Depression. From Relevant mag. "Can 'real' christians be depressed?"

"

Depression should be treated and can be put into remission through a course of psychoanalysis, cognitive therapy and/or antidepressant medication, supplemented by healthy doses of prayer within a loving Christian community.

It is nonsensical to tell a depressed person that if he only read his Bible more or had better quiet times, his depression would surely be lifted. That would be like telling a diabetic that faith alone will regulate her insulin levels. Faith alone gives eternal salvation, but in the meantime, God has given us resources by which to make our temporal existences more palatable. Depression is certainly healed by the grace of God, sometimes directly and miraculously, but more often through the tools of His servants, like pharmacists, therapists, pastors and friends.     "

Here is the link to the blog I got it from.
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/whole-life/features/1976-can-qrealq-christians-be-depressed

The Residents.

These are real people, with real names.
Because I've worked at the village for a while and I see the same residents every week I know what they like and what they don't. I have come to know their pet peeves and habits, it's so interesting to observe. I would've loved to have learnt more about psychology but I thought it would be quite humorous and cute for me to mention some of the regular things I see at work.

Merv the perv: Is really not a Perv and Loui just gave him a terrible nickname, always comes early to pick up his takeaway for him and his wife. He doesn't talk much and he always has to get fruit because he never pays the full price :(

Charles: Always gets the nice dessert. Because he's a regular.

Josephine: Really like to abruptly talk about her personal details of her life. Very bad with self control, she has diabetes so when it comes to deciding what dessert she wants, she cannot say no to that yummy 10000 calorie sugar filled banana fritter with ice cream.

June: hates being moved and always slow in the cue because she likes to take her time (so cute).

Sheila: Just makes you SCREAM out what the desserts are even though I bet she can read the board and she knows what it is already.

Ron: Always the last to finish his meal.

Stewart: Doesn't like custard or any liquidy stuff with any of his hot meals a part from ice cream, they all love ice cream.

Allan: Had a knee surgery because he tried to rush up and get in front of all the women and be the first in line HAHA. He always gets the jelly for dessert.

Jeanie: Is cute. Always ALWAYS says thank you and goodnight to everyone. Which is more than what it means. We may be the last ones to see her alive that night.

Jimmy: No matter what always wants fruit with his dessert.

Ron: has a very big laugh and is such a people person.

Ivy: So sweet but has called me with 3 different names in the past year and half. Jasmine, Jascinda, Luscinda. I never corrected her haha!

Mary: Great sense of humor, hillarious! Always says it's my fault for handing out the desserts when she's the one who picks it. She always says she feels guilty picking the "bad" dessert hahaha

Faith: Likes to eat just custard in a bowl when there is custard with pie, pudding or crumble. Very strange lol

They have the same things over and over and over again, I think I would go cray.

People have rice for dessert. That is culturally weird for me. Rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner... then dessert. That sounds terrible.

Those were some of the things/antics I can remember about the residents that I work for and care about :)

Audrey

Those of you who know me, know that I work at a retirement village (5 mins away from my house), as a kitchen assistant and it is the most rewarding job.
Not because I get paid more than my minimum wage with food rather than the 2 hours of work I do.
But it's the people which I find the best.

I have to resign from my job very soon.  

I know for new doors to open you have to always let go and close the doors you are so familiar with. Sometimes that's such a great feeling to finally move on; but this time I feel great to be opening this new door but at the same time I am feeling really sad to say goodbye. 

I just love spending my time with the people there.

Anyway, I've gotten really close to 2 of the residents there. Their names are June and Audrey and they are best friends. Sometimes they can't stand each other and most times they're like 2 peas in a pod. Just the cutest! I think June is 89 and Audrey is 95! Both quite healthy for their age and still going strong. I've lately become very close with Audrey, and I told her that I was leaving for England soon and that I would have to stop working at Parklane. We both got really sad about it and cried. 

I hugged her and then I told her about God.
And we had this mean chat which brought more tears to our eyes.

