"For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up,
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away the stones, and a time to gather the stones back together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak out;
a time for love, and a time for pain;
a time for war and a time for peace" Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
All through life we are told that God has a plan, He has everything under control. We might not see this plan but we know that it is there. Sometimes it is hard for those of us on the ground to understand this plan. I know that I do. I find myself asking "Why me go?" "Why now?" "How is this fair?". Still to this day, I don't know.
This afternoon after a long battle with cancer, a man that I made my honorary grandfather passed away. While I am grateful to God that his suffering is over, I still feel that God has just snatched away an important piece of my life.
His season was over, while mine is still continuing.
<3 Squeak
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sleep 2
Nearly 24 hours have passed, and once again I feel tired. Perhaps it is becuase I'm finally going back to university after a summer off. Perhaps it is due to to increased exercise I'm up to.
Then again it could be the heat
Urgh, have you tired to sleep in the warm summer nights? Its too warm with a blanket on, so you kick it off and not only do you feel exposed, but the mosquitos also seem to find you and feast on your bare skin.
It makes me grateful that we have a winter. A winter where it is cold at night, and it feels nice to sunggle under a big pile of blankets. The rain falling on the roof is sort of comforting.
Then I look over at my pink bible, and realise something. Jesus never had winter. He probably never had snow, or southerlies, or rain flying horizontally. So every night was like those hot sticky nights that we complain about. Every night he'd be kicking off the blankets, and worrying about the mozzies flying around. Well he might not have blankets every night, it is mentioned a few times he liked to sleep up mountains. But we get the idea. He no doubt never experienced anything different. To quote Fred Dagg "We don't know how lucky we are".
Jesus also didn't have a car with air con. Or a bus to take him up to the university when the hill just seems too steep, or our bags are too heavy. In fact the only 'public' transport they had back then were camels, and donkeys. Both of which also like sleep, shade and water. You can't just park a donkey anywhere.
I don't think Jesus looked over the waters and wished he had a motorboat to get there faster, or which his donkey had air con, or complain to his father that he didn't have the latest fashion in sandals, even about the sleeping arangements. He didn't know any different.
He was lucky. If it was a hot night, he could just sleep on the roof of where ever he was staying (remember they had flat roofed houses back then) and just stare at the stars, feeling the breeze. Imagine falling alseep looking at your father's creation. Wouldn't that make you feel proud?
It would be amazing to have things that simple. The weather so settled that if it was a hot night you could sleep on the roof and know it wouldn't randomly start raining on you.
Maybe we are too caught up with everything so modern. I write this blog sitting in bed, with a laptop. My cellphones are charging and I listen to my iPod for inspiration. Maybe the reason why we are so tired, is because we have too much modern stuff. Too much going on in our lives. The bible never mentions trains breaking down, or HR managers swooping into offices and giving out job titles with fancy names.
Perhaps all this world needs is a goodnight sleep and an off button on technology. Think about all the time we could spend with God.
<3 Squeak
Then again it could be the heat
Urgh, have you tired to sleep in the warm summer nights? Its too warm with a blanket on, so you kick it off and not only do you feel exposed, but the mosquitos also seem to find you and feast on your bare skin.
It makes me grateful that we have a winter. A winter where it is cold at night, and it feels nice to sunggle under a big pile of blankets. The rain falling on the roof is sort of comforting.
Then I look over at my pink bible, and realise something. Jesus never had winter. He probably never had snow, or southerlies, or rain flying horizontally. So every night was like those hot sticky nights that we complain about. Every night he'd be kicking off the blankets, and worrying about the mozzies flying around. Well he might not have blankets every night, it is mentioned a few times he liked to sleep up mountains. But we get the idea. He no doubt never experienced anything different. To quote Fred Dagg "We don't know how lucky we are".
Jesus also didn't have a car with air con. Or a bus to take him up to the university when the hill just seems too steep, or our bags are too heavy. In fact the only 'public' transport they had back then were camels, and donkeys. Both of which also like sleep, shade and water. You can't just park a donkey anywhere.
I don't think Jesus looked over the waters and wished he had a motorboat to get there faster, or which his donkey had air con, or complain to his father that he didn't have the latest fashion in sandals, even about the sleeping arangements. He didn't know any different.
He was lucky. If it was a hot night, he could just sleep on the roof of where ever he was staying (remember they had flat roofed houses back then) and just stare at the stars, feeling the breeze. Imagine falling alseep looking at your father's creation. Wouldn't that make you feel proud?
