Baby Jaxon

This is a piccy of Helen, one of my beautiful African sisters from college, with Jaxon, who is the nephew of Tarryn, my beautiful South African sister also from college. Jaxon is about six or seven months and was in creche this week with my little niece. Taz and I often joke about match-making the two ;-) haha ...well you never know what could happen in 20 years.

Actually, last Wednesday, Angelina won the affection of an even more gorgeous little boy. He is Mexican and 14 mths old (so a more mature man). He has thick, long curly dark eye lashes and a massive mop of thick curly dark hair. He stood beside Angelina when she was in the swing and just kept pulling her dummy out, so I had to keep putting it back in for her. She didn't seem to mind too much because she has only just started using it this week. I think it was all part of the wooing process ;-) Oh little kids are so cute.

Finally here ;-)

Lorraine and Erik's baby was born yesterday - Isobella was 3.14kg and 48cm long (compared to Angelina who was 2.12kg and 42cm long). I can't wait until she grows up and we introduce her to Angelina. They will love eachother. Isobella has blue eyes and black hair so far ... be interesting to see if her colouring changes over time. She is so beautiful ;-)

Another death

Julz' second dog, Jasper died today. She apparently swallowed some poison, which my sister thinks someone gave to her, because the couple whose house she has been staying in said they don't have any rat poison or anything like it on their property.

Mum warned Julz that all this would happen. Mum had the revelation that for as long as Julz holds on to her relationship with her current bf, who is evil and corrupt, the curses from Deuteronomy 28:15-68 will come upon her. Her relationship doesn't honor God and she is deliberately choosing to disobey Him. She has to make a choice between God or Grunde. I know who I would rather choose!

A sad day

Julz had to put down her beloved long-haired German Shepherd today because cancer had spread all through his body. The saddest thing is that he is only six years old. Her other dog and one of her cats is also unwell, but she is too shattered to take them to the vet and doesn't want anyone to take them for her. How miserable ;-(

Isobella

I am so stoked cos I serve the best God! He's been answering my prayers left, right and centre. Praise Him. The other day mum found a phone number and rang it and it turned out that it belongs to her old best friend from uni, Lorraine. Lorraine and Erik, her hubby, have been trying to contact mum for the last two years, since they moved back to Perth from the Northern Territory, after accepting a job offer up there some five years ago. When they moved states, mum was pretty shattered and fell out of fellowship with other Christians and it's like her spiritual life went downhill.

So, I know in answer to my prayers that God will send laborers into mum's life, He has reconnected mum to this beautiful Godly couple. What's really amazing is Lorraine, who was previously told she could never have children, is expecting her first child in her early 40s! God is truly a God of miracles. She apparently went to the gym and told her personal trainer she had been feeling a bit dizzy and the trainer told her to go get a general health check-up done. As part of the examination, they did a pregnancy test, despite Lorraine telling the doctor there was really no point because she had already been told many years ago she could never have children, plus she is in her 40s. Anyway, Lorraine almost fainted when the news came back. She said she doesn't know how she made it home, because she can't recall any of the drive back. She could barely even tell Erik and then they were just both in shock, having accepted that they would never have children of their own. Erik has always wanted children.

What's especially cool is that Lorraine, like Julz and I, is also Eurasian and her hubby is Swedish, so that means that the little baby girl she is expecting this week will also be one quarter Asian, just like Angelina!!! She will be three months younger than Angelina and they've already chosen the name Isobella for her. Lorraine, Erik and mum are just so ecstatic that not only have they reconnected, but now their precious little treasures will have a playmate ;-) Oh Praise God!!! Nothing is impossible for the one who created the world.

I am going to take mum to the hospital this Friday to visit them. I don't think any of us can lose our joy.

Angelina

Oh she is just sooooo cute. Here at 2.5 mths old. Who would ever think she is one quarter Asian!

Unexpected blessing

Tonight two older fellas, Rob and Andrew, came into the book shop where I work and gave me a present. They said they wanted to bless me. It turned out to be a brand new leather bound black parallel Bible with the left hand side of each page showing the Word in the King James Version and the right hand side of each page showing the Word in the Amplified Version. I was just so stunned and shocked that I couldn't really think what to say. One of them had overheard me say ages ago how I really liked the parallel Bibles and wanted one.

It's such a shock because I know that both guys are struggling financially and I know the Bible was an expensive one and I really don't know either of them all that well. I mean they are both probably in the 50's. I only really talk to them occasionally when they come in on Sundays. Wow, that's just such a spin-out that God would touch their hearts to do that for me.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that I found out that one of my African brothers in my class did not own a Bible. The revelation kind of hurt me and then after finding out that college does not have a supply of spare Bibles, I decided to go and buy him one from our bookshop. I didn't want to get him a cheap and nasty one, so I bought him a beautiful Spirit Filled Study Bible with study notes all throughout, with a blue and grey leather cover. It was so lovely and cost a lot, I mean heaps more than the one I own! I just figured it is such a special book and I wanted him to have a nice one. The colours were great for a guy too. Straight after I went to a friends house, who I had loaned a lot of money to and never expected to see the money again and she handed me part of it out of the blue. It more than the cost of the Bible I had bought the guy, so I felt like God had miraculously given me my money back and more!

