Take aways

Speak slowly, clearly, and respectfully to everyone. Sorting out miscommunication is such a waste of time.

Nothing says 'community' like walking through your old primary school, working for the AEC in your local suburb, chatting to the Korean retailers, asking the librarian for good old fashioned find-a-book help, and strolling home after dark, feeling perfectly safe. It's taken me ten years at least.

Singing to Father is good for the soul.

If a boy asks you to have coffee with him, he is not asking you to overanalyse his every text message into insanity. He is just asking you to have coffee with him!

You are only responsible for so much. (Psalm 16)

Card making is not only therapeutic, it's cheaper and more personal to the card-makee.

Some people really are destroyed from lack of knowledge.

Journalling over coffee is always a good idea, so find your favourite cafes in at least four suburbs and enjoy!

Relax about the future. Seek first the Kingdom. Trust God.

Every person, no matter what age, ethnicity, gender or sexuality (whether you agree with their lifestyle choices or not), were made in the image and likeness of God.

We all have opinions. It's not always appropriate to air them.

Be quick to listen and slow to speak. When words are many, sin is not absent.

Persevere with the contexts God has put you in. If you aren't sure that Father has placed you there, consult with an older and wiser Christian who walks with you.

Make sure you are constantly, always, continually, daily walking with fierce gospel carriers, fat with the love of Christ in them...

Criticisms bother us because we think they might be true, but not nice. We weren't called to be people of nice, but people of Truth (in love).

I am no longer ashamed to admit that given the opportunity, I would happily give up everything to be a full time Mum! (Yet I really have no idea what this entails).

We are called to love everybody. This doesn't mean we have to like them, become their best friend, say 'yes' to every ridiculous request they make, or listen to their potentially poisonous words. Regretfully, the uniqueness of every person means a personalised treatment of love to each.
[P.S. He, Jesus, was pierced for OUR transgressions, and bruised for OUR iniquities, suffering death on a cross for US! So LOOK directly towards Him.]

Everyone is often in their own fantasy land, their own dream. Some exceptional people are not essentially self interested and so have trained themselves to see things from another point of view. Aim to be one of these people.