our sinful desire's and hearts to become like Jesus and love everyone and only think good things and be full of peace and mercy and not judge and have our lives just brimming over with hope. Be patient, kind, gentle. Always faithful, always have self control.

That's impossible. We know it. It's impossible for me to make myself a better person.

Um, so how does this work then?

"No chance at all," Jesus said, "if you think you can pull it off by yourself."

See? Why do we even bother?

"Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it."
I have to plug into the Holy Spirit.

When I write, I have no idea what's going to happen.
Why on earth would I want to be holding the pen that scripts my life story? God has a beautiful plan and I need to hand the pen back over to Him, the Author of my life. [from Redefining Beautiful, Jenna Lucado]

God will make me like Him, with a heart just like Jesus'.
Oh, I'll never be perfect on this earth. This is me we're talking about -- this girl who says the wrong thing, gets impatient, and thinks she knows better than God because when does she really listen to Him?

How do we really know what "Let Go, Let God" really means? How does one just let go? I mean, "Aaah!" But it's not just, Let go. It's Let Go. Let God.

I have to pray.
I need to pray.
I'm going to pray.
I'm praying.

The Bless People Campaign

2011-11-05T19:19:00.000+11:00

that moment when you realize that the world doesn't love you.
that they don't think you're beautiful or worthy of them or good enough to know you.

you hear people talking, saying things about people, about you.
you say things about people, that if they heard you, they might cry.

i came to realize something today. the words we speak can be said to make ourselves feel good -- by bringing someone else down. we can have no ulterior motive other than to state what we consider "truth" and therefore we shouldn't feel bad.

1 Peter 3:8-12 [MSG]

Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

   Whoever wants to embrace life
      and see the day fill up with good,
   Here's what you do:
      Say nothing evil or hurtful;
   Snub evil and cultivate good;
      run after peace for all you're worth.
   God looks on all this with approval,
      listening and responding well to what he's asked;
   But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.

I've come to a conclusion. This world is nothing about blessing other people and loving them and being kind and filling their hearts with hope.
it's about making ourselves look as good as we can, fooling others in order to take their place up the top no matter how much it hurts them.

When someone says a hurtful word, I'm not going to sit back and watch. I'm going to bless. Think of the God-things people have said to you over your life; they mean things to us, don't they?
Think of the mean, horrible, hurtful, unkind things people have said to you. You remember them, right?

I can't do this anymore. I can't just sit back and watch people be hated and persecuted and unloved.

So what do I propose? The Bless People campaign. Put a smile on people's faces. It's not a hard thing to wave at someone and compliment them on their friendliness or their talent, or to write them a note just saying thankyou for being a part of your life. When you hear someone say something like, "Oh dear, she's fat. I'm glad I'm not like that," or, "Hey, I have that top... I'm never wearing it again... well, I hope it looks better on me, anyway." -- can we honestly just sit there and watch?

This verse is speaking to me. "Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good..." -- and then it goes and gives us these clear-cut directions telling us how to go about this life of life!

and can i just say this one thing? I read it this morning.

"Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty. Beautiful inside and out! God be with you." Luke 1:28

God makes us beautiful.
If someone tells you you're ugly,
don't listen to them.

I'm reading Redefining Beautiful by Max Lucado right now, and here's the definition of beautiful -- the real definition.

[Beautiful] 1 what God sees when God sees you.

treasure's in your heart

2011-11-04T17:02:00.002+11:00

"Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stick up for you before all God's angels."

You know what that says? If I stand up for Jesus among the people I meet, He's going to stand up for me before all His angels. It doesn't say that Jesus is gonna stand up for me before people, because that's not what matters.

When I die, I'll go to Heaven. Jesus will put His arm around me and if I obey Him He'll look at the angels and say, "This is Emily. She stood up for me on earth, and this is her new home. Her forever home."
And all that hardship here on earth will be so far away -- it will be gone. The suffering, the loneliness... all gone forever.

Our reward, my reward, is in Heaven. There's no point in seeking to find any reward on earth. Because I'll never find it.
My reward is in Heaven.

I have to give my life away... I've got to help people... forget about what will bring me up to the top and give others a helping hand instead.
It doesn't matter what people say or think of me... I've got to let everything go and obey Jesus. That's the only thing I have to do.

dear Jesus,
help me. this requires a change of heart. my broken, black, wordly, selfish, cobwebby, scratched, jealous, worried, anxious, scared, faithless heart.

Give me Your heart Jesus. Please.

When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived. [Matthew 10:21-23

Don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there; the spirit of your Father will supply the words. [Verses 19-20]

It's like a promise, my friendship with Jesus.

I'm going to meet Jesus one day.

land of inspiration

2011-11-03T12:48:00.001+11:00

i'm about to dive into the land of characters.

pinterest is my land of inspiration right now.

"Your beauty and love chase after me everyday of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life." -- Psalm 23:6

i'm yours

2011-11-02T19:30:00.002+11:00

listening to: better be home soon
writing: my novel. though not participating in nano this year.
I read a poem over at Blooming in Christ that Chloe shared, called What's the Point.

I was thinking this morning. How does one forget about themselves? I think, perhaps, by looking to God.

You know, I don't deserve Heaven. I've sinned. I was reading a post yesterday by Lily of at Snatched from the Wind, and she said,

If life were truly fair, we humans would all be going to Hell. If life were fair, like we think it should be, God wouldn't care a sniff about us sinners. Because of the sin commited in the Garden of Eden, we would be condemned to an eternal death.
And yet, Jesus chose to save us. Why? Because of grace. Because we have a God who loved us so much, He sent His Son to pay the penalty for our sins. Because our Savior chose to go through the terror of Hell, just so we could have the chance to live.

It's by God's grace that we've been saved. His mercy. Nothing to do with me or all the good things I do in this world. I could try and do everything right and never, ever make a mistake, or totally stuff up and say the wrong thing -- but God would never stop loving me any more than He does right now.

To quote Max Lucado,

God loves you just the way you are but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.

It's nothing to do with us -- everything to do with God's grace and mercy and love. And sacrifice.

Where do I find this notion that I'm good and practically equal with God? I'm not. I mean, my life is a shadow. I'm here today and soon I'll be gone from this world. We like to think we're so significant and everything, don't we? But that's God. Not us. Not me.

God takes this shadow called My Life and uses it for His glory to further His Kingdom. To show His love. My life has nothing to do with me... and everything to do with God.

Romans 12:1-2

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. [The Message]

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. [NIV]

It says in the Bible that God cares for the birds and the windflowers, the flowers most of which nobody will ever see yet are so simply beautiful.

How much more does God love us, treasure us, want us to love Him? We are blessed to know God; He loves us. He is real. "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty -- there's nothing my God cannot do."

I've got to obey Jesus. So that His plan and purpose for me, for us, will prevail. Not so that I can feel good about myself like I've done something great. I'm God's daughter... and I'm also His servant. I owe Jesus everything.

All I have to give Him is my life. Have it, Jesus. It's not much -- but I'm Yours.

Book Review: Coming Attractions

2011-10-31T18:48:00.001+11:00

Yes, this is Coming Attractions -- book number three in the spectacular series about Katie by Robin Jones Gunn.

Okay, so, if you've never read the Katie books -- they're just so, oh, I don't know -- Katie. Funny. Random. Beautiful. Romantic. Full of God-things.

One of the things that struck me as I read Coming Attractions is the way Katie just plain old trusted God. No strings attached.

God will work everything out. He always does.

Adventure. We always knew where Christy would end up, right? With Todd.
Oh, but Katie's beautiful story is so different. I mean, Rick? That's been the dream since, what, forever, right?

So there they are, happy and comparing flavour of ice-cream or whatever romance they're filling their much-needed get-together with.

And then things change. Unexpected, random -- that's what I love about Robin's writing. Unpredictable -- like Todd, really. But special. And with this wonderful poetic-ness yet fitted with a totally twenty-first century vocab.

There were some laughing moments. I just love when authors put in those totally unnecessary paragraphs that make me giggle and cause me to read them at least twice. Or conversations that are just plain silly or hilarious.

Serious moments. Sunrise mountains and starry nights. Chimichanga's from Casa de Pedro.

I've read reviews by people (as opposed to by animals, I guess;)), and some just don't like reading about people eating food and talking. Can I just say -- I love that. I love reading about Katie buying a coffee and Todd eating fish tacos. Although, since I don't really eat sea-food... that doesn't sound very appealing.

