In the mood for...

I'm in the mood for some thanksgiving today.

Today I thank God that I had longer than my regular six hours sleep (and woke up refreshed!)

Today I thank God that I was tasked with another exciting project.

Today I thank God that I have a job/career to go into - one that I look forward to and not dread at all.

Today I thank God for the reminder that I am blessed to be a blessing.

Today I thank God I have friends to go to for godly perspective and wisdom. (If you've ever been on "the other side", you'll quickly realise how different a world it is).

Today I thank God for putting me in London for such a time as this.

Today I thank God for understanding patience and contentment in Him.

Today I thank God that I have Him and know Him to be real and true in my life.

My Thanksgiving

There are weeks when you feel blessed. More blessed than others. This week is one of them. You see, this week I’m home, as in home where I was before all of this. Since my last update I got my dream job as a journalist. It’s pretty crazy. I wanted the job bad. For me, it wasn’t so much as a job as it was a career.

The next thing I did – after I confirmed my last workday with my previous employer – was to book myself a ticket back home to the other side of the world. It was a long time coming and there was just no question about making that trip. A) I needed it B) I need the food. I was quite convinced that if I didn’t make this trip that my stomach would turn on itself.

At the start of this year I wasn’t sure how 2010 would finish up. But I trusted that the God who said he would grant the desires of my heart according to His will would do something. And people would be able to see how good He has been to me. I’ve learned many things during this time. It’s okay to be angry with God. There’s no need to put on fronts, you just come as you are. It’s important to surround yourself with the right people. Opinions and perspective from the world can be deceivingly seductive or sensible sometimes. But perspective drawing from the word of God can be so powerful. I choose to listen and be strengthened by the truth. I’ve also learned I don’t always know what’s going to happen or what’s just around the corner. It sounds pretty obvious but thank God He sees the end from the beginning, the beginning to the end. He knows better than we do. He knew he was giving me this job at the start of the year when day after day, week after week, I clung on, holding him to His word.

So I want you to know that He who did this for me, who gave me the job and career of my dreams can do the same for you. Big or small. You don’t know how it’s going to happen. You say “it’s going to take a miracle” - don’t talk yourself out of that when the unbelievable happens. Just keep talking, keep praying. Things change when you’re praying – may not be immediate, may not be earth-shattering visibly but believe me you that He’s fighting your battles for you.

Preach love in the face of hate

This blog from Rebecca Voelkel which I found over at CNN.com is a must-read. She speaks against LGBT (Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual, Transgender) hate in the wake of recent brutal attacks on the community in the U.S. While there were parts that I disagree with, it is her message of love that I'm for.

An excerpt:

"As a pastor who claims the life and ministry of Jesus as her model, I need to say that this is simply unacceptable. Preaching hate from our pulpits, in our politics, or to our pupils is never acceptable. It literally endangers lives. And the life and ministry of Jesus alway stands against that which hates, hurts or destroy."

If nothing else, we need to remember to show the love of Jesus in what Voelkel refers to as very "real ways." It is this "persistent love" that we need to work on, the sort of love that casts out all hate and gives life.

Where do you draw strength from?

The recent "Beautiful Exchange" album from Hillsong church moves me in so many ways. Some of my favourite tracks are "Believe," "Beautiful Exchange" and "Forever Reign."

Call me a sap but it's always the slow ones that get me. In "Believe," it says...

VERSE 1:

You are my life

You are my strength

You are my rock

On who I stand

I lift my voice

I raise my hands

I lift my soul

With all I am

In Christ forever I stand

I will believe

CHORUS:

You are strong enough

In my weakness

God be lifted up

And I will sing

Lift your praises high

Lord be magnified

You make all things news

I will believe

So hear this song

Receive our praise

You are my strength

For all our days

We lift you up

Our voices high

In every storm

Let God arise

Bridge:

Oh, your love

Your love will never fail

Your love, it knows no end

Your love will never fail

Oh, your love

Stronger than my strength

Greater than my pain

Your love will never fail

I will believe

I love how, unfailingly, each album/song speaks to every single person so specifically in their particular season of life. In praying for my dream career to come to fruition (I swear, if pregnancy feels anything like that, it's pretty mad), I find myself having to sing these words as a reminder of his goodness and faithfulness.

