23.3.13

Faith building

In life it seems that it is really easy to forget all of the amazing things God does for me. There are the small but not so small daily miracles. Breathing, heart pumping, eyes seeing, ears hearing. I have a roof over my head, food in my cupboards, family that love me. These things God graciously gives me every day with my asking. Today I am pausing to thank God for these things. These things help build my faith.

There's a different side to this too. There are things that I ask God for in prayer. I was challenged last night at Checkpoint to ask for things according to God's will in the situation. Something I knew but clearly needed reminding of. Sometimes the answer is what I want; sometimes it's a no, a wait or a maybe. These responses are all answers. These responses help build my faith.

Something special that God does for me and for many others too is speak into situations in my life, show me things, give me a scripture that encourages me. These arrive in a way that feels sort of like a whisper to my soul. I've come to realise that it is really easy to miss these things in the busyness of life or write them off as mere coincidences. I am choosing to see these things as 'Just so obviously God' moments in my life. Not surprisingly it's easier to see/hear these things when I'm walking closely with God, something that is quite a journey in itself. I am choosing to see these moments though and I'm choosing to see God's hand in them. I am writing them down because these just so obviously God moments help build my faith.

8 years

This is the 8th year I've had a blog! Crazy.

Interesting to look back on this digital diary of sorts and see how things have changed. I found a huge entry on my first Youth Reachout trip to Fiji in 2008. That trip changed the course of my life in so many ways.

Soon enough I'll be turning 28, in another 8 years I'll be close to 36. I wonder where I'll be then and what new adventures I will have pursued.

20.3.13

Things I like...

Reading and yes I keep a log of all the books I read and one of my goals this year is about how many books I want to read. I was one off last year and really want to achieve it this time round.



Gardening! Love getting outside and digging in the garden. Even better? Pulling or cutting fresh veggies or fruit from the ground or tree. This year around my house there are figs, limes and feijoas. Potatoes, courgettes, beetroot, silverbeet, cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower. Plus some fresh herbs - mint, rosemary, basil, chives, parsley and coriander. 



Taking photos is something that I've done ever since I got my first point and shoot camera when I was nine. It was red and so so special to me. Going to pick up the developed photos was always so exciting as I could see how the pictures turned out. When I was 16 and digital photography was starting to come in I swore black and blue that I would never use a digital camera. Those grainy pictures coming out of 1 mega pixel cameras were no comparison to film photos! How times have changed.



I like to talk and to listen. Rarely am I not up for a conversation with someone. This includes laughing with people too.


Take me out into the country on a clear night and I'm one happy girl. Stars are amazing. They remind me about God and how amazing and creative he is. What beautiful things he has given us to light the dark night sky.

Travel. This is a big one. There are so many parts that excite me. The adventure, the unknown. New foods and culture. New places and people to see. Also seeing old faces that are separated by oceans. 



I love cooking and baking.