We have been studying about giving tithes and offerings in Ps Jim's class, Economics and Scripture, and he pointed out that we will reap what we sow and in Malachi 3:10 it says that if we are obedient in giving our tithes and offerings, then God will open up the windows of Heaven and pour out for us such blessing that we will not have room enough to receive it. That's how I feel right now. I am just so overwhelmed that these guys who I know are strapped for cash would do that for me!!! Wow, the Scriptures really work.

Wrong car!!!

My mum did the funniest thing today. I dropped her off in the City cos she had to put in a form or something, and then I drove down to the Esplanade and parked my car in a 15 minute bay to wait for her. Apparently, she came down after about five minutes and saw my car and opened the door and put her foot in the passenger side and was about to sit in ... only, then she heard hysterical laughing and a guy say "hey!". She looked across the car to me, only it wasn't me, it was some young Italian guy, because she had got the wrong car!!!!

Hahaha ... in the back seat were three girls totally losing it laughing. The guy in the front was obviously horrified. Mum was so embarrassed and quickly excused herself and jumped out. Man, I cannot believe the ridiculous situations she gets herself into ;-) I was wondering where she was after 15 minutes and started looking around, only to see her standing on the opposite side of the road looking backwards and forwards. I flagged her down and took her home to safety! Oh mum ....who wants to trade mums?

VLBTC Fundraiser

We had a funny fundraiser event today to raise money for operation Christmas Child. We had to wear a wig or a hat. Not everyone participated, but those who did looked hilarious ;-) I cheated and just wore a hair piece because I had my little niece with me and knew her little hands would probably pull my hair off if I wore a wig!

The lone star

Boy did I feel silly yesterday. I had arranged to meet a friend from college to go for a run in Kings Park early in the morning. However, we both forgot that City to Surf was on, meaning most of the roads were blocked. My dear friend couldn't get into the park cos all her links were barricaded, so after half an hour of driving and driving and driving trying to find in-roads, she gave up.

Anyway, I decided to go for a run on my own. Once on the paths, I realised there were literally thousands of people running the opposite direction to me - cos they were all taking part in the 12km challenge. So here was little me running without an orange number (which you get when you register for the annual run) along a lone path. I felt soooooooooooooooo stupid! I told a couple of guys last night at church and we all just lost it laughing at how silly I must have looked ;-) Last time I go for a run during such a big event! Apparently over 10,000 people take part in the event. I think it starts on St Georges Tce and finishes in City Beach. Next year I think I will just register in the run. I'm sure I can make 12km by now ;-) hehe

Car accessory

My newest car accessory is my beautiful little niece ;-) Praise God, after many months of prayer, Julz and I have agreed on an arrangement for me to go to her house every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, pick up Angelina and take her to the creche at Victory Life Centre. This is until I finish college at 12.30pm. Afterwards, I take her to Josie's house until 6pm where Julz collects her from.
This week gone by was her first week at college and she absolutely loved it and everyone absolutely loved her. In fact, many students were fighting to hold her. It really touched my heart to see so many people pray in tongues over her and bless her. No doubt, she will be a mighty woman of God, especially with such a great start to life. Praise God.



The creche is really well-equipped too and Kylie does a fantastic job keeping her entertained and happy. I haven't had to change nappies for about two weeks now. Apparently, she did an absolute beauty yesterday for Kylie - it was half green and half yellow. Just delightful ;-P

Dispelling the darkness

Last night I was feeling upset because I had just finished talking to Julz on the phone and her lifestyle just grieves me so much. Anyway, I went to sleep early because I felt so shattered.

As I was dozing off, I had a dream or vision of my friend, Mason. He was punching his fists in front of him really hard and fast, like a professional boxer. Every time he thrust his fists forwards, I could hear a sound that sounded like two massive meat knives (like the sort that have like a 20cm x 10cm thick slab of metal above the blade) slamming down on a metal table consecutively, like every split second, if that makes sense. His actions were penetrating through darkness, having a very powerful effect in the spirit realm. As I stood there watching him (he was so deep in concentration, it seemed he was oblivious to me standing there), I imagined him saying to me "keep going Michelle, don't give up, keep on at it". As the vision faded away, I felt uplifted inside and deeply encouraged. I wonder why I saw Mason doing that and why it had such a strong impact on me.

