tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26426592803796059822024-03-14T18:12:55.271+10:00Life is never black and white....Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-81967500655334995322012-08-30T10:51:00.001+10:002012-08-30T10:51:24.722+10:00Catch up vlog..<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yG4yBrC0iSk?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-67886771784082634962012-04-20T14:55:00.004+10:002012-04-20T15:17:48.896+10:00What I learnt at a Pete Murray concert…<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night, Krissy,
one of my friends and I went to a Pete Murray concert here in my hometown. To
be honest, I more went for the opening act – Andrew Redford rather then Pete
Murray but that’s neither here nor there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the start of
Pete’s set, there was this group of 30something ladies standing in front of us
– blonde, skinny ladies you’d expect to see them working in offices or out at a
posh restaurant for a business lunch, those are the kind of women they were. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By about half way
through his set, they were starting to get a bit sloshed and as they did so,
their dancing got worse and worse. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Me, being my usual
judgmental self, started to pay them out and mock them in my head. I’m not sure
if I’m the only one who does this, but I am terrible for it. This went on for
almost half an hour, as they got worse, my thoughts got even harsher. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That was until I realised how horrible my thoughts were, and I prayed. It was just a simple quick prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ead1dc;">“God, why do I judge
these ladies? It’s not my place, please help me see them as you see them for we
are all your children.” </span><span style="color: magenta;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I looked up after I
thought that prayer, and the first girl I saw was one of the girls I’d focused
my internal mocking on the most and I instantly knew her husband was an
alcoholic, that he bashes her and that this is the first time in a year that
she was aloud out with out him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This horrified me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This lady that I’d
been so rude to in my head, was going through so much. Who was I to judge her
having a fun time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I must admit, I
stared at her rather intently for a little bit as I thought about all of this,
but as I did so, I started to notice that whenever her friends weren’t looking
or talking to her, her face dropped and her eyes glazed over. You could see the
pain in her face. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the lyrics
of my favorite songs came to mind while this was all happening, and they go
like this:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All those people
going somewhere, why have I never cared?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me your eyes
for just ones second,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me your eyes
so I can see,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everything that I
keep missing, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me your love
for humanity, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me your arms
for the broken hearted,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ones that are far
beyond my reach,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #ead1dc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give me your heart
for the ones forgotten,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ead1dc;">Give me your eyes
so I can see.</span><span style="color: magenta;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Just something to think about. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ead1dc; font-size: x-small;">Andrew Redford</span></div>
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-48614943894268128152012-02-09T02:28:00.004+10:002012-02-10T10:29:46.268+10:00Lessons learned the hard way...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> 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mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >Life has been pretty hectic lately. Without sharing details, some of my family members have been going through huge struggles, which has thrown my world into utter chaos. It hasn’t been easy on any of us. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >I’ve learnt a lot through this recent set of struggles and I want to share a few of these lessons in a quick way. So here goes: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >I’ve learnt that no matter how helpful you try to be or how good your intentions are, you can’t always please everyone. Simple. Obvious! Still, it’s taken me years to learn. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >I’ve learnt that sometimes you need to step back and look after yourself and not feel guilty about it. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >I’ve learnt that you need to try and find the some times very small moments of happiness and hold on to them through the dark times. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >I’ve learnt that you need to prioritise the relationships in your life and spend time working on the important ones. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >I’ve learnt that if someone wants to find some one to blame, there will always be an unlucky candidate, whether they’ve done something or not. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >I’ve learnt that you aren’t able to get help unless you ask for it. It rarely is just waiting for you. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >I’ve learnt that family isn’t always the people you are related to by blood. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >I’ve learnt that I can’t get very far without God’s strength. That I really should remember that more often! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span ><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > I've learnt that its best not to focus on the pain but look for the positives.</span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span ><br /></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >I’ve learnt is that people cope differently with tragedy and stress.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >Most of all I’ve learnt that it’s ok not to be ok when so much is going wrong around you. I don’t even know if that makes any sense. I used to beat myself up for not coping as well as other people seem to in hard times but I’ve been able to come to terms with the fact that we all process things in different ways. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >I would never have survived the last month without God, Will and my beautiful friends. Even through these hard times, I am truly grateful to be so blessed. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span >“When we see that you're just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you're going to make it, no doubt about it.” 2 Corinthians 1:7 (Message Version)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span > </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span><span >“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span> </span></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-4985035972197778892011-05-12T11:47:00.000+10:002011-05-14T06:43:24.807+10:00Insecurities..