And something else? Katie's not perfect! She says the wrong things and she regrets it and she doesn't just do everything right all the time! "I said the wrong thing, didn't I?"
A real character. Maybe I'm just some book-nerd, but Katie seems real to me. And that is writing talent, isn't it? Yes. Yes it is.

And so, with that, all that's left to say is... Yes, I recommend this book. Yes, I read it during maths. Yes, it also kept me company during science. Yes, if you click on this link HERE it will take you to the Mini-Interview with Robin Jones Gunn I posted a few months ago... actually, more like a year ago. Wow, time flies, hey?

a big pancake breakfast.

2011-10-29T14:30:00.000+11:00

I'm the kind of girl who follows every step of the recipe and ends up with flat cookies.

I google "basic" when I search for something to cook because otherwise, well, it's just too complicated.

This morning, however, was different.

Stephanie Morrill's pancake recipe is absolutely wonderful.

Enough said.

[But I'll say more anyway.]

these pancakes flipped like they flip in the movies.

the mixing bowl. interesting and intriguing as, i know.

there's really not much to say. this is a pancake.

melted ice-cream. for breakfast. i mean, what more could you ask for, really?

oh, even better. un-melted ice-cream. yes, the edges are a tad burnt. but hey, they cook faster. ;)

oh wow this is so cool. i just figured out you could click "add caption".
*changing all the other captions to official captions*.

So anyway, that's my day.
Reading: On a Whim -- Kate Welden Series #2, by Robin Jones Gunn. Lovin' this book. Of course.
Listening to: I'm really not sure. The radio reception is terrible.

Oh, and a verse I found this morning that sunk into me like I'd just discovered some piece of ancient treasure that had been buried for years?

"Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good." -- Romans 12:21, The Message

That's how we overcome evil. With God -- God is good. God is love. God is bigger than anything and everything. Strive to do good. Desire to good. I'm reading Just like Jesus by Max Lucado again. I want a heart likes Jesus'. It seems impossible, doesn't it?

"I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

PS Yes, I did get the title from that movie.

forevermore

2011-10-28T08:37:00.000+11:00

That moment when you open your Bible and find the guitar pick you were missing. Yay!

To Him who is able to keep your from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy -- to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. [Jude 24]

These words skipped my brain and flew right into my heart.

another diary entry

2011-10-26T08:24:00.003+11:00

it's really late. i can barely see. but i have to write this down.

On Sunday, Dad preached about God being awesome and us being in awe and... reverent? And I got to thinking of God reaching as high as, like, a really tall sky-scraper. I was like, "Whoa," and imagining myself just falling on my face or something. But it's just occurred to me. This is earth. We have, what, nine planets in our solar system -- the Milky Way -- right? The farthest we've gone is the moon -- our moon. There's a whole universe out there. Out there, our solar system is barely a speck. It's like on that Indescribable DVD.

God is bigger than the universe? We try to understand God and why He does things and how He does things... but really? I can't even comprehend how big He is.

We're all about being equal in this world, aren't we? Chance to vote, everyone gets their say -- but you know what my Dad pointed out? We start to think we're the same as Jesus, don't we? We place ourselves on the same level, make ourselves equal with Him.

Why did Jesus, in all His glory and splendour and perfection and love and everything good... come here?

It's pretty simple, actually. Does the answer mean anything to us? Will it ever?

He loves us.
Remember, right back at the beginning of us... when God created the world? Oh, He had a plan. God was right there with Adam and Eve in that beautiful garden that He'd planted and raised and created Himself.

How does God see us? I mean, He's so big.

[big] 1.large, as in size, height, width, or amount: a big house; a big quantity.

Is that honestly as big as we can see? Are our perspective's that small?

Why don't we fear God? Do we just shut off from our minds the fact that God is bigger than the universe -- that He created it in a breath?

Where do we get this thing that we don't need Him, that we're fine without Him and that we can just be our own person or something?

People think of God destroying people. You know, those stories in the Old Testament. But what was He doing? He was leading His people to the promised land -- and He wanted them to get there. Why? He loved them!

Jesus came down to earth. What did He do while He was here? He taught us how to love! Love, love, Love!

"Hope, faith, love -- and the greatest of these is love." -- Paul.

God loves us. And that is why he created you and He created me. He wants us to be with Him in eternity -- that's what He wants. And so He made it to be as simply simple as He could.

Trust Him. Love Him.
With your life. With your heart.

I mean, He's bigger than the universe. Why on earth would we just turn our back on Him?

dear God,
there is so so so much that i don't understand.
but You are bigger than everything.

i'm just sitting here, pondering that.
you really do care about us -- every single one of us on this tiny little planet.
and I do know.
You love me.

What on earth did I ever do to deserve this, God? To deserve Your love? Your compassion, mercy, forgiveness?
Absolutely nothing.
All I can do now is obey You. Love You. Listen, believe.

how can we comprehend Your love... if we can't even begin to comprehend Your size?

[a diary entry]

2011-10-25T20:27:00.001+11:00

if this was my last day, i'd...

Say hi to the person across the street.

I'd forgive the people who made me angry,

I'd stand up for what I believe.

I wouldn't worry because my worries wouldn't matter,

Whether or not people like me, I wouldn't care.

I'd give God the glory for good instead of trying to claim it for myself.

I'd set my mind and soul on above, with God in Heaven, not here on earth.

There'd be no time to sit down and listen to the devil's lies.

I'd spent every minute getting to know God, to hear Him, obey Him.

What people say wouldn't mean a thing.

My messy room wouldn't matter... but I'd strive to do my best, finish this world at the end of the race holding God's hand, knowing that He will be glorified.

I wouldn't judge, because before this day is over, I myself will be standing before God.

Everything I say, everything I do, every decision I make, they'd be from You because I'd listen and obey You, Daddy.

I wouldn't worry about tomorrow.

i'm not going back on that

2011-10-24T08:19:00.001+11:00

it's raining right now and i can see a person walking holding an umbrella. all i want to do is grab the umbrella i'm not supposed to get until Christmas and just walk through the rain. because i can't remember the last time i did that.

It's been an awesome weekend, God-wise. I'm different. If I was going to write out everything, we could be here for days -- me typing, you reading. That is, if anyone actually comes here to read a novel.

It's like my eyes have been closed. I knew all the words but I turned and they were like unwanted roses.

How could my fingers have written these truths but my heart been so blind?

Your truths, God. I turned it into a worldly routine, never caring about their meaning.

I said I "desired" to live a life like You, and then I went and gossiped and complained and yelled and regretted.

It's so easy to trust ourselves. To think that we'll work it out. I just end up mucking everything up.

I'm sick of this notion, this knowing that You're here somewhere -- but in the background.

I want You to be real, God.

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. -- Galations 5:25-26

My prayer,

Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. -- Galations 2:20

just a song. with lucas till

2011-10-22T18:48:00.000+11:00

This is just here because it can be.
Oh, and because it has Lucas Till starring with that amazing smile.

2011-10-21T08:08:00.000+11:00

Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day!" Luke 9:62

dear God,
today has just arrived and here i am.
here You are.
let's live.
in love, faith, in hope.

Please, Just Love

2011-10-20T17:38:00.000+11:00

please, just love
remember your words, how the way they can affect
the minds of those you're communicating
demonstrating the truths of your heart

they say words could never break me
but i think we've all discovered
how false that really is

so when you open your mouth
before anything tumbles out
just consider your heart
is it love or hatred
that is being poured out?

i whisper a prayer
to God
i ask Him to fill my soul with
compassion.
to overflow me with peace.
for my eyes to see
and my ears to hear
imagery and words
in the same perspective as does He

take away my worry
allow my laughter to be
genuine and soaked with joy
in You.

and my words
i pray
will be said in
kindness and love
purity and honesty

and you know sometimes i do slip up
more often than not
but God I know
You will help me.

thankYou Daddy. ♥

Christ is your life, your new life!

2011-10-20T08:14:00.001+11:00

I've always loved this passage -- Colossians 3, The Message. Isn't it cool how, when you're reading the Bible, it feels like the first time even though you might've read the same thing a hundred times before?

So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

[obscurity] 2.the condition of being unknown

You know how we do something -- and then someone else goes and gets the credit for it? You want to shout out and say, "Hey, that was me!"

And hey, that's what copyright is for. (I should know. That's what we're studying in art.)

But let's say you just did something you find kind of hard, like performing in front of people. (Um, yeah. There's something about reading a book that just sounds more, oh, I don't know... relaxing?) And the next person up is even more freaked out than you were -- so you start cheering them on and saying, "Woo, go Dove!" and they end up with a smile on their face and a rockin' performance.

