I was going through some books I wrote in awhile ago, and came across a book I took to Cambodia on a Teen Missions’ Trip (www.teenmissions.com.au) in 2006/2007 (so 3 years ago).  I then started flicking through this book and came across one section of notes that I had prepared for leading at night devotions…

I still find it funny reading back on these things, because I often go “I wish I had the faith now, as I did then” but it’s in the past and you can only really look towards the future!  And I surprisingly struggle with this a lot more now than I did then… but I thought I might share it with you…

Why do we care so much on appearances?  Who says what the best appearance is, or isn’t?

God chose our specific body parts that would be perfect for us.  Like the people, who have dug and filled the trenches and posts, look for that perfect flat rock for the trench, or the suitable small wedge rock for the post hole, to securely support the post.

As in Psalms 139:13 - 16 (one of my favourite verses)

(NLT) “13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thankyou for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous and how well I know it.  15 You watched me as I was being in the utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  16 You saw me before I was born.  Everyday of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

Again, and I need to apply this to myself, as well; why do we, especially females, care so much on what our appearances are like? Why do so many women wear foundation and makeup, etc. on our faces each day, hiding the natural beauty God individually gave us?

I have a friend, who works at my school, and if she’s running late, she says to me when I say hello to her in the morning, “that she’s sorry she hasn’t got her mask on yet.”  But who says we need a mask? 

God created us uniquely and specifically for who we are;  He doesn’t care if we got pimples, a physical or speech problem (like Moses).  He doesn’t care if we have different coloured skin, from the majority of people that reside in our community.  For He created us to be set apart from others.

He uses people who are different, to the full.  He has a plan for everyone, and the ones who aren’t seen as the “perfect” person are usually His most useful.  It is because these people haven’t closed themselves so much, that He can mould them and make them.  He can transform them into His image and help them to reach out to others, as they are happy with who they are, and are focused on Him (God) and not on their own selves.

There is no one person exactly alike, not even twins or clones.  For each person looks internally and externally different, acts differently, and has their own unique personality.

So lets all try just to be who we are, and accept who we are, what we look like, and how God created us uniquely, for a reason!  Maybe this will save some time for others in the bathroom, in the mornings as well.

So I just want to overall say, well sum up my devotions, by saying… Don’t worry what your appearance is and let’s get DIRTY for God!

Proverbs 31:31
I Peter 3:3-4
I Samuel 16:7

Ok so this is another one from my devotional book I wrote in in Cambodia…  I still am desperate to return from Cambodia… I think I left my heart there… but know God has me here for a reason!

Saturday 20th of January 2007

Dear God,

Thankyou so much for this opportunity you have given us, in coming to this orphanage and seeing how, with so little, you can have so much.

You don’t need beds, mirrors, and electricity, to be happy, and alive (as you know, and we have discovered in these past 3 weeks) Lord.

For we have seen these children, who have so little, and sleep on straw mat beds, don’t use electricity and pump all their water, live sufficiently in You.

They worship You like I have never seen anyone worship You before - praying for 1/2 to 3/4 of their church services.

God please help me just to have the heart these Cambodians have.  Help me just to have courage in my heart, and want to constantly yearn and seek for You.  You have shown us so many of your miracles Lord, and I don’t know if what I’ve heard is from You or myself?  But I want to have courage in my heart and I want to be strong in You. 

This is the closest I’ve ever felt to You, God, and I don’t want to minimise, or go away from that.  I’m scared Lord, that when I go home, I won’t feel Your presence and I don’t want to resort back to my old ways.  Lord, help me to not worry or be scared, for You are God and as You said in Matthew 6:19-34, Don’t store up treasures here on Earth, where they diminish.  Your heart will be where your treasure is.  Your eye is a LAMP for your body.  A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul.  But an evil eye plunges you into darkness.  You cannot serve both God and master (money, tv, world, popularity, etc.)

25”So I tell you, don’t worry about every day life - whether you have enough food, or drink, or clothing…  31 Why be like the pagans, who are so deeply concerned about these things?  Your Heavenly Father already KNOWS ALL YOUR NEEDS and He will give you and make you the Kingdom of God your primary concern.  So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

So God, when I get back home, please help me to remain and grow spiritually strong in You.  Keep me patient and trusting and not be selfish. For I want to remain strong in You.