<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hgwR_ZdIt0k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-30055904810750082502011-02-08T01:20:00.001+10:002011-02-08T01:27:26.018+10:00Vanuatu mission tripFinally some pictures from Vanuatu :)<br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv0kIP-VXjs?rel=0" frameborder="0"></iframe>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-89420382776145524462011-02-03T23:59:00.003+10:002011-02-04T00:06:14.015+10:00Road less traveled<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Two roads diverged in a wood, and I </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);"> I took the one less traveled by, </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);"> And that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost</span><br /><br /></span> </p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">I’m really bad when it comes to understanding metaphors. I’m always that one person who takes them for their literal meanings, rather then understanding the deeper one it’s trying to convey and thinks of it as a stupid saying. So when it comes to reading the quote about taking the road less traveled, it stumped me for a bit. How I took it was that most roads that are less traveled are normally less traveled for a reason, reasons like it has lots of pot holes or it doesn’t lead to anywhere that most people want to go. See, I often miss the point, but looking into it, that logic can be used in what the deeper meaning is also.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">My logic is that in life, “the road less traveled” can be different situations and choices that a lot of people choose not to take. They often to have pot hoses, stumbling blocks or struggles as it may be. In reality, nearly every road you go/path you take will have potholes at some point, whether you take the easy road or the unknown one. In my own life, the first time I started down a path less traveled was when I became a Christian, because, lets face it, it’s not the popular choice in our society and that was filled with potholes.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">That was the day I stepped off the popular path and at first it was awesome, nothing could stop me because I now had God on my side. That’s when I started to notice the potholes and the bumps in the road; Different temptations, fears and struggles that came along. Most of the times, I’m sad to say, I fell straight into the holes. For a long time I was pretty angry at God for that actually. I assumed that when I became a Christian, that God would make life easy and take away the bumps in the road. After months of trying and failing I got convicted by the fact that God never said life was going to be easy after I said I’d follow him, because, after all, he didn’t make it easy for his perfect son, so why should we get any special treatment, but he did promise that we would never have to go through it alone. That does make all the difference. </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">When the world has a certain plan for you and where you should be, it’s hard looking for the different paths. How do you know which path you’re meant to take when there are no sign posts?<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">When you do follow God’s path rather then the popular one, life is exciting! Going places and doing things that haven’t been done before. He’s got a lot bigger plan for us then we can ever imagine, but if we’re too busy trying to fit in to the world around us; we’ll miss out on a huge adventure.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 51);"> Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand</span><i style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 51);"> </i><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">out? - What a girl wants</span><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="s"><wbr></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-86961155420234745382011-01-25T05:08:00.003+10:002011-01-25T05:11:03.361+10:00The Father's Love Letter<p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><b>My Child,</b><br /> <br /> You may not know me,<br /> but I know everything about you.<br /> Psalm 139:1 </span> </p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I know when you sit down and when you rise up. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Psalm 139:2</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I am familiar with all your ways. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Psalm 139:3</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Matthew 10:29-31</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >For you were made in my image. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Genesis 1:27</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >In me you live and move and have your being.</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Acts 17:28 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >For you are my offspring. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Acts 17:28 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I knew you even before you were conceived. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Jeremiah 1:4-5 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I chose you when I planned creation. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Ephesians 1:11-12 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >You were not a mistake,<br /> for all your days are written in my book. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Psalm 139:15-16</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I determined the exact time of your birth<br /> and where you would live. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Acts 17:26 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >You are fearfully and wonderfully made. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Psalm 139:14 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I knit you together in your mother's womb. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Psalm 139:13 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >And brought you forth on the day you were born. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Psalm 71:6</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I have been misrepresented<br /> by those who don't know me.</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> John 8:41-44</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I am not distant and angry,<br /> but am the complete expression of love. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> 1 John 4:16 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> 1 John 3:1 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >Simply because you are my child<br /> and I am your Father. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> 1 John 3:1</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Matthew 7:11 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >For I am the perfect father. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Matthew 5:48 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> James 1:17</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Matthew 6:31-33 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Jeremiah 29:11 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >Because I love you with an everlasting love. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Jeremiah 31:3 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >My thoughts toward you are countless<br /> as the sand on the seashore.