The difference of a decision

Has a decision ever made such a big change in your life that it has changed you completely?

Before:

Get into it!

Whatever you’re doing wherever you go;
Get into it!

When you’re out and about, don’t be half-hearted about things.

Have you ever been out with a group of friends, and one of them says

“Whatever, I’m not really in the mood but…”

Or someone just stays quiet, watches and doesn’t try to get involved.

It really dampens people’s spirits, and makes others feel uncomfortable.
I’ve been guilty of this more than once. Less in recent years.

If you’re involved in something get involved. Take the lead once in a while, see what happens when you’re out with people and want to do things. If everyone in the group is having fun, then it’s easy to keep it that way, figure out what to do, or just be together.

Think about it for a second: your getting ready to go out (guys 15 mins max, girls 30 mins minimum – in my experience), you head out the door, you’re thinking about the day ahead, the people you see and what you’ll do together…What atmosphere do you want to add to today?

It’s more fun with friends

Whatever you are doing, why do it alone?

Whether its going to a restaurant, eating at home or playing outside on a sunny day, it’s more fun to do it with someone!

Remix Camp

A few weeks ago I went on Lifehouse’s Remix Youth Camp, with people from Tokyo and Miyagi.

It was awesome! We went to Nagano, right up into the mountains. I’m a city girl so it was kind of a new experience for me.

I met old friends

Met new ones, Got freaked out by insects, and had a crazy great time.

It was a great chance to connect, meet new people and get great advice and love from our leaders.

I’m amazed by the great hearts of the people.

What was your best summer memory?

To Friends who are Family

About three years ago, I broke my leg.

I was on a snowboarding holiday when it got broken.
That’s the cool version of the story.

The real version?
I was on a snowboarding holiday, but I slipped on the ice when getting off a ski-lift, and my legs went in 2 different directions. I ended up with a small fracture where the ligament joins the lower leg bone, as well as stretching a ligament.

I felt really bad. I couldn’t work, and the brace that I had to wear meant that I couldn’t even walk properly. Of course as you can imagine, I wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of three weeks alone at home.

And of course I’m not even living on the same continent as any of my family.

But my friends from both work and church were there to support me. And not even a single day went by that I didn’t have friends come round to cook, clean or take me to the hospital.

I found that friends can be your family too. And that you don’t have to be alone to be strong.
So this is a great big thank you, to my colleagues and Lifegroup, who helped me through what would have been the hardest trial of living in a foreign country.

Instead it is one of my favorite memories.
Thank you

Something I gained in Lifegroup

When I first went to Lifegroup, I had no idea what it was about, only that some people got together to study the Bible,

and I couldn’t think of anything more boring than that other than watching paint dry.

 

Since that was my only other choice most Sundays, I decided to give it a try. I’d already decided to be a Christian, so why not learn more about it.

When I got there, I didn’t know what to think. There was a group of people, sitting and having coffee together (or in my case, hot chocolate) and chatting and laughing.

They looked like normal people! Well, here is the breaking news…

They Are!

I was confused, weren’t we supposed to be sitting down and seriously diving “deep” into the Bible and talking about weird stuff?

What I really found was a group of friends. Not just people passing through my life, and not people who were there the one week, and gone the next. These people were there for me every week.

More than that, They were there for me during the week too; having breakfast together, and celebrating my birthday.

Every low point in my life those friends are still there for me, and every high point, those same friends are right there to be happy with me.

What did I gain in Lifegroup?

I gained friends

What would you gain from a Lifegroup?

Fortune’s Favour.

I’ve found that I really have Fortune on my side.

I have a house, a job, great friends, and a wonderful church.

 

Why do I have so much? I think part of it is that I don’t see fortune as money I can get for myself. I see fortune as time, people and resources that I can use to help others.

I think that having savings is a good idea. but should it be at the expense of our beliefs?

If you have something you truly believe in, try giving to it.

Reasons I often hear and used to use myself…

I can’t spare the money (and by the way have you seen my new DVD?)

I haven’t got the time (oh yeah, did you see that tv show? I never miss it!)

I can’t find the right charity/church/organisation (but I’m not really looking anyway)

I found that once I dedicated my time, effort and yes, even my money into a cause, that I have been more fortunate than I could have imagined when I used those same reasons not to give.

I have a great spirit from doing what I know is right, I have more energy from using my time effectively, and I have more money left over than before.

I’ve found that in helping others to be more fortunate, I’ve been blessed with fortune myself.

What can you do to be more fortunate?

An Invitation

Easter is coming!

It’s the biggest event of the Christian yearly calender and there is no way you should miss it!

What does it involve?

Chocolate, friends, church and the most inspiring story you’ve ever heard in your life!

If you want to know about what Easter is really about, please click on the link below, and find your nearest Jesus Lifehouse!

And even better news…

If you can’t come, you can watch it on-line!

Whatever you do, don’t miss out on the biggest celebration of the year.

What does Easter mean to you?

Focus

Right now, I’m on the way home from a lunch in Sendai with others from Jesus Lifehouse. We met with the Tohoku Relief Homestay students.

I really had to challenge myself to wake up at 4am, but I did it! And even before I got there I thought it was totaly worth it. Friends together, singing, telling jokes and sharing stories. We all had the same vision on mind; to meet the young people who went on the Tohoku Relief Homestay and become great friends!

I’m really looking forward to going again.

This isn’t my first time to Sendai, but each time I’m faced with challenges:

1) Waking up ridiculously early

2) Car sickness
(I’m usually only able to be in a car for 1hr 30mins before feeling REAL bad)

3) Sometimes I’m not well on the day or leading up to it. (other than car sickness)

But I find that through focusing on the purpose, Jesus, and God’s plan, my challenges become hurdles to be jumped over:

1) I can wake up full of energy.

2) I don’t get car sick! -and we are in the car for up to 6hrs each way!!! (that’s a huge miracle for me).

3) I can feel better in the moments that I really need it. If I’m unwell while I’m the car, I’ll feel great when faced with the task I’ve set out to do.

It’s easy to lose focus on the important things in life. Whats your purpose in every task you do? How are you going to get it done? And lastly, how will you overcome the challenges that stand in your way?