I ♥ my snuggie!

When I first saw this, I thought it was ridiculous.

Then I saw it at Kmart for only $7.

Now I am wearing my snuggie and I LOVE it! I don't know how I ever got through without it!

exhale...

Thank God today is over.

For a few weeks now, I have been dreading 22 June. Today was the ominous day of training that I was asked to deliver to managers and supervisors at my work. A room full of people staring at me for three hours - and all bosses! What a nightmare! Public speaking is said to be the biggest source of fear for most people, and I was definitely feeling very jittery. Though I have done it before in my old job, I was quite nervous about today because I am still fairly new at my current job and I still feel as though, I myself am learning. I just didn't feel that I was experienced enough to be training!

Leading up to today, I was about a fortnight ago that there were only three people signed up for the training and that it might not go ahead. That was truly music to my ears and as I thanked God and reassured myself that the training wasn't going to go ahead, a bombshell was dropped about a week later... There was a problem with the registration process and there were at least 24 people coming. I was told that that was some kind of record.  

WHAT?

The disbelief was soon followed by panic that climaxed on Monday night when I couldn't sleep at the thought of doing training in a few days. I went to work tired-as, and went along to the first day of training (which thankfully was delivered by someone else (I just came in for the introduction as I would only have to take over from Day 2)). As I went to the training and waited for the people to arrive, people kept coming, and coming, and coming. In the end, I did a head count of 29 people! *faint*

Now I was really nervous.

Last night, I prayed that God would help me calm down, have a good sleep and do a good job the next day so that He may be glorified. Sure enough, after doing a big clean up of my room (don't know why, but cleaning seems to help when you are stressed) I read my Bible, and had an early night. I slept very soundly and that night I dreamed that I was doing the presentation. I was nervous, but the nerves felt as though they were under control! I woke up feeling excited to do the presentation with a good amount of nervous energy.

One of the things I was taught about Public Speaking was that if you picture yourself doing a good presentation, that would help you actually do a good presentation. At the time I thought that was silly, but I think it might have actually worked!

Even leading up to the presentation itself (which is usually when I start getting nervous) I felt fine. The presentation came and went, and I think it actually went well. Questions were asked, and I was able to answer them! People even came up to me after the presentation to say thanks and give me complements! I was shocked! I got some really good feedback and I walked away feeling very relieved and thankful.

As I realised this afternoon that it was all over, I was full of praise to God! God is so gracious and kind. He knew exactly how to calm me down and He gave me the strength to control my nerves.



fruit traffic light

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I eat dinosaurs for lunch!

Best... idea... ever!

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zebra sky

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another year of entertainment is over

Didn't do too bad this year, used quite a bit of the Entertainment Book and I think I recouped most if not all of the cost of it. Well maybe not I exclusively, but me, my friends, and family :)

This coming year I'm hoping to make more of a profit!

Dinner anyone?

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the wonders of Job

Finding that reading Job has been a blessing. It's been a good reminder of God's sovereignty and the fact that though we don't know what's going on, God is still in control

I was intrigued by one of yesterday's little side notes in the DWB (daily walk Bible) regarding Job 38:16 

'Have you entered into the springs of the sea? or have you walked in search of the depths?'

The note mentioned the the Mariana Trench so I looked it up today - it sounds like Adrian's favourite pasta, but it's actually a dirty, great, big trench in the sea! It's nearly 11000km deep and Wikipedia says

'If Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth at 8,848 metres (29,029 ft), were set in the deepest part of the Mariana Trench, there would be 2,076 metres (6,811 ft) of water left above it'

Now that's deep!

Also another intriguing inclusion in Job 39 about a unicorn!

Job 39:9  Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

There are other mentions of unicorn in the Bible so I wanted to find out more... hence this link to an article by Carl Wieland from Creation Ministries. You may agree or disagree that it is supposed to be translated as a 'wild ox', but as for me and my imagination, we will think of unicorns.

the broken rod

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last day for free coffees!

Got in during rush hour...

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saw this...

... and read this...

Job 26:8
He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

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a small taste of Job-ness

So I bought a fishing rod less than a week ago. Brand new, couldn't wait to use it. Spent a few hours probably tying up rigs and reading up about rods and fishing. My brothers and I decided to go fishing yesterday - well it was my idea because i wanted to try out my brand-spanking-new rod. We put everything into the back of the van with the back seat folded up to fit everything in. And off we went. As the car accelerated after reversing from the driveway, the back seat slams back down and a huge crack made me turn around. The back seat landed right on top of my rod, snapping it like a twig. Totally devastated. Tears in my eyes. Hadn't touched the spray of salt water, never even been cast.

Then, later last night, I read the devotion for 22 May. 'Imagine that you have been deprived of possessions, health, and loved ones. Could you still proclaim that your hope is still in the Lord?'