</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Psalms 139:17-18</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >And I rejoice over you with singing. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Zephaniah 3:17 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I will never stop doing good to you. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Jeremiah 32:40 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >For you are my treasured possession. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Exodus 19:5 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I desire to establish you<br /> with all my heart and all my soul. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Jeremiah 32:41 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >And I want to show you great and marvelous things. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Jeremiah 33:3 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >If you seek me with all your heart,<br /> you will find me. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Deuteronomy 4:29 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >Delight in me and I will give you<br /> the desires of your heart. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Psalm 37:4 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >For it is I who gave you those desires. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Philippians 2:13 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I am able to do more for you<br /> than you could possibly imagine. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Ephesians 3:20 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >For I am your greatest encourager. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I am also the Father who comforts you<br /> in all your troubles. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >When you are brokenhearted,<br /> I am close to you. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Psalm 34:18 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >As a shepherd carries a lamb,<br /> I have carried you close to my heart. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Isaiah 40:11 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >One day I will wipe away<br /> every tear from your eyes. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Revelation 21:3-4 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >And I'll take away all the pain<br /> you have suffered on this earth.</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Revelation 21:3-4 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I am your Father, and I love you<br /> even as I love my son, Jesus.</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> John 17:23 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> John 17:26</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >He is the exact representation of my being. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Hebrews 1:3 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >He came to demonstrate that I am for you,<br /> not against you. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Romans 8:31 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> 2 Corinthians 5:18-19</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >His death was the ultimate expression<br /> of my love for you. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> 1 John 4:10</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I gave up everything I loved<br /> that I might gain your love. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Romans 8:31-32 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,<br /> you receive me. </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> 1 John 2:23</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >And nothing will ever separate you<br /> from my love again.</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Romans 8:38-39</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >Come home and I'll throw the biggest party<br /> heaven has ever seen.</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Luke 15:7 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I have always been Father,<br /> and will always be Father.</span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> Ephesians 3:14-15 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >My question is…<br /> Will you be my child? </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /> John 1:12-13 </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> <span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" >I am waiting for you. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" > Luke 15:11-32</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span> <span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><b> Love, Your Dad</b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><b> </b></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Almighty God</span></b></span></div>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-44329338623133215272011-01-25T04:02:00.007+10:002011-01-25T04:17:00.765+10:00Doubt and the devil..<div style="text-align: center;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">How can you move on towards the future when you can’t let go of the past?<span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""> </span>I’m not talking about the girl in grade five that used to call you names but I’m talking about big things, real pain, pain that will continue to hurt for years. Some of that pain is self inflicted, from consequences from bad choices, but mostly it is caused by the people who are closest to you. People you’re supposed to be able to trust, hurting you more then you can imagine. <span style="" lang="EN-AU">Times when the pain is out of your control. </span>I don’t know if that’s true for all of you but that’s definitely been my experience anyway.<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">How are you meant to trust when all you know is hurt?<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">How do you move on when the pain is still real?<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">I don’t know about you but my past is painful and full of wounds that still haven’t healed and the more I try and move on from it, the more it haunts me. Coming back and reminding me it still has power over me just when I thought I was making progress. It has a way of holding me back from my dreams. Just when I get close to achieving anything, a seed of doubt is planted in the back of my mind. I find doubt is one of the hardest things to combat. As soon as I start doubting myself, it takes over. The voice that says you’re not good enough. The voice that says you never do anything right. The voice that says that I should give up.<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Up until recently, I listened to that voice and I believed it. I believed that no mater what I did, I would still be useless and hopeless just like the people in my past have told me I am. It’s been a long journey realising that the little voice saying all that negative stuff and bringing up my hurts was the devil trying to hold me back, trying to stop me being all that God wants me to be. It just goes to show the devil will try to use ANYTHING to stop you from being all you can be. Even though I’ve learnt that it’s just him trying to trip me up, it’s so hard to stop believing it. Seriously, when you’re going through hard times, how hard is it to look in the mirror and say to yourself “I have potential and that there is a purpose for me” and actually believe it?