Heels and Handbags part 2

Heels & Handbags - Part two. I needed to get my WOF its over due and nomally I would go to VTNZ or Suredrive although a tad bit more expensive, they're not a garage outfit that charges $20 for a WOF then find a 101 things to fix before they pass you. I had overspent this past week so sadly I went to the $20 outfit. Work clothes heels, handbag and to top that off a laptop.  Yep I just so look the part for a potential ripoff. They said they were happy to look at it but I will be waiting 30mins. After 30mins the guy comes in maam, your car is done and I'll pass you. Yay thank you Jesus.The guy asks for me to fill in my forms and notes a possible problem that I may need to fix in the future. Just before I leave he asks, Is this your number? I should have said no... his reply an the pièce de résistance, can I call you sometime???

Great now I might have to go back to VTNZ for the real check!!!

Heels and Handbags part 1

If you're a friend on facebook you would've read this one already, I've decided to put these stories on blog...

LOL...mall is 2mins from work so I go from time to time, and becos I hate heels I tend to change shoes and just carry cash in my jacket pocket. Today had my heels on and a hand bag. I was bombarded by every middle of the Isle stall holder to try, use or buy their products, note to self, keep the ugg boots and jandals gig going. The difference heels and a bag make....AND your probably wondering I'm not a lady and your probably right? But I'm every bit a real woman, go the jandals & ugg boots LOL!

I run to YOU

Lady Antebellum - I Run To You
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Discovered this country cross-over group when I walked into my friends office and since then I've not stopped listening to them.  I love this song because it easily describes God.  To be honest with you it could only be God..."Your loves the only truth".  That could only be God aye!

The healing of Zoe

One story to mention the healing of little Zoe, diagnosed with a problem hip which meant that her legs were uneven.  The doctors said that she will need corrective surgery.  We prayed for her as a church family on the Sunday.  The surgery was to take place the following Tuesday 3rd of August 2010.

They went in for surgery and the nurses came out with Zoe, questions about when her hip would be in a cast the nurses said there would be no operation.  The doctors proceeded to tell Monique that the operation wasn't needed...She was healed yay.

The Doctor of all Doctors will heal her JESUS...now waiting on everyone else, Ellen, Robbie, the Philippino man Julian, Ellen Wehi, Sallys son, and others in our homegroup.

by his stripes we are healed...ask and you shall receive...JESUS.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Um...I'm at a loss for a pic for this next story will find something.  I do voluntary work with a population organization  and is a new thing for me well not really I have been working with them on various projects for the past 5 years.  My dad was not a huge fan of this but I just couldn't let go.  Its not that I want to be a hero of sorts not in the least, I would be crushed and have been.  Its just that I want to work with my community to their benefit and to raise the level of our current status in New Zealand (as its not good) and to increase a sense of who we are (our identity) especially with the young.  Most importantly I want my people, Gods people to know Him and be saved in Christ Jesus.

Over the past few weeks but especially during Equipped I was encouraged in working with this group and in doing so being partnered with the church and individuals.  In today's service 18th of July.  I was encouraged to "become all things to all men so that by doing so by all possible means I might save some" 1 Cor 9:22... I'm blessed as my Job allows me to do just that to connect with a lot of people and organizations and in this past year God has used me to reach people for Him, I can't tell you how many times and in different ways, He does this.  By just being there in the world God will use that which is His to reach people, that are His.

Going back to the organization, I am a member of the management committee and there are 9 of us.  We sit under the trust leaders of our community there the 13 leaders of the groups that are represented in New Zealand, either by democratic process or by birthright.  I joined the management committee as I am passionate about getting things done and leading initatives for the people.

Two weeks ago I get a call from a business man to meet! we meet and I tell him about the Trust and our projects, he is keen to know more and to meet with our team, I arrange for a meeting.  Understanding that through this man will be open doors to funds and networks I talk to our team about a meeting and for us to prepare.  Prepare a solid presentation and "and an offer he can't refuse" yes borrowed that from the godfather but not with the same understanding.  I know our team is capable has integrity and could be trusted. 

We prepare, on a Monday before our meeting on Wednesday of that week, I get a call from this man, he rings to say he may have some funding for us, but is keen to meet the team.  By this time I am praying and am saying to the team "OK guys this has to be polished", and because of recent developments "I need budget proposals."

