Meg: I have heard that you do a lot of work with re-homing refugees! Can you tell me a bit about this?
Linda: I am not personally involved in rehousing refugees however there are people within our church who assist refugee families with settling into Australian life. They offer cooking classes, help with driving lessons, dealing with government departments etc. Another significant area of activity within our church is providing housing for homeless young people, 16-25 years of age. We have a home called Myplace which provides accommodation, case management, training etc for homeless young people. Beat the Streets is a meal program that is held in our church facility every Thursday night that provides a 2 course meal in a family environment for anyone who is isolated, struggling etc. We are also involved in a number of overseas charities that run orphanages, schools & medical clinics.
Meg: Before this interview, did you already have an understanding of what a beatitude is?
Linda: Yes - The Beatitudes are part of the Sermon on the Mount one of the most famous messages communicated by Christ
Meg: Which Beatitudes do you feel you use every day?
Linda: There is no specific beatitude rather the spirit behind all of them guides my life.Meg: What do you think the core values/meanings are for these beatitudes?
Linda: The Beatitudes are a reminder that the focus of our life should be on God & his eternal purposes not ourselves & emotions that are temporary.
Meg: In what circumstances have these beatitudes affected you?
Linda: The Beatitudes are guiding principals that I use in every aspect of my life. From the ordinary moments to crisis situations they provide encouragement and are a reminder that God wants to be part of every area of our life. For e.g. when my son was diagnosed with cancer it was a real comfort to me to know that God is with those who are grieving & that he promises to bring comfort. It was a relief to know that by acknowledging my need for God that I am actually able to receive blessing from God i.e his presence in my life.
Meg: Did they improve these circumstances?
Linda: I cant say that they improved the circumstances but they did enable me to change my attitude & perspective so that I handled the circumstances with a greater sense of peace & calm.
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