Stripped

This no internet at home thing has been a major test for me. Do you realize how much we rely on the internet? I mean really. Try going a week, a few days, or even just a day without it. It’s like I’ve been stripped of everything that is familiar to me: my parents, my sisters, my closest friends, as well as everyone I know at church, work, and school; the students in the youth group, and the kids that I babysit… I would see them every week and/or they all used to be easily contacted through the internet or a simple text message/phone call that doesn’t cost a week’s worth of budget haha. That’s been one of the hardest things in my life thus far: the inability to talk to my family at my convenience.

So, I’m in an unfamiliar place, with hundreds of new faces, a different culture, experiencing new things, and no one here knows me as me, but Jesus. I liked to think before that I found my identity in Christ, but unfortunately I can see now that I found my identity more so in my music, my jeep (oh how I miss that piece of junk), my family, my friends, the way people perceive me on facebook, my room and personal style, my church, my talents, my accomplishments, even in the connections I’ve made and the height on the “ladder” on which I’ve started to climb. Chris Hill, a renowned speaker who works alongside T.D. Jakes, came to Hillsong a few weeks ago and reminded us that sometimes you have to be completely stripped of your old ways in order to get ready for the new blessings and plan for your life that God has prepared. But during the in-between time, you feel uncomfortable and naked. Welp, that’s where I am…

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience…And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” –Colossians 3:12, 14

Considering the fact that yesterday was Valentine's Day, I especially want to remind everyone to put on love. One of the mottos that is at the heart of Hillsong Church is, "Love God, Love life, Love people."

I am so ready to be clothed!

Just a side note: We got our internet on the same day that my new niece, Lydia, was born--which is such a God thing because I really wished that I could be there, but at least I was able to see pictures of her right away!

No Worries!

I’ve tried many times to complete this blogpost, but for some reason I can’t seem to focus on finishing the task. Perhaps it’s because the internet company is being SLOW and I don’t have it at my house yet and I feel as though even if I do write it, it’s going to be even more of a task to actually post it; or because it’s difficult around here to have any sort of alone time every once in awhile (I totally took those times for granted at home). Maybe it’s just because every time I sit down to explain my thoughts, I keep adding more to the list of content that I want to include and I give up… Well, here’s the first of my lessons learned:

<---When I walked home from school today, it randomly hit me that I am currently residing in Sydney, Australia-- and I couldn’t stop smiling! I guess it’s because I’ve been so focused on meeting new people, getting everything in my life in order, starting school, getting familiar with the church and the area, organizing the house, making sure I have food…that I forgot to stop and think about what an amazing experience God is allowing me to live out right now. :) A common phrase heard here is “no worries.” People say it all the time, especially in response to “Thank you” or, “I’m sorry.” I like it!

“So, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” –Matthew 6:31-34

I was pulling weeds this afternoon, preparing for our house inspection on Wednesday, and getting frustrated that because it’s been so flipping hot, everything is dead in our backyard. A couple hours later, it started raining. It didn’t rain for long, but I was so thankful for the change in weather. Oh my gosh, am I ever thankful to sit on my bed and have a cool breeze blowing in the window rather than sweating to death cuz it’s too expensive to have the AC running all the time… God knows what we need--No worries!