So, um... yeah. It's been a while since I've posted on here. So I thought I had better write something just for the sake of writing something. In the meantime I've been doing battle with the extensive amont of uni work which has flooded my existence; giving my immune system a workout as it fights numerous infections; sleeping (in order to boost my immune system); and thinking, just because you have to think.
I've been thinking about a lot of things. Like if what I'm studying really is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. And about all the other things which I enjoy so much more than uni - work (yes I do like my job), hanging out with my AMAZING friends, and the amazing mediums of music and art which are a great escape from the rest of the world. And lots of other thoughts, such as how we have so many blessings, which a lot of us take for granted.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Everyone has a Gift
As a family we have wonderful dinner time table discussions which often make the meal last 3 times longer. Tonight we were discussing people with special needs and dinner time went on about 1/2 an hour after we had finished our food (that way it didn't actually get cold). It was a really great discussion - and much more interesting than my counselling assignment that I should be doing right now - so I wanted to share it.
Even though people are different and they communicate differently, it does not mean that they are stupid. Some people with special needs may not be able to say much, but in the little they say they can communicate effectively. They are capable of not only communcating their needs and wants, but also initiating conversation, responding to those that give them the time of day, giving their opinion, and even humour. This may not be verbal and we should remember that even though someone isn't capable of expressing themselves in the same way as most people, they are still worth communcating with. They are still normal people so we don't need to patronise them with 'baby talk', they still understand a lot of what is being said so we shouldn't act as if they are not in the same room as us, and they have the same need to communicate in the way everyone does as a human being and we should not deprive them of this need in any such way.
Something that also came out in our conversation is that EVERYONE has a gift. Even if they are mentally challenged, they have something to share with the world. I know a girl who has difficulty learning and her cognition is not the same as children her age, but she has an amazing love for any animal which breathes. As well as that she has an amazing musical ear and can play pieces on the piano/organ after hearing them without seeing any music. Everyone is good at something and even if they need more help in some areas and they need more support - at whatever level. Some of them may have the gift of love, and are able to love everyone and express that love to others. Others have the gift of joy, they are able to express joy in the most simple things of life which makes other people appreciate everything so much more. The gift of others may be creativity in art, stitchery or music. Some have the amazing gift of laughter, a gift which can make all of those around laugh also. And possibly the greatest gift of all is the gift of life, and in all these people you can see how they love life and it makes you also realise what a great gift it is that God has given us.
Even though people are different and they communicate differently, it does not mean that they are stupid. Some people with special needs may not be able to say much, but in the little they say they can communicate effectively. They are capable of not only communcating their needs and wants, but also initiating conversation, responding to those that give them the time of day, giving their opinion, and even humour. This may not be verbal and we should remember that even though someone isn't capable of expressing themselves in the same way as most people, they are still worth communcating with. They are still normal people so we don't need to patronise them with 'baby talk', they still understand a lot of what is being said so we shouldn't act as if they are not in the same room as us, and they have the same need to communicate in the way everyone does as a human being and we should not deprive them of this need in any such way.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Josh Wilson - I refuse
So yeah, I haven't really posted on here for a while...
Anyway, I discovered this song recently and fell in love with it. I sort of goes with the theme of My Own Little Word, by Matthew West, but really focuses on the fact that we have to seize the opportunities which God places before us and make the most of everything which is placed in our way. We shouldn't leave our calling for others to do but we should stand up and do it for our selves.
Anyway, as music is a very powerful medium I'll let the song speak for itself.
Anyway, I discovered this song recently and fell in love with it. I sort of goes with the theme of My Own Little Word, by Matthew West, but really focuses on the fact that we have to seize the opportunities which God places before us and make the most of everything which is placed in our way. We shouldn't leave our calling for others to do but we should stand up and do it for our selves.
Anyway, as music is a very powerful medium I'll let the song speak for itself.
Monday, March 21, 2011
A complete and utter waste of time...
Facebook is such a complete and utter waste of time. I wholly acknowledge this for a fact. Yet I still spend my valuable time staking those of my friends whom I no longer have much contact with, procrastinating by playing pointless games, aimlessly looking at pictures of other friends because I really don't know what else to do and if I'm lucky I might find someone to talk to. I actually regret the day I got facebook. BUT there is absolutely no way that I actually going to deactivate my account. I wouldn't survive. I did a 40 day facebook famine once - and suffered from severe withdrawal symptoms. I'm pretty sure that I am not the only one with these problems.
My sister has a nice quote written on a sticky note above her desk saying: "If an activity doesn't bring you closer to God then don't do it." Everything which we do should be to the hounour and glory of God. We have to remember that in the way in which we spend our time. Is what I am doing to the honour of God? Is it something which is upbuilding and to his service? Is it an activity which draws me closer to Him? or does it do the opposite... (something which would be good to remember everytime I go on facebook or even on the computer :D )
My sister has a nice quote written on a sticky note above her desk saying: "If an activity doesn't bring you closer to God then don't do it." Everything which we do should be to the hounour and glory of God. We have to remember that in the way in which we spend our time. Is what I am doing to the honour of God? Is it something which is upbuilding and to his service? Is it an activity which draws me closer to Him? or does it do the opposite... (something which would be good to remember everytime I go on facebook or even on the computer :D )
Friday, March 18, 2011
Count your blessings.
