Searching for pupose

My brother is a scientologist.. It causes so much trouble within the family, and so much confusion. My brother was looking and searching for a while. He always knew their was something missing. He said he tried catholic and christian churches, but it did nothing for him. I knew he was wrong, like duh. Jesus is THE answer! Going to church isn't supposed to 'do something' for you as such. We don't go to church so we can feel great about ourselves. It's not about us, it's all about Jesus. But that is something he just didn't pick up.
I heard him talking today to his girlfriend telling her that there are going to be 3 new scientology ads... oh yay, just what we need : He was explaining the ads were talking about people looking, searching. Finding their purpose, and that scientology had all the answers.

Are we as christians not doing all we can to spread the good news about Jesus? Letting the world know that Jesus is the answer.. I don't think we are, because a lot of people in the world are settling for something less. Something that seems to make sense to them, something to make them feel good. People are always looking for things to make them feel good. Being a christian isn't about making you feel good, infact being a christian you might feel crap a lot of the time, getting persecuted by the world, and spiritually attacked also, for standing up for Jesus. People who find things that make them happy is great. They'll be happy for life. But what about eternity...

It's not about us. We didn't do anything to deserve Jesus dying for us. We were Saved by the Grace of God. Praise Jesus!

'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' - Romans 5:8

Mark'd Foundations

I started Mark'd Foundation today! For those of you who don't know what it is, it's a course in youth & childrens ministries. I study at the Salvation Army training college, and i think i do 3 or 4 classes a semester, and also placement within my church.

This morning I had a church history class. I got a few things out of it, but it was mostly confusing. Afterwards i was like.. what the heck was going on. But I feel confident that I can get through it. After my first class we had lunch. That was the best, because I got to have lunch with the cadets, some of which i miss very muchly =(
After lunch the Mark'd kids had an introduction to youth ministries class with Cath Garcia, wonderful lady! She took us out for coffee for the first bit of the class, as a 'get to know you' thing. Was good. We then got back to the college and got to have a look around, then got into our class. I love class discussions, we can really learn from eachother, and get different perspectives on things.. because it's sorta like one persons weaknesses are another persons strength. That class was really interesting, and i love Cath as my teacher =D

I cant wait for the year ahead, and to learn more and to grow closer and closer to Jesus, and just to take everything in His timing.
So excited I just cant wait! I just want more!

Bless you all x

Soldier choices

Sunday the 15th of Feb I got enrolled as a soldier at Macleod corps. I was so scared at first, and the devil kept putting thoughts into my head saying why would i want to do this? just moments before. Maybe its like before you get married, and it that cold feet thing? =P
I was a bit nervous during the service. My family was there, who arn't christians, who dont fully understand the reasons why i wanted to become a soldier. I was thinking, what are they going to think. Would they laugh? disown me? I soon realised that I was scared over nothing. This was a covenant between me and God, no one else. It didn't matter if there was 50 people there or no people there. I became a soldier because I believe that's what God wants me to do. I want to please God & obey Him.

I have been in the Salvation Army for about 5 years now. A couple of years ago I felt like I was being forced to be a soldier. Like thats what people expected of me. I found that scary, and totally rebelled against it, and not sure if I could even say I had much of a relationship with God.

Being in a Salvation Army church, I've found that teenagers do feel pressured into becoming soldiers by usually the 'traditional' salvos. Being a soldier in the Salvation Army does not mean you're a better/more experienced christian. You don't have to be a soldier in the Salvation Army to be apart of Gods Army. God has different plans for everyone.

I am so glad that one of Gods plans for me was to be enrolled as a Soldier. Thinking about it about a year or more ago was heaps scary, and I praise Jesus that it was all in His perfect timing and no body elses. I don't regret my rebellious stage either, because it showed me what I didn't want to be like. Praise Jesus. It wasn't a mistake.. But more of a 'learning curve' ;) I feel really pumped up with the spirit since my enrollment.

Bless you all stacks!
Senior Soldier Sarah Eley ;) whoohoo!

Gods Call

Nothing saddens me more than people turning away from God, and going there own way, ignoring the call upon their lifes.



