Assessments this term

Lots to do. Feel overwhelmed cos it's the start of a new term and all the assessments lay untouched before me. This term I am responsible for leading:
- a team of six students in prayer, care group and kitchen on Wednesday every week;
- corporate prayer for the Bible college teachers, students and administration on Thursday every week; and
- the Missions outreach team on Friday every week.

It is scary but exciting. Anyways, here's my chart of things to do for college:

Bon voyage to Jelli

Went down to Pinjarra last weekend for Angelique's farewell/bday party. It was awesome. I realised how special Jelli is to so many people - a stunning example of the perfect friend whom everyone loves and cherishes. I made these collages up for her...

My prophecy from the hols - verbatim

Julz just told me tonight she is pregnant again.

Praise God for good research skills

A long time ago, my brother threw out a cute little plaque that mum purchased from a little gift shop when we were young. For many years, she has really missed that little plaque and many times, she has told me how special it was to her and how she can never replace it. She just absolutely adored it. She had bought two identical plaques for $12 each from some arcade and given one to a friend whose husband had died. She lost touch with that friend.

Anyway, after hearing her tell me again a few weeks ago how much she missed that plaque, I decided to go on a mission to find her a replacement. I started looking at gifts shops and op-shops for the same plaque…. It was pretty pointless really, because it was so unique. Then I went on the Internet and did a Google search for the words in the plaque, which said “Hope for the best, cope with the rest”. I was amazed at how many irrelevant search results came up with that expression in it! Then I found an entry from a person responding to some discussion forum and they referred to a plaque with a droopy-eyed dog with that expression. This was the exact plaque mum had!!! …. However, to my dismay, the entry was made in May 2008 and there was no way of contacting the anonymous person.

I prayed God would help me find what I was looking for, for mum, because I so desperately wanted to bless her. A couple of days later, I was looking on the Internet again, trying lots of different types of search terms. Finally, I found a reference to a book called “Hang in there”, which was said to comprise a collection of beloved inspirational art from the 1970s. The blub said “bassets hounds advised us to hope for the best and cope with the rest”. I didn’t know for sure if it was the same image, but it sounded hopeful. Then I did a search of the online bookstores in Australia, but to no avail. It simply wasn’t listed. However, then, I found the book listed on eBay as a “Buy it Now” deal for $9.27 (including postage) from the United Kingdom. How exciting. So I purchased it and it arrived about 10 days later.

Sure enough, the exact image was in there [PRAISE THE LORD], so I scanned it and printed it out in colour in various different sizes. Then I went to the op-shop this morning, purchased a beautiful gold frame and put it in it and took it to mum’s house. She was really surprised I had found it and touched. I am amazed I found it to, but of course, the credit goes to God. He gave me the research skills to find it and prompted someone to put it up on eBay for me, just when I needed it. Glory to God. I am so stoked. I also made a copy for Juliet and I and framed them in tiny wooden frames I bought from the op-shop.

Totally made my day, as it did for mum too. Here's the image:

My prophetic word from Wed 15/07/09

These are Kerrie's words:

"No...........they weren't fluffy slippers............they were Alice in Wonderland ruby slippers (lol). Open attachment to view Alice's ruby slippers.I asked the Lord why I was seeing Alice in Wonderland slippers and I felt that you were going to be going to many nations and meeting many different people groups (Alice met many interesting and varied characters on her travels in Wonderland). I felt that the Lord would put a word in your mouth for these ones. I also sense a pioneering spirit upon your life; the anointing to break open new ground. I sense that you carry a prophetic grace upon your life, and that as you prophecy it will bring forth vision in people's lives. I also felt that the Lord would use this prophetic grace to produce unity amongst the people of God".

New home group

I went to Craig & Wendy's home group last night for the first time. It was great, apart from the fact that there were a lot more guys and kinda creepy guys at that, none cute. It was good though. Kristin, Jelli, Dan, Craig (Chiswell), Paul (Irish), Tim, Heidi and I all were privileged to receive prophetic words. Mine was a little intimidating - I am waiting for Kerrie to send it to me by email. It was about my future. Wow, we'll see what happens.

Hapa twins

Wow - this is pretty kewl. I tracked down my ex-bf who is half Canadian/half French and he married a beautiful girls who is half Japanese/half Canadian and they had twins. They twins look totally different ... here's the happy family. It is so exciting thinking my kids could look like anything really, given the huge mix of genetics!

