The first time I heard your voice I was filled with joy
Your love overwhelmed my soul and tears of gladness flowed
The first time I felt your love I was consumed by you
You held me close and whispered I am with you
Let your love overwhelm my soul again
Let your love flow over me
Crash over me
I want to be in the fullness of You again
Be my best friend
Be my best friend
Be my closest friend
Know me deeper
Live in me
I want to talk with you when I’m walking down the street
I want to hear your voice in my time of need
I want to rejoice when my friends know you
I want to preach your word in the power of You
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
diving into the river
a tree planted by the rivers of living water
theres nothing it can do to grow
the only thing that will stop it growing is cutting it down, taking away its water supply, or uprooting it
but in and of itself, it can't stop itself from growing and being who it was designed to be when it was first planted as a seed
it will grow taller and higher into the sky
the black cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets will feast each day in its leaves
its shade will shade backyards where children play, gardens where fruit grows, and will take the heat for a little while for men mowing the lawn on a hot saturday
if it stays where it is, next to the cool flowing living water, drenching its roots in the life giving minerals, it will grow, just as it is destined to grow.
so is the woman or man who drenches themselves, delights in, dwells in the word of God
they will be prosper, be fruitful and successful in whatever they stretch out their branches to achieve
(Psalm 1)
theres nothing it can do to grow
the only thing that will stop it growing is cutting it down, taking away its water supply, or uprooting it
but in and of itself, it can't stop itself from growing and being who it was designed to be when it was first planted as a seed
it will grow taller and higher into the sky
the black cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets will feast each day in its leaves
its shade will shade backyards where children play, gardens where fruit grows, and will take the heat for a little while for men mowing the lawn on a hot saturday
if it stays where it is, next to the cool flowing living water, drenching its roots in the life giving minerals, it will grow, just as it is destined to grow.
so is the woman or man who drenches themselves, delights in, dwells in the word of God
they will be prosper, be fruitful and successful in whatever they stretch out their branches to achieve
(Psalm 1)
Sunday, March 25, 2007
imagine freedom for the captives
I thought I would share with you an article I wrote for the ImagineNations 2007 conference magazine......
Imagine freedom for the captives, imagine release from darkness for the prisoners, imagine comfort for those who mourn, imagine joy instead of shame.
In 2007, in our world …
Millions will suffer sexual violence and assault. In many places, sexual crimes aren’t even recognised, giving the victims no hope for escape. For many, including children, the abuse will lead to them contracting AIDS.
Up to one million women and children will be taken from their homes and forced into prostitution. People trafficking is the second most lucrative crime in the world, after drug trafficking, bringing in $32 billion (US) annually. The average age of the children is 13.
It is estimated that up to nine thousand young Nepalese girls are sold into sexual slavery each year and that India’s brothels are filled with approximately 160 thousand Nepalese women. Extreme poverty is a trap which forces many parents to sell their daughters, many times not knowing what type of work they will be employed in. Innocent girls are forced into prostitution, suffering abuse from brothel owners and customers. They are in financial debt to the brothel owner, they have no hope for escape and nowhere to go. Even once they have paid off their debt, after many years, the girls don’t know any other way to earn money and they remain as prostitutes. Prostitution is not illegal in Mumbai, yet if a girl is found soliciting clients she will be locked up overnight by police, and often she will be raped. She has no choice but to remain in the brothel.
On the streets of Mumbai, the most populated city in India, around 300 thousand children are homeless. Up to 80 % of the homeless girls will be sexually abused before they turn 13. Many girls will be forced into prostitution or will have no other choice to support themselves financially than by becoming a sex worker.
This year Penrith Christian Life Centre will partner with Biju Thampy and ‘Vision Rescue’ in Mumbai India on a mission to release the victims of sex trafficking and help young girls in danger of being forced into prostitution or sexual abuse. ‘Vision Rescue’ aims to rescue girls from sexual exploitation through a range of services. They will be setting up a café close to where girls solicit clients and will provide a counselling service through the café, offering other services to these young women such as vocational training camps and free medical check-ups. ‘Vision rescue’ will also provide accommodation, rehabilitation centres, and prayer and ministry for healing, to help the women begin a completely new way of life.
It is Pastor Biju’s dream to see many young women escape the trap of sexual exploitation through ‘Vision Rescue’. He says “for those who show the earnest desire to be rescued, it is necessary to remove them from their setting, which would require us to rent a house to accommodate them. A fully-fledged rehab center would help us to boldly see our vision of rescuing at least one girl a week come true. It also means recruiting staff to care for them, even nurse them since most of them would require medical help initially.”
