Do It God's Way and Find Fulfilment

'The thief comes only to steal...' John 10:10 NIV

Using his own home as a demo, TV anchorman Brandon Brooks showed his viewers how to protect their homes from robbers. He installed double locks on all the doors, windows that can't be opened from outside, sophisticated alarms - the works. But what he failed to take into account was that thieves were also watching and learning the details of his security system and where the TV, VCR and furniture were located. The following week, while Brooks was on the air, they cleaned him out - because that's what thieves do!

Satan is a thief! Jesus said he '...comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that [you] may have life...to the full' ...

Henry Blackaby says: 'Since...Adam and Eve, people have had to choose whom to believe. Satan convinced them that [disobeying] God would gain them everything. Instead their disobedience robbed them of all they had. For the rest of their lives they experienced only a fraction of the blessing God had intended...

The world seeks to convince you you'll find fulfilment by adopting its standards of morality for your marriage, raising your children, and advancing your career...If you believe this you'll never experience the blessings God intended... Sin brings death (Romans 6:23)...Jesus wants you to live your life with security, knowing that you are a beloved child of God. If you're not experiencing His love, joy and peace, you have settled for less than God intends... If you have been making excuses for why you're not living an abundant and joyful life, determine today to settle for nothing less than God's best.

Instead of following the world's way...listen to the Saviour's voice and...find...fulfilment.'

I love it.

I had the BEST day, that i have had in awhile yesterday. I had to be up and out of the house, and at WINZ by 9am, for a job seminar thing. In all honesty, the seminar, was a bit like taking a computer course, and having to start at how to turn the machine on. I think those seminars, or the one that i had to attend yesterday, are directed at people that have never had a job? Maybe? I don't know.

I did though, sit down and have a one on one meeting with a job search advisor, named John. He was a lovely man, who listened to me explain my situation. He listened while i told him everything that has happened over the past few years...everything that i have done, and been through...and everything that has happened this year, that has effected my confidence when it comes to looking for employment. I told him that i just want a job, any job, and that i realise that, after all of my mistakes, that i will have to start over. I realise that i will not be able to pick up where i left off, but that i am prepared to do that.

John seemed excited by my story, and the prospect of helping me find employment. He told me that he is going to make me his success story. It felt really good to hear someone tell me that they know i can get a a good job, and no, it won't be in a supermarket. I did tell him that i would even do that, and he laughed and said we would find me something way better than that.

I walked out of WINZ yesterday, feeling more confidant and excited about my future than i have in a long time. I have to work on my CV this weekend, and email it to John on Monday, then i have another meeting with him on Friday. Instead of dreading my next visit to WINZ....i can't wait.

John's faith, encouragement, and the excitement that he displayed at making me his success story, in helping me find a job, has helped boost my confidence, and replaced some of the faith in myself that i had lost, after being told non stop all year, that i will never get a job in this economy, so go back to being a hooker - by someone who said he loved me.

I need to remember, when i think about my future that it is not about what i WANT to do with the rest of my life...it is about what i CAN do right now. I have big dreams, and want to achieve so much, but i need to start somewhere...and that will mean a job that is not REALLY what i WANT to be doing, but will help me achieve my long term goals...and that is ALL GOOD.

So i left WINZ about 10:30am yesterday morning, and proceeded to have a wonderful and productive day. I baked two loaves of banana bread, using my Grandma Ruth's recipe book and worked in the garden, and got a ton of weeding done, all day. My house smelled like yummy baking, and the weeds under my bedroom window, no longer encroach on my view of the yard from my bed - they were that tall!

I downloaded an awesome documentary, that i had actually rented before, and wanted to watch again, called "The US vs John Lennon" so for now, i am going to crawl back under my covers, have a bit of a sleep in, and watch that in bed.

Christmas in the Park later on! Last year, i took both Nicole and Jorgia, and their friends. This year, it is just me, and Jorgia, and her friends. Nicole, apparently, is too school for cool, and doesn't want to come with us. She is catching the bus on her own with her friends and "having nothing to do with us while she is there" ...I guess that is the difference between 14 and nearly 16?

I am going to make the most of the next couple of years with my baby, Jorgia!

We definitely won't go as early as we went last year! That was a lesson well learned. It doesn't matter how early you get there - or how close to the front you get - people will always set their tents up, right in front of you!