Footprints in the Sand

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night a man had a dream.He dreamed he
was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very
lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:

"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied:

"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

~~~written by Carolyn Joyce Carty~~~

Watch out world, Kath is now legal to drive!!!

I have finally stopped procrastinating (with a little help from Nathaniel and a couple of others) and actually did some more study, got over myself and today I went and sat my theory test to obtain my learners drivers licence!

I was freaking out so much about this that I was not wanting to sit the test at all - i know it seems a little crazy and weird but after sitting it and failing last year in December, I was not exactly excited or thrilled to have to sit the test again.

I ended up going into the AA in Matamata and it just so happened that they had a totally free afternoon for appointments for taking the theory test. I also had the exact amount of money I needed to sit it as I had not spent any of my student allowance from the previous week. Darn it, this all seemed to be working out almost too perfectly, I didn't have any excuses.

An hour and a half later I went back to sit my test and was totally freaking out. Before I got out of Nat's car, he wished me good luck and said he knew I could do it. I just wanted some form of reassurance that I could. I had studied but still did not feel prepared. Once inside I had like 10-15mins before the test and so I sat in a corner and just started praying that God would help me through this - that I would pass and not make an silly mistakes like I did when I sat it back in Decemeber. I also prayed that the questions that I got asked, would be ones which I knew the answer to and that especially the Give Way questions, I would find so easy to answer.

After I had prayed about the test and the outcome, I opened up my road code and did a few moments of last minute cramming. I had no idea what to study so I just ended up opening up my road code and turned to a random page of questions and started reading over them and the answers.

TEST TIME!!!!

As it turned out, most of the questions I had just looked at when I was cramming, were in the test and not much else was at all. I got down to two questions left in the test and I had already go three wrong. I could not remember if I was allowed to get two or three wrong so was freaking out just a tad. I got the first of the last two questions correct and as for the last question, I had absolutely no idea. With like 8 mins to go, I just hoped and prayed that I was able to get up to three questions wrong and just clicked an answer - I had eliminated 2 so had 2 possibilities left.

Luckly for me, I was able to get up to three questions wrong and so although I got the last question wrong, when I clicked "END TEST", I saw a single green word pop up on the screen....PASSED!!!

I was over the moon and the poor ladies in at the AA had no idea what had just happened (well they knew I had passed but no idea why I was jumping up and down).

After all the paperwork was done and I had my temporary licence, I walked out the door with a huge smile on my face. I got into the car with Nat and showed him my licence. "I PASSED!!!!" So apparently he was happy with that and proud of me because I then received a kiss from him. Nat then asked me if I wanted to drive all the way back to camp because I was now legally allowed to drive :)

My goal was to get my licence by my 20th Birthday... well my birthday is now only four days away and guess who is now legally able to drive? Hehehe

Thank you God for helping me through this and for letting me succeed. Thanks everyone for all your support and encouragement. I know I totally mucked around and procrastinated for 5-ish years with getting my licence but I now finally have my learners so life can now go on (literally) and maybe other things can now happen too. Six months and then I can get my restricted and im going to be aiming to get that as soon as possible so my brother should probably hurry up and go for his.

Watch out world, Kath is now legal to drive!!!

The beach... FINALLY!!!

Last Saturday I was finally able to get to a beach again - flip, this had been a long time coming and I was so glad to just be able to let my hair down (literally down and out) and while it was blowing in the wind, just be able to skip and run along the beach at Mount Maunganui near Tauranga.

Most weekends since I began my university study back in Feburary, I have wanted to go to a beach or a lake or something and just relax but study and procrastination or other plans have always seemed to get the better of me. Well last Saturday (with the help of my boyfriend), I finally managed to get to a beach!

Running along the beach without any worries in my mind and getting to act like a little child - it was soooooooooooooooooooo much fun and the best part of all was that I got to share those special moments with the love of my life. Apparently I was genuinely smiling too which I guess must be a good thing.

After spending time just walking around and enjoying each others company at the beach, before we left, I wanted to make a sand castle. I was so decisive as usual and by the time we got around to do this, I decided that it would be neat to make a "Sand Heart" so we did this and then placed our initals on the top. Hehe, it sounds cheesy I know but that is me.

