evunia

Check out what I've been doing in San Fran...

2009-03-23T09:49:00.001+07:00

http://sanfranciscodts.blogspot.com/ I only just discovered this blog! One of my fellow DTS'ers has been keeping a weekly account of our happenings here in YWAM San Francisco. She's done such a great job! Enjoy the read and the photos! :)

Resting Place

2009-02-05T07:32:00.001+07:00

Confusion. Mind whirls like a washing machine on spin cycle.
Need to hang my thoughts out on the line to dry under the shining Son.

Broken heart. Ripped in two.
Bleeding.
Will the pain ever end?
Open heart surgery starts to take place - scary to face yet essential to live.

The Surgeon pieces me back together.
Gently.
Delicately.
Lovingly.

Hope seeps in through the cracks in my heart and moments of rest in my thoughts.

Wholeness takes its place once more.
I can dream again.
Breathe again.
Love again.
Hope again.

Resting place found in the Surgeon's hands.

2008-12-24T19:37:00.007+07:00

"The Tenderloin knows the struggling merchants, harbors the drug deals and feels the pain of the drunk who lacks a way or a will to survive. The Tenderloin shoulders the despair of the youth shot down by the new knowledge that a virus hides in the blood, and understands the fear that expensive drugs affordable on the floors above may be unavailable to save a life on the streets below. The Tenderloin understands that sex can be just a job and that it's the hunger from the outside, and the loneliness inside, that needs to be fed. The Tenderloin may be the neighborhood that's most often ignored by San Franciscans, avoided by tourist buses and overlooked in brochures. But the Tenderloin is undoubtedly the neighborhood that builds San Francisco, not one girder at a time, but one life at a time." (http://www.newcolonist.com/tenderloin.html)

This is where home will be for the next 7 months. Please pray for me and for an abundance of the hope and love of God to flow through me to reach whoever He chooses to put across my path...

xx

2008-12-11T20:22:00.002+07:00

Ok so as far as my fifty million errands go.... I've got about forty million left. Try and see a Respiratory Specialist before I go which is near impossible as it's so close to Christmas so I need a new referral for a different guy which means another dr apt, buy some more socks, buy shoes, buy some tops (I've just discovered most of my clothes have holes in them grrr) buy a camera, buy enough asthma meds to last me for 7 months, clean my disgustingly messy room (and try to find my old camera that I lost so I don't have to buy a new one), get my hair cut, get a photo album of family and friends together to show the DTS crew, post off last minute info to San Fran, apply for a credit card, work as much as possible to save more yet try to find time to see all my friends and fam.... I'm bored of preparing to go away now. Packing sucks. Stressing about what to take sucks. I just keep procrastinating.... urgh. So other than the above life's great! God is a fricken champion. Tuesday night at homegroup was so amazing. God has the best sense of humour. I love it how He makes you feel a million dollars and He just healed something in my heart which I've been hurt and perplexed about. The confusion's gone and I've got answers to questions I never thought I would get. He knows me better than I know myself. I have never laughed and cried so much in one night.... He is soooooo kind and generous to me...

2008-12-06T20:32:00.002+07:00

I'm so excited about leaving in less than a month that I can't sleep. Annoying. I can't not sleep for a whole month! Desperately trying to fit in seeing everyone I want to see before I leave and finish my fifty million errands. I can't wait to go! Already wondering what Ican do when I get back... Was thinking of holding a camp for drug addicts, I already have some guest speakers lined up (whether they realise it or not).... I've been met with cynics, yes they may go and score during camp, and I may get used and abused etc...... BUT what if they happen to meet with their Creator and get radically transformed by the power and love of God? Soooo exciting!!

2008-11-25T12:40:00.003+07:00

Cleaning out my room and figuring out how many items of clothing I need to take with me to San Fran.... soooo hard to not take my whole wardrobe! And how do I decide what shoes to take? Urgh... I need an assistant, make that a life coach. I just want someone to tell me what to do for the rest of my life. I'm indecisive by nature and it's driving me nuts.