Everyone tells her how great she did, and that she was definitely the best of all you. And you're just standing there, thinking, "Hang on -- I cheered. I put that smile on her face."

Because we're human and we like to be encourage and told how good we did and... what is it? Pride? Whatever it is, I know I feel that way sometimes.

Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

Like Christ. Jesus was content with being unknown for the time being. Why? Because He knew what was coming. He knew that God was going to be glorified.

This isn't our one life. But you can't just finish off this one and go onto the next, like going from entree to main. Read that verse again -- we've gotta be with God. And then when Jesus comes back... we'll show up, too! -- the real, glorious us!

So next time it's like I've kind of being shoved to the back, unknown, even if I've just changed the world -- so what? God will glorify Himself.

Instead of wanting us to be glorified, let's let God do the glorifying! I totally forget the verse, but if we're living for God... He'll glorify himself through us.

See things from His perspective.

dear God,
i can be selfish. greedy. wanting more and more and more.
help me to be content with obscurity, just like Jesus was. Oh, He knew who He was -- and He knew where He was headed! What's earthly reward, congratulations?
I'm here to live for You, Daddy. To serve You, to love You and to love like You love. Even though that's impossible.
Oh, wait, it's not.
Impossible on my own, yes -- but with You, anything is possible. ♥

Guide me, Daddy.
Open my eyes to see like You see.
I get so impatient sometimes.
Help me, God.
IloveYou.

when i grow up

2011-10-19T17:29:00.001+11:00

listening to: innocent, by stellerkart

Well, that's kinda funny. I wrote the title "when i grow up" and thought, "Hmm, that sounds familiar." So I google those words, adding on Girlz 4 God -- and there it is. This post.

So I think that I'll keep writing this one, because, um... I'm not really getting the point of the other one. :P

Oh it's summer it's so beautiful. Well, as my friends may remind me, it's actually still spring -- for another months and a half. But I say it's Summer because it's so SUNNY and BLUE and WARM and just wonderful

...and i think to myself, what a wonderful world. -- it's a wonderful world

Have you ever just paused in your planning and worrying and wondering and pondering and thinking and* just said these words? "Dear God, I just give this to You. I trust You."

I did, the other day. It's like I don't have to worry about if this will work out, or if I'm doing this wrong or if I should say this or do that -- because you know how things sometimes just seem right, like it's the right time?

I reckon that's God. I mean, I know.

Living this life with God, it's not just that He's right here with me, holding my hand -- He also has this purpose for my life. I've been reading Psalm 119 today -- and David was just so... well, he really did know that God had this beautiful way of life for him to live.

By your words I can see where I'm going;
      they throw a beam of light on my dark path.

   I've committed myself and I'll never turn back
      from living by your righteous order.

Everything's falling apart on me, God;
      put me together again with your Word.

   Festoon me with your finest sayings, God;
      teach me your holy rules.

   My life is as close as my own hands,
      but I don't forget what you have revealed.

   The wicked do their best to throw me off track,
      but I don't swerve an inch from your course.

   I inherited your book on living; it's mine forever—
      what a gift! And how happy it makes me!

   I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
      I always have and always will.

And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!
      I'll recognize the sound of your voice.

So as it turns out, I guess the title is sort of irrelevant, after all. But that's okay. Because what I was originally going to say is that there's really no such thing as, "When I grow up," is there? Each moment we become older. We learn more, discover, dream.

When I grow up is now, isn't it? Following God is my life. Walking this path that He's got for me -- I drew this picture this morning, and Part A was this really wide road, and this person in about ten different places. See, they've been spending their life moving around this road -- but never going anywhere.

And then Part B. It's the narrow path -- and there's another person. There's really no way of knowing what's up ahead, but you know what? They don't have to freak out. Because God is holding their hand -- and because God knows what's up ahead.

God will protect you. God loves you. He'll show you the way -- don't complicate things. You know those times when things suddenly just seem so simply or clear or just make sense? Maybe it's because I can feel Summer in the air. I don't know -- but I do know that I trust God and that He's holding my fear and I've just got to take a deep breath and let Go. Let God.

*Haha, remember that grammatical rule of not using 'and' more than once -- you use a comma instead? Um, I think I've been over that one for a while. I love using lots of 'and's'. :P

ARK

2011-10-18T08:25:00.000+11:00

Ever seen Evan Almighty? Great movie. Anyway, three letters -- ARK.

Act of Random Kindness

It says somewhere in the Bible, "What makes you so good, being nice to people who are nice to you? Do you expect a medal for saying hi to the people who say hi to you? Even bad guys do that."

I was listening to the radio and they were saying, "What if everyone was just doing these random acts of kindness?"

And I was just like, "Wow. What if we did that? Random nice things for people?" It doesn't matter who they are -- just spread the love!

God is love. Huh? GOD is love. What? God is LOVE!

ain't it ironic that now
i don't give what they gonna say
it's like their words don't change
a thing of who i am
of who God is in me

I read Romans 12 this morning. I love this passage! Last night I was writing in my diary, and I was like, "You know, God is love -- but we're humans. Saying "live a life of love" doesn't really get me anywhere. I mean, love covers everything -- a multitude of sins. How can I really, really just love in everything I am?"

Because love is one of those things I just can't comprehend. I mean, God IS love, after all.

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life -- you're sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking-around life -- and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

...living, then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you do not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what He does for us, not by what we are and what we do for Him."

"In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of His body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvellously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and we what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.

If you preach, just preach God's message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

"Love from the centre of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold onto dear life for good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don't burn out; keep yourselves fuelled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians be inventive in hospitality.
Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

"Our scripture say that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good." Romans 12, The Message

Maybe you think that's just too long and you're not gonna read that. And, hey, you don't have to read it all. But this passage really just stuck out to me. You could out your Bible and just read it over a couple of times, or focus on a certain thing, like let God do the judging or make friends with nobodies -- don't be the great somebody.

Whatever you do,
Whatever God's doing in you,
Have a beautiful day.

to see His face

2011-10-15T11:27:00.000+11:00

You’re here I know You are

Listening, you are

Holding me

Never watch me fly away

Without You

Because I won’t get very far

You call me

I say I’m busy

While there I am running

Nowhere

The things that I thought mattered

Now don’t seemed to make a difference

To make me feel anything

I can sense all this honesty

Surrounding me

Like all the lies

Are running away

Jesus has found me

I’ve come to be

To know this place

I feel where there is no fear

Where the depths of my soul

Have come to meet

The face of God

Oh I know peace

He holds our life

2011-10-13T17:23:00.000+11:00

you know what is so great about life?
i don't have to worry. i don't have to wonder, "what will i do if that doesn't work out?"
with God, there's no fear.
He wants me to just give it all to Him -- everything, my whole life -- just pile it into His arms. He doesn't want me carrying it around.

and so i do. it's a constant thing, surrender is. i have to pause, and just think, "why on earth am i taking this with me?"

God wants us to give it to Him.

dear God,
i give it to You.
those little fears that like to rise inside of me.
those worries.
the good times and the bad times.
memories of the past and thoughts of the future.
take it all, God
i don't know what i want.
You know what You want, though, God.
take me with You. ♥

it's not some list

2011-10-12T20:09:00.004+11:00

Today, I heard this question being asked.

"What if you died and... wherever you think you go -- Heaven -- isn't like you thought it would be? Wouldn't you regret that you spent your life following all those rules and having no fun?"

It dawned on me then. People think that being a Christian is about rules. Like a whole list of things we have to do.

You know what Jesus said when he lived in this world? Probably, because I post about it, like, everyday. He said to love eachother. Jesus said that it summed up everything, this one commandment.

I think that some people look at God and think that if they're going to become a Christian, you've suddenly got to be perfect. And then it's like, "Uh, yeah, right. This religion is like, not my type."

It's not a religion. It's a relationship.
Jesus came to earth and what'd he do? He made friends. He hung out with them. He didn't say, "Yo, Peter -- no swearing." He didn't judge. He loved.

You know something? It's not up to you and me to judge people. We're called to love. Where on earth did we get this piece of mind that it's up to us to judge people!?

I'm not perfect. You're not perfect.
What's that verse? Our imperfections are made perfect in God?

