The Cross of Jesus Christ

'Why does God allow suffering?' How many times have you heard someone ask that , or even asked it yourself? I know I have... I was recently watching a DVD message from Louie Giglio and he brought a whole new light to this question.

John 16:33 says- 'I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.' Jesus tells us WE WILL have troubles in this world.... as Christians we are fighting a battle against the enemy. In that battle, there will be hard times.... Louie then went on to say some of the most profound words that I have heard in a long time....

He says that when the bottom of life falls out on us, we look at the situation and question it. We may be crushed, heartbroken, or absolutely devastated and feel that the nothing in life matters anymore. But it is in those times that we should look at the cross of Jesus Christ.

Imagine that you were there on that Good Friday- watching Jesus be beaten and crucified... the One that you had put so much trust, faith and hope in. You truly believed that He was the Saviour of the world, yet you are watching him die. Those people that were there must have been thinking that that was the absolute worst thing that could ever have happened. It was the worst thing- the Son of the Living God was being crucified. I have no idea what I would have done if I was there that day. But I wasn't... I am here some 2000 years later, looking at the cross of Christ with a much different perspective. When I look at what happen that day, I see that it was in fact the GREATEST thing that has ever happen in this world.

So you see, when hard times come, and they will... we may think that it is the worst thing ever, but we must have that peace in God, knowing that He can take that terrible, horrible situation and turn it into something beautiful.

I hope that I will be able to praise my Lord in the hard times, knowing that He is with me!

Family

So I am just realising that it has been a LONG time since my last post.... how time gets away. In that time, I have been blessed to have my family here..... family- comes in many forms.
For starters, I had a visit from my Aunt Aggie and Uncle Craig, along with my cousins Chandra and Beth. They were all here for the first two weeks of June. During that time, we not only got to see the sites of Brisbane, and have them at my church, we also went on a road trip to the Outback and then came back along the coast and spent a day on the Great Barrier Reef. What fun that was, but most of all, it was the time spent with people that I love. My aunt and uncle returned to America after 2 weeks but my cousins stayed on for an additional 4 weeks. How lucky am I? We had the best time together.. many times of laughter and just getting to know each other better. Chandra and Beth, you are both such a blessing to me- glad that you are MY family.

The last two weeks that they were here, we were joined by the GO! Team from Knott Ave. Christian Church.. this was the 7th year that a team has come over (I was on the first team). Again, there are people that were a part of that team that are family- maybe not 'blood relatives' but they are family. I got to have my little sis, KC stay here at my house. What fun was that... and Sarah, you know you are my sis now! Robert (and Liz) are family... and I love you all so much. And as I got to know other members of the team, they too have become family to me....

But the exciting part about my 'family' coming here, is that they were able to meet and get to know the family that God has blessed me with here. Tim & Kyle, Des & Lena, Jon & DJ, Carlos, Harry, Wayne & Regina, Annette & Prince, and so many more-you are my family.

What is it that bring us all together? It is the common bond of Christ- that we are ALL God's children.... therefore we ARE family. It does not matter where you live, near or far, we are all family. I am blessed!!!