Murder at the Manor

Tonight I led a games night. I know it doesn't sound very holy, but you tell me ...
What is holier than coming together as a community and bonding and laughing and creating in-jokes that will knit you together through the good times and the bad? Worshipping Jesus by coming together as a unit and enjoying one anothers company?

It was really awesome, though my musical choices may have left a lot to be desired - we played a casual game of pass the parcel (which I had to explain time and time again to several Americans! What do they even play at kids parties?!), marshmallow castle, musical chairs and musical statues, an attempt at wink murder - though I thought you moved around in wink murder someone else said that you just stand in a circle, it got a little confusing - and lastly, a classic, Mafia.

WHO DOESN'T LOVE MAFIA? (unless of course you're killed off first.)

Problem was that the narrator (Morrison) is an exceptional story-teller and has potentially seen one too many horror movies. Thus the deaths in the game were fairly gruesome and more often than not, very detailed. A great (not so gruesome) moment? "Marlene was dead, she was so dead that in fact even the doctors were impressed at how dead she was. She was dead." 

There were moments of high embarrassment that will hopefully live on for a long time - specifically people pretending to be monkeys or swapping socks with their neighbour, drawing a moustache on a friends face or cheating at musical chairs ... but mostly, it was just a time for getting together and having a laugh and remembering that in the midst of it all - jokes really are funny, ergo, God must have a sense of humour to create such a funny people.

Hope you're all well .. I'm on "weekend watch" this weekend with the funniest guy - Nico the Swiss Man; basically, it means driving the trainees to their various places, doctors/town wherever - and then cooking tea - whilst welcoming any visitors and remembering to pick the trainees up from their various places! Should be fun. It's all going to be a little mental however, in a weeks time when the outreaches that are currently in S. Africa and Norway return, to a full house!!

My love and sincerest regards. X

You know what I love? Post! and Fire!

Dearests,

I am writing from the warmth of the fire, it's roaring and crackling away beside me as I type. My dear friend Laura is playing the 'Juno soundtrack', so I'm sure you can imagine that the atmosphere in here is rather jolly.

'If you were the winter I know I'd be the snow, as long as you were with me when the cold winds blow'

You may or may not know, I love Juno. She's mental. I like mental.

This last week has been a blur.
I'm now part of the worship team here - we have base worship every Monday morning which is ... (as the name says) where everyone on base comes together to worship. We had the best worship session on Thursday night, it was 'mind-blowing' (someone just described it as that) - so much freedom and joy.
Every other morning we pray - so prayer requests are welcome, and Wednesday we have intercession prayer for wider world (it's usually creative - I love it).

I have been getting alongside the new DTS trainees - they are so lush. 14 trainees and I 'man' the work-duties (every afternoon). I work alongside them / manage them / encourage them when they are hating on plunging toiletes / tell them to do a better job if it's not very good ... you get the drift. I sort of really like it, but no-one has done a bad job yet - so they are sort of making my job a little easy. Wait till time gets on and they get tired. Nah, seriously though, they are such a nice group.Though need to keep on top of what is hoovered and polished!!

I've been working on some stuff for a thing that's happening here in summer - www.justgoywam.com
Check it out - see if you can recommend it to anyone. I'll be taking a team out to Poland anyway - whatever that ends up looking like :) still mid-plans. Check out the website!

Anyway:
The weather warmed.
The rain fell.
The snow melted.
The skies are blue and the grass is green.

I love you all ... send me post. It's the best, the BEST, to receive post.
Big shout out to Mrs D Bostock who sends the most exciting post! And Mama P and Mummy Carol (delicious post!) <3 br="">
xxx

What I'm doing here ...

So - you may want to know a little more about what I'm actually doing here?

