the possibilities are endless..

I had a really good conversation today with some people from 614 about opportunities for outreach in our communities, and I left feeling extremely challenged, with a massive burden on my heart to get our there and make a difference!

At one point in the discussion we were talking about young people who live in residential homes. These are kids who for whatever reason cannot live with their parents, and aren't "suitable" for foster care, and so end up in these residential homes. So you have a mass of teenagers, who all have issues and need one on one attention, massed together in a house with a few workers, who have good intentions, but are overworked.

What an amazing opportunity does the church have to get involved in these kids lives and be positive role models. Why don't we get in there and do breakfast for them and just chat with them, show an interest in them, and give them the attention that their workers, mostly because they're under resourced, can't. Why aren't we filling the gaps?!

And then I started thinking about the endless amount of opportunities we have to "fill the gaps". Homework groups, mentoring programs, breakfast clubs, working with kids who have criminal record issues, family breakdown services, refugees, international students, coming alongside young mums, going into boarding houses, outreach to homeless people, accommodation services, education, working with kids in care... the list goes on!

I commend those who do work in these areas as I speak (or type I should say), but more can be done! Even people in the field will tell you that there's more that could be done, and will appreciate any help anyone could provide.

I can't wait to get back home and get involved in my community. Its probably the first time I've actually felt really excited about the possibilities after this year. Praise God for that. I'm so excited that He's stirring up that passion and fire in me to release me for serving Him and my community next year. I'm praying that He'll stir up people to get on the bandwagon with me... a bandwagon of people who seek the heart of their God. A people who pray to Him and seek his wisdom and guidance. A people who have a burden on their heart for the marginalised and oppressed. A people who are no longer satisfied with the status quo.

Just like Big Kev used to say, I'm excited! So excited I want to jump around like a jellybean.. (do jelly beans jump?!) Bring it on!

For Him Alone
Ness :-)

decisions decisions decisions

I've come to a conclusion this week; making decisions drives me nuts!

I can be pretty indecisive at the best of times, so having to make a decision about what to do in 2009 was a hard one. It was one that where I've been seeking Gods wisdom and praying for a long time. There seemed to be so many options! I prayed that God would open and close doors as he pleased, but he seemed to be opening too many to choose from. I agonised for a long time about what to do. Would I stay here in Melbourne, would I go back to Newcastle to finish uni, or would I move to Sydney and finish uni by correspondence. None of them were bad options. All of them would provide opportunities to serve God. It would have been alright.

I would sit back at night and pray for God to close some doors. I didn't want to take responsibility and make a decision, but as it was pointed out to me this week, God gave us a brain to make decisions, so why not make one and see what happens from there?

So I've made a decision! I'm returning to Newcastle in 2009 to finish up with uni. I've also made another decision. I've decided (or Gods prompted me to!) put pen to paper on my initial forms for Training College. Scary, but exciting!

I'm so thankful that I have a God i can consult when deciding what to do. His way is the best way. That doesn't mean I can take no responsibility for what happens in my life, because "Gods given you a brain Ness, use it!".

Thanks Martin!

For Him Alone
Ness :-)

a call to action!!

So i'm writing this post after reading the latest Pipeline (The Salvos magazine in the Eastern Territory) and I read an article about the 2020 summit that happened last month. And can i say right now, that after reading this article, my heart is pumping and I am excited!!! WHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
O HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! bring it on!

I'm so excited about the opportunities for the years ahead. I'm more excited that this isn't just a talk fest, but that methods are being put in place to ensure that these mission priorities are carried out.

It really is Gods time for us. I believe that as we seek Him more and more, He will reveal more to us, and use us in ways beyond our imagination! I want to be a part of a movement that sees life breathed into the darkest places. I don't want to be content with the status quo no more. Its time to move forward, storm those forts of darkness and bring hope to hurting people.

For me, reading this article just confirms to me that the Eastern Territory is where God wants me. (sorry Southern Territory! :-) I can't wait to get back there, and get involved in the awesome stuff that is cultivating. Count me in!

For Him Alone
Ness :-)

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne Williamson (as quoted by Nelson Mandela)

I love this quote. So often we put ourselves down, when we need to be building ourselves up. That doesn't meant we become full of pride and gain a huge ego, but it means that we allow God to mould us into all that He wants us to be. He wants us to reach our full potential in Him to bring glory to His name, but so often we don't let him do it.

It's a hard process, because it means letting go. It means letting go of all of those wrong messages you've been told about yourself as you've been growing up. The messages of "you're stupid" "you're too fat" "you're not talented enough". You've gotta leave them at the foot of the cross with God, and instead pick up you're true identity. You're a child of God, made in His image. He doesn't make mistakes.

God wants us to live to our full potential, but in order for this to happen, we have to let him into the deepest part of our heart so he can start repairing the scars and changing our hearts. It's not an easy process, and it's not going to happen overnight, but the result will be astounding. There's no greater feeling than to be completely alive in Him.

It's something I struggle with, everyday! Everyday I have to come before God and be honest. But I know God is gradually changing my heart and revealing Himself to me in new ways all the time. Hallejuah!

