July 09

Well time definitely flies when you are having fun, or when you are unwell. The Last month or so has been a mixture of both. With the Swine flu and other flues spreading around NZ many people have come down with sickness that has taken them out. I thought that I would be fine, but unfortunately this was not the case. I ended up missing out on an Aglow Retreat as I was unwell, and had to return to my parents place to get better. I was in bed for 10 days. I had been feeling like it was time to have a little break, so getting the flu was a forced rest. I enjoyed having time to listen to new songs - check out kari jobe if you dont already know her, and also  Jesus Culture.

This last week I was so blessed to be a part of  'Godspace'- which was a Kids Conference- wow it was absolutely awesome. To see kids encountering God, being strengthened in their faith, and given opportunity to develop their spiritual gifts, and be inspired/encouraged and equipped to follow Christ was truly the best thing ever. I had the opportunity to share some "Girls stuff"- it was a very precious time, and we could have gone on for hours. 

Its funny how you can go to something to serve and give, but you end up receiving- I personally felt hugely inspired and  encouraged and challenged to being stepping out more, to be more bold in my prayer life, and to continue to TRUST God. I feel like I have so many uncertainties in my life, and I just want them fixed and sorted out. I was blown away by the prayer I received and it showed me once again how well God does know us. .. the words "do not worry, let go, stop trying to figure it out, flow with the Holy Spirit" - thats where I have to get back to.

I was ready to leave Wellington on Tuesday. One of the friends I stayed with got rushed to hospital on Tuesday morning, so I ended up heading to the hospital to support them - it actually ended up being a phenominal day of opportunities to share the gospel, and testify to Gods miraculous power... YES GOD IS AMAZING, he does work all things together for good, and he does make messy and hard situations beautiful in His time.

This weekend we are having a day to train our Shine girl facilitators. I am believing that this

will be a really significant and equipping day. I  feel right now that the needs of young woman in our nation are being highlighted as important. Its encouraging to see many people putting there hand up to say "I want to help make a difference in this generation". 

Another challenge that Ive had lately is to be studying the word of God. Again while I was sick someone asked me a question about  Abigail.. well to be honest i didnt know anything much about her- so my task currently is to study her life and how it relates to young woman today.

I have not finished that, and writing this reminds me that its something I will do this afternoon.

I pray that you are well, that you are knowing the Hope of Christ, being comforted by the Holy Spirit, and being strengthened in Gods word as you seek to see the next generation walk in their purpose - as Sons and Daughters of Father God.

blessings.. keep smiling and shinning your light.

katie

ON THE ROAD

Well greetings everyone, its been a while since I have written on this blog. Life has been pretty busy over the last few months. I went to Sydney in march, attended the Shine training day and also the Children in Prayer Consultation for Australia. It was an AWESOME time away. We caught up with friends who we met in India last year which was an added bonus.

Currently I am having a day off.. in Christchurch. I have been on the road for the last 3 weeks, and have another week to go on this part of the journey. I left Tauranga on the 17th April with my awesome friend Dayna. We made our way to Wellington.

I spent afew days doing work in the office - funding applications for shine and doing admin etc. On the 22nd April I flew to Christchurch for the night, then got up earlyish and flew to Queenstown on the 24th. The lower South Island Aglow Retreat was held over the weekend, it was an awesome time. My parents came to do the cooking which was really great. Its always a blessing to be able to spend time with family, and serve God together. The speaker at the Retreat was Gloria Donovan, she was just great. She encouraged us to press into God for the promises he has given us, and not give up in the seasons of hardship and trial. It was a timely message.

After the retreat we spent afew days enjoying the amazing creation of Queenstown.. and also meeting up with some amazing locals. Jacqui - who is travelling with me, ( gospel singer from USA)... and I got to spend time with the kids from the Christian School. We had heaps of left over food from the camp so gave that to the school as well - it again was a timely gift as some families were in need of food. GODS TIMING IS PERFECT... and HIS PROVISION AMAZING.