My role as part of the Holmsted Staff team will be:
There is a DTS beginning in just over a week - so there is a lot to do in general, both on the base and in preparation for the trainees arriving.
I will be working alongside the DTS staff, being an encouragement to them and the trainees in everything. This may be spending time with the DTS small groups; discussing with the trainees about what they are learning; local outreach in Crawley/Cuckfield/Brighton (looking at homeless outreach and hopefully, if we can
organise it, club ministry) and worship.
As part of the base staff I will have a 'Jack of all Trades' sort of role:

• Manning reception - organisation and sorting!
• Hospitality - this involves preparing rooms for cold and hungry travellers - or anyone that stays, guests and the like. This might also mean interacting with guest speakers to make sure that their stay here is blessed and comfortable. 
• Kitchen - I will learn to cook. Or I will feed everyone cheese on toast. Whichever happens first!
• Local Outreach - this is in the pipeline - but ideas that the basestaff are thinking up to go out into our local community and have an actual presence here in West Sussex. 
• Driving. That's fairly self explanatory - but as one of the few that are of the legal age requirements and driving talent ;) I am able to drive a base vehicle. It's either a little red car or what they call the silver bullet (7 seater maybe). This is good news as I sincerely love a good drive.
  SEND ME MIXED CD's.
  Good plan, thanks.

Wahey.
That is my varied role here on the base.
I am hoping that God will bring more and more to light as time goes on!

High visability was one of fashions more exciting moves.

So. As you may have already heard / assumed, I have arrived safely at Holmsted Manor (which for those who don't know is a YWAM base) and as I arrived there were minor misunderstandings ... but nothing that God isn't bigger than. The house is very big and so quite chilly even though it's not freezing outside.
My new bed (long live the 'tree bed') is 'the cave'. I have made the best cave to live in.I have an indian flag and a rainbow flag to decorate and distract me from the mundane nature of the wood itself - there are scarves hanging down and the presence of a hot water bottle to keep my bed warm like a little lovely warm cave.

Staff Training

Was interesting; being thrown into a scenario where I didn't know anyone was fairly difficult for me. I'm the sort who has to find ones feet before feeling confident. The good thing is, staff training, sort of forces you to be friends - to talk with everyone and to share experiences that are funny or serious together. So that was pretty good.

Pub

The Jolly Tanner is a good 20 mins down the road.
In fact I just android mapped it - it's actually a 1.3 mile and 27 minute walk.
We walked down last night, donned the high vis jackets and wellies. We created a walking in high vis jackets song and left with only one torch (schoolboy error). So there were 7 of us at the pub and there wasn't any space inside, so given that we were all pretty warm from the walk, we sat outside in the garden and enjoyed a delicious glass of red wine.
Then walked back. Which seemed quicker than walking there. So is the way of the world.

Sunday Funities

This morning I went with Jordan, Nicole and Amanda to 'The Point' where we worshipped the Lord. Standard. Cake and Kingdom coffee (coffee with a conscience). 

This evening we had a little get to know each other gathering by the fire -  where we played a casual game of 'CATCHPHRASE' and shared funny wee/poo/vomit stories; not that I had any of course...especially any vomit stories. None of those. 

*I was literally wearing a lashmina* pahahahaha

That's all kids. 

Goodnight from me here in West Sussex, I look forward to hearing from you!

Climbing to the skies - and then off to the Manor.

Here I am, on the cusp of leaving my Manchester life behind (if only for a while).

Hold on whilst I light some candles - prime atmosphere for blogging.
*lights candles*
Sorted. Now, where am I up to with leaving?

Today we got rid of my bed.
The tree bed will be sorely missed, some fond memories of clambering up into the vast skylike ceiling of my room to curl up for a quick daytime nap. One 'great' moment when a rather LARGE moth entrapped itself in my room, this obviously led to much screaming and panicking from me. It was flapping and making terrifying moth noises right next to what felt like my head, so, I called a usually supportive friend, they kindly began to calm me down and asked if it look like the type that might bite, the vampire moth. Which led to more screaming and panicking from me. Thanks Pete.

