unexpected blessing!

My day actually started off a bit rough today... I didn't get much sleep last night due to a late-night evangelism meeting at Maccas Canning Highway (props out to Mikey Hong by the way, for the free expresso-pronto upgrade!) - though it was worth it, I seriously paid for it today (was absolutely knackered all day!). I woke up feeling unrefreshed and dreading the day ahead of me. I had 3 appointments in Northbridge first up which I stumbled through (one of the chicks I assessed kept staring at me - which was really unsettling! :S) and then headed back to the office. On the way, I saw big Al who had just ran an errand and was wandering around the shops (I would have said 'ummah' to him, but I was doing the same thing! hehehe).

When I got back to the office, I had an email from my boss in my inbox. I opened it and was surprised to read something along the lines of:

Hi Rowena, I'm pleased to let you know that in the first quarter of the year, you have earnt a significant bonus of $XXXX! This will be added into your account on the next pay-run. Well Done and keep up the good work!

Whoa.. Crazy stuff! The timing of this news couldn't have been better... I have recently been worried about my performance at work and even last night, as I was in bed trying to fight the effects of my upgraded latte, I took some time to write down the things which I had been worrying about and took the time to commit them to the Lord in prayer. I kid you not when I say that two of the things I had written down were 'not doing a good job at work' and 'letting the company down' (in terms of performance). How amazing was it that the very next day, God gives me such an awesome encouragement! The bonus was more than what I would usually get in my fortnightly pay! All glory to God! God is SOOO awesome man! I am still in disbelief...

This whole thing reminds me of the following verse:

But you shall remember the LORD your God: for it is he that gives you power to get wealth... - Deuteronomy 8:18a

It is only by His strength and providence that I have the ability to get through days like today - where I just feel so incredibly drained and deprived of sleep, yet I was able to function fairly normally at work and get heaps of work done!

My flesh and my heart fail: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever - Psalms 73:26.

Thankyou God for so many unexpected and undeserved blessings.
I praise and thank You because Your timing is always impeccable.
You always know what we need and You constantly do exceeding abundantly above what we ask or think.
May I never take Your gifts for granted and may my love for You continue to increase regardless of whether these blessings wax or wane.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

from the tube - something to do on a rainy day...

Who would have thought dominoes would be such a cack?

Alrighty.. I guess I should tie this back to the spiritual somehow! Well, the one thing that really stood out to me when I watched these vids was 'Man! These guys have a lot of time on their hands'... I mean seriously, how long would it have taken to set up those crazy domino things - especially video 2 (HARDCORE!)... I mean you would it expect it from the crazy Japanese dudes, but the hardcores in vid 2 - man o man!

This made me think about the way that a lot of us live our lives in today's world. Christians and non-Christians continue along in their daily grind hoping to work toward that next goal in their life - car, house, nicer car, boat, bigger house, 1st million, more cars, 5th million, bigger house, private jet, corporate empire... But once they die, all the things they have 'set-up' for themselves are just going to come tumbling down one after another like a set of well-placed dominoes.

NYC'06 Crosby Group Members will remember the following verse:

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

[Crosby ppl: Do you guys still remember the tune?? hehehe I don't think I will ever forget this verse! I still remember Andy's attempt at a song - that was one seriously catchy tune!]

Getting back on track, the things which are seen (i.e. material goods) will only ever be of temporal value (they will soon be gone) and the things which we don't see will last forever. So don't waste your life building up domino-empires! Sure we all have to study or work for a living, but use the time you are at uni or work to do what you can to let your colleagues know about Christ and keep shining that light!

God is just, because even a pauper on earth can be a Donald Trump in heaven!

happy 21st BPCWA!

All in all it was a great night out - lotsa laughs all round and the food was pretty good too! a big SHOUT OUT to table 13 it was great sharing food with u all! haha.. Congrats also to Vicks & Ian for their baptisms, not-so-little Dazza for his reaffirmation and Chookie for her transfer of membership today too! Well done guys and girl!

reading hole

Here is an updated pic of my reading hole. As you can see, the beanbag has been removed and replaced with a ssuper-comfy chair (being an OT, I have come to realise that the beanbag, though great as it is, does not provide adequate lumbar support and tends to encourage kyphotic postures :P). I have also added a nice cushion and a snuggly throw rug since the weather has been a bit chilly recently :)

I am really happy to report that I am still using the hole, and I am starting to really enjoy reading once again! My mum has also come in and seen my reading hole, and because she said she liked it so much - I have decided to share my precious hole with her and have given her permission to use it while I am at work or whenever she wants to hehe.. She has also come online and checked out my blog! Mum actually was quite surprised that any random person could come along and read what I have written but I assured her that I wasn't posting up my bank account details or anything crazy like that hehe... (HI MUM - if you are reading!)

Well tonight is the anniversary dinner and I will be sure to take some piccies for the blog! For those who don't know, every year, my church holds a dinner at a restaurant called Treasure Palace to celebrate the church's birthday. This year we turn 21! WOO HOO! BP's 21st! hehe... Having grown up in this church since being a wee child, I have had a lot of memories there... It was great to see Ruth's list of memories on her and karen's blog... You can check it out here - brought back heaps of memories... Anyway, I better go get ready!

from the tube...