I really can't think of the words I need.

alone, i'm nothing.
i'm not good.
people look at Christian's and what do they think? that we think we're better than them? that we act like we don't like them?
because let me tell you, there is only one difference.

i realize that i can't do this alone.
that Jesus loves me -- He really does.
that without Him... it's impossible.
with Him? like one of my favourite verses -- anything is possible. "With God? You've got every chance in the world."

people have questions. they're thinking.
because God is real, and He places Himself on their hearts.
God loves everyone -- He does.
He wants us to live a life of love for Him right now
so that He'll be able to wrap His arms around us and welcome us into the beautiful place He's got ready.
He wants nothing more than for you to be there.

it's seeking to find Him in every aspect of you life.
it's knowing that you live for a purpose; a purpose God created, wrote up, before the beginning of time.

and i just think that there's something beautiful about that.

"you just gotta have faith."

listening to: falling slowly

live these words

2011-10-12T08:22:00.002+11:00

it's like forgetting the words to your favourite song
you can't believe it, you were always singing along
it was so easy and the words so sweet
you can't remember, you try to move your feet

it was so easy and the words so sweet
you can't remember, you try to feel the beat -- regina spektor, Eet

Those lyrics are sad, aren't they? I don't want to forget the words.

I read these words this morning, and they stuck with me.

Luke 6:26-38

There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them... You task is to be true, not popular.

To those ready to live by the truth,

Love your enemies; let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.

When someone gives you a hard time, pray for them.

If they slap you, stand there and take it. If someone takes your stuff, take your favourite thing -- and then wrap it up like a present and give it to them.

If they take advantage of you, use it as an opportunity to practice the servant life.

Ask yourself what you want people to do for you -- and then do it for them!

Love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return -- you'll never regret it.

Live the way God lives -- generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst.

God's kind; you be kind.

Don't pick on people, jump on their failure's, criticize their faults -- unless you want that done to you.

Don't condemn those who are down. Be easy on people -- you'll find life a lot easier.

Give away your life -- you'll find life given back.

Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.

Love.

chase them 'til you catch them

2011-10-11T17:23:00.002+11:00

When I read about an artist, (the musical type) the biographies (autobiographies? I never really got which one was which.) that I love the most are the ones that say something along the lines of,

"...never intended to become a professional musician, instead..."

There's something about that -- having a different idea of life, but then something bigger than what you knew just appears. A new opportunity, or something just suddenly clicks into place -- God has a plan.

I've discovered so many great tracks and artists that I'd never even heard of before -- thanks to Pandora. Because on the radio, there really isn't that much played other than the, what, top ten?

Reading "Somebody Everybody Listens To" by Suzanne Supplee.

Tangled -- "Go. Live your dream!"

We all have dreams. Take Jesus' hand, and He'll lead the way. Trust me -- you won't catch them without Him.

This post was like, all over the place.
Oh how I love the randomness of life.

Listened to before and love: Little House by Amanda Seyfried
I think I'll: learn it on guitar.
I'd better: um, finish my homework. sadly.
I read: this really powerful passage in the Bible that I'd never really thought about that much before.

It's Spring, but... rainy. Which is beautiful.

Oh this is fascinating, writing in small font. How fun.

Here's something to remember...
Life is real. And Eternal life is forever.

deeply at peace

2011-10-10T08:09:00.000+11:00

"But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

If you're like me, sometime you might've said something along the lines of, "Well, Jesus knows God -- it's easy for him trust God. To have a relationship with Him."

But Jesus was constantly heading into the mountains and the boat and wherever else he could find some solitude -- and He'd pray. He sought out that place so that He'd be free to give God all His attention. His spirit. His time -- his life. If we're willing to give God our time -- which, in this world, is probably considered most important over everything -- we can give Him our life.

That's what Jesus did.

And what else did Jesus do? He said that, if we gave Him our lives and trusted Him -- really, really trusted Him -- we'd be unshakable. We'd be assured. We'd be deeply at peace. You don't get that on your own -- you get that with God.

He says, "Yeah, life is going to be tough sometimes. But take heart -- there's hope. I've conquered the world."

Jesus is above it all. I promise you this -- He loves you. Just look at Him. Hold out your hand, and He'll take it. Never let you go.

"They got up, drove Him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill, on which the town was built, in order to throw Him off the cliff. But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way."

But me and Jesus went right through the crowd and went on our way.

what really counts

2011-10-08T10:01:00.000+11:00

I read a post by Ashley Mays over at Girls God and the Good Life, and it just made me think.

God has things to say to us.
When I sit down to listen to God and He speaks through His whisper... I see things in a way I never did before. Or a way I forgot about.
And you know what? His voice is beautiful.

If God's voice is so beautiful, why don't we sit down to hear it more often?
Do you think sometimes God just looks at us and wishes we'd just give Him our full attention and look at Him for five minutes?

He's got things to say to us.
Why don't we seek Him?
Why don't we seek His voice? His words?

He said to Jeremiah,
"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me -- I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." Jeremiah 29:12-14 [The Message]

We've gotta want it more than anything else. You know when you loose, say, your toothbrush -- you're going to look for it, right? Because if you don't brush your teeth, well, oh dear. So you'll search and search and search and... there it is! Behind the windowsill. Because dad cleaned the bathroom and put the toothbrushes away so that it wouldn't look messy.

You weren't going anywhere without brushing your teeth. No matter how late you were going to be for school -- you were determined to find the silly toothbrush and brush your teeth.

I think that's kind of what God wants us to be like with Him -- we need Him. We can't leave for school without finding Him and talking to Him, just like you've got to brush your teeth or you'll be tasting cereal all morning. Ew.

Just like the guarantee of a toothbrush is that you're mouth will be fresh and clean -- God promises we'll find Him. And we won't be disappointed.

dear God,
i pray we'll forget about everything else and look to You.
ultimately, You're all that matters.
so if we can see the big picture... why can't we see like that day-by-day, situation for situation,
that obeying You is what counts?

i liked it! i loved it!

2011-10-07T10:08:00.000+11:00

I never would have thought. Really. Me?

But this week, I've managed to watch all three of the Lord of the Rings movies, and...

I absolutely loved them.

The girl who rarely reads fantasy and whose favourite movie includes Dan in Real Life because, well, it's about real life?

The characters were so real. Genuine. Loveable. (Er, some of them. Not the bad guys.)

I watched number one with friends, and oh... good times.

"Sit down, Legless!"
I know, I know. It's not Legless. Believe me, we made this movie funnier than probably intended.

I watched as Sam walked the journey, right by Frodo's side.
Kind. Loyal. I mean, to me, Sam is the most beautiful friend in the world. That silly Gollum, who made me laugh just because I don't know why, called him "the fat hobbit."

He wasn't. But do you know what he was? A friend who gave everything up to help Frodo. Near the end, when they're sitting down on the big rock, Sam looks at Frodo and says, [not exact words] "If I was going to get married, I would have married her." Even though he was in love from the beginning with some girl from the Shire, he kept his promise and went with Froddo.

this is sam.

He gave up what he wanted to do what he needed to do. Because Frodo would never have gotten there if it weren't for Sam. Frodo was the ringbearer; but Sam was more than the fellow at his side. No, Sam was... Sam was the humble hero. He never, ever gave up.

Sam:..Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.Frodo: What are we holding on to Sam?Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

I realized that there's guys who like Sam in this world. My sister and I were quite dismayed when we found out that he'd been in love the whole time. "She's old!" That was us. ;)

Pippin' and Mary. I loved them from the very beginning. They're the silliest, randomest guys, like, ever. So real.

Pippin had a solo. Quite beautiful, really.

This is Legless. (Uh, Legolas). Give him a bow and arrow -- he'll never miss a target, never run out of arrows! Extraordinary. Long hair was definitely a trend in those days.

There's Frodo and Sam. Frodo looking a little bit, er, tired. But his eyes? So BLUE. Really, really blue.

My hobbits, all four of them altogether. Sam, Frodo, Merre and Pippin. (Mary. I know, right. I guess they ran out of guy names.;))

Ian was in the movie! You know, National Treasure? Bad guy? Well, he was a good guy in this one. Sadly, he died. *oops. don't let that ruin the movie for you.*

Guess what arrived in the mail? The Message. So exciting.

Listening to: Field Below, Regina Spektor on Pandora.

Last day of school holidays. What do I plan on doing? Well for one thing, finding some blue glue gel so that I can do this. And perhaps maybe even doing this for my fingernails.