I lost my digital camera too, so if anyone wants to sell their old one let me know!

The One....

2008-11-14T12:30:00.003+07:00

Mighty Men

2008-11-14T11:33:00.004+07:00

I wish I was a bloke and could go to this! Boys - come along and check out this man, very inspiring... I first heard about him watching his story on a dvd called "Faith Like Potatoes". SUCH a good movie/doco - check it out if you haven't already!

Another one (gee I'm getting good at this Cindy)

2008-11-13T10:20:00.003+07:00

ok so another little plug. This time about Graham Cooke....and God I suppose. :) Just had a conference at our church with Graham Cooke speaking. Oh my goodness this man has SUCH a knowledge of the kindness and goodness of God like no other person I met. A non institutionalised Christian who lives with such a reality of Jesus in his life. Was so refreshing and life changing. My viewpoint on how I see God and how I feel God views me has changed and it's so nice to walk in such freedom, peace and joy. I seriously recommend buying the dvd's from the conference (I'm sure it's available to buy online at the Churchlands Christian Fellowship site).

I just love my life at the moment and am so grateful to God. I love my job, have the most amazing faithful and loyal friends and I get to introduce people to this amazing Jesus I know and see their lives (literally) transformed before my very eyes. God's love is fricken awesome and life changing. It's an amazing season in my life where there's not one thing I'm worrying about (even my singleness - I'm suddenly loving it! How did that happen?!). I can't be bothered worrying about half the things I used to. E.g. Finances. God IS my provider - like a newborn baby who's needs are automatically met by their earthly father - why on EARTH would I need to worry about God, the ultimate of Fathers, not providing for me?

Hope for addiction....

2008-11-13T10:04:00.003+07:00

Thanks for that kick up the butt Cinds, I get so slack. Hmmm so I realised I haven't written a thing about the work I do with addicts. As some of you may or not know, I've started work in the last year with Dr George O'Neil, this phenomenal man who invented the naltrexone implant. Naltrexone works by stopping heroin cravings (even if they go to shoot up after the implant they won't feel a thing), is used for other opiates and also works by decreasing cravings for alcohol and amphetamines etc. It is SO flippin inspiring working in this place. I've nursed for 4 years before that and have never quite found my niche. Now I feel like I've found a part of my calling. SO exciting to be able to combine ministry and nursing. I'm looking forward to finding some unsuspecting addict in San Fran and not only seeing the power of God change their lives but I hope to give them a taste of what it would be like to walk free from even having a THOUGHT of using.... am praying about possibly sponsoring some addicts to come to Perth for an implant. We'll see what God does...

So anyone who's addicted to some substance - come see George! (and if I happen to see you there and know you - don't worry about anyone else finding out.... it's all confidential etc). Fresh Start Recovery - 65 Townshend Rd, Subiaco. Treatment days for getting an implant are Wednesdays and Saturdays. You'll find a non judgemental, homey atmosphere, have a small op (which won't hurt!), and can get prayer and counselling if you wish and a yummy lunch.

Evs

3 months to go....

2008-09-23T16:27:00.003+07:00

...and I'm off to San Francisco (and Italy for a bit) for 6 and a half months yaaaay! Airfares are booked so there's no backing out now. I'm so glad after about 5 years of going then not going etc that I have finally decided to do a Discipleship Training School with YWAM. I'm so excited.... and have been so blessed already with God's provision and His grace in so many other ways. God's word NEVER ever fails, He is close to the broken hearted, can be trusted and is the most faithful, consistently loving Father anyone could ever ask for. He continues to amaze me with His love and surprises me with how trustworthy He actually is! When I choose to surrender I really DO find completeness in Him. The cost seems huge at times but the exchange you get is so worth it! Abundantly more than you could ever hope, dream or imagine. There's nothing like peace (especially with my natural fretful worrying self!)... God is sooo good. Love Him :)

Eva's resigned!

