Friday, February 25, 2011
Joke (this might get me in a bit of trouble)
Sandra was feeling a little down in herself lately. Every time she gazed into the mirror all she saw staring back at her was a middle-aged, wrinkled woman she barely recognized whose face and figure were both starting to droop. She was quite depressed and on one occasion while gazing gloomily into her reflection she turned to her husband and said, "Billy, I'm fat, my face is wrinkled and I feel so old. Please tell me something good about myself" Billy pauses and thinks for a moment..... "Well at least you have 20-20 vision!"
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The puzzle has started coming together
Today I experienced God in a way that was so much more impactful than any way I have ever experienced him before, and let me tell you He is just awesome! I am so stoked for what he is doing in my life and he is starting to grant me my hearts deepest desires.
Psalm 37 says that we need to trust in the Lord and do good. God has been challenging me big time in areas of my life where I don't trust him completely. One area is in relationships and with dating. Every Christian mans longing is to meet their spouse and form a bond through Godly relationship. We feel that if we're not dating that God will somehow forget about us and we will somehow get left to walk the single life for the rest of our days and so we help God along in this area. We flirt with girls/spend time with them/and date them even if that is not what God has designed us to do. Why do we date at all? God certainly didn't ordain the dating game. God has been speaking to me this last week about giving this area of my life over to him and to trust completely that he has something greater in store.
A second area God has been challenging me on trusting has been through my finances. I thought that giving up my job was enough to show that I was trusting God in this area but I was wrong.
In 1 Kings 18 we read the story about Elijah and the prophets of Baal. In the story they both build a sacrifice and pray to their Gods to consume the sacrifice with fire. The prophets of Baal all gather around and pray to their God and dance around and cut themselves but their God does not answer them. Elijah before calling on God orders that the sacrifice be soaked in water which if you ask me, is pretty counter productive when you want to make fire! Then he calls on the Lord and fire comes down from heaven consuming the sacrifice and drying up the water surrounding. God spoke to me this week through this story. I feel that leaving my job and having no real steady income was just preparing the sacrifice, when Gods words to me were... "Paul, I want you to soak the sacrifice"
He wants to stretch me further in the area of finances and become more dependent on Him. He wants me to get to a place where I'm not just surviving comfortably but rather a place where I am on my knees and trusting that he will provide for me for just that day.
Anyway the psalm of David has taken on a whole new light for me because as I continue to be challenged to trust more and to give things over to the Lord, my hearts desires are starting to be fulfilled. Its so exciting!!
One year ago, God placed it on my heart to fund raise for children in Cambodia and even though at the time I didn't spend any time prayerfully considering this, I did it anyway. Don't ask me why it was Cambodia, but it was. Since then my brother has been in Cambodia and other news stories from there have sort of grabbed my attention. I don't know why God has been putting Cambodia on my heart but he just has. Today God has granted some of my hearts desires.
He is sending me to Cambodia to do outreach in that nation. I received the news this afternoon in a letter and I just wanted to cry because for me it was such a revelation from God. He confirmed through this news that his hand is very much over my life and that if I just trust him and allow him to reveal himself, he has more exciting things to show me and more blessings to pour out. I'm so excited that I will be in Cambodia in two and a half months time. Man, God is just incredible.
Psalm 37 says that we need to trust in the Lord and do good. God has been challenging me big time in areas of my life where I don't trust him completely. One area is in relationships and with dating. Every Christian mans longing is to meet their spouse and form a bond through Godly relationship. We feel that if we're not dating that God will somehow forget about us and we will somehow get left to walk the single life for the rest of our days and so we help God along in this area. We flirt with girls/spend time with them/and date them even if that is not what God has designed us to do. Why do we date at all? God certainly didn't ordain the dating game. God has been speaking to me this last week about giving this area of my life over to him and to trust completely that he has something greater in store.
A second area God has been challenging me on trusting has been through my finances. I thought that giving up my job was enough to show that I was trusting God in this area but I was wrong.
In 1 Kings 18 we read the story about Elijah and the prophets of Baal. In the story they both build a sacrifice and pray to their Gods to consume the sacrifice with fire. The prophets of Baal all gather around and pray to their God and dance around and cut themselves but their God does not answer them. Elijah before calling on God orders that the sacrifice be soaked in water which if you ask me, is pretty counter productive when you want to make fire! Then he calls on the Lord and fire comes down from heaven consuming the sacrifice and drying up the water surrounding. God spoke to me this week through this story. I feel that leaving my job and having no real steady income was just preparing the sacrifice, when Gods words to me were... "Paul, I want you to soak the sacrifice"
He wants to stretch me further in the area of finances and become more dependent on Him. He wants me to get to a place where I'm not just surviving comfortably but rather a place where I am on my knees and trusting that he will provide for me for just that day.
