thinking lifestyle

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don’t you know you are worth much more than they are?

I've been thinking for years about environmental sustainable living. It's a slow process of bringing different area's of life together in sync with this idea. I will never finish this process, but here are some ideas that I'm working through.

CLOTHING: A few years ago I spent a whole year not buying any clothes, only wearing the things I already had. I got to the end of the year and found I still had items that I hadn't worn! Soon after that I traveled for 3 months with a backpack, it was a fun challenge, but I was so happy to see my clothes when I got home. For a time I put all my winter clothes in suitcases under my bed during the summer, and would swap them over half way through autumn. It was a really fun process because I forgot what I had, and became excited to wear 'new' items each season. I'm currently taking quite a brutal spring clean. I am living in an apartment with plenty of storage, I've accumulated things to fit that space. I have been holding onto a lot of clothes that don't suit me anymore, or don't fit me. I'm donating all my old clothes to a church clothing sale via my mum (she's the same size as me, so she get's first pick of my clothes and I hers). Hopefully I'll be able to half my wardrobe.

SHOPPING: I am trying to shop fair trade. What is Fair Trade, I hear you ask? The Oxfam Shop say, "Fair Trade has a number of key factors – stable prices, ensuring that producers, farmers and workers are paid fairly for their work and products and ensuring that there is stability in the income they can earn." Most of these shops are online, but not all. Some apps are starting up to help buyers know. My most preferred is Shop Ethical!. When this is an impossibility, I try find things at op shops. Something I am still really bad at is grocery shopping. I don't plan my meals well, and often have random things go off in the fridge. I forgive myself because it's a constant learning process.

CRAFT: I'm learning to make things myself. We're learning that things usually aren't cheaper when you make them yourself, but we do appreciate the process of creation. I really like learning new skills and trying different things. I am a fan of quilting and knitting, but am also trying my hand at candles and up-cycling. A few friends and I have a monthly craft night called Yarn & Craft, anyone is welcome to attend, we learn from each other.

HYGIENE: (Stop reading if you find monthly cycles to be gross!) Last year I was getting so tired to buying sanitary things for my monthly cycle. I had leaks and to much rubbish, so much cleaning, it was really disheartening each time it started. Then one day, I visited a vegan shop in my city and saw a menstrual cup. It's initial price is way higher than sanitary pads... but the fact is, it's a long term solution! I highly recommend looking into this and making the change. It's waste free, I don't have to carry things around with me all the time anymore. I can't imagine going back!

POWER: If ever we have our own home, we would love to get a solar panel, but until then, we have opted for an environmentally friendly power supplier: PowerShop. I'd also like to learn to be more careful with our water consumption, we're currently limited to shower length by having a smallish boiler, even then, we use a lot of water.

FINANCIAL: This is something that I am still working on. I still have a massive student loan. However, my husband and I have made the radical decision to live off one income. Why earn more money than we need. This allows me to be free to invest in my community in a volunteer capacity, and I'm really thankful for that. However, it does mean that if we ever want to own a home, we will have to go a long long way away from the city, or change out living style even more. In the last 6 months I have become quite obsessed with Tiny Houses! I watch a lot of tiny house home tours on YouTube. I got into them via Living Big In A Tiny House and in the last few weeks I've got to know Go Downsize. I was really struck by their debt-free video that I watched yesterday: Go Downsize: Debt free living - Our personal "getting debt-free" story. This is a dream, to one day live (even for a short period of time) in a tiny house.

I find this process scary at times, but I am convinced that it is the right thing to do, because I believe God cares for us, and will provide for us. I also believe that God made people with skills and responsibilities, including looking after our environment and the welfare of others.

smiling from ear to ear!

I'm smiling from ear to ear... because I love summer rain! Today was a warm sunny day, and as I left class at 4:30 the sky looked ominous with grey clouds tumbling and looming to the south east, I hoped that I would get home quickly and remain dry as I don't much like having wet text books. I also wanted to get home quickly so that I might catch a bit of rain/puddles.

As I was going about alone on the root path and hour or so later, I wondered why puddles are so much fun! And why it is ok for children to play in the puddles after the rain, but why is it socially unusual/unacceptable to be an adult who likes jumping in puddles!?

*

By the time I got half way home it was pouring! like raining cats and dogs! like bucketing! The bus stop was overwhelmingly noisy with rain pounding on the roof, wind sweeping rain under the cover, water pouring out the drain pipes and spilling onto the road. There is something wild and beautiful about rain, especially when every 3 minutes the lightning cracks and the thunder rumbles! The excitement was bubbling up inside me!

At my window seat, on the bus, I stared fascinated as the rain drops slipped down the window pane, and watched in delight as the cars drove over puddles spraying water in an ark. One man decided not to get off the bus because it was too wet for him (I wonder what he did once he got to the end of the bus route...?)! I don't think many of us were prepared for the onslaught of water today, so no one was walking about with umbrellas in the rain, they either didn't leave car/home/work, or were running!