2008-05-20T08:47:00.002+07:00

YEEEAH!!! That's right. I'm FREE!!! (sort of).... As of the end of June I won't be working for the ward which was responsible for giving me asthma. Goodbye respiratory and gastro bugs.... and hello to working with addicts with George O'Neil, and the flexibility of nursing agency work. :) I'm excited... just under 7 months till I fly out to San Francisco... eek!! So exciting (and scary) but it has to be done. Well I suppose it's not that scary... about time I spread my wings etc etc... yaaaay I'm so excited!!

Luke

2008-04-22T21:30:00.003+07:00

eek. Just got home from bible study. We're reading through the gospel of Luke. Jesus says some hard things - I can't believe how easily I've dismissed them in the past and glossed over what He says. This walk is harder than I thought - a narrow road. Yet I am convinced that when I stop living for myself and let Christ live in me that NOTHING else in this world can compare to knowing Him. My head is so full right now, a lot to process and work through... think I'll come back to this post later....

Fruit

2008-04-22T15:42:00.002+07:00

Just spent the last 3 days in Margaret River with my folks. So good to get away and have a chance to think and re-prioritise. Been thinking lately on how short life really is (there's something about your 20's that makes you realise this I reckon!.... I'm nearing 30 practically ah!).
I so desperately want my life to count and fear that I'll reach the end of my life and have only given half an effort. I want to be fruitful. I'm good at short bursts of passion but I want to learn how to truly remain in Him and persevere for the long haul. I want to finish my race well.

Why does it seem to be so hard at times to keep the fire burning bright?

What's the key to living a fruitful life?

Is it as simple as abiding in Him and choosing who you spend your time with? What we choose to mediate on and renew our minds with?

2008-04-15T14:21:00.003+07:00

I'm going to San Francisco January '09! Yes that's right, another one of Eva's life plans - but SERIOUSLY this one SHOULD come to pass...well....God willing. Which I think it is. I have my reservations like everyone else about YWAM (oh yeah - forgot to mention it's a 5 month Discipleship Training School I'll be doing with Youth With A Mission) but I can't shake the fact that I feel like God's calling me there and has something He wants to teach me. Their outreach focus is ministering amongst the homeless, addicts, prostitutes etc. Looking forward to it...

by the way does anyone still pop in to read this? Cindy my faithful follower! I hope you're still around! hehe...

Blessings of God...

2007-08-23T18:04:00.000+07:00

God is soooo good to me! I've been miserable the last few days (weeks?!) because I've been sick and it's compounded other stresses in my life. Like I leave for Africa and Mauritius 3 weeks this Saturday and am too sick to work but too poor not to. So my faith is stretched wondering if God would really provide with such a short time to go before I leave. I found out today that someone has anonymously given me money towards this trip, and then I get a phone call from a manager from the hospital offering me a 6 month contract with her department doing community nursing. SUCH a blessing because I've been trying to find work away from the infectious ward because I keep catching all the viruses off my patients. That job is a miracle in itself because we were too short staffed and my manager refused to let anyone do secondments elsewhere but God opened the door and made a way.... I don't know why I doubted so much, He always DOES end up coming through and showing Himself to be so faithful...

2007-07-09T20:19:00.000+07:00

4 more sleeps to go till Christina Aguilera!! Woohoo!!! And for the record, 6 more sleeps to go till I turn a QUARTER OF A CENTURY!!!!! AH!

I'm back!

2007-07-02T09:59:00.000+07:00

Well this is for you Cindy, I haven't blogged for aaaages because went through a huge dry boring patch in my life and didn't feel like I had much to say, and now my latest obsession is Facebook. Anyone who's popped in to read my blog, sign up! It's similar to myspace I suppose..... great way to network. www.facebook.com

By the way I'm still in Perth. I didn't realise it takes about 2 flippin years to move to Canada so I gave up after about 7 months of the hospital not getting back to me when they said they would (the only way I can get a work visa is to have prearranged employment)...

hmmmm think I might do ywam instead! Anyone heard of any good bases?

