SabrinaPeters.com

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Tue, 07 May 2013 17:58:09 +1000

"You’re beautiful from head to toe, beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless.”..."

Tue, 07 May 2013 17:57:12 +1000

““You’re beautiful from head to toe, beautiful beyond compare, absolutely flawless.” (Songs of songs 4:7) this may not be what man says about us but it is what God says TO US!”

Grass is greener generation.

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:32:01 +1000

“The grass ain’t always greener on the other side, it’s green where you water it.”

Cool quote hey. I’m pretty sure it’s from a Justin Bieber song. But hey. Forgive me. It’s still good and I think we need to remind ourselves from time to time.

Well at least I do!

I find my default is to look at the person next door and see how they’re doing. (Even Peter did it in the bible asking Jesus “What ya got for John Lord” and Jesus replied “don’t worry about Him, you just do what I tell YOU to do” John 21:21)

That’s probably the best advice. Because most of the time when I look sideways I just see all that I DON’T have and forget to appreciate what I DO. (Which is actually a lot!)

I feel like their garden is in full bloom without a weed in sight while I’m unsatisfied with my own life thinking “hhhmm I wonder if we could trade lives?”

I’m sure I’m not the only one? Have you ever thought it’d be nice if I had that cute boyfriend who brings me flowers and writes me songs (I think I’m describing Bieber here again oops) or I had her for a hot wife isn’t she just so nice.

Look at him he got his dream job while I’ve been on Seek.com half the night and not even a single interview. Or her she’s always so flawless and perfect.

If you’re in ministry maybe you’ve looked at the Church or the Youth down the street and seen it bursting at the seams with passionate teenagers and you’ve caught yourself thinking, “What am I doing wrong? Where are the hundreds? Maybe this just isn’t meant for me”

Why does everyone else seem to have it all together??

Well here’s the truth with some cheese on it.

1. No one has it ALL together.

They probably have as many struggles and problems as you. You just don’t know it!

And that’s a good thing. We shouldn’t publicize all of our stress. Face your problems. Don’t Facebook them.

And behind the veneer of social media is real life! Real life is not all smiles and waves. (or duck faces)

I’ve seen so many “perfect relationships” end in break up. Or the ideal job turn out to be a nightmare or the effortless ministry actually be a substantial amount of sacrifice and work.

“The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.”

—

Steve Furtick.

They may have grass that is green! But it’s not perfect. And I’m sure have just as many weeds. (Trials and tribulations)

2. Start watering!!!

If you’re not happy with your lawn don’t spend all day staring at your neighbors wishing it were yours. Start watering YOURS!

You will have many many blessings in your life. Don’t forget them.

You want a better relationship. Invest in it!

Spend time together. Be kind to one another.

You want to be emotionally whole? Go to the healer. Seek out help. You want a more harmonies family. Put God at the Centre and apply biblical truths. You want a six-pack? Put down the donuts. Eat healthy, exercise. You want a flourishing ministry. Keep sowing. Your harvest could be just around the corner. Don’t Quit.

WHO CARES WHAT SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING?

Comparison kills.

Water your own lawn! x

"The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone..."

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:29:49 +1000

““The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.””

- Steve Furtick.

"Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you..."

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:28:46 +1000

““Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.””

- John Wesley

"God’s saying, ‘You’re praying that I would send you the right one, but how about..."

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:36:20 +1000

““God’s saying, ‘You’re praying that I would send you the right one, but how about you make a commitment to let me make you the right one. Cause if I gave you the right one and you were the wrong one, you would ruin the good gift I gave. ””

- Steven Furtick

Why wait so as to get to the alter a virgin? – A review of Sabrina Peters' reflections. (Article from Christian Today Australia)

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 19:59:07 +1000

Over a life time in Christian ministry it has been one of my responsibilities to answer this question, an issue that Christian parents are immensely concerned about for their young people, let alone young people themselves. Moreover, each new teenage generation think they invented the high passion and drama of their inbuilt and very human sex drive.

