Katie Reid

Introducing Gumption!

2006-07-02T04:20:00.000+10:00

*Grrrr I wanted to put some photos up but its not working! HOW ANNOYING*

Oh my goodness I am not good at this updating stuff now I don't sit in front of a computer everyday! But here I am ... IN AMERICA whooo!

I am currently at summer camp, absolutely loving it (though missing you all so much … esp my beautiful Daniel! *Tear*) but loving working with teens in the wilderness!

So I have just finished my first week of camps! It was a trialling experience but many laughs and good times! God did an amazing work through that week! Most of the teenagers that came were kids in foster homes, or broken families so that in itself was tough but a great experience! We had one girl with ADHD and we think she was a little autistic, a guy who was constantly homesick, relationships happening everywhere and a group of native Americans who would exclude themselves from everything! But I have to admit, they were my favourite group! Man they were funny!

A sad point was when one of the girls opened up to me about her fears of being on the street … and as we got talking more she opened up about she is pregnant! SHE IS 13 … man I wanted to weep so much for her!!! But I love how God takes any situation and turns it for his glory! AMEN … the next night I got the amazing blessing to lead her to Christ! HOW COOL IS THAT!!!

Man it is the best experience and so humbling when God chooses you for that!

Hmmm what else has happened … meet some great people here and I have a wife beaters tan! Ahahhahaa

Oh yeah I was introducing gumption … well here at camp we all have to have camp names … and yes the hygiene freak went for gumption … the best cleaning product in the world! The Americans don’t have this product so they think it is just a cool name! Te he! I do tell them it’s a cleaning product, but they just look at me blankly!

So gumption … blonde dreadlocks, fearless wilderness counsellor! Oh yeah!

Well 6 more camps to go and then I have a week in LA then home on the 24th August! Wow not long!

Oh and next weekend for all the foreigners, we are having our first thanks giving dinner! Whoooo

Well I better go, we are off to the movies to see superman! NICE

So here some photos of my new mates!

Bless ya all and can’t wait to catch up with you all!

SURPRISE!! I am still alive

2006-05-22T20:18:00.000+10:00

Wow ... I can't believe how slack I have become! I have to explain why! I have gone on strike with computers this year! Ahahahah that is half true, but the real reason is I am too lazy to walk up the stairs to the library (past students know what im talking about).

So what have I been doing ... wow so much! I have preached at youth meetings, done many worship services! I have become a guitarist (yesss not the greatest but I can still claim to be one) um ... what else ... I have done MANY kids ministry things (I know Katie Reid doing kids ministry) I have learnt so much about myself and gone to many weekends away for youth ministry things! How cool is that!

But most importantly God has been teaching me so much here! I have learnt who he has made me to be and how I fit in his church and I cant wait to see where he leads me next year! I am so excited!

God has blessed me with the opportunities to go to youth councils, oh and just last week I was blessed to be a leader at the first territorial Officers Kids weekend (Officers Kids are pastors kids sorry for the jargon) but that weekend was amazing! God moved in such a powerful way! PRAISE GOD! There is such a great stirring in the hearts of OK's! Whooo!

Wow I can't believe that in 2 weeks I will be off to America! (fly out on the 9th of June) That is right Katie is leaving the country for the first time in her life and Praise God it is for ministering to his young people! (whooo I got the teens camp NOT kids "Sing hallelujah singing hallelujah *insert dancing now*) I am so excited! (If you want to check out my camp go to the schools site (see to the left) and click on links then camp gifford and im the wildness part whooo we only shower once a week yuck!)

To sum up the past couple of months! God has been blessing me! I don't deserve it, but isn't that the greatest thing about his grace, we don't deserve it but he freely gives it! Amen!

So I hope to give you one more update before I leave and I will try really, really hard to get some photos up! Sorry for the slackness!
Bless ya all and hope God is showing some great stuff in your life!

p.s (don't you love p.s, its like you think its over but SURPRISE there is more te he!) so you can all stop asking, Dan and I are going strong! He is such a blessing in my life and everyday I thank God for him! (Awwww romance te he!)

Melbourne Mission! Whooo GO GOD!!!

2006-03-31T09:55:00.000+11:00

Wow I cant believe how dodgy I have gotten in updating my blog … but I have to say this time I have an excuse! (Oh WARNING this is VERRRRRYYYY LONG…sorry)

For the past 2 and a bit wks we have been in Melbourne for the commonwealth games! This was so amazing! God really used us to do great things! It just blows my mind away to think that God takes ordinary people and uses them for his glory! It was so cool!

Now I am sure you are sitting there saying “that sounds so cool BUT WHAT DID YOU DO!!!” and in response I say “good question, what did we do?” Te he!

So our class of 8 was split into 2 teams (one being team rocket (THE MIGHTY TEAM) with Jamie, Matt A., Aaron and myself (our fearless leaders being Josh and Lorelle) and the other being team fish (from the fishers of men theme) with Feany, Deb, Carrington and Mat S.(their fearless leaders being Matt Moore and Linda Mills from the youth and kids department in THQ [But Linda we don’t hold that against you, your too much of a champion]). So we have our teams and after 2 days of training and driving down in the bus for 14 hrs straight (we did have food and toilet stops … MANY toilets stops thanks to Jamie te he!)we arrived in Melbourne. We were filled with high spirits, great expectations for the 2 weeks and fully on fire for God! We had the next day (Saturday) off to relax and we did the tourist thing and went in the city AND I CAUGHT MY FIRST TRAM whoooo. This was such an awesome day with the team (however Mat S. was catching up with friends that day as he has lived in Melbourne before) so we arrive home, so pumped for the weeks ahead and to top it off we had a BBQ and STEAK for dinner yessss, but … its funny how Satan tries to steal your joy! As we were all having dinner, laughing having a great time, Mat S. came home and very casually announced that he is leaving! WHAT?! We were so confused we were not sure if he meant going out again, leaving for a day, or what, but after working it out, to our horror he was leaving school! He had packed up his stuff and he decided he is not going back!

Man this hit us like a brick wall! Satan stole our joy that night! We were so heavy hearted! We prayed for our brother and sent him off and looking back now this is probably what brought our year so close! Cause as a family we had to work through this together and Mat was such an awesome guy and we wished him the best! (on a side note, please pray for our Brother Mat and whatever he is doing, we haven't heard from him since).

Even though Satan stole our joy that night I love in God’s word it says

“…weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalms 30.5

And we did! We refused to let this bring us down! So we prayed harder, we listen to the voice of God more intently because we refused to let Satan win this battle! And HE DIDN’T… AMEN TO THAT!!

So I know that was a long story but it paints a little picture of what was ahead for us!

So for the next 2 weeks we did kids sports clinic (yes that is right for 2 weeks Katie Reid had to suck it up and do kids ministry … and I lived to tell the story! Ahahaha)

We did lots of balloon sculpting and face painting, skate park, 614 Salvos, trains and trams ministry, basketball, hockey, soccer and cricket clinics! The other team went out to the bush area for a week and ran a kids program called kids games where I have heard such amazing stories from them!

My team got to do a nights ‘tram and trains ministries’ and ‘spectators ministries’ where we basically jump on a tram and train and talk to whoever! And at first I was not to keen on the idea cause I believe you have to have a friendship with a person before you have the right to share the gospel with them. But God taught me to listen to his spirit and obey his voice and allow HIM to do his work through me! And it was great! There are so many stories but I will just share 2!

Darren
Darren was a guy I meet on the streets of Melbourne! But let me set the scene … my team were on working at the 614 Salvation Army for that morning (oh and Heather I got to have a chat with cate!) So yeah the 614 Salvos is in the heart of Melbourne city and it’s a drop in centre for the homeless or anyone who needs help! So our role was just to hang with these people and chat to them etc. However Aaron and I (and our dear friend Bing, our Vietnamese team mate) were on prayer walk for the first 2 hours! That was so cool just walking the city praying … but it is just amazing how God works. Like as we were walking I felt God say just stop here! So I stopped and waited thinking he was going to send someone to talk to me … but alas nothing happened! No one came for me to talk to … and the God said ok go now. So I walked on thinking that was a little weird! But hey I was just so excited to be obeying God! So he did this to me many times with the same result of no one to talk to! So I was feeling a little bummed by the end of our 2 hours cause I was praying to be able to talk to someone! But as we turned the corned to go back to 614, our team mate Bing decides she needs to do some banking! Ahahaha she is so funny! So we wait for her and as Aaron and I turned around there was Darren! So we got chatting with this guy and we found out that he hadn’t eaten today and the cup of water in his hand was all he had. So we invited him to 614 to have some food and his reply shocked us! He said “Oh no it is ok, I don’t want to take the food from them cause someone else who needs it more will miss out! I might be able to find some bread or something at home! It is fine” wow! What a heart this guy had! So we continued talking and we discovered he had a 10yr old daughter and they are just scraping by! He had no real food, and no job! So we finally convinced him to go up to 614 and have some food and see if they could help!
Well he went BUT still refused to take the food! But it was such a great feeling for Aaron and I to sit there and journey with him as he waited for help and seeing his face once they worked it all out! WOW what a God moment! To think if I hadn’t listened to God’s weird request we would of missed this great God moment!

The second story is;

Josh
This morning (my birthday actually now I think about it … my big 21st! I couldn't think of a greater present then having such a God moment and being blessed to be used in it!) Whooo
So we were on the Salvos skate park (yesss TEENAGERS) and it was bikes for that day! So our role was just to go and hang out with these young people and we did! We just watched and chatted when we could … but not much deep convo until in road Josh … he was such a good rider and everyone knew it! They just watched as he entered all waving and saying hi josh! It was like Josh owned this place. But you know what as we watch this guy do amazing tricks and all the younger boys give him high fives and cheered, we noticed that he was so humble! He didn’t have a big head about it. He always let others go first on the ramps and if he noticed someone struggling with a jump or a trick, he would just gently give them advice how to do the trick or how to improve! He was great! So I was blessed to have little chats here and there with him!
But the other great thing about this situation was this kid (who’s name I can’t say I think it was like omoa or something) he was so cool! He was almost up to the same standard as Josh! And him and Josh did EVERYTHING together! They road together, did tricks together! And as I was talking to them Josh was sharing how he was his riding partner and they hang out quite a lot! Wow I was so intrigued with this friendship…I wanted to know more, but it was so hard to keep a convo with the 2 of them as they just wanted to ride! We also noticed that this old guy (prob in his 40 who look old school skater … pretty cool for an old guy) was always helping out fixing the bikes and giving pointers to the boys, so we naturally though he worked there! But as I got talking to him he was the 10yr olds father! And that the friendship Josh and omoa have was much deeper then the skate park! They actually have Josh hanging around all the time! The father went on to tell me with so much passion and love how many of the riders never accepted his son cause of his age so he couldn’t hang out with them as they would ride and then go get drunk etc but Josh came along and he didn’t want to drink and party he just wanted to ride and ever since they meet you could separate them! You could just tell in the fathers voice that he looks at Josh as his own! It was so amazing!
Although I didn’t get to have very deep God convos with the 3 of these people I know God was planting seeds! And it was so cool that when we got home our team had a really good prayer time for them especially Josh … cause you could just see if Josh gets saved that WHOLE skate park would! Isn’t it amazing the power of influence!

So much great stuff happened and that was only 2 stories, but the greatest thing I think that happened was that God’s people came together in unity! There were so many different denominations working together under the one name of More the Gold and that was so awesome!

So there is so much more I could tell but that is enough for now! We also got to go to a few Salvos corps (churches) and do some dramas, kids churchs and attend a youth church and that was great!

Oh my goodness my head is racing thinking of all the stuff that happened those 2 weeks!

So the night before we left, we were again high in spirits and much praise went to God, but Satan the little mongrel (ohhh that words does come close to how aggressive I feel towards him) but he AGAIN tried to steal our joy, by the night before as we were coming home from a great night of praise at Waverly Salvos youth church, 2 of the students received distressing phone calls! One was a friend of Jamie’s who had been raped and was in hospital and this stirred up a lot of emotions for her from her past and for her friend! So that was extremely distressing for her! And for Matt. A his close friend was undergoing test as the dr. believe she has a brain tumour and for Matt this stirred up past emotions too from loosing his father to illness. So that night much weeping happened, by the 2 of them but also by all of us together! BUT SUCKS FOR YOU STUPID SATAN it only made us stronger again! We were reminded of the verse in Psalms and as we prayed and wept together we linked arms signifying the unity and the bond of our family that will NOT be broken! Looking back on that it was an amazing time for us all as well!

So all up those weeks were amazing! God worked in so many different ways and taught us all so much! I praise God for the way he is and what he does in my life!

So I hope you are still with me reading this and I hopefully this afternoon or on Monday I will put some photos up to show you all!

Bless ya all and love to hear what God’s been doing in your lives!

p.s God works so amazing ... as I was writing this Mat S. has turned up to the school to chat with us! How good is God!

p.p.s I get to see my beautiful Dan tonight! Yessss

WOW! Well needed update!

2006-03-07T23:31:00.000+11:00

Oh my goodness! I can't believe how dodgy I have been with updating my blog page! I wonder if anyone even checks this anymore???

