A Letter to a University Leaver

Dear University Leaver, 

As you leave your study world behind you, you may feel even more uncertain about the direction that your life is heading. You may secure a job for the year to come or you may go through several jobs before you find your place. No matter which situation you find yourself in, God has mapped out the steps that He wants you to take, to be where you are supposed to be. 

There may be many days of waiting, that may leave you feeling frustrated, forgotten or hopeless, but in the silence, God has you still in mind. Some things may not work out as you had hoped for because God already knew what was yet to come.  The path that God leads you on is necessary, to grow your faith and dependence on Him, to learn to be patient and to learn to purposefully live peacefully despite the worries that come in this life.

Sometimes you will have to make changes that are uncomfortable but necessary. You may not see it in the short-term but you will find out later down the track. When the Word of God is all that you have to believe in, claim every word upon your life. Despite what others say about you or your circumstance, you have a Heavenly Father who knows what is best. Trust in your God, who promised to look after you when you made a choice to become His child. He will never leave you or forsake you. His ways and timing are perfect, always. 

Love,

Jo

Sharing at O2 Live: Resurrection Wednesday

I knew that it was a matter of time before I would find myself standing on stage in front of hundreds of people. For the past few years, the Holy Spirit had been planting ideas/pictures of me doing so and earlier this year, a friend had prophesied saying that she could see me sharing my testimony/preaching on stage. When Josiah asked me last week, I knew that it was time. 

Here is a copy of what I shared. 

If you have read Chronicles, there are hundreds of names listed. However in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, there was more than just a name. It says...

^"9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” ¹⁰ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request."

Here are a few of my thoughts about these verses. 

1) God blesses you when you put Him first in all that you do

Jabez means pain but he did not want to live up to his name. He prayed a bold prayer despite what his circumstances were. God wants you to do the same, to pray boldly, despite what your circumstances are or what people are saying about you. For me, it's about finding a job in what is considered to be a tight job market at the moment. I know that God does not work around our economy but it is through His perfect timing that I will get the right job. 

What is it for you? Are you struggling at university? Does a loved one have cancer? Is a friend doing drugs? Have you been in a relationship that has gone wrong? 

2) God wants to enlarge your territory

I believe that God is wanting to enlarge your territory in the influence that you have in the people around you and in the places that He wants to take you. This influence stems out from your relationship with God and will flow through everything that you do. Where you are right now is only the beginning. Where Oxygen is right now is only the beginning. We've already seen amazing things take place here but God is wanting to do so much more. 

I see a generation that is strong in their faith despite what pop culture tells them. I see a generation who knows their value in Christ because of a loving Saviour. I see emotional, spiritual and physical healing take place because of a powerful God. What are you seeing? What are you expecting? What are you believing? 

3) God will protect you when you participate in His work and calling for your life

When God expands your territory, the enemy will do everything that he can to instill fear, doubt and insecurity in you. No matter what or where God is calling us to, He will be with us every step of the way. We must fight these attacks with the Word of God. 

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind."

Psalm 23:4 - "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and staff, they comfort me." 

When you submit your thoughts to God, He will look after you. 

EMANATE

"Outsourced from God, out growing our old self, out there making disciples"

Emanate started with two coaches, seven leaders spread over three lifegroups, who were a part of a greater community called Oxygen at CityLife Church in Melbourne. Over the past two years, we have seen lives changed and transformed by God, we have seen people step out of their comfort zones and into their callings and we have seen a community that really cares for one another and those beyond our everyday worlds. 

For me, God's passion for the world has become my passion in seeing individuals come to know such a personal and loving God, one who made them in His image and who loves and values them so much by always wanting the best for them in every circumstance. His presence truly sets people free, whichever stage in life they are at. 

I continue to learn about what it means to do ministry through partnership with the Holy Spirit, by drawing on His love, strength and wisdom. In this He has given me the courage and boldness to do things that I would've never seen myself doing on my own. Most of all, God has placed certain people in my life, to encourage me and to see me grow in order that I may have the same effect on those in my circles of influence. Life was never meant to be done alone and I pray that those who come into contact with Emanate will feel loved, cared for and encouraged in all that God has called them to do and be for His glory. 

Fruit of the Spirit

I've been going through the book "Stress Point" by Sarah Francis Martin and today's chapter was about using the fruit of the Spirit as a guideline for setting boundaries in our lives. 

Galations 5:22-23 - ^"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"

She mentions that "when we are doing anything in life that keeps us from living out the fruit of the Spirit, God is displeased."  

What does this look like in areas such as eating, drinking, working, exercising, shopping and in our conversations with our friends? 

For me, it was staying in a job role that I no longer had peace about, which resulted in a lack of joy. To leave something that I had become so familiar with and the people who became my family during my working life was very hard to let go initially. However, I am slowly learning that this loss is nothing in comparison to the greater plans that God has for me ahead. In order for me to move forward into something new, I needed to let go first. 

"God often waits for us to step out in faith - to begin moving without specific direction - before He provides the destination." - Tyler Braun

Guide Dogs Victoria

It has been almost a year since a group of my friends decided to chip into my co-sponsorship of the the N litter below for my birthday present. Amazingly, it was the exact amount that I needed to pay the yearly amount up front. Since then, Al and I have been to the N Litter's Graduation Day and the D Litter's Orientation Day. It was really good to be involved in the community by seeing these pups grow up, get trained and then help those who are visually impaired. Hearing the stories were very encouraging. Some of these pups have even gone overseas and hence they could not make it to their Graduation! Who knew that these pups would live such purposeful lives - ones that make a difference in an individual's life on a daily basis. 

The N Litter - Nala, Navada, Nadira, Nero, Nina, Nelson, Nola

N Litter's Graduation Day

D Litter - Puppies from another mother

Back to the Cross

"Living He loved me, dying He saved me

And buried He carried my sins far away

Rising He justified freely forever

One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day"

♥ Glorious Day by Casting Crowns ♥


"What am I bringing? What are we bringing wherever we go? Do we show people God and His love and passion or something else?"
~ J.Conner ~

The Cross Should Affect You:

✝ In the way that you view yourself

✝ In the way that you treat other people

✝ In the way that you live your life

Persevering in Hard Times

Not too long ago, I was having troubles at work, which would leave me feeling quite frustrated. I didn't know what I had done wrong during the day to leave me with the outcome of an unbalanced cash drawer at the end of it. I wanted God to get me out of this job so I asked Him to give me a new job, one that was moulded more for me. However, my answer came in more rejection emails. This Bible passage was so applicable to what I was going through at the time. 

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 - "8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

A couple of weeks later, one of the staff from the other branch came as a customer to the branch that I happened to be working at that day. She said, "Joanne, I didn't know that you are now working here. I've been wanting to tell you that we found the money deeper down in the cash drawer so it wasn't your fault." I was so relieved that I didn't have that hanging over me anymore. No doubt she was definitely God sent. 

In the footnotes of my Bible, I read the following quote. "If we turn to God, pray, remember His promises, and trust Him, we will find His grace sufficient for our needs. The Lord may not do what we ask, when we want it, but He will do what needs to be done and help us glorify His name."

From all of this, I've learnt that if I cover every shift in prayer, God is in the good and the bad but most of all that He's got it all covered no matter the outcome. I learnt that perseverance leads to seeing positive results. No matter how far our answers may seem, God doesn't work by our time. Weeks, months or years even is nothing in the context of eternity. Most of all, I've learnt that it's not about asking the question "When will I get out of this?" but "What can I learn from this?"