Anyway the psalm of David has taken on a whole new light for me because as I continue to be challenged to trust more and to give things over to the Lord, my hearts desires are starting to be fulfilled. Its so exciting!!
One year ago, God placed it on my heart to fund raise for children in Cambodia and even though at the time I didn't spend any time prayerfully considering this, I did it anyway. Don't ask me why it was Cambodia, but it was. Since then my brother has been in Cambodia and other news stories from there have sort of grabbed my attention. I don't know why God has been putting Cambodia on my heart but he just has. Today God has granted some of my hearts desires.
He is sending me to Cambodia to do outreach in that nation. I received the news this afternoon in a letter and I just wanted to cry because for me it was such a revelation from God. He confirmed through this news that his hand is very much over my life and that if I just trust him and allow him to reveal himself, he has more exciting things to show me and more blessings to pour out. I'm so excited that I will be in Cambodia in two and a half months time. Man, God is just incredible.
Monday, February 21, 2011
My women problems!
Well its Tuesday and I started one of my new duties today on base camp. Shopping! Yes ladies, the way I am to serve the Lord, my fellow students and staff is by hitting the shops. Now, I know all you guys out there are thinking that I got it easy out here, but let me stop you and correct your thinking. Shopping is a nightmare! Its so stressful and I certainly have a new found respect for my mother through this experience.
How did I get landed with this job you may be wondering? Well, I am one of only two students on camp who is eligible to drive the Ywam van and since they drive on the left hand side of the road here (same as back home) it just made good sense to ask me to do it. Also, most students are young and back home live under their parents roof and so have very little experience of fending for themselves. Of course when this was explained to me, I just played along and acted like I knew what they were talking about. I do Grocery shopping... sometimes!
Anyway here is the problem. There are three different houses of students who I need to buy meals for. Each person only gets a budget of 4.50 for their breakfast. 7 guys to one house, 2 girls to another and 1 girl in the last house.
The lady living on her own only gets 4.50 in total and a box of cereal costs about 5-6 dollars! Already over budget. Now luckily I can compensate with the lads house budget and the guys dont mind. Guys are fairly easy going anyway.
The second problem is trying to buy groceries for girls. So it turns out that girls dont eat cereal in the mornings! They prefer yogurts and fruit. Thats just the beginning when it comes to womens eating habits in the mornings. So what do you do when you get to the fridges and try select a milk for cereals etc.?
Simple- you reach in for a few litres of full fat milk....if your shopping for the guys. Men really are easy going and dont fuss over what kind of milk they are drinking. Not so simple for the ladies though!
Ok so most girls dont drink full fat milk and much rather skimmed or low fat milk. However if I buy full fat milk for the guys and bring back skimmed milk for the girls, the girls get quickly insulted and instantly assume that I thought they were overweight and needed to shed those few extra pounds so they can squeeze into their summer swim-wear. The strange thing is that they wanted the skimmed milk the whole time!!! Go figure? Women are a strange beast....
If I dont get much spiritual value from my Dts, I will at least understand a little more about the complexities of women.
How did I get landed with this job you may be wondering? Well, I am one of only two students on camp who is eligible to drive the Ywam van and since they drive on the left hand side of the road here (same as back home) it just made good sense to ask me to do it. Also, most students are young and back home live under their parents roof and so have very little experience of fending for themselves. Of course when this was explained to me, I just played along and acted like I knew what they were talking about. I do Grocery shopping... sometimes!
Anyway here is the problem. There are three different houses of students who I need to buy meals for. Each person only gets a budget of 4.50 for their breakfast. 7 guys to one house, 2 girls to another and 1 girl in the last house.
The lady living on her own only gets 4.50 in total and a box of cereal costs about 5-6 dollars! Already over budget. Now luckily I can compensate with the lads house budget and the guys dont mind. Guys are fairly easy going anyway.
The second problem is trying to buy groceries for girls. So it turns out that girls dont eat cereal in the mornings! They prefer yogurts and fruit. Thats just the beginning when it comes to womens eating habits in the mornings. So what do you do when you get to the fridges and try select a milk for cereals etc.?
Simple- you reach in for a few litres of full fat milk....if your shopping for the guys. Men really are easy going and dont fuss over what kind of milk they are drinking. Not so simple for the ladies though!
