Let me first say that its great to be back in Brisbane and back in Australia. It was so refreshing to be able to catch up with family and friends that I had not seen in 7 years. For those of you who know me personally at some point during the past seven years you probably heard me say how I’ve missed Canada and how I’ve missed my friends and family. There were times when I was bitter with God because I could not see what it was he wanted me to be doing in Australia. Looking back now on what seemed like seven years in the proverbial dessert I can see that God was and still is putting me through the fire.

While we were on vacation God brought a few issues to the surface that I really needed to deal with. Like the fact that we had not made any kind of real effort to become a part of our church which we have now been attending for well over a year. We’ve already started making a conscious effort in that area and for the first time in a long time I feel good about going to church. One of the other issues God brought to the surface was my devotional life or lack there of in my case. That is another thing which I have just started to change and I have to say that through out the day you just feel better when you’ve spent time reading Gods word. Even if its only for a few minutes it is so worth it. I think as Christians when we get away from a steady devotional life we become complacent and our relationship with Christ really starts to suffer. You see you can pray and talk to God until your blue in the face but so often we forget that in his word there really is life, there really is hope, and there really is strength in his word.

Aside from God bringing some vital issues to the surface something rather odd started happening in the last week I spent in Canada. I started to look forward to coming back to Brisbane. For me this was huge because before the trip I was a bit worried that it was going to be very hard for me to leave my friends and family behind once again. It was hard, but not nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be. In that final week God began to put a fire in me for Brisbane. I started thinking more and more about being in full time ministry, and thats kind of funny because at the moment I am so far from being in full time ministry its not even funny. But what is interesting is that God has given me a fresh vision for the things I am doing for God right now. Its not like I can complain to God that I have nothing to do because I have plenty to do. The biggest breakthrough for me that I got out of this trip was realizing that its time for me to stop complaining about being home sick and start making a difference for God in this city. In the coming weeks I am going to have lunch with some of the people I have begun to develop relationships with at my church. It is so awesome to feel alive again and feel driven towards a purpose. My favorite verse comes to mind as I finish off this entry.. I hope it encourages you.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8

- Pete