Wow so I have been here for 4 weeks now and I feel like I have been here for months! (In a good way). The class has just come together so well, all the students get along really well and we are all getting up to mischief whenever we can! Dahahaha

The first week went so fast! Getting to know all the ins and outs of the school! Learning our daily routine which consists of community prayers @ 7.45-8:00 (personally I think this is not enough time but hey cant complain), quiet time @ 8.00-9.00, Worship/small group 9.00-9.30, class 9.30-10.30, morning tea @ 10.30 -11.00, class @ 11.00-12.30, Lunch @ 12.30-1.30, work sections (this is when we keep our school so nice and clean ahahaha for those who don't know at the school we live on campus so it is our home as well) so I have been on girls toilets and laundry so I am the bomb at cleaning toilets now and doing the laundry (I only do tea towels and stuff not other peoples laundry! They can do it themselves ahahaha)...then we go into 2.30-3.00 afternoon tea, more class and dinner @ 5.30 (old peoples time ahahaha) so that is what a 'normal' day looks like!

But now I have given you all that info, we don't really have a 'normal' day cause they change it a lot except for food times and work sections they are always constant! Te he!

Oh I have so much to say ... So instead of bombarding you with all my lessons I will break them up for you! So it looks like I have made lots of entries ahahaha!

The most exciting thing happening is that on Friday bright an early (6am) we will be off on our roadtrip to Melbourne for the commonwealth games! How fun! Whoooo! I am so excited, as we spend 2 weeks preaching the gospel, doing sports clinics and spending our spare time in the shopping centre down there! (I hear Melbourne has the best shopping centres ever, so I am looking forward to it … though most of my shopping will be window shopping as you don’t have much money when your student! But hey I have all I NEED… AMEN TO THAT!!!)

We have spent these last 2 days learning about the Army History with good old founder of this school Ray Herron! Oh how I loved these classes … can never get to much army history hey Nath! Whooo!

Oh last thing for this entry … tomorrow night we are having a party night as 2 students had there birthday (today and tomorrow) so we are getting dressed up (the theme being as creative as possible) and then finishing the night with a dance party! (we cant actually go out as one of the students isn’t 18 yet so until she is we will just have to make our own dance parties! Te he how fun) So I will have to post some pics for you all!

Oh and last thing … my goodness so much stuff has happened … I have a band here! You heard me right, a band! We are called BASIC (Brothers And Sisters In Christ) and it consist of Daniel Fean as our drummer, Aaron Shaw as our Bass Player, Matt Atfield as our guitarist, and Katie Reid as Keyboard/vocals and Lead Guitar (ahahaha you heard me right! I am now playing guitar for real yessss my dream is coming true! Whoooo) So I will have to post some pics up of that too! Ohhh so much fun stuff has happened! Good times!

Well I will leave it there and I will give you some lessons I have learnt! Ohhhh so many great lessons! I so love it here!

If any of you are looking for purpose or simply just want to get closer to your Lord God, the School is so for you! No matter what walk of life you have come from, if you love God that is all you need! This place is amazing!

Ok enough of my promo, bless you all heaps and don’t forget to send me an email or comment to let me know how you are all going!

Well Here I am!!!

2006-02-14T18:52:00.000+11:00

So here I am the first day of school! WOW can you believe it I am actually here!!

Well update time ....

Had my fundraiser on Saturday night and praise God He provided! I received over $1200 from my corps and I know that was only by God provision! Whooo! PRAISE GOD

Well as I am writing this we have all my fellow students in the room! How nice! PARTY IN THE LIBRARY!

Well I know this is a very short entry, just want to thank y0u all for the prayers and support!

Bless you all and update soon!

Not long Now ....

2006-02-08T12:02:00.000+11:00

wow! It has been a while since I have posted anything ... sorry about that!

So life is pretty crazy for me at the moment! Finished work on Friday, my last homechurch group is tonight, my farewell is on Saturday, my family dinner on Monday night AND THEN I move on Tuesday! That is only 5 days OH MY GOSH 5 DAYS AWAY!!! Goodness!

One thing though that blows my mind is how much God provides! He is just blessing me so much and I do not deserve any of this! He is providing money, things I need, and things I don't but are a blessing to have! I just want to say thank you to my beautiful Lord and best Friend! YOU ROCK GOD AND I CANT WAIT FOR THE GREAT YEAR AHEAD!!!

Hope you are all doing well and hope to stay in touch!
Bless ya heaps!

Hold on now Katie!!

2006-01-27T13:05:00.000+11:00

Well today I am having one of those days ... you know when you are so tired, feel so battered and bruised that you are just ready to give up! The world has become too much, life becomes overwhelming and you think you will never pull through it!!! Well that is me today but you know what is so awesome ... I have a God that knows EXACTLY how I feel and KNOWS exactly what I need! So I open up my email and find today’s devotion and this is what it was...
___________________________
Held Be His Hands - Max Lucado

You and I are on a great climb. The wall is high, and the stakes are higher.

You took your first step the day you confessed Christ as the Son of God. He gave you his harness-the Holy Spirit. In your hands he placed a rope-his Word.

Your first steps were confident and strong, but with the journey came weariness, and with the height came fear. You lost your footing. You lost your focus. You lost your grip, and you fell. For a moment, which seemed like forever, you tumbled wildly. Out of control. Out of self-control. Disoriented. Dislodged. Falling.

But then the rope tightened, and the tumble ceased. You hung in the harness and found it to be strong. You grasped the rope and found it to be true. You looked at your guide and found Jesus securing your soul. With a sheepish confession, you smiled at him and he smiled at you, and the journey resumed. Now you are wiser. You have learned to go slowly. You are careful. You are cautious, but you are also confident. You trust the rope. You rely on the harness. And though you can't see your guide, you know him. You know he is strong. You know he is able to keep you from falling.

And you know you are only a few more steps from the top. So whatever you do, don't quit. Though your falls are great, his strength is greater. You will make it. You will see the summit. You will stand at the top. And when you get there, the first thing you'll do is join with all the others who have made the climb and sing this verse:

"To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen" (Jude 24 NIV).
____________________________

How cool is that! Whooo that no matter how bad we think we are, how much we think we will never get through ... God's picks us up and helps us through it!

Stay strong my friends and remember that it is CHRIST ALONE that keeps us from falling! Keep your eyes on the cross

Bless ya heaps

EMERGENCY PRAYER NEEDED!!!

2006-01-25T16:41:00.000+11:00

This blog is written for a good friend of mine Sean! This guy is an awesome man of God and for the past couple of months he has been living in Canada doing Ignitegap year (a youth mission school) though he has just found out his brother (aged 14) has cancer!

So Sean is on the next plane home, so I ask that all of you (whether you know him or not) to pray for his brother Luke for healing and for Sean and his family peace and comfort at this time!

_________________________________________

With all this going on it got me thinking about a devotion I was doing the other day on "why" things happen! You know those times when things happen and all you can think of is "why Lord, why?"

You know the story in the bible that talks about the man that was born blind and the disciples ask Jesus who sinned for him to be like that?? The blind man had no choice he was born like that! I am sure he has a good reason to ask God why!!! Have a read ...

"As he [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." John 9:1-3

Why do things happen ... so that God's glory might be shown more in our life! You may be thinking at the hard time why is that so important, but that is why we are here ... to glorify God in all we do!

It then goes on to show how the miracle ... God's glory in action ...

"Having said this, he [Jesus] spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing." John 9:6-7

If you are going through tough times, hold on cause God's glory is just around the corner!

Bless ya all and don't forget to pray for Sean and his brother Luke!!

FOR GOD'S GLORY WE LIVE

Great reminder boothy!!!

2006-01-24T13:15:00.000+11:00

Wow ... ok I have been a little slack in my blogging! Sorry all ... work has been crazy!

Well so much has happen, many great lessons and hopefully I will get around to writing about them all!

Well I was going to blog about this awesome article that was in the newspaper 2 wks ago when I was at Planet Shakers but lovely Jodi bet me there so check out her blog it is great

Jodi blog - "fighting for our generation" - it has the whole article! VERY COOL!

I have been blessed with the desire to get back in the word! That has been awesome! Had Dina's 21st on Saturday! That was a beautiful night and it is always good to see you shed a joyful tear din-star!

The big thing happening though, is trying to prepare for my big year this year! As most of you know on the "romance day", Valetines day (for those who are still clueless 14th feb.) im off to the school for youth leadership in Lake munmorah where I will be living for 9mths! So that is going to be an exciting time! I get to go to America for summer camp and I have just found out that I am also off to the commonwealth games with the school! AWESOME! And people say working for the Lord is boring! pffft whatever! So very excited to see how God is going to stretch me, teach me, discipline me and in the end make me more like him! Whooo BRING IT GOD, SO BRING IT!
Anyway onto the point of why I have titled my blog about boothy! Man William Booth is so the bomb! I came across this quote from his 70th birthday speech here in Sydney on 11.04.1899.

"When two nations are locked together in the bloody embrace of war, and the military leaders make their returns to their respective governments, they know that what the governments want to know is not what music has been played, what marchings up and down, what military manoeuvres, what doings of the commissariat, but how many prisoners have been taken and what territory captured, and what has been done towards beinging to a glorious issue the terrible conflict in which they have been engaged."

How cool is that! It is so true too! It doesn't matter about the music we played, what we wore, how we did things, at the end of our time when we meet God face to face and he asks us "what did we do for him?", all that matters is how much we loved him, what we did with Jesus and how much of the enemies territory we claimed as our Lords! That is such a great reminder for us!

Whooo!

Well hope to blog some more of my lessons I have been learning soon!

Bless ya all!
oh and don't hesitate to post on my comments prayer points! Lets turn this site into a site of prayer, praise, victory dances and celebrations of the awesome things God has been doing not just in my life but yours too!
FOR GOD'S GLORY WE LIVE!!!!

Love spelt T-I-M-E!!!

2006-01-10T15:04:00.000+11:00

I have been going through the purpose driven life book with my beautiful boyfriend, when I came across the daily reading titled ... "What matters most!"

And the first line says "Life is all about love"

"If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:3

This really got me thinking ... Rick Warren (the author) goes on to tell of his experience and how it is evident this is true ...

"I have been at the bedside of many people in their final moments, when they stand on the edge of eternity, and I have never heard anyone say, "Bring me my diplomas! I want to look at them one more time. Show me my awards, my medals, that gold watch I was given," When life on earth is ending, people don't surrounded themselves with objects. What we want around us is people - people we love and have relationship with."

This challenged me so much on where I am putting my efforts and time in! Are they wrapped up in the worldly, or God's people? Rick Warren then goes on to share how the best expression of love is TIME ... "The importance of things can be measured by how much time we are willing to invest in them... Time is the most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back...The essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves!!"

So today's challenge ... how much time are we giving to people?? Just a little or a lot??

Giving just a little of your time could change a persons life forever!!

Bless ya all!

What's Driving You???

2006-01-05T14:57:00.000+11:00

Have you ever thought what people think about you??? I know you have ... we spend our whole days worrying about what people will think of us whether we mean to or not! Even now I am thinking about what you will think of this blog! Why?? Cause we have this need to impress? The need for people to like us?? Or for some people, the need for people not to like us?? We are always searching for the approval of others!!

But how often do we become consumed about what God thinks of us?? How often do we stand in front of the mirror thinking if God will like what I am wearing??? Or if God will like my new hairstyle ... sounds pretty stupid doesn't it??

Yet this got me thinking ... what if we lived everyday as if the only one we need to impress was God! Man crazy concept te he! Well that is what we were created to do! Now I know some of you are thinking, ok Katie this isn't very deep ... but I wont you to stop and think ... what is your driving force in ALL the choices you make??

I know for me, everyday I cry out for my life to be the will of God and if it is every out of his will for him to stop me, slap me and put me back on track te he, but yet when I go out at night I still worry if I look ok! I still think about my behaviour and if it is ok in the group I am with ... if only all my needs to impress where ALL focused on God!

And that is today's challenge ... to allow my driving purpose in life ... to please my God!!

Good year ahead ...

Bless ya all!

Lost generation???

2006-01-04T11:37:00.000+11:00

Today I was just thinking over my great New Years as I went into the city with Daniel and his old school mates and as I do, I was thinking what everyones lives were like? What were they going through? What was there up bringing like? And as they started with the heavy drinking my heart started to sink as I thought ... there must be more then this ...

I then find out that all of these people go to church, but by the way they behaved you would not think that at all! (In their defense, they are awesome people and I hope to hang out with them heaps more!) Now don't get me wrong I am not here to judge them, cause we are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God! But what it really got me thinking about was .... there church!!

What has happened to our churchs these days?? I know that churchs are limited with what they do, but as I have sat through so many debates about which is more important kids or teens ministry I couldn't help to think ... where are the youth pastors??

I have been so blessed that I have had strong dedicated followers of Christ sow into me and for that I am eternally grateful cause it has made me who I am today, but looking at these young people I think all they need is 1 person to stop and take an interest in there life! 1 person to spend an hour a week sowing into them and they could be doing something amazing for the Kingdom!

Ahhh I am just so over religion, I am so over people calling themselves "Christian" and then walking out the door and purposely sinning!! Please don't get me wrong, we all sin, but where are the youth pastors sowing passion, and discipline, and sacrifice into this generation! Who will stand up and fight for them??? Who will be willing to challenge and inspire???