For Him Alone

Ness :-)

Characteristics of Committed Courageous People

There was this sheet on the Candidates table at ACC, titled above, and as I read the characteristics, I pondered on how I want these to be displayed in my own life. A bit of a challenge... so i thought I'd pop them up here for you all!

1) They are willing to recognise and live with their own unfinishedness, knowing that they are subject to weakness and sometimes failures but that the best of them is good, so very good.

2) They know they have limitations but they also know that they can rejoice in the promise of redemption

3) Despite their fears, they constantly stretch their inner selves to take risks, to meet challenges.

4) They believe in their giftedness and know that the best way to thank God for it is to continually reach into risk, discovering and developing their hidden potential

5) They know how to laugh and to enjoy life even in the most difficult of time; they do not take themselves so seriously as to grimace and fret through each day

6) They take time for solitude- to thank and to pray in order to distance themselves and get a good perspective on their present situation

7) They have their values in proper order, recognising that people are always more important than material things, knowing that is is only the immaterial things such as love that they will carry with them into eternal life.

8) (which i personally think should be the first one) They nurture an intimate relationship with God for they have learned that the more they know this wonderful God, the more they will understand how deeply He cherishes them no matter what happens in their lives.

9) Finally, they have a vision of themselves that reminds them that their strength and power, their hope and trust, can never be mustered up by themselves. Rather, it is in God in whom they find their strength and often this God gives the needed strength through the encouragement and kindness of other human beings.

Interesting hey?!

For Him Alone
Ness :-)

death is NOT the end of the story...

Yesterday was quite a full on day. We had a funeral at 614 of one of our community members, who died from an overdose the other week. It's the fourth community member this year who has died from a drug and alcohol related death. And we've had enough. We've had enough of death and destruction. We're sick of losing people, and we know that this isn't Gods plan for our community.

Last week at ACC (Aggressive Christianity Conference) I heard Russ Rook speak. It was one of the most amazing and powerful messages that i've heard in a while. He spoke about the resurrection, and the fact that Jesus' death wasn't the end of the story- resurrection was! Hallejuah! The sane can be said about Gods plan for our communities. His ideal is not to leave our communities to suffer from death and destruction. Death has NO hold on our communities. His plan is to bring life, to resurrect our communities. To bring hope where there is no hope. He does not want his people to suffer in death (both physically, spiritually etc.) no longer. Jesus died so that we may have life, and have it in abundance (John 10:10)

I don't know about you, but to be reminded of this message just makes me want to jump around with my fists triumphantly in the air yelling DEATH IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY!!!!!!!!!!! ..... Hallejuah! God wants us to partner with Him in breathing life into our broken, hurting, marginalised communities. He wants to break through and bring healing and love to communities that have never felt it before. He doesn't want them to die.......

It encourages me to keep going, especially on the days when all seems hopeless. On those days, when things seem to be going wrong, when community members seem to take five steps back after taking one step forward, I remind myself that the death and despair doesn't have to be the end. There's always hope, and I have to cling onto the fact. Jesus' resurrection is proof that there's always hope and life eternal.

For Him Alone
Ness :-)

hiding our struggles....

Everyone struggles with things in life....When you come to know Jesus, those struggles don't go away... so why do we feel like they should?

I was pondering on this the other day. Why is it, generally speaking, that Christians are expected to have it all together all of the time?. Why do we put this pressure on ourselves?. Why do we go through things all on our own because we don't want anyone else (particularly our Christian friends) to know that things are eating us on the inside?. We don't confide in people because we're afraid of being seen as 'weak' or 'not holy enough'?. We don't want to be looked down upon..
So you go through your struggles on your own. You pray about it, but wish you'd have someone to confide in. You have God, You know that, but sometimes it'd just be nice to have someone else to talk to (please note: I'm not saying that God alone isn't enough- He sure is!, but I think You get what I mean). God made us as relational beings, but when it comes to Christians who struggle, those relationships don't seem to be able to handle it (or we don't want to test the relationship to see if it can!)

We think we're the only one struggling. But we're not. Not at all. There's probably a lot of other brothers and sisters in Christ struggling with the same thing, also on their own. They're ashamed and disgusted in themselves. They have a reputation to uphold. They're leaders in our churches, people you go to bible study with, the girl you catch up with to read the bible and pray.

They're struggling, on their own... because they're afraid that if they tell anyone what's really going on in their lives that people would look at them differently. The church can focus so much on holiness that they forget to remind people about Gods amazing grace... suddenly they don't feel worthy enough.... Even more, sometimes not only do we hide our struggles from our Christian peers, but we hide them from God, for many of the same reasons. We push Him away.....

I'm so thankful that we have a God who knows us SOOOOOO intimately and personally. I was at the Aggressive Christianity Conference last night, and the TC spoke on 'going personal', looking within and bringing all that we are before the feet of Jesus. Nothing is impossible for Him. No burden is too big for Him.

I want to be real. I want to be authentic. I don't want to be fake in a world that demands perfection and excellence. I want to be REAL..... and a real person doesn't have it together all of the time. A real person who knows she can bring all of her struggles and worries to the foot of the cross. A real person who knows her sins are forgiven, and experiences the marvellous, amazing grace of a loving God.