"this is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. it's best to start small. give a cool cup of water to someone who's thirsty, for instance. the smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. you won't lose out of a thing." Matthew 10:42, The Message

when i prayed

2011-10-05T18:11:00.000+11:00

it's like everything is finally under control -- i've trusted God to get me through it. i totally relied on Him, surrendered it all. He didn't let me down; all His promise's were real.

but now here i am. life's rolling along quite nicely, thankyou -- and then one day, i stop.

when was the last time i prayed?

pray changes things. when Jesus was stuck, what'd He do? He prayed. To God. His Daddy.

if you're like me, you talk to God.

but i think that's only part of it.

ya see, we're speaking -- but how can we hear if we're not listening?

we, as humans, have a tendency to over-complicate things.

God is listening. God hears you.

And God speaks to you, too.

It's come to the days that I'm not quickly trying to finish my God-time so that I can go on the computer. No -- now it's to do anything else. Why? I don't know. There is nothing in the entire world that can top time with God.

What is it that pulls me away from devoting every part of my life to Him?

It's not God, that's for sure.

Because He wants nothing than for me, for you -- to be right with Him.

Next time I feel compelled to end my God-time (devotions? quiet time? God-time's good.) I'm going to pray. I'm going to ask God to give me a desire to stay. Right here. With Him.

Yeah, that's what I'll do.

the good we know

2011-10-05T10:18:00.000+11:00

If we took all of the good of all the people in this world and looked to God... what we have would be the smallest piece of who He is; how good God is.
He will be hilarious. I can just see Heaven -- God saying something and me just living life in Eternity laughing and my heart spilling with utter joy.
Romance. Love. Everything of good in which we hold... comes from God. And in Him... good is complete. That day is real -- the day this world is swept away and God's children enter His Kingdom full of hope and peace and laughter and happiness and love. Goodness beyond what we'll ever see in this world, the only place we've ever known.

There's a verse in the Bible, and I can't find it -- mostly because I don't know where it is. I think I've done a post on it before, and so I googled it -- but I didn't find it. It went something like this.

"But God is waiting for you. He's waiting for you to love Him just as He loves you. That's why He hasn't come back yet. He's waiting. Not giving up on you."

Life is real...and Eternal life is forever.

i don't know what to call this post because my titles are always the same and this isn't the same

2011-10-01T10:15:00.000+10:00

I found my way over to singer Laura Story's website, and read this:

I don't want to be a conservative Christian; I want to give with abandon, to be spent, to truly give my life away for the cause of Christ.

We try so hard to make our lives here on earth good. Friends? Family? Clean room, money, a job? Check, check, check.. all right, life's doing good. "Now, God what were you saying?"

The world supports an idea of self-centered living because I have 'just this one life,' but we need to look at it the other way... we only have one life to give to God.

Jim Elliot said,

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

In my Bible, I look over highlighted verses. Jesus says, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." "Don't be afraid; just believe." "You faith has saved you. Go in peace."

Your faith has healed you. Now go in peace. Not in fear or worry about what will happen tomorrow or because you did this or that.

Hebrews 11:1,

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Jesus is what we hope for. Jesus is who we're certain of though with these two eyes we don't see. Faith is believing that Jesus is holding you and He knows what He's doing. Faith is letting go and letting God; trusting Him.

Luke 11:28,

Blessed...are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

I can read these words and know they're true and then shut the lid of my laptop and whine about being bored and eat chocolate and sit down and do nothing and complain and yawn.

Or I can somehow trust God and live them.

Book Review: Solitary

2011-10-01T09:09:00.003+10:00

The other day I picked up this book from the shelf and started reading. I was hesitant at first, because even though I got this from a Christian bookshop, it seemed the author was a bit of a horror writer.

I'm definitely not a horror reader. Or writer.

So why on earth did I keep turning the pages? Because it was written so well. It's terrible, how you have to keep reading and you can't put it down even though the plot is horribly scary and eerie.

It made me laugh. Sarcastic or just plain old funny, I'd almost read it again just hear those lines.

It's like, not in this world. Except the main character, Chris, was so real.

Reading this book, you can learn a whole lot about how to write a book -- but the bad part is that the scenes don't leave your mind straight away. Not cool. If I could ask the author to change genre and write normal old living life fiction, I would -- because I want to read his works but am stayin' away from horror!

This book is good because in a time of vampire's and were wolf's, teenagers seem to love all that horror stuff. So it's an alternative, in the way that it's not... well, about vampire's!

Would I reccommend this book?
Well, if you like horror and creepy and don't mind being scared -- I suppose you'd love it!
But if you're like me and think Christy Miller is the best thing ever written, well... Robin Jones Gunn has just released a new book about Sierra and her love life -- a couple years on! Yes, I know the next book on my to-buy list!
I'm sayin' this because I looked up quite a few reviews on Solitary before they read it -- and each reader seemed to love it. So I'm just speaking for myself. :)

Written by Travis Thrasher, you can check out his website here.

And whatever you choose to read this week or month or year -- happy reading!

a week of this and that

2011-09-30T10:54:00.000+10:00

I just read a post over at Writing Roseanna, and it was so true and something that we all forget, time and time again... that I'm posting the link so that we can all be reminded.

Thoughtful about Compliments

Listening to: Hosea's Wife, by Brooke Fraser on Pandora
Reading: Start Here, Alex and Brett Harris
Just finished: Solitary, by Travis Thrasher. What I thought? Brilliant writing. Scary plot.
My nails: Pink and blue
Verse: Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. [Matthew 7, The Message]
Creativeness: I made a bracelet out of coloured paper clips. At first I wondered why no-one had done this before... and then I discovered that the paper clips love to latch themselves onto things. Such as guitar strings and shopping bags.

what do i know? really?

2011-09-28T11:54:00.000+10:00

What do I know of Holy? -- Addison Road

i made You promises a thousand times

i tried to hear from Heaven but i talked the whole time

i think i made You too small, i never feared You at all, no.

if You touched my face would i know You?

looked into my eyes, could i behold You?

i guess i thought i had You figured out

i knew all the stories and i learned to talk

about how You were mighty to save,

those were only empty words on a page.

then i caught a glimpse of who You might be

the slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees.

You know how sometimes you don't know how to say something so you just babble on and on? Maybe we don't need the words. Maybe we don't need to make things up just so that we can find an answer. Maybe just being honest and saying something is true are all the words you need.

I heard this song for the first time today. I don't know. It's just too true.

let's pray?

2011-09-28T08:26:00.002+10:00

Every time we pray our horizon is altered, our attitude to things is altered, not sometimes but every time, and the amazing thing is that we don't pray more. -- Oswald Chambers

it's always a practice

2011-09-27T19:14:00.000+10:00

No matter how old you are... no matter how many people have gone out before you... if you're the one who missed out on a chair... it was a practice. Always.

Musical chairs. I just played it. It was, of course, a practice.

It's the funniest thing to watch, especially playing with your brother and sisters as well as the other random kids that are visiting.

The Guest [Music Stopper] Out! No more practice's!
My sister: (Yelling to be heard) It was a practice! Practice!
*Everyone calling "Out"*
The Guest [Music Stopper] It was a practice! ...no more practice's!

The next round was, of course, a practice.

Oh the life of musical chairs. If you don't give up on requesting that round be a practice, you'll never be out.

A little advice on musical chairs. Next time you go to a party, you'll know how to stay in the game. I was pretty pro at pass the parcel, too. I used to win the cookies that you got if you won at a McDonalds party. How? Just pass it to the next player as quick as you can -- I was always the oldest, and everyone else just wanted to unwrap it as soon as they could -- and I knew that you could only unwrap it once and if you didn't, well, you'd get the last one. Cookies anyone?;)

Have a great week!

if we are the body

2011-09-27T09:41:00.002+10:00

As of today, Girlz 4 God has officially reached 200 followers. I guess the new look came just in time, huh? So that's quite exciting. Ooh, check out the blog pod for some new music, by the way! [Well not yet, because it wasn't working:P] Anyway, thanks to all of you readers and commenter's for... well, reading and commenting!;)

I was responding to a comment a few minutes ago and was reminded of this song by Casting Crowns, If we are the Body. It's somewhere in the New Testament -- Ephesians? -- about how we're the body of Christ.

Ya see, this is why we need this spirit of unity. So that we can be the body of Christ. Because how does it work if we have an arm but no legs or other arm or eyes or whatever else? To use the lyrics of an ancient High School Musical song, We're all in this together. That movie actually has a lot to learn from. But that's for another post.

Let's listen to the song. And then think...

But if we are the body, why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching? And if we are the body, why aren't His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way? ...there is a Way.

Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and choose who should come...And we are the body of Christ.

" But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin. No-one who lives in him keeps on sinning." 1 John 3:5-6

What's that mean? If we were were to love everyone... everyone were to see Jesus... and love in and live in Him...

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God...dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No-one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us."

I've been crucified by Christ and no longer live... but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

of me and of you

2011-09-26T20:23:00.000+10:00

every moment of every day doesn't have to be spent
as if we need to be contributing to society
it's okay to spend some time just lying down
my fingers typing these random words on the keys.

listening to music
where i don't know all the words
but two,
knowing that i'm alive and here
it's okay if i mess up and say the wrong thing

the sentences people say to me
well what they think doesn't mean all things
you see people are just people
there's no hierarchy.
everyone makes mistakes,
some of our limelights are just greater than others

we discover that true wisdom is in God
He's the one who'll teach us how to love
we could spend our whole lives
fighting and pointing out our differences,
our mistakes and making faces

life was never said to be fair,
Jesus' death certainly wasn't because of fair
but God is love
and to live life of God
is in love.

love God, love people

2011-09-26T17:59:00.000+10:00

When I set myself a goal, things that I didn't think I'd be able to do are suddenly possible. At the start of the year, I did the beep test for the first time. In case you have no idea, it's related to fitnessness and you have to run to this certain point and back, beating the beeping sound. The first time, I got 4.1. (They have these special level things.) The next time, my friend and I decided to go for 5.1. We got our goal.

This last time, I made it my goal to reach 6.1. What happened? I got there.

Which caused me to ask this question; What if I set a higher goal? What if I were to accomplish something big?

You know the quote, "If we did all the things we were capable of we would literally astound ourselves." It's true.

These school holidays, I'm spending less and less time on the computer. [It's day one, but you know.] It's limited.

My sister and I decided today that we're going to write letters to our old friends instead of talking to them on Facebook.

Our lives don't have to revolve in the same old circles of eating food, going on Facebook and sleeping. I mean, by the level of the volume on our iPod's and the hours we spend in front of a computer screen... we're going to both blind and deaf by the time we're fifty! All of us, our whole generation -- and then how will anything ever be any different?

It's funny, the things that we have in common -- Facebook and earphones -- are the same things that take us away from really becoming united, don't they?

What if we turned these things into something good? Something that impacts the world in a good way? What if we set goals for ourselves where our hears are changed to be more like Jesus and our actions reflect how we love Him and that we're His?

Don't be afraid to set a goal so high that you'll fail. Because if you're living for God, and if you're serving Him and loving like He loves... if we trust Him and hear His voice and follow Him... then nothing is impossible.

"Don't be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try."

Love God. Love people. That's what God said.

a piece of informativeness you may not have known

2011-09-26T09:14:00.001+10:00

We all get that feeling, right? Having a conversation with someone who makes you feel stupid, or useless, or wrong or you just plain old had nothing to say -- and then five minutes later you're like, "Oh! Why didn't I think of that?"

As it turns out, there's a word for it. l'esprit de l'escalier.

I guess I'll have to take up a French vocabulary. Or people can just keep Pinteresting their own -- that works, too. ;)

a world of difference over the ocean

2011-09-24T17:29:00.006+10:00

It’s strange to think of how things are different across the ocean.

On a map, you’ll see a bunch of squiggly lines and colour-coded blobs that signify the countries in which we live.

Seeing pictures, you’ll find deserts. You’ll find war, you’ll find tall buildings and stone statues.

People. You see black people, you see white people. People who are smiling and people who are crying.

Words. For some a normal vocabulary is to say how things are cool and awesome and amazing. Other people, “Guilty,” or “Innocent” are words commonly heard and spoken. “Run for your life.” “I’m sorry. Nothing could be done.” “I regret it.” “I’m sorry.” “Forgive me.”

When you talk to a person, they know from a perspective you may not have seen.

Things aren’t the same. Circumstances are different. Living where I live, forgetting to bring a lunchbox to school is a tragedy. Six hours without food? How will we survive? Cross to the other side of the world and you’ll see people the same age as me… walking thousands of times to drink dirty water and starving desperately, wondering if miracles are even real.

Boarding a boat, a last chance at freedom. Fleeing the place where you will face certain death. Arriving at the destination, only to find that you’re not allowed in. Because the country leader says they don’t want you. That this place isn’t where you belong. There is no-where else to go. If people were to speak out, things could change. This would change.

If we spoke out, people would live in hope.

Our prime minister speaks, it seems that’s the final verdict.

But it’s not right, because that is how dreams die; no chance to lift up and fly.

We’re called to live a life of love. Just as Jesus did. Just as Jesus does.

Change. The world can’t keep spinning in these same circles.

Dear World,

We’re people whom God created. He loves you and He loves me.

We live in different places, we speak different languages and we think different.

But we’re called to love each other. I once heard someplace that love is the universal language.

Put everything else aside. Think of Jesus, God’s son. Remember that as He walked on this same ground as we stand today… that He didn’t keep people away. Some said, “Take those children away from him.” But Jesus looked at them and said, “Let the little children come to me.”

Close your eyes. Picture yourself, fleeing from a war-ridden country. People who care nothing for your survival. Yes, I know, I barely understand. But I’m trying.

On a boat. Desperately praying for a chance, an opportunity. Landing in a country – Australia. You don’t care where you are, long as you are safe. But the news comes. You’ve been found, and they’re sending you away. Because they don’t want you here. You can’t stay. “Go someplace, someplace different.”

They don’t care for your desperate plea, your dying family. It doesn’t matter – only that their own place remains the same.

It doesn’t have to be the same old, same old, forever and ever. We don’t have to be afraid and hide and just stand watching from the outside, our own places of security.

God made this place. He gave us our hearts, and the desire for a spirit of unity.

So can’t we change things?

Is God calling us?

His people, His world?

To love one another?

To accept one another?

“Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"

That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out...

May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!” Romans 15:2-6 [The Message]

dear God,

2011-09-23T19:13:00.000+10:00

God chose us to live in His beautiful world. He blessed us with the opportunity to live today.

"Live a life of love, just as Christ did."

dear God,

i pray that i won't be afraid to listen to You.

when You speak, i pray that i will hear and i will life a life of love.

"to live is Christ and to die is gain."

either way, i am with You.

What is impossible with us is possible with God. [Luke 18:27]

"I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength."

Ever seen "A Cinderella Story"? It's one of my favourite movies. It also comes with a quote that goes like this...

"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game."

And remembering the Do Hard Things quote,

God is with you. As in, He knows who you are and He has a beautiful plan for your life. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future."

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people."

dear God, i pray for the people in this world who don't know you. the people who want to know you but don't. i pray that You will glorify Yourself and they will see You. trust you, believe in You... love You.

i pray that everyone will learn how to love You and love like You.

Amen.

more like Jesus

2011-09-21T21:42:00.000+10:00

In SOSE (or history, as I discovered a couple of weeks ago that it's insanely fun to call it that) we watched a movie called The Pianist. It's about the Holocaust in the view of this famous piano player. Let me tell you, I don't know what it would have been like to be alive during that time.

So these Jews had literally nothing. And then this kid was selling lollies for twenty of whatever the currency was called.

"What happens when you have nothing?" asks my teacher. You share everything. An instant response from my heart.

The believers in the New Testament got together, lived together -- and put all their possessions together. There was no, "This is mine, that's yours -- hey, those are my cookies. Those strawberries are yours."

I think that, if we think like this -- if we give everything of ours to God... giving to others won't seem so hard. Maybe?

You know how you copy people? As in, to annoy them so they talk and then you talk, and then they try and trick you and say, "I'm stupid," and then you just raise your eyebrows? Well, my little sister was copying me before. And I totally forgot. I turn around and I'm like, "Wow, you're still there. You're copying me."

We all look up to people, right? We admire them, respect them, are inspired by them. I remember year five me who loved Hannah Montana. Me and my best friend were the ultimate Miley fans. When she painted her nails black, bam, we had black nail polish. Remember that peace-sign phase Miley went through? Oh, there we were. Every.Single. Photo. "PEACE!"

I still do that.

But we have to watch what we do, what we say. Are your words going to encourage someone or discourage them? Don't freak out if you mess up. Jesus died so that we wouldn't have to -- ask Him to forgive you.

Pray that we'll be able to live by trusting Him. And before you do something, just think for a moment. Is this going to make me more like Jesus? Allow God to glorify Himself.