The Spring Edition of Christian Woman, had, for want of a better term, the ‘best article’ I have read in 36 years in ministry on this subject. It was written by Sabrina Peters who is the Youth Pastor of Metro Church on the Gold Coast. Sabrina’s bio says she is an author (Lady in Waiting) and speaker. A lover of teenagers. Wife of Benjamin and a yummy mummy of Liberty (a baby daughter). This excellent article runs from page 25 to 27. (issuu.com)

I encourage you all to read the full article, I’m offering a synopsis with added comments.

There you have it, a real live “with-it and get-it” new generation pastor of young people and, someone who has grasped the essentials in answering this age-long question for Christian people: Why wait?

Sabrina introduces the article with this salutatory comment:
“Before I tell you how I got to my wedding night a virgin. The more important question is WHY? “WHY get to the wedding night a virgin?” because if you can’t answer that, the HOW is completely insignificant. So WHY save it?

Clearly the article is aimed at teenage girls, but it has important lessons for us all.

Twelve items from the archives of life

Sabrina Peters offers twelve pieces of wisdom, some enmeshed in the Scriptures, some from the ages of wisdom, some from the evidence of science and emotions from psychology, and some just good plain common sense.

The initial statement that ‘sex is like glue’ sets the scene, straight from Jesus himself. Sabrina says that sex is the strongest adhesive around as it is impossible to be intimate with someone and simply walk away. Sabrina brings to the reader’s attention Jesus words from Matthew 19 verses 4-12 …. “bounded to his wife, becoming one flesh, no longer two bodies but one.” Sabrina notes that your body is now involved, whether you realise it or not.

As an aside, when the Grim Reaper adverts came out when the AIDS threat was at its zenith in the late 80s, one of the adverts showed tiers and tiers of beds with couples having sex with the warning that science reveals the physical inputs have a lasting effect of five years. Our doctor at the time confirmed the science.

The second point is that sex isn’t for the one you are with for a short time. Sabrina draws an illustration of your fresh magnum ice cream being unwrapped and passed around the room where everyone takes a bite – which would “any one of us” prefer she asks, surely the fresh untouched ice cream?

Again Sabrina invokes the Scriptures from 1 Corinthians 6 verse 18 “…. sins sexually, sins against their own body …. honour God with your bodies.” Then Sabrina offers up some revealing ‘formal’ statistics, 80% of marriages last the distance with monogamy, non-virgin brides increase their chances of divorce by 60%, and the evidence is clear, as a warning, that premarital sexual behavioural patterns continue after marriage.

Once again we’re taken to the Scriptures from the Proverbs and how the Bible contains wisdom for your benefit with a life time of well-being.

Passions in struggle – practical tips

Sabrina Peters then reveals her own ‘passions of struggle’ before her marriage to Benjamin and sets out some good advice.

First, it’s incredibly important to make a plan, in that no one gets to their wedding day an accidental virgin. Write a journal, discuss it a trusted friend. Sabrina wrote letters to her future husband. They key is staying focused.

Another is to run from the line. Inevitably staying close to the line will means creeping every so closely. Sabrina makes the point that there is a huge difference between a lifestyle and one mistake. God’s Grace pours out to those with a contrite heart. Late at night is a dangerous time, 2.00am is foolishness. Never get horizontal. Again to the Scriptures from Proverbs, talk about it. Don’t bundle it up inside.

Finally, Sabrina Peters says to throw yourself into the arms of His Grace. Only by God’s Grace are we sanctified and set free! Trust in Jesus. Sabrina says you need the power of God to get you there. Self-control is a FRUIT of the Spirit. Sabrina comes to her final statement that no matter what you have done in the past, God still loves you and you are completely forgiven. Jesus gave His life for your mess and God specialises in giving people a fresh start.

Abiding wisdom

There you have it, Sabrina Peters’ words enmeshed in the Scriptures, some from the ages of wisdom, some from the evidence of science and emotions from psychology, and some just good plain common sense.