Dwellingup

Had an absolutely wonderful weekend in Dwellingup. It was a HUGE lot of fun and I made some new friends and got the relaxation and fellowship I have needed for a long time to restore my joy. I would definitely consider going down south again with the crew. They were genuinely lovely, sweet people and it was so nice just hanging with them. I re-activated my fb account to upload all the piccies, some of them are below:

Friday

Well today I am sitting at home on the couch with my wireless broadband Internet connection typing with two hands, but keeping a watchful eye on my little baby niece. I just love her so much. She is so precious. We are both much better today. I discovered that panadeine tablets have codeine phosphate in them, which is a cough suppresant, so it's giving my throat a rest. I also discovered that dimetapp is a handy medicine for kids, which tastes like blackcurrents and stops the thick yellow boogey stuff from coming out of Angelina's nose. Ewwwww.... glad to put an end to that! She got some on my shirt today. Yuck ;-(

This Internet deal is a pre-paid arrangement that expires tomorrow. I have another pre-paid card, but think I might wait a while before I activate it. I need to give myself a breka from the Internet. It is such a time-waster!

Collectings things ...

Well it must be the season for collecting things to make my home more beautiful. I found this lovely little piccy in Vinnies in Osborne Park. It was $3. What a bargain. It is much cheaper buying things from those little second hand shops and the quality of the frames is so much better. Also the selection is much broader and you get adorable little things like this one, which you just don't see in the local shops anymore.

This actually really touched my heart because it reminded me of a vision an older lady had for me at a women's conference before I came to Bible college. Oh I just found it - I did blog it here! Ha! Amazing what you can find in the old blog archives ;-)

Sicky

Was meant to go to work today, but yesterday I babysat Angelina and she was extremely sick and coughed and sneezed and spluttered all over me and come evening, I was unwell :-( Boooo hoooo .... I really want to go to Dwellingup with Kristin, Jelli and Dan and the other "down south" crew this weekend, and figured I can't possibly get better if I go to work. I dunno why, but I really want to go this time around. Below is what we'll be sleeping in. I don't usually have any desire to go with them. I guess Dwellingup is really not that far and I want to snap some great piccies. If I get some good shots, I might re-activate my fb account.

Torsus Mandibularis

My sis freaked me out a bit this morning when she asked me if I would look after Angelina if anything happened to her. After asking her why she was asking me, she opened her mouth and told me she thought she had cancer in her mouth, because these two huge mounds had appeared and she had been feeling really ill for the last few months with nausea and other symptoms. That propelled me into a day of prayer, declaring every Scripture I could think of over her and claiming her healing and all.

Anyway, she just came by to collect Angelina and it turns out that it was not cancer, the condition is not at all harmful - PRAISE GOD. All it is is some silly thing called Torsus Mandibularis. I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo relieved. Now was that just a coincidence or God answering my prayers? This is what it looks like when she lifts up her tongue.

Ship piccy

I went to the Moon cafe yesterday with Kristin, Jelli, Dan and many others and was amazed to see the exact same piccy on the wall, as the one I picked up for $2 from an op-shop and placed in my bathroom window sill (on the right, of a ship)!

His Spirit has gathered them

Well today at that little op-shop, I also found these cute little photo frames, which I saw some time back, but didn't buy because I was a bit sad being single and them being a Groom and Bride! However, I suddenly had a bright idea that I would make them into prayer tools. So what I did, is I wrote down all the qualities that I want in a husband (integrity, purity, faithful, diligent, inteligent, fit, healthy, prayer warrior, God chaser, prosperous, attractive, great communicator, family man, loves God first and blessed) on the little Groom, along with some Scriptures, namely:

• Isaiah 11:2 - The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
• Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep him in perfect peace. whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts You [SHALOM];
• Isaiah 34:16 - Look in the scroll of the Lord and read: none of these will be missing, not one will lack her mate. For it is His mouth that has given the order, and His Spirit will gather them together"; and
• Ephesians 6 - reference to wearing God's armor.

I also wrote some stuff I was sort of like declaring over him - anointed, shalom, uncommon favor, deeply loved, excellent.... now that is sweet.

