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glean

July 23, 2020 by mish No Comments

This month, I have been going through YWAM’s “Commission the City” course with a group of Christian work colleagues.  As part this weeks’ discussion, we have been sharing about the changes we would like to see in our communities and the plans we have to bring about a culture shift within our communities.   

One couple shared about how some friends had recently come into their lives after a long period of absence.  Together, the rest of the group reflected on how open to God and available this couple was.  This couple had space in their lives and were ready and available to embrace the opportunity to share God’s love to people who had unexpectedly reached out to them. 

As I pondered on this, it made me wonder about how some of us live with little to no margin in our daily lives.  How much space do we leave in our lives so we can fully grasp hold of any unexpected impromptu gospel opportunities that arise?  We seem to pride ourselves on our busyness, boasting on Instagram stories of what we did and ate in the last 24h.  

In Leviticus 19:9-10, the people of God were commanded to deliberately leave some of their harvest and not reap to the edges of their fields, to allow the poor and foreigners to glean.  But what does this have to do with our lives today?  Firstly, this concept speaks directly against idea of maximum efficiency and profitability in the modern world.  And whilst we have lost some of the significance of gleaning as we are no longer live in an agricultural society, I’ve been intrigued by this concept of gleaning and wondering about how, if at all, can this might be applied now.   

Perhaps it is the deliberateness of thinking and caring for the needy in their daily work that struck me.  Whilst this might not be an obvious correlation, I’m wondering what difference it would make if we deliberately allowed space and time in our daily lives for others around us who are needy? 

I wonder how many of you, like me have prayed and asked God for opportunities to display and tell off His love to others.  Yet when that opportunity arises, is my life so packed and full that I dismiss that opportunity as a mere inconvenience, being unable to grasp hold of that opportunity to display Christ’s love to the fullest extent? 

In the gospels, they are stories of how Jesus was “interrupted” in his daily routine as sick people reached out to him for  help.   But I never once read of a rushed Jesus who ignored their needs simply because he was too busy and focused at his task on hand.  

Today, as you go about your regular work day, I pray that God may open your eyes to see the myriad of opportunities there are to show and tell of Christ’s love to others around you.  May you allow time for these opportunities to arise and be willing to be inconvenienced as you spend time loving the people that God has surrounded you with right now in your life. 

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personal

glean

July 20, 2018 by mish No Comments

glean has a few definitions and the one i’m referring to is = to gather (leftover grain) after a harvest.

i wrote about this in a different context before.  today, i’m pondering what gleaning looks like in a work context.  i’m used to working to my fullest potential, to do wise deals that mean that things are pushed to it’s maximum.  but perhaps instead of acting on all the opportunities i’ve been given – i can allow gleaning to happen and to give others the opportunity they might not have.  two examples of this that are fresh in my mind were both shown to me by the same friend.

one. there was a property deal where he was fortunate to get at a good price due to some possible foundation issues. upon further inspection, those potential issues were not causing any current major issues.  he  renovated it and rented it out so the property was cashflow positive.  9 months, he then sold it gaining a 30% profit.   the agent told him that he could have probably received $40,000 more if he wanted.   i asked him why he didn’t push the price higher and he replied simply saying that he was happy with the profit and wanted to leave the buffer for the next person for the possible foundation issues.

two. we had both independently identified a great property that was going for auction and upon chatting to each other about it, he generously offered that if i wanted to buy it, he would not bid on it and let me go for it as he knew i was trying to get into this area.

these show me examples of gleaning, to decide not to do something so that others have opportunity for their own fruitful labour. it also shows me a person that realises that there are plenty of opportunities to go around.  this friend has an abundance mindset and he does not think that by being generous to someone else, he will lose out.

how about you? in what areas of your work can you allow for gleaning?

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About Me

Hi, my name is Mish.

Welcome to my blog, a place where I share what I'm passionate about, thoughts that are occupying my mind, people I'm intrigued by, images that are beautiful, spaces that take my breathe away, a powerful quote, or music that brings me joy!

