Today was Kids Club, day 2.
It's been going really well.
Everything has been so well done, and the children seem to be having an awesome time. They really seem to be getting into the story, and really understanding what we are trying to teach them. My hunch is its going to be the best Kids club I've ever been involved in- and I've been involved in at least 15 in my life!
So much of the time in ministry you feel like you are pushing, pushing, pushing people to be enthusiastic about ministry.
Sometimes you tear your hair out about people not doing their share of the work.
Sometimes in ministry you spend weeks and months leading up to an event like kids club, doing the admin that you hate and thinking- this is so hard!
And then sometimes- you sit back and watch incredibly gifted, godly people, who work their butts of to serve Jesus and the precious children he loves so much. And you see God doing amazing things in the lives and kids.
And you think to yourself. Oh right. That's why I do this job again.
love B
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
What my blog is
Hello people,
It's a strange thing with this blog. Up to about 3 months ago I was under the impression that what I wrote on this blog- though intended for whoever wants to hear it- was only really going to a few people. I could have almost counted them on one hand- and when I wrote- I basically had in mind that the people reading it would be my sister, my friend's Fi and Suz, my sister-in-law-to-be Angie (who is also my friend of course :), and a few old friends who I've reacquainted with through their blogs.
But over the last few months i keep finding out that there are actually lots of people who do read by blog, sporadically perhaps- but I've at least moved off counting my fingers to having to count using my toes ;)
Nothing like the huge readership of most of the blogs I read, or even some of my friends, but slightly intimidating none the less.
I always find it funny to read blog posts on blogging. But here is one.
When I first started this blog in 2008, I was a studying first year Bible College student, terribly homesick for Melbourne, who was feeling strange because for the first time in many years she wasn't really doing any formal ministry. Part of the idea of the blog was that maybe this would be the much needed avenue for reflecting on and sharing what I was learning. For some reason it didn't really turn out like that.
Then I started my Kids/Women's ministry job. And I quickly gave up any intention of making this blog a deliberate "ministry". I was too tired, and to be honest whenever I started writing a post that was to instruct or teach, I felt a bit overwhelmed. I didn't feel like an expert enough in anything to write something instructive. I would write such posts, but I would always feel a bit proud and arrogant, and they would remain in my drafts folder. I think that I underestimate myself. I have lots of things I could say that might be helpful- but until that knowledge is reflected in how I feel about it- this blog will remain a reflection of what I've discovered and learnt- not primarily what I want to teach others.
And with a novel thrown in, which I know deserves more attention than its given, my blog takes second place to most things in my life. I blog because i want to- not because i feel like I should. This is somewhat reflected in the occasional months that go past without a post.
So what is this blog?:
This blog is NOT honest. What do I mean? I mean that this blog is not a blog where I write all my true experiences and feelings. There are things in my life that are too private for a non-anonymous blog. I share what I feel comfortable with, and while i sometimes worry that this is a bit of a rose-coloured glance at my life- that's just how it has to be sometimes. And I think I've come to peace with that.
This blog is for friends. That doesn't mean I don't love it when people I don't know read it and comment! I do. But I can't be bothered thinking every time I write it about how to make it good or interesting or relevant for "the public". So apologies if it's not! :)
This blog is mostly for me. I do think about who is reading it, and I occasionally don't say things that I think might be unhelpful. But this blog first and foremost is for me to have time to reflect and record this strange time in my life. The idea of thinking really hard about my blog and how it might help people makes me very tired :) And so I pray that God will take my reflections and use them to help others, even if I don't have time to be deliberate about it.
Thanks to all of you who read it. I'm very thankful to God for you. It's lovely that even though many of you are far away- that I can share a little bit of this adventure with you.
love B
It's a strange thing with this blog. Up to about 3 months ago I was under the impression that what I wrote on this blog- though intended for whoever wants to hear it- was only really going to a few people. I could have almost counted them on one hand- and when I wrote- I basically had in mind that the people reading it would be my sister, my friend's Fi and Suz, my sister-in-law-to-be Angie (who is also my friend of course :), and a few old friends who I've reacquainted with through their blogs.
But over the last few months i keep finding out that there are actually lots of people who do read by blog, sporadically perhaps- but I've at least moved off counting my fingers to having to count using my toes ;)
Nothing like the huge readership of most of the blogs I read, or even some of my friends, but slightly intimidating none the less.
I always find it funny to read blog posts on blogging. But here is one.
When I first started this blog in 2008, I was a studying first year Bible College student, terribly homesick for Melbourne, who was feeling strange because for the first time in many years she wasn't really doing any formal ministry. Part of the idea of the blog was that maybe this would be the much needed avenue for reflecting on and sharing what I was learning. For some reason it didn't really turn out like that.
Then I started my Kids/Women's ministry job. And I quickly gave up any intention of making this blog a deliberate "ministry". I was too tired, and to be honest whenever I started writing a post that was to instruct or teach, I felt a bit overwhelmed. I didn't feel like an expert enough in anything to write something instructive. I would write such posts, but I would always feel a bit proud and arrogant, and they would remain in my drafts folder. I think that I underestimate myself. I have lots of things I could say that might be helpful- but until that knowledge is reflected in how I feel about it- this blog will remain a reflection of what I've discovered and learnt- not primarily what I want to teach others.
And with a novel thrown in, which I know deserves more attention than its given, my blog takes second place to most things in my life. I blog because i want to- not because i feel like I should. This is somewhat reflected in the occasional months that go past without a post.
