Thursday, September 27, 2007

Quiet Days

Things I love about quiet days:

- that they are preceeded by a rest night's sleep
- that you have time to just sit still and consider
- breakfast in bed and Margaret Throsby's interview
- time for prayer and bible reading
- time to catch up on odd jobs that have been left for too long
- a chance to get in touch with friends and family
- time to do "homey" things like baking

I have the chance to have a quiet day today and I'm enjoying it in all its sparseness!! ;)

I hope you are having a good day too xo

Monday, September 17, 2007

God provides :)

It is wonderful how our God provides what we need (just not always in the way we first anticipated...)

I was planning to go away for the weekend. Good family friends of mine live on the edge of the city in a beautiful, big home. I was hoping to go and stay with them for the weekend. Spend a little time with them and just take a breath and relax. But it has been deferred indefinately.

I was feeling deflated. Why? Its not fair! I was really looking forward to that weekend, God... I complained. Then, while I was checking my e-mail an opportunity passed my way. I received an invitation to a camp. Cross Cultures is a ministry overseen by my church and the AFES of Melbourne University. They meet on Thursday evenings for dinner and basic bible study. It is to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the young foreign students who temporarily call Australia home. Twice a year they go on camp and that is what the e-mail was about. Hmmm, I wondered, perhaps they could use mine & my car's services... So I offered and was accepted.

I drove to Albury (NSW border) on Friday and picked up the cooks - Max & Mary, a delightful couple who formerly attended Cross Cultures when they were living in Melbourne. We then drove to Echuca via a small detour as I wasn't paying attention to my fuel gauge!! But we arrived (late) but safely at the camp. Actually the last of the campers didn't arrive till after 2am!!!

We were blessed with beautiful weather, a great campsite (Billabong Ranch), an inspiring preacher and great food. I assisted Max & Mary in the kitchen and appreciated getting out of the big city for a weekend. All too briefly it was over and time to head back to Melbourne.

It really was a blessed weekend and reminded me how wonderfully my God provides for me. He knew I needed a weekend away and he provided it, as well as an opportunity for me to live out my core values for 2007! ;) Isn't he great?!