I am just sick of seeing life after life destroyed by the on going search of fullness in anything but God! It doesn't matter about the up bringing you have had! You could of been brought up by ministers or convicts, the fact is you are ONLY Christian when you are in a daily relationship with Christ! When you say yes to him, ask him in your heart and from that will flow the desire to want to serve him!

People don't waste your life searching for life in the world! The world can only offer you temporary fulfillment! Stop, repent and spend a life devoted to Christ and he will give you your hearts desire!

Bless ya all ... your sister crying out for our lost generation!
"I refuse to stay silent while a generation is lost to a world of sin!"

Loving yourself ... wat the???

2006-01-03T16:43:00.000+11:00

I was looking at some good old army websites when this verse literally popped up in front of me ...

"Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' " Matthew 37-39.

And this really got me thinking ... our focus is on the loving God, yep we try really hard at that with all our heart, mind and Soul check ... but the next part, "Love your neighbour as yourself" This is where we get stuck and it is not cause we don't love our neighbour cause we do alright at that ... but how many of us can honestly say "we love ourselves"

Think about it ... I have spoken to so many people who can see so much potential in everyone but themselves! And I am most guilty of this! I find it so easy to love the unlovable, but to stop and love myself that is tough! So the challenge I put out ... is how much do you love yourself?? Are you happy with who God has made you?? Are you confident in you?? And I know you are probably thinking "our confidence comes from God" yes that is true ... but can you stand in front of the mirror totally stripped no make up, your hair not done and say "I am fearfully and wonderfully made??"psalms 139. Cause until we can love ourselves how can we expect to love others??

Hmmm interesting!!

Well I will leave you on that note!!

Bless ya all!

If you are someone who thinks they could never love who they are, I encourage you to pray this psalm EVERY morning and believe that you are wonderfully made cause God doesn't make mistakes! You are beautiful just the way you are!!!

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalms 139:13-16

Perspective & Attitude (part 2)

2006-01-03T11:49:00.000+11:00

Ok so I didn't intend to have a part 2 of this but I have come across another really good perspective that has helped me through some old pain! You know those hurts and regrets you have?! It seems to be the thing you do in the new year ... ponder on your life, what you have done or haven't done and I fall in the trap of thinking of all the sin in my life and how God could never love such a sinner! But then he taught me this ....

"There are no regrets, only lessons!!!"

That is so true! God takes every obstacle and use it for opportunities to teach us! So my year is looking good this year! I know I will make mistakes, I will sin, I will stuff up majorily... but I know through it all God will teach me how to be more like him!

Thanks God, YOU ROCK!!!

Bless ya all!

Perspective & Attitude!!!

2005-12-22T14:04:00.000+11:00

Today I was reading my "365 day brighteners" te he it is a good book of quotes and little funny mistakes church do etc, but today I came across this one that got me thinking ...

"Don't cry because it is over: smile cause it happened!"

This got me thinking heaps about our perspective and attitude to life! We can go through life thinking everything has gone wrong, that you don't have much or you can look at what you do have, how blessed you are and when things seem like they are all going wrong, think of the experience you are having that you can learn from!

Someone once told me, "it is not you actions that speak louder then words, but your reactions!" How you deal with a situation ... so you are thinking life is hard, or you wish it was better ... stop and think how can I change my attitude??? How can I appreciate what I have???

Trust me it really does help looking at the positives in life and praise God for EVERYTHING even the tough times!

"Our work as God's servants gets validated--or not--in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all." 1 Corinthians 4-10 (MSG)

I know that is a little long but basically it is saying that we as Christians are always being watched so through good and bad times we need to have the attitude of Christ! As hard as that is sometimes!

Bless ya all!

Wow Moment!!

2005-12-21T15:43:00.000+11:00

Have you ever had a wow moment? A time when all you can do is stand there and go ... WOW!!! Well I had one on Saturday night!

You see I was blessed to be apart of Carols in the Domain in the salvo's choir (I know me in a choir ahahaha we ROCKED!!!) anyway as we were on the stage (up the back) I looked out to the sea of candles and faces and was just blown away as I saw unity in our city we call home! Different races, all ages embraced each other and singing "War is over" at the top of their lungs and I thought wow this is glimpse of heaven and what perfect timing to sing about war being over in our nation!

We need to fight for a world of unity! It was such a great picture to look at!

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!"

Psalms 133:1

Thats all for now! Bless ya all!

Booth Buck!!!

2005-12-15T15:41:00.000+11:00

Today I was checking out some army websites (as you do) and I came across these ... booth bucks! Ahahah they made me laugh (nath you'll love these)

Impossible ... is nothing!

2005-12-14T14:28:00.000+11:00

Today I came across this great quote ...

"Remember the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals."

And this got me thinking how true that is in God's work! He doesn't go to the professionals to do his work, he goes to the amateurs cause it is through them God's strength is shown! Like think about it ... Jesus' 12 disciples weren't scholars they were fisherman, tax collectors etc, just normal everyday people, and yet they were the ones (like us) chosen to spread God's word!

Like I know you are probably thinking, "Wow this is nothing new to me" but think about it ... there are going to be times in your life when you think you can't do something, or your not good enough to do a task God has given you, but the fact is ... you are! Cause if God is in control you can do the impossible! (Matt 19:26).

Im not sure if I said it before but I love adidas slogan at the moment which is ...

"Impossible is nothing" and I reckon that is God's slogan! To him impossible ... it is nothing!

So stay strong in your journey, God has it under control!

Bless ya heaps!

Good point buddy!!!

2005-12-12T11:52:00.000+11:00

Hey check out my best mate Rachel's blog about her thoughts on the outbreak of hate!

Rachel's Blog

She is so wise! Te he nice work rach!

Where is the Love??

2005-12-12T09:40:00.000+11:00

WARNING COULD BE A LITTLE PASSIONATE!!!!

Well it is an interesting time for Sydney at the moment! As you may or may not be aware there has been a racial battle going on for cronulla beach that turned into major riots on the weekend! But this racial riots went from the beach to the streets! It is disgusting! Like I understand their frustration over the lifesaver, but really do you think anything is being solved through bashing other races with broken beer bottles!

As I was reading some of the reports today I was horrified! I wanted to break down and cry and all I could think of is WHERE IS THE LOVE!!! What is happening to this nation! We are known as the multicultural country, we don't care about races, that is the beauty of this country, and yet we have suddenly turned around and said "get out you lebs" what is going on!

Like we aussie don't do this! We are not known for coming back in gangs and mobbing people! That is not the way we do things! WAKE UP AUSTRALIA it is disgusting what happened! As those drunken youth ripped off scarfs off girls heads, and punched out half Lebanese and half aboriginal men until you could hardly even recognise them cause they were covered in so much blood and I think "ok IDIOTS have you solved anything!" NO YOU HAVEN'T you have just turned the 11th of December into a day of shame for our nation! I can not believe we would lower ourselves so much!

Ohhh it makes me so mad! Cause I went to a school that was most middle eastern people and I think yes they do things a little different to us, but the fact is they are as Australian as us! Most of them were born here and most of them will die here, so what gives us the right to say we are better then them! Goodness ... we are not! We are the same as them!

Like check out this photo (and I know this is a little hard core but it is to show how bad it was)

Doesn't this make you want to cry! This mob thought they were bring justice to the place! And that man, he was just born to middle eastern parents! WHERE IS THE LOVE!!

I just think of the outrage and sadness and I think times that by BILLIONS and you get a glimpse of what God is feeling at the moment! I could not imagine how much God heart was breaking as he watched his children attack each other!

My prayer is that this wont go on for years! I do not want our country to be split in half! So Christians, this is our time to stand up, to challenge all those around us on there views of violence and most importantly to PRAY!!!

I had a good mate go to cronulla yesterday with an aussie flag in the back of the car, and some would say that is patriotic, I say RACIAL! Do they normally drive around with it there?? NO so why do it now ... cause they want to be apart of the problem not the solution! So yeah I challenged them and you say how does that help, it was only like 1 or 2 people! But it only took 1 man (Martin Luther King Jr) to have a dream!

So stand for unity, for we are fighting here for God's Kingdom and it is built on love and unity! SO WHERE IS THE LOVE??? It starts with us!!!

Bless ya all!

The Lord is all I need!

2005-12-09T15:13:00.000+11:00

I know I just posted about schoolies but I have to share how awesome my God is!

You see personally I have struggled with some of my weaknesses and I gave in last night causing me so much disappointment in myself. I cried to God not feeling worthy and so disgusted in my behaviour!

And in my time of weaknesses God is all I need as I got to work this morning I turned over my daily scripture verse and this is the verse of today ...

"The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down." Psalm 145:14

You see God knows our needs and our weaknesses, but the more I stumble, the more I realise how much my Lord loves me and never wants to let me go!

So this blog is dedicated to my Lord to say THANK YOU FOR NEVER LEAVING ME OR FORSAKING ME!!! I love you so much God!!! Help me share your love with the world, this love I do not deserve at all!

Bless you all and remember no matter what you have done, God will always forgive you when you ask! How awesome is that! So simple, yet so life changing!!!

Schoolies Story ... Introducing Kirstie!

2005-12-09T14:28:00.000+11:00

Well I thought I would share some of the joy of my wonderful schoolies that I made contact with!

So to start off I thought I would start with Kirstie a.k.a KFC girl!

Kirstie ROCKS!!! This chick was awesome! We played soccer with her and her mates (from another hotel) at like 2 in the morning one night and 12 on our last night we had a large game and kirstie was the driving force for these games! Te he! Our first real "getting to know her" was on the 3rd night I think when her and her mates sitting outside decided they wanted some frogs, so they gave our hotline a call and we got told to go out the front of our hotel cause some people wanted some frogs and there was smiling kirstie!

Now this girl is someone now close to my heart, we connected straight away. She was easy to get on with and it is so cool that we stay in contact almost every day via either email or msg! It is great and I am incredibly blessed to have meet this soccer obsessed, guitar playing, KFC worker and singer from the QLD state and I believe God has a big future in store for her!

Keep kirstie in your prayers as she is close to accepting Christ in her heart, but it is God's timing not ours (hey tiny?!). Kirstie and I have great God convo's and I pray they just gets deeper and deeper!

Kirstie is definitely a life changer as I believe God will keep us together and she will change my life as well as others, for the good by the simple impact she makes in our lives!

So kirstie ... girl you so rock and I can't wait till our catch up in Newcastle and I know you are probably not sure what to respond to this ... but remember thank you is a start! ahahaha bless ya buddy!

Oh and it was cool that our last full day as a HC we got invited by kirstie's room for a FEAST! And boy it was!! So check out the pics! Oh and besides the good food, it was great to see nick eat a chunk of butter and then almost instantly gag it back up! Nice one Nick! ahaha oh and also bliss (yep that is her name ... cool huh!!) deciding to climb a tree that ended up with her being branded by red frogs! Ahahah again thanks for the entertainment Nick! (though she did get him back later, so all is even).

Well that is enough schoolies talk for today ... I could go on for hours!

Bless ya all and stay strong!

Schoolies Pics!

2005-12-08T15:12:00.000+11:00

I was thinking I should really post some pics from schoolies ... so here they are ...

Start with my fantastic team ... (Oh nick joined us later in the week) ... we are "so hot right now"! Ahaha

oh I should put kinicky in ... looking hot (model pose...well nick anyway)...

So that is our fantastic team ... man we were dynamite for God whooo! Im so proud of them!

Well I think that is enough for today ... got to keep you all wanting more! So stay turn for some schoolies stories!! Oh a little story to give you a taste ... check out the size of the icecream I had! It was the coolest, except I couldn't finish it! That is right, Katie Reid could not finish her icecream! THE WORLD HAS GONE MAD ahahaha!

Bless ya all

Encouragement!

2005-12-07T12:41:00.000+11:00

I have just started Purpose Driven Life with a good friend of mine and I was challenged from the first page in the intro! It had this verse ...

"It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth. And if one falls down, the other helps, ... By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped."

Ecc. 4:9-12 (MSG)

And I was so challenged about how important it is to encourage one another! To spur each other on as it says in Hebrews (10:24-25)!! After schoolies I have been so blessed with a new buddy (feanny you ROCK) and everyday we encourage each other and I am so blessed by it!

Then I look at those who have never had that person walk beside them and you can see the difference between someone everyday encouraged, to someone who has no one!

So I was challenged, who needs encouraging? Who do I need to stop and help them 'face the worst' with? My prayer is that God will show you that person and that you will help them cause who knows, they may be facing their worst right now!

God always blows my mind when a young person runs up to me so excited to share news about how they have grown closer to God, how they were so challenged and inspired by what I said to them and that if it wasn't for what I said, they don't know how they would of gone on! Now I know that is nothing to do with me, cause most times I don't remember their names, let alone what they were going through. But God choose to use a sinner saved by grace to speak life into someones life! And most time I only spoke to those people for like 10mins! But God doesn't need hours of time, he just needs a empty vessel and his perfect timing!

I love the saying "God takes the ordinary and does the extraordinary"

Be open to him and watch to see where you can encourage someone!

FOR CHRIST'S GLORY ALONE!!!

Sound of Revival!

