NEWS

Well hello there people who read this.. not sure if many do but thats ok. It's quite fun taking time out to think about whats been happening over the last month or so. I am blown by the provision, faithfulness, love and reality of God- my friend and saviour. 

WOW. What a God we serve.  The pictures below are a little taste of what I've been up to. In mid april I headed down to Taupo, levin, then Wellington. I spent a night with my parents, two nights with my Anna and Mike ( sista and bro n law), then spent 5 nights in Wellington. I attended the Aglow national Convention which was held at Parliament. I have recently come on to the board of Aglow to  head up the generations project. I am really excited about this, and am expectant at what God is going to do through this. I've just started so things will start to unfold soon.  The conference was awesome. I felt humbled to be there, and know that it was a significant event in our nation.  The Aglow International CEO was at the conference and it was so cool to hear her messages, and spend some time talking about the generations project and what God is doing around the world.  

After being in wellington I headed back to Taupo for a week and helped at Kids Camp. It was another awesome week. It was TOTALLY different to the conference , but its awesome to know that GOD does NOT change, his heart for his creation- us humans - is always the same - full of absolute Love and passion.  It was fun to be at camp and hang out with young ones who have so much energy and zeal for life.  I love how children especially are so open, hungry and willing to trust and just be real.  WE can learn alot from the children. 

This last week I have been having  a quieter week at home, catching up on sleep, and visiting friends. I spoke at an Aglow meeting here in Tauranga on Thursday and that was a good time. This week I will be doing some relief teaching - which I'm excited about as I love to connect with young people. I'm heading to Auckland on Friday for the memorial service of the precious students and teacher who died from Elim Christian College ( school i use to teach at). It will be a very special yet I'm sure sobering celebration of their amazing lives. 

This morning at Church we had an awesome sermon on LOVE...! Definitely one of the most important things we need to be doing.... loving God and loving others.  As the days move closer and closer to the return of JESUS we need to be constantly aware that our Love needs to grow stronger. It says in the bible that Love of most will grow cold.  Its a challenge to us all to keep the love in our hearts growing every day. We can  only grow in love as we spend time with the best lover ever - which is Jesus... so be encouraged to come to Him and let you love tank be filled so that you can then share love with others.

on that note... i will close. till next time.. love and blessings,, katie 

God is GOOD

Lots has been happening over the last month..i think its time for a wee update..

At the end of February I was blessed to be able to  attend the Todd Bently Conference in Auckland.  It was an awesome few days of being inspired, and seeing God do powerful things. I felt like God used this time to confirm to me some things that he had been speaking to me about- which is always good!!

After this time in Auckland I  moved to new house in Papamoa, and have been here nearly a month. Its near the beach and is a HUGE blessing. I headed up to Auckland afew weeks back and spoke and lead worship at Aglow North Shore. It was a special time of being in the presence of God. I returned home on the Friday and had Lunch with a good friend Deb - we went to the local christian Bookshop and we both ended up getting a book called "The Deborah Company". I read this book last week and it has really encouraged me and challenged me. I have been in the process of making some decisions regarding things I will be doing this year and through reading this book, i knew it was time to make the decision. I have the opportunity to help Algow NZ in reaching the next generation of woman of our nation- and the nations... so I have said yes to this opportunity. Its a big faith step... and its exciting.. yet a little scary to... but i am excited.  I have really been challenged about stepping up and using the gifts that God has given me- and be who he has made me to be.   I want to encourage others to do the same - and I know that by being part of Aglow ministry this will be able to happen.

I just went for a walk on the beach this morning with my Dad - who stayed the night... as I was walking I felt a bit of a challenge to be more intentional about sharing the awesome news of Jesus with other people. I wonder sometimes why I'm sooooo shy, and not out their with my faith. I mean hello... we have the best news in the world. So ... hopefully over the next week I will have some stories to share on my blog about the bold steps i'm taking in sharing my faith.

Many blessings... keep smiling... and remember you are LOVED

My break in TAUPO

Hello.. Well i am having a wee break in Taupo for a few days with a great friend of mine - Brooke - from the USA. We were flatmates in 2004.  Brooke is out here for afew weeks, so its been so awesome to catch up with her. I love the Lords timing - its so perfect. I feel like I'm at the start of a new season.. some changes are happening for me - like living situation, work etc. Its awesome to know that the Lord knows what we need before we even ask. 

I have just received an amazing gift of a New Computer - i am using it now.. its a Mac Book. I am so blown away by the Lords provision, and the generosity of the people who gave it to me. 

I was at the lake yesterday- enjoying some time with God.. i was reminded of Psalm 1 where it talks about Being like a tree planted by streams of water. The part of the Lake we were at was a surrounded by lots and lots of trees- I was asking the Lord about this. Trees are quite amazing- they get planted.. and they grow.. and they go through the seasons. Some seasons they do not bear fruit etc. some they do. I was encouraged by my thoughts about trees. I found some verses in Gen 2, and Rev 22 - wow -Life started with the Tree - with Adam and Eve, and it will end with a tree - in Heaven - the Tree of Life. This gave me some great perspective. 

Life can be hard, and its easy to get distracted by things of the world and he situations we are facing.  Rev 2 - says to the Church in Ephesus - Return to your FIRST love, - do the things you did at first, Repent - return to the Lord - Get back to what its all really about.     verse 7 says - He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. To him who overcomes I will right to eat from the TREE of life which is in the paradise of God.

I dont know about you, but I know for me right now I need to return to my first LOVE, JESUS -do the things I did when I first came to know him.. Get back to the most important thing of all. Let the things of the world, and the challenges of Life be bought into right perspective - realising that through JEsus we can overcome...and one day we will be with Him in Paradise- eating from that TREE...!  

My prayer today is that we would return to JESUS - fall in Love with him again - do the things we did at first.. and know the overcoming power for JESUS today!!

SHINE

Shine - The girls mentoring groups that i'm involved with started today. We started a group at Aquinas College - which is just up the road from my house. We had 5 beauitful girls today and next week there will be another 3 girls join the group. We had lots of fun talking about how unique and special we are, and how we need to look after the bodies that we have. The girls learnt about skin care and even got to do a special facial on themselves - this is always a cool start to the programme as its often something the girls have never done before.

February has come FAST

Well 2008 is definitely rolling... I can't believe that we have already into February. This year is set to be a very interesting one for me. I have just resigned from my piano teaching job, and am trusting God for the next thing that he has for me. ( I will write another update soon with more information on this). I am excited about this step- although I know that it will have its challenges to.
One of my very special friends Brooke - who I flatted with in 2004 is in NZ for a holiday, so I am looking forward to seeing her soon and having a wee holiday with her. I am heading up to Auckland next week to pick up a Laptop that i have been very generously given. This too is a major answer to prayer, and such a provision from God. I have been wanting to be able to record music, and generally keep up with the times, espeically with ministry things this computer will be a great aid. God is sooo good.
Next week the Shine mentoring prgramme that i help with is staring. There is a possiblity of 3 schools this term... so it could be busy. Its an amazing blessing to be part of this ministry, and I believe that it is going to grow even more in NZ.
I have been enjoying spending time at the Tauranga house of Prayer.. and am going to be making this a prioirty. I know that right now its a very important time to be keeping my heart soft towards God, and open to Him- and desperate for Him.

Well I will write again soon.... be blessed lots
katie