We meet with the man and he is late and in a bad mood...not a good sign, we are prayed up, and before we start one of the team asks if we could pray.  This man on our team is a Christian .  Note the business man is not a Christian.  The meeting works out well he is impressed with our group and thinks the make-up of our team is to our benefit.  He was encouraged by our tenacity, vigour and go-getter attitude that he said to us..."so what do you need" giving us some business tips and advise he gives us funding, and because I like to push the boundaries I ask for more and he goes "I will pay for it".  Thank you Jesus.

So with much joy and trepidation (as this means a lot of work) we end our meeting and we head off to dinner but the business man has to leave so could not join us. He leaves and we are sitting around  the table lost for words WE WERE LOST FOR WORDS from a team that always has so much to say!!!

In the silence a team member goes this is God, this could only come from the hand of God,  all agree and some start fighting tears, and we talk about how God strategically placed us and how we have finally come together with the same, heart and mind.  Where there is unity God commands a blessing.  We are blessed.  Not everyone in the team is saved but we know that we will do things where we are unified and where God is acknowledged and known.  In time I believe we will all be saved and likewise the people we serve.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (New International Version)

19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

It has been a while and there is so much I would like to talk about but that will wait for a bit .  I  do need to share quickly a number of things that God has done by his grace and not that I deserve it but I know that His grace is poured out to us because he is a God of grace, and it is not on merit or that we plead or whip ourselves in shape for His grace to be poured out.  He does so because He is grace. Out of who He is He manifests Himself, He is a God of Grace.  I'm am so undeserving and inspite of that he still gives, you have got to love Him aye!

Anyway during one of the Equip sessions there was a brief mention of tithe and just lack in our lives regarding finances, in the end of that session a prayer was given that God would out pour of himself to us.  Well the next day to be exact, I get a call from IRD, they ring to say that if I was executor of my mum and dads estate if I knew their entitlements which I did as mum kept good records I said yes and thought well this is a waste of my time as I knew all about what he had said and had done everything.  He was happy to hear, but he said "the real reason I'm calling is that your dad has credit owing to him and we need to get this to you as executor".  WOW huh? now this I was not expecting and I would not have known about this as this was my dads account and no one except for IRD and dad would have known, but because he had passed it now becomes shared knowledge to his estate, that being me and my brothers and sisters.

So he goes through some documentation process and there you have it am blessed.  Out of who He is He pours out His mercy and many graces for He is a God of Grace.

Detour

I have come to despise this sign as I travel home, I live in Avondale and the fastest way to get home is on the South/Western motorway, formerly known as the Mangere motorway.  As everyone in Auckland would know the motorways are being upgraded, extended, transformed to tend to our  fledgling transport system. This means from time to time detour signs are put up on the motorway so that work could be done.  This always happens when I'm on my way home be it from work or church. 

Despite living in Auckland all my life, I could honestly say I rarely ventured out of South Auckland unless I really needed to (uni, work, friends), so the back streets of West and Central Auckland are not familiar to me. My first Detour I thought was great, a chance for me to do a central tiki tour to enable me to come up with different routes to get home if ever I was lost. 

That was probably my only pleasant experience, after a while I just loathed the signs, I often ignored the detour routes and just went on instinct.  I would always be amazed at how I would take a turn into a street on instinct believing it will lead me to a path familiar to me to get home, 10/10 it did.  Then last Sunday I noticed yet another detour this time taking the hillsborough off ramp I hadn't taken this detour before and like other times before I didn't follow the route.  Bad idea...I soon realised I was venturing further west than intended, knowing this my thought was to identify a main street that would head back to central Auckland.  I found one and sure enough it took me home.

When I came to a red light it dawned on me that maybe God was talking to me.  I often praise and thank Him for guiding me but this time I thought you are talking to me and have been talking to me through every detour I've faced.  I cried as I remembered detours in my life be it by my own making or through events beyond my control and through it He was leading me home.  The gut instinct was not me but Him. 

I do recognise that God is leading me back home, and am currently at a point in life where I know I've gone off the familiar path to unknown territory and desperately seeking God to take me to the path that leads home.  I will say the road where He leads is often a pleasant one, filled with peace and direction. 

Gotta Love Soccer Pt 2 - God loves people more than anything.

I had attended the launch of the programme that won sponsorship.  I am 30mins early and sit in my car, a verse from proverbs comes to mind as a matter of fact it had been with me all day.  I pray in my car and ask God what does this mean do you want me to speak on this, I havent been asked to speak at this event Lord.  The word comes to mind and I know God wants me to speak on this, so I txt around to the church family for the exact reference and tell them I've been asked to speak at this event and praise God I receive the reference. In the dark I read the reference and pray, when I finish its 6:30pm and the launch is due to start.