I got home surprisingly dry. I dumped my stuff and ran straight back out to play! (I don't have gum boots, but I still had fun.) I walked up the foot path, and in every puddle, I jumped in with both feet; grinning from ear to ear, giggling at the freedom, and delighting in the beauty of puddles!

Puddles are so simple, and can seem childish. But they are so free, and enjoyable! Stamping ones feet is often seen as an angry activity, but in a puddle it only brings joy and makes oneself wet! It takes a bit of social carelessness to go out and jump in puddles. I mean there I was, a young woman, jumping alone (not a child in sight) in puddles on a main road!

My advice for the day, go out and be a child for a bit, and jump in with both feet. It's more fun that way!
...Wouldn't it be fun to do some finger painting! Or make a mudcake? Or draw a picture of a few made up animals and name them... (which I did do last week :p)

--all my own work, aside from the help of a stencil for my animal shapes and a 2yr old co-colourer--

*http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/series-stories/sweet-child-of-mine

december 27: quiet

Go to a quiet place, and pray. In the last few days I have been enjoying the lull of this time of year, for me anyway. There is pause, maybe I should call it a calm before a storm. Nevertheless, I have had the chance to read a bit, watch a few movies, relax, do craft, eat food, listen to music all in beautiful stillness and calm. Few people have disturbed it. Doing nothing isn't bad or wrong, even if I do feel that I have been a bit lazy. Truth is, I am trying to come away by myself and get some rest, and despite it being interrupted at times, sometimes with pleasant things, other times very unexpected things, I am also aiming to get away from the crowds so I can be closer to God, more focused on God, listen to Him, pray to him. 
Listen to Jesus and see him at work. He seeks quiet and yet when it is disturbed does the task at hand lovingly and then finds what he needs....

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.*

*Mark 6:30-46

December 26: after

Another pet hate of mine about Christmas timing, is the amount of places where the shepherds and the wise men are at the stable together! I'm pretty sure the shepherds came pretty much the same night as Jesus was born... Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:11) 

But the wise men, well I'm more inclined to think that the star they were following appeared around the same time Jesus did, and the journey took a bit longer as they were traveling from the east. And Herod wanted to know how long the star had been around, as a way to guess how old this new King of the Jews might already be. Maybe Jesus was already smiling, or sitting up, or crawling, or even saying his first words by the time the Magi (wise men) arrived!??

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.*

*Matthew 2:1-12

December 20: virgin birth

In bold are the bits that remind me just how much thought God puts into the story of life!

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 

He will be eating curds and honey 

when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 

for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 

the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.*

*Isaiah 7:10-16

December 16: chocolate

Kind words are like honey—

    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.*

Dark Chocolate is my favourite kind, because it's so rich I can't eat it in large quantities. It's sweet but also slightly bitter, which I like. Too much chocolate isn't good, and I understand that each of us will have a different understanding of what that looks like. For me, chocolate can be around for months without being considered and then in a week I'll have 2 whole bars! :o
It is a nice luxury, sweet like honey? But not that amazing (debatable I guess) as to how healthy it is for the body and sweet to the soul. Christmas (and Easter) I find there is a LOT of chocolate around. It kinds of distracts from the true sweetness of the words which are the foundation of the celebrations. The sweet kind words of God's love. 

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,    make straight paths for him.’”

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”**

*Proverbs 16:24
**Matthew 3:1-12

December 14: pregnant pause

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.*

For about 400 years God was silent. The prophets had stopped warning, had stopped sharing God's promised restoration.

I'm sorry for blanking out for the last week! I have been away on a conference (which was awesome!) and then have been busy with pre-Christmas stuff. Nevertheless (for the week that I have missed) I'll share some great passages linked to the remembrance of Christ coming to earth and longing for his return.

When we wait for things we start to wondered what has happened, did we mis-hear what was happening, have we been looking in the wrong place, are they just delayed, what have we don't wrong, have we scared them off, have they decided not to come after all... The people back 2000 years ago in Israel were waiting for the Messiah, Roman rule wasn't that much fun and they longed for freedom. They looked for a warrior, for a king... someone to set them free -literally- from the situation they were in. Why didn't God give them exactly what they were looking for? Why would the Bible tell a story which doesn't fit what we would initially assume to be the promised King? How does Jesus fit into the Old Testament? Is He the fulfillment of many promises, or have Christians got it all wrong?

I'm learning that waiting is actually really healthy sometimes. Not answering a questions straight away means we have to really think about it all and wonder and wrestle. I don't have all the answers, I have part answers. I am happy to share them, but I also think I should be leaving more things open, asking more questions. How often do we hear kids ask questions, isn't it sad that we are trained to stop asking questions.
How does hail have the time to form before it falls? Why did God make humidity!? How are we supposed to say the "right thing" all the time? Why can't we talk honestly and bluntly with people?