Anyway, I'm here till the 2nd of Jan. Without a bed.

I am just packing all my things together and it's not remotely logical.
There are clothes in each bag I'm taking - even the bag of shoes (because I will unDOUBTedly need more than one pair of shoes right?!) and then there's everything else. What else? Everything.
I just DON'T KNOW what I'm going to need - so I've got hoodies, jeans, t-shirts, dresses, trackies, jumpers - literally, what do I even need?

Either way, given that I've only got another couple of days - interspersed with New Years Celebrations ... so I should probably decide.

Whatever happens I'm sure it will be fine and I will have lots of great tales to tell you this time next week when I will have been at the Holmsted for a week!! (you want to check out the Holmsted - it is stun.)

Holmsted Manor. Austen: bite me.

Onwards, upwards and be strong in the strength of His might.

'That's one really big cake!'

Just thinking about how smashing this group was.
What a genuine blessing to be surrounded by such characters. Great questions, great opinions, great quotes.

So much love.

Marriage, Beatboxing, Tequila and Poached Fish

What a weekend.

Saturday
Under the large Oak tree at Holmsted Manor, Sussex, I witnessed my wonderful friend Adam marry his beautiful bride Victoria. It was a stunning wedding and the weather held up it's side of things by remaining dry and bright, on the occasion a little chilly.
Beautifully presented cream tea awaited the eager guests after a variety of photographic manoeuvres - women, heels and grass.

This was also an excellent evening for GB's Athletics team. In between Athletics, I definitely dipped into a casual episode of Miss Marple and had a cheeky debate with the lad in the chippy about battered sausages (that sounds rude, but it wasn't).
A most excellent evening.

Sunday
Woods, Dens, Mask-making, Tree Houses and flat tyres.
So Mel's boi is a proper lad. He builds dens and sleeps in the forest and runs adventure days in the woods. It's pretty awesome / exciting / wish I'd had something like that when I was young ...
Mel and I gave Tom a hand with a group of young people that came along - we made masks out of green/brown/orange paints, ferns, sticks, pine cones (the conical fruit of the pine tree - thanks Dad) etc - things that the kids could find in the woods around them.
Then we went hunting for 'the nasty king' - Mel and I went 'blind' and the kids had to find us bilberries to help protect our sight. It was most wonderful.
Then.
Mel.
New car - Frank.
Alloy Wheels.

Driving round the corner, Natasha Bedingfield blaring, Mel was faced with a stand off against another car - an Audi. The Audi refused to move.
Mel had to swerve up onto the kerb. The tyre could not handle it.
*Tsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss......*

Thankfully, God sent a cheeky angelic presence in the form of a middle aged man called Nigel, who used to be a mechanic.
I mean, obviously, we could have handled it. But Nige was more than competent. Legend.

TO LONDON.
*Boom, Phe, Te, Boom, Boom, Phe, Khe, Chi* (It's not easy to beatbox in words)
On route to the Beatboxing Championships in Islington, we swung by Camden for some delicious Mexican food - which went all over my white dress. Thanks - great work.
Anyway, much dancing, beatboxing and showing off later - a massive group of people, both skilled with beats and not so, were hanging out around Spoons in Islington till around 12.20 in the morning.
When finally Mel and Tom realised we needed to leave so as not to miss the last train, we had definitely missed the last train. So got a train to Woking and then had to taxi. Home by 2. Mental.

Taxi driver, swine ... When Tom paid him, another note had snuck its way within the note he handed him. And he didn't say anything. Rude.

Monday
After the train mishap, we had what should have been a delightful lie-in, except for the living alarm-clock that belongs to the neighbours. Cockerel.
Garage, Town, Cream Tea, Sainsbury's ... HOME to BAKE cookies.