So what is this blog?:
This blog is NOT honest. What do I mean? I mean that this blog is not a blog where I write all my true experiences and feelings. There are things in my life that are too private for a non-anonymous blog. I share what I feel comfortable with, and while i sometimes worry that this is a bit of a rose-coloured glance at my life- that's just how it has to be sometimes. And I think I've come to peace with that.
This blog is for friends. That doesn't mean I don't love it when people I don't know read it and comment! I do. But I can't be bothered thinking every time I write it about how to make it good or interesting or relevant for "the public". So apologies if it's not! :)
This blog is mostly for me. I do think about who is reading it, and I occasionally don't say things that I think might be unhelpful. But this blog first and foremost is for me to have time to reflect and record this strange time in my life. The idea of thinking really hard about my blog and how it might help people makes me very tired :) And so I pray that God will take my reflections and use them to help others, even if I don't have time to be deliberate about it.
Thanks to all of you who read it. I'm very thankful to God for you. It's lovely that even though many of you are far away- that I can share a little bit of this adventure with you.
love B
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Only one night away...
But, given that- absolutely wonderful.
Highlight? The gorgeous B&B? The walk along the ocean? The Spa bath?
No. It was the same highlight that I've had from every holiday since I've been married.
The highlight was Tim.
love B
Highlight? The gorgeous B&B? The walk along the ocean? The Spa bath?
No. It was the same highlight that I've had from every holiday since I've been married.
The highlight was Tim.
love B
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Nose dive in Novel confidence
I'm having a crisis in confidence to do with my novel.
Each week I get an email from the NSW Writers Centre letting me know of what courses they are running, what writing festivals are on, and what competitions are out there.
And ever since being totally inspired by the Sydney Writers festival session I went to (Isabelle Carmody- writer of two of my favourite series, and Garth Nix- who I've only just started reading now, but whose insightful comments on that day have made a huge difference in my writing)- I've been thinking I should go along to more of those things. I know there are huge gaps in my skills and I want to grow them.
Anyway- this week I noticed to sessions i would love to go to. One was the children's and young adults fiction festival this Saturday. The second was a session on writing happening at the end of the month.
Two things freaked me out.
The Cost.
It costs alot of money to do these kind of things.
Not lots of money in the scheme of things. But my hobby which hasn't really ever cost me a cent suddenly could go up a notch.
I don't know if my novel is worth spending money on, when money is not always flowing.
Tim, wonderful Tim- assured me "Let me me the judge of that. I have faith in you. Spend what you need to".
The second thing that freaked me out is that one of the sessions of the festival- you had the opportunity to a) Pitch your story to publishers and get feedback on how you could pitch it better or b) Submit your first page to be critiqued in front of everyone.
And I don't even have the guts to show my story to my dearest friends! Every time I've tried to explain my story premise I end up getting tongue tied and feeling a bit silly. If there is one thing I have faith in it's the premise of my story- the overall plot- the interesting world in which everything happens. But even that I don't know how to sell.
And though I suspect my first page is actually quite good- one day I will have to show the rest of it, the awkward sentences and the corny conversations that I wrote in haste (just trying to write something) and never had a chance to de-cringe-a-fy!
Suddenly it hit me that I either need to do a whole lot more work, get over my fear and just put myself out there, or give up on this. Oh I'm so scared. What if it's no good!
In the end I decided I couldn't go to the festival anyway- though I'm still pretty keen on the course at the end of the month. But it has raised bigger questions
I don't know if I can do this!
But I love it so much. I love my characters and my world. I want it to be published.
I hope it can.
love B
Each week I get an email from the NSW Writers Centre letting me know of what courses they are running, what writing festivals are on, and what competitions are out there.
And ever since being totally inspired by the Sydney Writers festival session I went to (Isabelle Carmody- writer of two of my favourite series, and Garth Nix- who I've only just started reading now, but whose insightful comments on that day have made a huge difference in my writing)- I've been thinking I should go along to more of those things. I know there are huge gaps in my skills and I want to grow them.
Anyway- this week I noticed to sessions i would love to go to. One was the children's and young adults fiction festival this Saturday. The second was a session on writing happening at the end of the month.
Two things freaked me out.
The Cost.
It costs alot of money to do these kind of things.
Not lots of money in the scheme of things. But my hobby which hasn't really ever cost me a cent suddenly could go up a notch.
I don't know if my novel is worth spending money on, when money is not always flowing.
Tim, wonderful Tim- assured me "Let me me the judge of that. I have faith in you. Spend what you need to".
The second thing that freaked me out is that one of the sessions of the festival- you had the opportunity to a) Pitch your story to publishers and get feedback on how you could pitch it better or b) Submit your first page to be critiqued in front of everyone.
And I don't even have the guts to show my story to my dearest friends! Every time I've tried to explain my story premise I end up getting tongue tied and feeling a bit silly. If there is one thing I have faith in it's the premise of my story- the overall plot- the interesting world in which everything happens. But even that I don't know how to sell.
And though I suspect my first page is actually quite good- one day I will have to show the rest of it, the awkward sentences and the corny conversations that I wrote in haste (just trying to write something) and never had a chance to de-cringe-a-fy!
Suddenly it hit me that I either need to do a whole lot more work, get over my fear and just put myself out there, or give up on this. Oh I'm so scared. What if it's no good!
In the end I decided I couldn't go to the festival anyway- though I'm still pretty keen on the course at the end of the month. But it has raised bigger questions
I don't know if I can do this!
But I love it so much. I love my characters and my world. I want it to be published.
I hope it can.
love B
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