James 3:9,10

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Life of Aborigines Second Worst in World

I saw this article and realised my passion is still with these people. They are my brothers. They are my sisters. They are family and we need to break the division down, of racism, differences and past and allow a new generation to come up. These people should not be forgotten!!! Who are we to leave out brothers behind for the advancement of our self gain of civilisation?

(http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/27/1082831568285.html)

By Andra Jackson
April 28, 2004

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A Canadian study on education, life expectancy and wealth shows a marked difference between Aboriginal and non-indigenous Australians - and the rest of the world.
Picture:Terry Trewin

The quality of life of Australia's Aborigines is the second worst on the planet, according to a Canadian study of 100 countries.

Only China performed worse, according to a United Nations index that measures human development.

Australia, however, ranked fourth after Norway, Iceland and Sweden on the level of human development accorded its general population.

The human development measure was compiled from three other measurements - educational attainment, life expectancy at birth and median income levels, researcher Martin Cook said.

The findings were presented to the 18th World Conference on Health Promotion and Health Education in Melbourne yesterday.

Mr Cook, who is a PhD student in sociology at the Western Ontario University, said the index "is a simple blunt measurement that hides a lot of complexities".

The study also compared the development of Canada's Inuit, New Zealand Maori, America's Indians and Australia's Aborigines over the past decade.

"Australia didn't fare best in any of the individual measurements on levels on education attainment, life expectancy and the income gap between indigenous and non-indigenous populations, and it was clearly the worst on overall human development," Mr Cook said yesterday.

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It tracked indigenes' progress from the 1990s to 2001 using census data and life-expectancy estimates. It found Australia had the highest gap in educational attainment between its indigenous and non-indigenous population. It also showed that during that decade the educational gap between the two groups in Australia widened even further.

The gap in life expectancy between the indigenous and non-indigenous in Australia was the widest of the four countries examined.

Mr Cook said the message from the study was that "we should not be complacent, the gaps can increase between indigenous and non-indigenous people even when the overall development levels of a country are increasing".

Epiphany and confirmation... WHO ARE WE TO HOLD OUR PAST LIVES TIGHTLY WRAPPED AROUND US. BE FREE!!! (Ephesians 5:6-9, 11-20 NIV)

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

(A small selection of our handmade crosses, laid out at Walmart). 

(View from the Port Arthur Walmart - there were cows!!!)

Just Show Up - Crisis of Character (Shannon Deitz)

Here's another blog entry from Shannon Deitz. 

http://www.shannonmdeitz.com/just-show-up-crisis-of-character

The enemy is tricky. He’ll find any loophole in order to weasel is way in and cause havoc. I’ll admit, this week has felt like he pounced on a brief weak moment and latched on.

I have not liked myself this week. When I had that sudden confrontation earlier in the week it triggered something within me that the enemy latched onto and brought me back to feelings and emotions I felt I’d overcome years ago.

This morning in adoration as I knelt in prayer the phrase rang through my head – Crisis of Character. I’m having a brief (yes, Lord, please be very brief) crisis of character. This sense of animosity, pride, hostility and anger is not who I have become in Christ. It is the ‘old’ me and I don’t ever want to go back.

In prayer I asked God, “What do I do? Help me, Lord.” And immediately I began to think about the verse He gave me so long ago and has been leading me to use when at my last speaking engagements.

Ephesians 5:6-20

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient.  So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them,for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will give you light.”

Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,addressing one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,giving thanks alwaysand for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

I need to get rid of the ‘empty arguments’ and tryto do better. Immediately I felt a sense of peace. My battle is not over. The enemy will try his best to continue to trip me up but I have a greater power on my side – the best defense yet.

Thank God (literally) I don’t have to figure this out on my own.

Blessings
Shannon

Unhopelessness - a blog entry found on Shannon Deitz's website

http://www.shannonmdeitz.com/just-show-up-unhopeless-guest-post-by-takiela-bynum

Blessed to have a special guest post for you today.  Takiela and I are bothChoose-Now Columnists ‘On Hope’and what I love about Takiela is her passion to help young women who hurt and choose to self-harm because of this hurt.  When we self-harm we are giving into the hurt and loving it MORE than we love ourselves.  We are allowing the worthlessness and shame to mute our true feelings and emotions and the only way they can be released is through the cut, the purge, the starvation, or self-medication.  It’s time we take back our lives and begin to LOVE OURSELVES MORE than the blade, the warped image and high.  YOU ARE WORTH MORE.

Here is Takiela’s story of learning to love herself MORE:

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unHOPEless

Some people cut for relief, I cut because I wanted to die.

She’d taken several pain killers to prevent her from feeling any pain. Besides, she needed a backup plan in case the other thing didn’t work out.

She located the vein, turned her head and quickly slid the razor across her flesh. She winced at the sharp sting. The warm ooze drizzled down her hand and left its trail on the hard wood floor. She climbed into bed and hoped for death to quietly greet her while she slept.

