Friday, December 23, 2005

Gone to Fiji

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Too Blessed for Debt

Was thinking the other day about debt and how so many people are held back in life because they get themselves in debt... they are tied to people/banks until they pay back what they owe....So many people miss out on awesome opportunities because of their financial commitments.....

I've never had a loan or even a credit card...prob the most I've owed people was a couple of bucks till I could pay em back the next day........I just can't fathom spending money I don't have...

so while I was thinking I came up with the term....'I'm too blessed for Debt'....it is soo true....I have made the decision not to go into Debt....and I have everything I need ...I have a roof over my head, an abundance of food, a car to drive...for the last three years have gone overseas 5 times....and hey I'm not in a huge paying Job

It's putting faith in God to meet my financial needs not relying on other people or a bank...

I'm too blessed for Debt

I used to drive a 1979 mazda 323 that was very near the end of it's life....but I loved it (it was Yellow, what more could ya want)....and it got me where I needed to go...but it was barely getting me there....so I prayed....considered the loan thing ...for about a second ....but instead the car ran on prayer for a few months.... then out of the blue I got sent $2000 for a new car...prayed for the car... Dad had a friend who could get into Auctions and a few weeks later had myself a nice little Lancer for $1900 but worth alot more ....God is awesome....the only thing I prayed for and didn't get was a pink car...I'll have to do with Silver :)

God showed me once again he will meet all my needs....and I am free to Go when he says Go.....

I'm too Blessed for Debt

The thing I started thinking about last night was do I have the faith to believe one day I could own a house....without ever getting a loan?......My God is definately big enough...we'll see if it is what God has for me

I'm way too Blessed for Debt


-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Christmas

I thought I would post twice in one day....to make up for the break I had in the last few weeks

As your thinking about chrissy pressies this year why not check out Tear Australias "Arguably the world's most useful gift catalogue" at http://www.tear.org.au/giftcatalogue/index.shtml or www.tear.org.au

... there's cool stuff like goats and toilets and women self-help groups... all for people in developing countries...

it's a good idea...

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Orchestrated

My God is one amazing Orchestrator!!.....can blend things together so perfectly...

Have had a couple of amazingly encouraging letters from sisters around the world turn up in the last few days...

just when i needed them...

with just the right words.....

thanks Jesus.... for care and guidance and so much more...all of your glory

Psalm 23:3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Lessons Learnt

Be careful what you pray eh!..

I've been away at schoolies (for those over in Nth America you guys call it spring break) ... end of yr 12 big week-long party....30 000 17yr olds ....we had 400-500 (can't remember) HC's...christians who live in the hotels for a week, build relationships with the kids and are there for them when they are in situations they can't handle...or just want a chat..... we had over 100 salvations ....Praise Jesus.....

But before I went I prayed that God would teach me more about leadership and who I am in leadership.... (I'm heading out to Fiji in 27 days as a leader for a team of 10-12yr olds spreading the word of Jesus...Hooray)...for the first day I was leading a team of 4 HC's (until their leader got there) I was like yeah this is when God will teach me......but no...it was when I was on another team....submitting to a leader that I learnt the lessons....

My leaders style of leadership was different from mine...and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this....so all the issues where my own ( U where a great leader buddy)....

I think I finally started getting it.....That I don't always know best an there are other ways to get a fantastic result...It doesn't always have to be Relle's way....(not that everything i do has a fantastic result either, that sounded really prideful)

You only need to confronting authority on only really important issue....choosing your battles and checking your motives... Standing up for injustice...not petty little things

I also know I like to bend rules a little....but it was kewl cause my leader was also a friend of mine...so I totally felt I couldn't bend them cause I knew him...it was so hard...but I think I was good....

and part of that is as a leader having the integrity to stick by the organisations rules...The organisation I am going to Fiji with are huge on rules (some toally wacked)...so this is a good lesson....and one I hope to be found faithful in

Also being a team member instead of leader showed me the things a member looks for in a leader...things that will so help me as a leader

and it was sweet...cause I learnt the lessons now in a safety net of friends.....

could you guys keep me in your prayers...whenever I step up to a task I get hit with feelings of inadeqaucy ...and I sooo feel like this with Fiji.... but i spose that cool, cause I know I can't do this... but I also know ' I am the vines, you (God) are the branches when I abide in you and you in me it brings forth good fruit, but without you I can do nothing'.....(Relle's version)

Thanks Jesus for your Grace

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

A little heaven on earth....

You know in the bible how it says every tongue and tribe will be praising together in heaven.... I had a taste the other nightof this mulit-cultural unity when I saw a few sub-cultures coming together and having fun.....and it was good....

have been organising a team of kids from YOS to play indoor cricket in a competition @ the salvos up the road...out first game was last monday....verse the Moonyah Guys, (thats the salvo drug and alcohol rehab centre in brissy).....

one stage when I looked on the court there was, men going through rehab, a guy who was graduating the next night, street kids, kids in transitional housing and salvos all playing together and having good clean fun...and it was at a salvo churches gym...it really felt like a profound moment.....

something that has concerned me for a while was the lack of interaction between salvo churches and salvo social centres....but there is something happening..... and it feels good....