It would be amazing to have things that simple. The weather so settled that if it was a hot night you could sleep on the roof and know it wouldn't randomly start raining on you.
Maybe we are too caught up with everything so modern. I write this blog sitting in bed, with a laptop. My cellphones are charging and I listen to my iPod for inspiration. Maybe the reason why we are so tired, is because we have too much modern stuff. Too much going on in our lives. The bible never mentions trains breaking down, or HR managers swooping into offices and giving out job titles with fancy names.
Perhaps all this world needs is a goodnight sleep and an off button on technology. Think about all the time we could spend with God.
<3 Squeak
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sleep
There's nothing more comfortable than your bed after a long day. Well at least that is how I feel.
The only thing worse than going to bed, is getting out if it in the morning, especially when you have to get up early or if the weather outside isn't so nice. Both of those seem to happen alot in winter, or at the start of the new trimester.
In all honesty I'm rather tired myself and feel that I'm not getting anywhere with this post. Maybe I do need to sleep.
I can fix this in the morning.
Goodnight
<3 Squeak
The only thing worse than going to bed, is getting out if it in the morning, especially when you have to get up early or if the weather outside isn't so nice. Both of those seem to happen alot in winter, or at the start of the new trimester.
In all honesty I'm rather tired myself and feel that I'm not getting anywhere with this post. Maybe I do need to sleep.
I can fix this in the morning.
Goodnight
<3 Squeak
Monday, February 22, 2010
Prepare
Prepare for the new year
Prepare for a new job
Prepare to meet friends
Prepare for University
Prepare to Learn
Prepare for love
Prepare for tragedy
Prepare for God(?)
Life gets busier and busier each year. I used to think that high school was crazy, and then I went to university.
A teacher once told me that "High School was year long marathon, Uni was just an all out sprint"
I'm in my 3rd year now, and I'm still in awe about how busy everyone is at this time of the year. Its hard to make room for it all. Some things get left behind. Somethings we just can't do because there aren't enough hours in the day, seconds in a minute and days in a week.
What things get left out? The house work? New years resolutions? Study? Time with friends and family? Even God?
I have to admit I've left all those things out from time to time. Society likes us to be busy. It makes us look productive. Or so we think?
How do we prepare? We buy books, food, train tickets even new computers. But how do we prepare for God? For Easter? When his only son dies for what we did. When God's only son not only dies for what we did (and will do), but also rises from the dead. I mean that's a pretty big thing.
So is this what lent is for? Forty days to try and come to terms what happens. Easter isn't a Hollywood movie, where the director keeps you guessing the ending right up to the final seconds. No. This story was written 2000 years ago, the ending hasn't changed. Yet still to this day we can't come to terms with what this one event means. A complete stranger, who we've never met, basically dies for our freedom. Jesus did it willingly.
I was brought to church for the first time when I was 3 weeks old. I've been going ever since. So why would I need forty days to prepare for an event that happened 2000 years ago? I know what happens. But this is why I want to prepare. Because I know what happens, I know how to prepare. (Well I like to think that I know how to prepare).
Our lives are so busy with everything in them, that time just melts away. So I'm using these forty days to try and claim back some time for myself and to give some of it to God. After all, He's the reason why we are here. He makes all things new.
<3 Squeak
Prepare for a new job
Prepare to meet friends
Prepare for University
Prepare to Learn
Prepare for love
Prepare for tragedy
Prepare for God(?)
Life gets busier and busier each year. I used to think that high school was crazy, and then I went to university.
A teacher once told me that "High School was year long marathon, Uni was just an all out sprint"
I'm in my 3rd year now, and I'm still in awe about how busy everyone is at this time of the year. Its hard to make room for it all. Some things get left behind. Somethings we just can't do because there aren't enough hours in the day, seconds in a minute and days in a week.
What things get left out? The house work? New years resolutions? Study? Time with friends and family? Even God?
I have to admit I've left all those things out from time to time. Society likes us to be busy. It makes us look productive. Or so we think?
How do we prepare? We buy books, food, train tickets even new computers. But how do we prepare for God? For Easter? When his only son dies for what we did. When God's only son not only dies for what we did (and will do), but also rises from the dead. I mean that's a pretty big thing.
So is this what lent is for? Forty days to try and come to terms what happens. Easter isn't a Hollywood movie, where the director keeps you guessing the ending right up to the final seconds. No. This story was written 2000 years ago, the ending hasn't changed. Yet still to this day we can't come to terms with what this one event means. A complete stranger, who we've never met, basically dies for our freedom. Jesus did it willingly.
