Oh hey guys! Its been a while hey. Life kinda got in the way there. No matter - I'm back!
Moving on.
Do you ever feel like your living/working environment is sucking the life out of you? You think "I could do this and this if only I lived here, worked there or hung out with those people"?
I do.
The reality of it is that our environment shapes who we are. Where we live, where we work, who we hang out with the most, talk with the most.... We're influenced by our environment in both good and bad ways. For example, I got the inspiration to learn to cook from one of my old house mates when we lived together. He made amazing food quite simply, and so from watching and learning, I picked up a lot of tips and became a good cook. From there, I read more recipe books and watched videos on cooking to gain inspiration and better my craft.
But what about when it goes the other way?
Hanging out with friends who swear all the time, will produce swearing in your language over time.
Being around negative people who moan and groan about life all the time, will in time, suck the life out of you.
Living in a place where you feel constricted, out of place, or like you're in a box, won't bring freedom and happiness to your world.
If any or all of these situations apply to where you're at - it might be time for a change of scenery, and see colour, life and freedom flood back into your world. Maybe find some new friends to hang out with that are happier and more positive; move out of that house into somewhere new either on your own (if you can) or with better suited people; stay around people who say good stuff about people, and don't litter their vocabulary with words that offend and bring you, or others down.
Put things in place today to offer you a fresh outlook on life. Time to think to yourself and live life a little, time with a trusted friend you havnt seen for a while, drive another way to work or home. Do something differently - these are all catalysts for change in your world.
It could be as simple as getting up 15 minutes earlier and grabbing a coffee from a cafe before work and reading the paper to get some "you" time. Time that will refresh your world and give you a great start to the day. My favourite morning coffee hangout is Voyage in Sorrento. Fantastic coffee, chilled vibe, amazing food and the ocean across the road. In my opinion, one of the best places to recharge either alone, or with a friend.
Start today, and start to see a fresh outlook on life.
Have a great week everyone.
See you on the flippity flip.
C
Tuesday 5 June 2012
Sunday 29 January 2012
#3 - The Song of the Servant
Working for someone else isn't always an easy thing to do. Especially if you're a dreamer with a list of goals and plans as long as your arm.
It can be difficult at times to drop all the things that are important to you to take up another mans vision. You might think that staying home and writing songs all day is much more important than answering all those calls at work. You might think that painting and sculpting that next archibald winner is much more important than customer service.
There's a "song" that our lives sing when we drop our selfish ambition and serve another mans vision. A song of faithfulness, trustworthiness, integrity, generosity and selflessness. In a society today that screams "Whats in it for me", displaying these traits is a breath of fresh air to employers and leaders alike. Its that song that will get you pay rises, promotions and favour within your company or church. You have to show that you're good with what you're given, before you'll get the bigger things that your heart desires.
Luke 16:10 (New Life Version)
He that is faithful with little things is faithful with big things also. He that is not honest with little things is not honest with big things.
I'm guilty of this myself. For a long time I thought that my creativity and personal plans and goals were so much more important than working, and so gave a very "just enough" approach to work because to me it wasn't my biggest priority. Until you lose your job and have no money to survive and you're frantically looking around for that next dollar. Your "creativity" isnt going to pay your bills as you might of hoped. Its back to the ever humbling employment quest.
Its a wake up call.
God knows the desires of your heart. He knows what makes your heart beat that little bit faster. He's aware of the gifts and talents that you have, He gave them to you after all. As you lay them down, and be patient, and faithful, God will bless you and reward you for your faithfulness. Keep pressing on because the reward will be oh so worth it.
Catch you on the flippity flip!
C
Catch you on the flippity flip!
C
Wednesday 11 January 2012
#2 - Faith
Recently I became unemployed.
I have a certain amount of debts and bills to pay like any other adult, and knowing that you have no immediate income can cause a certain amount of...... stress.
How will I pay that next bill?
How do I pay my rent?
What am I going to eat?
Some believe that if you have lead a good life that the universe will find a way for you and provide opportunities. Others believe that its purely up to doing all you can, in your own strength and knowledge, without any form of assistance from a deity.
As I've mentioned before, I'm a Christian and I believe that my God is always for me and already knows my future - and he says its good and filled with hope (Jer 29:11). His word says to "Trust in Him with all my heart, soul and mind and lean not on my own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5)
I'll be honest. There were a few times there that I panicked, and stressed, and got frustrated because things weren't working how I wanted them to turn out (Ask any of my close friends and they will vouch for this!), but whinging, wining and carrying on, despite what some people think - does NOT get you a job :)
The Bible says that faith without works is dead.
Its all very good to "believe" that you're going to get that new job, tomorrow, and earn SO much more than you did before but not do anything to GET that job. Sitting on the couch, sleeping in and hanging out with friends wont get you that magical job.
You have to do something about it.
For me personally, I got up early every day, hit seek.com.au and applied for relevant jobs that I was skilled in, and then even some lesser jobs that I may not have really liked, but would have paid the bills I need to pay.