Ok so most girls dont drink full fat milk and much rather skimmed or low fat milk. However if I buy full fat milk for the guys and bring back skimmed milk for the girls, the girls get quickly insulted and instantly assume that I thought they were overweight and needed to shed those few extra pounds so they can squeeze into their summer swim-wear. The strange thing is that they wanted the skimmed milk the whole time!!! Go figure? Women are a strange beast....
If I dont get much spiritual value from my Dts, I will at least understand a little more about the complexities of women.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
A short story
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men (Col 3 v 23)
Billy was a young keen football fan. He was 12 years of age and was part of the under 13's West United football team. He was very slight in stature and although being 12 years of age he could quite easily be mistaken for a 10 year old. Every week Billy without fail would show up to soccer practice. He was the most committed member of the team and even when it rained/hailed/or snowed Billy was there with his striped top and socks pulled up above his knees. Other players often didn't show up when the weather was poor and didn't show the same level of commitment that Billy showed.
Every Saturday West United would play a competitive game against another local side. Billy was not much good at football and never made the starting team. This set back didn't however effect Billy's attitude and his commitment. He continued to come and sit on the bench, week in - week out. His father would come and sit in the stands as billy would sit on the bench. Billy never played a single game.
One day the trainer of the club received a phone call from a neighbour to say that Billy's father had been brought to intensive care after suffering a heart attack. He could tell by the tone of his neighbours voice that it was very serious. The following day, on the 12th of February, Billy's father passed away. At the funeral the church was packed out and some of the soccer team showed up to pay their respects. Billy was in floods of tears and he bravely placed a soccer badge on the coffin of his deceased father.
Next weeks local soccer game was against Uniteds biggest rivals and possibly the most significant game of the season. All the guys were sitting around the dressing room, nervously lacing their boots and eager to get out on the field. There was a space by the locker where Billy usually sat and despite the excitement of competing in this big game, there was also a somewhat somber mood in the dressing room. With just 15 minutes to kick off no-one expected what happened next. Billy arrived at the dressing room door. He apologized for being a little late and the response he got was one of dead silence. Only a week ago his father, who had come to all the games had died and never seen him play and now Billy shows up to play. The coaches were stunned and talked amongst each other. They couldn't possibly make Billy sit on the bench again! However this was such a big game and lets face it, Billy is not very good at football. Finally they look to Billy and say, "Billy we want you to play, right side of midfield". Billy's face lights up and he quickly gets changed and ready to go.
The game kicks off and Billy looks to the empty seat in the stand where his father once sat. The coaches wonder if Billy is focused on the game or struggling with his loss. The ball falls to the feet of Billy and he takes off. He goes by one, slips the ball through the feet of a second defender and drives the ball towards the goal. The keeper stumbles and the ball crashes into the back of the net. GOAL!!! Billy puts the side a goal up and the place erupts. No-one can quite believe that this scrawny guy who never played a single game before this, has just scored the opening goal. The game continues and Billy is playing incredibly well. He finishes the game, scoring a hattrick and when the final whistle blows his team mates lift him up above their heads. He is overcome with joy and is awarded with the man of the match trophy.
His coaches cannot comprehend how this little boy could put in such a big performance and not be effected by the loss of his father. Coach Reilly says to Billy, "Son, this is the first time you have played and the only time your father wasn't here to see you. How could you still play so well?"
Billy looked at his coach and said "sir my father was blind. He didn't come here every week to see me play. He came to show me support. He would not have been able to see me play last week or the week before that, but you know what.... today he saw me play".
Billy was a young keen football fan. He was 12 years of age and was part of the under 13's West United football team. He was very slight in stature and although being 12 years of age he could quite easily be mistaken for a 10 year old. Every week Billy without fail would show up to soccer practice. He was the most committed member of the team and even when it rained/hailed/or snowed Billy was there with his striped top and socks pulled up above his knees. Other players often didn't show up when the weather was poor and didn't show the same level of commitment that Billy showed.
Every Saturday West United would play a competitive game against another local side. Billy was not much good at football and never made the starting team. This set back didn't however effect Billy's attitude and his commitment. He continued to come and sit on the bench, week in - week out. His father would come and sit in the stands as billy would sit on the bench. Billy never played a single game.
One day the trainer of the club received a phone call from a neighbour to say that Billy's father had been brought to intensive care after suffering a heart attack. He could tell by the tone of his neighbours voice that it was very serious. The following day, on the 12th of February, Billy's father passed away. At the funeral the church was packed out and some of the soccer team showed up to pay their respects. Billy was in floods of tears and he bravely placed a soccer badge on the coffin of his deceased father.
