I procrastinated, missed the time I thought He was saying I should go, came up with plenty of reasons not to go, or put it off until I could afford (time and money-wise) to go for longer but then eventually heard what He was saying to me. That's it's not about me, it's about Him. That the woman who anointed him with perfume spilled a year's worth of wages over his feet to bless him for a minute and perfume the room for a while longer. That it was time to stop making excuses and do what He says. Follow Him, like I keep saying I want to. So I booked my ticket and I go for eight days in January. I don't know what the International House of Prayer (IHOP) will be like, but I know God will be with me.
Continuing with the praise report - God is totally doing something in me. Studying isn't driving me crazy (A year ago I would get really down if I had to spend a quiet Saturday afternoon reading) and commuting isn't proving too much for me. Even when I'm tired, I'm not more tired the morning after I stay up a while longer to read the Bible. God, my fortress, my strength, my provision. Hallelujah!
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Friday, 10 October 2008
Routine
I'm starting to get into the routine of college. I have one main word to describe it. Busy. It seems that every day I have something on my timetable, whether at uni or outside. I keep becomming so aware of the things I should be doing that I'm not and in honesty, it's not easy.
But I figure this is part of the season. Being at university is new to me. Commuting for 3.5 hours a day is new to me. Mentoring gap year students is new to me. The biggest danger isn't in doing these things. It's in trying to do them in my own strength.
I'm reminded again of the day I went surfing near Sydney. I stood up once or twice. I fell off the board so many times I lost count. I would fall off my surfboard and find myself submerged and disorientated. I didn't know which way was up or down, the shore or out to sea. But it wasn't scary. I just relaxed and in a second, without any conscious effort, my head was above the water. That's how I want to be with God in this season. There's a lot going on and it's easy to feel overwhelmed and disorientated but I don't want to waste energy trying to protect myself when I know that I can trust Him to bring me to the surface.
But I figure this is part of the season. Being at university is new to me. Commuting for 3.5 hours a day is new to me. Mentoring gap year students is new to me. The biggest danger isn't in doing these things. It's in trying to do them in my own strength.
I'm reminded again of the day I went surfing near Sydney. I stood up once or twice. I fell off the board so many times I lost count. I would fall off my surfboard and find myself submerged and disorientated. I didn't know which way was up or down, the shore or out to sea. But it wasn't scary. I just relaxed and in a second, without any conscious effort, my head was above the water. That's how I want to be with God in this season. There's a lot going on and it's easy to feel overwhelmed and disorientated but I don't want to waste energy trying to protect myself when I know that I can trust Him to bring me to the surface.
Saturday, 27 September 2008
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!
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!
Sunday, 14 September 2008
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
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
Monday, 8 September 2008
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!
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!
Friday, 15 August 2008
One Year On
I set off for the Soul Survivor festival with the youth group tommorrow. That's a whole 5 days of youth-leadering, going to massive worship & teaching events (YAY!), workshops and general hanging out with all the fun of camping. I'm really looking forward to it.
Last year's Soul Survivor was a very special time for me. It was great to get away and spend time with God. When I left for Soul Survivor I was still pretty dead-set against doing a DTS. I spent quite a bit of time looking at the christian gap-year opportunities and the suchlike but my main plan was to head off to Australia to work and travel. Within a few days of returning from Soul Survivor I was seriously considering DTS and within 9 days I had applied to Reef To Outback.
I am so incredibly grateful to God for what this year has become and what I have become in the last year. I could fire off Bible verses to try and describe it or use lots of words, but I'm not going to. I'm just going to say this: that I feel more secure in my belief in God, happier in day to day life and more confident about my future than I think I ever have. My outlook has changed and I think that's changing me more and more into the person I want to be. And so, I am grateful to God, who made it happen.
Last year's Soul Survivor was a very special time for me. It was great to get away and spend time with God. When I left for Soul Survivor I was still pretty dead-set against doing a DTS. I spent quite a bit of time looking at the christian gap-year opportunities and the suchlike but my main plan was to head off to Australia to work and travel. Within a few days of returning from Soul Survivor I was seriously considering DTS and within 9 days I had applied to Reef To Outback.
I am so incredibly grateful to God for what this year has become and what I have become in the last year. I could fire off Bible verses to try and describe it or use lots of words, but I'm not going to. I'm just going to say this: that I feel more secure in my belief in God, happier in day to day life and more confident about my future than I think I ever have. My outlook has changed and I think that's changing me more and more into the person I want to be. And so, I am grateful to God, who made it happen.
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Guarding Your Heart
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
- Proverbs 4:23
I've heard this verse so often quoted in relation to guy/girl relationships. Over the last few days, I've started to consider its application in other areas. I believe hope is a great thing, it's good to have dreams and desire things. But at the same time, how do I guard my heart as I attend job interviews and dream about the life I want to be living in the coming months and years?
If I was answering my own question, I can't think of a better verse than this one:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 4:6-7
This isn't to give a cliche answer. I've spent too long ignoring simple truths because they were too 'cliche'. As I practice going to God with my requests, thanking Him for His love and power I find Him guarding my heart. I find a peace entering into my life. I find myself able to say that I am "confident that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13). I don't have a problem with the same old answers when the same old answers are truths that really work.
May God's will be done.
- Proverbs 4:23
I've heard this verse so often quoted in relation to guy/girl relationships. Over the last few days, I've started to consider its application in other areas. I believe hope is a great thing, it's good to have dreams and desire things. But at the same time, how do I guard my heart as I attend job interviews and dream about the life I want to be living in the coming months and years?
If I was answering my own question, I can't think of a better verse than this one:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 4:6-7
This isn't to give a cliche answer. I've spent too long ignoring simple truths because they were too 'cliche'. As I practice going to God with my requests, thanking Him for His love and power I find Him guarding my heart. I find a peace entering into my life. I find myself able to say that I am "confident that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13). I don't have a problem with the same old answers when the same old answers are truths that really work.
May God's will be done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