Legalism vs Lawlessness

2006-12-14T20:13:00.000+07:00

For a lot of my christian walk I've been motivated by fear/guilt and have walked in legalism. Small example - making sure I had regular devotions so I didn't feel guilty (what does that mean anyway? I'm attempting to follow Jesus, not an organised religion... I want my relationship with Him to be as fresh and genuine as possible, not a forced thing of feeling like I "should" be spending set times with Him - not meaning to negate the importance of building into your r'ship with God but I'm just wary of the fact that many christians feel condemned because they don't set aside a specific time each day and read the bible daily etc etc... yes it's important but personally I'd have a much more easier time having regular "times" with God when I know that I'm free to choose either way, I don't "have to" do it - God doesn't condemn me for not following a set of rules set by man etc, ok so I'm going off on a tangent, I'm not just talking about "quiet times/devos" - this relates to sooooooo many other things that we as christians say is wrong or right (within the church) & are quick to judge others with.... )

I used to be bound with anxiety/confusion/fear. Fear of not measuring up to God's standard for my life, fear of not leading enough ppl to Him etc

Now I've gone the other way and am experiencing a lot more freedom.... I'm discovering a God that doesn't condemn, that loves so extravagantly and that is out of the box..... and I'm having a bit of an internal battle of the old mindset fighting the new and I can't quite find the balance - when am I walking in lawlessness and abusing my freedom in Christ? I just want Jesus - the real deal, not religiosity... I'm feeling less and less guilty with things that I used to have "issues" with - is that my conscience being seared or is it genuine freedom?

And it's interesting seeing different people's reactions to me wanting to go to Canada. From some ppl I get a sense that they think it's "selfish" of me or they ask "are you suuure it's God's will?". God is perfectly capable of speaking to me and very clear when He says NO....so if I have peace, does it reeeeally matter which country I go to? Am I more "holy" if I go to a third world country like Africa? Isn't the most important thing not necessarily where I am (unless God specifically says) but my relationshp with God and being faithful with what He puts in my hand to do?

I want to live my life in the simplicity of the gospel - loving God and loving others. For everything else in my life - trust that God orders my steps and as it says in proverbs that as I trust in Him and lean not on my own understanding, He WILL make my paths straight....

2006-12-07T16:42:00.000+07:00

Oh my goodness, so I'm on the way to the Kylie Minogue concert on Tuesday night and I'm going down the escalators at Perth train station and I stack it.... about a quarter of the way down. Ouch! So got wheeled to some medical clinic and got stitches in my knee... was still determined to make it to Kylie though, got there just in time to see her come on stage and realised I had a seat up the front! Woohoo... Could barely walk the next day though but it's getting better quickly, hopefully will be back at work early next week. I think I've had about 3 months sick leave already this year.... ah. Anyway having to slow down again has given me time to dream about/attempt to organise going to Canada!! Think I'll most probably go to Vancouver, all depending on whether the Children's Hospital will have me.... I'm getting such itchy feet now, dying to go...

Typhoid Mary...

2006-11-22T10:57:00.000+07:00

Caught some virus again off one of my patients so spent the last 6 days in bed with a fever and then my asthma started playing up again (I swear nurses should get a couple of months sick leave rather than only 10 days a year! Especially when they work on an infectious ward!). Matt gave me his trusty "Matty Juice" which he swears by, some bizarre concoction with way too much chilli in it... Feeling heaps better now... dying to get out in the sun and go for a walk along the beach, a swim, go out to a cafe... I am so sick of daytime tv and sleeping! So BORING. It's been good having to slow down though, been getting so busy again since going to China which I was trying to avoid.... anyone got any advice for keeping balance in your life? I seem to last for about a week....

2006-11-14T21:39:00.000+07:00

Been a bit blog shy lately, don't really know what to write.....

other than God doing heart stuff with me I've been busy getting back into work and organising wedding stuff for Alesha.... I'm Alesha and Stu's bridesmaid yaaaaay.