Anyway, it might have taken a while, but in the end God did provide, he gave the world His Son. He loves the world, and although he might have left us hanging, waiting with all these questions and no immediate answers, the eventual answer was awesome! It IS awesome! There was, if I might use this phrasing, a pregnant pause in God's timing, which ended in a pregnant village virgin woman, in the baby Jesus.

*John 3:16

december 10: joy to the world

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.*

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing..**

John the baptist appeared in the wilderness proclaiming a message of repentance and forgiveness of sins through baptism. people from all Judea can to the river Jordan to be baptized by him, confessing their sins. he told the crowds, "one greater than I is coming whom I am not worthy to even untie his shoes. I baptize with water but he will baptize with the holy spirit."***

What an awesome and strange message; here is this random man wearing camels hair and eating locusts and honey, who draws great crowds. Yet he says he is nothing. Who is this man who will come after? how much greater? will he be the promised king, the one who will defeat all our enemies?

The good news of Christmas brought joy to so many who were witnesses of the event. The shepherds rejoiced, the wise men were filled with joy, the angels sang praises to God, Mary treasured up these things. The message was one of joy. But what is joy? I have recently finished reading C.S.Lewis "Surprised by Joy" and delighted in his description of how joy comes to us and awakes in us a desire to know it, but in looking at it, that thing loses it's beauty, mystery and thus joy. The only way to really enjoy joy, he writes is to look for the source of all joy, God and in doing so recognize joy as just the out-workings of His marvelous creation. When we see joy as a means rather than an end, it is possible to truly relish and enjoy it!

Joy. A small word with such a big punch! And how can we even know if we've felt it or understand how to keep feeling it? It is desirable to feel joy of course! Maybe Jesus' own words can remind us to be joyful not in what is before us now, but joyful in hope.****

Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.*****

Sometimes we struggle to see the joy in life, to look beyond the current situation. But Jesus is right, there is great joy to which to celebrate that often comes after great pain. Jesus knows that the world is broken and suffering contractions, and he also assures us that that pain and grief that we now experience will turn to joy at the return of Jesus!

We not only rejoice at God becoming man 2000 years ago during Christmas, but also look forward with joyful hope to when he will return.

*Psalm 47:1
**Joy to the World, lyrics by Isaac Watts in 1719
***Paraphrase of Mark 1:4-8
****Romans 12:12*****John 16:19-21

December 8: moon

"Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”*

I'm a lunatic. That is to say, I enjoy watching the moon. There is something amazing about the moon, I could stare at it for hours. A massive rock with a gravitational pull strong enough to give us tides, yet orbits around our planet. Which we can only see because of the suns light that reflects off it; giving us the different moons. Yet, there is only one side of the moon that we always see! So amazing!

I like the moon's reflection of the sun, in a similar way to how much I like reflections on puddles and ponds, lakes and rivers, the moon shows the light it gets from the sun. It doesn't produce it's own light. I like the imagery of this, there is one source of light, and then everything else is seen in that light, and we can understand a bit about the source of the light by looking at the things it touches. I feel that the moon shines in the darkness of night the light of day.
In the same way, Christians are called to be lights in darkness, not shining our own light but reflecting God's light. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."**, and he also said to his disciples and the crowds gathered around him, "Your are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."***

Like a lamp on a hill, we shine so that people may see. Not that they might see us and think we're awesome, but that they might see Jesus's light in us and praise the One True Heavenly Father. Like the moon reflects the sun :)

One night, 2000 years ago, a few shepherds were out watching their flock by night, they might have been looking at the moon, and millions of stars (I love stars too!) when an angel appeared. Luke, who wrote the account of this, said that at that point "the radiance of the LORD's glory surrounded them."**** I mean wow, talk about a bright light shining in darkness, God's glorious light, shining through a beautiful and terrifying angel who must have freaked them out a bit, because he said "don't be afraid"! Anyway, says that he has some to "bring good news of great joy to all people". What greater news could we every get than that God has not only shone from a distance to brighten our world, but actually stepped into the fray, onto the stage, into the story! No longer do we squint into a distant bright face, we can see face-to-face a man, who is that God on earth for our benefit humbly showing himself in a way we can get to know him!

God became a man to bring peace on earth. In Jesus, he ensured that we could be in a right relationship with God and now condemned in our failures to death. That is why I love what we say at church, "peace be with you", we can really tell people that, and ask it for their lives and know it to be true, because God has given us peace. Knowing that in Jesus, the Light of the World, we too can fellowship in that light, and have the honor and responsibility of taking it further.

