Last night was awesome. We left the coffee shop around three o’clock to head downtown for dinner. On the way to downtown Sydney, it started raining; that was beautiful. Once we got down there, we all walked as quickly as possible to the building that the restaurant was in. It was a huge tower; literally, the tallest building in Sydney. The place was so fancy. It spins around while you eat, so you get a view of all of Sydney before your meal is over. Eating a buffet was ideal, because we were all missing American food just a tad bit. I ate things like potatoes, bread with hummus, green beans, pineapple, watermelon, and all kinds of delicious desserts. My favorite thing to eat was the bread and hummus. Or was it the ice cream? Not sure! All I know is that going to this restaurant was a big deal, and an expensive deal. It was such a blessing to get to go there and spend time with the team just relaxing.
Richard came with us, so you can imagine how hilarious the entire night was. At dinner, he was quiet and kept to himself. But, the rest of the time was a blast. He made jokes the entire way to the restaurant and talked to everyone about who they were dating on the way back. Although he is really funny, he has a lot of wisdom. Like most of the friends that I have made here, he is studying in a Bible college. Richard either already is a pastor or is going to be. It interests me how he can be so humorous yet love God so much; it really amazes me.
People like Richard, and friends like Tyler and Fenton back home, remind me that being yourself while pleasing God is possible. All I really want is to please God. So, learning about others and their relationship with God interests me. It helps to have people around that are just themselves twenty four seven. I would like to say that I am myself, always. I am. Lately, it has been easier to be free around folks. This probably has everything to do with the fact that I am with a whole new set of friends and that I know they are being transparent too.
Loving God is easy. Balancing life is hard. My only goal is to live a life that is pleasing to God. He has my heart; no one else could ever fulfill all of my longings. Only God is capable. Being in Australia is teaching me more and more about being a servant who is completely reliant on God’s faithfulness and love. Oh, yes! That is it. Being totally dependent on God IS life. I must be.
Fair dinkum, I have been in a dry place lately. God was still speaking, but I was dry. It was as if I had nothing to give. The truth is, selfishness had taken over without me knowing it. Instead of loving with all that I was, I was seeking love with all that I was.
This morning as I was writing on my arm (Something I do every morning. Usually just a proverb, but this morning, there was more to say), I began to write “Love unconditionally”. Then instead it made more sense to write “love God”. Here I was trying to remind myself to love those around me, so that I could show God’s love. Then, I realized that the only way to show God’s love was to love God. The only way to love God is to recognize that He first loved me (Hallelujah). So, today (and everyday) must be lived from a position of love for God. I LOVE GOD! HE LOVED ME FIRST! Woohoo. Where there is the love of God, dryness has to flee. HEHEHE! Fair Dinkum…
Yeah, so everything is wonderful today! It is our last day in Sydney. We are shopping a bit, while ministering to folks at the shops… then, we will be helping with “Awana Club” (if you haven’t ever heard of it, look it up. It is such a neat program for kids. They come together one night a week and memorize scripture, play games and just learn about the LORD. Great thing!). After Awana, we are going to the Salvadors (Danwins) for dinner. Nathaniel mentioned maybe the young one’s going out together while the older one’s ate at the Salvadors. Either way, I am excited. Seeing Danwin, Nathaniel and Richard will be a blast.
Believe it or not, I am going to miss this place. All of the people are so close to my heart now. They have become my closest friends. It is neat when you go all the way across the world to spend time with family you never met before. You just want to stay with them. But, I am also remembering all of my American friends & family. I am very appreciate of the love and support of those God has placed in my life as relatives. It is a joy to know everyone that I do.
Once I get home, everyone is getting a big hug & an I LOVE YOU! My love for people has increased… and hopefully will continue to.
LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE.
*Fair dinkum = honest, true, forreal
g'day mate, just read all your blog for the down under trip...amazing how God has worked in your life and those around you. going to remain anonymous...but you probably know who this is anyway :p
ReplyDeleteChina lovely, your post sounds really fair dinkum and its great to reflect on the awesomeness of God.
hope you have gain some valuable insight on living in a world that we are called to love as God loved yet also not falling in love with the ways of the world.i pray that you will continue to be salt and light in thomasville as you have been here in prichard :) ...in the same way y'all were in sydney,Australia.
may you continue to be yourself no matter where you are , being achored in the LORD yet being able to thrive and not just merely survive wherever God places you. remember we are in many respects "exiles"...people who are not exactly there at their final destination but nevertheless graced with the opportunities to thrive and shine in a world that they are part of yet not fully their home.
reading your blogs reminds me of the power of stories...these individual stories point back to a God who is LORD over all things and collectively they echo His faithfulness in our lives. the Israelites had various stories to help them get them through their time in exile ,in particular the story of God's faithfulness in rescuing them from the Egyptians. in the same way through these blogs down under and the other ones too , you have a collection of godly reminders through stories of God's faithfulness in the past which should inspire you to go forward in faith for the future in a time that we may call an exilic period for us too.
experiencing down under with you has been awesome! :)
anyway stay rooted in Him and be free to be all you can be in Him.
p.s : dnt lose the family heirloom :)