Biju says, “It is the right of every human being to be able to live freely, to be able to know their creator and to be respected by fellow human beings. They are created in the image of God, and the love of Christ compels us to make a difference in their lives. As Christians it is our responsibility to defend the basic human rights of these precious defenceless girls. A simple decision to care for them, to show a secure place to live, to train them up to earn their living, just to be there for them can save the lives of those who see these brothels as their future.”
.... Since the conference, 3 other churches from around the world have partnered with Biju Thampy to support 3 more homes for girls in different cities of India. That means that more than 200 girls will be saved in the next year! Imagine what we can do in the years to come ...
Imagine freedom for the captives, imagine release from darkness for the prisoners, imagine comfort for those who mourn, imagine joy instead of shame.
In 2007, in our world …
Millions will suffer sexual violence and assault. In many places, sexual crimes aren’t even recognised, giving the victims no hope for escape. For many, including children, the abuse will lead to them contracting AIDS.
Up to one million women and children will be taken from their homes and forced into prostitution. People trafficking is the second most lucrative crime in the world, after drug trafficking, bringing in $32 billion (US) annually. The average age of the children is 13.
It is estimated that up to nine thousand young Nepalese girls are sold into sexual slavery each year and that India’s brothels are filled with approximately 160 thousand Nepalese women. Extreme poverty is a trap which forces many parents to sell their daughters, many times not knowing what type of work they will be employed in. Innocent girls are forced into prostitution, suffering abuse from brothel owners and customers. They are in financial debt to the brothel owner, they have no hope for escape and nowhere to go. Even once they have paid off their debt, after many years, the girls don’t know any other way to earn money and they remain as prostitutes. Prostitution is not illegal in Mumbai, yet if a girl is found soliciting clients she will be locked up overnight by police, and often she will be raped. She has no choice but to remain in the brothel.
On the streets of Mumbai, the most populated city in India, around 300 thousand children are homeless. Up to 80 % of the homeless girls will be sexually abused before they turn 13. Many girls will be forced into prostitution or will have no other choice to support themselves financially than by becoming a sex worker.
This year Penrith Christian Life Centre will partner with Biju Thampy and ‘Vision Rescue’ in Mumbai India on a mission to release the victims of sex trafficking and help young girls in danger of being forced into prostitution or sexual abuse. ‘Vision Rescue’ aims to rescue girls from sexual exploitation through a range of services. They will be setting up a café close to where girls solicit clients and will provide a counselling service through the café, offering other services to these young women such as vocational training camps and free medical check-ups. ‘Vision rescue’ will also provide accommodation, rehabilitation centres, and prayer and ministry for healing, to help the women begin a completely new way of life.
It is Pastor Biju’s dream to see many young women escape the trap of sexual exploitation through ‘Vision Rescue’. He says “for those who show the earnest desire to be rescued, it is necessary to remove them from their setting, which would require us to rent a house to accommodate them. A fully-fledged rehab center would help us to boldly see our vision of rescuing at least one girl a week come true. It also means recruiting staff to care for them, even nurse them since most of them would require medical help initially.”
Biju says, “It is the right of every human being to be able to live freely, to be able to know their creator and to be respected by fellow human beings. They are created in the image of God, and the love of Christ compels us to make a difference in their lives. As Christians it is our responsibility to defend the basic human rights of these precious defenceless girls. A simple decision to care for them, to show a secure place to live, to train them up to earn their living, just to be there for them can save the lives of those who see these brothels as their future.”
.... Since the conference, 3 other churches from around the world have partnered with Biju Thampy to support 3 more homes for girls in different cities of India. That means that more than 200 girls will be saved in the next year! Imagine what we can do in the years to come ...
Coconut Cookies
Josiah and I cooked coconut cookies this morning! He loves helping me in the kitchen! Yeah! I'm training him up to be my number-1-helper! Mark is relieved to be demoted to number 2 position:) Zoe rolled over the other day, 3 times! She did some rolling over early on, but it wasn't so deliberate, just accidental. She hasn't tried again since, but maybe today she will have another go!!:)
COLOUR was awesome! Got to see Naomi which was wonderful! Sorry we lost you on the last day Nomes, Mum told you the wrong room to go to... nevermind. We will see you again soon!:)
At Colour we saw a film, the Invisible Children. It was a really extreme true documentary about children who are abducted from their homes and trained as child soldiers by a rebel army. They are often tortured and killed, they are trained to kill other children. It was really horrible. To the international community they have been invisible. But we need to make their story known and begin to do something about it. www.invisiblechildren.com . I think they are in Ghana.