Again, read the full article in Christian Woman. My wife of 36 years Delma Tronson interviewed Christian Woman founding editor Jenny Baxter for the Australian Missionary News IPTV in 2010 on the subject of human trafficking. (www.youtube.com)

Now that we’ve received such wisdom for teenage girls, I’d like to hear what Sabrina’s husband Benjamin has to say for teenage boys and young men. Should Christian Woman publish an equally serious and helpful sequel, I’d be the first to read it, as young men require as much wisdom in this area as our young women.

Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.

Mark Tronson’s archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html

"I don’t know why terrible things happen to us sometimes. But I have to believe something good..."

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:21:28 +1000

““I don’t know why terrible things happen to us sometimes. But I have to believe something good is going to come out of this.””

- Soul Surfer Movie.

Parenthood isn’t a job. It’s an adventure! Sometimes...

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:09:31 +1000

Parenthood isn’t a job. It’s an adventure! Sometimes a scary one. sometimes a sunny one!

Birthday Girl! lol at her face!

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:15:13 +1000

Birthday Girl! lol at her face!

Eat less Chocolate.

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:29:15 +1000

Eat less chocolate. Loose weight. Exercise more. Be nicer. (Mainly to my husband) Love often. Read the bible everyday. Spend less time on facebook. Achieve my goals. Set more goals and hit them. Introduce more people to Jesus. Think Positively. Join the gym (I mean GO to the gym) Write more books. Take less photos. (At husbands requests) Be a good mum. Enjoy every moment. Worry less. Give more. Be happy.….and again eat less chocolate.

Most times my New Years Resolution resembles something of the above. It could pretty be summed up in “BE BETTER IN ALL AREAS OF MY LIFE.” Stop worrying and be happier.

I want be a better wife, I want to be a better mother, better youth pastor, better Christian, better person.

This year though It’s different. I still want to aim higher but I am throwing out the list of 21 things to being a better ME.

It just doesn’t seem to work. It’s nice on paper but it’s hard in real life. I get to about Jan 3 before I eat the cake. The whole cake!!! And it doesn’t take long before I snap at my husband for leaving a trail of dirty undies and in his wake or replace my bible reading time for an episode of Law and Order. I have great intentions but will power only gets me so far.

My only New Years Resolution for twenty thirteen is to focus on JESUS. Everyday.

To put Him at the center of my universe and keep my eyes firmly fixed on His loving kindness towards me. To enter into His strength and not my own. Because when I am weak He is strong. And when I look to Him I will inevitably become a better person as I mirror His Image. No more straining and struggling. It’s time to tap into His peace that supercedes circumstance and transforms from the inside out.

P.S I don’t really want to eat less chocolate. It’s delicious!

My Daughter. Sister. Mother. Love them.

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 21:55:36 +1000

My Daughter. Sister. Mother. Love them.

O Holy Night

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 21:51:34 +1000

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend!

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Just checking a few emails guys.

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:42:41 +1000

Just checking a few emails guys.

Friends x

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:01:36 +1000

Friendship is a priceless gift
that cannot be bought or sold,
But its value is far greater
than a mountain made of gold.

For gold is cold and lifeless,
it can neither see nor hear
And in the time of trouble
it is powerless to cheer.

It has no ears to listen
nor heart to understand,
It cannot bring you comfort
or reach out a helping hand.

So when you ask God for a gift
Be thankful if He sends
Not diamonds, pearls, or riches
But the love of real true friends.

- Helen Steiner Rice

Ben wanted to take a photo of his giant snowball…..right...

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:23:26 +1000

Ben wanted to take a photo of his giant snowball…..right before he threw it at me.

My little bear.

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 21:31:42 +1000

My little bear.

In the Swiss Alps with this hot guy.

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 20:53:22 +1000

In the Swiss Alps with this hot guy.

She makes my heartmelt!

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:41:56 +1000

She makes my heartmelt!

Some of my rev homies. These guys light up my life!

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 22:20:09 +1000

Some of my rev homies. These guys light up my life!