Count your blessings name them one by one,
Count your blessings see what Christ has done,
Count your blessings name them one by one,
And it will suprise you what the Lord has done.
As Christians we have recieved so many blessings. As Paul has listed in Eph 1, we have been chosen to be God's children, we have been redeemed by Christ's sacrifice on the cross and have God's grace 'lavished on us (Eph 1:8). We have been included in Christ in that we have heard and responded to the 'message of truth, the gosple of (your) salvation' (Eph 1:13) and we have recieved the gift of the Holy Spirit which marks us a children of God.
Many of the Christians which I know (as well as myself) have also grown up within a Christian family. We went to a Christian school which was supported by the Church we attend. We havve been instructed in the the word of God for our whole lives which has resulted in a rich knowledge of the Bible. All of these things can be seen as even greater blessings. Often we don't see it as this and take much of it for granted, not thinking that God has placed us within these situations with his purpose in mind and that they are such a great blessing in teaching those around us because of the rich knowledge which we have been given.
With so many blessings we have so much to be thankful for. Because we have expereienced so much of the grace of God, our thankfulness to him should abound through everything we do.
Count your blessings see what Christ has done,
Count your blessings name them one by one,
And it will suprise you what the Lord has done.
As Christians we have recieved so many blessings. As Paul has listed in Eph 1, we have been chosen to be God's children, we have been redeemed by Christ's sacrifice on the cross and have God's grace 'lavished on us (Eph 1:8). We have been included in Christ in that we have heard and responded to the 'message of truth, the gosple of (your) salvation' (Eph 1:13) and we have recieved the gift of the Holy Spirit which marks us a children of God.
Many of the Christians which I know (as well as myself) have also grown up within a Christian family. We went to a Christian school which was supported by the Church we attend. We havve been instructed in the the word of God for our whole lives which has resulted in a rich knowledge of the Bible. All of these things can be seen as even greater blessings. Often we don't see it as this and take much of it for granted, not thinking that God has placed us within these situations with his purpose in mind and that they are such a great blessing in teaching those around us because of the rich knowledge which we have been given.
With so many blessings we have so much to be thankful for. Because we have expereienced so much of the grace of God, our thankfulness to him should abound through everything we do.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Be Still and Know that I am God...
WOW. Floods, Cyclones, Bush fires, Earthquakes, even bigger earthquakes, Tsunamis. It seems like the world is falling apart. With all this happening around us we tend to become afraid. What's going to happen next? Where is it going to be? Will we be next? One of the things which people are most afraid of is the unknown and with all which is going on we feel unprotected and vulnerable.
BUT we don't have any reason to feel unprotected. As the psalmist says in Psalm 46:1-3. "God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble, Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way (earthquakes), and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea (even bigger earthquakes), though it's waters roar and foam (tsunamis and floods) and the mountains quake at their surging". We can really see that a comforting. Although the world is falling apart with disasters all around us, we can cling to the knowledge that our God will be strong for us and protect us. Nothing will happen to us without his will.
Further into the psalm (vs. 6,7) "Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall (all the civil unrest in Egypt, Lybia and other countries in the area); he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD almighty is with us; The God of Jacob is our fortress. The world may no longer seem like a safe place and there may be calamity all around us but we can be assured that our God is a strong hold and a fortress. We know that God will keep us safe.
Of the whole psalm vs. 10 is probably my favorite verse: He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Be still - we cant achieve anything by worrying or by trying to take control of the situation. Be still - rest in the knowledge that the Lord is in control of everything. Know that our God, because he is God, is in control of everything.
BUT we don't have any reason to feel unprotected. As the psalmist says in Psalm 46:1-3. "God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble, Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way (earthquakes), and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea (even bigger earthquakes), though it's waters roar and foam (tsunamis and floods) and the mountains quake at their surging". We can really see that a comforting. Although the world is falling apart with disasters all around us, we can cling to the knowledge that our God will be strong for us and protect us. Nothing will happen to us without his will.
Further into the psalm (vs. 6,7) "Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall (all the civil unrest in Egypt, Lybia and other countries in the area); he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD almighty is with us; The God of Jacob is our fortress. The world may no longer seem like a safe place and there may be calamity all around us but we can be assured that our God is a strong hold and a fortress. We know that God will keep us safe.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Bursting Brain
WOW. That's pretty much all I can say. I've just had a really intense weekend with so much happening and so much to think about (hence the fact that my brain is about to burst). We just had an amazing youth congress on the topic of Spiritual Warfare. There was a large group of us and we had some really thought provoking speeches and discussions over the weekend on the topic. On Sunday morning we had a interesting sermon which discussed the point of being on the border of sleeping and being awake spiritually (It was taken from the archives of 1944 but still very applicable and appropraite for us today). Anyways I don't want my brain to burst but I'm still busy sorting through all this information, soon, there may be a few more posts about what I have learnt and what I have been thinking about lately.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)