Peace be with you all!

p.s. the second thing to come out of the advent box at my church today was a star :)

*Luke 2:14
**John 8:12
***Matthew 5:14-16
****Luke 2:8-20

December 7: a story of life

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.*

Today I visited a friend in hospital. While I was in the reception waiting for my coffee I noticed a neonatal care fund raiser box, I couldn't help but smile and frown at the same time. you know that face you make when you're worried and concerned but also appreciate what is before you already and see it as beautiful. ok, I was only looking at a doll in a see-through neonatal box... but i could imagine, and I could feel just how precious and fragile new life is.

There are some things in this world that really confuse me. Some might get really upset by what I say next (please keep reading to the end) but to me I see it as an inconsistency. How can we have so much love and attention and money and energy spent on the precious life of a neonatal baby, while in other places unborn babies are aborted. Is new life precious only if it is wanted?

Melissa Ohden: Aborted at Birth**

I watched this true story the other week and was really moved. life and forgiveness coming from an unexpected place. and being valued and appreciated, not because of what the "woman" wanted. what about the woman who became? she believes she was made and saved for something great. Many could have left her for dead, but God didn't allow that.

Her story has made me wrestle with what life is, with the way my decisions affect others, how my convenience might actually be damaging to another. Melissa has amazingly come to know through this experience just how much she is loved by the Creator, who chose to become a baby and lose his life to give it. It is no longer her will for life that matters, as life doesn't belong to us, it's a gift.

We all get chances. What will we do with them? Will we turn around and say thank you? Will we even notice that the chance wasn't created by us, but allowed by a merciful God. He values and loves everyone, all life is precious. However small or neglected by others, we aren't meant to see things from our perspective or compare ourselves by each other, Rather, the mark we are to compare ourselves to is the Perfect God. Who bountifully gives us all life, and breath, who has numbered our days, who knows how many hairs we have on our head, who blesses those who seek and ask Him.

In my mind and heart, the neonatal baby is precious and so is the baby who survives abortion. How much we want them, doesn't change who they are. God chose to allow Melissa to live, to help her to forgive. God redeemed her, saved her. We can forgive one another, and all be forgiven by God. God waits for a reply, he lovingly sends out letters sharing forgiveness and gives new life. What has he given life for? He gave us His life for us? Have we done the best we could with what we have been given?

(let me know what you think in the comments)

*Galatians 2:20
**(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdm-i62hRdc) also, watch Gianna Jessen's story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5YlJ9CZ9fI

December 4: Gifts

And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.*

A few days ago (November 28) was the USA tradition of Thanksgiving. There are so many small gifts that we take for granted. God gives them, and we forget to say thank you. Each day. Each meal we eat. Each safe commute to work. Each friend we have. Each penny we own. Our health. We say that we deserve them, but in my heart I know how much I really don't. I'm not worthy of the abundance I have, it's way above and beyond what I deserve!

Christmas is a time to give and receive gifts, I'm not much of a gift person, so I find this season challenging. Remembering to give good gifts and being thankful for all the gifts, great and small. But why do we only spend one (or two) days a year thinking of giving gifts or receiving gifts. And if Christmas really about how many and what presents we get? Or is it about a more significant and life changing Gift that God gave to the world? God's gracious gift of life, a solution to the worlds problems, an answer to our brokenness, a clear and safe passage for us at His own expense!

But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.**

What's amazing to me is that gifts are things we give away, and mostly don't feel regret about. Also, we give them away, and don't demand a return gift, although the custom of sharing is there. God's gift of grace is free, and it does not demand that we give something (our time, or money) to God in return or pay-back. Rather God's gift of forgiveness is one we only receive, and in receiving we allow it to change and transform us. The transformation will cause us to actions of generosity with time and money and skills, but they are an outworking and thankfulness of the gift we have received rather than a way of proving we earned or deserved the gift. I'm sure God doesn't regret the gift he gave of His Son, but I hope we don't forget just how precious, unique and wonderful this gift is.

I hope that this Christmas season will be a time to reflect on the Gift of God and the many small blessings we get from God every day of the year, and only in response to that abundant love and generosity seek to share that joy with others!

*Ecclesiastes 3:13

**Romans 5:15-17

December 1: Happy New Year

John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”*

The church calender traditionally begins in Advent, the time leading up to Christmas. So that makes, 30th of November, Christian New Years Eve, and today New Years Day!

Advent**: a coming into place, view or being; arrival
Jesus, at the appointed time, came into this world. He is the Prince of Peace, the point at which history turns; before hand people looked forward to a Messiah, not we look back at the Messiah coming into the world. The advent of coming into a place of peace, of coming into a different view of the world, of coming into being.

Advent: the coming of Christ into the world
You've heard the message before, the message of Jesus, you have an image of a little baby or a man on a cross. What does is mean that God came into the world? What does it mean that He became a man; was born, lived and died? So easily we can slip into routine and forget how amazing this is! I know that I often put God into a box, a set of ideas that I struggle to expand. God is my Friend, Comfort, and Saviour. I hope that this Advent period I will expand my understanding of Jesus, and not assume that I know everything already. Allow Him to surprise me, to be more than I give Him credit for.

