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!
Saturday, 27 September 2008
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.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Bringing Memories to Life
Since I got back I've noticed slight changes in my tastes and attitudes towards food. After having fasted for the first time on DTS I've continued that discipline. I've noticed that I no longer like marmite as much as I did before I left, and I don't like vegemite as much as I did when I was away. I love having fruit around the house (not bought by me!) all the time and have rediscovered my love for yoghurt.
Diet seems so connected with community, lifestyle and weather. I know that my Friday night (at youth club) diet is far worse than my diet the rest of the week. I know that I'm more likely to eat a proper lunch at a sensible time if I'm eating with others.
So, in all this thinking about food and how it is such a bit part of being somewhere, I started to miss Mi Goreng noodles. I didn't eat them that much in Australia, but they were an ongoing joke and I ate them when they were there. So today I went into the Chinese/Asian supermarket in town on a Mi Goreng hunt.
As I walked in I saw what looked like packets of instant noodles on one of the aisles, so I went down there but...no Mi Goreng. However, I picked up a packet and realised that these weren't the dried noodles so there was still hope. I moved along to the next aisle and my heart leaped...but alas, it was a similarly packaged brand of instant noodles called 'Maggi'. Determined, I stood and carefully considered each shelf, not wanting to miss what I was looking for. Then, there on the bottom shelf at the right hand side was the Mi Goreng! They sold 3 flavours (I chose Original, as always) and they were only 20p each. I bought 2 packets.
So I had Mi Goreng for lunch and it was good. It reminded me of weekends in Townsville. I was disappointed though because I didn't have any dried onions with my seasoning, and that was my favourite thing about these noodles. I'm hoping that this is just a rubbish batch, not par for the course for Mi Goreng for export to Europe.
Diet seems so connected with community, lifestyle and weather. I know that my Friday night (at youth club) diet is far worse than my diet the rest of the week. I know that I'm more likely to eat a proper lunch at a sensible time if I'm eating with others.
So, in all this thinking about food and how it is such a bit part of being somewhere, I started to miss Mi Goreng noodles. I didn't eat them that much in Australia, but they were an ongoing joke and I ate them when they were there. So today I went into the Chinese/Asian supermarket in town on a Mi Goreng hunt.
As I walked in I saw what looked like packets of instant noodles on one of the aisles, so I went down there but...no Mi Goreng. However, I picked up a packet and realised that these weren't the dried noodles so there was still hope. I moved along to the next aisle and my heart leaped...but alas, it was a similarly packaged brand of instant noodles called 'Maggi'. Determined, I stood and carefully considered each shelf, not wanting to miss what I was looking for. Then, there on the bottom shelf at the right hand side was the Mi Goreng! They sold 3 flavours (I chose Original, as always) and they were only 20p each. I bought 2 packets.
So I had Mi Goreng for lunch and it was good. It reminded me of weekends in Townsville. I was disappointed though because I didn't have any dried onions with my seasoning, and that was my favourite thing about these noodles. I'm hoping that this is just a rubbish batch, not par for the course for Mi Goreng for export to Europe.
Friday, 4 July 2008
Step by step
I'm not actually sure who'll be reading my blog now that I've got home (the idea was pretty much to keep in touch) but just incase anyone still is, and for myself, I'll continue for the time being.
The last couple of weeks have been ok. This job hunting thing is pretty new to me, I've always just got a job with my parents before and applied for jobs as and when. I'm working with my parents for a couple of weeks (on the shop floor this time, counting out parts for assembly, so different!) but that ends at the middle of this month.
I've spoken to my vicar about increasing my involvement with church and there's a couple of new projects for me to get involved in, which is pretty exciting. I'm looking for part time work to go along with that - hopefully as a teaching assistant because I think I'd really enjoy it and I'd get school holidays.
Not a terribly exciting post I'm afraid. If you're reading this and you're a praying kinda person, prayers would be appreciated for:
The right job
Patience
Ability to hear God's voice
And as always, much thankfulness for His great goodness, especially that I'm so much calmer in myself since I got back than before I left, even with all this uncertainty.
I realised this week that I was looking forward to uni before I left because it sounded better than what I was doing. Uni stopped being so appealing when staying home and really exploring using my gifts and time at church, for the Kingdom, in Sheffield became more appealing. It's probably why there was no big 'moment' for me...just I keep catching a glimpse of a vision that I think I could be part of for a while. Maybe it's 2 years, maybe it's my whole life. I don't know. I don't need to know. Part of me is tempted again to give up already, but what's the point in that? What's the worst that can happen? I fail at something?
If I risk it all, for love and loyalty,
Promise me one thing:
If I'm wrong You'll stand in my defence,
For acting like a fool.
-Pete James, Trust Begins
God bless you.
The last couple of weeks have been ok. This job hunting thing is pretty new to me, I've always just got a job with my parents before and applied for jobs as and when. I'm working with my parents for a couple of weeks (on the shop floor this time, counting out parts for assembly, so different!) but that ends at the middle of this month.
I've spoken to my vicar about increasing my involvement with church and there's a couple of new projects for me to get involved in, which is pretty exciting. I'm looking for part time work to go along with that - hopefully as a teaching assistant because I think I'd really enjoy it and I'd get school holidays.
Not a terribly exciting post I'm afraid. If you're reading this and you're a praying kinda person, prayers would be appreciated for:
The right job
Patience
Ability to hear God's voice
And as always, much thankfulness for His great goodness, especially that I'm so much calmer in myself since I got back than before I left, even with all this uncertainty.
I realised this week that I was looking forward to uni before I left because it sounded better than what I was doing. Uni stopped being so appealing when staying home and really exploring using my gifts and time at church, for the Kingdom, in Sheffield became more appealing. It's probably why there was no big 'moment' for me...just I keep catching a glimpse of a vision that I think I could be part of for a while. Maybe it's 2 years, maybe it's my whole life. I don't know. I don't need to know. Part of me is tempted again to give up already, but what's the point in that? What's the worst that can happen? I fail at something?
If I risk it all, for love and loyalty,
Promise me one thing:
If I'm wrong You'll stand in my defence,
For acting like a fool.
-Pete James, Trust Begins
God bless you.
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