Slacker Belinda and the home to come

Sorry I've been such a slacker with Blogging.

Back at College, there is much to do, and at the moment I can only really devote myself to two forms of writing at the time. At the moment Doctrine Assignment and fiction writing is my priority. But I will try to make sure I still writer here at least once a week-maybe more if you are lucky :)

This week has been a wonderful week of learning. I love doctrine. I'm so used to being confused and secretly ashamed of complicated doctrines like the Trinity or the fact that Jesus was fully God and fully Man. But something I've been reminded of has been that these aren't bad things, or even unexpected things. These are the realities of serving such a great God, so beyond anything we could find on earth. We try to find examples in our world to represent the trinity (eggs, water...I'm sure you could add many more). But nothing quite matches the intricacies and perfection of the glorious trinity. We pull apart how it works that Jesus is both God and man, and while we learn from the process, we ultimately end by bowing at his feet. This week has been a week where I have constantly been turning to Romans 11:33-36

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgements,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become his counselor?
Who has ever given to God,
That God should repay him?
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever!
Amen

Its also been a time of missing Melbourne, but being reminded that Melbourne, earth is not my home. Heaven is my home. I will serve God so much better if I come to truly acknowledge that.
Anyway, that's my thoughts again for the week.
lots of love,
B

Update on the health kick

Just an update on my health kick.


Practically speaking it is going well. I'm being pretty good, sticking to healthy meals and snacks- not pigging out when I go out to a restaurant. I've lost a few kilos.


Its also been quite an important personal step. I've always been a comfort eater, I love food, and I had a sneaky suspicious that I could never truely be self controled with food. So its nice to know that I can. I know it is God helping me to do it and I am so thankful to him for his help.


But it also has been really, really annoying.


It's horrible to see so much good food and not eat it- particularly at College where meals are provided for us so there is always healthy and unhealthy options. When I walked past the mini-sticky-date puddings at Tuesday dinner at college I wanted to scream.


I'm horribly self-righteous about it- mixing my utter frustration with self congratulation. Almost every time I deny myself something I want to run over to Tim and cry out "look at me, look at me. Look what I didn't eat!"


And one of the worst things is that these changes in diet are intended to be semi-permenant so I am saying goodbye (except for occasional splurges) to chips, pizza, and cheesecake. I hadn't realised how much I loved them until they were gone from my now vegie/fruit/legume filled life.


Well, after that rant I feel better. Afterall, all over the world there are people who eat to live rather than living to eat.
And God has lavished on me not only bread to eat, but the bread of life- and those who eat of it will never be hungry.

Puts everything into perspective doesn't it?

First day back

Oh its nice to be back.

I didn't think it would be. I'm still feeling a little down about leaving Melbourne and the previous week was so tiring that what seemed most appropriate to my mood was another holiday- not the beginning of a very full semester. But it was nice to be back.

I was excited to see the people I'd been looking forward to seeing. But there were many people who hadn't crossed my mind, and I had some really lovely "aha" moments of realising how much I appreciated them.

And studying? Well this week is going to be a busy week of work, and I realise it will take a while to get back into the lecture mindset (it was a morning of constantly telling myself- concentrate, concentrate!). But it is very very nice to sit down and listen to someone talking through the Bible in details, and I don't regret for a minute the relaxed manner of my break, even if it means more work now.

Challenge of the day from my classes? Do I have a living hope (from 1 Peter)? Do I live in a hopeful manner? Does the home of my inheritance that doesn't spoil or fade influence my heart. Definately my theology, mostly my decisions. But my heart? It did today. I pray it continues to.
B

Kids Club

Just wanted to give a quick thanks and an update on how kids club went.
It was great!

God was very kind and we had a great, tiring, rewarding time. It was particularly great for Tim who had never been involved in that kind of thing before, and was inspired and encouraged by the experience. We particularly enjoying writing and performing puppet plays each day! Its amazing how a kid will listen to a rag doll with a hand stuck up its back much more readily than to a grown up!

And the kids got to learn about how great our God is. So thanks for all of you who prayed. Please keep praying for the kids that came along that they and their households might come to know God. And pray for me as I am about to become a Sunday school teacher of the 3 to 5 year olds at our church. So excited (as you can imagine)!
love B

Time in Melbourne

So sorry I haven't post much. I've been on holidays!

I love being in Melbourne. I enjoy Sydney but I enjoy it because I am there for a purpose. I love Melbourne...not because of what I can do there but simply because its home.

But there are things that I love to do in Melbourne.

I love the walks around the paddocks in the Basin, or the beautiful houses and shops of Camberwell

I love entering the Grant house to the enthusiasm of Pippen the dog and the semi-polite indifference of Celeste the cat.

I love when the Griffith cousins come over and all the Griffith grandchildren (and attachments) play crazy games!

I love playing video games with my brother-in-laws assistance (he's so much more patient with my inability to fight virtual battles that my husband ;)

I love bumming in front of Foxtel trying to find the next episode of the Gilmore girls.

I love coffees and prayers with other chicks

I love dinner and deep conversations with Melbourne couple friends.

I love seeing how much bigger babies grow when you don't see them for three months (although thats a bit sad too)

I love going back to church and the looks on everyones faces who didn't know we were coming

This second time, coming back was harder than the first. The musty smell of the hospital was frustrating more than welcoming, and I feel a bit be-grudging that the weather is so much more beautiful here. But we are here for a purpose and its nice to trust a God who can get us through difficulties such as being away from so many people we love.

Tomorrow we start running kids club at church. It should be crazy and busy. But how cool is this- we have a room set up which is the firey furnace from the story in the book of Daniel with a...real smoke machine! How awesome is that!
Please pray for kids club- what an awesome chance to share Jesus with the kids of the Chatswood community.
love B

Long socks and Lasagna

I love Melbourne!

Two comments for you. One is from Gilmore Girls:
Emily: "Go for traditional vows. Make up vows can be so tacky. Shirley Martin (made up name)'s daughter vowed to cook her husband lasagna once a month. Now a word like lasagna should never appear at a wedding."
(note: Tim and I did make up our own vows)

Next is a philosophical point from my wonderful sister Sandy:
You can always push down long socks, but you can't pull up short socks to make them long.

I love Melbourne!

PS Capsicum is not a vegetable either.