to blog or not to blog

18 months since I last blogged.

So much has happened that I don't think I will even attempt the recap that I normally try to do after long periods of inactivity. Instead I might try to explain why I am back here again.

Not too sure why, but maybe about two weeks ago, I was flicking through the old blog and was pleasantly surprised by the many things I have blogged about since I started this in 2007. I have written a lot of stuff on this little patch of the internet and for that reason, it has been a treasure trove of nostalgia! Being a pretty forgetful yet sentimental person, it was a nice experience. So I thought I might try keep it going a little longer.

The other thing was that sometimes I just want to share what's on my mind, but social media just seems like the wrong place to do it. Not everyone on twitter or facebook wants to know about what's going on in this wacky mind of mine. At least if you're here on the blog already, you're here by choice - and that means there is a higher chance that you may care about or are at least slightly interested in what I have to say... so thanks!

my thoughts on the holy land

What an amazing trip!

Seriously. If you have never been to the Holy Land before, you need to go! It was the most memorable trip of my life. It was a HUGE blessing to go see and experience the places written about in the Bible with my own eyes. We went from Amman in Jordan, to Sinai in Egypt, and then through Israel, before heading back to Amman to fly home.  Now when I read the Bible, the names of places are not just names, visuals come to mind! I've got more of an interest in the maps at the back of my Bible too!

The different religions was one of the things that struck me the most. There are some really misled people in the world who are very devoted to the rituals and traditions and relics that just seem to cloud them from seeing true salvation by faith in Christ. I treasure Sola Fide (by faith alone) a lot more now... I don't have to wake up at 5am to pray like the muslims do. I don't need to spend all day reading the Torah and bending repetitively in front of an old wall. I don't need to journey to an old church to kiss a stone where Christ supposedly was born. God loves me the way that I am because of Christ. There's nothing that I could do that could make God love me more, and there is nothing that I have done that will make God love me less. God knew what He was getting when He paid for me with Christ's blood, and He still chose to go through with the transaction! Amazing love, amazing grace!

So what else did we do?

We climbed Mt Sinai in the middle of the night to watch the sun rise.

We floated in the Dead Sea.

We viewed (through fog!) the Holy Land from Mt Pisgah's lofty height (sweet hour of prayer style)

We hung out at Jacob's Well in Samaria (a la woman of Samaria with Jesus)

We did our QT in the Garden of Gethsemane

We saw a possible site for Golgotha

We went into the old city of Jerusalem

We waded through Hezekiah's Tunnel

We visited Gehenna (aka Hell)

We sailed on the Sea of Galilee

We saw (and ate) hyssop

We saw several conies on rocks (as mentioned in Proverbs)

We saw wild goats (also mentioned in Proverbs)

We visited Dan

We visited Peter's Mother-in-law's house

We went to Tabitha's tomb

We went to Tel Dan (don't ask me what we told him lol)

We rode camels down Sinai

We picked fives smooth stones from the Valley of Elah, but no Goliath was spotted

We saw and got scolded by Pharisees

We went to Nazareth

We went to the land of the Ammonites

We went to Mt Carmel, but we didn't challenge any prophets there (only a group of Nigerians haha)

We saw a recreated Nazareth Village (as per Jesus' time)

We were at Bethlehem for Christmas!

We sang carols in Bethlehem's Manger Square (including Silent Night in Arabic)... on Christmas Eve!

We saw Beth Shemesh (no golden calf tho)

We saw the stony home of the Edomites (Petra)

We hid from Saul in Ein Gedi (we did a good job because he never found us - well we never found him either)

We saw the cursed site in Jericho

We had a squiz at Herod's crib in Masada

We saw a life-sized wilderness tabernacle

We saw the actual Pool of Bethesda, Pool of Silom and the Spring of Gihon

We didn't get baptised in the Jordan River, but we saw it!

We did QT at the Mt of the Beatitudes

We visited the Mt of Olives

We walked the 'Palm Sunday' route

We ate lunch at Caesarea

We ate icecream at Joppa

We did a lot more!

We took lots of photos

We had lots of fun

We made lots of new friends

We learnt many new things

We loved every minute of the Holy Land!

happy new year!

Wow, more than half a year has passed since I blogged.. much has happened!

I finished Bible in a Year! YAY!

My bro got married!

I went to the Holy Land!

I got a new phone!

I joined the gym!

I lost and regained 3kg! hahaha

I went to the zoo!

I booked another holiday!

I got a new credit card!

My cousin had a baby!

A vintage traveller got married!

I turned a year older!

I went to an outdoor cinema for the first time!

I went on Emirates for the first time!

I got my first speeding ticket!

ahh the memories... and agghh! my memory is so bad.. I'm sure I did a lot more too! Should keep blogging more often...

Holy Land post coming soon!

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...