I'm in Brisbane now! Just for two weeks, then I'll fly back up to Townsville and get on the ship again to continue on up to Cairns, then Thursday Island, then PNG.
Wow, how fast time goes by. It reminds me of a verse I just read this morning, in Ephesians 5:15-16 that says "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." The past few days God has really been putting it onto my heart to walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). To walk in the Spirit, talk in the Spirit, be led by the Spirit. Because the Spirit leads us in God's will; he cannot lead us away from God, nor can he lead us to do anything to hinder God's Kingdom. Jesus said it Himself in Mark 3:24: "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." He was specifically speaking of the kingdom of darkness, conceding that he could not be possessed by Satan, for if he were, then he could not cast out other demons. It applies to the Kingdom of God as well. If we walk by the Spirit, we are guaranteed to further the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God made up of? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. What is the fruit of the Spirit, or more specifically, walking by the Spirit? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. It makes so much sense to walk by the Spirit! Especially since I already DO live by the Spirit. I have been baptized into Him.
There are a couple things that God has pointed out for me in the past eight or nine months. One, I am made to worship. I have been given the talents to worship as well. Two, I am made to walk in the Spirit. Radically, passionately, zealously. I've been given the personality to do that. A few words spoken over me recently point to this. Walking in the Spirit is exciting! Isn't it? So I'm striving to do just that, and in so doing God will continue to transform me from the inside out.
I've made quite a few friends on the ship, some of whom are just on their DTS outreach, so they'll be leaving soon, which is sad. But my life has been filled with goodbyes, and I have found out that the best thing to do is just cry and then continue seeking God and His will for me. Which is what I'm doing right now, for my long term future. I have a plan, but I'm really praying for clear direction.
So, if you decide you want to intercede for me, pray that I would continue to walk in the Spirit, and that God would give me clear direction for what to do over the next year, and then some. Peace out!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Seventeenth Post
Sorry, this might be short.
Actually, screw it, I'm staying up late.
We arrived in Bowen. Well, we arrived in Gladstone. Actually, we arrived in Brisbane. It's been awhile...
So blah blah blah blah, and now we're in Bowen. If you care to know, it's where they did a lot of the filming for the movie "Australia." I overheard people saying they didn't do it in Darwin, where the film is supposed to be based, because Darwin's city was too civilized. So they filmed it in Bowen. Now you have an idea of where I am. It's a ten minute walk down the wharf. Thirty minutes of walking will get us to heaven, otherwise known as McDonald's, the land of free internet and not cheap, but still crappy food.
I'm days, hours, minutes, seconds away from diving into the ocean and swimming out as far as possible. I stand a better chance of deriving awe and wonder in God from the utter despair of being stranded in the darkness amongst crashing waves and curious fish than from beating myself over my failures that are all too easy to focus on when I'm comfortable. God, give something else to focus on. My mind reeks of disorder. My stomach has been perpetually twisted in a knot, begging for something or someone to untie it and resolve my mental flogging. Woe is me, for I am a sinner. I have tasted and seen the goodness of God; without Him I am lost in darkness, subject to disorder, knotted in anxiety. "What is man that you are mindful of him?"
Actually, screw it, I'm staying up late.
We arrived in Bowen. Well, we arrived in Gladstone. Actually, we arrived in Brisbane. It's been awhile...
So blah blah blah blah, and now we're in Bowen. If you care to know, it's where they did a lot of the filming for the movie "Australia." I overheard people saying they didn't do it in Darwin, where the film is supposed to be based, because Darwin's city was too civilized. So they filmed it in Bowen. Now you have an idea of where I am. It's a ten minute walk down the wharf. Thirty minutes of walking will get us to heaven, otherwise known as McDonald's, the land of free internet and not cheap, but still crappy food.
I'm days, hours, minutes, seconds away from diving into the ocean and swimming out as far as possible. I stand a better chance of deriving awe and wonder in God from the utter despair of being stranded in the darkness amongst crashing waves and curious fish than from beating myself over my failures that are all too easy to focus on when I'm comfortable. God, give something else to focus on. My mind reeks of disorder. My stomach has been perpetually twisted in a knot, begging for something or someone to untie it and resolve my mental flogging. Woe is me, for I am a sinner. I have tasted and seen the goodness of God; without Him I am lost in darkness, subject to disorder, knotted in anxiety. "What is man that you are mindful of him?"
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