Change of (my) plan

I have now managed to get in touch with most of the people who would least likely to see this here before I told them so I'm ready to blog about the recent change in (my) plan.

I'm still going to be involved with running the gap year programme at my church, acting as a mentor for two 18 year old girls who will be working part time and serving part time within the church this coming academic year. I'm also going to be going to university!

The job I had applied for just really didn't seem right by the time they offered it to me and since a desire to go to university after all had been building in me, I decided to test the doors for that. The doors literally swung open, with my parents, pastor and friends giving me encouraging and useful advice, the university still willing to accept me, the timetable working out to fit around my commitments with church and, of course, the enduring sense that this is right.

The commute is about an hour and a half either way, which even after one week is proving tiring, but I believe it will be ok. After all, God strengthens us to do the right thing! Again, I know I can't do this in my own strength, not well, at least. But a little bit further than myself and working in God's strength is a great place to be, so long as I do remember to go in God's strength, not my own!

Anyway, that's the main of the news. I'll try and post again soon. God bless!

Space to breathe

I just typed my title and have to laugh at myself. I'll leave it there anyway. I like it.

In the last few weeks I have gone camping with the youth group, gone on holiday with my parents and spent a couple of weeks volunteering in Reading (which is near London for any foreigners reading this!). During that time I had a total of 4 nights at home. To be honest, I think I took too much on, but in my faithlessness, God has been faithful and now I'm home!

I have a job interview this week, so will be spending part of this week preparing for that, as well as doing some paid work. I'm also getting ready for my part in running the gap year programme at church - it's the first time we've had gap year students and have got two girls working with us across youth and children's work, which is really exciting.

All this busyness has given me lots to think about, you know, the distractions of life. Scheduling in the details is a skill that I've been a little out of practice with after 5 months of someone else doing it for me and then 2 months of having lots and lots of time. Through this I'm learning more (like a child trying to walk and falling over LOTS) about how to really trust in God. I can't be this busy and still live for the glory of God in my own strength. I just can't. I have counted up the cost of the different things I am hoping will be part of my schedule and my life this year (including things like having a social life!) and have realised that I can't do it in my own strength...I just don't have enough. But God is faithful, so as my timetable hopefully becomes more settled in the next few weeks with getting a job (God willing), clarifying how we're doing things for the gap year and making a firm decision about doing some distance-learning study, I trust that God will show me what to take on and what not to, and that He will ensure that I don't lack anything that I need, He will fill in the gap between my ability and His calling. And that's just the way it should be.

God bless you all x

September

So, September has arrived and I am in the midst of busyness. I've been away from home (bar four nights) for the last 3 weeks and will arrive back properly on Thursday. This explains, I hope, the lack of blogging, especially as web access has not been readily available.

I hope to write a proper post within the next week, maybe explaining what I've been doing, possibly even a photo or two (just to prove that I do still use my camera). But I'll not promise anything ;)

Have a good week everyone!