Advent: the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas, observed in commemoration of the coming of Christ into the world.
Every Advent period my dad has an Advent Box, and each Sunday he brings out one item, and on the fourth Sunday he puts the four items together. The question is, what is in the box, and what does it all mean? Today he took out a toy lion.

(google image look-a-like)

It's hard not knowing everything, or understanding how things fit together, but that doesn't stop us enjoying what is around us or appreciating what we do know, it ought not to stop us from acting on what we already know. Maybe, the unknown actually helps us to expand our understanding as we allow for our box to expand. Like John the Baptist said, he is far greater than we are, and gives far better gifts, including the Holy Spirit!

Advent: the Second Coming; the coming of Christ on Judgement Day.
What does this coming year hold for you? Do you have any big plans? Or a whole bunch of small plans? Are you hoping to learn more, travel more, exercise more, socialise more, ask more, believe more, listen more, talk more? Are you going to look out for anything? Some times we make promises or set goals and then forget to keep an eye out for where we are up to. The waiting and looking forward to Jesus' second coming can be like that, we know Jesus promised to return, and return unannounced.*** So this year, starting this advent, why not join me in being ready and open for His return. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Happy New Year everyone! 


*Mark 1:7-8
**www.dictionary.com 'Advent'
*** Luke 12:35-48

Renovations

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.*

Currently my house is nearing the end of receiving some major renovations. We have a new roof, new walls and carpet upstairs, and we have a new indoor veranda. And we needed these things; desperately! In this world things don't stay new or healthy, they don't stay beautiful or orderly. Things rust, they crumble, they tarnish, they decompose, they are destroyed. All of life is like that unfortunately, even our bodies. I believe deep down we know it's not supposed to be this way. Things -in a good and perfect world- would not crumble, wither and die.

God created the world perfect, with it ideally having people living in right relationship with Him. Yet, he wanted real relationship and so gave us choice, and still we choose (repeatedly) to do our own thing, not be in relationship with God. What's so good about being in relationship with God anyway? 

I believe God is the Author of Life! And thus someone worthy of knowing. But not only that, He is also Saviour, Redeemer, Restorer, Good, Lord, Refuge, All-powerful, Mighty, Personal, Creator, Sustainer, Friend, Rock, Unchanging, Patient, Judge, Righteous, Pure, Foundation, Holy, Wonderful, Beautiful, Father......the attributes are unending! The Author of Life sees the way moth and rust destroy in this world, He is going to come again -soon- to make everything new. Until then God asks us:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.**

Where is your heart? Where is your foundation? What are you basing your life on? Where are you investing most of your life, time and energy. Here on this earth where things will not last, no matter how famous you become! Or somewhere else. The other day I was listening to some music by Sonicflood and heard this quote by them:

"Foundations can’t be moved without destroying the building, if the foundation of this building that you are in right now were to be moved, what would happen to the building? It’d collapse! Now you can move the building and put it on another foundation, but that foundation, it’s there, because foundations are secure."

God is a firm foundation. He is reliable and trustworthy. It is a daily task to place our treasure and heart in heaven with God. I think it is a comfort to do so, as this world's tragedies are innumerable and unpredictable, we can't know that we will reach our goal or be able to keep what we buy or work for. When we just enjoy the good things of this world and ignore their Author are we not presuming upon His generosity and kindness. God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, that leads us to salvation without regret. The other foundations in the world, aren't as reliable in the long run, and will eventually produce death.*** 

I long for the time when everything will be made new and there will be no more pain and death. Now may the God of peace and Author of Life himself restore us completely, and may our whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless on a firm foundation at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.*

*1 Thessalonians 5:23

**Matthew 6:19-21
***Romans 2:4 and 2 Corinthians 7:10

Blessing

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I take counsel in my soul

and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;

light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him,"

lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;

my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD,

because he has dealt bountifully with me.*

God wants to hear from us, He wants us to pour out our hearts as David did. It's ok to feel alone and ignored and full of sorrow. It's ok to cry out to God to hear and answer! God wants us to trust Him in everything. This year has been a lesson for me in trust. How to trust God with my life and my future, my plans and my dreams, my studies and my commitments. There have been days when my energy has dwindled and my enthusiasm for things was shaky  Those times it was hard to smile and put on a positive face. When I feel like that I struggle to trust God and turn to Him. A couple of weeks ago I was in just that state of mind when I read the Psalm above. David says exactly what is on His heart, he expresses his fears and worries. I was comforted by this idea, that even a man renowned for his faith and dedication to God still felt and expressed such feelings. I was also challenged because in David's low points, he still remembers God's goodness!