Turns out, although I know I can't cook, I've known for a long time. I, however, continue to believe that I will be able to at some point - and seek the wise teachings of others. Unhelpful to my cooking journey, Mel's ability to bake cookies is as shot as mine. I ended up with cherry and almond 'cookies' ... and sort of lemon cake/cookies. I mean, they tasted delish, obv. But turns out I need to do some work on my skills.
Hannah, Mel's housemate, introduced me to her blog and twitter - she is flipping hilarious: http://braingoround.blogspot.co.uk/ we debated about the quality of Rhyming poetry ... and told stories.
Pub Quiz - TEQUILA.

Tuesday
Oxford. 
So, drove to Sam's for about 2 - where we chilled out with some Olympics and played some Basketball. I say we ... I definitely chilled out with some Olympics - but not so sure how much of the Basketball I actually took part in. I sort of stood there and caught the ball and passed it back ... tried to mark Sam, but I am 5'2 and he's 6'1 ... 'nuf said.
A dinner of poached fish, curried rice, raisins and egg ... it has a name apparently, I don't know what it was. It was the most unusual dish I might have ever eaten - and I've been around (lolz). Really nice though.
Casual stroll to the nearby pub where beer was drank and conversations were had.
Rain. I love the rain.

Wednesday
After a morning of great conversation and coffee - I stole Bon Iver's album, Sam moved the bird in my car (a  hilarious in-joke from Easter) and I drove home. WITHOUT NAVIGATION. Check me. I drove home. Without. Help.
Freaking YES.

I want to write about how lucky I am, what a great time I had, but these seem so cliche and not even close to how I would want to say it.
So, I will leave this post here. Happy and contented with my 4 day southern excursion. 

Society's contradiction towards young people 'doing well' in school.

GCSE exams are in a few weeks - GCE exams are already taking place ...
So, how soon is it that the media will tell our youth that the exams they studied so hard for; the exams that they missed out on their holidays for; the exams that they struggled to prepare for were "too easy".

Every year the newspapers print articles saying how much easier the examinations are getting - how much easier 'kids today' have it. As a teacher, I am fully aware of the pressure over children to perform at a high level. I hear teachers from schools nearby talk about their children in regards to what they will achieve and the pressure on them as a teacher, them as a school, to get such a percentage of above C's. The government's expectations of schools are that of a very high standard and if they are not performing at a high standard that action is taken to change this. And yet, we still hear the question, 'Are exams getting easier?'
Surely the excellent results should reflect the state of the school's teaching?

What about other negative effects that this question poses?
Are we pushing our non-academic children to a state of disillusionment? Where believing in themselves will find them face first in the mud?
Do 'they', these intellectuals that decide our children are getting an 'easy ride', ever wonder why some young people worry themselves into stress disorders, sleeping disorders, eating disorders? Could the pressure that the media places on our youth be - forgive me - unhelpful even, harmful in the growth of the younger generation?
An article in the 'Telegraph' stated that a charity 'YoungMinds' had said that "Every year we get calls from parents asking for advice on how to help their children cope with exam stress". They recieved 884 calls about young people, 39% in relation to exam stress.

We hear stories about children at school who cannot control their levels of stress; the pressure that they are under to perform pushes some to resort to self-harm to deal with their depression/anxiety or frustration. Where does this pressure to perform come from? Yes, I believe we want children to do the best that they can do, achieve the best they can achieve - but what if the best they can achieve at GCSE is an E and all their friends are getting A's and B's? I hear people say that it's ok, each person is different - but I know that feeling...I've seen children experience that longing to do really well, above and beyond their ability level.

Do we want a society filled with people who believe that doing their best isn't good enough and so resort to settling for below average, the safety zone - or do we want to raise young people to do their best and to always aim for things that regardless of whether they achieve it, that they tried and they were brave and strong and continued to be strong? Pupils, children, people should know their self-worth ... not question it based on academic ability.

There are so many people sitting in luke warm water - too afraid to turn up the temperature for fear of getting burnt, yet bored and dissatisfied with where they are at.