Father's Love Letter

Tonight I was online catching up with one of my friends from university and reading over some of her poetry she has written recently.

As soon as I finished reading one of her poems, I was reminded of the "Father's Love Letter" which I received a copy of from someone at Camp David a couple of years back. I did have a copy of it with my bible but felt the need to pass this on to a friend from camp when they were going a very hard time. I just thought that I would post it on here for all to read.

Father's Love Letter

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

source: http://www.fathersloveletter.com/

12 months of transformation

Last night as I lay in bed (trying to get to sleep), I was thinking - I know its dangerous but I still did it.

I realised that exactly a year ago, I was sitting in front of my youth group at The Station Community Church in Hastings, giving them a talk about my ups and downs of life over the first few months of 2009. Life was hard - just out of school, jobless, bored, had to get 1 single extra credit to qualify for UE (University Entrance), sick of home, wanting to do more with my life, over Hawkes Bay, no qualifications apart from NCEA, no man in my life, sick of pleasing others but not myself, thinking im useless, acceptance letters but then courses no longer running, no money, patience, patience and more patience, getting annoyed at God and so the list continues.

A whole year has been and gone since then and all that I can say is WOW. I am now a qualified Nanny, im studying towards a Bachelor of Teaching at Waikato University's Faculty of Education (#1 in the country), relationship with family is so much better, moved away from Hawkes Bay (twice now) and have experienced independence. I now have an amazing partner who I am so blessed to have in my life and so much more.

In these past 12 months, God has completely transformed my life for the better and what I have accomplished and what God has helped me through, over the last 12 months is incredible. It has not all been smooth sailing but God has been there all along pulling me through.

If you are waiting for God to act on your life, sometimes you first of all need to step out of your comfort zone and take a risk in order for God to act. When we are often waiting for him to act on our lives, he is often waiting for us to stand up and make a change.

In his word it says that there is a time for everything - E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G! That includes hardship and also one of the hardest things - being patient.

I am so thankful to B and JD and Steve who got me to do that talk to the youth group last year - I was totally freaked out about doing it but in the last few months, I have often reflected on my notes from that particular talk and im sure I will also reflect on them in the future.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart to all the wonderful people who are a part of my life. I love each and every one of you very dearly and could not imagine going through life without you all. You are all such a blessing to me and have helped me to not only be who I am but also to be where I am today.

God Bless you all xxx

R.O.G or F.R.O.G?

So it was Queen's Birthday Weekend this past weekend and I was once again out at Totara Springs in Matamata serving God in such an amazing Christian Environment.

There are so many incredible men and women of God involved in this ministry outreach and it is so fantastic to see them all serving God in what ever way they all possibly can - using their gifts and talents that God has given to them.

This weekend was filled with special moments, time with God, time with friends and family, laughter, stress, joy, pain, challenges, little sleep, wet weather and so much more. As well as all of this, there were many inspirational moments and stories.

One that was shared with us Volunteer's was something that some of us had heard during Kids Camp over summer. This was about FROG or F.R.O.G!

F.R.O.G stands for FULLY RELY ON GOD

I had heard this many times before but something about hearing it again this weekend particularly challenged me.

See, the F in F.R.O.G stands for FULLY! The definition of "fully" according to Dictionary.com means entirely or wholly. To me, this meant every single part of our lives - every single thing that we do, we should be relying on God. When this message was being read out to us, one of the things mentioned was along the lines of we tend to rely on God when we are sick but when we are well, we take a 'sweet as' approach to life and think we can and will handle everything on our own.

This is how I have been living my life at times but for me, the FULLY was the key in this.

We need to start fully relying (not just relying) on God for every single thing in and through our lives whether it is a big thing or even the tiniest most insignificant thing. To God, nothing seems as tiny or insignificant as we think it is and he can use those things to transform the lives of others.

Without the F, F.R.O.G would just become R.O.G. Which reflects your life and relationship with God right now and which reflects the life and relationship with God that you want to have in the future?

R.O.G or F.R.O.G?