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mishkoh

love. love doesn't mean doing extraordinary or he love.

love doesn't mean doing extraordinary or heroic things. it means knowing how to do ordinary things with tenderness. 
to love someone is to show to them their beauty, their worth and their importance. ~ jean vanier
the way back ~~~~~~~~ i resisted it’s been a lon the way back
~~~~~~~~
i resisted
it’s been a long time since i’d been there
what’s he going to say
what am i going to say
it’s probably going to be awkward

but when i entered
his arms were wide open
right where the door was
almost like he knew i would come back
like he was waiting all along 

i didn’t get to say a word
i just ran to him
and hugged him
tears streaming down my cheeks
i stood there for ages

comfort 
understanding
unconditional love
i knew in an instant he understood
he sees me 

i didn’t have to explain
i didn’t have the words
he just knew
knew more than 
i could even comprehend 

but why was i surprised?
he created me after all
he knows every single hair on my head
he knows my every step
my every thought 

before every thought is formed
any step is taken
he was there
waiting graciously
patiently for me

to come home
to make my way back
into his living arms
all along
he was waiting 

he was there
turns out
the way back 
was the only way
to move forward
serenity. this has been my view over the last two serenity. 
this has been my view over the last two days.  was only planning on stopping one night, but waking up to this was so therapeutic (even though it wasn’t sunny) that i ended up staying here again tonight. 
i always thought i was a beach gal, but i got to say, having a lake side view has been very calming! it’s changed my perception of lake views. 
i’ll definitely be back here again... 

i’m curious - what’s one thing that has surprised u in 2021? 

#dronephotography #bermagui #ingeniaholidays #vanlife
i wonder - could our inability to rest be linked t i wonder - could our inability to rest be linked to our identity? 

i wrote a few thoughts on rest recently and here are some things i’ve been pondering over...

bill johnson said, “busyness is artificial significance.  busyness can make us feel important, but neither our identity or our sense of significance should come from our schedules”
 
don’t be mistaken - it is courageous to give Him space to speak into your life.  it’s brave, to make a deliberate decision not to crowd your life, to deliberately make space. to listen.  to seek Him.  to want to know your maker and creator more intimately. 
 
i don’t know about you, but i think sometimes in my life when i feel overwhelmed, it’s cos’ i have crowded out my life and don’t make space to seek Him and just listen to Him.  or I know what I’m doing isn’t pleasing Him, and I make myself so busy so that I am numb… to everything.. 

here’s a drone shot from today as i spent the day relaxing, chilling and taking it slow on this rainy day! 

i’m curious - especially if u have read to the end of this long post... what do u enjoy doing when u rest?

#dronephotography #bermagui #vanlife #australia #visitnsw
adventure. it’s in my blood... and every so ofte adventure. it’s in my blood... and every so often, i feel the need to explore this great world, to stir my visual senses... travel to different places, experience new things. 
i find that when i get out of my normal environment, it helps me see things differently, think differently, expand my creativity and come up with new ideas. 
i’m grateful for being able to take time out to slow down. breathe. 
selah
new. i sense a change of seasons. a freshness. a new.
i sense a change of seasons. 
a freshness. 
and i’m posting now to remind me of this moment. this feeling. 
now is the time.  i don’t know if i can fully articulate it in words, by every cell in my body senses the change.
finally.
the time is now.
the waiting has passed and i’m declaring a season of fruitfulness, abundance and fullness. 
in the last couple of months but increasing in the last week, i’ve discovered new things about myself, new gifts 🎹, new miracles, new friendships, new communities to embrace, new business, new ideas... at such a phenomenal pace yet with such calm, ease, and flow.  maybe this is the easy yoke i have been pondering over. 
all thanks and to my maker, who creates, provides and sustains everything. 
soli deo gloria

for those of you waiting, i want to say... it was worth the wait. every single second.  cos it tastes all the sweeter knowing the journey it took to get here.
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