Light Your World

By Dr. Julie Rowse

This inspirational book encourages all who read it to reflect on their lives and what they stand for. Through the sharing of personal accounts in her life, the author highlights the belief that every person, no matter how ordinary they think they are, has something to give. Each of us was made just as we are for a reason and with skills and abilities to contribute to our world. It is up to us to determine if we are going to be brave and make the most of every little opportunity that comes our way. Will you be a light to your world?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Jul 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514498088

Dr. Julie Rowse

Dr. Julie Rowse lives in regional Australia and is married and has two adolescent children. She is an occupational therapist with seventeen years’ experience working in the mental-health field. Julie is passionate about assisting people to have positive mental health outcomes and has presented at conferences locally, nationally, and internationally. Julie communicates with passion, humour, and grace; her insights are expressed in a readily understandable and totally relatable fashion. Julie trusts in God and has an incredible love and passion for life that is evident in all she does. Julie is continually pursuing her own personal development, understanding of mental health, and is committed to helping others live their life to the fullest. Message from the Author It is my hope that as you sit and read my book, it will be like sitting and listening to me telling you stories—stories that are about my life, stories that are heartfelt and open and hopefully at times humorous, stories that make you reflect on your own life. Parts of my book may feel like we are having a conversation as I ask you questions and encourage you to be all you can be. I want you to know you are important, made for a reason. You have skills and abilities that this world needs. No matter how big or small, the things you do can change the world, your world, the world of your child, the world of your neighbour, the world of your work colleague. You can light your world.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by Dr Julie Rowse.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2016911576

ISBN:       Hardcover       978-1-5144-9810-1

       Softcover       978-1-5144-9809-5

       eBook       978-1-5144-9808-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

NIV – New International Version

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

Rev. date: 21st July 2016

Xlibris

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www.Xlibris.com.au

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Meeting God

Off to Africa

God’s Heart

Expanding the Vision

Family

Children

In the Little Things

Be Brave

Forgiven

Light Your World

Bible References

DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this book to my grace-believing ancestors, those past generations of faithful men and women who prayed diligently for family yet to come, and to my mother, for without her obedience to follow Christ through the waters of baptism, I might never have met God.

God has been niggling away at me to write this book for a long time. This book is inspired by Him and the lessons He has placed on my heart to share. Thank you to family and friends whose support and encouragement made this possible; you know who you are.

MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR

It is my hope that as you sit and read my book, it will be like sitting and listening to me telling you stories. Stories that are about my life, stories that are heartfelt, open, and hopefully, at times humorous, stories that make you reflect on your own life. Parts of my book may feel like we are having a conversation as I ask you questions and encourage you to be all you can be. I want you to know you are important, made for a reason. You have skills and abilities that this world needs. No matter how big or small, the things you do can change the world, your world, the world of your child, the world of your neighbour, the world of your work colleague. You can light your world.

INTRODUCTION

Most of us want to be something, make a difference, have a purpose. Not everyone can be famous or rich or invent something that changes the world. Everyone does, however, have opportunities to make a mark on their world. We can influence and leave a lasting legacy on our families, friends, work colleagues, and those we meet throughout our time here on earth.

Whether we want people to notice us or form views about us, they do anyway. People notice what you stand for or do not stand for. People see your behaviour and make judgements about what values drive your behaviour. What would your children remember about you? How would work colleagues describe your attitude? What about the person sitting alone quietly watching people go by? What would they notice about you?

While these questions can be asked of anyone, what if you are a child of God? As a Christian here on earth, you are God’s representative. As an employee in a work place, you are a reflection on the business, good or bad. Are you a child of God? Do you reflect His values here on earth? Would someone look at you and see God’s love for humanity in you?

I knew what I wanted my life to stand for. I wanted to shine God’s glory. I was going to go to Africa with my husband and show God’s love to the world. As an occupational therapist, I could provide practical health assistance whilst sharing my faith with the community. My husband had grown up in Africa as a missionary kid, and so our dream of a life in missions in Africa seemed so attainable.

God had different plans.

MEETING GOD

I was not always a child of God. As a young adolescent, I viewed Christians as weird. In my view, desperate people believed in God. Life has a beginning and an end, and what you do with it in the middle is up to you. I thought that if you have drive and work hard, you would be rewarded with a good house and the ability to go on exotic holidays. If you bum around and you get nowhere, that is what you deserve. Despite having quite strong views against there being a God, my family lineage had a thread of grace-believing Christians.

My pa, my mother’s father, was special to me right from when I was a young child. My nan and pa lived on a farm in a house they built themselves when my mother was a little girl. His family was his life, and they meant the world to him. Pa’s parents were Christians and understood what it meant to be ‘saved by grace.’ Pa instilled in me a sense that I could be whatever I wanted to be, that I could do anything. He was ever so proud of me, and when something exciting happened in my life, I could not wait to tell Pa. I will never forget sitting in the lounge on the old purple couch in front of the fire, cuddling up to Pa, who smelt like wool from the sheep, and talking to him about everything and anything.

My nan had been raised in Melbourne before moving to the country and marrying Pa. Her family sold flowers at the market, and her father had also done some lay preaching. Nan had a love and knowledge of flowers and would walk with me around the garden, singing to me. I remember walking along and feeling the furry soft stalks of the lamb’s ears plant and admiring the pink heath on the ground. I always got the sense from my nan that she believed those who were good