Oh Snap! (literally in my rod's case). Well it's not exactly something that took my hope away from the Lord, but it was definitely a possession, and maybe even a 'loved one'... maybe that's stretching it, but I did like it a lot. It was minor, and can be easily replaced at Kmart for $30, but the sense of loss still felt very real. Imagine how Job felt!

can the boat sink?

Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow,
Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea,
What matters beating wind and tossing billow
If only we are in the boat with Thee?

Hold us quiet through the age-long minute
While Thou art silent and the wind is shrill :
Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, are in it;
Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will?

— Amy Carmichael

current reading...

I've been a bit slack with updating the blog, but thought I would check back in about current reading - it's been months since I have!

I recently finished the book Quest for Love by Elisabeth Elliot which I found was really good.

I loved Passion and Purity and I've wanted to re-read that for a while, but came across this book which is kinda like a sequel. Let me explain.

Basically, the book is a collection of stories that people have written that support the ideas that Elisabeth Elliot had proposed in P&P. People who had read the book, and have either decided to follow what they read (successful love stories) and those who chose not to (unsuccessful love stories) and experienced great hurt as a result. The book also contained the accounts of courtship and marriage of some missionaries and other Christians who preceded P&P. Intertwined with the stories and letters, Elisabeth Elliot makes comments and further explains the different principles. Each chapter also ends with review questions and questions that may be used in discussions.

I personally found the book to be a blessing, but I reckon you should read Passion and Purity first if you have not already done so. I guess I am pretty biased toward Elisabeth Elliot - I have a lot of her books and I also like listening to her sermons (she has spoken at many ladies meetings) that are available online. I won't harp on any more about how great she is, so all I will say is that you should read the book for yourself and make up your own mind.

Hmm OK other reading..

I am nearly finished Esther by Chuck Swindoll and I have also started reading The Savage My Kinsman by Elisabeth Elliot. The last book was one that I picked up from the 2011 Vose Seminary Book Sale that just passed. There's many more that I want to read, but I just need more time!

Also...

Project Library has started! More soon..

the looong weekend!

I was incredibly blessed to have a longer than usual long weekend these past few days. Usually, long weekends would go for three days, but I have had the last six days off due to three public holidays, two weekend days and one flexi day. Praise - the - LORD!

It's been such a blessing too. Did so much!

Thursday

Lunch in the city with Truc and Trina

Coffee

Officeworks

Church

Birthday dinner for Cheryl with Juanita and Truc

Baskin Robbins

Good Friday

Good Friday, I spent the morning with John Piper watching the series 'Seeing and Savouring Christ' which turned out to be so appropriate for Good Friday.

Sorting in the church library

 Dinner at home then coming back to church for Good Friday Service

Saboteur into the wee hours of the morning

Saturday

After a good sleep in...

Yum Cha with my family

Off to the hills with Truc and Trina

Devonshire Tea Coffee at our new Secret Spot :)

Atrium at Burswood for Minh and Selina

Easter Sunday

Sunrise Service!

Easter Brekky at Church - Hot Cross Buns, McDonald's Hash Browns, Coffee

Easter Sunday Service

Lunch with Regen and the Tans at Sommerville Cafe

Epic Nap

Watched the end of Game 2 of NBL grand final

Off to the 25th Anniversary Dinner

Supper at Valentino's with more coffee

Monday

Church Family BBQ at Burswood Park

a bit of Soccer

Clean-up at church

Coffee

Impromptu Fishing Trip

Late-night fish feast at 1:30am

Tuesday

Epic Sleep-in...

And still half a day left!

friends outside my window...

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getting creative

To 'destress' at work, my boss introduced a couple of packs of plasticine for the team to get creative with. This is what they came up with. It's still going on now with new additions popping up all the time :)

You can't see it very well, but in the b/ground, someone put a real figurine down and popped a post-it next to it that has 'beat that!' written on it haha

Also, there's the bear that you can colour in and decorate...

the new job

After four years and ten months in the job I went to as a green OT grad, I started a new job at UWA on 7 March 2011. It was strange leaving my comfort zone and coming to a completely new environment, starting a new routine (7:30am starts), driving to work instead of being driven, adjusting to a different role, and developing a new way of thinking. It's been a challenge, but a blessing too.

I'm thankful also that my new workplace is so scenic. I'm required to go all over campus for my job, so I get to take in the sights daily. Here's a sample...

Pretty nice huh?

Also, I found a use for my gift from Sel...



accidental geniusness

Bobby pin and clip tidy!

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massive Mr G.

Tomorrow, my Sunday School lesson is on David and Goliath.

So much fun right? Giant, slingshot, one of the all-time-hall-of-fame-heroes of the Bible, the little fella beating the huge behemoth of a man.

Good times.

It's interesting though, to see how huge Goliath was...

And there went a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span 1 Samuel 17:4 

Apparently, 6 cubits and a span equals 9 feet and 9 inches... which equals 297cm. I didn't quite fathom how big this was until I got out a tape measure. Even then, it didn't really hit me until I googled 'tallest man record' and I was introduced to Mr Robert Wadlow...