I was brought to church for the first time when I was 3 weeks old. I've been going ever since. So why would I need forty days to prepare for an event that happened 2000 years ago? I know what happens. But this is why I want to prepare. Because I know what happens, I know how to prepare. (Well I like to think that I know how to prepare).
Our lives are so busy with everything in them, that time just melts away. So I'm using these forty days to try and claim back some time for myself and to give some of it to God. After all, He's the reason why we are here. He makes all things new.
<3 Squeak
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Passion
Passion, its a funny thing.
Passion means different things to different people.
Passion can be shown in many different ways.
You could describe the Christian who stands on the street corner, holding his bible high in the air as passionate. He doesn't care about the strange looks, the people who cross the road to avoid him, or the the people who laugh in his feet. All he cares about is getting his message out there. If 100 people walk by and only one stops to listen, then he will consider his days work done.
You could describe the football fans as passionate. What ever the weather, whether their team is at the top of the leader board or being smashed to a pulp by the opposition, they are out there cheering as loudly as they can. They don't care that the rain is coming at them horizontally and there is gale force winds swirling around.. They don't care that booing the ref won't make him change their decision. What they do care about is making their presence felt. Making their team feel better and making the opposition, well feel like they're taking on a lot more.
What about the teacher? The teacher who stands in front of the class to make difference. The teacher who cares about their student's grades. Are they passionate?
The father who will stand by you, no matter what happens because you are "His little Princess". Does he have passion?
Now we come to the little old lady, she sits in the second row back from the front every Sunday at Church. She always sits in the same seat. She knows the service inside out, every word off by heart. The same routine every Sunday. She doesn't talk much after the service. She just collects her cup of tea and a plain biscuit, and when she's finished, walks home. She lives by herself, and the Sunday morning service is the only thing that she goes out for.
This little old lady isn't loud like the football fans, she doesn't hold a position of authority like the teacher, she doesn't have message like the street preacher, she isn't proud like the father. So, can she be passionate?
Passion for God, always feels different.
What sets this little old lady apart from the other examples is because her passion lies with God. The street preacher standing on the corner with his bible held high, may also believe in God, but his passion is getting his message out to the people. This lady's passion is to worship God, in the only way she knows how. By going to Church every Sunday, sitting in the same seat, and giving herself over.
Passion is like a fire. If one passionate person is in a crowd, the send off a spark, which then catches on. Soon there is a whole fire. Alight with passion. It takes just one person to start an applause. One person to start a chant at the football. Once one person starts its becomes easier for more people join in.
We all have something in our lives that we are passionate about. For some it is, the rugby or the football, for others it is watching their children grow. For me, I'm passionate about God. I'm passionate on the inside. I don't like to walk around waving my bible in the air. I don't want to set myself away from my peers. But I want God to know that I love Him. I get excited when people talk about what God has done for them. It rekindles my passion and I hope to do the same for others.
<3 Squeak
Passion means different things to different people.
Passion can be shown in many different ways.
You could describe the Christian who stands on the street corner, holding his bible high in the air as passionate. He doesn't care about the strange looks, the people who cross the road to avoid him, or the the people who laugh in his feet. All he cares about is getting his message out there. If 100 people walk by and only one stops to listen, then he will consider his days work done.
You could describe the football fans as passionate. What ever the weather, whether their team is at the top of the leader board or being smashed to a pulp by the opposition, they are out there cheering as loudly as they can. They don't care that the rain is coming at them horizontally and there is gale force winds swirling around.. They don't care that booing the ref won't make him change their decision. What they do care about is making their presence felt. Making their team feel better and making the opposition, well feel like they're taking on a lot more.
What about the teacher? The teacher who stands in front of the class to make difference. The teacher who cares about their student's grades. Are they passionate?
The father who will stand by you, no matter what happens because you are "His little Princess". Does he have passion?
Now we come to the little old lady, she sits in the second row back from the front every Sunday at Church. She always sits in the same seat. She knows the service inside out, every word off by heart. The same routine every Sunday. She doesn't talk much after the service. She just collects her cup of tea and a plain biscuit, and when she's finished, walks home. She lives by herself, and the Sunday morning service is the only thing that she goes out for.
This little old lady isn't loud like the football fans, she doesn't hold a position of authority like the teacher, she doesn't have message like the street preacher, she isn't proud like the father. So, can she be passionate?