It was a great event I loved it but thought um God do you want me to ask the organisers to speak???.  There was no peace in that I just sat with the other VIPs apparently I was one but had no idea.  The actual speakers got to speak and I thought I probably wasn't hearing from God.  The formalities had ended and I got to mix and mingle with the people and took photos it was a great night.  I did get to speak to the leaders and encourage them with the gospel, but I knew in my heart I was to speak to the whole group.

I got to watch some great entertainment  and the event was coming to a close and the president of the association from the front asks if I would like to speak to the gathering OH MY GOSH! the invitation was given to me, God you are amazing. Prayed up and ready.  I share from the word.

I had applied the word God gave me to reminded the youth leaders of the day they handed in the proposal and how we laid hands on the proposal despite how awkward it was for them but they did this in faith, I reminded them of the prayer that was said.  As I share the youth leader who lead and wrote the proposal starts to cry the room of close to 150 is silent.  God reminded this group that Jesus had come through for them because of the fact that they trusted in him that day.  He let them know about the love of Christ and how it is He that will continue to lead them through good and bad if they chose that day to follow him.  The atmosphere had changed the silence was deafening thank you Jesus!  I finish by reading that scripture by this time a number of the leaders and adults are crying.  This forces the president to end the programme in a prayer and the event was over.

The presidents wife is now talking to me about what I said and shares with me about the youth and the organisation and how I could help them out.  Church services are at 3:00pm I was welcome to attend (open door).  A great time of sharing takes place...

I am about to leave a lady from across the room, says I have been sharing the gospel with this group could I please pray for her and the youth I said yes lets pray.  The prayer is finished her grand daugther is standing next to us, she was the one that first cried that silenced the room.  Her grandmother says do you understand what was said tonight she said yes.  Do you want to know Jesus...she said YES! Holding my tears we pray.  I encouraged this young lady! I am praying for her because the leadership potential in this young lady is amazing! Lord you are tooo good you are faithful to the Gospel.

I thank God for opportunity and I thank God for salvation.  You love people more than anything.

Lost and FOUND

LOST was a world wide phenomenon and the only reason I bring attention to it is due to my friends addiction to the programme. A week after its conclusion discussions still abound, I even had one friend say due to his addiction I would need a box of tissues and a couch for him??? 

I have not seen a single episode and my sister was an avid fan until life caught up with her.  You will understand later as to why I don't watch it, but lets talk about LOST and how appropriately titled it is.

The reason why the programme took off despite costing so much to produce was due to the writers ability to draw interest in the lives and surroundings of the characters.  Further to that like every other show they kept the carrot dangling each week, the carrot is what I need to explain here.  The writers whether they knew this or not played on humanity's desire to know the meaning of life and life after death.  The Characters were named after philosophers, scientist and authors. Religious ideologies and sects were explored, unexplained creatures, the supernatural, dreams, visions, crossovers, reoccurring numbers and healings all featured...now before the Christians fall to sleep lols, the later of the list is still considered to be unnatural by world standards.

LOST unobtrusively revealed to the world several view points, both scientifically and philosophically. They made an attempt to unravel world religions and belief systems, at the end of the day you were left to determine your own answer that could inevitably leave you LOST.

I watched some of my friends do high 5s as they understood concepts/themes some weeks and other weeks debate on themes that didn't fit into their own beliefs.  At first I thought what a bunch of dorks and geeks, but then thought this is an "opportunity". The Christian view on LOST is very weak, only one character is named after a Christian and although he is a Christian he is more famous for his literary works.  Only intelligent minds and Christians would have understood the character name and who CS Lewis believed in.

LOST had provided for me the view that Christianity sits along side every other religious view.  In the eyes of the world it is one of many.  But we who believe in Christ Jesus know this not to be.  Jesus is the truth, He is the life, He is the Way.

The gospel of the Way the Truth and the Life JESUS, is to be revealed through the priesthood of all believers and then the world will separate us from the many and the Way will be revealed to the masses of the LOST.

Jesus in me is the WAY.  I wish to expand on this more and will do so, I've got to go now or I'll miss prayer meeting lols...please stay tuned for the next chapter of FOUND.

Gotta Love Soccer!

A few months ago I took part in the Pacific Youth & Sports conference 2010, this conference was held in New Zealand for the first time, hosting over 1000 youth delegates from across the pacific.