On Thursday the 30th Jacqui and I flew to Christchurch. We have been meeting amazing people, and have had the opportunity to lead worship, speak, and reach out to the community. Yesterday we were at a cafe outreach in Aranui, it was awesome to meet people from the area, and see them receive practical, emotional and spiritual help. I really feel like God is doing some awesome networking at the moment.. which is awesome, He is opening doors, and bringing the Kingdom of God together.  I was reading some scriptures this morning about helping the poor, and was reminded again that this is very much part of what we are called by God to do. I am praying that more radical lovers of God would be raised up to do what Isaiah 61 says- " Preach Good news to the poor, bind up the broken hearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lords favor, and the day of vengeance of our God.... you can read more in your bibles... its awesome.

There are more Shine groups starting up which is so cool, one in Taupo, and two in Tauranga, God is really placing on peoples hearts the importance of reaching this generation, and not expecting them to come to our meetings, but going to them. Shine groups are definitely an awesome way to bring life, encouragement, purpose, value and hope to the young woman of this nation.

I hope that you are encouraged from reading this, and that you are spurred on today to be a light for Christ, and a witness to the world that Jesus is ALIVE.

Blessings, and love... keeping Shinning for JESUS

katie

SHINE GIRLS SHINE

hello precious people...

It is definitely time for an update... The last few months have been busy... and I have been a little slack with my blogging. SOOOOO..... here goes..

I personally have had the blessing of attending some conferences. The first was Compass Conference. This was run up at Snells Beach. There were about 120 young adults from around NZ who came together and got taught about world view, faith and culture. It was definitely a thought provoking time, encouraging and challenging. I enjoyed hearing about the history of God movements, and thinking about what God is doing today, specifically in NZ.

After this week I headed back to Wellington for two weeks. We held the Aglow leaders summit and this was a great time of encouragement. My Mum came to this which was COOL.

In February I was again hugely blessed to be at Father Heart Ministries school for a week in Taupo. My Dad was on the school to - so that was really special. During this week I learnt alot about how God loves us as  Father, and how the relationship  we have with our parents effects how we view God as Father. By the end of the week I felt SOOOO different and SOOOOO free. I  had some personal breakthroughs .. which I know I really needed.

The last few weeks have been busy with Aglow work. I have been down to Wellington for meetings,  and then have spoken at Mount and TeAwamutu Aglow. We have started up Shine at Tauranga Intermediate, and have other towns that want to start shine. I am helping facilitate this.

Just this week I was at a camp run by the Police Youth department. We went away with 10 teenage girls. ..  wow.. we had an awesome time. The girls got really treated, and It was very cool to see how they changed over the week. I'm looking forward to keeping in touch with them

One of the things that Ive been concerned about lately is the Immunisation that the government is funding - for teenage girls - against cervical cancer. I guess I am concerned that this movement is in a way encouraging sexual promiscuity amongst our young woman.  I believe that its time to bring a message to the young of woman of NZ that they have the power to Choose, and to say no, and what the benefits of this is. Many young woman feel so empty, so desperate for love, so lonely, that they are willing to take whatever comes there way. This saddens me, and I know it saddens God. I know its not the way we were designed to live. 

I am in the process of praying, and planning and putting my thoughts into action in regards to bringing a message and support to NZ young Woman.  If you want to be involved... let me know!!

I think thats all for now... ill write again soon.... be encouraged today that you are loved by God, and that his love is enough for you.

2009 - HOPE... and JOY

HAPPY NEW YEAR

It's 2009. Wow last year went so fast. Its amazing to look back the year and take time to remember what God has done in our lives. I had a very full year in 08. I travelled more than I ever have in my life. I took more plane flights that i expected I would, and I'm thankful for that. Other wise I would have been doing ALOT of driving. 2008 for me was also a year of seeing some of my  DREAMS start to be SET in motion. I'm hoping that 2009 I will continue to be bold in seeing these fulfilled. I hope that if you haven't already got a dream that maybe this year would be the year taht you get one... for GOD can do MORE than we could ASK - DREAM or IMAGINE.

I hope that you have had some time to stop and reflect on your year in 08, and have had time to set some goals for 09. I have been enjoying some time time to rest. Its been nice to be at home with my parents and not do much.  