Next weeks local soccer game was against Uniteds biggest rivals and possibly the most significant game of the season. All the guys were sitting around the dressing room, nervously lacing their boots and eager to get out on the field. There was a space by the locker where Billy usually sat and despite the excitement of competing in this big game, there was also a somewhat somber mood in the dressing room. With just 15 minutes to kick off no-one expected what happened next. Billy arrived at the dressing room door. He apologized for being a little late and the response he got was one of dead silence. Only a week ago his father, who had come to all the games had died and never seen him play and now Billy shows up to play. The coaches were stunned and talked amongst each other. They couldn't possibly make Billy sit on the bench again! However this was such a big game and lets face it, Billy is not very good at football. Finally they look to Billy and say, "Billy we want you to play, right side of midfield". Billy's face lights up and he quickly gets changed and ready to go.
The game kicks off and Billy looks to the empty seat in the stand where his father once sat. The coaches wonder if Billy is focused on the game or struggling with his loss. The ball falls to the feet of Billy and he takes off. He goes by one, slips the ball through the feet of a second defender and drives the ball towards the goal. The keeper stumbles and the ball crashes into the back of the net. GOAL!!! Billy puts the side a goal up and the place erupts. No-one can quite believe that this scrawny guy who never played a single game before this, has just scored the opening goal. The game continues and Billy is playing incredibly well. He finishes the game, scoring a hattrick and when the final whistle blows his team mates lift him up above their heads. He is overcome with joy and is awarded with the man of the match trophy.
His coaches cannot comprehend how this little boy could put in such a big performance and not be effected by the loss of his father. Coach Reilly says to Billy, "Son, this is the first time you have played and the only time your father wasn't here to see you. How could you still play so well?"
Billy looked at his coach and said "sir my father was blind. He didn't come here every week to see me play. He came to show me support. He would not have been able to see me play last week or the week before that, but you know what.... today he saw me play".
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Feeling Condemned?
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death."
This verse written by Paul to the Romans, was the first verse read out by my DTS staff leader when I arrived here. I can tell you that I have read this verse numerous times and heard it spoken in church on many occasion but it was only this week that it really started to penetrate into the deepest part of my being. When reading this verse before I took great comfort in the words because I knew I was a wretched sinner, yet if I'm to be completely honest I still didn't fully believe it in my heart. I like Paul battle with sin and I'm reminded of the passage in Romans 7 where he talks about his struggles with the law and sin.
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
Since arriving here God has really begun to deal with things in my life. A church leader gave me some great advice before I left Ireland and it was to just be available and open to what God has in store for me. In doing this I had to allow God to deal with the past junk in my life and allow for healing. Well I can say with great joy that this process has already begun and when I had an opportunity to share my testimony yesterday, I was able to open up about the guilt and shame I felt over the way I was living. My fellow staff and students were able to gather around and pray for me. They prayed that I would know guilt and shame is an attack from the devil and that because of Christs wonderful gracious sacrifice, I have been completely cleaned. A new slate!
So this of course doesn't mean since its in my past that I don't have struggles anymore. Im a long way off but the guilt is gone and I can begin to really live in newness of life.
Paul writes to the church in Colossae about replacing the old rotten sinful ways by clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Theres also a whole lot more there but I think ill try starting with this list!
Guys and girls back home, I know that you are supporting me in prayer and perhaps the above list is something that you could be praying over my life. I want to be able to live and show these fruits of the spirit in my day to day dealings.
Until next time, peace!
This verse written by Paul to the Romans, was the first verse read out by my DTS staff leader when I arrived here. I can tell you that I have read this verse numerous times and heard it spoken in church on many occasion but it was only this week that it really started to penetrate into the deepest part of my being. When reading this verse before I took great comfort in the words because I knew I was a wretched sinner, yet if I'm to be completely honest I still didn't fully believe it in my heart. I like Paul battle with sin and I'm reminded of the passage in Romans 7 where he talks about his struggles with the law and sin.
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
Since arriving here God has really begun to deal with things in my life. A church leader gave me some great advice before I left Ireland and it was to just be available and open to what God has in store for me. In doing this I had to allow God to deal with the past junk in my life and allow for healing. Well I can say with great joy that this process has already begun and when I had an opportunity to share my testimony yesterday, I was able to open up about the guilt and shame I felt over the way I was living. My fellow staff and students were able to gather around and pray for me. They prayed that I would know guilt and shame is an attack from the devil and that because of Christs wonderful gracious sacrifice, I have been completely cleaned. A new slate!
