Back in Sheffield

Just a pre-post warning...this post is kinda random with a few different bits and pieces. Hopefully you'll enjoy reading it.

So after a door-to-door journey of some 43 hours, I am home. I am not jet lagged, although even after a good night's sleep I'm still tired. To be honest, I think the constant light is more confusing than the time difference. In Queensland we had pretty much 12 hour days, while sunrise/sunset times today in Sheffield are 0438/2134 - nearly a 17 hour day!

The journey home was long, but good. I spent a fair amount of time listening to podcasts, reading and that kinda thing, just relaxing and spending time with God before getting home. Also, the last flight (Dubai - Manchester, some 7.5 hours) was really empty and I had three seats to myself. I put myself in the corner by the window and enjoyed having space. I also had one of the same air stewards I'd had on the way over to Australia last December. How random is that?

On one flight I was able to have an amazing conversation about God with a young woman who was already considering becoming a Christian. We talked a bit about that and it seems that her main issue is that she wants to be really sure before she does it, although to hear her talk about God she's pretty certain! I told her that there's always going to be a gap - not of blind acceptance, but of faith - that she'll never come to a place where she's 'ready', but that she'll have to step out and let God make up the rest of the distance. We prayed together as well and I know she has christian friends praying for her too. It was such a blessing to share a little more of God with someone who is just so open and I believe that God put us next to each other on purpose and will continue to persue her. I'm believing that she will accept Jesus as her saviour, and that's always exciting!

It's cool to be home but I'm very aware that this is where the rubber really hits the road. I have had an incredible time in Australia and learnt so much about God and myself (a lot of which I'm sure I won't even realise until some later time). Now I have to make that choice again - am I going to live it out or not?

I read Psalm 1 this morning and was so moved by what it says, it talks of how those who delight in God's word rather than act like the wicked will be blessed. It describes this blessing as being a tree planted by streams of water. As I thought about that I realised that being planted by water says that this blessing is consistant and constant, that God will continue to provide and provide and provide for us, it's not just a one off deal. Then it talks of the tree yielding it's fruit in season. So not only will we be blessed but we will bear fruit and then yield, or surrender it, for God to distribute as He will. Kinda reminds me of a drama we did on outreach.

As for this week, I will be unpacking, seeing friends and family, tidying my room, doing laundry and all those kinds of things. I got a new phone today and I think I like it, though I can't figure out yet where the headphones go, which is an issue cos a major reason to choose it was for the mp3 player.

One thing I am particularly thankful for today - that I know that God is with me and has plans even for today, even for right now and that He is able and faithful to fulfil them.

Finally, thank you so much to everyone who prayed for me while I was away, we'll not know the full extent of the difference that undoubtedly made for a long time, but I know it was worth it! God bless you all!