Jesus has told us in Matthew 28:18-20 :

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Amen to that! Thats what God has called us all to do throughout our life. But I want to talk more about our individual callings. Some people are called to be officers, youth workers, nurses, dancers, police officers, missonaries.. i could go on.

Finishing school last year(finally) has made me think about the future a lot. I am lucky, for a few years now I know that I was going to be a youth worker. But for other people leaving school are confused about what they're supposed to do. I think i worry about my christian friends a bit- I want them to do something they'll enjoy, but most of all I want them to study or work for what God has called them to do. Some people might say I'm being silly. But God has a PLAN for our lives, he has set our paths for us.. I'm not saying everyone should become ministers, and all work in the church, so i hope ur not getting that vibe.

I just want people to follow Jesus and take His path for them. Maybe Jesus wants someone to be a dancer and open dance ministries or something like that. Or someone to be a nurse and witness for Jesus to all the patients? I have no idea what plans God has for anyone. All I know is that he HAS plans for everyone. We have to put our own personal interests behind us, and ask what God wants. I just hope and pray we follow what Jesus wants for us.

this is a bit scrappy this blog.

I have to preach later on this year, so hopefully I'll be able to preach on following Gods call.. I'm really passionate about this, and just want everyone to follow Jesus and live for Him.

Bless you all xx

UNITY

Why, as christians do we fight about petty things?
Why in the Salvation Army are there feuds amongst us when we're all supposed to be working for the same thing. The thing that had brought us together as an army.

I've been attending the Salvation Army church for about 5 years now. I have observed a lot of things, and one of them which i notice is that there are a lot of feuds between soldiers, officers and churchs etc. It saddens me and even makes me feel sick that the people are forgetting what the Army does, what we're living for, what we're fighting for.

We are the Salvation ARMY:

Armies stick together, work together to achieve their goal they're fighting for, do they not? A true Army does not back down from achieving their goal. An Army is too focussed on their goal to let petty things stop them from achieving what they're fighting for.

The devil WANTS you to fight, have arguments and be negative on anything. Even though feuds may be small, its impact can be big.. its stopping us from letting Gods will on earth to be done. Doesn't God want us all to live in harmony? Jesus has called us to the army to fight FOR Him, not against Him. We're called to lead people to Christ, to be the light in the darkness.

We are an ARMY. A large body of persons trained up to work together and armed for war. Sounds about right yeah?

How can we work together when there are feuds within the church? Is there anything in your life thats stopping you from achieving the Kindom of God here in your life. Maybe its a petty feud with someone, or you havent forgiven someone.

Id say.. Get over it.

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Taming the Tongue

Sometimes I am too quick to jump into things. I am quick to speak without looking at the bigger picture(which can lead me to judge things/people/situations), and at time i can be really sarcastic and rude. I don't mean to say anything rude, and i can't help my sarcasm- you have no idea how hard it is not to be sarcastic for me =P. People might think I am a bit obnoxious sometimes, but that's just the way I am. Im not happy with it, I don't enjoy doing it and I'm trying to think before I speak lately.
I have trouble with looking at the bigger picture, I like to be right, and when I'm wrong I do get embarrassed, but I'm too good at not showing it. Sometimes I put my foot in it so bad I wonder how I have ever recovered.
I want to be more observant to how things I say would effect other people. Tonight in bible study we were talking about taming the tongue, it made me kinda upset because I know I say things I dont mean, and I could be hurting people and not even realising it.

I Love Jesus.. I want to love my neighbours as I love myself. I'm living for Jesus, I want to do what he commands, I want to obey what he says.

Bless you all throughout the week xxxxx

1 Timothy 4:12

Lately it seems like people are always telling me what to do. It seems to be coming from the people at church the most. I really dont like it. I know it's because I'm younger and people think sometimes that because they're older they're right and 'wiser'. I have one person belittling me because they're intimidated by me, and another few people treating me like im a child sometimes, and it really makes me feel outcasted. This has kind of made me feel like giving my opinion isnt important or taken in anymore.. or maybe has never been? These are people who are my friends but yet i dont feel they treat me equal to them. I just don't feel appreciated a lot of the time.

hmmm.. Just something thats on my mind.

12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

- 1 Timothy 4:12

Amen to that!