Then - I trust.
I trust in God that He will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory.
I trust that as He is my father in Heaven, and that He "owns the cattle on a thousand hills", that He will never let me get behind with bills and He'll never see me hungry or destitute because I'm His son.
Its not a blind faith though. The bible backs it all up.
And His word will never return void.
I've been specifically talking about getting a job, but in any situation you might be facing - family/friends, finance, employment, housing - whatever - God is more than able to meet you in your situation and, if you let him, will guide you through it.
It will take diligence, faith, trust and courage - but He is able to do so much more than we can ever ask or think.
You know what - I got a job within 2 weeks. A really great job too, doing things i'm skilled in as well as doing stuff I like doing in an interesting field.
He will never fail you.
Catch you on the flippity flip :)
C.
I have a certain amount of debts and bills to pay like any other adult, and knowing that you have no immediate income can cause a certain amount of...... stress.
How will I pay that next bill?
How do I pay my rent?
What am I going to eat?
Some believe that if you have lead a good life that the universe will find a way for you and provide opportunities. Others believe that its purely up to doing all you can, in your own strength and knowledge, without any form of assistance from a deity.
As I've mentioned before, I'm a Christian and I believe that my God is always for me and already knows my future - and he says its good and filled with hope (Jer 29:11). His word says to "Trust in Him with all my heart, soul and mind and lean not on my own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5)
I'll be honest. There were a few times there that I panicked, and stressed, and got frustrated because things weren't working how I wanted them to turn out (Ask any of my close friends and they will vouch for this!), but whinging, wining and carrying on, despite what some people think - does NOT get you a job :)
The Bible says that faith without works is dead.
Its all very good to "believe" that you're going to get that new job, tomorrow, and earn SO much more than you did before but not do anything to GET that job. Sitting on the couch, sleeping in and hanging out with friends wont get you that magical job.
You have to do something about it.
For me personally, I got up early every day, hit seek.com.au and applied for relevant jobs that I was skilled in, and then even some lesser jobs that I may not have really liked, but would have paid the bills I need to pay.
Then - I trust.
I trust in God that He will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory.
I trust that as He is my father in Heaven, and that He "owns the cattle on a thousand hills", that He will never let me get behind with bills and He'll never see me hungry or destitute because I'm His son.
Its not a blind faith though. The bible backs it all up.
And His word will never return void.
I've been specifically talking about getting a job, but in any situation you might be facing - family/friends, finance, employment, housing - whatever - God is more than able to meet you in your situation and, if you let him, will guide you through it.
It will take diligence, faith, trust and courage - but He is able to do so much more than we can ever ask or think.
You know what - I got a job within 2 weeks. A really great job too, doing things i'm skilled in as well as doing stuff I like doing in an interesting field.
He will never fail you.
Catch you on the flippity flip :)
C.
Tuesday 3 January 2012
Life, Love and Coffee #1: The Pilot
Welcome!
So this is my attempt at writing a (fairly) regular and (hopefully) thought provoking blog about life, love and everything in between.
So - from the outset - a little about me.
I'm a "just over" 30 year old guy from Perth, West Australia. I'm single. I'm a member of C3 Church Hepburn Heights. I love music and movies, and as the title of this blog would depict - I have more than a slight love affair with all things Coffee. Life dosn't work without Family, Friends and Faith. I'm human - I stuff up (a lot) - but I walk in the grace of God. I can cook - at least reasonably well - well no one's gotten sick yet.
I saw this quote today and thought to myself - this is the mindset I need to adopt for 2012. Some of us weren't the greatest fans of 2011, yet some of us loved it. In any case, we stand at the beginning of a New Year, with a fresh new canvas for us to paint new experiences, relationships, good times, struggles and victories upon.
“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
So - Happy New Year! Hoping that your 2012 is everything that you hope for. Let 2011 go and see what great stuff 2012 has to offer.
Catch you on the flippity flip.
C.
So this is my attempt at writing a (fairly) regular and (hopefully) thought provoking blog about life, love and everything in between.
So - from the outset - a little about me.
I'm a "just over" 30 year old guy from Perth, West Australia. I'm single. I'm a member of C3 Church Hepburn Heights. I love music and movies, and as the title of this blog would depict - I have more than a slight love affair with all things Coffee. Life dosn't work without Family, Friends and Faith. I'm human - I stuff up (a lot) - but I walk in the grace of God. I can cook - at least reasonably well - well no one's gotten sick yet.
I saw this quote today and thought to myself - this is the mindset I need to adopt for 2012. Some of us weren't the greatest fans of 2011, yet some of us loved it. In any case, we stand at the beginning of a New Year, with a fresh new canvas for us to paint new experiences, relationships, good times, struggles and victories upon.
“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
So - Happy New Year! Hoping that your 2012 is everything that you hope for. Let 2011 go and see what great stuff 2012 has to offer.
Catch you on the flippity flip.
C.
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