So this of course doesn't mean since its in my past that I don't have struggles anymore. Im a long way off but the guilt is gone and I can begin to really live in newness of life.
Paul writes to the church in Colossae about replacing the old rotten sinful ways by clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Theres also a whole lot more there but I think ill try starting with this list!
Guys and girls back home, I know that you are supporting me in prayer and perhaps the above list is something that you could be praying over my life. I want to be able to live and show these fruits of the spirit in my day to day dealings.
Until next time, peace!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Very quick update
Hi everyone,
So Im on my third day here in Brisbane and this morning the sun is out and its going to get hot, hot, hot!! This is not welcome news as my shoulders are still a nice shade of pink after yesterday, which was the most overcast day in a good while too. The sun never popped out and so I reckon Im pretty goosed today! :(
Anyway, today myself and Johnny are going for a long walk to a beach that Johnny likes. Its his day off so thankfully we get a chance to spend the full day together. Up to now I have been walking aimlessly through the city by myself and soaking in the pool/hot tub..
I still cant get over the high prices here. Its crazy expensive! Your easily looking at 5 dollars for a coffee. Myself and Johnny went for a drink last night and one drink each cost 30 dollars!!!
Im heading down the gold coast this evening to get settled in the YWAM base. Im looking forward to that as Ive been bunking in a hostel and its not the most ideal living quarters.
Anyway thats just a very rushed update on whats been happening so far. Once I start to get settled in Surfers, ill let you all know how Im doing.
Please continue to keep me in your prayers, especially as I begin my Ywam work.
On a totally unrelated yet majorly important note. United play City tonight and its going to be a real nail-biter! COME ON YOU REDS!!!
So Im on my third day here in Brisbane and this morning the sun is out and its going to get hot, hot, hot!! This is not welcome news as my shoulders are still a nice shade of pink after yesterday, which was the most overcast day in a good while too. The sun never popped out and so I reckon Im pretty goosed today! :(
Anyway, today myself and Johnny are going for a long walk to a beach that Johnny likes. Its his day off so thankfully we get a chance to spend the full day together. Up to now I have been walking aimlessly through the city by myself and soaking in the pool/hot tub..
I still cant get over the high prices here. Its crazy expensive! Your easily looking at 5 dollars for a coffee. Myself and Johnny went for a drink last night and one drink each cost 30 dollars!!!
Im heading down the gold coast this evening to get settled in the YWAM base. Im looking forward to that as Ive been bunking in a hostel and its not the most ideal living quarters.
Anyway thats just a very rushed update on whats been happening so far. Once I start to get settled in Surfers, ill let you all know how Im doing.
Please continue to keep me in your prayers, especially as I begin my Ywam work.
On a totally unrelated yet majorly important note. United play City tonight and its going to be a real nail-biter! COME ON YOU REDS!!!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Back in Business
Hi Folks,
So I decided to dust off the cobwebs from the pages of my blog and start a fresh. New years resolutions coming late and all that jazz! I will be using pressing forward as a way of communicating with family and friends from home while I am away. Sort of a way of sharing my thoughts and feelings during my escapedes, (but in an incredibly manly way of course!!)
So this is the beginning of a new chapter in my life and although feeling a mixture of apprehension and excitement, I know that God has a plan and he will see it through to completion.
Amidst so much uncertainty in the world, it is wonderful to be able to fully trust in the Lord. I know that the Lord is faithful and I cant wait to see what he has in store for me over the next 7 months.
A few prayer points while Im away:
-First of all for safe travel getting to Brisbane
-That I will learn to hear and respond more readily to the voice of God
-Learn real Godly love for others.
Thats enough for the moment but that list is going to grow over the course of my trip. So get praying people, I do appreciate it :)
So I decided to dust off the cobwebs from the pages of my blog and start a fresh. New years resolutions coming late and all that jazz! I will be using pressing forward as a way of communicating with family and friends from home while I am away. Sort of a way of sharing my thoughts and feelings during my escapedes, (but in an incredibly manly way of course!!)
So this is the beginning of a new chapter in my life and although feeling a mixture of apprehension and excitement, I know that God has a plan and he will see it through to completion.
Amidst so much uncertainty in the world, it is wonderful to be able to fully trust in the Lord. I know that the Lord is faithful and I cant wait to see what he has in store for me over the next 7 months.
A few prayer points while Im away:
-First of all for safe travel getting to Brisbane
-That I will learn to hear and respond more readily to the voice of God
-Learn real Godly love for others.
Thats enough for the moment but that list is going to grow over the course of my trip. So get praying people, I do appreciate it :)
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