Friday, November 23, 2012

Back on Board

Hi all!

I know it's been quite a while since I uploaded a new post, but I'm finally back and I have exciting news:
I'm a Mum!!

Our beautiful cheeky daughter was born on 6th September and we are loving every minute with her. As you might imagine, I have been quite distracted by her and the whole experience over the past few months and consequently writing has been the last thing on my mind. But we are now settled into our new lives and my thoughts once again turn to you guys - the youth I love and are called to serve. I'm looking forward to getting back to sharing more thoughts, dreams, challenges and inspiration with you all.

And to celebrate, here is a little glimpse of the cuteness and beauty that I am so blessed to be surrounded by every day now...




Love Brooke

Friday, April 13, 2012

Heroes in History

Whether or not you are an avid reader, no doubt there will come a time (school project, youth group presentation, personal study) when you will have an opportunity to learn about a famous person and their impact on history.
Rather than the usual picks of Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela or Abraham Lincoln (who were all great men and we should know their stories regardless), may I suggest a few lesser known but equally fascinating men and women, who not only loved Jesus but also made a difference along the way:

C.S. Lewis
Peter Marshall
Smith Wigglesworth
Martin Luther
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
William Wilberforce
Corrie ten Boom
Charles Spurgeon
Amy Carmichael

These are just some of my personal heroes, people who inspire and encourage me. If you don't know their stories, start a Google search today!
Feel free to add to the list - who do you admire and love to learn about?

Love Brooke

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Last Days?

If you're around Pentecostal churches for any lengthy period of time, sooner or later you will probably hear someone say "we are in the Last Days".
Whether or not its true that we are almost at the end of our current history or not, we are commanded, as followers of Jesus, to live each of our days like it is our last on Earth.

Our lives are not to be wasted or spent on our own selfish pursuits as if we have all the time in the world, says Romans 13. The moment of salvation, that end point that seems to invisibly hang over the human race, is closer now than it has ever been before. Paul proclaims "... it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of day... put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."

Each moment we are given is a gift from God, to be used in bringing Him glory. And while it can be easy to loose focus on our overall purpose, lets be young people who are aware that every second is bringing us closer to the day when we will stand face-to-face with our Savior, and on that day we want to be a generation who can look in His eyes and say: I have loved You with my whole life.

Love Brooke

Friday, March 23, 2012

Romance in Reality



I am a huge fan of period dramas. You know - Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell; those sort of authors. The kind of weepy, sappy, romantic stories that the BBC love to dramatize and men everywhere love to roll their eyes at!
And growing up, all my dreams of the "perfect guy" looked a lot like Mr Darcy, Mr Knightly, Mr Wentworth & Mr Thornton. I was always fantasizing of the day that I would meet my ideal knight-in-shining-armour, complete with perfect manners & poetic declarations of undying devotion.
But like all girlhood daydreams, it wasn't long before that dream was forced to fade in the harsh light of reality.

Have you been in that place before? When you suddenly wake up and realise that life is NOT like the movies?! Did you feel tricked? Betrayed? I'm sure girls everywhere have asked at one stage or another "Why did they get our hopes up that such men exist in the modern world when I see no evidence of it?" It can be very disheartening, and if you're not careful, can lead to despair and hopelessness.
If you feel like this sometimes, I wish you were sitting right next to me now, armed with some tissues and a mochacchino (!), so I could share some truths with you...

When we believe in and base all our hopes on the romance portrayed in the media, we are settling for a very distorted half-truth. While qualities like honour, chivalry, selflessness and affection are real and relevant expectations for us to desire in a man, those qualities can only exist in a real, flawed man - not a Hollywood-painted version of a man with no faults and sin. Anytime we are lucky enough to meet a man who displays some of the character traits we dream about, chances are they will be equally coupled with other less favourable traits that we're not so fond of. That special someone might be the kind of guy who buys you flowers "just because", but at the same time would rather watch the footy with his mates instead of taking you out to a romantic date. This situation doesn't have to dash your hopes of ever finding "The One". You might just have to revise your expectations of what The One looks like.

So when you're thinking about your future partner and dreaming of the day you'll live Happily Ever After, remind your heart of what the Lord says to desire in love. Not a fairytale dream of white horses and golden carriages, but someone who will put your needs ahead of his in the big things and not sweat the little things. Someone who will stick by you regardless of how much you weigh or cry. Someone who will encourage you to grow closer to God, not him. And someone who is constantly seeking to be a better man, for you.
Because true romance (according to the Creator of Love) looks like this:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

Now that's something to hold out for!

