A picture of pain - the drought in my own backyard

Look at the birds

Where have I been all this time? Put simply, I've been off running a kids holiday program. But that's a whole other post...

What else has been happening? Heaps. But one thing I've been re-learning (or reinforcing?) this week is to do with just trusting God to provide my needs. I was a bit worried because I wasn't getting a lot of work, and the money was running low... but I believe that if God calls me to do something, then he'll provide the finances I need to do it. Anyway, I was encouraged today because work rang me at 6am. This was an answer to my prayers of the night before. And believe me, for once it was not a struggle to get out of bed for work.

One thing I'll add: don't sit there and think "Well, it's all right for her, she's got a job... she doesn't know what I go through". Well, maybe I don't. But I do know what it's like to do it tough. Our family's relied on social security for just about ten years, we're a single parent family, and I've been a student for what feels like forever. So I know what it's like to shop in the 'reduced to clear' section of the supermarket, and to enjoy a night out as a 5-times a year luxury. Not that I'm complaining, of course: In fact, I'm thankful that I've gone through those times, because it's made me much more thankful for what I have, and has probably improved my money-management skills.

A group of birds feed on someone's leftover Maccas meal.

Birds don't stress about where their next meal's coming from: They know that somehow, somewhere, someone will leave something behind for them. Perhaps we could learn a thing or two from these creatures...

So now that we've cleared that up, I encourage you the reader to reflect on how you respond when you get hit hard in the back pocket, so to speak. Have you discovered the incredible secret of trusting God to provide your needs when the going gets tough? Or do you instantly break out in sweat and acne? I think it's amazing that God says we don't need to worry for those things, just to trust him to provide. And believe me, or at least believe God's promises: He really does prove himself faithful.

P.S. To all you out there who are struggling, to those of you who battle doubt and fear about the future, my heart goes out to you. I know the place you're in - and sometimes I end up there myself. Just be assured that God understands your situation, and he cares. He just calls you to trust him, that's all; He'll deal with the rest.

Happy New Year

I welcomed the arrival of 2007 quietly this year. The night before I'd gotten pretty much no sleep, so I just relaxed, cleaned my bedroom and watched the fireworks on TV, as well as the Sound of Music, into the early hours of the morning. When I finally went to bed, I couldn't sleep (?) so I finally drifted off some time around 3am to the sound of classical piano and soft rain.

The fireworks in Sydney were pretty good this year - compared to other years I remember. Flashes of flame and colour burst from not only the Syndey Harbour bridge, but also from high-rise buildings. These were accompanied by glittering camera flashes coming from the crowd, which could be seen from the air. Ahhh... Maybe I'll have to actually go there one year.

What did you do for new year's eve? Do you do the same thing every year, or do you mix it up from year to year?

One thing a lot of us do is make new year's resolutions. This is mine: (it comes from a song by one of my favourite bands... DCTalk)

To see Him more clearly

To love Him more dearly

To follow Him more nearly...

Day by day.

And I do intend to keep this one. I'm thankful for the year that was past - I thank God it was a victorious one in many ways, a year of breaking through, a year of taking new ground. But this is a new year: The past is past - both good parts and bad parts are all in the past. This is a fresh start - a new chance to make a difference. What are you going to do this year, to change the world?