2005-12-01T14:53:00.000+11:00

Wow! It has been so long since I have written but that is cause I have been at SCHOOLIES! Whooo yeah! It was the best time! Man I have never seen God move in such an amazing way! Everyday we saw salvations (ppl accepting Christ as their Lord and Saviour) man it makes me think about in Acts where it says;

"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:46-48.

And that is really what happened! Every night our zone (all the Hotel chaplains in that area) would meet together, have some worship and eat together and then go to our separate hotels where every night people where being saved! It was an amazing time!

Wow thinking back on it I get goose bumps! And I would have to say that this song become our theme song for the week ...

God Is Moving

Holy Spirit, Touch Your people

Teach us the ways of God

And as we live,

As Jesus did

You are honored and lifted up

There's a stirring in the Spirit

There's an urgency in this hour

We as children must obey

Can you hear

The footsteps of God

God is moving, God is moving

Can you hear the sound

Of revival

As we praise You, as we sing

Draw near to us O God

As we cry out for the nations

Pour out revival in the land

There's a stirring in the Spirit

There's an urgency in this hour

We as children must obey

Can you hear

The footsteps of God

And that is what we saw! God was moving and we could so hear the sound of revival in that place!

All praise and honour to a might king who deserves so much praise!

My prayer is that all of us that got to experience that will have a hunger like never before to see that revival in our own community! Revival in our nation!!!

Bless ya all and keep fighting to win one more for Jesus!

Life Reflections

2005-11-16T13:49:00.000+11:00

3 days till Schoolies

Wow! I can't believe that Schoolies is just around the corner, which makes me think how fast this year has gone, and I know it is a little early for reflecting on the year gone, but I can't believe how many opportunities God has given me. The tears that have been cried, the victory that have been celebrated, the new friends I have made, the old friendships I have deepened and all I can do is just sit in awe of God with how much he truly does bless me!
I know this isn't a challenging blog, but God has just been showing me the people he has put in my life to encourage and inspire me to keep going! So many times I would love to give up, but God always sent the right person along to spur me on!

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-25

I feel so humbled and thankful that God would people in my life to encourage me! Thank you Lord for I do not deserve this love which you constantly pour upon me!

So how can I encourage someone so that they too may feel the goodness of the Love of the Lord??

Bless ya all

Love ...

2005-11-11T09:12:00.000+11:00

7 days till Schoolies

Today started off an interesting morning with a friend of mine having a bad day and I don't know about you, but when I talk to my friends and hear their pain, I too take on the pain! So honestly I started feeling crap! Unloved, unwanted, second rate and when I get hurt by someone my natural thing to do is not cry or break but to build walls, to get angry to toughen up and this is so dangerous and leads to terrible ungrateful, giving up grounds.

But praise God his word is the word of life and he gave me this passage ...

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails!!!"

And it really challenged me! Im not going to give up on this person, cause that is not love! Love is patient, it is kind, it KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONG. It protects, trusts, HOPES and ALWAYS PERSEVERES and that is what I am doing with my friend! I will never give up on you my beautiful friend cause God never gives up on me! And God COMMANDS we love each other.

So I challenge you, who is it you want to give up on, who is it no one else will love?? Will you show that person love?? Not love as the world tells us but love as Christ loves!! A love that NEVER FAILS!!!

Bless ya all!

What would I do??

2005-11-09T16:34:00.000+11:00

9 days till Schoolies

As I was working hard at work te he, this song came on the radio (as a good Christian workplace we listen to 103.2fm - Christian radio station) and it made me think ...

How awesome is our God! Like in his presence now I feel so much and I wonder when I see him face to face what will I do???

So here are the lyrics ...

I can only imagine what it will be like,
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see,
When Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine.
I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing Hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine!
I can only imagine!

I can only imagine, when that day comes,
When I find myself standing in the Son.
I can only imagine, when all I will do,
Is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine!
I can only imagine!

Hmm makes you think hey! What would you do??

Bless ya all

Everyday's a Lesson

2005-11-08T15:07:00.000+11:00

10 days till Schoolies

Today I was writing an email to a good mate of mine (tiny you rock!!) and I was just sharing about what God has been doing in my life, and I realise that everyday is a lesson with Christ! How cool is that! Every single day God is teaching us something whether it is something small or something huge! He uses all situation to teach us stuff. Cars crashing, relationships blossoming to work overload! Everything is a lesson!

Have you ever seen the movie The Recruit? It is about this guy who is training to be an undercover agent for the CIA and he is trained closly by his mentor who teaches him that not everything is as it seems, "everything is a test", so as this guy goes on training he gets setup for different types of training exercises never sure if they are part of the training or life! It is a pretty cool movie.

Anyway ... I love how as one scene he screams out "EVERYTHING IS A TEST" and I would like to change that to "EVERYTHING IS A LESSON", you just have to open your eyes and allow God to show you the lessons! I love how God has done this in my life! I never have a dole day when I ask God to teach me! Man does he teach me ... and he can use the smallest thing to teach you the biggest lesson!

So keep your eyes open, constantly ask God what he wants to teach you, cause it is in trials and temptations that he teaches us the most!

I have this saying written in the front of my bible and I love it that says "When you ask Jesus in your life, don't be surprised if things change, and don't be content until they do!"

Always strive to be like Christ by allowing him everyday to teach you how to live for him!

Bless ya all!

Underestimated Influence!!!

2005-11-07T14:06:00.000+11:00

11 Days till Schoolies

Wow my title makes me sounds so smart! Pfft ... but one to think about! ... me smart ahahaha! Tell 'em their dreaming!

Anyway ...

Today my wonderful friend dina sent me an email which I had read before but it hit me hard with the realisation of how you can truly affect someone's life FOREVER and reading the anonymous comment (I know who you are beautiful, and God has big things for you buddy, chin up, eyes to Jesus and open hands to receive his blessings! Oh and I would be so excited if you wanted to catch up have a chat and just hang! So please let me know if you want to buddy! Te he you know who you are!!!) on my last blog made me think how we take influence for granted!

So here is the fwd dina sent ...

A lesson for us all.......

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books.
I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd."
I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.
My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives."
He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face.
It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.
As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen
him before.
He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.
We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.
I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes.
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.
I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college.
Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.
He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.
Kyle was valedictorian of our class.
I teased him all the time about being a nerd.
He had to prepare a speech for graduation.
I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great.
He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.
He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those days.
I could see that he was nervous about his speech, so, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.
"Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began.
"Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends...I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.
"Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."
I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.
I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.
Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life.
For better or for worse.
God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way
Look for God in others.

You never know what a little comment, or gesture can do to change someone life!!!

I was listening to someone preach (I don't remember who know) but the were talking about encouragement and they set a challenge for themself. The challenge was that if they are with someone more then 1 minute, their goal is to make a comment of encouragement to that person whether it be what they are wearing, something they done, anything to make that person feel better! And if they spend longer then 5 minutes with someone, their goal is to speak God's words of life into that person!

And that is a goal I take on in my life, to encourage and inspire all I come into contact with ... for my glory ... NO A HUNDRED TIMES NO ... for the glory of my God and king!!

You never know how a passing comment can change a life (Hey Fina!!!) don't underestimate the power of influence!

Bless ya all!

Bring it Satan!!!

2005-11-04T16:32:00.000+11:00

14 Days till schoolies

Today I was having a bit of a battle with satan! They make me laugh, cause satan tries to lie to me but he is so stupid that he doesn't realise I have my full armour on (Eph 6)! Ahahaha!

I love this verse in Romans 16:20;

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."

Ahahah so satan BRING IT, cause you are going to be crushed by my God! Whooo love it!

Bless ya all!

Some cool links!

2005-11-02T09:44:00.000+11:00

Hey I was looking at some people blogs when I stumbled across some cool pages. Check 'em out;

Boundless Magazine - Youth online mag from Canada's Salvo youth department.

gink.worldnet - This is just a cool site with some good reads on it!

Just 2 cool sites! ENJOY!!!

Bless ya all!

Healing Rain!!!

2005-11-01T11:36:00.000+11:00

Wow God is so awesome! After me writing the last blog about my world crashing down etc and using the good old catch phrase "when it rains, it pours" and then up pops on the radio (good old 103.2 christian hits!) Michael W. Smiths "Healing Rain" ...

Healing Rain
Healing rain is coming down
It's coming nearer to this old town
Rich and poor, weak and strong
It's bringing mercy, it won't be long

Healing rain is coming down
It's coming closer to the lost and found
Tears of joy, and tears of shame
Are washed forever in Jesus' name

Healing rain, it comes with fire
So let it fall and take us higher
Healing rain, I'm not afraid
To be washed in Heaven's rain

Lift your heads, let us return
To the mercy seat where time began
And in your eyes, I see the pain
Come soak this dry heart with healing rain

And only You, the Son of man
Can take a leper and let him stand
So lift your hands, they can be held
By someone greater, the great I Am

Healing rain, it comes with fire
So let it fall and take us higher
Healing rain, I'm not afraid
To be washed in Heaven's rain

To be washed in Heaven's rain...

Healing rain is falling down
Healing rain is falling down
I'm not afraid
I'm not afraid...

Amen!!!

When it rains, it POURS!!!

2005-11-01T11:03:00.000+11:00

Have you ever noticed when you are struggling, everything seems to come crashing down on you?

Well this is my life at the moment! I struggle with one thing and everything starts falling down! Life seems like it hits rock bottom, but I serve a great God and I am reminded of the lyrics from Hillsong united song "Evermore" that say;

"Even if my world falls I will say... above all, I live for your glory!"

And that is what I choose to do, even though my world comes crashing down around me I will stand firm in faith that my God will pull me through!

So I know some of you say that you will pray for me and I say thank you, but pray for those that don't know our Lord. Those that have no hope or faith to hold onto when times a tough! How my heart breaks when I think of those that do not know God as I do! Oh how I weep at the thought of living a day NOT knowing God!

So pray for those lost ones without hope that they may know the fullness of Christ as we do and that it will not just rain salvations, but it shall pour with people asking Jesus into their life!

Bless ya all!

Dance dance Reveloution is now holy!!

2005-10-31T17:00:00.000+11:00

Ahahaha can you believe that there is now a Christian version of the dance, dance revolution game called dance praise!

Check it out!

How awesome!

Feet walking what my mouths talking!!!

2005-10-31T13:57:00.000+11:00

I was thinking today how so many people say so many different things of "I wish we did this, and we should be doing that" and I especially noticed after my last entry of "daring you to move" and I thought, am I walking my talk??

Which got me thinking about leadership and really no leader should dare their flock to go where they are not willing to go themselves... so I say this list to you not to show how good I am, but to boast in Christ and how awesome he is with blessing me with opportunities to walk my talks!

"Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."1 Corinthians 1:30-32

So to answer my dare ... am I doing them??

Sponsor a child overseas ... for the past 3 years I have (with the youth group) been sponsoring a beautiful girl Jodi-ann from Jamaica. (I would love to sponsor a child myself, so I will have to look into that more!) But about Jodi-ann ... She is so beautiful ... she was born with no eye balls and cause of the sponsorship she is able to go to the Salvation Army school for the blind!
She would be 8yrs of age at the moment and if I ever go to Jamaica, I would love to go visit here and meet her in person and give her such a big hug!

2. Mission trip ... my big excitement coming up in 17 days is Schoolies where I am going as a hotel Chaplin! I am so excited as I am just so passionate about young people knowing life in the full, and schoolies is where they think they find it! But they don't even come close. We can show them that they don't need to get drunk to have a good time, they don't need sex to feel good, and they don't need drugs to get them high! We get the opportunity to show them "life and life in the full" through the love of Jesus! I am just so pumped to get on the battle field and preach it up for the glory of my king! Whooo GO GOD!!! He is so going to set people free that week! Yeah VICTORY DANCE FOR JESUS.

3. Local needs in the community ... this is one that I am sad to say I do not do much of! Our youth group at Rockdale is made up of mostly community kids, so we are supplying a place for youth to hang, and we are getting more and more which is great but I could be doing so much more! I am so blessed to be in a church that is so focused to the needs of our community so I need to get more involved!!

So I would love to hear what you are doing, not to boast in your doing, but to boast in how such an amazing God would choose ordinary people like us to do his work and help his people!

Bless ya all!

Dare you to move Cont ...

2005-10-28T10:08:00.000+10:00

After yesterdays discovery, I DARE YOU TO MOVE ... and how do we do that! Well there is many ways!

Sponsor a child overseas
See what mission trips are available
See what local needs are in YOUR community

So with all this in mind I have made a link (Dare you to move) at the side totally devoted to mission links, such as sponsor children sites, mission trips site etc!

In James 2:14-17 it says;

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

Or in Matthew 25:40 it says;

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me [Jesus]."

I do not write to make you feel guilty for not doing anything (if you do already do something for the 'least' I applaud you) but I merely right to encourage you to move ... I DARE YOU!!

- Bless ya all!

Dare you to move!!!

2005-10-27T16:59:00.000+10:00

I was reading one of my mates blog and it lead me to this website about Child labour.

I new about poverty but didn't really KNOW about it! Does that make sense?? But this story almost brought me to tears!