I am SO excited.

Mixed with sadness though because straight after their honeymoon they're moving to the UK :( Such a shame.... and Cindy's leaving too! Doesn't help the fact that I might be travelling somewhere next year because nothing is set in concrete yet, still waiting on a phone call from a children's hospital in Vancouver.... awwww I hope God opens that door!!!

2006-10-25T13:01:00.000+07:00

My very first piece of art!

China pics

2006-10-25T12:51:00.000+07:00

A day at the markets in a rural village...
(L-R) Irene, Kelli, Xavier, Matt & Eva. Our 1st meal together in China....
Never seen a westerner before....

How cute are these kids!! :)
Yummo.....duck anyone?!

China...

2006-10-13T12:25:00.000+07:00

Well I'm back from China....taking a while to process all that happened....

The Chinese we met were soooo beautiful, humble and generous. Such lovely, unassuming people. We taught english for 3 days and in that short time made such awesome friendships.

Oh man I found it difficult with the food though! All the chicken and duck gets served with the head/feet still attached. Mmmmm! Ordered sweet and sour pork and was so close to putting a pig's eye in my mouth. Ah! But it was all an adventure (and so was going to the toilet! Now that was an experience.... a stressful one! hehe)

There's nothing like going away to get some perspective. They had such little material possessions yet seemed so much richer than us in the West. They were sooooo welcoming and kind. I realised how harsh and sarcastic we can be here. There's such a beautiful innocence in the people that we met...

I've been re-inspired in my prayer life.... and I'm desperate to simplify my life here. I can't believe how much stuff I have accumulated over the years! I lived on 3 tops and jeans for 2 weeks, and no make up or jewellery and I survived. Hope I don't lose perspective too quickly on what really matters....

I never know what to put in this title section....I've blabbed about anything & everything in this one.

2006-09-08T23:35:00.000+07:00

Ok so I get over the flu and then losing my voice (which was quite traumatic can I just say for someone that talks as much as I do. Hard work trying to remain silent!), then I woke up with a manky eye, caught conjuncitivitis off Kelli, then the night I was due back at work (after being off for about 3 weeks) I notice these red dots on my chest, and all down my back. My Dr thinks it's contagious, I think otherwise ("are you sure they're not just pimples?!") He doesn't want me going anywhere near children so now I'm off work again till this rash goes. The Dr hasn't banned me from socialising with adults though so I'm still getting to see some of my friends if they're game enough.

I am miss touchy feely and miss blabbermouth. The last couple of weeks I've lost my voice and I can't hug people. AH!

Anyway been busy today getting my windows fitted for timber venetians, getting the house all ready to rent it out, hoping to get someone in within the next 2 weeks, I've pretty much moved back home now..... that's been interesting! :) Will be nice to be fed well but I will miss my place/independance.

Talking to God lots about Canada. I'm getting a bit wary that I'm just gonna go and live a normal, mundane life over there and have no eternal purpose. Don't wanna waste my time. Tossing up different ideas, maybe I could teach english in some third world country as a missionary. I want my life to make an impact and I don't know the best way to do that. Need His guidance. I'm not so clear on the "yes's" of God but I'm very clear on the "no's". Still at peace about Canada so far, I know it's a no to the UK.

Discovered another facet to my personality the other day. I am SO indecisive. It drives me nuts. With everything, at restaurants trying to choose a meal, trying to choose the colour of my new blinds, trying to decide what to wear for the day, what to do etc.. so trying to choose a new country to live in/new life direction is hard work!

Nursing isn't something I'm crazily passionate about. As super spiritual as it sounds, I get the biggest kick out of introducing people to Jesus/helping people discover more of who He is. I want to incorporate that into my nursing but the 2 seem so seperate at times. Living in our affluent society is so hard/frustrating at times. I feel so materialistic/selfish/lazy/apathetic/compromising/fear of man more than God. That SUCKS! Been reading this book on Chinese Christians suffering for their faith. It is so humbling. I am so ashamed at times when I look at my life/the way I express (or don't) my faith.

