do not lose heart

I was doing my daily reading and reading from Luke 18, and the first thing that i read was
"Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart".
Which was awesome to read.... pray and don't lose heart. Even when you don't see the results, or see the growth, continue to pray, continue to be faithful. Don't be discouraged, but persistant... God hears your prayers. As i read the beginning of that chapter, i was reminded of when Daniel prayed and fasted consistantly for 24 days, before an angel appeared with a message for him.... It wasn't because God wasn't listening to Daniel, but that there was resistance in the spiritual realm which delayed the angel. Which is a good reminded that God does hear us, that sometimes there is just a resistance in the spiritual realm, that delays the response. Also sometimes the answer comes in a different way than what we were expecting it, so we don't reckonise it.
This was a great reminded for me, cause sometimes here at Gen1, i can start to feel discouraged, cause i haven't seen growth in our ministry. However, God reminds me that we are ploughing the ground and seeds are being planted. That we may not see it until the seedling breaks through the ground, then we will be able to see the growth.... until then the growth is hidden, but it is still there.
Lord grant us patience, and a faithful spirit


Lux

fire

The last couple of months I have had a number of opportunities to sit around a fire, and reflecting back on those times, I realized 2 things about fire.
1. It is captivating
There is something about fire that captivates people. People can sit for hours looking and staring at a fire. Even people that have "low constration span" have been able to sit and watch a fire, or drawn to play/poke it
2. Often people are more open, to share or be themselves. It is quite common to have deep conversations, or singing songs and also sit together without saying a word, around a fire.

This is what our lives and communities should portray. The fire of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our communities sould be captivating to the people around us, people should be drawn to us. And it should also allow people to be themselves. Also we are the ones to set the example of being open, and just being ourselves. There should be no need to pretend to be something we're not, or do things just to gain acceptance, or feel important. For God loves us all equally and sees us all as important. Therefore that is how we should see and treat each other. I know it is a challenge at times, but that is what we're called to do and it is possible with Christ's help


Lux

I missed the Australian night sky

I got back from Vancouver just over two weeks ago... And tonight is the first night I have been outside a city when it hasn't been cloudy and I can see all the stars..... While I was in Vancouver I missed seeing the stars, cause in Adelaide you can even look up at night and see a number of stars. I love to look up at the stars and star gaze. I marvel at God's creation. And they also remind me of how majestic God is and how big He is. For God is bigger than the universe, and holds everything in His hands. Also when I look up at the stars, no matter how I have felt that day or week, I have a joy and peace from God come over me. And it also gives me a sense of security and reassures me that God is here with me and everything is in His hands.

Lux

Beauty

Today I was heading back to Adelaide with two friends. They were doing the driving so I got to sit back and relax. As our journey continued I got to watch the sunset, and it just reminded me of God's beauty, and that His creation is beautiful, which includes us. God has created us and calls us beautiful. However we don't always receive that truth into our own lives, that alone speak it into another person's life, because we have been hurt and discouraged which often leave us with scars. And God isn't content with leaving us like that, He wants to bring healing into our lives, a healing that is complete, so that even the smallest scar is healed leaving no trace, except the lessons God taught us through them and through the healing He has done. Then when the healing is completed we are more beautiful than before, and more like Christ..

Peace
Lux

live up to what you have attained.

This is what i heard while in Vancouver, and there i was like, yeah i want to, i want to live up to what God has already given to me, and what He has already called me to. I was activitly focused on this and learning more of how to do that. Majority of what i was doing over in Vancouver required me to live up to what God called me.
Now i am back in Adelaide, and back working 4 days a week, it is a lot harder to live up to what i have been called to, cause it is so easy to get dragged down by the normal life. Of working, friendships, and the routine of things. And more distractions, like easy access to tv, and internet.
So i find here i have to be more intentional on being focused,
Being More focused on Jesus,
More focused on who He sees me as and what He has called me to.
I know the plans God has for me, what He has called me to, is massive, things that i am not sure how to do, things i am not confident in, things that i even get a little scared and nervous about when i think about them properly. How ever God's promise is that He is with me, that He will never leave or forsake me. For that i am so thankfull, cause it is only with Christ that i am able to walk in what i have attained, and what He has called me to. And i have to always remember that i need Him so much, that will help me to remain focus on Him, to hear Him and to follow His commands.
Then when we live up to what God has already given us, He will give us more.


Lux

God speaks in different ways.

Over the last couple of months, i have been realising and experiencing that God talks to us in a number of different ways. God has talked to me and shown me things through books that i have been reading, through the words of a friend, whether they were words of encouragement, a picture they had recieved for me, or while they are praying for me. Also God has given me pictures, and words through my own thoughts, and then also spoken to me, through my feelings... like I would be praying for someone, and God will give me a feeling of sadness, or excitment. This is the one that i sometimes find it harder to act out upon, cause i am still learning to listen to God in this way.... and i sometimes wonder if it was just my feelings, and not God trying to show or tell me something..... A couple of times i haven't spoken out what i was feeling and then later i was wishing i did, cause i realised that they were from God. So i am relying on God to teach me to know whether to share what i feel. and also to help me to keep my eyes and ears open, so that i will see, hear and reckonise when God speaks to me in different ways.

g'day all

Well it has been over a month since i last blogged....
Not that i haven't had anything to blog, it was more i got busy helping out around the place, and also hanging out, that i didn't spend heaps of time on the computer.
I am now back in Australia, i had an awesome time in Vancouver. I met a number of awesome people, from last years War College Session (Revolution) and i got to be there for their grad. I also go to meet all the Students of this year's Incendiary session of the War College, which was awesome..... I see in them a hunger to learn, to learn things of God, and to walk with Jesus deeper..... The group is small, but i see them as strong in the Lord and Strong together. That they are going to be a tight supportive group.... and the Lord will give them strength through that. i got to hang out with them for less then a week, however i can see God's hand on them, and He's going to be doing great work in their lives, and through each one of them...
I can't wait to see/hear about the changes adn the direction in which God leads them.
Keep them in your prayers. Both last years session as they move on from War College, and this year's session.
I will blog more now that i am back.
and there might be a few blogs of revelations and my experiences of while i was in Vancouver, over the next little while. That's all for now.
Blessings