<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">I used to hear the verses in the bible like <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">“I am fearfully and wonderfully made”</span> (psalm 139) and<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 255, 153);">“For you were made in my image.” </span>(Genesis 1:27) and sort of thought it was a good idea but never really believed it. My thoughts were, if I was really made in God’s image; that must mean that God has a huge case of acne right now. I didn’t really take in the full picture of what God thinks of me because my head was to full of the negative thoughts. </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">I was introduced to the <a href="http://www.fathersloveletter.com/text.html">Father's Love Letter</a> on the weekend. It’s a beautiful collection of verses about how much God loves us and what he thinks of us (I will post it after this if you want to have a read). I burst into tears when my friend read it out because I finally got it. I finally understood what it all meant if that makes sense. I know I’m really slow to catch on, but at that moment the love felt more real then it had ever before.<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">I encourage you, when you’re past is trying to bring you down, when the devil is sowing seeds of doubt, remember what God says about you. He loves you; he gave his son, everything he loved, so that we might love him in return. He has a purpose for you even if you can’t see it yet. Only in him can we have hope and a future.<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(102, 255, 153); text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""> </span>One day I will wipe away<br />every tear from your eyes.<br />Revelation 21:3-4 </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-78925807569318667992011-01-13T00:01:00.001+10:002011-01-13T00:03:25.283+10:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/?action=view&current=PLHsmall.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/PLHsmall.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-88800922651991736602010-12-19T01:17:00.006+10:002010-12-19T02:57:48.566+10:00 What Christmas means to me...<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--></div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">At church on Sunday, our pastor asked the question, ‘what does Christmas mean to you?’ and got people to come up and write it on boards. It made me think about how much my view has changed over the years and it surprised me what my instant thoughts were. </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> When I was growing up, getting dragged to the nearest Catholic Church every Christmas Eve was the only “churchy” thing I did each year. Even then, us kids would spend the night outside playing tag or throwing rocks from a distance and trying to get them to land into the holy water basins that stood in the doorways (I’m the pope’s worst night mare). I heard about the Christmas story in our weekly RE classes in primary school but it never really effected me. M mum infected us with a love of Christmas when we were young, so every December we would go way overboard decorating the house and singing loudly along to our huge collection of Christmas CD’s (we have over 30 Christmas CD’s and it still grows each year!) but it was all about the presents and the holidays, nothing more. </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Christmas for me growing up meant a day of no fighting. It normally consisted of sugar highs, epic water fights that lasted for hours and way too much food, but the highlight was always no fighting. No one was angry at each other, and we actually liked being together for once. </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> To be honest that is still the first though that comes to my head when I think of Christmas, but now days since becoming a Christian in high school, it means so much more. To me it means we have a future because of the sacrifice made my Jesus, that I am forgiven and made new, and that I have hope. God made a way, only through the birth and death of his son Jesus, to get to heaven and have eternal life. I think that’s pretty special. </span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> What do you think of when you think of Christmas? Is it all about the presents? Or is it about the king of the universe?</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255); font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">M</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">e</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">r</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">r</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">y</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">C</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">h<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">r</span>i<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">s</span>t<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">m</span>a<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">s</span></span> </span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255); font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16</span></p><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"> </div><p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);" class="MsoNormal"> </p>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-10007953365814928962010-12-18T23:54:00.004+10:002010-12-20T13:36:17.476+10:00<a href="http://s608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/?action=view&current=the_cross1.jpg" target="_blank"><a href="http://s608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/?action=view&current=the_cross1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/the_cross1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="i celebrate the day,reliet k" /></a><br /></a>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-47529367209521822122010-12-13T14:30:00.005+10:002010-12-19T02:04:43.871+10:00Judgemental-ness<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Ok, so I don’t know about you, but in my friendship group there are a few people that get on my nerves - a lot! I instantly judge them every time they do something annoying or irritating. I actually find it really hard to be around them, let alone be pleasant to them. If you’ve never experienced this, you’ll probably thinking I’m a horrible person by now, but from talking to a few of my close friends about this, I’ve found a lot of people feel this way about at least one person in their lives. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >So what do we do about it? Most times (or so I’ve found in my life) it turns into gossip. I start complaining to my friends about how annoying some people are and they join in and so it starts. But how many times in the bible does it warn against this? Just thinking about it I can name a few.