I was challenged to trust in God's steadfast love, to let me heart rejoice in salvation, and feel free to sing with joy and enthusiasm to the LORD, and be thankful for the many blessings God has given. Being overjoyed is a strange feeling. I prayed and asked people to pray that God might fill me with joy in the following weeks after reading the Psalm. I have been reflecting on Paul's statement to be patient in affliction and so was waiting on God to answer my heart-felt prayers for help.** God answered, in a way that I cannot adequately express. During the past week I have been on a camping holiday. It wasn't the best experience of camping that I have ever had, but nothing that happened dampened my spirits! We had rain, hail, shine, wind, cloud, cold, and even fire bans! And in all of this somehow I was smiling and laughing, lighthearted and patient, quick to forgive and gentle in speech (or so I saw myself anyway!). I rejoiced in the chance to spend time with family, I delighted in the strange experiences we had to bond, and enjoyed the different climates God allowed us to experience. 

***

When the sun hid behind clouds on our walk down the hillside at the end of the bush walk, all my sister and I wanted was a chance to swim when we got to the beach at the bottom. Miraculously, the moment we stepped onto the beach the clouds parted and we had 10 minutes of blissful sun as we frolicked in the waves! When the rain came down and we were washed out of our tents and had to take shelter in a nearby laundry shed, I couldn't help but smile as we sat around waiting for the dinner to cook on the cooking pan over the washing machine as our spare clothes dried in the dryer, and the rain continued to pour! Life might throw us some bad weather, a moody week, or a challenging experience but as long as we turn to the God of the universe, and trust Him with our life and hopes, dreams and worries, fears and feelings God will bless us. Let us sing to the Lord,

"Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name
....You give and take away
You give and take away
my heart will choose to say
Lord Blessed be Your name" ****

*Psalm 13
**Romans 12:12
*** Photo by me in Hawks Nest, NSW
****Matt Redman, Blessed Be Your Name

my own eyes

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.*

While being at tourist earlier this year I took innumerable photos. I have a DSLR which means that I often took three photos of every subject -one slightly brighter, one darker, and one just right. After a while I realised I was documenting things that I wasn't actually looking at and enjoying on the spot. I would race through a museum taking photos of the texts and artifacts thinking to myself, "that looks interesting, I'll read that when I have a chance back home". We can't look at life as a history book, saying "this is where I was" and "that's what I did". Nor, can we rush through life seeking the next thing rather than appreciating what it before us. When I eventually did learn to appreciate my surroundings without the help of the camera 24/7 I was able to appreciate it a whole lot more.

Last week, I saw a clip on youtube highlighting how society today over-uses and over-consumes technology. I was reminded of my own obsession, and struck by how shallow life can be if we try and capture it. Life is like sand, the tighter we hold it the more it slips through our fingers!

"I Forgot My Phone"

I was struck by a few things. One, life seems a bit artificial and rigid with technology mediating social interaction. Second, by focusing on technology the importance of nurturing and recognizing relationships was diminished. Have you noticed how distracting it is to a conversation when people are constantly checking their phone? Third, how we try to document everything? Personally, that is a really tough issue, on returning home I was still swamped with thousands of photos and then I had the challenging task of sorting through them all for some that would be worth sharing, as seriously no one wanted to see 50 photos of the Eiffel tower! or 100+ photos of my little Goddaughter being adorable! How much time do we think we will have in the future to someday re-live today and yesterday? Tomorrow isn't going to be a re-run of today but it's own unique day with it's own exciting adventures!

The things we see around us won't last, the things we try to hoard and document won't help us get anywhere. What are we saving things for? Why do we feel a need to document everything? What do we lose if we don't? What do we lose if we do? Why fix our eyes on yesterday? Why not focus on today, but more significantly not just the things we can see but also the things that are unseen; that are lasting. Love, faith, hope. Let us focus on loving our family, our friends, our neighbour. Let us turn to faith in something more meaningful in life than some (awesome) photos of days gone by, rather to faith in a meaningful Creator who made all that is; seen and unseen. Let us hope in the restoration of a relationship between God and His people. Let us enjoy today, appreciating the blessings we have in our life in this wonderful world.

*2 Corinthians 4:18

definition

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.*

There are so many terms in the world which we say but are never quite sure if others are hearing the same meaning. I came across this issue the other week over the definition of 'nothing'. I realised that perhaps the god that I speak about in this blog might not be the god you understand it to mean. I have only done a tiny bit of philosophy but it has helped me begin to see the bigger ideas behind the words that we use. Ideas are awesome, but complicated. We might use different words to describe the same idea or use the same word and be thinking of two different ideas! 