That was a dark day in my teen life, one I’ll probably never forget. The pain and hurt I endured left me hopeless. Numb from any feelings of hope and craving death.

I know what it’s like to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Family issues, the kids at school, boy drama, grades, and the list goes on. Sometimes, life has a way of upgrading from bad to worse.

When in a hopeless state of mind, having hopeless thoughts and making hopeless decisions come with the territory (i.e. depression, cutting, suicide thoughts/attempts, etc.)

In actuality, although I didn’t realize it at the time, my hopeless disposition conveyed that even God is incapable of salvaging my mess of a life. It’s entirely too complicated for Him. From my view, things were the worst it could ever be and would always be this way – hopeless. Ultimately, I shut out the only One who could bring me out.

Thank God His view is far beyond mine, His thoughts and ways soar high above my own. I was absolutely oblivious to God’s plan for my life. I desired death, but the Lord…abundant life. There is no way anyone would have convinced me that God had a plan for my life that was full of hope. I would have completely rejected the idea.

Since I was a little girl I’ve I loved math. Why? Because to every problem there was an answer, each formula would provide an inevitable solution, simplifying the complex. I wanted answers to my life’s problems. Me plus life never equaled hope. Ever. However, Christ plus life always equals hope. Always. It took some time, but after many struggles here’s what I know, the Lord is my answer and He is neither simple nor complicated.

Can you relate to any of my struggles? Do you know anyone who self-harms? I’d like to invite you to join me in taking The Scarless Pledge right now!

Today let’s make a pledge, from this day forward we’re going “scarless!” We can’t do anything about the old scars but we can choose not to make new scars. Let’s put down our razors and pick up scarlet red eyeliner. When or if we ever get the urge to cut, use the red eyeliner. It’ll help remind you of the blood Jesus shed on the cross for you and it’ll also wash away…never leaving a scar.

I, (insert name here), being of sound mind and body, here do pledge to God and all who love me on this month (insert month here), of this day(insert day here), in this year (insert year here) to bury all self-harming ways, never to be exhumed again! In the sight of God and all witnesses, I promise if and/or when I get the urge to self-harm, I’ll replace my instrument of destruction with an instrument that represents hope, a scarlet red eyeliner pencil, instead. I will do this in remembrance of the blood Jesus shed on the cross for me, (insert name here). I am committed to the “scarless” pledge. With God nothing is impossible.

Find an accountability partner, someone who will help you commit to this pledge. Know that you have fans cheering you on and praying for you in heaven and all over the earth. Even though I’ll already be praying, if you’d like me to pray for a specific person/situation or if I can help in another way comment below publicly or email me privately (takiela@takielabynum.com).Take the “scarless” pledge today!

 

Find out more at www.TakielaBynum.com

Takiela Bynum is a speaker and author with a passion for hurting women (teens/adults). She empowers and encourages young women to have hope in Christ, equipping them with the tools (word of God) necessary to live victoriously in spite of life’s tragedies. She tackles hard topics while pointing young women to the redemptive power of the cross.

In addition, she mentors young women (teens/adults), is a Ministry Leader at Campus Crusaders for Christ (also known as Cru, formerly known as Student Venture), a writer for the Sisterhood Magazine, Choose NOW Ministries (with Nicole O’Dell) and more. A sought-after speaker for women’s events and youth, Takiela has been key note speaker and session/workshop speaker at numerous conferences, retreats, and events.

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You do not have to be an author to tell YOUR STORY.  I want to hear from YOU.  When you are able to have a voice not only do others listen but they realize they are not alone.  Email me at hopefulhearts333@gmail.com  if you are interested in telling your story on Just Show Up, it can be anonymous or if you have a ministry or story of HOPE to offer we’d love to highlight how God has ‘shown up’ in your life!

Blessings,

Shannon

Just Let Him In

Even though fire and fury surround me,

I will trust in The Lord. 

Even though comparison screams 'You're not good enough', I will trust in The Lord. 

Even though I watch the world shrivel around me, I will trust in The Lord. 

For who am I to think that I'm better than He?

Who am I to try and control my own path of destiny?

Can I force the hand of The Lord and expect His benefits to be given to me?

With a turbulence of doubts, comes a chance to fight. 

With an erosion of self-confidence comes an opportunity to surrender. 

With a lack of open ears, shows the necessity to run to Him. 

For what is man to walk alone? Will not His path dash to ashes? A God above has an open door, just waiting for us to uncover our bodies and let Him truly in. 

A few shots from today... On the way to Liberty, Texas.

2 Chronicles 15:10

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded". 

1 Samuel 16:7

"But The Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the outward appearance but The Lord looks at the heart."

CHOICE

Consider and remember this... We always have a choice to choose what attitude we are going to have in a day. One of happiness or one of depression, one of frustration or one of gratification. We can choose if we are going to be happy or sad. What do you choose? (Taken from this last 24 hours of life lessons I am having to learn ;) )