1 week into the Challenge,

Well it has been just over a week since my last post, and what God has been challenging me about.

This past week i have been spending more time with Christ, and although i haven't had a chance to get out on the street or in the community more, God has given me more opportunities to share His love with people, and also the Good News of Jesus, most of the time they have been when i least expect them and with people who i least expect. Mind you it is Jesus who gives me the words to say, (cause i am not the best with talking). And it has been Awesome and i thank Him for everything this week. Even for the fact that i lost my keys somehow on friday before the soup run, (they showed up after the soup run), cause it gave me something in which to connect with one of my friends from the soup run.

Now the reason i haven't been out on the streets or in the community more, is cause i have had a lot more work this past week, i worked 5 days and 2 nights. i usually only do 3 days and 1 night, so that i have time to be out and about.... but work were desperate, so i did a couple of extra shifts, which i have worked enough to pay for a camera to replace the one that was lost a few weeks ago... so i praise God for those shifts, cause i believe it was His way to provide for me.

Even though i have been busy working, and sleeping a little less than normal, Christ has given me the energy to go through the day, and filled me with His joy, which stays with me for my entire day.

So all i can do is praise God and thank Him for a great week, for His love, mercy, grace and joy, cause with out them i'd be dead tired and lost

Challenge

Lately i have been challenged by God to do more...

to be spending more time with Him

to be praying for the guys on the street in Adelaide more

to be praying for the people who live within in the city more,

to be praying for the council of Adelaide

to be spending more time on the streets, getting to know people

to get to know the community, both those in houses and in the street

to research more on what is actually the issues of homelessness in Adelaide.

to find out what boarding houses are around the place and visit them, and find out what they are like.

And to challenge other people to get involved.

So much of the time i have been by myself on the street, and at different times to minister to people, and that has sort of become an excuse for why i haven't done much of some of that stuff. (there is definitely room for improvement in all of it). And I AM SICK OF IT..... i am sick of the way that i fall into that trap, i am sick of feeling helpless about it all and feeling like i can't make a difference.

So i have decided that i am going to do it, i am going to be obedient and go hard .... in all of it...

I am sick and tired of going out and doing "ministry" stuff in the city by myself, and tonight i felt like i should be challenging/inviting people to come along/join with me in going out on the streets, and not care about what corps they go to or what even what church they go to.... cause it doesn't matter... we are one Church. And most of the people i chat with move on somewhere else anyway... they may even move on to suburb where a person who will come out with me is from, and then they can continue sharing Christ with that person.... if that makes sense ... to make it clearer.... if bob is from say Norwood corps, and he decides to come out with me, and we meet this guy, and the guy ends up getting a house in the norwood area, bob could very easily continue meeting with the guy, and sharing Christ with him.

So yeah this is my challenge for the coming weeks.... and i put it up here, as a part of being accountable with it...

What's God been challenging you about lately

Bless ya

This week has been cool... i have spent it working, hanging on the street with friends, and hanging with my half sister. This past week has been the most that i have spent with my half sister... ever. It has been good.

However, i have lost my camera and my wallet within a week(camera thurs, wallet tues)... which has been really annoying and made it really easy to focus on the negative situation of losing things.

I had to make a conscious decision to focus on the good part of the week, and more importantly to focus on God, my Heavenly Father.

Today after i realised i had lost my wallet, after i searched everywhere that i could, after i cancelled my cards, i turned on some music and spent some time worshipping God and spending some time with Him.

The first song was blessed be His Name by matt redman (words below). I found it true, that we can Bless the name of the Lord, in good times, in times of joy, not only that, but also in times of lost, sadness, darkeness, suffering... basically we can choose to bless the Name of the Lord no matter what is going on around us... And when we do, it all just fades away, as we focus on Christ. It is like when i am not wearing my glasses (i wear them to see long distance), when talking to people, every thing else is blurred and out of focus, and the person i am talking to is in focus, so it is easy not to get distracted by things that are going on around.