Love Brooke

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Kony 2012

Hi fabulous young people!

Ever feel like you want to make a difference in this world? Want to be part of history instead of just studying it? Want to feel like one person can stand up and be counted? Well... start here:



"Where a child is born should not dermine whether or not they live"
Let's get involved, not just because its the 'hype-of-the-moment', but because standing up for justice is always the right thing to do.

Love Brooke

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

The Immovable Truth

I recently watched an old black-and-white film based on the WW2 war criminal trials in Germany. Apart from the superb acting of legends like Spencer Tracey and Burt Lancaster, the thing that struck me the most was the presentation of the ever-relevant struggle between what is legal and acceptable, and what is right and moral.
While I hope our planet never has to face another world war, I believe it is a subject that all people have to face within themselves at one stage or another: To act in accordance with what society (or the pressures of that society) says, or to act in accordance with what their conscience says.

As Christians, we have an added obligation to align our conscience with the truth of the Word of God, and stand in absolute conviction on that immovable standard. I know it isn't always easy to separate truth from personal belief, especially when personal beliefs are often motivated by heart issues; but God's laws stand alone in morality as they are based not on human understanding, logic or ethics, but on His very nature which is as unchangeable and immovable as the Creator Himself.
I am so thankful everytime I read  in the Word of His steadfast ways and holy justice, because I know that means that not only am I freed from having to defend myself, but that I am also freed from having to decide on the guilt of others.
There is great comfort to be had in the thought of being a tiny speck in the hand of a good and just God, especially when I come to understand that He is a God who always desires the best for me - that tiny little speck!

We are not alone in our battles, or even responsible for the outcomes. The Lord will always bring about His will in a situation, in His own time & way, regardless of social pressures, laws of the land and human understand. So when God says that He causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him (Rom. 8:28), have confidence that its the Truth.

Love Brooke

Saturday, February 11, 2012

In Love

February… the month of love!
The month that Hallmark makes it’s entire profit for the year in 2 weeks, the month that teddy bears & flashing novelty items become more than stocking-stuffers for kids, and the month that chocolate appears everywhere in heart-shaped boxes (not that we’re complaining about that last symptom!). Every year at this time, there are movies coming out that try to create a picture of what love looks like. According to the media, love means staying together only as long as you are ‘in love’, it means leaving your boyfriend for a handsome stranger, or sometimes it can even mean becoming a vampire to be together(!).

Let’s have a look at a different picture of love:
God Himself, in human form, sitting in a garden late at night, crying tears of blood in despair because of what He knew was to come, and yet willing to go through with torture, ridicule, betrayal, separation & death itself to be able to once again be with the one He loves—you. The Creator of the heavens and the earth sending the Ultimate Valentine, His only son, so as to be reconciled with his lost children—us.

Let’s spend some “date time” this month rereading His love letter to us: the Gospel, and delight in the love of our Lord, whose love knows no conditions, it simply is, regardless of our mistakes and sinfulness.
Lovers of our legs, smile, personality and talent last but a moment, but the Lover of our soul will continue to desire us long after the focus of the world turns away from Valentines Day. Which is better than a Hollywood storyline any day!

Love Brooke

Friday, February 3, 2012

Giggles

What makes you laugh?
When there seems to be no other way to get out of a slump, brighten a dull day or shake out of lethargy, a good laugh is a great response to an otherwise negative outlook.

Some things that I love to laugh at are:
Bill Bailey comedy
My brother's wisecracks
Bill Cosby recordings
Silly photos of my nieces and nephew
Playing the Paper Game

So, if you haven't had a good laugh in a while, or just haven't felt like smiling today, here's a little fun to brighten your day:





:) Love Brooke

Friday, January 27, 2012

A New Perspective for A New Year

Hi awesome young people!
I know I've been slack not writing for over a month, but I'm back now for a new year and a fresh point of view.
I hope you can take the journey with me this year...

One of my commitments for 2012 (which is a term I prefer to 'resolution') is to focus on God in difficult situations, rather than the situation itself. Easier said than done, I know! I am determined, and praying for the Holy Spirit to help me in asking this one question each time I am faced with something that overwhelms, frustrates or upsets me this year: "Where are you in this, God?" And then listening for His guidance rather then falling down into my usual habit of panicing, doubting and quitting.

Because, for me, I want 2012 to be a year of understanding - understanding where God is moving, how He is moving, and where He wants me in the midst of His plans. And isn't that where we all want to be - right in the middle of God's will and favor?!

Join me in looking forward to the bigger picture, 'cos things are going to get exciting!!

Love Brooke