On The Edge

Ill bring you to this same place by the time I have finished with giving you my latest news I am sure! …

-    The biggest news of all is that our event has relocated away from Grace Vineyard and into the Hotel Grand Chancellor.  After resolving a few misunderstandings with the original location and really seeking God through these issues, it really became apparent to me that our vision for the event is only going to be truly accomplished through moving it to a neutral environment, a place that promoted what the event is about – class, style and beauty.  Hotel Grand Chancellor gave us a good discount and although we are spending money now on hiring the facility, God has richly blessed the relocation in His own way and that has encouraged us. 

-   More donations have been received from Kinky Hair, Canvart, EAS, Octa Associates, Simple, Lady Jayne, Unilever, Mole Map, Cadbury, Peter & Jill Yarrell.  The list keeps getting bigger.

-    We have been promoting the event to various locations around the city and yesterday had confirmation from The Breeze radio station (94.5) that they will advertise for no cost.  They have 5 double passes that they will give out once a day next week.  This is huge!!!    -    Northern Outlook have offered us advertising in the next couple of weeks for $200 and also noted they would like to run an editorial in their newspaper on how the event was born, how far it has gone and why we are running it.  Although we have no advertising budget this is something certainly to be considering as this is a great opportunity to really minister into people’s lives.  After all, God’s purposes come first. 

Monday was a hard day for me because I was thinking about how wonderful the event was but how few tickets we had sold to date.  I had remained so positive until that time, encouraging the girls on the event committee that things were great and all of a sudden I just found it hard to be positive.  I admit I lost faith… then I get home and our Father (remaining faithful to me despite my lack of faith) encouraged me with 5 huge boxes awaiting me full of free items from Simple, Lady Jayne & Unilever.  I am reminded again and again that this is not through my strength. 

Once again, I bring to fore Ephesians 3v20 and it’s great in The Message… “God can do anything you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” 

I reflect also on Proverbs16v3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed”.  I truly believe that this has gone beyond my plans.  They are God’s alone.  We are continually giving the event to Him. 

Another thing… I explained the event to a good friend of mine, Kerri and she laughed saying “Ruth, you certainly don’t do things by halves do you?”  I have thought about this a lot and know that it is NOT me, and not anyone else can take the credit for this – it is God alone who will NEVER do things by halves. 

When considering the source of all the above blessings, all that this event is now, and what has happened over the last month it is not surprising!!!  What is surprising (and wonderful) is that God has chosen me to help Him do this.  All to His glory! 

Love Ruth

Happy New Year!  An exciting beginning to 2007! 

I went on the Heaphy track with 6 of my friends over New Years – a true challenge in coping with pain I couldnt control (feet, hips) – sandflies outnumbered us a million to one – and I sure learnt the beauty of a good coffee & a hot shower!! Despite this, the track was “out of New Zealand”, gazing past the Nikau palms at the golden sand beach, waves screaming on the shore & walking under an umbrella of trees – truly beautiful. 

My fundraiser continues to be blessed abundantly, for e.g. donated spot prizes continue to flood in from Jo Seager, Barkers in Geraldine, Surreal Hair & Beauty, Ruben Blades.  Birch Manor are sponsoring the event hall decorations.  Indescribable!!!  The event has now been put on the Christchurch City Council website, this can be found at http://www.bethere.org.nz/ShowEvent.aspx?id=10918.  Check it out.

We are continuing to commit this event to God - all for HIS glory.  I strive to be His faithful servant.  Proverbs 16v3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed”. 

Huge thanks go out to those people who are getting in behind me and supporting me, helping me to sell tickets, offering their services on the day and finally finding sponsorship.  God is using you people to encourage me in pursuit of HIS purpose.   After all, I can do nothing on my own – “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” – Phillipians 4v13.

I heard from YWAM Pursuits NZ today, I am the only NZ’er on the course!  Countries represented include America, Switzerland, Canada – exciting!  Looks like our outreach will be in Fiji!!

Its an exciting year ahead..  

Love Ruth

Hey everyone,

2006 has certainly been a year of waiting, i.e. I’ve been waiting, God’s been preparing me!  haha.  Its exciting of course, “leaving” something in our lives always involves preparation for what is next, and through this time I’ve learnt a heap.  So what am I leaving?  I’m leaving work for a while, getting involved in a different kind of work.

For those of you who aren’t aware just yet… the BIG news is that I am attending a course with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) from February 2007.  If you haven’t managed to catch up with me, please send me an email and I can post my letter out to you.  The course I am specifically involved in is located firstly in Matamata (top of the NI) and then overseas for a few months.  Please check out www.pursuitsnz.org.  I will be doing the music one! 

So as things are changing in my life quite significantly for 2007, I felt I’d get started with a central location for pics and updates on where I’m at and whats going on.

To help me get to my course , I am holding a fundraising event on the afternoon of Saturday 10 February 2007.  The event is called “Uniquely Women”.  We have hired professionals to speak on

- Nutrition, Lea Stening 

- Style, Angela Stone

- Skin Care, Melaleuca

- The 3D You, Heather Brown (girltalk, www.girltalk.co.nz) 

Already, God has blown me away and Ephesians 3v20 is the best way to explain what He is doing with this event:

…”Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ASK or IMAGINE according to HIS power that works within us”.  (this has definitely my theme verse for 2006!)

Yes, it is a fundraiser but its become so much more!!!  A small vision I had with a few friends over a coffee on a rainy and cold Christchurch day has been upsized by 1000%  attributed only to the MANY blessings poured into it already, for e.g. the key people that are now involved who share a similar vision to myself - their HUGE hearts and amazing enthusiasm, the spot prizes we have been given as well as donations toward the silent auction we will be holding!!!

Some of the prizes we have received to date include: mole map gift vouchers, Health Food mag subscriptions, pamper packs, hair care packs, cadbury packs.  The silent auction will have accommodation packages, art, photography, gym membership. 

I have to blog the many blessings God is pouring into this event from now on because I need to shout out His grace, generousity - His almighty BLESSINGS as much as I possibly can!  to HIM be the glory forever and ever… this EVENT is His after all.

Isaiah 12v4 ““Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is!”

I feel so passionately about this being an event that will really reach into women’s lives, celebrating our beauty and uniqueness as well as pampering them… because we all need that! 

Theres going to be a wonderful afternoon tea,  lil bro Tim will manage this (he’s fab in the kitchen if you haven’t had the opportunity to sample the gourmet!)  Tim is at polytech, next year will be his second and he’s training to be a chef.  He’s amazing in the kitchen.

I must really sign off on this now, but thanks to you all for the support and encouragement you are to me.. (Romans 1v12)

Look forward to hearing from you

Love Ruth

PS – if you want tickets to the event or want to sell on my behalf please send me an email. mailforruth@yahoo.co.nz or give me a call.