The Dump Life
find the main dump for the city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, drive down the dirt road near the radio station in the commune of Stung Meanchey. Three siblings -- the elder boys Kayrith, 14, and Ratha, 12, and their younger sister, Minea, 10 -- and their cousin, Thavara, 11, work there as scavengers. The siblings live near the dump with their father Bo, 37, mother Sam On, 35, younger sisters Srey Yaan, 5, and Srey Yan, 4, and 10-month-old brother Sam Naang. Their home is a typical two-story, bamboo-framed shack with a corrugated tin roof, and walls of patched-together corrugated tin and scavenged materials. The children sleep on the second story, which has a floor of slatted bamboo. The parents sleep on the damp and muddy first floor, so that they can guard the flock of ducks they scoot into a pen beside the cooking platform. One day, Thavara sunk in the garbage up to her neck. On another day, Warren, who is nearly six feet tall, stepped on a seemingly dry spot and sunk in up to his thigh. Children ride on a front loader. The children of the Phou family scavenge in the dump almost every day to earn money for school fees and to supplement the family's meager budget. Their father, who worked as a garbage truck worker, lost his job when malaria made him miss 3 days of work. The boys are able to earn about $0.35 each for several hours of work.

And this one got me hard ...

Thavara searches for items to recycle. Her dream is to attend school.

So what are we doing? What can we do? I refuse to stay silent! I need to allow God to break my heart, as his heart breaks everyday, and allow him to show me what HE wants me to do!

What is my God calling me to do??

I wait to see in anticipation!!!

Bless ya all

Laziness is a killer of the soul!

2005-10-26T12:04:00.000+10:00

I have been so slack in my blogging which made me realise how lazy I have been getting lately! I have found it hard to blog about something as I said I would only blog about God and how he is working in my life and the lives around me!

So why have I found it hard to blog? God is ALWAYS at work around me! Then I realise it is not God but ME that is the one with problems! I had allowed myself to fall back and become lazy! I have not searched for where God is at work! I have not prayed for him to open my eyes and because of my laziness I have missed out on some great blessings that God wants to shower upon me!

So today I WAKE UP, I kick myself and stop being lazy! I need to get in the word MORE, I need to pray MORE, and I need to seek my Lords face MORE! I may not have fallen back in my spirituality, but I wasn't growing closer to God either.

I think the 2 biggest lies the devil can feed us is;

That he [Satan] doesn't exist.
That our relationship with Christ is fine and we don't need to fix it!

We need to be always moving forward! Cause if you don't you will slowly fall!

So today I will NOT let Satan win!! I will seek my God and what he is doing! So expect to be bombarded with blogs! Whoo GO GOD!!

Bless ya all!

Holy Discontent!!

2005-10-18T10:05:00.000+10:00

Wow! I have been slack blogging (as Rach so kindly pointed out!) so sorry all! Here is a new blog for you!

Well on Friday and Saturday I was blessed with the opportunity to go to the Global Leadership Summit at Sydney Congress Hall, but this was not an army do (as much as I love the army, it was nice to be interdenominational). So what am I talking about? Well the global leadership summit is run by Willow Creek (mega church in America and now in Australia) got together some of the great speakers from the world such as Bill Hybels (that is the pastor of Willow Creek) Rick warren, John Maxwell, plus many more go to willow creek Aust. to check it out.

It was such a great 2 days getting sown into about leadership but there is one thing that stood out to me so much! And that was the first session with Bill Hybels.

Bill spoke about our "Holy Discontent". What is it we can't stand! So what does that mean? Well he used the example of Moses in Exodus 2:11-12;

"One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand."

Moses couldn't stand HIS OWN people being beaten so he had to do something! Now I am not suggesting we go out and kill, no not at all! But I want to encourage you all what is it inside you that when you see it you cant handle it, you feel you need to do something about it! For some people they can't handle poverty, some they can't handle racism. What is it you can't stand? What is it that makes you want to scream ENOUGH!!!!

Another example is David and Goliath. We all know this story, well David got so stirred up inside of him about this man putting down his God that with raw passion he ran at this giant and with a single stone killed him! Now that is Holy discontent!!! Again not suggesting go kill someone!!!

What is it that makes you so roared up inside! Cause you know what ... God is looking for his ppl who are stirred up so much like him, and uses them to fight, cause God takes that Holy passion and discontent and harness it!

Once you find that holy discontent, keep exposing yourself to it, fuel it, stay close to that holy discontent so God can do mighty things through you! Allow him to use you as he did Moses, who couldn't handle Gods people being treated like that and pulled them out of slavery into freedom, or like David who was a simple Shepard and killed a giant, that simple Shepard grew to become a king and a man after Gods own heart! It was not cause of those ppl being great ppl, it was simply those ppl allowing God to take their holy discontent and use it for His glory!

So I ask you today! What is your holy discontent? What is it you can't stand anymore??

Me ... as you would guess is youth. Youth that are looked down upon, youth that are not given the opportunity to develop who they are in Christ! Young people who are not being sown into everyday of their life! Young people who know God but have no passion for Him, no real desire to get in the word or to pray daily, that is my Holy discontent! Ahaha now you've got me started.

To see a generation to be holy and blameless (Eph 1:4) to be set apart for Christ and to lead by example. (1 Tim 4:12) To be so passionate for what they believe that they reach the WORLD for Christ!!!

I guess my biggest Holy discontent is seeing young people who think they are trash! They are not worth anything! It breaks my heart when they find confidence in everything but Christ! Ohhh John 10:10 says;

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Oh for those young people to know how to have the life in full!!

Wow I will stop there but I will finish by saying again ... what is your holy discontent? What can't you stand anymore ... and what are you going to do about it??

bless ya all!

The Hope of the Army!!!

2005-10-10T14:18:00.000+10:00

On Saturday night I was blessed to go to Junior Music Camp (Salvo thing) for our East Territory here in Australia and it was awesome! It was so good to watch and entertaining but most importantly so God focused! Everything they did was for the glory of their king! It was awesome!

As I looked into the very large amount of young people they crammed on the stage for combine vocal, I was blown away with their excitement, passion and most of all joy! Joy from being in love with a great God and I thought, yeah this is the hope of the army, these young people are the life and blood of the army (of course God is the head) but these young guys are the ones, I believe, are going to bring our army back alive and take this world back from Christ! AMEN!!!

- For the glory of our king!

Bless ya all!

Aussie Youth!!

2005-10-07T11:18:00.000+10:00

My mind has not stopped from the weekend! I just keep thinking about our youth ministry here in Australia! This was the year of the youth and children right?! Well what has happened to youth to make them feel like this was their year?? I have not really seen any evidence!

But instead of me getting worked about what people are NOT doing, it made me think ... well what can I do? What does God want for the youth of The Salvation Army in Australia??

And what I got was ... passionate disciples, loving their neighbours, caring for their enemies, standing for injustice and so lost in a deep love relationship with their Lord!!!

Which got me thinking ... are we allowing our youth to do this, are we giving them the opportunities to spread their wings and soar ... and most of all are we allowing them to be the leaders of today??

I would love to see a generation rise up that refuses to see injustice in their community, that are the ones building the church, the ones that see church not as a building but a family, the family of God! I want to see a generation that is taking back their schools for Christ, the ones that refuse to whisper but through their lifestyle impacting the world for Christ, they scream into eternity the victory of their Lord!!

I want to see 12 year olds preaching, healing, prophesying!!! I want to see them leading the way! And yes they need to mature, but they will not if we keep telling them they are too young!!

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8

So what can I do ... instead of sitting around saying "I wish it was like..." "Why aren't we ..." I pray for God to show me those young people through his eyes! The potential they have, the gifts they are given and through the direction of God I choose to sow into their lives and give them the opportunities to grow into the amazing people of God they were born to be!!!

-Bless ya all!

Alove

2005-10-06T09:29:00.000+10:00

As I said earlier, last weekend I got to go away to a youth ministry weekend where Russell Rook was the guest! Russell Rook is the director for Alove in the UK ... what is Alove?? It is The Salvation Army for a new generation! I really think they are so switched on to reaching the youth of the UK there! It would be great for something like this to rise up in Australia!

Check out there site: http://web.salvationarmy.org.uk/alove

It is awesome!!

Whats the bible say ...

2005-10-04T14:58:00.000+10:00

I was on this awesome weekend for youth pastors (The Net) and to start the weekend off we had a great devotion time where we were given a list of bible passages to read and journal about! And this was mine ...

"I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." Romans 16:17-20

Some may think that I am over reacting, but clearly we see that things like smooth talking and flattery are only their to deceive our minds and to put obstacles in our way that are against what we know is right!

Satan uses that sort of stuff to distract us from God and his words! But God says;

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." Phil. 4:8

So for me I choose to live a life focus on the God and living a Holy life. We are called to be set apart for Christ, and what a impact that will make in the world!

Bless ya all!

Flirting ... when is it too far??

2005-09-30T11:28:00.000+10:00

Ok this is a topic we don't really talk about much, and I think we even brush over it thinking it is not much importance.
But God has really been teaching me the importance of this issue and how it needs to be spoken about more!
Ok so I may be a little of a prude, but I have chosen to live my life "set apart" for God. So when is flirting going to far??

Today we live in such a day and age where communication is so easy. You can call someone on the phone, text message them, email them etc. So how many of us a drawn into the trap of flirting??

I know for me I find myself doing it easily and think it is ok I am just having a little fun! But we are suppose to be holy people set apart, do we have the right to flirt when you don't know for that person you could be leading them into the sin of lust?

So... flirting when is it too far??? A touch on the arm, a cheeky smile, a small comment?? In the end it all ends to leading into lust! We God's people need to stop!! We need to know that we may find it harmless, but you do not know what the other person is thinking!

GUY WAKE UP ... don't make comments and gestures that lead a girl on.
GIRLS WAKE UP ... don't wear clothing that reveals almost all and then do inappropriate gestures to guys.

I guess this all links to the purity thing and my buddy Jodi has written a great blog on this about fighting for purity!

So when is flirting to far??? That is a line that you need to decided for yourself and commit yourself to never crossing it!

For me I have made that choice and as hard as it is, I WILL NOT cross it!! For I do not want to be the cause of someone's sins!

"to the pure you show yourself pure..."

Psalms 18:26

Bless ya all!

Will someone please stay still?

2005-09-28T14:48:00.000+10:00

Today I was reading this great article in the pipeline (Salvo mag) titled "Will someone please stay still?" by Captain Grant Sandercock-Brown, and it was so good that I thought I would blog about what he was saying!
If you have a chance I encourage you to read the article it is a great one, but for those of you who don't like reading here is a brief overview. (ahahaha but sorry you do have to READ this, no audio files here sorry). Anyway ...

Grant was talking about in the Salvation Army how much our leadership shifts around! That Officers (ministers) and the higher up ranking need to stay in their appointments longer.

He makes some great point about the General/commissioners roles, he says "The new commissioner arrives, tests the waters for a while, announces their plan for the territory and just as their vision is seeping down to the grass-roots level they retire or are moved on."

He continues further on to say ... "Imagine this, your favourite and most gifted territorial leaders stay in the job 10, 15, 20 yrs. They are visionary women and men of God. They share and communicate their vision, they know their officers, soldiers, employees and young people. They understand the culture, they have a heart for the territory and its people because they know that as leaders they are there to stay. Officers at corps and centres and the Training College know and trust their leaders, have caught their vision and understand the work that needs to be done not just in their corps but in their territory"

Grant then goes on to say ... "If this were to happen we would rediscover that we are a connected mega-missions rather than a denomination trying to grow mega-churches?" Love it!!!

He concludes with this great final plea ... "Will someone please stay still? Constant change at every level of leadership confuses and dilutes the vision. However, underneath the constant changes and challenges of the 21st century world, our mega-mission heart still beats. The fire still flickers. we want the world for God. We are an Army fighting for a glorious king; we still believe that there's salvation for the world. We just need some leaders to stay still long enough to capture our hearts and rekindle the flames."

Wow, I don't need to say any more!!! Great stuff Grant!!

- Bless ya all!

Ned's Makeover!!!

2005-09-27T11:49:00.000+10:00

Ned has had a makeover, and now he looks apart of the family (and it will be exciting once I learn how to drive his manual self te he!). So check him out ... hot stuff!!!

BEFORE

AFTER

So there he is, and I know a lot of you are hanging out for the new adventures with NED ... and you will notice Kermit is back safe and sound!!! WE LOVE YOU KERMIT!!

Te he!! I just want to thank my wonderful love ... Jesus for providing Ned into my life! Thanks Jesus you ROCK!!!

-bless ya all!!

Contentment is a KILLER!!!

2005-09-26T15:37:00.000+10:00

I really have been thinking about my walk with God and how our friendship is going, when God opened my eyes to something that is slowly killing our friendship and that is ... contentment! I have reached the stage in my life without realising, that I have become content with my relationship. I have become selfish in thinking God is blessing me so we are going well! SLAP SLAP, what you receive from God is not the indicator to your relationship!

I love my God so much, I would die for him ... but is that enough!! NO I SAY!! I need to go deeper and then once I go deeper, I need to go even more deeper! This is not good enough! I want God to continue to shape me and remold me, and then do it again and again so that I may become more like him! I want to know the bible back to front, I want to be so in tune with God that I can not take one step without hearing the soft whisper of my Lord!

I want ... no I NEED to go deeper! I need to stop thinking I am ok the way I am, and I need to go deeper then I have ever been, and allow God THEN to take me even more deeper!

"Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice."

1 Chronicles 15:10

May we all desire to go deeper!!