My prayer lately has been to know Him more and to ask for His grace to help me remember what He's actually saved me from. Far out, He took me from such crap (sorry Viv&PUB! Such rubbish I mean....hehe) and set me free in so many ways and continues to each day, the most exciting thing is the fact I get to talk to GOD, creator of the universe. I can know Him intimately!! I want to be in awe of that, the fact that I can freely have relationship with Him. I don't want Jesus to become like the tooth fairy/santa clause in my life. He can't be..... He's alive & I want my life to be a vessel to prove it. I want to see Jesus at work through my life. I want to see my patients miraculously healed. I want to see broken & hurting people restored. I want my family to know the love of God. I want them to know this Jesus that can save them and heal them.

I don't ever want to take Him for granted.

Lots of thoughts running through my head at the moment.....

Evs xx

quarter life crisis solved! :)

2006-08-31T17:39:00.000+07:00

Ok Eva's plan is.... Go to Poland for a few weeks around March next year, spend some time with the fam, then the UK for Sarah's wedding in April then off to Canada! I want to go for around a year/possibly more. I need to find a job first and sort out visas etc but hopefully everything will sort out and I can go! Yay I am so excited. It is just a tad daunting, UK would be the easier option as I have an EU passport and already know a bunch of people there, I don't know one person in Canada and it will be more difficult getting a nursing job, I have to sit an exam etc but I'm up for the challenge!

Just got to decide where exactly I want to live in Canada and pray for an opening for a pediatric nurse position.
Ohhhh so exciting!!!!

So many things to sort out, going back to day shifts as my body is not appreciating permanent night duty, getting one respiratory infection after another.... need to sort out my CV, rent out my unit, talk to the Canadian consulate about visas etc, in the meantime I'm trying to madly learn my Chinese phrases before I go (about 3 weeks away now I think!) .....

If anyone's been to Canada before and can recommend a great place to live (near mountains!) please leave a comment & let me know....

E

The love of God...

2006-08-01T21:31:00.000+07:00

God is so good. I love it when He comes amidst my confusion and wrong perceptions I have of Him and reveals the truth of who He is to me. I struggled all day today to get away and have some quiet time with Him. If I was honest with myself it was because I didn't feel that He really loved me. I had been consistently "failing" in a particular area in my life so was feeling like a rubbish Christian that could never please God. So I went away and meditated on scriptures that said otherwise, but couldn't convince myself....my heart was having trouble catching up with what my head knew about God. Then at small group tonight Darren spoke about what it meant to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. He said something which struck a chord with me. That when you're in love with someone, you love them regardless of their faults. It hit me, the most beautiful thing about being in love is knowing that the person loves you regardless of your weaknesses. Love covers them. If I can love someone regardless of their crap & vice versa, how much more does God love ME?!

"Hey Eva, guess what.....I love you. Yes, even with all your rubbish, I still utterly adore you and believe in you"

He's been trying to tell me for a while but tonight I finally believed Him.

Quarter life crisis

2006-08-01T17:02:00.000+07:00

I'm having a quarter life crisis....I think I want to move to Canada for 6 months. Or go do the camino (but I'm too lazy to figure out how to do that, Cindy you'd have to come with me!). I think I want a break from nursing and go work on some ski fields somewhere and learn a new language.

I can't settle down with a career at my age, too serious!!!

There's too much of the world I want to see, so many different cultures to explore. Awwww I want out of Perth! The only thing is I'd miss my friends too much. Wish I could take all the Perthites with me....

ohhhh.....what am I going to do, where am I going to go? I'm bored!

Ideas anyone?