As I sing these words "You are my life... you are my strength... you are my rock... on you I stand," which are so hugely life-affirming, I'm reminding myself of what and who really has held it all together for me through my twenty-something life.

"You are my strength... For all our days... We lift your up... Our voices high... In every storm let God arise." In times of struggles, these words prove so full of resolve. When I think there is no way, He is my rock, my strong foundation. In Him, I draw my strength from. (Sorry Oprah and Dr Phil.)

Knowing that he comes through in every storm, I find a kind of power and renewed strength that I want more of. Each day, I pray for strength to just keep going and trust that He, who holds all the powers in the world, will make it happen. I look back and know that He who has met me in every single storm is true to what He says. If you're believing for something or a dream to happen, grab hold of it and keep pushing. Push like your mama never push before! More importantly I'm praying that I'll never forget what we call the "kingdom mentality" - that my dream isn't about feeding an ego but a purposeful one that does good, and helps to reach and win people by showing Jesus' crazy love for all.

No, I'm not religious

Last weekend I was over at Hillsong Conference in London. There were many high points but one particular one that stuck with me was Joel Houston's message. He spoke of how he met a guy in a cafe... (stay with me on this one.)

"Do you know who you're talking to?" the owner of the cafe asks the guy. "Who?" "He's Joel from Hillsong Church!" "What do you do?" Joel asks the man. "I'm a criminal," he replies. "How's life as a musician?" he continues. "Good... how's life as a criminal?" asks Joel. Over the next few hours, they talked about religion. He told Joel how he hated religion and how it just wasn't for him. He couldn't stand it.

So very often, Christianity is presented as "don'ts" and "nots". People know us for the "Go to hell" signs and "God hates fags" banners. They know us for what we stand against, not what we stand for. If you had any idea the truth of Jesus' heart, you have no business brandishing that message of hate around "in the name of God."

I know my God loves. He cares. He heals. He restores. He multiplies. He provides. Jesus was the son of a carpenter - a man's man. He was the people. He had a heart for the people. He was for the underdogs. Of all professions, he picked fishermen and tax collectors as his disciples. He wasn't for a popularity contest. He was for the people. He loved the prostitute and took her as she was in all her brokenness while the religious spewed judgement and condescension. Jesus hated religion the same way the criminal in the cafe hated it.

Which is why I so love this response from president Barack Obama to the question of "Why are you Christian?" His answer was simple and he spoke with far more clarity than I would've ever dreamt of explaining to anyone myself. It presented the love of Christ as it is - that we are all sinful and flawed and can only be perfect in His grace. There was no judgement, no holier than thou attitude, no spit and spat or foaming from the mouth(!) If we can only present His love in the same manner and attitude - to love regardless (tough call, I know) - then we can say we're truly getting the heartbeat of what the church should be about.

What's the meaning?

I first heard the phrase "Beauty for Ashes" from a friend about a year ago. She told me the term applies to my situation. That out of sadness and hurt will come strength and victory. She promised that in time, I can say "Beauty for ashes" - just like she has - and mean it. But of course she can say it. She's (happily) married, has a cute kid and can eat all the Chinese she wants. Me, I looked like crap, was snotty and crying ugly and this just sounded all so unbelievable, girly, even romantic. Even the Joan of Arc in me was defeated. (Shout out by the way to this warrior!)

They say time heals. That is part true. Many have hurt but many remain bitter. For me, there is something else bigger than ourselves that empowers us to heal, to let go. That is the love of the God I've come to know. His love makes our grudges petty. This is all very intense sounding but along with these gems, will be funny moments that I hope you will come to see what I mean. Whether funny or intense, this blog will be unapologetic in the fact that I'm now on the "other side" because of the very simple fact that my God is the one who makes all things new and restores even the most broken of us beautifully.

True story.