“I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”**

I want to share that my idea of God is pretty big, but most of the time I subconsciously or consciously try to contain Him, keep Him away from things I feel he has no business in, or I limit His ability to act in my life by ignoring His power. Maybe by acknowledging this and beginning to open a dialogue in the wider world we can clarify the concept and expand the idea of what we mean when we say 'God'. When someone mentions the word 'god' what is tricky is what I hear is different to what they might be trying to say. Before plowing ahead with my ideas, I want to first learn to ask what they understand about the words I am using.

God is the perfect being, the perfect idea. He is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipresent. If God lacked existence He would not be perfect, as He is perfect he must exist. By this argument, if someone says 'god' but does not mean the perfect being they are not referring to God. God is not a part of this world as something that can be measured, contained, examined like anything in creation. It is not a question of 'what' holds the world together but 'who'. God is not an object, but a subject. He doesn't want or need to convince us that he exists on our terms. One of the major limits of our way of seeing and examining things is it contains and constrains God to our understandings and experience of the world, trying to put boundaries on things. But God is beyond containment, if we somehow managed to contain god, he would cease to be God, but rather a weaker smaller man-made version. Rather God wants us to get to know Him on His terms by looking at His story, His revelation, His Son; who is God on earth!

C.S. Lewis wrote of his childhood view of God. He said, "I had approached God, or my idea of God, without love, without awe, even without fear. He was, in my mental picture of this miracle, to appear neither as Saviour nor as Judge, but merely as a magiciam; and when He had done what was required of Him I supposed He would simply- well, go away."*** When this God did not respond the way he wanted or expected, he stopped believing in Him. This however, like he has mentioned, is just his idea of God. If we are to approach God, we should come with humility seeking knowledge rather than seeking to instruct. We should open our eyes and hearts to the bigger God, both Saviour and Judge, who is awesome and full of Love.

Indeed, if you call out for insight

and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver

and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and find the knowledge of God.****

*Proverbs 9:10

**Alan Greenspan
***Surprised by Joy, by C.S. Lewis, p22
****Proverbs 2:3-5

beauty

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.*

I was going to begin this post by a story or two of people giving me compliments out of the blue. I was going to use that as a way to lead onto healthy views of beauty and charm, but as I have reflected on this I too am falling into a superficial definition of beauty. Beauty isn't about how others make you feel good, the charm that people use with each other is deceitful and beauty isn't something that can be modeled after a human ideal.

Earlier this year I was having a bad week, feeling fat and sluggish, lazy and generally ugly. Maybe to the onlooker I looked none of those things, but that's how I felt. I was struggling to see the beauty of the creation that God said was "very good" - me. I prayed that God would show me how valuable I am, how He sees me, and what is truly important. In answer to that prayer, I have continued to learn and understand more about my true beauty and charm, and what it means to trust in the Lord.

There are moments when I feel beautiful and charming. But it never lasts that long, before long I feel clumsy and less than average. Too quickly I look at the billboards, at peers, at society and I see flawless, skinny, perfect faces and bodies. In my mind, I don't measure up, and I never will. I usually feel like Leah must have when Jacob came to her father's house, and instead of looking at her -the elder sister-, he sees the lovely figure and beauty of her younger sister Rachel, and Leah is forgotten, rejected, not worth a second glance.**

I can't spend the rest of my life trying to be or look something that I am not. Nor should I let envy and jealousy consume me. That just seems like a futile, stressful and tiring exercise. So I seek God's perspective and look to Proverbs 31 for what is truly valuable in a person; in a woman. The truth is, beauty won't last and charm doesn't satisfy.

The wise ancient teaching suggests that a woman of noble character 'dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong'.*** Staying fit and healthy is something that our society has warped to extreme measures, but holds truth as good for the body and soul. Instead of worrying about what I am physically wearing, I can dedicate myself to treating my body with respect and keeping my body healthy. Treating myself and others with dignity, trusting God with the future, learning to seek God's wisdom so that when I speak I'm not wasting my breath! And learning to be kind and encourage kindness in others.

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.****

These qualities are not only significant to women! Men can also have strength and dignity, trust in God's future plans for them, speak with wisdom and teach kindness. But I really appreciate that this passage is in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament and speaks directly to me, to all women, about having a noble character as truly important, and then describing what that looks like!

The beauty that I can enjoy as a youth and as I grow older is that which does not count wrinkles or grew hair, fat or bone, perfect teeth or shapely eyebrows, clear skin or perfect hair. Rather I enjoy the beauty of laughter and smiles, hope and joy, self-confidence because of God's unconditional love, satisfaction in today because it is a day made by God for his glory with me in it!

God sees us as beautiful -especially our feet (:p)- when we do His will of spreading the Good News about repentance and forgiveness. 

"How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace,

who bring good tidings,

who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"*****

p.s. I have been challenged in writing this post to consider how I compliment people: do I seek to genuinely build them up in love, or am I seeking to charm them for some other reasons. Charm is -after all- deceitful.

