In my devotions for the past couple weeks, i have been reading Corinthians. The leadership team for our new night service are reading it together. a chapter a day. Its been really good to read. This week we have been Reading 2 Corinthians 8-15. I have been really challenged this week with giving. it has come up numerous times in the readings this week and its been pretty convicting.
2 Corinthians 8:7,8: Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us[c]—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10: Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
Since being back in Australia i have been struggling with giving. I have been giving weekly in church, but i have found it a struggle to give and i dont give as much as i could. I think what the problem is, is that i feel that since i have lived in the slums for a year and lived with no money, its like God owes me something. and its a bit of selfishness. its my money, so i am not gonna give it back to God. i have had a whole year with no money. this theory is wrong and God was convicting me of this.
So I just hope and pray that as the church we will be the generous givers we are called to be.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Netball
Never in my 10 yrs of playing netball have i almost gotten into a fight on the court!!! it was intense!!!
it was the 2nd quarter of our game which just happened to be the last that night as we were playing half a game against 1 team and half a game against another. i was GS and the GK was my player. now for all my Canadian/ American friends, netball is NON contact. u cant lean on or push your players.
this GK was leaning on me, so i gave her a bit of a nudge. she nudged me back which is all fine, cuz it happens... sometimes u get a little pushy with your player. but while i was taking a shot where she had to stand next to me out of play for doing the wrong thing, she nudged me. enough so the umpire wouldnt see and enough to try to make me miss the shot. now that is low. i turned around and said "now that is just bad sportsmanship" and do you know what she did. she pushed me and said "well i am sick of your **** (thats a swear word)" it would have been a fight but i just ignored it and ignored her.
afterwards we went to talk to the umpires about it and this umpire who i know and who doesnt like me turns and says " if you were down my end of the court Lisa i would have given u a warning for swearing." i said "excuse me, i dont swear"
she said " i heard it come from your mouth" and i said "well i dont swear" she didnt believe me.
the almost fight was bad, but she took a blow to my character. that is a massive one. for those who know me, i cant stand swearing nor do i think its right to swear. i have integrity when it comes to that, so it was a massive blow! it sucked so much. i have learnt that assumptions arent always right.... in fact, they are rarely right, so you shouldnt assume at all. word of advice for people DONT ASSUME!!!!!!
needless to say, it was an interesting night of netball!!!!
it was the 2nd quarter of our game which just happened to be the last that night as we were playing half a game against 1 team and half a game against another. i was GS and the GK was my player. now for all my Canadian/ American friends, netball is NON contact. u cant lean on or push your players.
this GK was leaning on me, so i gave her a bit of a nudge. she nudged me back which is all fine, cuz it happens... sometimes u get a little pushy with your player. but while i was taking a shot where she had to stand next to me out of play for doing the wrong thing, she nudged me. enough so the umpire wouldnt see and enough to try to make me miss the shot. now that is low. i turned around and said "now that is just bad sportsmanship" and do you know what she did. she pushed me and said "well i am sick of your **** (thats a swear word)" it would have been a fight but i just ignored it and ignored her.
afterwards we went to talk to the umpires about it and this umpire who i know and who doesnt like me turns and says " if you were down my end of the court Lisa i would have given u a warning for swearing." i said "excuse me, i dont swear"
she said " i heard it come from your mouth" and i said "well i dont swear" she didnt believe me.
the almost fight was bad, but she took a blow to my character. that is a massive one. for those who know me, i cant stand swearing nor do i think its right to swear. i have integrity when it comes to that, so it was a massive blow! it sucked so much. i have learnt that assumptions arent always right.... in fact, they are rarely right, so you shouldnt assume at all. word of advice for people DONT ASSUME!!!!!!
needless to say, it was an interesting night of netball!!!!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
LIFE.....
IS BUSY AND I AM TIRED.... WAY TOO TIRED TO BE OF MUCH USE TO PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.... THAT IS MY LIFE. OH AND I REALLY MISS MY CANADA FRIENDS. ESPECIALLY DENISE AND BECKY....
THAT IS ALL.
THAT IS ALL.
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