Magz maybe I can come and be Evie's nanny!! :)

2006-07-30T13:09:00.000+07:00

Hallelujah... Day 8 and I'm finally hitting the end of this rotten flu! My snotty patients (bless them Lord) decided to give me their bugs and I've been moaning and groaning all week. I still haven't learnt the art of suffering gladly! Oh well, I have been spoilt by (a lot) of chocolate from my Daddy (3 blocks of my favourite Cadbury fruit & nut and a cherry ripe!) and my scarf is coming along nicely! (Did I mention on here that I'm learning to knit?!)

By the way, Mr Falconer when are you going to leave a comment on my blog?! :) hehe

more stuff....

2006-07-10T01:48:00.000+07:00

Ok it's almost 3am, I really should be in bed but my body clock's a bit out from work so thought I might write a bit on here. Been reading a book by John Bevere called "Drawing Near" about experiencing intimacy with God. Have you ever been in that place where you're so hungry for God but don't necessarily know how to "connect" with Him? I don't wanna keep hearing everyone else's stories, I want my own. I want to hear Gods voice for myself. I want Him so desperately to be my first love but I feel at times that I keep placing things before Him in my heart. How do you truly lose your life to find it in Him? How do you learn to be content no matter what the circumstance? How humbling & beautiful to think that God so passionately pursues me and is jealous for my affections.... oh dear God I so want to know Him more. I want to really, truly know Him. I want to know Him like the Bridegroom knows his bride. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Frustrated but on the journey of (hopefully!) falling in love with my Lord again... xox

stuff

2006-07-06T17:25:00.000+07:00

Grrrr I don't like the month of July, no-one told me I'd be getting so many bills! Not small ones either. Each one ranges from $400-600! Stupid council rates, car rego, strata fees, and water! Why on earth do I need to pay about $500 to the water authority??!?!?!?!?! I have short showers!

Oh well....it is only money I suppose.... but I am getting itchy feet again and want to travel & these bills aren't helping...Glen are you having words with God about my husband? How about not just for one with a Canadian accent but rich too? haha just joking...really, I am :)

Speaking of travel I am hopefully going to China in September for a couple of weeks! That is exciting.... I'd be so interested in seeing the orphanages over there from a nursing perspective.

Might be renting out my unit soon....still deciding whether I want to try do it all on my own or go through an agent. So for those of you that haven't come over yet and I promised I'd have you over for dinner sometime give me a call soon before I move out.... and if anyone has any tips on how to rent out a home please let me know!

will blog more soon.....

Japan vs Australia

2006-06-13T13:39:00.000+07:00

Woohoo!!! We won 3-1 to Japan! How AMAZING was last night's soccer match? Far out, how good was our comeback?! 3 goals in the last 8 minutes! Why oh why did it take me so long to discover how fun watching sport is? (I'm yet to be converted into actually playing it though!)Gotta be careful not to get too obsessed, I'm surviving on very little sleep at present staying up late watching all these games, Eva & lack of sleep is generally not a very good combination. Saying that I might go now & have a snooze before work tonight....

world cup

2006-06-10T18:58:00.000+07:00

Grrr Poland lost 2-0 to Equador yesterday in the soccer. I don't know how but I've managed to have caught the world cup fever and am slightly obsessed with soccer now. This has been a first, for those that know me I am not one of those girls who like to sit around watching sport. I don't know the first thing about it. I don't think I've even watched one footy match in my life. Suddenly I'm wanting to cancel my plans Monday night because I can't possibly miss the Australia vs Japan game! Nath & Bek are you guys proud of me?! :)

a few random thoughts

2006-06-05T03:32:00.000+07:00

...Tonight after church a few of us watched this video of Reinhard Bonnke preaching to over a million people in Nigeria. Oh my goodness this man's passion and love for the Lord so inspired me. Got me thinking. Am I being faithful with what God has put in my hand to do? I love it when God challenges me to re-prioritise. Far out... I've gotta be faithful with the little God has given me. How do I treat my family? How do I respond to my difficult patients at work? (or their parents should I say!) Taking up my cross daily.....what does that specifically mean for me in my sphere of influence?

