Graduation ~ Diploma of Counselling

My graduation ceremony for my Diploma of Counselling on 12 May 2017 was a wonderful way to celebrate what I was able to accomplish 2016, and I would not change a thing.  God's calling upon my life to work with people has been confirmed in a very practical way, and my Diploma was just the beginning.

I am so grateful to every single one of my teachers - they each brought such amazing insight, knowledge and wisdom to the classroom.  I'm thankful to have had classmates who were as passionate about their studies as I was - they supported and encouraged me every single day.  My little family supported me every step of the way through my course right through to the practical aspects of getting to graduation day.

My graduation ceremony is a day I will never forget.

~Rachel

DTS Lectures: Relationship

This week the subject of our lectures was "Relationship". Definitely my favourite week of lectures, so far. Every day there was a challenge or an inspiration brought forth from our speaker.

Below is just one verse we read during the week. It was a huge blessing to me - amazed me, actually!

"In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will." -Ephesians 1:5.

Isn't it amazing that God planned, wayyyyy back, before any of us were even in EXISTENCE, to adopt us into His family? That His purpose for us is to be in relationship - included - with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?! When I think about it, it really blows my mind away!

Here is what I journalled about this scripture - also bringing forth some other points from the week:

"I have chosen to be included in God's family. I have chosen to accept this amazing gift. God picked me up when I'd still chosen to sin after He took it [sin] upon Himself. When I embrace Him in return, I learn His character and begin seeing people through His eyes... In God's holiness, he established relationship before I was born. His pursuit and His love are relationally perfect."

As well as speaking about relationship with God and His family, we spoke about Courtship, Marriage and Divorce. The speaker shared some helpful principles, for various stages of the courtship relationship, and for the decisions we have to make in our lives - principles that we can say to ourselves and live by, when we are in this stage of life.

1. I will only date and marry a growing Christian
2. I will relate dating and marriage to God's purposes for my life
3. I will not defraud the one I date
4. Both of us must be in harmony at home
5. I will wait for God's timing for my marriage
6. I yield to God my right to date and marry
7. I commit to God and my partner... 'Til death do us part

I hope this can help you and lift you up, and perhaps let you encourage someone in your life that this may be relevant to!

~Rachel

School Days...

... But not just any school days!

These are Discipleship Training School days :-)

Days of learning; of meeting new people. Days of discovering new things about my Heavenly Father. Days to realize how much I truly love and appreciate my family and friends and church family. Days of waking up at 6:10am every.single.weekday.morning without fail. Days of cleaning bathrooms and vacuuming hallways as long as my house.

Days of sitting outside after work duty is done and reviewing notes from morning lectures. Days of meals with people from all over Australia and the world. Days of emailing dear people from home. Days of learning patience because of the *mildly slow* internet speed.

Days of sharing bathrooms with [however many] other people. Of having to take every item with you to the shower every.single.time. Days of hearing your next-door[room]-neighbour's TV shows, music, teeth-brushing and throwing up, through the drain-pipe that is connected to each room's hand-basin.

Days of learning to live in community with people who don't know you well. With people who can lift each other up in amazing ways, yet still trying to work well together at times. Days on end of wearing trackies and sneakers, just cos it's chilly. Days of wandering around the base when you have nothing better to do, looking for some great photos, admiring the Lord's amazing creation.

There is so much more that I could add to this list - more things every day! I am so thankful for this experience, in so many ways. Yes, there are things I struggle with. Every day there is something that I would rather be different.

Yet I know this is a privilege. My Father has given me this great joy of learning more about Him; this season to focus fully on Him, no questions asked.

And I will continue to be grateful :-)

~Rachel

TAFE

Hi everyone,

From memory, I don't think I've ever posted about TAFE, and my wonderful best friend posted about her TAFE recently, and gave me the idea to tell you what's happening :)

For those of you that don't know, I'm studying Business Administration, Certificate III, at Gawler TAFE. I started in second semester last year, so I've studied for 3 terms so far.
I've studied things including marketing, OH & S (what fun!!), databases, spreadsheets, publishing, records management, human resources and reception.

I'm on my final subject now, which is Sales (Recommending a Product or Service), and I'm really enjoying it. I'm planning on asking my boss at work if I can go with one of our Sales Reps on a sales day trip, or even just when he visits a few businesses, to see how he goes through the sales process. It's really interesting, and I'd like to see what it's like and if I could see myself doing sales in the future. It would be a good experience anyway.

I can't really see myself doing sales--what do you think??? Please comment and let me know your thoughts!!

God bless.
~Rachel