Take care of yourself and have a good time

'I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'  Jeremiah 29:11

Waiting and trusting go together.  If you don't trust God, it's hard to wait on Him.  But if you trust Him....you'll wait.

Here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of what you have for as long as God gives you life...Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty, and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the wok.  It's God's gift!  God deals out joy in the present, the now.  Ecclesiastes 5:18-19

Life is scary sometimes, when you don't know what's round the corner, or something now is happening that isn't great.  I'm moving to Rotorua next week for a new job - to be a registrar.  It's new, really exciting but also scary.  I won't know anyone, the job is not like what I'm doing now - it's a step up so I keep thinking, will I be good enough?  I don't want to leave the comfort of what I've come to know in Blenheim, but also I do - it's new and exciting.

But thinking about it in terms of what God says in the passages above:  Trust me, it's not for harm, it's for good, and for your future, have a good time and make the most of it.  Delight in your work, joy is God given.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men.  Colossians 3:23

Tell me what you're thinking!

'God you are my refuge.  I trust in you and I'm safe!  That's right - he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards.  His huge outstretched arms protect you - under them you are perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.  Fear nothing.'  Psalm 91

I get scared sometimes that at work I'm not clever enough - to remember everything I need to now to treat patients, to have the right words to talk to other doctors, or the patients.  I got very frustrated yesterday because I felt like nobody was talking straight to me.  And I felt like if they just told me straight what they problem was - I could have a chance to fix whatever was wrong.  Instead of dancing around the subject, or being sarcastic (I struggle to pick out sarcasm sometimes and don't realise what the person is saying is actually the opposite).

Paul kept it simple!
'I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy.  I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did - Jesus crucified. I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate - I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it - and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else.  But the Message came through anyway.  God's spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that you life of faith is a response to God's power, not some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.'  1 Corinthians 2:1-5

What matters is not whether we use 'wise and persuasive words' but the 'demonstration of the Spirit's power.'  We do not need to dress it up with 'eloquence or superior wisdom'.  God 'chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise'.  He 'chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong'.

This is why I love Paul's books - simple and straightforward, no messing around - just like me!

Be who and what God wants you to be

I'm a God-designed, purpose-intended, significant, lavishly-loved, princess-daughter (if you're a bloke read this as prince-son!) of the King of the Universe!

If God did not have need of me, I would not exist.  Someone said this the other day, and it took me a while to actually process what it meant.  It is actually as simple as it seems to be.  I would NOT exist, if God did not NEED me.

'I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection.'

'We aren't making outrageous claims here.  We're sticking to the limits of what God has set for us.' 2 Corinthians 10:13

'For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master Jesus Christ.  Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns they dictate.  Can't you see the central issue in all this?  It is not what you and I do.  It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life!  All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God - his chosen people.'  Galations 6:14-16

God wants me - who I am, where I am, what I do. Therefore be 'set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns they dictate.'  Do what God wants, not others.

I AM AN ORIGINAL CREATION OF GOD

p.s. Don't you just LOVE Paul's writings?!  I am amazed every time I read his stuff!  He just nails the point every time  =)

Wishing your life away??

And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there.  1 Corinthians 7:17


You should by all means plan and prepare for the future, but don't go losing your life as it is now wishing about other things - you'll miss out.


For such a time as this you are here.


God didn't say: 'There is nothing to worry about', He did say: 'Do not worry, I am here with you.'

I thought it was a good idea all along?!

Every new idea goes through 3 phases: 'It will not work.'  'It will cost too much.'  'I thought it was a good idea all along.'

I think this is very true, however, not always in that order, and certainly some ideas go through the 3 phases several hundred times.  This weekend got me thinking very hard about Africa, in particular Uganda.  It was no accident the lead speaker at the conference I went to was speaking about her charity in Uganda and the Esther story - 'For such a time as this.'  God was saying - this is for you too, in a different way, but this is the same outcome.

God reconfirmed again His vision for my future - Go to Africa, build a hospital, help my people in their need.

Last year when I was in Malawi, looking back, I think I finally got to: 'I thought it was a good idea all along.'  Since then though, I have been in the combined thoughts of: 'It will cost too much,' and 'It will not work.'  Not in cost terms of money, but in terms of my life.  I do want to do this, but I want other things too, and right now I'm not quite sure how they would ever all fit together.

The phrase 'Trust in the Lord, and lean not on your own understanding.'  has been God's watchword for me over the last couple of years, now He's added to it: 'Do NOT be afraid.'

Psalm 20:1-6
God answer you on the day you crash,
The name God-of-Jacob put you out of harms reach,
send reinforcements from Holy Hill,
dispatch from Zion fresh supplies,
exclaim over you offerings, celebrate your sacrifices,
give you what your heart desires, accomplish your plans.
When you win, we plan to raise the roof and lead the parade with our banners.
May all your wishes come true!
That clinches it - help is coming, an answer's on the way,
everything is going to work out.