.... and I'm currently on this journey of discovering freedom in Christ. (ok, took me a while!) I can be quite analytical and you know when you experience freedom for a little while but the same issues seem to creep back again and again? Then you kind of get in this thing of despair and doubt, wondering if you'll ever be free. Dare I say, you wonder if Jesus is even real, power seems to be lacking from your life to live free from the struggles you've always had. Well, I've just had a revelation (again, took me a while) that I'm in a battle, not against flesh and blood, and I've just realised how much leeway I have given the devil in the past through my thought life. I've now seen the fruit of taking every thought captive & knooooooooow the reality of being transformed by the renewing of my mind. I've never been so hungry to get into the word of God. His words are TRUTH, they are living and active.... it is so awesome walking in peace and in a confidence in knowing who you are in Him. Jesus came to set the captives FREE and came to give us life and life in abundance. It's either truth or it's not. I want to live out of truth and not be deceived any longer. My God is good. He loves me. He has a purpose for my life. What a privilege it is to be His daughter...

UNITED BALL PICS

2006-05-22T15:54:00.000+07:00

Ok hopefully this works. Click on that little box to view the Young Adults United Ball pics.

Surprised by the Spirit

2006-05-22T10:18:00.000+07:00

As I was driving to church last night I was listening to this song called "Why" by Nichole Nordeman. It is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard about what Jesus went through for us on the cross. As I was listening to the last verse it was as if the Spirit of God came and opened my eyes and I suddenly realised the extent of the love that Jesus had just for ME. The presence of God seemed to fill the car and I was so overwhelmed I started wailing like a baby, I'm surprised I could make it the rest of the way to church! Awww it was so beautiful! I love it when God surprises you like that.

Blog illiterate

2006-05-17T19:06:00.000+07:00

Ah I don't get how to do this grrrrrrrr!!! How do I get photos on my blog? How do I change my "links" on the side of my page? How do I add my friends' blog addresses on here? Help! I need someone to walk me through this thing step by step... Glenno next time I'm in the office can you show me?!

Anyway I just wanna quickly brag about my friends. Went to a ball the other night and a group of us decided to go together and the girls were told to show up at one of the guys' place at 6:15pm sharp. They organised pre-ball drinks, yummy food and then surprised us with getting a LIMO to take us to the ball! Awwww. I would post photos on here if I knew how!
Good quality boys hey. I was very proud of them. They were such gentlemen throughout the night!

We felt like princesses! Well I did anyway. Loved it.

preaching...

2006-05-09T16:23:00.000+07:00

Ah can somebody please tell me HOW Pastors preach week after week after week? Hard work! I'm speaking in a couple of weeks on "When God Seems Distant" and the process is at times horrendous in attempting to prepare a sermon. Ok so at times I may be a little emotionally intense (what female isn't?) but seriously. The thoughts that go through your head. A) Integrity's gotta be behind what I'm speaking on. Am I living it? I'm bringing His word to people, so the pressure to be "perfect" arises and of course, I don't measure up to these expectations I put on myself B) Pride rears it's ugly head and I'm faced with my heart motives. Pleasing God vs Pleasing Man, urgh C) Getting a word from God. Who knows that God likes to be last minute ahhh and D) The issue of women preaching in the church. Don't get me started! I decided to search on the net the other day on "Are women allowed to preach?" Hmmm maybe I should of googled that after I spoke. (Pastor Alaine I can't wait for our next coffee!)

Anyway it is a huge privilege and if there's one thing I'm passionate about it's knowing that God's word sets people free and I so want to see Christians equipped, really knowing what is rightfully theirs in Christ and taking it outside the walls of the church.

entering the world of blogging...

2006-05-02T14:41:00.000+07:00

Hmmm don't really have any idea with what I'm doing or if I've set this up right but here goes, hope it works. I spend a heck of a lot of time reading everyone's blogs (and love it) and you know me, I love to talk so figured I can do as much as I like on here. Bit nervous....but things should start to flow soon. You won't shut me up before you know it. :) Evs