Time After Time

It's been a while since my last post - 21 days to be exact. And how much has happened in that time!

I got an internship position for next year at a great hospital, which is such an amazing answer to my prayers and those of many of my friends who were kind enough to be praying about my employment for next year.

But getting a job has really confirmed for me that I will be graduating uni at the end of this year, and that my life is about to change dramatically. I've already been feeling the hints of maturity creeping in... A good friend is getting married in December, while I had the joy a few weeks ago of playing with the 9 month old son of one of my closest high school friends.

As I extricate myself from my wallowing in nostalgia, I will only add in closing that all that has happened in the past few weeks has served to remind me both of God's goodness and also his sovereignty. I was listening to an old hymn a few days ago, which begins " 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus". I can only say Amen to that.

Tuesday Tunes: Edition 2

This week I'm putting in a song some of you may not have heard before. It's my probably favourite worship song, based on Psalm 62 and written by Aaron Keyes and Stuart Townend. It's called My Soul Finds Rest in God Alone.

My soul finds fest in God alone
My Rock and my salvation
A fortress strong against my foes
And I will not be shaken.
Though lips may bless and hearts may curse
And lies like arrows pierce me
I'll fix my heart on righteousness
I'll look to him who hears me

Oh, praise Him, hallelujah,
My delight and my reward
Everlasting, never failing,
My redeemer, my God.

There are two more verse after this, but I haven't the patience to type it all out. Copying and pasting isn't working for me right now. Instead, I'll suggest you watch Aaron Keyes perform the whole song here.

I've had a crazy time this year with my health, my friendships, my study load and my future. But this song has been a huge blessing, in keeping the words of the Psalm in my mind - that in all my busyness, it is only in God that I will find rest. And He provides not only rest, but a safe and loving embrace when we feel (or know) the world is against us. In Him, I will not be shaken.

Another Poetic Foray...

With Bread
(A Poem for Liliane)

It is with bread
That we share our lives
As brothers and sisters, all united
Our community of faith
Church

It is with bread
That we give thanks
For the healing of a world divided
Our symbol of repentance
Communion

It is with bread
That we walk with our Lord
In the joy of life resurrected
Our Lamb of salvation
Christ

Each day
Our Bread of Life
Companion

Tuesday Tunes: Edition 1

I love music. Yes, I do. And so I've decided that every now and then, I am going to share with you a song (or part of a song) that has touched my heart. And so, it gives me great pleasure to present to you "Spoken For" by MercyMe.

Take this world from me
I don’t need it anymore
I am finally free
My heart is spoken for
Oh and I praise You
Oh and I worship You

Covered by a love divine
Child of the risen Lord
To hear You say, “This one’s Mine”
My heart is spoken for

Now I have a peace
That I’ve never known before
I find myself complete
My heart is spoken for
Oh and I praise You
Oh and I worship You

By the power of the cross
You’ve taken what was lost
And made it fully Yours
I have been redeemed
By You who spoke to me
Now I am spoken for

Take this world from me
I don't need it anymore

Written by MercyMe and Peter Kipley© 2002 Simpleville Music (ASCAP) / Songs from the Indigo Room (SESAC)


I'm very fond of MercyMe, but in particular this song, the title track of their second album. It always reminds me that God wants me just as I am, and that other than Him, I don't need anything else to complete me. Not a university degree, not a boyfriend, not perfect health. Nothing.

And my response can only be to give over my heart to Him. There is nothing in the world that I need so much as Him, and even though it's often not the case, I would love to be able to stand up to the world and tell it to leave my heart alone, because I've already given it all away to the God whom I love.

Dedicated to the singing cucumber who stole my heart

Sometimes I think I spend far more time doing what I think will make me happy, than doing what actually does make me happy. Confused? Let me explain.

On Sunday I was trying to work hard on putting together my resume, as the time is fast approaching when I will (hopefully) graduate and need employment. But, as you do, after a couple of hours of working on this document, I found I was becoming less and less productive and realised it was time for a break. So as is my usually bad habit, I went onto my favourite games site on the net and started to play, only to find it wasn't really giving me any happiness. At a loss as to what to do to console myself, I wandered upstairs and flipped on the television, only to find that VeggieTales was on. Now, for anyone not familiar with VeggieTales, it is a Christian children's cartoon, where singing vegetables act out Bible stories or stories about knowing God. Yes, it sounds ridiculous. But it's also fabulous.

I haven't watched a whole episode of VeggieTales since I was in primary school, but that day, it was exactly what I needed. Even in his ridiculously high pitched cucumber-y voice, Larry reminded me of some important things about God I had been ignoring and also what it means to just have fun. Even if that means singing along at the top of your voice completely crazy songs about water buffaloes and blue kangaroos.

More than you think you are...

I was having a conversation the other day with one of my closest friends, and I must admit I was being a little emo and venting all my 'issues' on the poor guy. And he said to me that I was a gem, and to make light of it all I jokingly said "What colour?"

And this is what he replied to me "Rainbow to show the many different facets of your character that makes you such a valuable gem".
(Yes, all the girls reading this may now swoon...).

Opals are one of the most expensive gemstones in the world. They may appear black or white on the outside, but when light hits them at the right angle, they become an riot of colours. And this is true of every soul, only I had forgotten it.

We are all more than the colour we see on the surface. Often we get trapped into thinking of ourselves one way - in many cases a very negative way. But we are more than we think we are. I may see myself as a student or a patient because that is the role I am filling that day. But there is so much more underneath.

I am friend-sister-daughter-leader-student-patient-carer-follower-mentor-counsellor-artist-listener-evangelist-musician-intercessor-witness. And these are only the ones I could think of at the moment.

But just like the opal, you will only see yourself truly in the light.

Jesus answered "I am the way and the truth and the light" John 14:6

If you want to know who you are truly, you need to see yourself through the eyes of the one who made you and the one who saved you. To quote a song I rather like, identity is found in Christ (Identity, Lecrae).

A Simple Gift

You know how sometimes there are people in your life that you could never say or do enough to thank them for being there for you? My best friend is definitely tops the list, but there are also two guys out there who have a very special place in my heart and who I couldn't imagine surviving the last year without. This is a small present to them. Excuse the strange first line... it came out of a random comment from my best friend, when we were hanging out with one of the guys and she saw something stuck on his wall.


To my heart's dearest brothers - ASD and MSC

This is a love letter
you may put on your wall
Tell the whole world -
I've told them before
You've been there
to pick me up when I fall.
Brother of my heart
I couldn't ask for more.

There have been dark days
and even harder nights.
Yet through it all I see
you stood by my side
Helping me back towards
the unfading Light
Brother of my heart -
example, friend and guide.