In Jesus’ name

Amen

This is from when I went to India… but I still agree…

Sunday, 6th of January, 2008

Something on the Heart

We live in a world today which is content on looking only after themselves, and their kind.  However, we should not look after only the people around us, but as Jesus says in Matthew 28:18-20 - “Go out into all the World and preach the gospel”  Is it not God’s desire for us as a world to unite as one?  To not care what colour we are, what language we have, or disease we carry, but to just love each other?…

Was it not Jesus, who went into a place where leprosy, a disease, like the black plague - where people just stayed as far away as possible from, would occur?  And was it not Jesus, who whould eat with the tax collectors, and people of the lowest caste, not caring what their physical appearance was, but what was on the inside?

So I ask you… Shouldn’t we, in today’s world, instead of worrying what people think of us, befriend people of all kind, treating them, as we would treat our own family and friends? 

We were not placed on this Earth to fight and hate each other, but to be there for all people, letting Christ shind through us!

I love when there are God moments… take the following for example!

(Thursday, 24th of January, 2008)

God show me where to go.  I understand Brazil wasn’t on the list.  I am praying that this means I get a break this year?… but part of me want to go on team again.  God I’d like to volunteer at Boot Camp at least!  Cambodia’s going again Lord - please help me.  I am so desperate to return! 

Open my eyes, so I may see.  Open my ears, so I can hear.  Open my mouth so I may taste.  Open my hands, so I may feel.  Open my nose, so I may smell.  Open my heart, so I may do!  Am I to serve You long term?  In missions?  Please, as I open my Bible to a random page (for a first) show me a verse which is significant!

pg 460
Psalm 18 (Immediately looking at verse 6)
“But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help.  He heard me from His santuary; my cry reached his ears.”

The wind then blew to Psalm 20:1
“In times of trouble, may the Lord respond to your cry.”

I still felt God-less however, and was doubting God a fair bit… I started reading Psalm 22:1
“My God, my God!  Why have you forsaken me?  Why do you remain so distan?  Why do you ignore my cries for help?

In which the wind blew to Psalm 33 & 34 (on consecutive pages):
Psalm 33:1
“Let the godly sing with joy to the Lord, for it is fitting to praise Him.

Psalm 34:1,2
“I will praise the Lord at all times.  I will constantly speak His praises,  I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are discouraged take heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

I love these times.  They are hugely encouraging.  They create a peace rarely man-made.  It’s not a peace of man, but a peace of the Holy Spirit and it is beautiful!

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in the lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but for the interests of others.”

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?

Simply for me, God does not want us to be selfish, but to help others up when they fall down.  To not bring others up to expect self-gratification either, but to do it out of love.  I suppose also you could even go along the lines of saying, watch what you wear… if you wear something suggestive, provocative, or simply body-hugging, so that it can make someone else stumble, then you’re not keeping an eye out for others… 

I love when God gives you signs…

For example, God has provided the opportunity for me to go on two mission trips (2006-Cambodia  &  2007-India), and when He provides… it is something breathtaking, to remember, for sure!.

During the last week of the mission trip to Cambodia, with Teen Missions International (www.teenmissions.com.au for the Australians, or www.teenmissions.com for U.S.) I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go on team again… a few months later I wrote these words to remember God’s grace…

“Thankyou God for the fifty dollars in aid for my trip, it’s a restrengthening time for my faith in You.  Were you also trying to tell me something on team, with Shandri, about when she said it’d be interesting to see how I’d have changed in the next year?  Did you tell me, through her, that I would be coming this year?  If so that’s about six signs/helpings from you already.

1. Telling me at bootcamp to go.  When I had doubts (on how I’d raise the funds, second year around; look after my health, without being a burden on the leaders; learning all 40 required memory verses - as I was embarrased I didn’t learn them this year; and being not 100% sure if I’m meant to go, needing Your permission to conduct this process again), you told me to take a leap of faith, to grow in faith, trust in You and go again this year.
2. When I was confused where to go,  I prayed and it didn’t seem like I was getting an answer from You, with my deadline coming up.  But I told You if you were happy with what I wrote on the registration sheet, to give me a sign.  Well I was counting money from Cambodia, in Australian dollars, and thinking wouldn’t it be funny if this amount of money, and the amount of money Mum owed me (before I went to Cambodia), added exactly up to the $50 registration money, and also wouldn’t it be funny if I miscounted, only to recount and find out it’s the right amount = :).
   And I did exactly what I thought.  It exactly happened how I though.  So it’s ovcious You hand is in there.
3. Belinda had a feeling that in the end I’d choose India —> Encouragement.
4. Faith thought I looked Indian on the Cambodian team pre-trip photo sheet.
5. Kate just consistently encouraging me for India.
6. Shandri’s saying.
7. $300 coming in all before the deadline… with $250 coming the day before it was due.”

I love these moments.  They are such a cherishable reminder that God is always there for you… for anyone!  We just need to call on His name, and ask for His help.  Matthew 7:7.