The experience changed my view of soccer, the event is sponsored largely by FIFA and the aim of the conference is to develop sport in the region and through sports, support leadership and sustainable programmes in the Pacific and beyond. What people seldom know about FIFA is that aside from overseeing the biggest sporting event in the world, and having the biggest participation in its sport Soccer, FIFA sponsors a whole range of activities across the world. These activities address the specific needs of that particular region. I watched a video clip that highlighted how soccer bridged the cultural, religious and ethnic divide in Israel and its neighbouring countries. Almost cried too, typical aye.

So I spent a week with young people across the Pacific learning about their goals and aspirations for themselves and their countries truly, truly inspiring. Note soccer not rugby is the biggest sport played in the Pacific.

Being in New Zealand I spent most of my time with the Kiwi contingency, I wanted to hang out with the New Caledonians and the Tahitians because of the French! interestingly the event like the Olympics was spoken in two languages both English and French very kool, and at other events they have Spanish for the Easter Islanders.

The afternoon sessions youth met in their own working groups, each group had to develop a programme proposal that would support sport and make a positive change in their countries. On the last day each group had to present their proposal in front of the delegation, further to that the government ministers of sport from the various countries were in attendance. The best of the proposals won sponsorship from FIFA.

The day the written proposals were was due I had the priviledge to sit with the New Zealand delegation and go over their proposal. My big, big boss also sat in some of the discussions. She and I were really impressed with the proposals.

The proposals were due before dinner, the proposal that both my boss and I were fond of was not finished and in a panic the team came to me seeking support. In 20mins I looked at the proposal and gave some pointers and suggestions. When it was done I said to the the team and leader, "lets pray for the proposal, put your hand on the proposal and we will pray". I knew they would be shocked at doing this but I felt it had to be done. The adult leaders of this group had arrived did the same stopped and stood to pray, the 300 or so that were sitting around us saw us pray too. They probably all felt we needed it because our proposal was the last, from the team with the youngest members.

The leader handed in the proposal and we went to have dinner luckily there was still food left lols we were the last to eat. I thank God for the opportunity to be the last as I got to share with the leader that God need to be included in the process.

WELL...today I receive an invitation from this group to attend the launch of their programme they won sponsorship!!! I also received a personal invitation from the leader of their organisation ensuring I attend.

THANK YOU JESUS...I pray the team remembered that day despite how awkward we looked JESUS saw, heard, and responded. Thank you Jesus.

Through the eyes of a lense...

I was inspired tonight regarding what and how I could share the gospel in the everyday things I do. The one thing though that I neglected to share and obviously didn't consider were my personal hobbies. Its funny because the term hobby doesn't equate with me. I think of hobbies as something I'm committed to and sadly the hobbies I do have I don't consider them to be for that fact.


My interest in photography started over 10 years ago. I was in Sydney Australia, Kings Cross to be exact, with a friend. Being aware of the "seedy" reputation that the Cross had I was somewhat disappointed that I didn't see anything. It was 11pm and I was walking around taking in my surroundings, it was "early" for me to see anything so I thought.

I took a seat by the road side I don't know why but it stilled me enough to SEE Kings Cross. Within 15 mins I saw pimps and dealers, prostitutes and thugs. I saw a guy just steal in front of me. The sad thing also and unknown to him I saw my friend trying to cut a deal with some guy.

The image that stayed with me that night however was that of a prostitute, (I know so cliche) but her face has been engraved in my soul forever. If there ever was an image that captured for me the lost that was it. She had been crying and was still crying her makeup was smudged, she was beautiful but destroyed. Despite my attempts to talk to her she was far gone.

I didn't take a picture of her but my soul did, that image changed how I see people, I know it sounds rather "airy" but I want to see people. Photos don't lie especially random shots of people that capture emotion and feelings. That's what I want to shoot and expose, particularly if it could make a change. If shots of the lost would trigger the us to act, then I want to take those. If they be shots of victory that stir encouragement then I want to catch them. If its joy the same.

I have done "creation shots" and they serve to encourage me of how great our God is, how marvelous His works are. He himself said "that it was good". But the greatest of His works, His children in His image, he lovingly looks on with a wretched heart, grieved that we are apart from him separated and lost. That image stays with Him and causes Him to act as He does. I want to do the same through a lense.

I was totally inspired by homegroup tonight in using everything and all things that God gives and inspires us to do to share the gospel. God is amazing.