Let's live, let's love... Let God.

that's our mission

2011-09-21T08:24:00.001+10:00

And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. -- 2 Corinthians 5:15

I don't know about you, but I live under the impression that this is my life, I do the homework and I get to basically control what I do.

The thing is, Jesus died and because He lives in me... I need to be living not for me but for God. You know what I think? It's so hard for us to comprehend this that we ignore it, move on. We pray to God, we ask for help, we want to trust Him -- but really, at least for me -- I don't get what living for God really is.

If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

I forget everytime, and this verse reminded me: It's not about me! It's not about me. LOVE people! Care about them! Instead of wondering if this is going to make me look stupid... act in love. That's what Jesus did. The fact that people hated Him had absolutely no affect on God's plan, did it? If we obey our Daddy, His plan for our lives will be completed. Oh, we could decide that what the world thinks of us is way more important. But can I just say this one thing?

When you die, when I die -- what the world thinks of us is not going to matter. Not one little bit. It's about what God thinks.

"Therefore, if [Emily] is in Christ, she is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come!"

I'm a follower of Jesus. It's not about telling people they're wrong or making mistakes. I mean, we make mistakes! We're not perfect. No duh.
It's about loving them like Jesus did. Love changes lives. Why do you think we're here today? We're here to love.

That's our mission. Our God-appointed mission. To love. To love like Jesus loves.

things change, tv changes

2011-09-20T19:56:00.002+10:00

Do you ever feel like there's something beyond going to school and forgetting to complete homework and eating chocolate and making your bed and painting your nails? Yes, there were way too many 'and's' in that sentence. That's really not the point.

I've been reading Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris -- in fact, I just placed my order for their new book, Start Now. I read about Zach Hunter, who learned that there are actually still slaves in this world today -- and he knew that God was calling him to do something and he had to obey. Here he is today... inspired by William Wilberforce, who, after watching Amazing Grace last year, I admire a lot.

Imagine having a cause to live for.

A group of Australian's aged 18-22 came up with the idea of Thankyou Water. We all buy bottled water, right? I do, anyway. But the thing is, we're supporting all these big companies that really don't need the money -- in fact, it's a 600 million dollar industry.

The purchase of one bottle of Thankyou Water is enough to provide clean drinking water to one person for at least one month in the developing world.

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. -- 1 Corinthians 15:58 [The Message]

What if we all reunited? What if we all joined together... with a cause to glorify God? Our classes, our schools... our communities? Our countries, our nation?

Because we can't just sit here and wait for someone else to hear that the world needs saving. Now's the day, isn't it?

Listen.
Pray.
Obey.

It rhymes. I guess it's a God-thing.

i don't know but i got this feeling, that today's gonna be my turning point. you just gotta look closer, instead of searching so hard. -- FM Static, Dear God

the list

2011-09-19T08:06:00.000+10:00

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

I was thinking about this verse. How I wish that it came with a list... but God's creation IS our list, isn't it? Look around. See what God made. That's lovely and pure and admirable and praiseworthy.

today i flew a kite

2011-09-17T17:02:00.001+10:00

When we were Little
living how we live, we miss the simple pleasure's of flying kites and playing hopscotch. spying rainbows after the rain, smiling really big in photos because you didn't see your mum take the picture. skipping everywhere you go, putting your hand up to answer a question even though you don't know the answer. jumping on the trampoline, reading God's words of love in the Bible like it's the first time. not wondering if everyone is watching, doing the same things as your best friend. living life's little adventure's day after day... tomorrow seeming as if a year away.

hope is coming

2011-09-16T21:51:00.000+10:00

we weren't made for this place. God didn't create you and me to live out a life on earth and then disappear. here we are -- to learn to love. i once read a post by Melody over at Vividry. and i once heard a song by Brooke Fraser, based on the quote above by CS Lewis -- called CS Lewis Song.

those times when you wonder what life's really about, when you look around you and wonder what's supposed to be happening, if there's a purpose.

there is. in those moments, i know one thing if nothing else. God is real, and He's the reason i'm here. we're living on this earth, yes -- but not forever.

we are not long here
our time is but a breath
so we better breathe it
and i, i was made to live
i was made to love
i was made to know You

Hope is coming for me
Hope is coming for me
Hope is coming for me
Hope... is coming

dear God
i don't always have the words. like right now.
but i pray that You will make my heart like Yours.
that my dreams will be of Yours.
that i will love like You love.
amen.

live my life

2011-09-16T16:51:00.001+10:00

You know, I read this verse in Acts just before. It said how Paul and his mate Silas were put in prison, and it was midnight -- and there they were, praying and singing to God. My first thought? "Ha. That must've looked kind of funny."

Who I am? I mean, really. These guys lived their lives for God. I say that's what I'm trying to do. But come on -- how much am I really trying here? Oh, I can just see me in detention, praying out loud to God and singing hymns. That's so me.

Sad as it is, I still care what people think of me. I'm not going the whole way with God -- oh, I want to. There's no point in life, if you ask me, if you're not living for God. Galations 2:20 -- I used to have the whole thing memorized so much that it would constantly run through my mind. It returned last night.

I've been crucified by Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

I'm a follow of Christ. I no longer live -- Jesus is living in me. The life I'm living in the body, I live by faith in Jesus... who loves me and gave up His life for me.

I have to give up my life for Jesus. To give up my life means...that what people think of me won't make a difference. That just because something seems hard I won't give up -- because I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength. That I'll say hi to the person who nobody gets and that I won't just shrug when someone asks me why I think something.

That my plans for my life aren't what God has for me. That I have to Let Go; Let God.

the opportunity to live today

2011-09-16T08:24:00.002+10:00

I'm reading Acts right now. I was thinking about Paul and him travelling and just literally living his life for God -- when I logged onto Blogger and read this post by Chloe at Blooming in Christ. Read it read it read it -- that's all I got to say.

Other news? Well, today is the sixteenth of the ninth twenty eleven -- and that means it's... Nick J's Birthday! Well, in Australia, anyway. Happy birthday, Nick J!

Bleah Briann introduced me to a totally awesome music site called Pandora -- you give the name of a band/singer you like, and they play that music, along with "related" titles. Like if you wrote Casting Crowns, you'd also get Chris Tomlin, Brandon Heath, Mark Schultz, maybe Fransesca Battistelli... that's how it works. And I love it.

It's Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday... I'm sorry. But it's true -- it's Friday. Woo!

Today's "words" are this: Don't condemn, and you won't be condemned.
What exactly does it mean to "condemn"? Well, that was my question. And right at this moment (this very moment in time) I found this passage in the Bible. The one where the people wanted to stone that lady who'd committed adultery. John 8:7-11

"If any of on you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
..."Woman, where are they? Has no-one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

[condemn] 1.to express an unfavorable or adverse judgment on; indicatestrong disapproval of; censure.

Love people. That's why we're here. When they say something that hurts us, forgive them. Don't hold it against them for the rest of the day, month, year, life. Pray for them. Pray for eachother, pray that God will Glorify Himself through us. Don't sweat the small stuff -- Let Go, Let God.

It's nearly Summer over here, and I can feel it.

one lovely blog

2011-09-14T20:13:00.002+10:00

So I've been awarded by Tessa at Christ is Write, which is pretty cool because it's been such a long time since I've been awarded/tagged. And I do like the occasional tag.

First off -- seven random things. It orignally was "about me" but looking back... I pretty much wrote random stuff. So oh well. Things change.

[1] After reading that Ireland book by Melody Carlson I developed a new fascination for Ireland... and so I went to the library and got some big books about the place. I felt quite scholarly borrowing them. Like, hey, this is me, reading non-fiction. I've never been much of a non-fiction reader. Thankfully, these book are more like travel stories. Not that I've exactly read much of them.

[2] My nails are purple and blue right now. That is, because of nail-polish -- not because they were jammed in a door or something.

[3] I happen to think The Call by Regina Spektor is pretty sweet.

[4] I often read a blog post that I really love, that teaches me something important -- but I don't know what to comment. I think that's when the Facebook 'Like' button comes in handy. Just in case you were wondering.

[5] Perhaps someday soon I'll do the Random iPod Tag because it's been a long time.

[6] I have a pet rock. My whole class got them last year. Pretty cool. ;)

[7] It's Spring, and that means... it's nearly Summer!

Okay, now to tag some people. I tag... [not that I'm altering the rules or anything...]

Anna -- Sisters in The Saviour

Melody -- Vividry

Chloe -- Blooming in Christ

Oh. Here's the award -- I almost forgot.