And the kids....what can I sat ....they got thrashed.....but man I am proud of them...they encouraged each other, showed each other technique (and me...who knew i could kinda bowl)....they even made a rule that if they swore on the field they had 50 push-ups.....

a kewl thing too was ....one kids ws walking past YOS before we went to the game, so we asked him if he wanted to play....we through him a shirt he jumped in the van and drove to the game.... he had a blast....then afterwards he said 'my mum lives down the road, I might go home tonight'...this kid was probbaly on his way to find his next shot but instead had some good clean fun and went home....

Jesus thanks for a taste...and thanks for the opportunities I have....I love you

anyone in bris our next game is monday night @ 6pm at stafford corps...we would love the support....

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Monday, October 31, 2005

Sooo much to do

Man October was a crazy month...soooooo much happened.....but with the help of my Awesome God (who is the one and only) I pulled through....

all you prayers out there can i ask you to keep me up in prayers...I was chatting to God on the weekend and he said the tough stuff isn't over yet, there is more he needs me to go through ... but I'm sure the end result is worth it.... and I am willing to go through it....

especially cause he prepared me by giving some sweet as verses....Psal18: 29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall....and also 1 cor 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it....

Prob a wall i gotta scale is assessment ...6 assignments this week and 5 next week for TAFE, I have a pack of leadership homework to do for a mission trip I'm assisting n leading, and also a pack of pre-candidate assessments for salvo training college....crazy load but hey with my God I can scale a wall :)...

The Battle is Good.....wouldn't be anywhere else :)

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Run the Race

I have another Analogy.... sometimes I just make up weird analogies ...it's a thing I do

You guys all know how in the Philipians 3 Paul uses the analogy that life is like a race...stay focused on the goal and all that...

well...I was thinking that the race of life is a bit like a decathlon...sometimes there are hurdles to get over, sometimes endurance testers (the long run), Sometimes there is a height to jump that seems humanly impossible (Pole Vault) but when you rely on God and go for it is so possible....

Then I was thinking about life and marriage...all of a sudden you are bound to another person and life becomes a three-legged race...you need to communicate to make sure each step is in time with the others, keeping focused on the goal.....

but what happens when the hurdles come....anyone every seen a three-legged hurdle race?....me neither.....and what about a three-legged pole vault????

hats off to all you couples out there running a three-legged race....I pray that God would strength your relationship, that you would keep in step with each other and with Jesus, and that you will step up to the challenge and soar with Jesus...

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Sunday, October 23, 2005

A long week...and an analogies

Man has it been a Loooong week.. I feel like it has just been junk on top of junk on top of junk.... a good friend passed away, another friend was scheduled in for an abortion twice (but it hasn't gone through, pray with me that the baby would live and there would be a healing in my friends life), a brick was thrown by an angry client at work and shattered an apparently unshatterable window and a whole tonne more....

But the week ended pretty well cause We took the Youth from my Church away for camp..and I found there is something about fellowship with other believers that just drains away the strain... also just digging into the word and claiming God's protection... Good stuff.... when I sat with God and looked at all that had happened, cried a bit I felt so much more on top of things, kinda like a soaring above the storms....

The camp was at the Farm Today I was down by the creek chatting to Jesus, and when we finished I had to get back to the shed...there was two ways I could of gone, one was a for sure way, down the creek bank through the gate then follow the edge of the paddock to the shed, the other was a bit dubious the shed was about 50m across this paddock ther was just a gully and a fence in the way... I got through the gully but couldn't get passed the fence so had to go back down through the gate...

I was thinking about how sometimes in life there is something right in front of us that we can see and we want and sometimes it is even something God has promised us, and it is really frustrating cause it is right there in front of us but there are blockages in the way and we need to take a longer path to get to them....but when we get there we are in one piece...

I want to say a huge thanks to my prayer support out there, you guys are awesome.

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Privileged to be Tired

I've just got back from YOS school camp... If you don't know YOS is Youth Outreach Service, my work place, a salvo youth drop-in centre for kids living and hanging out in inner-city Brisbane....we also run three flexi-school sites for kids disengaged from mainstream school (dropped out or expelled).....

What a privilege to go on camp....It was amazing....to see a bunch of kids challenge themselves and push themselves beyond what they thought they could bear....

one kid said 'I feel more confident'

another decided to go on and finish grade 11 & 12 instead of settling with a grade 10 certificate...

heaps of them overcame fears....

it was amazing....we got to do a low ropes course, High ropes course, challenege activities, a hike up a gorge (very steep gorge, took us about 6 hrs to do a 5km hike), a 7km canoe ride (with fallen trees as obstacles), we slept in a run down shack on a cow paddock (and ad possums visit us in the night), climbed trees and just had an amazing time....

but the best thing was to see the kids confidence grow....to hear the stories and see hope, plans and future grow in them........Jesus I pray you would secure these plans please don't let the enemy steal their futures....

the only down side is the amount of sleep I got....or didn't get.....but hey It was worth it..... These kids now know they can do it.....They have strategies to overcome fears .....all I can say is WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDIIIIIIIIIEEEE...

and on that note I think I really need to get some sleep.....