Yep, that's ol' Robbo. The tallest living male in medical history. Apparently his pituitary gland (which makes growth hormone) didn't really work properly and kept making him grow and grow and grow. Unfortunately, he (and others like him) didn't live very long and he died at the age of 22.

But he wasn't even as tall as Goliath!

Robert Wadlow was only 272cm! Goliath was still taller by like 25cm! A whole ruler length on top of Rob's head!

But the bottom line is, as tall as Goliath was, he was no match for our Almighty God and with one measly stone projected by a red-headed shepherd boy with a slingshot, the towering frame came tumbling down.

How great is our God?!

Explanation coming soon...

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a thousand pieces later...

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the daily walk

The daily walk continues and I'm currently on a rest day. Yesterday I finished Chapter 10 of Exodus which means I am a quarter of the way through Exodus!

Bible in a Year has been great so far. I was reminded of how much I loved the story of Joseph, the lessons I learnt from Genesis all those years ago in the DHW Bible study series, and am looking forward to continuing the story of Moses tomorrow.

BUT

What keeps looming over me is the inevitable cloud of falling behind or stopping my reading. In some ways it encourages me to keep trying to defy that cloud of failure - but then I am faced with a second cloud of obligation where I dutifully complete my reading  because I am supposed to and not because I want to spend time with God in His Word. The temptation of one is to submit to the other - I try to overcome the failure cloud by making sure I read every day, then I think 'am I doing this out of duty and not devotion?' and then I am tempted to not do it because it becomes seemingly contrived.

SO

What has helped me to find the right heart in doing the reading has been John Piper's IOUS.

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness (Psalm 119:36)

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law (Psalm 119:18)

Unite my heart to fear thy name (Psalm 86:11b)

Satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days (Psalm 90:14)

The times when I have remembered to take time to get my heart right before reading, I am encouraged by what I read. Just makes me wonder, will this work when it comes to Leviticus?

Only time will tell. :)

vocab-boost

Reading the autobiography of CS Lewis at the moment and I am really enjoying it. The big words have continued to baffle me, which means it’s time for another instalment of the very vocabulous vocab-boost!

pique [peek]

to affect with sharp irritation and resentment, esp. by some wound to pride: She was greatly piqued when they refused her invitation.

obsequious [uhb-see-kwee-uhs]

servilely compliant or deferential: obsequious servants.

harangue [huh-rang]

any long, pompous speech or writing of a tediously hortatory or didactic nature; sermonizing lecture or discourse.

surreptitious [sur-uhp-tish-uhs]

obtained, done, made, etc., by stealth; secret or unauthorized; clandestine: a surreptitious glance.

invectives [in-vek-tiv]

vehement or violent denunciation, censure, or reproach. an insulting or abusive word or expression.

welter [wel-ter]

to become deeply or extensively involved, associated, entangled, etc. to roll, toss, or heave, as waves or the sea.

forsooth [fawr-sooth]

Archaic. (now used in derision or to express disbelief) in truth; in fact; indeed.

mercurial [mer-kyoor-ee-uhl]

changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic: a mercurial nature.

heterodox [het-er-uh-doks]

not in accordance with established or accepted doctrines or opinions, esp. in theology; unorthodox.

precocious [pri-koh-shuhs]

unusually advanced or mature in development, esp. mental development: a precocious child.

vapid [vap-id]

without liveliness or spirit; dull or tedious: a vapid party; vapid conversation.

jocular [jok-yuh-ler]

given to, characterized by, intended for, or suited to joking or jesting; waggish; facetious: jocular remarks about opera stars.

Impressive list huh? Look, you’re welcome. I’m glad that you are clearly piqued about weltering in this new sea of words. You may think it vapid but forsooth, it is indeed a jocular attempt at helping you become more precocious in your speech – as is quite heterodox in today’s society.

three words

Fighting
Learning
Pursuit

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oh yeah...

HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody!

I would post a photo of the first sunset of 2011 in Perth (taken from King's Park) BUT my phone's SD card died and the photos died with it so please enjoy this random puppy picture instead

Bible in a Year (take two!)

I decided to start the Bible in a year again this year - actually I started a few days earlier at the end of December 2010 when I received this Bible...

I have officially done one week of readings and it's been quite good so far. Already once, the passage I read (and the verses that I highlighted) came up the day after - when the verses were the text used for the sermon in church! I remember thinking the night before, it's funny that not many sermons are preached about Enoch and then just like that, the very next morning the message was about how Enoch walked with God!

And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. 

Genesis 5:22-24 

What will be better this time round is that there's a group of us doing Bible in a Year with the same Bible, and hopefully, this will give the extra motivation and positive peer pressure to keep up with the readings. If you're interested, the link to the blog that we will be keeping is here

Thought it was also funny that Jon Acuff's Stuff Christians Like blogged about Bible in Year today too

We'll see how this goes in the coming year...