Check out this quote, by William Pitt -- a friend of William Wilberforce.

"We're too young to know that certain things are impossible... so we will do them anyway."

where you are

2011-09-14T08:32:00.000+10:00

In response to my earlier question, Where did our unity go? Here's some of my thoughts.

it begins where you are. your class, your family, your church, your supermarket. the words you speak, the actions you take, the respect and the honesty you use. the truth of your love.

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people." Galations 6:20a

what happened?

2011-09-13T08:36:00.001+10:00

Back in Acts, the Believers were in it together. "One in heart and mind." (Acts 4:32) I don't think we can say that for us today, can we? We allow those minuscule differences to separate us. What happened to that spirit of unity?

Moreover...how can we get it back?

up to me, up to you

2011-09-13T08:13:00.000+10:00

maybe it's up to me to love people so that they'll know that Jesus loves them.
they'll remember how people loved them, judgements are only wanted to be forgotten
if tough times on earth and being able to bless others through You while I'm living
means that I'm rewarded in Heaven...
I'm willing, God.
i live this life not for me, but for You.

I just read what I think was a really cool post. Check it out here.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
How about some God Time? Even if you've got only five minutes -- that's a long time. Hold your Bible. Read something. And then sit in God's presence. Don't tell Him to hurry up or you're leaving. Just listen. Seek Him with all your heart.

Oh, and remember that list? Well, today I'm up to

Lend without expecting anything back.

book review: notes from a spinning plantet ,ireland

2011-09-10T19:16:00.001+10:00

Aunt Sid invites Maddie to tag along while she's off in Ireland on assignment, along with Ryan -- the cute guy about the same age as nine-teen year old Maddie.

While riding a plane for the first time kinda freaks her out, Maddie discovers Ireland to be a beautiful place -- with some old, tired mysteries inside.

This is one of the, "Wow. What a great book. It was so real." An authentically good book. As in, I finished the book wishing I could visit Ireland. The characters were fun, realistic and the plot was interesting and new. Being judgemental was one of the issues focused on, in an "Oh I can totally get that" kind of way. You'll find yourself agreeing and disagreeing, and generally just wanting to be in on the adventure.

I would definitely recommend this book. And the best news? You can find it insanely cheap -- I mean, $5.00. For a good book.

I'm SO ready to buy book number two in the series and join Maddie and everyone in Papua New Guinea!

being known.

2011-09-10T14:47:00.000+10:00

Know what? I don't think life is about being known.
I think it's about Jesus being known.

Glorify Yourself, God

2011-09-09T08:58:00.000+10:00

Hey! I'm so tired! We've done two shows in our school production -- which I have failed to tell you about, oops! -- and two more to go. Want to hear something insanely cool? I know God is with me.

Every time I prepare to go on the stage, I remember these words: Glorify Yourself, God.

It's not about me. This -- life -- is about God being glorified.

You can't live by fear and by faith at the same time.

I'm living by faith. I'd like to share this quote with all of you, too, that I also read in the Do Hard Things book.

If we take a step despite feeling uncomfortable, afraid or inadequate, our comfort zones expand. We grow in strength and skill. What we consider normal for us changes, sometimes radically.

You know what? When we die, we're not going to care about that awkward moment when we said the wrong thing or wore the wrong top, sung the wrong note or totally stuffed up the dance.

It doesn't matter. Let's allow God to glorify Himself.

let's not fight

2011-09-05T17:42:00.000+10:00

When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the mans's ear and healed him.

Jesus knew what was happening. And when his disciples figured it out, they were like, "Oh -- Jesus, should we be fighting? Like, defending you?" So one of them cuts the priest guy's ear off.

Then Jesus is like, "Hey, come on you guys -- let's not fight." We know Jesus is perfect. I guess it kind of makes sense that he doesn't want to retaliate, even now. But you know what I found amazing?

He healed him. Not only did Jesus not laugh and say, "Serves you right for wanting to kill me!" but he reached out and put the guy's ear back in it's place. Jesus had no anger, no regret. He was full of mercy.

I mean, let's imagine it's ourselves in Jesus' spot.

So, these people come up to me, armed with smirks and knowing glances at eachother as they make their way over. They're about to throw all sorts of insults at me, all with the hope of making me feel worthless.

"Hey, Dove," one of them starts, looking over at my friends and then landing back on me.
"Hi."
And then -- once my friends figure out why these guys are here -- one of them, Tori, steps forward and yanks this chicks scarf right off from around her neck.

But I shake my head and say,"Come on, you guys. Let's just stop." And then I take the scarf from Tori, smile my thanks to her and put it back around the owners neck.

Life isn't fair. We know that. But just because we're being treated unfairly, doesn't exactly give us the right to respond in any way but love. I mean, if anyone had the right, it was Jesus. But, uh, how did he respond?

In love.

sometime this week, when you're in a position where the social "norm" is to react in a certain way that isn't love -- try Jesus' way. respond in love.

every chance in the world

2011-09-01T18:28:00.000+10:00

love your enemies.
do good to those who hate you.
bless those who curse you.
pray for those who mistreat you.
lend without accepting anything back.
be merciful just like Jesus.

don't judge and you won't be judged.

don't condemn and you won't be condemned.

forgive and you'll be forgiven.

give and it will be given to you.

I want to be just like Jesus. It's not as easy as it sounds, huh? Oh, it might be simple -- love. But that's not easy for us humans. Wouldn't it be awesome if I could just be and do all of those things, those characteristics of Jesus? To love and bless and pray and be merciful and not judgemental and to be forgiving and generous?

Anything is possible.

Jesus was blunt: "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it."

I love The Message version of the Bible.
I can't do it on my own. Pfft, do I think I can do this myself? Well, I can't. And what's it say? Every chance in the world if you let God do it. I seriously do love that. Every chance in the world.

Each day, I'm going to take one off the list and kind of try and focus on it. It's not easy. Alone, it's impossible. But with God? Anything is possible. Everything is possible.

I can do anything through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

me and Jesus

2011-08-31T20:39:00.001+10:00

We went away last weekend for mum's birthday, and had quite a nice time. And mum quite graciously shared her camera around, so I took a couple of photos while we went for a walk.

Pretty blue flowers.

It's not even Autumn, but I found a pile of crunchy leaves. Hey, guess what: It's the last day of Winter. Officially Spring tomorrow!

I have always wanted a photo in a field of wheat. And I think this fence is a new necessity in the photo.

The wheat and the fence... with the ocean view in the background because it's beautiful.

And here's the stairs. A year ago I would've huffed and puffed my way up. I suppose I'm fitter, which is always a good thing.

Check out this verse I read this morning, from Luke 4: 30.

"But he [Jesus] went right through the crowd and went on his way."

I just thought, "Oh, wow."

"I [Emily] followed Jesus right through the crowd and we went on our way."

That's how it should be, isn't it? Me and Jesus. Remember that song by StellarKart? I got me and Jesus...

our dream... God's dream

2011-08-30T16:17:00.001+10:00

So, our class has this substitute teacher. Now you see, our class isn't exactly what you'd call well behaved. We're a nice bunch. We're just, as one of teachers likes to say, "Shocking at listening."

And here we have this teacher. As it turns out, she sings opera. My friends and I asked her if she could sing for all of us-- we're actually an insanely musical class, which is pretty cool. But the class wasn't exactly on its best behaviour at that moment. We compromised -- she'd perform for us after class.

Here we are, and she starts singing some Spanish song or something. It was amazing. As in, amazing. It's not as if I spend all my time listening to opera -- but believe me. She's good.

And then she starts talking about how she always wanted to be a famous singer, in Austria, performing and everything. But then she became a teacher.

"Why?" I couldn't help but ask that. I mean, why would you give up the future you're dreaming of... the future you know that you can have?

Her answer went something like this;

"Because I felt like God was calling me to. It's not all about me; I didn't want my life to be me, me, me. I wanted to help other people. With teaching, I can help you guys when you're going through all this stuff. I know its hard."

And it stuck me. She was being authentic. She gave up her dream of being a famous opera singer on the stages of Austria for kids like me.

Am I willing to give up what I want for what God wants?

This lady -- she's young, beautiful and loves God -- she actually cares about people more than herself. She put aside her dream to follow God.

And, as she said -- "Maybe God still does plan for me to sing in Austria."

Because you know what? God's plan for me and for you is so insanely better than anything we've ever thought. We just need to trust him.

Let God; Let God.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people. -- Galations 6:10a