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Too Old to use the excuse I'm Too Young...

Just a quick note tonight...

I am coming to the realisation that I am getting a little too old to use the excuse I'm too young... I'm only 21 but I have been using that excuse for way too long....and if I keep believing it i'll be 99 and still saying 'but I'm too young'

not that being too young has ever stopped me doing anything much... but the first query that pops into my head when I step out is 'Relle you are way too young to do that'.... hmm...

it's probably the enemy's scheme a way to stop me.... (writing down your thoughts really helps ya find things out eh?).....

Jesus, Thanks that I haven't believed him...often


-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Saturday, October 01, 2005

Does money Grow on Trees?

I saw Charlie and the Chocolate factory at the movies today... Charlies' grandpa made this quote

'There's plenty of money out there they print more everyday'

He said it when Charlie decided he wanted to sell his Golden Ticket to help the family Financially ... Grandpa said it making the point that Charlie should take the once in a life time opportunity and the family would get by as they always had...

I look at what I have done over the last few years...and yeah I have been overseas a fair bit...and spent a bit of money on this....it seems eveytime I have a decent amount in my savings account I empty it on my next trip.........but would I give up those experiences to have a decent saving account .....no way

This may sound a lil' irresponsible....

But I think I just have a different Value system from the Norm...

I'm the Daughter of the King....a child of Christ since I am a Christian God has adopted me as his very own child.....which means I have access to all the riches of the world...not only financial....

God has looked after me so many times before....each time I have stepped out and said I will take the next challenge on bored....he has provided me with funds from the most random places ...he has enabled me to live on little and save heaps .....and so many friends of mine who have taken on God's challenges recently have also been given huge donations towards their trips....

I seriously have no right not to trust God with my money....he has shown his faithfullness soo many times

I've never been without ....God Delights in looking after me......and he will look after you too

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Freedom

Lately I have been thinking how privileged I am in my Freedom.....

on my camping expedition last week there were 3 of us all girls .... we didn't even think about if it was safe or not, we just went.....in so many countries women can't even walk the streets by themselve let alone camp....we even unzipped the tent and stuck our heads out to sleep under the stars.......................Thanks Jesus for freedom

I was at the local Park this morning and while walking round the park I was praying the bible... How awesome is it that I own not only one bible but 3 or 4 (I heard that there are some Salvation Army Officers in Papua New Guinea who can't afford a bible?!?!?).....Also I have the freedom to walk around in public praying it...I don't have to hide my bible I can whip it out anytime I want...I can even where it on my shirt!!!!......Thanks Jesus for Freedom


also.....God has provided....I have all the funds for the next overseas mission he is sending me on......I have stopped worrying if he will provide....of course he will...If he asked me to go he will get me there......I just keep an eye out how he is going to do it each time... this time he used the Australian Tax Department........sweet eh?

Cheers,

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Delight yourself in the Lord

I have got some really wise friends.... they whip my thinking back into line without knowing they are doing it.....

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

... I absolutely love this verse and have loved it for a long time..... but realised I was putting the emphasis in the wrong place..... I was waiting for the LORD to give me the desires of my heart without delighting myself in him....

He knows my desires....

I remember hearing Retired General (of The Salvation Army) Eva Burrows talking one day about butterflys. She was saying... if you chase a butterfly they keep flying away, but if you busy yourself with the things of life, they just come and land on your shoulder....she likened this to happiness.....

Last night I decided I had to change a few things and have already seen the change in my thinking and the change in my perspective....I am accepting things that I haven't for a while and the desires I have had for a while seem to on the backburner....I'm excited about the present.....and it is good

God may give me the desires of my heart....but there not that important anymore

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Friday, September 23, 2005

Literally in Tents, Creation and Blue-Shoelaces

Hey all,

decided it was time for a break, so grabbed a tent and some mates and headed up the coast for a few day....it was absolutely awesome.....how blessed am I that I live in a country like Aus with so much beauty....was reminded the other day about a quote I made a few years back 'Creation stirs my spirit to praise'...it is still so true for me today...thanks Jesus...

This morning while having breaky outside out tent watching the waves roll onto the white as sand (anyone jealous yet?)...me and me mates played a game of making preach points from the environment we came up with some good ones.... rising on eagles wings, resting in the shadow of the almighty, he is the vine we are the branches, his grace washing over us.......so true 'Creation stirs my spirit to praise'...

I also bought some new shoes yesterday and I liked them but knew I would like them that little bit better if they had blue shoelaces....so i was asking at all these shops for blue-shoelaces...and I prayed for blue shoelaces...but no one had any.....when we got back to our tent I took the shoes outta the box to look at them and inside the box was a pair of blue-shoelaces.....how awesome is God he provides not only what I need but also what I want.....

cheers,

-Be Strong and Courageous-

!Relle

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

I am entering the bloggin world

Hey all bloggers and blog readers...I have finally after much contemplation and procrastination started my very own blog spot....

But i also have to get off the net so Dad can make a phone call.....

So come back in a few days and pick your way through my thoughts and make some sense...

-Be strong and Courageous-

!Relle