<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);"> “</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">Do not judge, or you too will be judged” – Matthew 7:1, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone” – John 8:7</span>. Anyone who’s been at church or reading the bible would have come across them at one point or another, yet how many of us actually live by that? </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255); font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. – Matthew 7:2-5</span> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >I once heard that a lot of the time, the traits that annoy us about other people are traits that are (even in just a small way) present in ourselves. For a long time I didn’t understand that, I never looked at myself as critically as I looked at others. That soon changed as God started showing me how flawed I was too (don’t get me wrong I didn’t think I was perfect, but I didn’t think I was as messed up as I was either). Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly a fun experience, but was definitely necessary. I learned a lot about self reflection, but I still find it hard not judging people around me. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >This is something that I’ve been struggling with for some time, and honestly, I don’t think its going to stop anytime soon, but I will continue to work on it. </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Who in your life do you unfairly judge and how are you going to combat this? </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255); font-style: italic;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37</span></div>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-55564864149101889252010-12-13T14:11:00.001+10:002010-12-13T14:28:26.106+10:00<a href="http://s608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/?action=view&current=4496441.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/4496441.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-65419331377296281972010-12-02T02:00:00.007+10:002012-09-12T14:50:22.789+10:00Blessings<div style="color: #ffcc33; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </div>
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So lately I’ve been going through some hard times, just different things in my life that aren’t going so well. Over the last few weeks I’ve found myself stressing about all the bad stuff in my life rather then focusing on all the good. I got challenged by one of my closest friends to start counting my blessings, to come up with a list of awesome things in my life that I’m thankful for. To be completely honest I’ve struggled coming up with a list, if it was the bad stuff I could knock out a long list no problem but I guess it’s only because I think about it so much.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">God’s forgiveness and everlasting love</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">William Andrew Torr </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Donna-Kay Kilgour – My twin</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Incredibly supportive church</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">My mother, who always does the best she can</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">My not so amazing past for making me who I am today</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">LOL – Our young adults group at church and everyone in it</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Memories of awesome things that I have done</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Jero and Daniella – My Vanuatu girls for being so encouraging</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">A roof over my head every night</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Food in the fridge </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Rad supervisors/managers at work</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Christmas music – no matter what, it always cheers me up</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Unexpected plane flights to Brisbane </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Job interview with Apple</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Health</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">My passions – TWLOHA, Apple, Church, Operation Beautiful, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">That I am able to help my friends because of what I’ve been through</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">My animals for keeping me company when I am home alone</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Chocolate – it makes everything better</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Worship music – it also makes everything better :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Freedom from persecution</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Bright colours – without these my world would be a boring place</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Rad photos that make me smile</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Hope for the future</span></div>
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<strong></strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">So here is my list in progress and my challenge to you. Try to look at the positives, make a list of blessings. It will change your outlook. Trust me.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="color: #ffcc99; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">All these </span><b style="color: #ffcc99; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">blessings</b><span style="color: #ffcc99; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God - Deuteronomy 28:2 </span><strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+28:2&version=NIV" style="color: #ffcc99; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></a><br /></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #ff6600;">To be continued..</span></div>
Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-42189374154956376842010-11-07T13:43:00.002+10:002010-11-07T13:46:09.603+10:00What Grace Looks Like - 33 Miles<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gnqGPAS5Fak?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gnqGPAS5Fak?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-37650248115044024042010-11-07T11:53:00.003+10:002010-11-07T13:46:33.434+10:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/?action=view&current=LifeQuote005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/LifeQuote005.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a></div>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-60212348650102585812010-10-21T16:14:00.002+10:002010-10-21T16:16:22.829+10:00Vanuatu Short Term Mission Trip<div style="text-align: center;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">Quite a few people have asked me why I’m going to Vanuatu, so I thought I’d just write a blog about it. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> Over the last year, I admit that I haven't really been doing "the Christian thing" as they say. I went off the tracks and did my own thing until everything in my life went wrong and I realised that I couldn't do everything on my own and that I was a fool for trying. So now I'm back in Rockhampton, living at my mother's house and trying to get my life back to God. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">I started going back to my old church, the Rockhampton Baptist Tabernacle, and in the first week I went they were advertising that they desperately needed people to go on their mission trip to Vanuatu to build a house for Pastor Carlos and his family. The first week I thought I would be awesome to do but didn't take much notice of it, like it didn’t apply to me, but in the second week I started to get a feeling like it was something I was meant to do, cause hey, I had just moved back to Rockhampton, I don't have a job yet so I can get as much time off as I want, and I have a current passport (cause this was only three weeks before the trip). </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> I went home that night and was talking to my boyfriend on the phone about the trip and we prayed about it and we decided that I should go check it out and get more information about it. So that Tuesday I went and saw Eddie, who is the organiser of the trip, and I was pretty much accepted straight away. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> I've never taken a step of faith this huge, as I said, I don't have a job at the moment so I had to rely on God's provision the whole way and also I've never had the guts to say yes when God has asked me to do something before. I can’t say I have built a house before, but I am willing to give it a go. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153); font-weight: bold; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" – Isaiah 6:8 </span></p>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-8091489960143395502010-10-21T15:54:00.000+10:002010-10-21T15:55:16.716+10:00<a href="http://s608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/?action=view&current=tumblr_kur2btfp7a1qzh6ppo1_500.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/tumblr_kur2btfp7a1qzh6ppo1_500.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-77671659509738907052010-10-19T06:06:00.002+10:002010-10-19T23:17:25.733+10:00Passion vs. Apathy<div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">What are you passionate about? </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">We were asked that at my young adults group recently by a visiting missionary. He got us to go around the circle and name some of our passionate about. I instantly had a few passions come to mind, but as we went around, surprisingly most people in our group couldn’t list one. At the time I didn’t really think much about it, but since then it has played on my mind a lot. This isn’t meant as a personal attack to those people in any way, but it just bought up an issue that I haven’t particularly noticed before then. Apathy…</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">According to Wikipedia (and we all know that it’s always correct!) apathy is defined as “a</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" > state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion.</span><span style="font-size:130%;">” More and more people these days are becoming more apathetic towards most social and environmental issues. The more we hear about it, the less we want to know. A general “meh, whatever” stance is taking over. </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Passion has a few meanings which include, ‘</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >A powerful emotion, such as love, joy, hatred, or anger</span><span style="font-size:130%;">’, ‘</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >the object of such love or desire</span><span style="font-size:130%;">’ or ‘</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >an abandoned display of emotion</span><span style="font-size:130%;">’; however the definition that I’m talking about is ‘</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >the object of such enthusiasm</span><span style="font-size:130%;">’. Ok, I’ll be honest here. The other reason that I got onto the apathy topic, stems back to one of my passions (fighting against depression and suicide) and how apathetic people in general are towards the whole issue. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that everyone should be super passionate about depression and suicide prevention just because I am, but I am saying it is a huge issue facing our society today and it’s not something that we should become apathetic towards. As the old saying goes, apathy breeds contempt.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255); font-weight: bold; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">A lot of people don't realize that depression is an illness. I don't wish it on anyone, but if they would know how it feels, I swear they would think twice before they just shrug it.</span>" - Jonathan Davis</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">I know I stated these facts in my last blog, but I think it’s something that needs to constantly be brought to our attention. Remember that 65000 people in Australia alone try to commit suicide per year and a fifth of the population will suffer from depression at some point in their life. I personally can’t believe people could be unaffected by those sorts of statistics. That we are so blinded to it that we can’t even help each other through a crisis that a lot of us are going to face. We can’t stick out head in the sand and hope that the issue will just rectify itself, that’s not how emotional and psychological issues work. It’s a real problem and our indifference towards it is only making it worse. You cannot combat loneliness and rejection with apathy, it only enhances the isolation. </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">What are your passions? </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">I learnt today that passion comes from the Latin word ‘</span><span style="font-size:130%;">pati’ </span><span style="font-size:130%;">which means ‘suffer’. That surprised me a little at first, but then I started looking around at different definitions of the word and one website I read defined passions as ‘</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >your own personal cross to bare</span><span style="font-size:130%;">’. The more I think about it the more it makes sense, its rarely ever easy to stand up for your passions or get people to understand why you are so passionate about those issues in the first place. </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255); font-weight: bold; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">“<span style="font-style: italic;">By far the most dangerous foe we have to fight is apathy - indifference from whatever cause, not from a lack of knowledge, but from carelessness, from absorption in other pursuits, from a contempt bred of self satisfaction.</span>” - William Osler </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">What can we do to overcome social apathy? I don’t have the answer. I wish I did! I just have a lot more questions, but all I want to do is get people thinking about it and become aware of how they act to different issues. </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255); font-weight: bold; text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. Revelations 3:16</span></p>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-27819160710535745992010-10-19T06:00:00.003+10:002010-10-19T06:03:53.403+10:00<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/life%20quote/karebearlv/Quotes/ca7b4360.png?o=400" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://s608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/Decorated%20images/?action=view&current=ca7b4360.png" target="_blank"><img style="width: 516px; height: 387px;" src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt168/rochellesheree89/Decorated%20images/ca7b4360.png" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-33152335022796118232010-10-09T06:26:00.007+10:002010-10-09T06:37:24.546+10:00Depression..