Today, I Feel Protected.

As I write this, I'm sitting on a bed in the spare room of my grandparent's place. (Dad's parents) I am joyful.

I went to Koorong, (a Christian book store) bought some things. I had an iced coffee, I hung out with my cousins yesterday, and the day before that. I've survived Melbourne traffic. I'm going home tomorrow!

I'm at peace with myself. I feel I can take anything that comes my way. I know I make mistakes but, I have a Saviour who is big enough to protect me.

Today, I feel protected.

Thoughts on the Cross

"Perfection cannot be measured with a single glance. It has to be touched, to be felt. In the same way, one cannot merely glance at Yeshua (Jesus) for His Glory, His perfection outshines the sun. Can one look at the sun without being overwhelmed? NO! Therefore, when one looks to the LORD, one must expect to be dazzled, to be taken on a journey to the highest heavens. One must expect to weep with joy, to be overcome, when one sees the LORD for the first time.

Is that not how you felt when you were saved? You saw the LORD, your Messiah, the Son of God, for the first time with clear eyes, and you were overwhelmed. You throw off your rose tinted lenses, and danced in His presence. When one can see so clearly why would one want to lose that vision, that precious gift of sight? One can finally see without looking through the world’s lenses first. Wouldn't one want to tell everyone to throw off their chains and accept the redemption, the freedom, that comes with acknowledging, with accepting, Yeshua as Saviour and Lord."

I wrote this a couple of nights ago. Just reflecting on the MASSIVE sacrifice Jesus made on that cross. I mean, what sensible man would die for my sins, let alone the sins of the whole world? One of my favourite songs at the moment is Circle by Flyleaf  And it goes:

“No man shows greater love

Than when a man
Lays down his life

For his beloved.”

It just demonstrates what happened on the cross, 2,000 years, or so, ago. 

The perfect love was shed for us.

Happy April!

Summer is officially over. The air has changed, and you have to wear shoes outside. The wind has turned from cool relief to a winter freeze. Even the walls know what is going on; they’re almost too cold to touch.

But it’s that horrid, awkward weather. It’s a bit too warm to pull out the winter woollies, but it’s cold enough to warrant jeans, and a jumper.

Hello, Autumn, I've missed you. Hooray, you’re finally back! The season of celebrations, and birthdays, of sorrow, and of heartache.

I have a love/hate relationship with Autumn. It’s’ the time of year when I start to descend into my valley again, but it’s also the time of year to celebrate! I turn another year older. (And at the end of the year I GRADUATE!)

Autumn is my favourite season, and April is my favourite month. 

HAPPY AUTUMN, AUSTRALIA! HAPPY APRIL, WORLD!

Awkward & Awesome Thursday V.I

AWKWARD//

• Writing up posts on Microsoft Word cause there’s no Internet in my room.
• The 2 (nearly 3) year old pulling down my shirt (every day, guys, I’m not kidding)
• Having no schoolwork to do
• Boredom
• Tiredness
• Cold days, and then hot days
• Cold days in the middle of March (not supposed to happen, guys, it’s supposed to get cold at the start of May.)
• Temper tantrums.

AWESOME//

• Going home soon
• Teaching kids how to read, write, etc.
• Raw food (vegan, and uncooked)
• Fresh veggies! (guys, they taste so yummy)
• Planning posts for the next couple of weeks.
• Fresh lamb (like seriously, if we need some lamb we go out to the paddock and shoot it, that’s how fresh it is)
• This my first Awkward & Awesome Thursday post

It Can Only Go Up From Here

I’ve been thinking a lot, and taking lots of naps. (I’m not sure if the nap taking is due to boredom or actual tiredness) And I need to go home.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love Victoria, and the people here. I love the Naylor’s and wish I could work for them forever (maybe not quite forever, at least until I get married) I love the countryside, the staying on the farm for (at least) 10 days before going food shopping. Not having my life controlled, and planned for me. Having the freedom to breathe, and ingest.
I love learning about Jewish law, customs, and feast days. (The Naylor’s aren’t Jewish; they just believe that Christians should take part in the feasts.) I love the talks I have about Christianity/Judaism, and other religion/ideas with Tasha & Warwick. I love the laughter of children playing, even the shrieking...

But...
I need my family. I need my mum, and my dad, my little sister, and yes, even my little, fat, ugly, runt of a dog. I rang them up last night (Wednesday night) and had a good chat with them, but they cut it short. It was like they didn’t want to talk to me... (I know they would’ve love to talk longer, but they needed to cook dinner.) Naomi (my little sister) said to me that she didn’t, and I quote, “like me getting so traditional and weird.” (Mind you that was after a conversation in which I told her to stop watching TV.)

I go back to WA (whenever I mention WA on the blog, I’m talking about Western Australia, just to clarify.) on April 9th. So, it’s only a couple of weeks left here, than I’m back to all my friends and family. J I’m starting to get excited!

PS. The winner of the giveaway is Mikayla! Blah, blah, blah, I’m not sure what else I’m supposed to say... Congrats, Mikayla! J Hope you enjoy your prize!

Life Lately {II}

LIVING//
 relaxing //saving money //making cake //enjoying not having great access to the web //writing a book // packing, and unpacking //studying //playing violin //moving sheep around

LOVING//
the patter of little feets //having my own room //double bed //hugs all times of day //laughing at silly things //eating healthier //dirt between my toes //acting like a little kid again //blog redesigning, again //red lipstick (I don’t wear out, at all. But it works at home)

LOATHING//
the distance from town //being away from home //no internet in the bedroom //daylight savings //screaming baby (he was teething...) //screaming children //the amount of insects //cupboard doors (& drawers) that won’t shut properly //tired eyes //

 LISTENING//
Freight Trains &Hurricanes – Sheryn Binks //Arise – Flyleaf //Pure Bride – Leeland //the laughter of little children //sheep //

LEARNING ABOUT//
Jewish feasts (Guys, I get to celebrate Passover! Guys, I am super EXCITED!) //Exodus //French Revolution //circles (and locus, and stuff like that #ihatemaths) // Bar Barukah’s &rites of passage //God’s timing //heeding God’s call //

LONGING FOR//
chocolate (I haven’t had any for like a whole month) //better camera (DSLR) //the Father’s kingdom on Earth //a new dress (I only have like 3 dresses here) //friends (there’s only one person I’ve seen who is about my age...) //Western Australia //end of daylight savings //peace & quiet //rain //

élan {the story of a girl with vigour}

You may have noticed that there have been a few changes on the blog recently. The biggest one is the name change. I picked it because it fits more with where I am in my life right now. I looked us COURAGE  in a thesaurus one day, and one of the words with similar meaning was élan, which means...

élan
-noun-
dash; impetuous ardour (violent passion): to dance with great élan.

...which is where I feel I’m at with my life. I have élan (violent passion) for life, for love and for my Father, and I need to tell everybody.

ps. The giveaway has finished, but the Internet is slowww, so you'll just have to wait for the results. In the meantime look for a new post this week. I know what you're all thinking,"Geez, Sarah, two posts in a week, how unlike you?" Whatever... There will be a post on Sunday (I PROMISE!) about who won the giveaway... stay tuned!