On the bride, I quoted the following Scriptures:

• Isaiah 26:3 - as above;
• Luke 4:18 - "the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed";
• Proverbs 12:4 - "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband";
• Proverbs 18:22 - "Whoso finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor of the Lord"; and
• Ephesians 6 - as above.

I also wrote out the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and then shalom, anointed, Ambassador, Minister, salt and light, loves God 1st and blessed. You can see how much they belong together. Unfortunately, only the bride's face is shown. The Groom remains a mystery.

The perfect thing for that hook!

Since I moved into this place, I have frequently looked at this little hook between two bedroom doors in the corridor that has desperately needed something on it. I dug through all my things to look for something to hang there - I tried necklaces, pieces of ribbon, a hat, photo frames from my collection, etc... but nothing seemed to look right there. Many times I contemplated going to Koorong to buy a tiny little frame with some Scripture on it, but never quite made it there.

Anyway, this morning, I got up and walked past that hook again and decided I would duck out to the op-shop to find something. On the way there, I said a little prayer, asking God to help me find the right thing. All the way there, I was also praying for little Angelina and thinking about how special she was and how she is a gift from God and I am a steward of this precious child.

Well praise the Lord, I believe He directed my steps to this gorgeous little wall hanging. It was all dusty and dirty, but I could see the potential, so I paid the $3 price tag and brought it home and cleaned it. I also wrote out Psalm 139:13-14 in a blue artliner around the outside and went over the original thin grey font in a darker shade. I still cannot believe how perfect it looks in the corridor. Julz came over today and also said how much she loves my little wall hanging :-)

Trish's painting

When Trish came to Angelina's bday, we sat talking for a couple of hours afterwards and we got on to the topic of decorating my place and she sent her daughter to get this original abstract oil painting from her car for me.... she got it maybe 20 years ago and was going to donate it to Princess Margaret hospital because she didn't feel that it suited her house. I know it is VERY unusual, but it actually looks great in my hall :-) and I was just so touched she gave it to me. It really warmed my heart, especially after all the recent events. It serves as a reminder of her beautiful personality and friendliness. Trish is a giver, I can see that straight away.

Kristin and Angelina

This is Kristin the last time I saw her. These piccies were taken 5 June 2009. Angelina looks soooo gorgeous. I sent these piccies with some of Angelina's party piccies to Kristin's parents.

Mid Year

Well, I have reached mid year - wooo hooo, another term down. I am so grateful for the 2wks break ahead of me. I've been feeling really burnt out and my attitude has taken a bit of a plumet because of recent dramas with a person in my life. Urrrrggghhh

Last week, I felt in prayer that the Lord revealed to me that one of my friends had a lot of animosity towards me, like a jealous hatred and reflecting on little things she has said, I could see truth in that. At the last minute, this person suddenly arranged to work instead of attending my niece's birthday, which really caught me by surprise because she had planned a month ago to have the day off to help me with the party and attend something that was significant to me. She was also going to bring the African brother of mine who prophesied over me and I had mentioned to her that I was looking forward to the potential of him prophesying over my sister. There was another couple of Africans who were also going to come with her - an older couple who are lovely.

Anyway, because of the animosity I sensed and her abrupt plans to suddenly work instead of help me out with my party and bring the special guests, I decided to withdraw from her while I sought some Godly counsel about what to do. I have blessed this person so much over the year that I have known her. I have given her expensive clothes, designer handbags, food, make-up, money, etc.... I have cooked her dinner multiple times, bought her lunch and driven up to her work to deliver it and I have driven her to and from lots of venues. I would have given her things to the value of around $1,000 at least. She has taken and taken and taken. I guess she has seen the abundance that I have been blessed with. It's because I have learnt the secret to prosperity - being generous and willing to channel the blessings to other people. The least I expected was for her to attend my niece's party.

She sensed I was keeping my distance and got so offended she has gone to lots of students in 1st year and told them all I have done her wrong and that she has been such a great friend to me and this is how I have treated her ... give me a break! I haven't mentioned it to a single student at college. I think a great friend would not act the way she has. What's the better response - take time out, don't gossip to anyone, pray and seek Godly counsel or go behind the person's back and say negative things about them to taint many peoples' views of that person?

I don't think i'll be racing back to embrace that friendship in a hurry. I am a busy person and to be honest, I would much rather spend my time with people who value my friendship and treat me with respect.