If we are not careful, and we keep leading our children to believe that performing at their best is not good enough and or that when they do perform excellently it's because someone else made a mistake (easier exam papers...), they will settle for less than average. They will settle.

Let's be brave and get uncomfortable...

Hate much?

"Have you ever hated anyone?" the IT teacher just asked the two Y10 girls, who didn't know what to blog ...

What is hate?
One of the girls said she could never hate anyone because she just couldn't. What does that even mean? She did say that she'd probably only hate someone if they killed someone she loved.
But is that hating a person or a deed?
God hates Sin - that's an action - but He loves people. Hating what someone does is different to hating who they are. Are we built to not be able to hate?

Where is the line - I dislike Rhianna, close to hating her - but I don't hate her. When does dislike turn into hate?


Mess of thoughts on the matter. I may revisit this. Who knows.

Just saying

New POST!!

This is because year 10 are checking out the 'blog scene' ... sweet!

Ode to Camden - and other funities :s

*Sighs*
I have had the most up and down birthday I hope i'll ever have ... so, my Papa (My Grandad Holt) died on April 6th - funeral (due to pilgrimages, ashy skies and coroners) was held up until the 21st April. Just three days before my birthday.
My family are amazing. They were all super strong and the hardest part was when the vicar said something that made us laugh - we pretty much burst into tears. Anyway!
*Smiles*
So then, for my birthday, we went to London. I say we. Mel :D , Iona :D , Rob and Yan - and Iona's fabbity friend Mary went to London - we had tickets to go and see Lord of the Rings 2 at the Royal Albert Hall, played by the London Philharmonic. It was wonderful. London is an amazing place. I genuinely LOVE it. It reminded me of a lot of ace people too ... Annie and Lauren, Andie and Ilsey to be rude and quote a few, but really, all my amazing DTS maties - you're all beautiful and strong and I love you all.
*Glint in eyes*
Camden Town.
Oh Camden Town. I want to live there. How freaking fabulous. What a place.
Iona and I wolfed down food like we'd never seen it before - it tasted so good. We had Indian *grins* and Mexican (where the guys asked Iona was she from Sweeden-pahaha). A.maze.ing.
I shopped and bought. I loved and took pictures.
I might, possibly, potentially, maybe, be in LOVE with Camden.

*Thinks*
I hate to quote Eminem - but I thought I'd heard it in a song - apparantly not! ... 'These times are so hard and they're getting even harder' ... I feel like right now, whatever it is that is going on is a lot. I feel like, sometimes, I'm floating way above myself - searching for the ground below ... It's so weird. 60 minutes week something bad always happens to us. My car was stolen; Mel's was broken into; Amy's was broken into; My car; Thugs peed on Amy's, threw stuff at mels and jumped on mine; the house was vandalised ... something bad always happens after we have our 60minutes prayer meeting.
God IS doing something. Satan is trying to stop it.
*REQUEST* please!
Please pray that Satan will not be able to attack our house - or cars - or us. We want to continue praying - becasue we know that something is happening. We just need divine protection.
Ooo and for my Grandad Piekos who is really poorly ... :s

*Ending thought*
I am happy. I have a God who moves; amazing friends; a good workplace; a wonderful family and health. I am happy.

Sorry this is so up and down :D
Bye then.

xxx

Coffee, Music and Lyrics - withough any Hugh Grant

Settled down with a coffee and thinking about up-dating my life ... Terry Macnamara says I make the best coffee. I do. Well, the machine does. But I do have expertise in flicking the 'on' switch.