Passion for God, always feels different.
What sets this little old lady apart from the other examples is because her passion lies with God. The street preacher standing on the corner with his bible held high, may also believe in God, but his passion is getting his message out to the people. This lady's passion is to worship God, in the only way she knows how. By going to Church every Sunday, sitting in the same seat, and giving herself over.
Passion is like a fire. If one passionate person is in a crowd, the send off a spark, which then catches on. Soon there is a whole fire. Alight with passion. It takes just one person to start an applause. One person to start a chant at the football. Once one person starts its becomes easier for more people join in.
We all have something in our lives that we are passionate about. For some it is, the rugby or the football, for others it is watching their children grow. For me, I'm passionate about God. I'm passionate on the inside. I don't like to walk around waving my bible in the air. I don't want to set myself away from my peers. But I want God to know that I love Him. I get excited when people talk about what God has done for them. It rekindles my passion and I hope to do the same for others.
<3 Squeak
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Fuzzy Brain
Normally I come into this with some sort of idea. Even if it's just a song in my head. For the last three days that has been enough to get me started. But sadly not tonight.
I don't really know what is wrong with me. Well I do, sorta. (Mum had a cold, and well decided to pass it on... Urgh). So I'm just sitting here with a fuzzy brain.
It's an odd feeling. I feel somewhat detached from the world. Kinda like my body has shut out everything else that doesn't centre around getting better. I have a strong craving for lemons and sleep right now. Everything else right now has been pushed to the back of my mind. Even writing this is hard. My head feels as though it has been stuffed with cotton wool.
I fear that if this is let to grow much longer, all I will do is repeat myself, and sound like an idiot infected with the plague. Did the plague affect mind fuction? (Maybe that's what I've got)
<3 Squeak
P.S. I hope to be better soon
I don't really know what is wrong with me. Well I do, sorta. (Mum had a cold, and well decided to pass it on... Urgh). So I'm just sitting here with a fuzzy brain.
It's an odd feeling. I feel somewhat detached from the world. Kinda like my body has shut out everything else that doesn't centre around getting better. I have a strong craving for lemons and sleep right now. Everything else right now has been pushed to the back of my mind. Even writing this is hard. My head feels as though it has been stuffed with cotton wool.
I fear that if this is let to grow much longer, all I will do is repeat myself, and sound like an idiot infected with the plague. Did the plague affect mind fuction? (Maybe that's what I've got)
<3 Squeak
P.S. I hope to be better soon
Friday, February 19, 2010
Its a new day
"Here I am, This is me
There's no where on earth I'd rather be..."
"It's a new world, its a new start.
It's alive with the beating of young hearts,
Its a new day, Its a new plan
I've been waiting for you,
Here I am"
Its me again.
I felt bad complaining about the weather last night. I mean I did make a conscious effort to remember that the rain was only temporary, but still. When you are cold and wet, well...
God did provide. Today was lovely and sunny and warm. The total opposite to what yesterday was. So I was right, God did stop the rain.
I apologise, for the lyrics at the top of the post. I'm not stuck in the year 2000. But the weather today was such a contrast. I managed to get so much washing done, it was great. And for those of you, who remember this song, well it sums up how I feel today pretty well.
You feel so much more optimistic when the weather is warm and the sun is shining. Its like you are a different person.
So here I am
Felling good about today, and looking forward to tomorrow. Thank you God.
<3 Squeak
P.S. Song lyrics Here I Am - Bryan Adams
There's no where on earth I'd rather be..."
"It's a new world, its a new start.
It's alive with the beating of young hearts,
Its a new day, Its a new plan
I've been waiting for you,
Here I am"
Its me again.
I felt bad complaining about the weather last night. I mean I did make a conscious effort to remember that the rain was only temporary, but still. When you are cold and wet, well...
God did provide. Today was lovely and sunny and warm. The total opposite to what yesterday was. So I was right, God did stop the rain.
I apologise, for the lyrics at the top of the post. I'm not stuck in the year 2000. But the weather today was such a contrast. I managed to get so much washing done, it was great. And for those of you, who remember this song, well it sums up how I feel today pretty well.
You feel so much more optimistic when the weather is warm and the sun is shining. Its like you are a different person.
So here I am
Felling good about today, and looking forward to tomorrow. Thank you God.
<3 Squeak
P.S. Song lyrics Here I Am - Bryan Adams
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