I've been thinking a lot about how God has brought me into Bible college and brought a whole new group of people into my life to grow with spiritually, like just for a set time within our whole life spans. Many come from other countries and I don't know if I will see them again. I feel strangely attached to so many of them in a different way to how I have felt with former friends. I suppose it is so different when you have a spiritual connection, I mean we are all learning together, being taught the Word of God in the same way, by the same teachers.

My spiritual mum, Josie, told me that when she set foot in her home country (New Zealand) recently, she heard the Holy Spirit say that it is time to move back permanently. It's left me feeling a bit shattered and I feel weird thinking that over the next few months, she will be clearing out her unit and selling all her stuff and then going for good. I guess we can't take any friendship for granted. I know I will see her again, but it wont be the same.

I think i'll just tackle each day at a time. As long as my eyes are fixed on Him and I am obedient to Him, I will be in perfect peace. Thank you Lord that Your grace is sufficient for all my needs, according to Your riches in glory. You give Your angels charge over me. Jehovah Jireh cares for me ...

VLBTC Camp in Jarrahdale

Just came back from a great camp for college, which was held in Jarrahdale. Here are some piccies, starting with some silly piccies of my three cottage buddies Tammy, Tarryn, Nikki and I ;-)

Christie's 30th

Well, I caught up with some friends from the past last night when I attended Christie's 30th birthday - WIG - party. It was actually a lot of fun. She looked extremely glamorous and it was hilarious seeing people with different hairdos because it gave the impression they had totally different personalities. As for myself, I braved a luuuuurvely green wig ;-)

God is good

God is good ALL THE TIME.

Last night Julz asked me if I knew where her old Bible was and I asked why and she said she wanted to read some Scriptures to Angelina the other day!!! I was soooooo spun out. I had decided to have an early night, but as soon as she got off the phone, I leapt out of bed, searched the house for her old Bible, cleaned up her old bedroom and spent quality time in prayer for her and the rest of my family, because I realised that God really is answering my prayers and changing my family's lives around on the inside.

God has also softened mum and Julz' hearts and restored their relationship. Julz and Angelina came over today and mum spent a couple of hours with her granddaughter. Even though my friend Josie will continue babysitting Angelina three days a week, Julz has agreed that mum can see her regularly. Praise God.

AND ...if that wasn't enough already, God has been sending the laborers into my family's lives in response to my requests to Him every morning and night to send born-again, Spirit-filled, bold, courageous, prophetic, prayerful Christians to preach the Gospel to them in such a way they receve it. Both Julz and Dave have had multiple Christian patients enter their medical clinics. Mum went to the police and the policeman started witnessing to her and she has made friends with the pentacostal fence-building contractors that God sent to her help out. Praise God. I was just thinking how funny it is that I even asked God to send His laborers into Angelina's life and it suddenly hit me that Josie is her first devout Christian friend ;-) haha ... I mean Angelina can't even talk yet cos she is only six weeks old, yet she has made a quality friend who just adores her.

God is ready to perform His Word (Jeremiah 1:12) , angels hearken to the Word of God (Psalm 103:20) and His Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11)... so we need to keep calling things that do not exist as though they do (Romans 4:17) and then He will bring His promises to pass.

Is there a rabbit around?

This was actually taken over a week ago, just found it ;-)

Miracles are possible

It's been a pretty tough last week or so from a family perspective because mum and Julz had a massive fight, said some really nasty stuff and parted company. Mum said Julz was never welcome back and Julz vowed to cut mum out of her daughter's life ....aggggghhhh, don't we just love family dramas. Being the blessed peacemaker (it says in Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called Sons of God), I pretty much steered clear of both of them and didn't take sides, but just intensified my prayer and worship times with God. I just continued getting up super early and singing "the enemy has been defeated" and clapping my hands and stamping my feet in intercession.

Anyway, yesterday Julz rang me up to ask if I could get her some of her baby stuff from the house, cos Angelina was starting creche. Angelina is only 6 weeks old, so it made me feel very uneasy, even more so because Julz started rattling off about how she had contacted loads of creches and none were Christian-based and had many children in them already. Also both Julz and Angelina looked really bad when they showed up at the gate. Julz had obviously been crying a lot and Angelina looked really spaced out.

However, instead of dwelling on negative thoughts about the types of psychopaths that could potentially be hanging around my beautiful, precious niece, I just went into intense prayer and asked God for a breakthrough. While I was talking to Julz, I said I could definitely take her in two weeks time to the college creche, but she said she needed help NOW!!! Anyway, then it just flew out of my mouth that my Maori mum would help look after Angelina.