I’m hoping to go on a trip end of this year, not with Teen Missions, but with a Christian University group called Student Life - I will tell you more about them later.  But even though I haven’t got the necessary $500 in my hand right now, and it is seeming more and more unlikely that the full $1800 will come in… I am trusting that He (God) will provide and will help me grow in the lead up to this awesome opportunity provided.

God moments are awesomely COOL!

Romans 1:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God.  Unto salvation to everyone that believeth.  To the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

For I am NOT ashamed of the gospel of Christ.  For it IS the power of God.

Paul was saying he was not ashamed of the gospel, as we too should be saying.  It is the power of God. 

Should we therefore maintain reading the Bible than other things? YES!  Other Christian books are helpful.  However, the Bible should be our ultimate source of God-info.

There are also other aspects which cover this gray area.  For example, do you listen to people preach in Church, and then instead of doing your daily relationship with God, think “I’ve done my time hearing about God today,  I won’t read what He says today?  Yes?… No?…  We shouldn’t replace God’s words with other things.

The reason why it says to the jew first, and also to the Greek?…

I  believe this was because the pharisees (“”“Holy People”“”) believed only a certain caste of people could worship God.  But Paul wanted to reach out to the ‘low’ people - to everyone, in general.  God’s love is not for a select few BUT for ALL!!!  Jesus was mistreated by everyone who had ‘so called authority’ and the Greek were classed as outsiders, a totally different community, but Jesus did not treat them differently at all.   He looked after all.  He went to the sick —> who were seeking Him.  Because the “”“healthy”“” people saw no reason why they needed Him <— even though they did.

Who do we reach out to?  Do we even reach out to anyone anymore???

THINK ABOUT IT!!!

Your opinion does matter!

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not, for I am with thee.  Be not dismayed for I am thy God.  I will strengthen thee, yea.  I will help thee, yea.  I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Why are we scared?

It is the human characteristic to be scared…

We have been obsessed/involved in the world too long, that we often lose focus of the real reason in life, and the safety provided for us.

Christ is our refuge and strength. 

As Christians, we should NOT be afraid.  We know that there is an ultimate plan in our lives and that God has ultimate control of our lives.  He will take us from the Earth, when He is ready - to protect us from future things, or to keep us at the position of faith that we’re at.

Therefore, we should not fear or be dismayed, for God will help us through the tough times, the struggles, the needs, etc.  All we need to do is turn to Him. 

II Peter 2:9,21
^“9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: ²¹For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”

I Corinthians 10:12,13
^”12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  ¹³There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Joshua 1:9
^“9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Isaiah 40:31
^“31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Although we have difficult times on the way to a destination.  The destination will be fulfilled.

After reading Our Journey (a free Christian daily devotional book), a particular story made me think of my own hassles.
God has told me to go to India with TMI this year, yet I’ve had so many struggles - family, financial, health, etc.  Even if they don’t seem like struggles to others, they are to me, and in a way, if I did not know the desired destination/goal, it would be harder to fulfil the plan.

Take Joseph, for example, he was probably asking God why he got thrown into a pit by his brothers, then sold into slavery.  After all that, he was wrongly accused by his bosses wife, thrown into prison by Potiphor, and several other stick predicaments.  However, he had faith in God.  God helped him get through his daily struggles, and made a light for his feet.

Joseph was told that he would one day rule Egypt, therefore he had a goal to aim for.  However, if he was told he’d be disowned, abandoned, wrongly accused, and imprisoned, then he may not have persevered with the struggles he was going through.  He may have just given up.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good, to them who love God, to them who are the called, according to His purpose.

I need to remember to have faith in God.  But also not to dwell on my problems.  But look towards what God has told me of what will occur. 

I should not doubt what God has told me.  For if God’s word is doubted, then God is doubted, and I am dead in life - both physically and spiritually.

God has a promise!
           We have a promise!
                       A promise to FULFILL!!!

I hate who I’ve become, and the fact that I hate what I look like.  There are days where I like myself more than others… but that shouldn’t be the case at all.

I don’t know why I have stumbled into this figment of negativity about myself, or where it first started, because I definitely didn’t care what I looked like last year.  But this year I have.

With this in mind, it’s harder to accept who you are, and to let God shine through you, for others to see.  You are saying you don’t like what God has created you to be.   And compliments are even harder to accept as well.

I recently went to a night with a lot of girls where we just talked about the Christian values of beauty, and the love we should have.  Activities and games occurred which also made the night a blast.  One of these activities we did was “warm fuzzies” - writing good comments about the person, whose name is on the sheet.  However, we had to write nice comments about their inner beauty - aka their personality, etc.  Which was a super thought!