Psalm 119:93
What you say goes, God, and stays, as permanent as the heavens.
Your truth never goes out of fashion; it's as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up.
Your Word and truth are dependable as ever; that's what you ordered—you set the earth going.
If your revelation hadn't delighted me so, I would have given up when the hard times came.
But I'll never forget the advice you gave me; you saved my life with those wise words.
Save me! I'm all yours. I look high and low for your words of wisdom.
The wicked lie in ambush to destroy me, but I'm only concerned with your plans for me.
I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain your commands!

The King in the Kid

So I've just got back from Winter Playground 2012!  We (Elim Church Blenheim) took around 100 youth group kids from around the area snowboarding up Mount Lyford.  Each evening we had a 'churchy' meeting and we learnt more about knowing God.  Not just knowing He exists but having an encounter with Him.  It was awesome, and it wasn't just the kids who learnt something, God really challenged me as well.

Do we know Jesus is in our boat?  He calmed the storm on the sea.  Do we know He is with us to draw strength from, we can't do it alone.  He will never leave you, nor forsake you.

There is a king in each one of us.  There is greatness upon our lives and a plan and purpose for us.  God is much bigger than any obstacle  and the cause in front of you is bigger than any obstacle.

Isn't there a cause, something worth fighting for?  Never let it hold you back that you are too young/old/small/scared/the obstacle is too big.

God reminded me of His vision for my life that night - to set up an orthopaedic hospital in Africa.  He reminded me not to give up, even though it seems tough to get where I need to be to go to Africa.  Sometimes it seems impossible to get there.  I need to be a consultant surgeon, to even think about it, and I seem so far away from that yet.  But I was reminded to hang in there, TRUST HIM, the cause is much bigger than the obstacle.

Do not be anxious

'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great unsearchable things you do not know.'  Jeremiah 33:3

'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present you requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.'  Phillipians 4:6-7

How often do we get anxious or worry about stuff?  And does it actually get us anywhere??!  I always find I get more anxious about the thing I'm anxious about when I keep thinking about it!  God promises peace, and as the verse says, we won't necessarily understand it, but it will guard our hearts and minds against the anxiousness eating away at you.  Have you ever had that?  A worry that when you pray to God about it suddenly you are remarkably peaceful, you know whatever it is will still happen, e.g. an interview/exam etc but there is absolute peace.  I've experienced this on occasions, mostly in simple small ways but once in a very dramatic way.

One consultant I worked for at the time (the other 3 were OK with me and thought there were no problems) wanted to fail me and make me retake my first year as a doctor, she thought I wasn't good enough - comparing me to a registrar level rather than a first year.  Unfortunately the head supervisor of the deanery took this consultants side of the story and ignored the other 3 and my previous consultants who had all given me excellent reports and had no concerns (they realised I was a first year, and treated me as one)!  Anyway, the decision was pending - retake the year or pass.....I was distraught, I couldn't think straight, anger and anxiousness was eating me up at the unfairness of it all and the worry of being classed as a failure and not progressing - everybody would know I was a failure.  Finally I couldn't take it any more, and removed myself from the department.  I wondered the hospital corridor to the other end to deliver a script at pharmacy, and on the way back I passed the chapel.  I went in.  No one was there except me.  I was still shaking with anger and worry, on the constant verge of tears.  I sat down and prayed harder than I had ever prayed before.  I cried to God at the unfairness, told Him that I was scared, and couldn't take it any more....I hated her for doing this.  And I heard as clear as day 'BE STILL'.  'KNOW THAT I AM GOD.'  Not like a loud voice spoken aloud or anything but everything in my head stopped, the worry, all my thoughts, and through that stillness came those words.  The ones that had been in and out of my heart for a year or more before since reading Helen Roseveare's book Give Me This Mountain, and the words that continued with me for a few years after, and why this blog is called Be Still And Know!

I didn't understand it but it was awesome, I was no longer shaking and petrified, I was still worried believe me, but I was consumed by it, I could function, and even talk to people without trembling or crying.
God heard my cry, in the most spectacular way.  I passed the year, and even though the certain consultant and overall supervisor said they would write a letter to my next hospital supervisor about the situation so I could be 'supervised more heavily' it was OK.  Oh and by the way the letter they 'wrote', never made it to the next hospital, my new supervisor when I told her about the situation said: 'never got a letter about you, and I like to make my own mind up about juniors anyway, so I would have ignored it!'  WOW!  God certainly answers prayer.

Now when I worry about stuff, or wonder whether God will be faithful in His promises, I remember that answer and KNOW HE IS GOD.