<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Roughly 65,000 people each year will try to commit suicide in </span></span><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Australia</span></span><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> alone, of those, about 2,200 of those succeed. </span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Think about that for a while. </span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It horrifies and saddens me that so many people in our country feel so alone, so locked into their situation that they believe there is no other way out. Seriously, 65000 reported suicide attempts, not to mention there would be almost twice that figure that would go unreported. Depression and other mental illnesses are the most common causes for youth suicide. It is estimated that one in five Australians aged 18 years and over will experience some kind of mental illness, yet two thirds of those people will never seek help. </span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When did we become so isolated that over 65000 people felt that they have no one to turn to? </span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In my life I have both seen what it’s like to live with someone with depression and also suffered from it myself. When I was in year nine, my mother would spend every second that she wasn’t working or caring for my bother and I, laying in bed, tears rolling down her face, staring at the same spot on the blank wall. I never understood it. Weeks later I came home and my mother wasn’t there, but my auntie was. She informed me that my mother was suffering from depression and was so close to the edge that she was admitted into hospital. To be completely honest, I still didn’t understand. I am ashamed to say that I still had the childish opinion of “why can’t you just cheer up”. Mum got out of the hospital 3 weeks later, but nothing had really changed, other than now she was on a lot of medication. She went for a few months of seeming fine, until again she ended up back in hospital. Over the next two years she was admitted into hospital more than five times. </span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The thing I’m trying to show is that I of all people know how hard it is to deal with some one in your life having depression, how it feels to be completely powerless to help them. It is not an easy thing to deal with and there is no quick fix. </span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 255); text-align: center; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">“It (depression) feels like being in a dark hole, and not being able to get out. You can see the light far away, with no way of getting to it. I am not<br />worth anything nor worthy of anyone”</span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">According to the World Health Organisation, 121 million people worldwide suffer from depression, yet it is still not something we talk about, something we don’t as yet know how to talk about. Seriously, how would you react when faced with having friends or family open up to you about depression and suicidal thoughts? Would you know what to say?<span style=""> </span>In a study done by Pfizer Australia, when asked what actions they would take if they knew a friend or family member was suffering with depression, one in three said they would encourage them to put on a brave face and push on. Is that really what we should be telling our friends? </span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The thing is; depression is not something you can “just get over”. It is a real medical problem. Dr Grace Groom says "<span style="font-style: italic;">Asking a depressed person to cheer up or focus on the positive things in life is not helpful. It minimises and undermines that person's illness by suggesting it is easily overcome and not a serious condition that requires professional treatment</span>."</span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Depression and suicide prevention is one of my main passions. There are a couple of organisations that I strongly support because of that passion. The first one being ‘To Write Love On Her Arms’. </span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. I encourage you to read the TWLOHA vision which I have posted in an earlier blog. </span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Do you have the courage to come along side someone who’s hurting? Are you able to ask someone how they are, and actually mean it? </span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">Strategies for helping people with depression are to listen and be supportive, include them in social events and to suggest they seek professional advice with family doctors the first point-of-contact.</span>" <span style=""> </span>- Dr Grace Groom. </span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;">You can help be the difference. You can help break the isolation.</span></span></span></h3><h3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="uistorymessage"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><blockquote> You can help save a life. </blockquote></span></span></span></h3><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> </div><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255); text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="contentdescription">So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.</span><br /><span class="sectiontableentry2">Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)</span></span> </p>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-46581668499155370242010-10-04T17:48:00.000+10:002010-10-04T17:49:07.856+10:00Hiding Behind a Fake Smile...<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);" class="mbl notesBlogText clearfix"><p>Shes hiding behind a fake smile,</p><p>But its something shes used to.</p><p>Shes done it now for a while,</p><p>Smiling for real is something thats not easy for her to do.</p><p>She always acts like her life is pure bliss,</p><p>But the truth is, Everything is going wrong,</p><p>She only acts happy to help herself stay strong.</p><p>Everyday she holds in the tears she wants to cry,</p><p>She acts like a normal teenage girl.</p><p>When theres really so much pain hidden inside,</p><p>When she really feels like shes living one big lie,</p><p>The truth is some days she just wants to give up and no longer try.</p><p>But today is not the day to let everyone know the truth,</p><p>Its like a caged animal and its not ready to be let loose.</p><p>So for now she'll do her best to walk around in happy style,</p><p>And she'll keep on hiding behind that fake smile.</p></div>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-91774920130636735502010-10-03T16:27:00.004+10:002010-10-03T16:33:15.874+10:00Alive by Alex Pavia<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Tell me, what's next?<br />I feel that I'm blinded by the past<br />This world is so<br />Unreal, and happiness don't last<br /><br />Will you be my eyes<br />And lead me out of the darkness<br />Will you take me away<br />To another glory?<br /><br />Tell me, what's next?<br />Tell me what's real<br />Tell me when it's over<br />Tell me what's truth,<br />This pain I feel<br />Everyday I get older<br />Tell me, is this life that I've been living<br />Just another waste of your energy<br />Is this life we've been living just a lie?<br />Am I alive?<br /><br />When I look<br />In the mirror<br />Am I staring at myself,<br />Or am I seeing just a model<br />Of what you want me to be?<br />Are these hands my hands?<br />And is this body my body?<br />And is there anybody else that sees?<br /><br />It's over now and you're gone<br />And I have just been waiting here for far too long<br /><br />Can you feel my heart beat baby?