 
*Proverbs 31:30 
**Genesis 29:17
***Proverbs 31:17
****Proverbs 31:25-26
*****Isaiah 52:7

hot chips

'You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.'*

 
In the past month I have really enjoyed eating hot chips! I'm savouring my Vegemite sandwiches. I enjoyed some great wedges with sour cream and sweet chili sauce the other day! And I can't get enough, I keep coming back for more. It has made me think about salt, and it's amazing diversity of uses. Jesus tells his followers that they are "the salt of the earth". But what does it mean to be a salty Christian?

Salt is used in cooking to ADD FLAVOUR. In Psalms it encourages us to 'taste and see that the LORD is good!'** If we explore and trust in God, we will find Him to be good and beneficial to our lives, enhancing what is already good in our life. Christians are encouraged to add flavour to the life around them, highlighting, encouraging, and building what is good.

Salt is also used in the process of canning which ensures the PRESERVATION of fruits, meats, and other foods. Just as salt keeps things for longer, so too should Christians be seeking to preserve what is good and  beautiful in the world. Salt preserves that which comes into contact with it, so too God commissions Christians to bring His people and world back to him, to preserve them and it for the return of Jesus and from rotting and wasting away.

'He says: "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.'***

Salt is used when CURING meats, fish and olives, it is a process that preserves and adds flavour. Salt draws water from the product, making it last longer. And when eaten, we are thirsty for more. The Apostle Paul encourages Christians to 'Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.'**** A great story is one we come back to again and again, same with a great salty dish, and a friendly person. The message of Jesus is one that should make us come back for more, with it's good news of forgiveness and grace, justice and hope. As believers of this good news, Christians, too live out in person this gracious message.

Salt can be used as a WEED KILLER. There is justice. The evil of this world will be punished. If this wasn't the case it would be unfair, the unrepentant murderer and rapist, thief and liar, manipulator and greedy would be freed. But God promises that they will one day be punished. "God will turn the sins of the evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them."***** Until that day, we must wait on the Lord, but speak words of justice to the perpetrators and comfort to the victims.

Salt is also a means of CLEANING things in the kitchen and around the place. Apparently, it helps remove bad odors and egg from pans. Christians should also be people who seek to forgive one another and themselves. Who aid in cleaning society from the wrong that we collectively do. Ultimately, Christians are not God and will not do the job perfectly, but thankfully, we have a perfect God, who has, does and will clean completely and perfectly. If we are afraid of losing our effectiveness as salty Christians we can always turn to God in prayer and ask for his grace and forgiveness:

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.******

*Matthew 5:13
**Psalm 34:8
***Isaiah 49:6
****Colossians 4:6
*****Psalm 94:23
******Psalm 51:7

missionaries' downfall

There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine; all joy has grown dark; the gladness of the earth is banished.*

I glanced at the menu in this little pub, unsure if I wanted a drink or not. I was out for dinner with a friend last month, we then went for post-dinner drinks. Then one cocktail caught my eye, and simply by its name, I thought it was worth getting! "Missionaries' Downfall". I did not, and still don't, see that drink as my downfall! Firstly, I'm not a missionary exactly. And secondly, I believe that alcohol is part of God's creation, and like so much else in the world, it is good but can be misused. Over-consumption isn't wise, yet that doesn't mean no alcohol is allowed.

The Proverbs were written thousands of years ago, yet I am certain they hold wisdom and truth still relevant to this day. There is a limit to a good thing. Wine, and other forms of alcohol, can cause mockery, brawls, people to be led astray, and a lack of wealth.** I also avoid over-consumption as I hope to regard and respect my Lord and God in everything I do, and I doubt my ability to do so if I were to have too much alcohol.

Please, take a moment to read and think over these passages, do they speak true to your life? Do you see a correlation between what you do and what others -God included- might expect of us?

The one who is intoxicated reels and staggers in their vision to see clearly and will stumble in giving good judgement.****

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them! They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the Lord, or see the work of his hands.***

Does that mean, no alcohol? No! (for some it might be yes, but I do not believe the Bible is against it completely!) Was I really letting go and ignoring God when I got that cocktail? No, I don't believe so, rather I was enjoying in a respectful way one of the joys of life. I trust that on the Last Day, when Jesus returns, there will be a massive feast and celebration. Which will include wine, at least! The Bible describes this feast in several places, one of those is in Isaiah:

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”*****

Our society in Australia enjoys alcohol a lot, as do many other countries, I might add! I see the appeal, to get away from the daily issues, and socialise and relax. I also see the abuse of a good thing, and of those people around us who suffer from or because of the abuse of alcohol. There is such a thing as "too much of a good thing". I hope and pray that we can consider what it means to enjoy the gifts of the world without over-using and misusing them.

*Isaiah 24:11
**Proverbs 20:1, 21:17
***Isaiah 5:11-12
****Isaiah 28:7
*****Isaiah 25:6-11