It's awesome

Blessed be Your name In the land that is plentiful Where Your streams of abundance flow Blessed be Your name And blessed be Your name When I'm found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness Blessed be your name		Chorus Every blessing You pour out I'll Turn back to praise And when the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name When the sun's shining down on me When the world's "all as it should be" Blessed be You name And blessed be Your name On the road marked with suffering Though there's pain in the offering Blessed be Your name		Chorus
You give and take away You give and take away My heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be Your name I will bless Your name		Chorus
Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name		You give and take away You give and take away My heart will choose to say Lord, blessed be Your name *Repeat*

Famous Last Words

just been watching a live stream of a preach by Commissioner Earle Maxwell... at Famous Last Words, melbourne training college. At Famous last words, the college invite a retired Salvation Army Officers to come and than share what their last words would be to the Soldiers of the Salvation Army.

It was great,

he spoke to young salvationists, adult salvationist and senior salvationists.

the key words to each age group were

For the Salvationist Youth - To be committed to God

For the Adult Salvationist - To be consistant for God, by the Grace of God. Consistan year in, year out, no stepping aside.

For Senior Salvationist - To confident in God. There is no retirement in the Lord's work.

He closed with an awesome prayer from a 17th century nun....

and i will share it here..

Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself, that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest Lord that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others' pains, but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a sureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a Saint - some of them are so hard to live with - but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And, give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.

AMEN

a classic quote from the Commissioner in question time....

rising early in the morning is a issue of mind over mattress.

basketball carnival.

Well i am 2 days into a basketball carnival... most of the games have been good, tho some were a bit rough... just for interest sake we have won 3, lost 2, and had 1 draw so far.

I am finding the carnival really good, not just in the games, but also in the relationships, with other team members, state members, opposition, and supporters.... just catching up with people i know from other years at the carnival and see where their at and what God is doing in there life...

But then there is also meeting new people... and having a chance to chat with them. Today i had the chance to do both... meet to knew people and talking with friends i haven't seen for a while.

It is always encouraging when we get to hear where friends are at... and what God is doing in their lives, it spurs us on. So the last couple of days i have fun doing that.

Today i also met some other people, and i got to talk to one of them about God, she wasn't a christian and is looking at different religion searching for something... This carnival has allowed her to ask questions about what christianity is about. It was awesome.

Also got to talk to a team mate, who has a bit of a rough trott the year, so that was great to be there for her, for her to talk to and be open... and me being open with her.

So today has been great... i am fairly sore but it is worth being here....

Cause the only thing i have in common with some of these friends is basketball... so what better place to share Christ with them... what ever that looks like at the time.

family (5th blog in 24 hours)

Today i visited my dad and his family... which was a bit of fun... and nerve racking at the same time.

You see my parents divorced when i was a kid, (8), and from the age of about 14 i can count the times i have seen my dad on one hand, til today...

So when ever i know i am going to see him, i am nervous, i never know what to say, so as i was driving there today i asked God that He'd guide me, and give me words to say, comfort me and keep me calm. Cause it is like i am visiting a stranger... cause i don't get to talk to him much.

However this time i also had a sense of excitement about going there, cause, i have been talking to one of my half sisters, and i have a bit in common with her, and really feel like i am meant to encourage her, both in her faith and in life.

And now that i have arrived back to where i am staying the night, i got thinking about family.

God created us to be a part of a family, a member of a loving, nurturing group of people known as a family.... however these days there is so many broken relationships in the "natural family", that they aren't loving, nurturing or even caring. So there are millions of people that are growing up not knowing that sort of love, community and family, and it breaks my heart... I imagine it breaks God's heart more.

However God offers us another family - His family... full of people who love God and others, who want to obey God and build up their brothers and sisters in Christ. Who nurture and care for each other.

We don't get to choose who we are related to in the flesh. But we can choose to be a part of God's family, a part of Jesus' family, the family full of love, no matter what, and it is the best thing ever,

4th blog for the road trip.

well it is now daylight, and we are close to sydney maybe an hour left.

As i was driving earlier today, i was watching the sunrise, and it was awesome.

And it made me think about break free/freedom...

it reminded me of how beautiful it is when we break free from all the darkness, sin, and hurt in our lives.... which is only possible through Jesus Christ.

And this freedom is so beautiful, and magnicent, and awesome, that it just causes people to praise God.