To be honest, I hadn't really given that much thought and purposed in my heart to plead with Josie the next day. Well, it turns out that it is the financial blessing she has been needing. Julz did some research into nannies because she had also had doubts about the quality of care in a busy child-minding centre and was hoping for something more personal, with one-on-one care. In her research, she discovered they cost about $20 to $25/hour, so for 10 hours, it would cost $200 at the cheapest rate. So Julz was more than happy to offer Josie $200 in cash, which she handed to Josie when she rocked up. Josie has been praying for financial breakthrough for ages.

Of course Josie was absolutely thrilled. That is A LOT of money to her. The extra benefit is that because it is in cash, she doesn't have to declare it. She is going to look after Angelina three days a week until she is old enough to go to the college creche. I am so happy for Josie to finally get some loose cash and for Julz to get such high quality care. Josie is a 24/7 prayer intercessor, a qualified nurse and a grandmother of MANY Maori kids, so I don't think Julz could have found a better nanny.

I have such a deep peace in my heart knowing Angelina is in great prayerful hands.

Now God and I just have to work on restoring the relationship between mum and Julz .... well if He can arrange top-quality child care like that and matchup two needy situations, then I am sure He can resolve my family problems. With God, anything is possible.

Praise Jesus

This morning i was determined not to go to college, but rather to have the day off. I actually told quite a few people over the last few days that i would not be in college today. Anyway, so i slept in, but then around 6.30 am i had an amazing dream. I dreamt i was walking around a street that i was unfamiliar with. I walked past a block where the red-brick building had been partly demolished and i was singing at the top of my lungs "Jesus, we enthrone You, we proclaim You our King, standing here in the midst of us, we raise You up with our praise, and as we worship build Your throne (build Your throne) and as we worship, build Your throne, come Lord Jesus, come take Your place". As i looked behind me i could see a handful of people following me and they were singing the same song. I was filled with a deep joy inside. I could see park benches with people sitting on them who had downcast faces, but as they heard our singing, they lifted their heads and there was light in their eyes. I was overwhelmed with joy.

When i woke up, i sent a quick text message to Mace cos i felt i had to tell someone. Then i lay in bed for a bit longer, thinking about how i would not be going to college. Suddenly, i heard the Holy Spirit say "Michelle, the Lord wants you to go to college". It startled me a bit, but i knew deep in my spirit i needed to obey. I was kind of amused. He really is watching over me every day. I was thinking to myself "what difference does it make if i go to college or not". Anyway, i decided i would obey my Lord cos i love Him and He promised to bless those who obey Him. Haha ...no doubt our Father God is reading this!

So i didn't actually bother doing my hair at all, i just threw on some clothes, washed my face, brushed my teeth, put on a bit of lipstick and raced out the door. I prayed all the way there in the car and just made it for the start of 8.00 am prayer. I was totally pumped and sang in the spirit and clapped my hands the whole time, then joined the 8.30am group for praying in the understanding-type prayers. I was on a spiritual high all day, just thinking how lovely God is and i told a few people about my dream. Then i gave Helen and Hariet lifts home and drove myself home.

What an interesting day, nothing extraordinary happened at college, but for whatever reason, the Lord wanted me there. I suppose He appreciates my prayers. Today I prayed for the students at Bible college that the Lord would pour out a fresh annointing on them, cos it's His annointing that breaks the yoke and sets people free from oppression and depression and demon possession! He who is set free is truly free indeed. No longer do we need to be tormented by negative thoughts thanks to 2 Corinthians 10:5. Glory to God.

Hearing the Holy Spirit

Today in Ps Rhonda's class, which is about the Holy Spirit and His gifts, Rinna and Gill got up to sing a couple of songs. When Gill sang the second song, I heard the Holy Spirit tell me to tell Gill that her singing brought pleasure to Him and it had a sweet annointing on it. I had tears welling up in my eyes because I was so touched He would say that of a fellow student, and such a lovely one. Gill is a beautiful woman of God, who is bold and confident and just such an exhorter herslf. I kind of felt silly saying it to her, but I had this feeling that I simply had to tell her. I couldn't go home today without letting her know.

I didn't have any spare paper, so I wrote it on part of our lecture notes and ripped off that portion. Then during the break I walked up to her and gave it to her. I still had tears in my eyes when I tried to explain that I had heard the Holy Spirit say that. It was such a simple message, yet I just felt it was so important that I tell her. Gill thanked me and told me that she often feels condemned when she sings because she feels like she's putting herself or her agenda ahead of others, like Ps Rhonda's teaching, for example. It seemed like such a strange response, maybe I didn't quite understand what she meant, but it is so obvious to me that she has a gift in being able to sing like that and there is a strong annointing on every word she sings to minister to those listening. How could that be less important than anything else!, especially when the teacher has specifically requested that she lead worship?

Soooooo cute

Aunty Michelle got to babysit this little munchkin up to lunch time today. She is just such a sweet little princess.