Blessings to Praise

2005-09-23T14:59:00.000+10:00

Today I was listening to this song blessed be your name by Tree63 and they have these great lines...

"Every blessing you pour out on me I turn back to praise when the darkness closes in on,
I still will say blessed be the name of the lord, blessed be your name!!"

These lyrics are just so cool, and they are my prayer, that all the blessings God has given me, I turn back to praise cause BLESSED BE HIS NAME!!!

May my life be full of praise!!!

Leaving an Impression

2005-09-22T09:26:00.000+10:00

This morning I meet with my good friend from High school for our usual Thursday Maccas breakfast date. So we go up to the counter to the same manager who knows us well, knows our normal orders and knows who paid last week (as each week we debate who is going to shout breaky). So Rach and I are loving how we are building relationships and hopefully soon we shall be able to have a discussion of what we do each week.

But that is not the exciting part, we go to sit down and a regular (older) guy turns around to see us sitting down and grumbles "oh those bible people ...". This just made me laugh, cause even though we are not this guys favourites, he know what we stand for! He hears our prayers Rach and I pray together and our discussions of our Lord Jesus Christ! Who know's, this man may be dancing in heaven with me one day! I PRAY SO!!!

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

I will have to admit, at first it made me a little hesitant to pray when he made that comment, but then I thought NO ... pray for those who persecute you! So the unnamed man, I shall pray you, that you will know the life of fullness that Rach and I know!!! Whooo!!!

Bless ya all!!

The Blessings Keep Rollin' on!!

2005-09-21T10:32:00.000+10:00

Wow! I can not believe how much God is doing in my life! I do not deserve any of these blessings that he is showering upon me!

"God so loved the world that he gave ..." John 3:16

So where do I start ... I realise I have been slack lately and not updating te he! Sorry all ...

So start with Friday night! We had our normal youth group which was great to see God is blessing the ministry so much there with about 20 ppl being there ... and most of them are community kids, so it is always an interesting night at youth group! LOVE IT!! Whooo!!

But the difference this Friday night was we had a sleep over for the 24/7 prayer week that is going on at Rockdale at the moment! So it was awesome for 2 hours having these young guys who have never really had any idea what it meant to pray, in a prayer room to learn how and why to pray! But the most impacting thing was the time we had to write down the names of our friends who don't know Jesus on a black cardboard (in white pen of course) and to have them praying over there friends names and wanting them to know the Jesus the way they are getting to know Him... It brought a tear to my eyes (and those who know me, it takes a lot to make me cry!)

For the rest of the weekend I was blessed with REST!! That is right Katie Reid had her first Saturday night off in ages and I praise God he gave that to me! Whoo thanks Jesus!

Wow this is a random entry ... anyway the latest thing God did for me is awesome! HE ROCKS!!

You see with my accident I have to pay out A LOT of money to cover it all and I was not sure how I was going to pay it all, so I applied for a loan not thinking I would get it, but I went through the application over the phone (how convenient!) and the lady was like "this might take a little while to be approved". So after about 2mins she was like "wow that is fastest I have ever seen a loan approved...Congratulations" Whooo it is approved! God so provides in so many different ways!!

Wow there is so much more God is doing in my life but I will leave it there for now!

MAN I AM SO IN LOVE WITH MY GOD not cause he provides my needs, but that he listens to a sinners cry!!

- Sinner Saved by Grace

Freedom in the Word!!!

2005-09-16T09:47:00.000+10:00

Man I love my God so much, I mean he just truly guides me, and meets all my needs! You see after the amazing weekend I had with the Flayva team, Satan thought he would be smart and try and attack me, and not using just the little things, but my biggest weakness I have! And man did he hit me hard! He made me feel angry, frustrated, impatient, ungrateful...to the point I almost found myself blaming God! And I thank God that in those times of weakness he is my strength, my rock, my fortress.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

And I shall boast in my weakness cause it is only through God and his word that I was set free. You see I just felt chains of bondage around me this week, and it wasn't till a very wise friend of mine (thanks Jodi, you rock!!) said the most simplest thing to me and that was "Cover yourself in the word". And I was doing that, but you know what, I was not BELIEVING that the word of God is a living and breathing thing that God's power works through! And when I stopped looking to myself, and looked to the word, that is when the freedom came and I was just bombarded with words of freedom and life!! But the two biggest ones that stay close to my heart were;

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I[Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Man I love my God so much; because he gives me everything I want? ... NO! I praise him that he doesn't give me what I want, but what he does give me is what I NEED!!! And for that I am humbled at his feet and offer myself everyday as a living sacrifice!!

So I encourage you, if you are in a time of weakness, go to word and grab a hold of the verses God reveals to you and seal them on your heart! For Satan can’t tear away that which is sealed on your heart! He can try, but when Jesus lives there ... NO CHANCE SATAN!!!

FOR GODS GLORY ALONE I LIVE!!!!
-A Sinner saved by Grace

Story of Jesus!

2005-09-16T09:32:00.000+10:00

I was checking out the Armybarmy website, when I noticed there link of the week and I checked it out and it is pretty cool. It just explains the story of Jesus so well ... and it has PICTURES whoooo!!! (not of Jesus himself obviously, but it has excavations which I think are cool).

So feel free to have a looky!!

http://www.thestoryofjesus.com/

ENJOY!!!

And so Ned is Born!!!

2005-09-13T12:43:00.000+10:00

Man God is so good! He truly does supply all my needs! After the accident the next day some good friends of mine called up to say they want to GIVE me their 2nd car for nothing! Like how awesome is God! He knows the things we need, to the things we want, and he supplies all our NEEDS!

WHOO PRAISE GOD!!!

So why the title Ned??? Well this awesome beast which I have inherited needed a name! He needs to feel loved! So I asked my brother (who is the coolest!! Yes he is!) what I should name our newest member to the family (as Geoff was the one who originally named Larry) and he came up with this wise name;

"I think a perfect name for your free new car is....
Ned.
This name encapsulates everything this new car brings. Your old is dead and now you have a new one. Therefore New and Dead becomes...Ned."

So that is my wise brother! Te he! So born is Ned the mighty white beast...

Stay tuned for awesome pics of the mighty beast!

but let him who boasts boast about this:

that he understands and knows me,

that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,

justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

Jer. 9:24

- Bless ya all!

Flayva Roadtrip!!!

2005-09-12T12:37:00.000+10:00

This weekend, Flayva (our divisional youth church) was blessed with the opportunity to go to our nations capital and Rock it hard for Jesus! It was an awesome weekend! So what was it we did exactly ...

We were invited to ACT divisional Congress to do their youth night on the Saturday and a small worship segment on Sunday afternoon! And man was it AWESOME! God did some great stuff! He moved in the young guys life, and also through the bands life! It was great to take our full band of 14(...I think, te he! I always forget the exact number) to a new place, and use their gifts and talents to glorify our king! And that is exactly what they did!

I personally also got a great opportunity to do an elective on the Saturday afternoon and talk about my passion of showing Jesus in your school/uni! Even though it was a little disappointing to have my time cut heaps short from the meeting before hand going overtime, it was a great honour to share with a group of young teenages who wanted to know how to take their school for Jesus! As well as that I had my first experience of leading an all age worship time! Man was I so scared, but God gave me so much peace, and encouragement and I received really encouraging feed back from everyone! So praise and honour to God for the way he works through me! Whoo GO GOD!!!

So what was the highlight ... Naths car going through heaps of petrol in a short amount of time cause the yellow tank couldn't handle it, or the 5.30 start Saturday morning, or was it the awesome devotions lead by the leadership team, which lead to some amazing prayer times, or the opportunity to spend a whole day trying to embarrass our Div. Youth Sec. for his birthday ending with an attempt at cake in his face, or was it the awesome opportunity to minister to about 150 young guys, or the VERY late night on Saturday cause the girls decided to have a laughing fit. Or maybe it was the Sunday morning adventure of the bus running out of petrol on the way to the morning meeting! I know for the sounds guys their highlight was on the sunday bring in some of their good speakers and almost deafening everyone there!

There where just so many great times on the weekend, but I would have to say my personal favourite time was ... seeing my guys (the band and leadership team) so passionate and on fire for God, not caring what anyone thought, just worshipping how God had made them! That to me took my breath away!

ALL PRAISE AND GLORY TO THE MOST HIGH KING!!!

- Blessings to you all!

Poor Larry!!!

2005-09-06T14:36:00.000+10:00

Here is poor Larry! WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU LARRY!! Te he!

Isn't it so sad that it doesn't look like much damage, but enough that Larry may never be able to be fixed! Well he can but it is cheaper to just get another car!!! *tear

Shout out to God in a Voice of Triumph!!!

2005-09-06T12:41:00.000+10:00

On Saturday night God just blessed me so much with the amazing work he is doing in the youth here! We took a bus load out to the 'big exoday' which is run by youth alive, and it is ... well the best way to describe it is a youth festival! Anyway at the night time they had a rally where Reggie Dabbs spoke (a youth speaker from America), and it was awesome! It was a quick sermon but powerful!

He set the challenge for those who wanted to accept Jesus into their heart (to be bold and stand) and allow him to "fix you" (as we serve a God of the impossible, what ever you have done, he doesn't care, he just wants you to come to him and allow him to clean you and make you new again). I was just praying asking God to move in 1 or 2 of our guys and I turn around and 10 let me say again 10 of our guys accepted him into their heart! Whether it was a recommitment or for the first time! Man God is awesome! And ever since then I cant get these lyrics out of my head;

" The enemy has been defeated

Death couldn't hold him down,

we gonna lift our hands in victory,

we gonna make his praises loud.

Shout out to God in a voice of triumph

Shout out to God in a voice of praise

Shout out to God in a voice of triumph

We lift your name up, we lift your name up"

And that is what I declare over my youth! A SHOUT OF VICTORY cause THE ENEMY HAS BEEN DEFEATED! Whooo all praise and honour to the most high God.

-Sinner saved by grace

Smashing into Spring!!!

2005-09-02T11:01:00.000+10:00

Well what a great way to start the spring! The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, the magpies a swooping, and I am smashing my car! Te he! That is right! Yesterday morning as I was on my way to work I got to experience my first accident!
I have to admit, it was a little scary, but an amazing experience to have everything in slow motion! I never thought that was true but it really does happen all in slow motion!
I praise God no one was hurt in this accident, and especially myself (as selfish as that sounds). It is just I am so amazed that with the way I was impacted by the other car, that all I came out with was a little scratch on my arm and a soar back. Wow! God sure was looking after me!
But I do have to bring in some sad news ... *tear* my beautiful car "Larry" is no more! He is on his way to car heaven! *sniff sniff* and I had an official day of mourning for him! Lots of great memories, and car trips with that car! All those times of locking keys in him, and him just deciding he didn't want to work on certain days, as well as all those journeys, to Canberra, Wollongong, Newcastle, all over Sydney! WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU LARRY!!!

Stay tuned for photos on Monday! And may we never forget the brave laser name Larry!

Quick Welcome!

2005-08-31T16:37:00.000+10:00

Just a quick note! Today I found out that a good friend of mine has a blog! So hope you all check it out! Emma Chant is currently a cadet here (don't hold it against here), and she is an awesome women of God! So hope you enjoy her stuff!! I know I will!

Awww isn't that a nice picture! Te he she is gonna kill me when she finds out, so if you don't hear back from me you know why! Ahahah!

- Bless ya all!

Stop being a Pharisee

2005-08-30T14:07:00.000+10:00

MORE AGGRESSION FROM KATIE'S CORNER ...

Today at work I had our lovely fun to the max work meetings planning the semesters ahead (as I work in a bible school) and we were talking about the frustrations of the disunity between schools etc. Then it was brought to our attention one of our students current class room situation and I can tell you I was so ANGRY and DISGUSTED at my fellow Christian sister! So let me explain! AND MAY WE LEARN FROM HER MISTAKES.

We have this lovely NON Christian student who is currently studying with us! (Did you just hear that, a non Christian decided one day that she wanted to study for 3 yrs with us to get a BTh at a bible school, like how unreal is that! Whoo Go GOD!!) So we have this beautiful girl going to class with Christians so my thoughts are ... this is a great opportunity for this girl to mix with Christians and hopeful through a relationship be lead to Christ! BUT we find out that she is not VALUED by a certain person (call her Ms x) who has told her that her views are not counted in small groups cause she is not a Christian! And that in the future she is not welcomed in discussions. She is there to listen and get converted!

WHAT?! Has this person missed the point! I was so angry when I found out that this non Christians opinions were not valued!
Now I see a few things in this situation!!!

She is not a Christian, so her opinion is what the WORLD would be saying, so we should be embracing what she is saying and learning from her experiences and how we can better reach the world for Christ
Do you think she is going to want to be "converted" when he experience of a "Christian" is put downs and careless attitude?
How dare that Ms X think she is better then anyone cause of their "religion" .... oh they are being so much like the pharisees! Grrrr (the not nice ones! te he!)

Man that makes me so made! So my goal is to pray, pray, pray then love, love, love this person who is being put down like that! Cause I believe one day she is going to be in heaven with me, so I will fight for this girl! And the one putting her down! Man they are lucky I don't know who they are or grrr they would get a mouth full! *deep breaths*

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:17

-Sinner saved by grace

Friends!