I read mine when I got home… but the sad thing was I didn’t believe half of what was written.  I couldn’t see how it was possible.  And with the next day, having a friend in my room, he saw the sheet on the floor and was curious.  I couldn’t let him see,  I mean how could I?  If I myself cannot believe those things about me, I don’t want to let others see, before I accept it myself.

Therefore I have been trying to think of ways to get back to being happy with myself.  People can compliment - but they seem to be reflected lately… they make me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside… but wear out soon after, as I let them slip away.  I need to change this.  I love receiving compliments.  I just wish I knew how to accept them… so I’m concocting some ideas…  let me know if you have any…

1. Writing a book, where I can say one thing I like about myself each day, and having it on the door, so I see it before I leave, everyday!

2. ?

peacenotwar:

On November 13 around the world people are writing the word ‘love’ on their arms to spread awareness about mental health issues such as depression and self harm.

Please consider writing the word ‘love’ on your arm just for one day, it isn’t much, but it it’s important.

Love is the movement

 COOL! So IN!

What  would you do?….you make the choice. Don’t look for a punch line, there  isn’t one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same  choice?



At a  fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning  disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that  would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school  and its

dedicated staff, he offered a question:

‘When not interfered  with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with  perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do.  He cannot understand things as other children do! .

Where  is the natural order of things in my son?’



The  audience was stilled by the query.



The father continued. ‘I believe  that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled  comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents  itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.’

Then he  told the following story:



Shay and I had walked past a park where  some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, ‘Do you think  they’ll let me play?’ I knew that most of the boys would not want someone  like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if  my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of  belonging and some confidence to be accepted by ot! hers in spite of his  handicaps.



I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not  expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and  said, ‘We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I  guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the  ninth inning.’



Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a  broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye  and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being  accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few  runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning,  Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits  came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the  field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In  the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again.

Now, w! ith two  outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay  was scheduled to be next at bat.



At this juncture, do they let Shay  bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was  given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because  Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with  the ball.



However, as Shay stepped up to the

plate, the pitcher,  recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment  in Shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay  could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung  clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss  the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the  ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.


The game  would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could  have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been  out and that would have been the end of the game.



Instead, the  pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach  of all team mates..

Everyone from the stands and both teams started  yelling, ‘Shay, run to first!

Run to first!’

Never in his life had  Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down  the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.



Everyone yelled, ‘Run to  second, run to second!’

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards  second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

B y the time  Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the  smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for  his team.

He could have thrown the ball! to the second-baseman for the  tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally  threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head.

Shay ran  toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the  bases toward home.



All were screaming, ‘Shay, Shay, Shay, all the  Way Shay’



Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop  ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and  shouted, ‘Run to third!

Shay, run to third!’



As Shay rounded  third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet  screaming, ‘Shay, run home! Run home!’

Shay ran to home, stepped on the  plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game  for his team



‘That day’, said the father softly with tears now  rolling down his face, ‘the boys from both teams he! lped bring a piece of  true love and humanity into this world’.


Shay didn’t make it to  another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero  and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully  embrace her little hero of the day!



AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO  THIS STORY:

We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a  second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices,  people hesitate.

The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely  through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often  suppressed in our schools and workplaces.



If  you’re thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you’re  probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren’t the  ’appropriate’ ones to receive this type of m! essage Well, the person who  sent you this believes that we all can make a  difference.

We  all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the  ’natural order of things.’

So many seemingly trivial interactions  between two people present us with a choice:

Do we pass along a little  spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave  the world a little bit colder in the process?



A wise man once said  every society is judged by how it treats it’s least fortunate amongst  them.



You now have two choices:

1. Ignore

2.  Repost





May  your day, be a Shay Day.

(From a forwarded email)

        As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt
before the Lord along with all the other souls.

        Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of
a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing
our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

        But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the
pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was.
They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled
with a part of my life that had been difficult, the
challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day
life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest
holes of all.

        I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares.
Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries
were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly
fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.

        My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth
together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

        Finally the time came when each life was to be
displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The
others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So
filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and
nodded for me to rise.

        My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had
all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and
laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and
wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as
I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled
with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the
strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on
my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life.
I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured
painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes
that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental
gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

        And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what
it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. 

        I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my
life to the light.

        An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at
the others who stared at me with wide eyes.

        Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light
flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of
Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love
in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to
Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.

        Each point of light in your life is when you stepped
aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me
than there was of you."

        May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing
Christ to shine through!