Explaination

So its been a really long time since I posted anything on here and there is a few reasons for this... 1.  I haven't been doing my devotions as regularly as I should and 2. When I have done them I haven't been bothered blogging... but to once again give myself some accountability, I have decided that even if I don't discuss the devo I will at least post the bible verse... so that you know, and I know I have done it...  So there you go, thats the new plan, stay posted.

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Community

Purity of Mind: Day 21 - Communal Thinking

Acts 20:32
I'm turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.

One thing I am really glad about is the fact that God made us to want to live in community.  I am a social kind of person, I don't really like being by myself for long periods of time, so moving up here, out of a fairly big family to just me has been really hard.  One thing I have been really grateful for is my new cell group up here and the Salvo's in Castlemaine too.  Without them, I think I would have struggled a lot more and perhaps even thrown in towel, but I think they fact that they have constantly welcomed me, supported me, loved me and shown an interest in me has made more difference than they will ever know.  

This week at my cell group, we looked at the forth week of a Salvation Army series called 'Salvo's out there' and the main theme was 'a fair go for all'.  I was really challenged about whether or not I do this, not just for the poor and needy but for everyone, every race, every gender, every age, every sexuality, every disease...do I give them all a fair go by showing them God's love?  By including them in my community and giving them respect and dignity...  Probably not always, but I guess its something that I am working on...something that I will probably never stop working on.  

God designed us to live in community, with him and with others.... all the time.

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Dad

Purity of Mind: Day 20 - Thinking Like a Child

Ephesians 5:1-2
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behaviour from their parents.  Mostly what God does is love you.  Keep company with him and learn a life of love.  Observe how Christ loved us.  His love was not cautious but extravagant.  He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us.  Love like that. 

So since I have moved out of home and Dad has moved back from China we have been getting closer and closer, its actually been really nice.  I have always known that Dad loved me, and I never really doubted it, but I think that over the last little while I have seen his love more than normal.  I have been able to chat to him about whats happening in my life, what I want to do, who I want to do life with etc.  But I have also been able to seek his advice.  Most recently while I have been car shopping, Dad has shown his love by helping me research and investigate everything I needed to know to chose the right car and then how to work my money so that I can pay for it.  Its been super helpful, because if it were left up to me I think I would still be looking, not because of lack of trying, but just lack of knowledge on where to look and how to work it all out.  The thing is Dad has gone out of his way to help me out and its been really nice.  Our newishly found good verbal relationship has also allowed me to learn more about my Dad.  The thing is that the more I get to know of him, the more amazing I think he is.  I really loved my Dad before, but I am only just starting to understand what an amazing person he actually is.  

I think that this is whats its supposed to be like with God...he is my heavenly father, and I need to take the next step with my relationship with him too.  Go from this, taken for granted love, to one that reveals more and more each time we talk.  One that helps me to see what I am aspiring to.  One that actually sees me experience God the Dad like I am supposed to. 

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