2005-08-29T16:34:00.000+10:00

Ok so this may seem a little girly for me but I think it is something God has really been opening my eyes to lately and that is ....

Friends!

God has blessed me so much with such loving, supporting, encouraging friends and I think sometimes we take it for granted the friends we have! And something that God has been teaching me heaps lately is I would not be the person I am today if it wasn't for my awesome friends who had taken the time to sow into me!

So all my mates out there ... thank you so much for your constant support! You guys ROCK!!! (not as much as Jesus sorry but still ROCK!!! Te he!) So i encourage you if you have a friend just let them know the influence they have on your life! And you never know! That could of been exactly what they need to hear at that time! Go on do it ...

-Bless ya all!

Go Jesus!!

2005-08-26T09:12:00.000+10:00

I was looking at the Nova 96.9 website (Syd. radio station) and look what is on their page! Whooo I was so excited!

Ahahahaha it made me laugh, but I think it is awesome they have this on a everyday radio station! Yeah GO JESUS!!!!

Count your blessings ...

2005-08-25T16:49:00.000+10:00

I feel like breaking into a song ... Count your blessings ...

Anyway ...

A good friend of mine gave me this quote from Warren Wiersbe and I find it so challenging, and like my friend said "felt a slight rebuke when reading it."

"I have felt for a long time that one of the particular temptations of the maturing Christian is the danger of getting accustomed to his blessings. Like the world traveler who has been everywhere and seen everything, the maturing Christian is in danger of taking his blessings for granted and gettings so accustomed to them that they fail to excite him as they once did."

So take nothing for granted and praise God in EVERYTHING!

- Bless ya all!!

FOR GODS GLORY!!!

2005-08-22T11:30:00.000+10:00

Wow! What a weekend! I have just come back from the 'Love That' weekend and man did God move in such a powerful way! So many young lives were changed, and chains of bondage where broken, people set free! New people added to God's family and the community touched through service! Wow and that was just on Saturday! Such a great weekend! So where do I start? How can you truly grasp all that God did on this weekend?

It start on Friday night with a big combined night with all the 3 conferences together (Unlimited [adults], Love that [teens], and unlimited kids [self explanatory te he!]) and this was a awesome night of praise to kick start the weekend! With the guest speaker Wayne Alcorn of Brisbane City Church in Qld who was such a great communicator and spoke from Isaiah 54 and challenged us to live people in victory! To rejoice even in the tough times, and not to be consumed by the score board (meaning how many people are coming to church) but to rejoice for we are on the winning side! The appeal time was amazing and it is always so awesome and fulfilling to see the Holy Spirit move in a powerful way! Whooo!

Then Saturday morning ... Love that begins! Man was it incredible! Words can not express how much God blew my mind over the weekend, through the servant hearted leaders, to the 12yr olds who were so on fire for God!

God is awesome!

So what was MY highlight: If I had to pick out one it would be the Saturday afternoon! We decided (before the conference) for our young guys to put there faith in action! So we had 'Love that in action' were all our young guys went out in teams and walked the streets just washing cars! Something so simple, but the people in this community were gob smacked at a bunch of young teens who were just doing this for FREE, they weren't being paid and the community people did have to donate or pay! (we refused all money donations) why? Cause we wanted to show the community the love of Jesus through something practical! SO why was this a highlight for me? Well as the teams where doing this I was able to just walk the streets checking on how each team was going, when I came across a young guy who was watching what we were doing. So I went up to this guy and ended up sharing briefly the love of Jesus with him and invited him to the Sunday rally! That was awesome! Then God kept on blessing me with the opportunity to share the gospel with someone else. I turned to see this family just staring at their car, and how clean it looked, but more importantly they were just blown away at this young guys giving up there time to serve them! So I went over and chatted with them and got talking with the son who is a uni student! And as we talked a little more I got to find out his family is strong Buddhist family and that he believes in Jesus but doesn't know what to do cause of his family! So he was keen to bring his family to the Sunday morning! Did they go? I don't know! But the fact is I was able to sow the truth of Jesus into that young man, and I pray that God in his timing will bring him to the full understand of the love of Jesus!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17

Yeah God did so much this weekend I give God ALL THE PRAISE AND GLORY!! Whooo GO GOD!!!

Bless ya all and never be afraid to share the love of Jesus with everyone you see!!

- sinner saved by grace

Psalms 23

2005-08-19T10:37:00.000+10:00

Just a quick blog today as I am flat chat trying to prepare for the weekend!!
Whooo I can not wait to see what God has instore for us all!!

Anyway my good mate Rach sent me this today and I thought I would share it with ya all (sorry for the old school language!)

The Lord is my Shepherd
> >That's Relationship

I shall not want
> >That's Supply

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
> >That's Rest

He leadeth me beside the still waters.
> >That's Refreshment

He restoreth my soul
> >That's Healing

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.
> >That's Guidance

For His name sake.
> >That's Purpose

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
> >That's Testing

I will fear no evil.
> >That's Protection

For Thou art with me.
> >That's Faithfulness

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me,
> >That's Discipline

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
> >That's Hope

Thou annointest my head with oil,
> >That's Consecration

My cup runneth over.
> >That's Abundance

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
> >That's Blessing

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord.
> >That's Security

Forever.
> >That's Eternity

Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.

Bless ya all!

- sinner saved by grace

Exciting time ahead

2005-08-18T16:46:00.000+10:00

Whoo that time is closely approaching when LOVE THAT kick starts! Man am I excited! Last Wednesday the team and I meet to have our final planning meeting and we finished with this incredible prayer time! Man we are so pumped for this weekend! We are just believing God is going to do some amazing work in these young guys lives, and I am so blessed an honored to be on the team!

Ok so why am I blogging about a meeting last week, well as I was finishing up some little cards (these are cards we are giving out in the community to invite them to Sunday!) it got me thinking back to the significance of these cards and the prayer we had about these cards! We prayed and are praying believing that AT LEAST one person from the community is going to be saved!! How awesome is that and I believe that Monday morning I am going to be blogging about the amazing things God did on this weekend!!

anyway if you want to know more about this check out the site - Unlimited conference

Stay strong all

FOR CHRISTS GLORY ALONE I FIGHT!!!!

Crying out for Unity!!!

2005-08-16T12:26:00.000+10:00

WARNING THIS MAY BE AGGRESSIVE...

Ok where do I start ... this morning my boss approached me about a new rule we have here at work (I currently am working for the salvos, and we have a couple of departments in here) and I was told FROM NOW ON there is to be no sharing of information, no helping other departments out etc and this made me SO MAD! FOR GOODNESS SAKES we are suppose to be a Christian working environment working along side some great officers, and here they are having heated discussion about staff being shared! Come on people we are all here for the same outcome, to extend Gods kingdom, and equip Gods people does it really matter how we get there????

Man it just makes me mad...but then so sad to think if we can't even get our act together within Gods family to promote unity, why would people who don't know Jesus want to come in?? They already live everyday with fighting, and disunity, what do we have to give, if we cant even gracefully love each other??? Are we truly showing the love of Jesus!!!

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" Psalms 133:1

May that be the prayer of my heart for my fellow work mates!!!

- A Sinner Saved by GRACE
Katie

Bless ya all!

What do ppl see when the meet us??

2005-08-15T16:30:00.000+10:00

This morning I was reading through Romans and I was challenged from the very first verse that reads this;

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God" Romans 1:1

I was so challenged by this cause I thought, wow imagine that being our title ... (insert your name) a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.

God really started challenging me on what do people see when they see me! And please don't hear me wrong, I am not saying what do people think of me ...image etc, I am saying what do they SEE when they look at me? Do they see a servant of Jesus SET APART for the gospel, or just a chick that calls herself a Christian?

Hmm challenging!! And I guess the biggest challenge is not do my closest friends who know me, but the person I meet on the streets, do they see someone SET APART for the gospel??

Wow! What a challenge ... what do people see when they meet you for the first time?? What do they see when they meet me???

Many blessings!!
- Katie
Just and ordinary girl with an extrodinary God! HE ROCKS MY WORLD!!!

Self Leadership ... how you doing?

2005-08-11T16:19:00.000+10:00

On Monday night I was blessed to attend our I.D night (The salvo youth teaching nights I guess is the easiest way to explain it) anyway, it was such an awesome night where we were taught about leadership and what that looks like in the army and what it looks like for us personally.

We were given a small card with some questions on it and I thought they were 'gold' so I would share them ...

(These are from Bill Hybels "Building Prevailing Churches")

Is my calling sure?
Is my vision clear?
Is my passion hot
Is my character clean?
Is my pride subdued?
Are my psychological wounds undermine my leadership?
Is my fear immoblising me?
Are my leadership gifts developing?
Are my ears open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit?
Is my pace sustainable?

I especially love question 10, cause I reckon we can get so caught up in leadership that we forget to lead, cause we have become so burnt out, we are no good for anyone! So if you are a leader or feel you will one day, think about that one hard. (And remember leadership isn't always upfront!)

We then finished up with an amazing time of prayer lead by a Nigerian Major, who is so passionate and when he speaks the Holy Spirit moves! So man were we convincted. We had people take up the challenge of Fasting to grow more like Jesus, others had taken the challenge to dive in the word more tobe like Jesus, and others were made more aware of their weakness. And in that I say boast away in the Lord cause it is in our weakness' that he is the strength.

"9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

It was such an awesome night, where the Lord taught us all so much! From the 16yr old to the 40yr old reaching to be more like Jesus!!!

"26... Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:26-28

- Sinner saved by Grace!!! - Katie

Victory Dance time ... do do do do do cant touch tis!!!

2005-08-09T16:48:00.000+10:00

Ahahaha! Man have I had the best week in the world! I have been on holidays for the past week where I had a great time of refreshment (thanks jodi you are a great hostess) and then victory time at my brother and his wife house! You see my brother and his wife turned away from God sometime ago and my parents and I have been praying for years that they would come back to Gods loving arms and as I spent this week with them I discovered they are there! Whooo they have recently made the decision to accept Jesus in their heart, life and marriage! How exciting! And it is amazing to see the change in their life!

So I sing cant touch tis to the stinkin devil cause he cant touch God's children and my brother and sis-in-law are GODS CHILDREN! Whoooo!

"If a shepherd has one hundred sheep, and one wanders away and is lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others and go out into the hills to search for the lost one? " Matthew 18:12 (NLT)

Thank you Lord so much that you did not stop searching till you had your 2 lost sheep!!!

Praise and Glory to the most high God!!!!

Blogging for his glory

-Katie

Christian Porn Site!!!

2005-07-29T13:26:00.000+10:00

I bet your thinking what the heck??? But this is awesome, if you know any of your friends struggling with an addiction to porn or if you just want to check out what these amazing men of God are doing check this site out;

www.xxxchurch.com.

Blessings
- Katie

How much do I love Jesus???

2005-07-27T15:44:00.000+10:00

I read a little while back in my devotions the statement;

"Obedience is the outward expression of your love for Jesus"

And that keeps popping up in my head, cause at first this didn't sit completely comfortable with me, and the more I think about the more it becomes real to me! And as I was having my daily daydreaming session today (te he!) I felt God showing me a picture of a couple, and when they are so deeply in love with each other that they are willing to do ANYTHING for there partner. And some people do crazy stuff when their love!

What do we do for our love??? Do we wake up each morning just wanting to spend every minute of the day with our Lord, and if we are not having a direct conversation with Jesus are we dreaming about him??? Is our obedience really showing the depth of our love for our God???

Man these a full on questions, but I feel so challenged that next time I go to disobey God, by simply not obeying (and yes that is still disobeying when you do nothing) I am reminded how much do I love my God???

Fighting for Christs

- Katie

Satan SUCKS!!!!

2005-07-26T15:57:00.000+10:00

Man I am so angry today! I so want to kick Satan in the head! But you know what, everytime I say yes to God I am kicking Satan in the head! So yeahhhh!!!

But what has started this outrage you ask?? Well as I hung out with a mate the other day, I listened to that persons inward battle with sin, and how Satan was telling this person so much DISGUSTING lies that this person is believing them and being slowly drawn away from our Lord Jesus Christ.

But will I sit back and watch as Satan thinks he has won this battle!!! NO WAY!!! I will stand for what I believe, I will pray for that person everyday, I will call that person during the week and see how they are going, I will meet with that person every week and help them rediscover God, the God which is truth, and life!! I will not let Satan have this Soul, I will not let him win, so until I can not breathe anymore I WILL FIGHT!!!!!

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

So I think I will stop there I am getting a little passionate!!! Man look out Satan you messed with the wrong Warrior of Christ this time!!!!!

Christs warrior

- Katie

Prayer Bomb!!!!

2005-07-26T10:38:00.000+10:00

Wow, I can't believe it is that time of year again for Sydney. As I was driving to a friends place I noticed a giant billboard advertising Sexpo which basically is where people can go and look at new ways to take away the purity of what should remain for your husband/wife.

Some may say it is not a big deal, but I think it is. As I was reading my good mates blog (Jodi Hoffman - Fighting for purity) it made me think, our teenagers are growing up in a world where it is just not normal for them to think about staying pure, and especially when they have big expo's that show them how to be impure, and that at 12yrs of age it is normal to sleep with your partner of 2 weeks! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!!