<br />Can you feel my lungs are breathing?<br />Can you feel my breath on the back of your neck,<br />Baby I'm alive<br />Do you feel my hand when I touch yours?<br />I know you know I'm here but I'm not sure<br />That you feel me, baby do you feel me?<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">Copyright 2008 Alexander Pavia<br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ewp5fHzIyvo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ewp5fHzIyvo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /></span></div>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-59284838067329431672010-10-03T05:40:00.001+10:002010-10-03T16:34:52.422+10:00Change..<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal">Isn’t it amazing how small, insignificant things, like a smell, a song or even a few words on an old blog can bring back memories, emotions and insecurities that you’ve forgot you had? I came upon an old blog I wrote a few years ago earlier today, and it just that. Brought up a whole lot of feelings that I thought I had left back in 2008. I don’t know if this happens to everyone but I find, when I do look back at the past, that I still have the same insecurities, that although they may present themselves in different ways, deep down they’re still the same. </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal">Do we ever really change? </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal">They say “people can change” but at the same time, the figurative ‘they’ also claim things like “once a cheater, always a cheater” and “a zebra can’t change its’ stripes”. So which one is it? Is it only small things that we can change about ourselves? Like hairstyles and what food that we choose as our favourite at the time. Or are we able to change our characteristics and our personalities? <span style=""> </span>Once we have certain personality traits are we stuck with them? </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal">Do we ever really change? </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal">They say you learn most of your personality traits from your mother and father before the age of five, but does that mean you are destined to turn out like your parents? Personally, one of my biggest fears is that I’ll end up like my parents. Now don’t take that the wrong way, they are decent, hardworking people, but at the same time I don’t want to end up with a life like theirs. I have bigger dreams then to live a life full of struggles and hardship. </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal">Growing up I often heard “you are an awful lot like you father” or “you’re exactly like you’re mother”. Does that mean the cycle has started? Does that mean I’ve inherited the same genetic flaws? How is it possible to live a life different to your parents, when their lives are the only path through life that you’ve witnessed? Are you able to change you’re future?<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);" class="MsoNormal">Do we ever really change? </p>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2642659280379605982.post-66666477509812268842010-10-02T17:05:00.005+10:002010-10-09T06:18:23.917+10:00To Write Love On Her Arms<div style="text-align: center;"><a style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ib7JTMrHdYU/TKbaaLdKajI/AAAAAAAAACE/5D9yTgyFFhw/s1600/twloha.jpg"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </a></div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">You were created to love and be loved. You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you're part of a bigger story. You need to know that your life matters.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">We live in a difficult world, a broken world. My friend Byron is very smart - he says that life is hard for most people most of the time. We believe that everyone can relate to pain, that all of us live with questions, and all of us get stuck in moments. You need to know that you're not alone in the places you feel stuck. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">We all wake to the human condition. We wake to mystery and beauty but also to tragedy and loss. Millions of people live with problems of pain. Millions of homes are filled with questions – moments and seasons and cycles that come as thieves and aim to stay. We know that pain is very real. It is our privilege to suggest that hope is real, and that help is real. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">You need to know that rescue is possible, that freedom is possible, that God is still in the business of redemption. We're seeing it happen. We're seeing lives change as people get the help they need. People sitting across from a counselor for the first time. People stepping into treatment. In desperate moments, people calling a suicide hot line. We know that the first step to recovery is the hardest to take. We want to say here that it's worth it, that your life is worth fighting for, that it's possible to change. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">Beyond treatment, we believe that community is essential, that people need other people, that we were never meant to do life alone. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">The vision is that community and hope and help would replace secrets and silence. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">The vision is people putting down guns and blades and bottles. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">The vision is that we can reduce the suicide rate in America and around the world.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">The vision is that we would learn what it means to love our friends, and that we would love ourselves enough to get the help we need.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">The vision is better endings. The vision is the restoration of broken families and broken relationships. The vision is people finding life, finding freedom, finding love. The vision is graduation, a Super Bowl, a wedding, a child, a sunrise. The vision is people becoming incredible parents, people breaking cycles, making change. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">The vision is the possibility that your best days are ahead. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;">The vision is the possibility that we're more loved than we'll ever know. </p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ib7JTMrHdYU/TKbaaLdKajI/AAAAAAAAACE/5D9yTgyFFhw/s1600/twloha.jpg"><span class="important"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;font-size:13px;" ></span></span></a></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-family: arial; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-family: arial; text-align: center;"> </div><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold; text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;">The vision is hope, and hope is real.</strong></span><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); font-weight: bold; text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;">You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ib7JTMrHdYU/TKbaaLdKajI/AAAAAAAAACE/5D9yTgyFFhw/s1600/twloha.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 246px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ib7JTMrHdYU/TKbaaLdKajI/AAAAAAAAACE/5D9yTgyFFhw/s320/twloha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523342136303053362" border="0" /></a></p>Chell Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01072893499178974362noreply@blogger.com0