Pa Pa...

Please pray for my grandfather Doug as he is presently in Royal North Shore Hospital with 'stuff'. Doctors are not too sure what exactly is wrong with him. He has heart problems but doctors don't think that is it... Pray for wisdom to work it out!

Papa with Great-grand-daughter Maisy!

Pray for mercy on Papa, he doesn't know God! I have been praying for many years that God would soften his heart and give him ears to hear the gospel (literally as he is stone deaf with a cochlear ear implant). It is really hard to interact in a proper conversation with him, as he will talk and then get impatient trying to listen to your response.

Papa and I had a emotional time together at the hospital on Saturday night. He was crying about all he has seen in his lifetime. I have never seen him so upset about the things he has seen and experienced. He is normally a very strong, proud and optimistic man. Never would he say a bad word about someone... but Saturday night he couldn't help but say the world is a messed up place and he hopes that I would never see the pain and grief he has seen in his lifetime.

I feel this is God's work to soften and humble his heart. I feel also from the tone and topic of our conversations that he thinks this is the end of the road for him - although he is as strong as an ox, still at 87 and gets through most illnesses.

I am thinking of hand writing him a letter for father's day and address some of the things he mentioned on Saturday night and over the years about why he doesn't believe, and also tell him how thankful to God for him and his witness of what it means to really love your wife sacrificially.

Despite not being a Christian man, he loved Nanny so much, lead, cared, supported, nurtured her till her death. A true model of Christ and his love for the church.

Please pray for wisdom and the words to write - that they would engage with him, not be complicated, but clear and simple. May God use it to change his heart and turn him towards Jesus!

Please pray for Mum as having a ill father to care for adds super stress, and I don't think she copes too well, nor do we (my brothers and I) care for her too well. Pray we would be good kids! ;)

Thanks friends for you prayers!

More than likely Moore...

I went to the Moore College Open Day yesterday...

more and more thinking Moore college is the way to go...

Didn't really answer any questions I had. Partly because I realised I didn't have any questions to ask... but having said that it did confirm some sneaking suspicions I had about the joint and it was good to see around the place, talk about decision making with some people in the same boat as myself, chat with students and faculty staff...

Please be praying for me as I go for interviews with Moore, think through Student Minister positions, plan and budget for the coming years - and rest in the knowledge that whatever I decide to do I will remain safe in God's hands!

August Prayer Points...

Youth

• Death by Chocolate night tonight - fun times to indulge in all things chocolate!!! "This is a taster" night for iGod which starts next week. Pray that friends do come tonight, that we aren't as scary as some people might think and that Marcello will speak well and kids will be keen to come to iGod!
• iGod - starts August 17th.... Pray for the speaker, can't remember who, some dude from somewhere, but hopefully he will be good! Pray for logistics as I don't think we have been told to be doing anything, so hopefully food and setup and stuff is all sorted.
  
• Pray for my year 12 girls - thanks that trials are over but that the HSC is still looming. Pray for their stress levels to lessen and to keep trusting God every step of the way.

Night Train

• 6 Steps to Talking about Jesus - Thanks to the 10 women who signed up who are motivated to develop their skills in sharing Jesus with their friends, family and stangers!
• Creativity - to think up some more practical exercises to do, so that the women can actually have a go at sharing Jesus.
• Good times - sharing lives with these women has been great and the fellowship over God's word is awesome. Thanks for what God is teaching us. Pray that God would continue to transform us all into bold and confident women who delight in the Gospel

Scripture @ Paddo

• 2 girls have left our class... one said because it is 'boring' the other said because 'i don't like it anymore'. This hurts! Doreen and I are trying to work out why two of the most well behaved girls, who contribute and seem to have fun don't like it. Pray that Doreen and I would be more creative with our songs, games, activities, stories and worksheets!
  
• Pray for the kids with behavioural problems, who make teaching difficult and who we give lots of attention when we disciple. Pray that no child would stop another child's interest and that all distractions would stop.
  
• Pray that Art class would not be run at the same time as our lesson.
  
• Praise God that one new girl has started coming - she is really inquisitive and asks great questions.
  
• Praise God for 'D' - we are studying the Kings of Israel at the moment and he was really frustrated last week and asked: "Can you tell me at least one King who listened to God and wasn't so evil - and don't tell me that there were none - cause that really would be that Jesus is the only perfect King" - He gets it! Pray that the seed is ripped away!
  
• Pray for 'T' - as she grapples with the truth that we are all sinful. She is convinced her Auntie is sinless and so was Mary, the Mother of Jesus....

Personal - me, me, me, me, me....

• I have been a little under-the-weather with sinusitis... my nose is slowly drying up! Please pray for continued recovery!
• I also am feeling pretty run down generally and feeling bit exhausted. Pray for renewed energy and enthusiasm and for God's sustaining hand. May he keep reminding me that all I do is in his strength and power!
• Pray for decisions about next year... college interview coming up in a week or so!
• Thanks for friends and the life God has given them and the times I get to celebrate their birthday (Mia, Gina, Nicole & Nicolette) & marriage (Cali & Zach - friends from school)- pray for many gospel opportunites and good times!!!

Thanks friends for praying for me and my ministry... I am very thankful to God for you all who constantly uphold me in prayer. It truly is a great partnership in the Gospel!