So I ask for a cross the board prayer bomb! Pray for those teenagers who are thinking about going that they will change there mind! Why...cause as my friend said it "we need to fight for purity"

"...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16

For Christ Glory we fight

Blessings
-Katie

How many fish have you pulled?

2005-07-25T12:13:00.000+10:00

Last night was another great night in the winter bible school for Rockdale Salvos. Criag Stevens (awesome man of God leading the incarnational mission stream) spoke to us from this passage; Matthew 4:19-20

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

At once they left their nets and followed him.

And as we opened up to this passage I thought, man we have heard this passage so many times what can we learn from this and BAM...God slapped me in the face with his word and opened my eyes to a new truth!!! (I love it when he does that)

But as Craig spoke to us he pulled these simple 2 verse apart and revealed to us such a strong challenge which is this;

Are we following God???

Let me explain it a little better for you. In verse 19 it is a command and a promise. Jesus clearly says follow me and I will MAKE you fishers of men. It doesn't say if you follow me, and have 15 years of training and bible knowledge I will let you be a fisher of men, it says follow me and then I will MAKE you fishers of men. I will MAKE you fishers of men! So we can't help but bring people into the kingdom because that is the way he has MADE us to. So the challenge was set that if we follow God we will be bringing the men, the converts for Christ! So if we are not...are we following him??? Hmmm challenging!

The second thing was in verse 20 "At once they left their nets and followed him."

So craig challenged us with what is our nets? What is it we need to leave in order to AT ONCE follow Christ????

Hmm man this great stuff! Preach that Jesus! Whooo!

So I am left with the challenge, am I fishing in men??? And if not what is my "net" that I need to be leaving in order to follow him???

Many blessing on you!

Your sister in Christ

- Katie

Through Christs eyes!

2005-07-22T15:51:00.000+10:00

Lately I have been struggling with one big issue! I want to lead someone PERSONALLY through a salvation prayer (asking Jesus into there heart), and I have cried and pleaded before God asking this, and you know what like he always does he kicked me up the butt and encouraged me!

As I look around I see that is not up to me, it is God and his PERFECT timing for the supernatural to take place! Then he continued to show me, that through my obedience and allowing him to use me as a vessel, I have been so blessed. This week I saw the fruits of his labour through me! I saw some of the most beautiful girls (I meet up with regularly) just so passionate and on fire for Jesus! Was this my input that has done this? No it is Christ working through me! All praise and glory to my precious God!!!

So through this God has taught me that he is blessing me so incredibly. I just have to stop looking through human eyes and look through his eyes! And man is he blessing me!!!

For Gods glory I blog!!!

- Katie (Daughter of the most high God)

Gossip Betrays!!!

2005-07-21T14:39:00.000+10:00

Man, how busy have I been! Here is something I came across today which I thought was so cool, a great reminder and challenge (and this just doesn't go for girls!!!)

TIP OF THE MONTH
Good Girls - Bad Habits:
Ok, so even the best of us have struggled with this one. It's just a slip of the tongue, but once you've said it, you can never take it back.

GOSSIP...where two or more girls are gathered, there it will be!

British novelist Joseph Conrad once said 'Gossip is what no one claims to like, but everybody enjoys'. We all say that it's not nice to gossip, and yet we all want to know what so-and-so said or what so-and-so did. But on the other hand, if we hear someone has gossiped about us we get really upset. Gossiping has caused so much heartbreak and fights between close friends.We would all agree that everyone wants someone they can trust, so next time you catch you and your girlfriends having a goss, stop it before it gets out of hand!

Proverbs 11:13 says, 'A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.' (NIV)

For God's glory we fight!

Bless ya's all!

- Katie

p.s girls check out the new sight I've added, it is great (Gods Little Rocker)

Stone age experience!

2005-07-19T12:23:00.000+10:00

Just a quick blog to share my fun for the morning!!!

As I was at work this morning, I was happily working very hard (as I do te he yeah right!) but next thing you know all the power goes out! And it turns out that across 3-4 SUBURBS all the power has gone out, so for about 40mins we got to experience a little of the stone age. Man we take technology for granted!

Much prayers and blessings on you as you live in the light!

"...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Christs warrior
- Katie

Thinking outside the denomination!

2005-07-18T15:45:00.000+10:00

Last night I had the great privilege of going to my friends church in the area (a Presbyterian church) and as I sat in this little traditional church with its beautiful stain glass windows, I found myself thinking how much I love my church and how great it is with its technology and pretty up beat songs, and dare I say I even found myself thinking we (Salvos) were better then them. But thankfully God gave me the biggest slap in the face as I listened to the very passionate preacher pray not for the Presbyterian church's and the mission fields etc, but about Gods church. He continued praying blessings, and encouragement on ALL of Gods churches and Gods people.

And I thought wow...we (Salvos) are so inward praying. As we pray for our friends and those we can reach with the Gospel, and The Salvation Army around the world, but how many times do we pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in other denominations.

This passionate preacher then went on to say that we as Gods church need to pray MORE for our fellow brothers and sister so he asked us to break into small groups of 2-3 people and pray for those churches around the world.

So as I looked around at this little traditional church with its old hymns and small congregation, overhead projector and little organ, I asked God to show me through his eyes this congregation and what I saw was so breath taking. I saw Gods people as an army praying with all their heart for ALL of God's people and they didn't just pray, it was like their prayers could break down hells gates and take back the lost for Christ! Man were they passionate.

So lesson for me...to pray for my fellow brothers and sisters NO MATTER what denomination they are!

Thanks God so much for this kick up the butt!!!

Christs student
-Katie

Do you know your neighbours???

2005-07-14T14:59:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I was speaking with some of the ladies from work, and one of the ladies was telling us the horrible story of a few years ago a man up the road from her house was found dead in his home! He had been dead for about 12 months! And I thought how sad is that, for that whole 12 months he wasn't missed, no one even noticed he wasn't around! When they asked the gardener how he didn't notice he replied "I didn't know! After he stopped paying me I went to chat to him but he never answered the door so I just left." So the grass just grew over and no one thought anything about! The newspapers stacked up on the front porch, the gas and electrical companies just cut of his supply when he didn't pay his bills!!! And when interviewing the neighbours they replied "He kept to himself so we didn't notice" How sad!!

Was this a one off story?? No... people all around the world are dieing and no one is even missing them. Well you know what, I believe God has cried over everyone of those that have died alone and unloved by the world!

This got me thinking though...do I know my neighbour. I speak to them in polite small talk, but do I KNOW them, do I know there name, where they work, what they do for fun. Do I ask if they need help! I know we have many elderly have I asked if they need a hand with cleaning or gardnering???

Jesus tells us the second greatest commandment;

"And the second is: 'Love your neighbor as yourself."

Matthew 22:39

(Wow! Bit of a theme this week with the commandments! Te he!) But it makes me think, do I really hate myself that much that I would let my neighbour go unloved?? No not at all!!! So neighbours look out...i'm coming to love you!!!

Many Blessings

FOR CHRISTS GLORY I FIGHT!!!

-Katie

God just wants to chill with us!!!

2005-07-13T11:49:00.000+10:00

Have you every felt unsatisfied in what you are doing for God??? I have! I have been told that I have the gift of evangelism and maybe that is a key part in my daily frustrations. As everyday I go to work in an office with my fellow Christians and stare in front of a computer doing secretarial work, I constantly feel that I should be doing more, I should be saving the world!

God has slowly been teaching me a great truth, and today he really hit home with me in my devotions. I have been doing a course called "Experiencing God" where it teaches you about hearing God and knowing His will for your life! (It is great I recommend it for any Christian no matter how long you have been in a relationship with Christ) And what stuck out to me today was this statement...

"God is more interested in what I become then what I do" Meaning that God is more interested about your intimate relationship with him then what plans you have to do for the kingdom of God!

God desires a love relationship with us, someone just to hang with. Someone who he can teach and grow;

"...the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart;..." - 1 Samuel 13:14

And Jesus tells us the greatest command;

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." - Matthew 22:37

The greatest commandment was not to save souls, although that is very important to do, the greatest commandment was not to have the best job in the world, or the best ministry, the greatest commandment is to love God, to be in an intimate relationship with him!

So I was so encouraged in thinking my time will come when I will be working fulltime for God but for little evangelists me, he says these words;

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."Romans 5:3-4

So I know God is preparing me for the task he has planned! Te he! And by the time I get there I am going to have such a great character! Lol!

FOR GODS GLORY I FIGHT

Blessings!

Katie

Rebuke Injustice no matter how big or small it is!!!

2005-07-12T14:48:00.000+10:00

Today my heart broke!!! And no it wasn't cause some love of my life broke it, it was from my fellow work mates!

Let me back track a little, I work in the Salvation Army's Training College here in the Eastern Territory, where most of the lay people here are Christians, and I was horrified as I watched my fellow workers and officers make fun of one of the gardeners we have here (He is a young man who is working for the dole) and I know he could hear there laughter at him as he worked only about 10m away. I just wanted to weep so much, I felt like they were a pack of lions swarming there prey, and just waiting and letting it scare itself to death before they attacked!

Why am I so saddened by this, besides the fact they were making fun of someone??? Well this guy is not a Christian, just a young man recently separated from his wife loosing his 2 kids and struggling to find work, so they have offered a part time job here for him and he knows we are all Christians! What impact do you think they have had on that guy? What impact have they had on the Kingdom! Ahhh it makes me so mad cause I spent all this time building a friendship with him, and slowly encouraging him to find Christ, and I just pray this has not hindered that! Are we showing love to him?

If only we had the passion to save souls as we do to complain and make fun!! Oh to have that fire burning so strong that would rebuke any injustice in this world!!!!!

Psalm 89:14
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you."

So I was challenged by God in this. What am I doing?? Did I stand up for the injustice??? Again the revolution of Love starts with us! So I thank God for this lesson, and pray for the opportunity to stand for what I believe! (Psalms 89:14)

For God's Glory I fight!!!
Blessings!
Katie

I do believe!!!

2005-07-11T14:20:00.000+10:00

Last night i had such a wow moment! You know those times when you just have to stop and go "Wow", well I got one! Love it when God does that! Whooo Go GOD!!!!

So I was at my winter Bible school in the mission stream where Criag Stevens (awesome man of God) was teaching us about how we need to constanly have a refilling of the Holy Spirit! He continued speaking about how churchs today seem to lack the supernatural, not cause God doesn't want to do his supernatural, but that we don't expect God to do amazing works. I was so challenged with that thought! When I turn up to church do, I believe that God is going to make a blind man see in the service? Do I believe that people are going to speaks in tongues? Do I believe that cripple will walk? Wow what a challenge. Which made me think, do I really believe in Gods amazing supernatural power that he could heal someone through and ordinary vessel...ME!!!!

Craig then invited us to come forward if we wanted a refilling of the Holy Spirit and to be open to what the Holy Spirit wanted to do right there and then! I didn't know what to expect, but I went opened and man did the Holy Spirit move! I was filled with the Holy Spirit and I could feel him from my head to my toes, and the visions he gave me where awesome!

It was such an amazing sight to see how God moves through different people and how he releases them. We had people who had uncontrollable laughing, some cryinging. I saw people that normally couldn't sit still, not moving an inch, but filled with so much peace of being able to be still! It was an amazing sight!! God is so good!!! People danced, sang, cried, prayed, laughed, and some where emotional healed and set free! It was great!!! God is so good!

So after seeing what I did last night, God can work through anyone, as those that were ministering to us where 3 ordinary guys aged about 17yrs-20yrs! God can use anyone to do his supernatural as long as we have faith...

Matthew 17:19-21
19Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 20He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Revolution of Love

2005-07-08T14:37:00.000+10:00

Over this past week I have been blessed to have the opportunity to go to the Hillsong confernece at night where I have been really encouraged and inspired by the preachers, however I was rather angry yesterday night as I was finding my seat I noticed this old man trying to make his way to his seat, but this elderly man struggled to walk down the steps having to hold on to any railing he could find to support himself. I stood there and watched in disgust how 10-20 people rushed past him without helping, they even bumped him causing him to almost fall!

And this got me thinking, where is the love? What has happen to our world that even Christians are so consumed by there own life they forget to look for where we can serve, and help! So as I was getting more and more disappointed with these people, even wanting to yell at them scripture (Godly abuse I like to call it! Te he!) God taught me a great lesson!

We must be the instigators of love! We must start the ‘Revolution of Love’. We must be the ones that stand up and love the unlovable, we must be the ones who change this world, for our glory … NO for Christs glory to shine! Why? Cause ...

"I [Jesus] tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

So as I took this mans hand and helped him down to his chair, I thought yeah this is how we start the ‘Revolution of Love’ , this is my Lord i am helping to his seat!!!

Many Blessings
- Katie

2005-07-07T16:14:00.000+10:00

Wow! My first post! What do you say on your very first one!!!!

Well im Katie Reid! And this is the weirdest experience writing your thoughts down for all to see, but i really feel that we as Christians need to encourage each other!

I have been reading all these other blogs from Canada, America and England and they are just so encouraging to read how God is working in their lives and in the Army right where they are, so i feel it is about time that us Aussies catch up! So if there is any Aussies out there lets get our voice heard...not for self glorification but to encourage and inspire each other to run the race...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1

Many Blessings!

- Your sister in christ
Katie