fruity nite

the fruit salad, inside out berry & grape (i think..)
so you ask how the night went..yep..pretty fruitful..

not us and them, just us

And don't tell me that I have no authority to write like this. I'm perfectly free to do this—isn't that obvious? Haven't I been given a job to do? Wasn't I commissioned to this work in a face-to-face meeting with Jesus, our Master? Aren't you yourselves proof of the good work that I've done for the Master? Even if no one else admits the authority of my commission, you can't deny it. Why, my work with you is living proof of my authority! I'm not shy in standing up to my critics. We who are on missionary assignments for God have a right to decent accommodations, and we have a right to support for us and our families. You don't seem to have raised questions with the other apostles and our Master's brothers and Peter in these matters. So, why me? Is it just Barnabas and I who have to go it alone and pay our own way? Are soldiers self-employed? Are gardeners forbidden to eat vegetables from their own gardens? Don't milkmaids get to drink their fill from the pail? I'm not just sounding off because I'm irritated. This is all written in the scriptural law. Moses wrote, "Don't muzzle an ox to keep it from eating the grain when it's threshing." Do you think Moses' primary concern was the care of farm animals? Don't you think his concern extends to us? Of course. Farmers plow and thresh expecting something when the crop comes in. So if we have planted spiritual seed among you, is it out of line to expect a meal or two from you? Others demand plenty from you in these ways. Don't we who have never demanded deserve even more? But we're not going to start demanding now what we've always had a perfect right to. Our decision all along has been to put up with anything rather than to get in the way or detract from the Message of Christ. All I'm concerned with right now is that you not use our decision to take advantage of others, depriving them of what is rightly theirs. You know, don't you, that it's always been taken for granted that those who work in the Temple live off the proceeds of the Temple, and that those who offer sacrifices at the altar eat their meals from what has been sacrificed? Along the same lines, the Master directed that those who spread the Message be supported by those who believe the Message. Still, I want it made clear that I've never gotten anything out of this for myself, and that I'm not writing now to get something. I'd rather die than give anyone ammunition to discredit me or impugn my motives. If I proclaim the Message, it's not to get something out of it for myself. I'm compelled to do it, and doomed if I don't! If this was my own idea of just another way to make a living, I'd expect some pay. But since it's not my idea but something solemnly entrusted to me, why would I expect to get paid? So am I getting anything out of it? Yes, as a matter of fact: the pleasure of proclaiming the Message at no cost to you. You don't even have to pay my expenses! Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it! You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

shine

Imagine a generation of young girls who know His love, who have found their worth in Him and identity as daughters of the King, who know that they have been fearfully and wonderfully made in their Creator’s image

Listen oh daughter..the king is enthralled by your beauty

Imagine a generation of young girls moving towards their destiny as His beloved Daughter, as Princess Warriors in His kingdom who have been trained, equipped, empowered, fighting the Kingdom’s battle with the sword of the Spirit, wearing the full armour of God (the shoes of peace, the belt of truth, the sword of the spirit, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation)

‘for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord’

Imagine a generation of young women who have found intimacy with their Creator God, with the Lover of their soul who crave and grow in the knowledge of God

‘for you have created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb’

Imagine a generation of young women who knows what it is to be a part of community where each girl can share life’s journey without fear or judgement from one another

‘her virgin companions follow her and are brought to You.

They are led in with joy and gladness’


Imagine..

starvation

I cry out loudly to God,
loudly i plead with God for mercy.
I spill our all my complaints before him,
and spell out my troubles in detail:

'As i sink in despair, my spirit ebbing away,
you know how i'm feeling,
know the danger i'm in,
the traps hidden in my path.

Look right, look left -
there's not a soul who cares what happens!
I'm up against it, with no exit -
bereft, left alone.

I cry out, God, call out:
'You're my last chance, my only hope for life!'
Oh listen, please listen;
i've never been this low.
Rescue me from those who are hunting me down;
I'm no match for them.
Get me out of this dungeon
so i can thank you in public.

Your people will form a circle around me
and you'll bring me showers of blessing!'