I was praying yesterday and I felt got speak to me from the book of Hosea Chatper 2. I have read this chapter a number of times... the bit that I felt stuck out to me yesterday was the part where its says "I will make the valley of Achor a door of hope". I didn't know what this meant so I hit the internet up.. (yay for online bibles). It said that achor means 'trouble'. It actually really encouraged me. It was as if God was specifically saying to me that the troubles I've been facing, and maybe you to.. that he was going to use them to open up a door of HOPE. I don't know about you but I've been facing a number of challenges, and this word really did bring life to me, and encouragement that there was HOPE coming from the trouble.

I'm reminded in the book of James where it says "Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds, because the testing of your faith develops perseverance  and perseverance must finish its work in us so that we may become mature and complete- not lacking anything". 

Thats a pretty straight up word  from God, and I guess its one I need to remember right now - and maybe you do to.

As you continue into 2009 I hope and pray that you will have HOPE... and be encouraged daily as you choose to consider all the things you face with JOY.. 

If you are facing troubles, take God at His word and believe that God will open up a door of HOPE for you to walk through.

Many blessings

katie

Well hello beautiful people!!

Its been a while since I wrote.. things have been cruising along- with a few bumpy patches. Yes that is life, and sometimes those bumpy patches are VERY hard. Its these bumpy patches that teach us so much, and reveal to us who is in control our lives. I have been blown away by how God has been revealing himself to me through this challenging situations.

I am currently in Auckland. Its been an awesome few days here. I went to Teen Aglow meeting in Pakuranga on Tuesday night. WOW - what a phenominal group of young woman. It kinda made me want to move back to Auckland.. hehe

There were some powerful testimonies of how God has answered prayer and how God had spoken to the girls about different things that he had for them in their lives. It was really encouraging to see confidence and boldness arising, and fear being cast out. As Christ followers we need to NOT throw away our confidence. The gospel would never get preached if we were not bold. God has chosen us to be his representatives on earth so we really need to get rid of the fear that is holding us back. Maybe taking some time to sit and SOAK in GODS LOVE is the thing this generation has not been doing. We are all soooo busy DOING STUFF, that we often forget that we need to spend time in the word of God, in prayer, worshipping God in a quiet place... and in these times fear will get cast out - cause REMEMBER - perfect love casts out ALL FEAR. Perfect love can only come from GOD.

My hope and prayer for this generation is that we would learn to find the greatest love of all - JESUS.... let him romance us, be our first love... and out of this love relationship that we have that we can fulfill the great commission- and fulfill the purpose for which GOD CHOSE TO MAKE US....

 

OK... so thats a bit of what I've been thinking of lately... and where I'm at personally... 

Next week I head down to Wellington for the Aglow quarterly board meeting. This will be great to connect with our Advisors and have time to reflect on the year ending, and the new one approaching...

My saying for 2009 is ... 2009 - love divine...  Lets believe that as we head out of 08 into 09 that we experience this LOVE DIVINE from CHRIST ALONE....

Keep in touch... and keep your eyes open for events near year that will kick off in 09

love... katie

Christchurch - city of Action

Hey.. Have just returned from an awesome time in Christchurch. We had a generations retreat. It was an awesome time of encouragement, fun, ministry, and refreshment. There were about 40 woman. After the camp I got to meet up an awesome woman who works in Aranui, Christchurch. She has an amazing ministry run out of her home to the people in her neighbourhood. WOW... she feeds them, clothes them, furnishes homes, ministers value, hope and the truth of Jesus. This was a highlight of my time in Christchurch. It was exciting to see how God is using the simple things we have.. and a whole lot of FAITH,, boldness and courage to reach this generation and bring hope to many people. I am praying about how this ministry can be part of the generations project... i know that already it has inspired me greatly... hopefully you to.

My encouragement to you today is to USE WHATS IN YOUR HAND, and in you HEART. Combine it with FAITH... choose to step out and JUST DO IT. The Lord will be faithful to provide as you follow him. You will be amazed at what HE DOES!!

blessings.. and i'll write again soon