A pastor from that area spoke about the Watoto homes for children that they are setting up.
Have a look. Lets change our world!!
COLOUR was awesome! Got to see Naomi which was wonderful! Sorry we lost you on the last day Nomes, Mum told you the wrong room to go to... nevermind. We will see you again soon!:)
At Colour we saw a film, the Invisible Children. It was a really extreme true documentary about children who are abducted from their homes and trained as child soldiers by a rebel army. They are often tortured and killed, they are trained to kill other children. It was really horrible. To the international community they have been invisible. But we need to make their story known and begin to do something about it. www.invisiblechildren.com . I think they are in Ghana.
A pastor from that area spoke about the Watoto homes for children that they are setting up.
Have a look. Lets change our world!!
Friday, March 9, 2007
Visit to Grandma & Grandpa's
We visited Grandma and Grandpa today. Uncle Bill was there too. I think Zoe has a bit of Grandpa's red hair. Grandpa was pretty chipper, but Grandma's not feeling so good. Pray for her.Uncle Bill showed us how he does the felting on teddy bears. I should have taken a photo of that too - pretty interesting:)
Josiah played with Grandma's lego. I think we should buy him some small lego to play with, he gets right into it.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Renovations
Renovations are underway today for our new extension. Josiah has been working on some basic designs. We like what he's come up with. We thought we'd take him on a trip to Bunnings soon for some supplies. A bit of colourful paint for inside, a few new tiles for the roof and some lino for the floor, and 'wallah', its a brand new cubby house! Thanks so much to Josh, Isaac, Larissa, Dan and Matt for the great present!!
Monday, March 5, 2007
Songs for kids
Mark said I should publish the kids songs I have written for Josiah! i hope you like them:) We sing them to bring a happy mood to difficult situations!!
I do what mummy and daddy say
Everyday
I do what mummy and daddy say
Then I will have long long days
then I will have happy happy days
everyday
yeah!
(Josiah loves this one - the 'yeah' is done with 'just jack' hands)
haha
We're going on an adventure
Adventure Adventure
We're going on an adventure
Where will we go today?
Will we go to the shops? No!
Where will we go today?
Will we go to the park? No!
Where will we go today?
Will we go to the libary? Yes!
Where will we go today?
Will we go on an aeroplane? No!
(repeat)
EVERYDAY
(upbeat)
EverydayI do what mummy and daddy say
Everyday
I do what mummy and daddy say
Then I will have long long days
then I will have happy happy days
everyday
yeah!
(Josiah loves this one - the 'yeah' is done with 'just jack' hands)
haha
ADVENTURE
(good song for car trips)
Adventure AdventureWe're going on an adventure
Adventure Adventure
We're going on an adventure
Where will we go today?
Will we go to the shops? No!
Where will we go today?
Will we go to the park? No!
Where will we go today?
Will we go to the libary? Yes!
Where will we go today?
Will we go on an aeroplane? No!
(repeat)
WAITING PATIENTLY
(to the tune of 'the grand old duke of york')
We're waiting patiently
We're waiting with a smile
We're waiting patiently
We're waiting with a please:)
Can anyone tell me how to get the comments on the same page? Can't figure it out!
Sarah
Friday, March 2, 2007
Did you check out www.thatsmyschool.com.au ?? It launched last night at youth, and I think its the best thing to ever be on the internet! (other than Naomi's blog of course). Have a look!
Youth was great last night! We launched a new album and the band played the homegrown songs, which were awesome! The have childcare for the leader's kids now, even Zoe slept in her pram in there for a while - very cool:)
Youth was great last night! We launched a new album and the band played the homegrown songs, which were awesome! The have childcare for the leader's kids now, even Zoe slept in her pram in there for a while - very cool:)
Thursday, March 1, 2007
surrender
well we better have a blog since everybody else is doing it! Should be a good way to keep in touch with the fans!!
Check out www.thatsmyschool.com.au - I think thats the site. The launch is at youth tonight. So I don't know if the page will be working until then. It'll be a website for the high school students to talk about what God is doing in their schools, building a strong community and strengthening vision.
Will do all the fancy stuff later and wow your socks off with creativity!! Maybe I'll get a chance...
Sarah
Check out www.thatsmyschool.com.au - I think thats the site. The launch is at youth tonight. So I don't know if the page will be working until then. It'll be a website for the high school students to talk about what God is doing in their schools, building a strong community and strengthening vision.
Will do all the fancy stuff later and wow your socks off with creativity!! Maybe I'll get a chance...
Sarah
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