Purify my heart God. Teach me to see the good in the messiness of all thats around me. So long to 'self'. I seek you to learn of Your Ways, Your thoughts. Genuine. Sincere. So many hearts are cold and starved? Even in the midst of the dirt and grime of the world, i call You FAITHFUL.

don't gobble

'For years we've been told to chew our food slowly. And now we know, eating slowly means eating less. Nutritional scientists from the University of Rhode Island studied 30 women and found they consumed 2,713 kJ in 9 minutes - compared to 2,432 kJ in 29 minutes. Added up over 3 meals a day, that's a big difference. Eating slowly helps you recognise when you're full. If you've eaten a plateful, wait 20 minutes to see if you're hungry - chances are you won't want more.' - excerpt from May/June Diabetic Living

she turns 21

thats as pink as i've gone in my entire life
omg! brains and beauty!
colgate ad smiles!

pretty in pink

ATRRIBUTES OF ANNIE

Character –
The inward motivation to do what is right regardless of the cost.
God’s assignments have never been based on ability, giftings or talents, but always depend on our character. Whatever you do, whatever you say, you are a reflection of Jesus. I see you making choices that desire to be Christ-like in many moments of your journey so far.
Conduct –
Jesus calls us to be His disciples, not church-goers. You are passionate, desiring to follow the footsteps of Your master, imitating his actions, choosing to conduct ourselves as the Master did – with integrity, adhering to moral and ethical principles.
Conversation –
Jesus has given you eloquence and poise. I see you use your words skilfully, to speak truth in love and to proclaim justice. You speak hope into the lives of the generation.
Contributions –
You use your energy, you use your abilities, you use your resources to affect and effect the kingdom of God all around you. Contributions is much more than finances. In 2 corinthians we read that ‘God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready to do what needs to be done!’ I remember before Annie got her license, her purpose to want to get it was to be able to pick the kids up to go to church! She also wanted to get a part time job whilst studying to be able to bless the kids and take them to Mackers etc.
Compassion –
Compassion is not pity or guilt. Pity often leads to pride and causes one to say ‘Thank God I’m not like that.’ But compassion in you has causes you to invest whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others. Compassion has caused you to act. For God so loved the world that you gave.

As you drink from His well of living waters by His grace, may you become the fountain of life to your family, friends, community, the nation. May you leave a legacy of a life that was lived extravagantly and produce an outpouring of generosity that will be used to advance God’s kingdom as you saturate the planet with His unfailing love.

chris21st fad bar

first generation mob

2nd generation mob

whoops. so i got a photo of everyone else except the birthday boy himself (mind you, whom i hadn't seen in like 12 years)

off to europe

so thats what we get for trying a little too hard to take self shots in a place with no light. going to miss you jen. the awesome foursome catchup sessions. i'll seriously blow up a life size doll and stick it on the 4th chair for the next few months. awaiting all your stories that you're going to tell us of your experiences!!!

the giant purse

pullllll..

and again..
third time lucky?

next generation: what are we building our lives on now? what do we want to invest (our time, our resources, our life) into? what harvest do we desire to see in the generations to come? what seeds are we sowing now? it starts with us. it starts with me.

HC07

thank you: ives, tunia, wuiling, nic, aun, mikey, stevie, tony, charles, jin, ryan, val, leann, phebes, mellie soo, jo, nina, sarah-ann. i'm so thankful for the journey so far to be able to share with each of you. you're each a blessing in my life that i do not take foregranted.

take the limits off

i did! i finally did it! there has been a secret desire in my later years to want to be at the same level of fitness as my trim and fit dad. i've never been the most natural athlete and always knew that i had heavy legs and bones but i know that this was a discipline i've always wanted to cultivate. so here we were yesterday, dad and i running the 8km mother's day classic at the alexander gardens with 20-odd thousand other melburnians and i ran, right to the end with dad. for me, that was a father-daughter bonding time and i will always hold this milestone close to my heart. thanks daddy.

full

lifekids. this next generation spurs me on!
mother's day. mikey and i did a home-cooked 3-course meal for mum as she returned from work..entree: mini fetta & roasted vegetable puff, main: lamb cutlets with apple cidar, broccoli & creamy pasta with mushrooms & bacon, dessert: apple foldover with dark chocolate & ice cream
for those special women in my life who have inspired me and nurtured me to be who i am today
watch out for them: sandflies & grated cheese!! they are going to rock our world!