She is currently at cross roads. She doesn't think she can become this "true follower", I've tried to explain it to her many times that all she has to do is accept the Lord into her life, know that she has done wrong in the past and knows that the Lord has saved her. And actually want that true relationship with Jesus. But she keeps thinking that all the hard work her and her husband have put in to achieve; like living at the retirement village, those antiques she has locked away in her cabinets... was all for nothing.. I think she can't let that go. I so so want her to be saved. But that is not something I can control or do anything about.  
The funny thing is she kept repeating "Cind, you've put the cat amongst the pigeons", "You're a decptive little thing aren't you!" "I'm 95 years old and I have never ever had this kind of conversation in my whole entire life!". She repeated that about 10 times but I love it. 

The thing is... there is no such thing as coincidence.

There is no COINCIDENCE that I got the job at Parklane. 

There is no COINCIDENCE that I am still there after 1 year and 6 months. 

There is no COINCIDENCE that out of the 50 residents at the retirement village that come down for their meals I became close to Audrey. 

There is no COINCIDENCE at that moment God told me to go see Audrey and then nudged me to speak to her about the Lord. 

THERE IS A REASON why you are at your school, uni, work place today working along side the people you are with NOW. God has put people specifically around you and in your path for some REASON. It takes time. And that's what I learnt, it's never this instant connection with people and then somehow they say YES to Jesus and life is all good for them. It takes time, but plant that seed and God will do the rest. Be patient.

Lastly Please please please, pray for Audrey she is very dear to me and I will miss her very much. I hope to see her when I get back from my trip. But if I don't I pray that she will find the truth and accept the Lord into her life.
21/07/2015

IMAGERY

I went to St Pauls today.
I got quite a few images and things from God!

▲ Grace is not like filing in a long and complex application. 

Currently my life has just been me applying for a million things for my exchange programme. I think maybe that's why I'm not like ecstatic because it hasn't hit me yet. I'm still applying for my visa and honestly its such a drag. I know I shouldn't be complaining at all because it's SUCH A BLESSING to be able to go! 
It's an answer to prayer! 
But I've been in this mindset that I have a 'to do list' that never stops which is normal to everyone but mostly all of them is filling out a form with my personal details for something. I have treated God's grace this way as well. I kept thinking that I have a list of things to do and fill this massive gap to be able to have my sins forgiven. He loves us when we suck. He loves us when we fail. 

"You don't have to go through the long and hard application to be saved and forgiven by me."

▲ Symbols/action figures on a shelf.

On a very pretty, authentic, vintage shelf there is a cross, food, my fav kdrama, my studies, and..... some boy.
What will you choose?
It's my decision that dictate everything. 
What am I going to reach for today? 
I pray and hope it's the cross. 

▲ Building a relationship with God instead of building more of a relationship with someone (earthly).

What matters in the end?

▲ Our faith is like a staircase. (From Katie Ward)

We go through the same thing over and over. It's the same lesson but we grow each and every step. Even if we feel stationary and we've learnt the same lesson before. We're growing in it. I doubt that I am most times, but he is making my faith stronger and developing my character as his follower all the time. Even through it's the same dumb ditch I've fallen into. Even though it's the same chains that hold me down. God is going to make a breakthrough happen. 

On a more serious note...

We know that when we're in primary and younger it's your friend circles that are our biggest problem. Who plays with who and the things we talk about are generally focused on it. 

In secondary school it's focused more on who's dating who and who likes who. 
HINT HINT Girls talk the most about boys haha 
but when u get older those mini problems like trying to find a part time job anywhere turns into going into a time of recession and being unemployed for good. 

Serious shit like abortion, divorce and actually working really really hard at a full time job. 
The little problems that looked so massive to us at that season in life are actually... nothing compared to what "adult life" is like. Reality hit me like a storm... a punch in the face.... a bite on the bum... a kick in the knees... a poke in the eye.. u get the gist. 

We focus on any kind of problem just to have something to talk about, complain or to have something to be upset about. Because we're filling up our void that only the lord can fill with unnecessary little nitty gritty problems. Even the big problems to the Lord is not big enough. 

Matt 6:33. Seek God. Even through the mess he may not clean it all up, he's there with you in that mess. 


The song "When the going gets tough the tough gets going" has been stuck in my head this whole week. And I love the saying. WE ARE THE TOUGH ONES. 
WE KEEP GOING, KEEP FIGHTING because JESUS makes us TANK AS. 

xoxo 

Wise words from Sydney

2 DOGS..

1 BLACK                                         1 WHITE

They are constantly fighting,

Who will win?

Whichever you feed the most.