Came across this during my random wanderings on Youtube. Brings back some great memories... MacGyver was an awesome show... He was like the Jack Bauer of the early 90s, with one of Hollywood's best mullets ever, and the ability to get himself out of pretty much any pickle he was in by using what was around him and improvising (he could have made an excellent OT...).

I love how he would always have like a massive bomb to diffuse and how his boss would always be around him hassling him while he used a toothpick, credit card and some chewing gum to diffuse a bomb. He would just say to the boss guy, 'I'm workin on it Pete!', and the little champion would get the bomb diffused with 2 secondsleft to spare!! The beauty of the show was that you knew he was going to get through the problem, you just weren't sure of how he was going to do it this time round. It never failed to keep me on the edge of my seat, and though predictable, it was great television.

Now I'm going to attempt to make an application about MacGyver to spiritual stuff. It may be a long shot, but here goes...

I guess in the same way, we as Christians can be like Pete in that we worry and fret about how God is going to get us out of a situation. We look at the 'bomb' we are facing and despair because we don't see how God can get us out of the pickle we have gotten ourselves into. Sometimes we even doubt and give up on the situation.

One thing I like to tell myself is that God has everything planned out for me already - He has written out my life in His will and my job is to just follow on the path that He has set for me. We all know that MacGyver episodes will always end well, and in the same way, we know that the end goal for our life will always end up for the best if we surrender our lives to God's control.

OK, the analogy has some holes in it, but the truth still remains that God is faithful and God is good - and knowing this, it makes it easier for us to trust in Him. Amen? So next time, we find ourselves bugging God about some kind of trial we are facing, we should know that He's workin' on it [insert name here]!' and have that faith to leave it in His hands!

something I read...

I read the following exercpt in the book I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris. He wrote about a dream that he had and I thought it was worth sharing. Tears came to my eyes when I read the bit at the end. It really reminds us about the greatness of Jesus' love. We, as sinners, are often guilty of looking at what other people do and shaking our heads in disapproval. We have no right to judge others at all, and we can really learn something by looking at Jesus' response in this story... The only one who has any right to judge us, is the one who took our sins upon Himself and paid for them on the cross with His blood.

I'm forgiven, because You were forsaken

I'm accepted, You were condemned

I'm alive and well, Your spirit is within me

Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be,

That You my King should die for me?

Amazing love, I know it's true

And it's my joy to honour you

In all I do, to honour You.

The Room: My Dream
by Joshua Harris

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.

And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match.

A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I Have Betrayed."

The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I Have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've Yelled at My Brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger," "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.

When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file represented.

When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded.

An almost animal rage broke on me. One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it

Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.

And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.

But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.

I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?

Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.

Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.

"No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood.

He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."

I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.


By Joshua Harris. Orginally published in New Attitude Magazine. Copyright New Attitude, 1995. You have permission to reprint this in any form. We only ask that you include the appropriate copyright byline and do not alter the content.

happy anniversary me!

Today, 2 May 2007, is a very special day (for me anyways)... Exactly one year ago I started full-time work for the very first time in my life. Wow! I can't believe it has been one year already! I knew I started some time at the beginning of May 2006, but I couldn't quite remember the date. So I looked up my old work diary (I'm pretty sentimental, I still had it in one of my drawers at work - I'm such a dag, I know!) and looked up where the writing started, and lo and behold, on 2 May 2006, Julie (our receptionist - she's the blonde one with the white shirt) had pre-written in 'First Day' and had booked me in for a 'Welcome Morning Tea'... I can still remember my first day at work - I even remember what I wore!! It was pretty exciting for me, and one year down the track, I can say that the girl-now knows a lot more than the girl-back-then, but she still has a lot more to learn!

The past year for me has been a tumultuous one to say the least, but I really think that I have grown a lot and have learnt a lot more about my self. I am so thankful for my job - not many people out there can say that they have a cool boss, friendly colleagues, and an interesting & challenging job, but God has truly blessed me with all of the above and has continued to bless me with exceedingly abundantly beyond what I could ask or imagine! Although I don't deserve it, God has been so good to me!

Scariest Moment: Doing a Job Capacity Assessment for a Schizophrenic Guy who kept staring at me... Or doing a JCA for a guy in Albany (by myself) who was high and drunk at the same time...

Biggest Stuff-Up: Giving a 'problem-client' a document that they were not supposed to get :o

Most Important Lesson Learnt:

Work-related: Listen

God-related: Don't value the gift more than the Giver!

Most-bought-lunch: $4 beef curry at Mr Samurai

Favourite Desk Snack: Snakatas!

Most-Pleasant Surprise: Flowers for my graduation!

Best thing about my desk: the window

Worst thing about my desk: the family of jumping spiders that keep reproducing and coming out to scare me every couple of weeks. I have killed many members of this family, and I believe they know that too. :S

Pet-peeve: when people use my cup. Someone used my cup the other day for cup-a-soup and they put it back back into the cupboard with bits of cup-a-soup left inside!!!!!!!!!... grrrr... I still haven't found out who it is, but when I do............... I will forgive them :P . The other thing is, when people use my butter, and they leave burnt toast crumbs embedded within my butter :

Highlight so far: Probably either the Conference at Bondi, Surfcatting on Swan River, or sitting in the Corporate Box for Wildcats Game! Probably the Corporate Box tho.. that was pretty spesh! All in all, Work Solutions is a pretty awesome place to work.