Hello everyone! Here are some photos to share from NZ :)












This is a pic of us outside Circus Circus which is a cool cafe along Mt Eden Road.




Mocha Latte - finally! @ Escape Cafe. Overrated by Aaron and Keith I reckon.

Protective Pain

Is pain always bad?

Are limits always a loss?

Pursuing happiness seem to be the goal of life. A life of least pain may be the goal of some.

But God is interested in our character. He inflicts pain - so that we are humbled and grow wise. He disciplines and restricts what we want (even those that seem reasonable to own) - so as to protect us from who we will BECOME, IF we have our desires gratified.

Imagine:

Pain that actually protects?

Limitations that are actually shields from unknown danger?

I believe that is just how good God is. He withholds, so as to ultimately give us the best.

"Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' OR I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God." Proverbs 30:8

May He grant us the wisdom to resonate with this - and here's the tough part - in all circumstances!

Thoughts on a recent incident.

Grappling. Struggling.

It’s coming right back again.

The sin and all the pain.

Shame. Guilt. Regret. Sin.

I’m terribly unclean!

Unwanted? Unsurprised.

I battle. I retaliate.

Forgeting the past, straining ahead.

Surely there’s more to these errors?

Yet I’m cleansed. Entirely renewed.

To the point of complete peace!

I cannot explain this.

He still hurts. The pain still burns.

“Consequences suck!” -

For the first time, I learn.

A silly choice. A foolish act.

Little did I expect;

I’m not the only one involved.

Yet he accepts. Yet he forgives.

What else can I say?

‘Tis a good and perfect gift!

When He defends, when He acts,

Amazed, I watch in wonder

He’s better than all lawyers!

In retrospect, as I reflect

I cannot help but conclude:

my God is very good.

Very, very good.

Thank You Jesus.

Paktorlogy

Yo world! Meet my best friend Dr. Aaron Lau!

I'm certainly learning this: That there's no greater blessing than being in a relationship with Christ in the centre.

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Unprecedented excitement

I don't think I've ever been this excited in my life.

Couldn't sleep much, couldn't eat much.

Don't think I've ever imagined any scenario more times than this one.

And it's almost an hour away!!

I'm walking in His blessing!

And that's one thing I really, really, really, really can't deny.

I'm absolutely amazed.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

What is your response when you are being given, literally GIVEN, FREE OF CHARGE, not only a good gift, but a PERFECT one?

It's exactly the one you're asking for - wait. It's even better than what you've been asking for!

I think I really have to say, for the first time I'm encountering and believing more than ever before, that the God I serve is a God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. (Eph 3:20)

Wow. Lord. What can I do, except that every blessing You pour out, I turn back to praise!!!

Speech

Was just reading another parenting book - Leading Teens to Freedom in Christ by Neil Anderson and Rich Miller. Some stuff struck me afresh.

I came across a verse I once held dear, and have gradually forgotten:

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification [building up] according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Eph 4:29

The next verse tells us the Spirit of God is grieved when we use our tongues to tear down.

Reckless words do not wreck less, they wreck more.

Wow.

What an important reminder.

I recently watched a movie which uses the F word like, every 2 minutes. Was getting disturbed, and wondered to myself, will I get unknowingly influenced, and could I possibly start using this word too?

Now that the Lord has answered my question by showing me this verse, I'm gonna make the choice - to not LET any unwholesome word PROCEED from my mouth.

And He reaffirmed from Proverbs 4:24 - Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

May the words of my mouth serve to build up only, and never tear down! May this be so for every student I teach!

I've just moved !

OH MY GOODNESS.

You mean you're still checking my blog to see if I'll update? :)

Anyways, I've moved to http://fedbyravens.photoblog.com

Enjoy the photos!

Regards,
Sandy Beach