Since YWAM I feel like I have been journeying God on an everyday basis. That, at first, was kind of weird given that I'd arrived back from such a beautiful country where I met God every day in the most bizzare spiritually weird scenarios - and also somehwere that i've potentially left my heart ... but as time went by, I gradually fell back into a routine. If you're thinking good work - then stop. This is bad. Routine is, firstly, not what I want in the slightest, secondly, not helpful in helping me pursue a relationship with God.
Whatever, that time was pretty stagnent - so I was just sitting. Waiting for something to happen. Then I moved into my house with some amazing girls - Mel Cassidy is one of the most beautiful, amazing women I have ever met. Amy Clark is the sweetest, most bubbly girl I have EVER met and Katie B - who I can be genuinely real with, have honest conversation and who consistently surprises me! And I began my journey with God - my journey to climb that mountain, to be more like Jesus :)
I joined the worship team at church where I get to sing alongside amazing people like Ruth Hill (she has a stunning voice and a genuine character. I love her).
More recently I had a dream that I was filled with the spirit, you know, like the people that shout and twitch and fall over in response to the spirit. The people I have always thought 'thank the lord he hasn't asked me to respond like that' towards....well, I had a dream that that happened.
...
Little did I know that my time was to come and that God was only flipping preparing me for something I was clearly ready to move on to ... haha. Good times. Anyway, since the Gathering 10 - God has been moving me and I feel the spirit ... sounds weird. Can't express it as well as i'd like to right now.

Listening to a song by Miss Li (Is this the end) on a big speaker in my kitchen, and because there's only one speaker it started in a REALLY attractive quiet way - just her singing ... I'm going to have to re-start it!! Really emotional when the music finally kicks in!

Speaking of music, I am really seeing beauty in music at the moment. I really think that it's such a way to express feelings and emotion. I was listening to classical FM yesterday morning (judge on your own accord, I am happy!) and the way that the music moved flooded my soul - it's the ONLY way to describe how I felt.
Anyway, my point on music was that there is this truely beautiful song - Pledge by Marcus Meier - and the chorus feels like such an anthem:

'This is my prayer, it's my solemn vow,
with all that I am, with all that I have,
I will love you, I will love you.
With all of my heart, my soul and my mind,
I pour out an offereing of worship and cry:
I will love you, I will love you.'

Anyway, this week and next my brother is over from Hull Uni, love having him around, we get on now we're older. After scratching each other eyes out, pushing 'each other' off bunkbeds, drowning and so on ... we really get on. It's nice just to hang out. And worship God together - I am so, so, so proud of the man he is becoming.

Nowadays I feel God fully setting up a future for me ... Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'
I know it's true and I am ready and raring to go!

Maybe I could say more, but I need to mark some coursework - as that is my job and I do get paid for it.

Good to be back! xxx

School, Sun, Travells

Well, this week I have awoken at 7.05 am every morning. Early mornings are not my thing and make me the least happy. HOWEVER, after the initial horrid wake-up I then make my way to school every morning through the beautiful Daisy Nook listening to my favourite people on Key 103 [Toolan, Chelsea, Hugh and Locko - but I've missed Hugh this week] ... I then get to Ashton which is usually a bit busy but Key 103 keeps me entertained ... then I arrive at school and it makes me happy. I cannot explain it.

I enjoy teaching at Trinity. I enjoy English and I have nothing much more exciting to say - which is quite sad. But when I do. I will say it.

Today I went to Leeds. What a place. I have no desire to return but it was a particularly nice day. We spent it planning for SUbmerge, what a week it is going to be. God is going to move undoubtedly...oo I cannot wait.

Ok, so on that note, I am going to enjoy my weekend and curl my hair :)

Attack/Dilema/Breakthrough/Freedom.

I'm having an evening in which I can only describe these bizarre, unknown feelings as an attack. I don't understand what I was feeling and the only description for it is a heavy cloud of frustration, self-doubt and confusion. I couldn't even think of anything in my bible to read though I had it sitting on my knee for a good 25 minutes.

Psalm 144: 1-2
Praise the Lord, my Rock,
who trains me for war, who trains me for battle.
He protects me like a fortified city, and he loves me.
He is my defender and my Saviour,
my shield and my protection.

And so, I declare myself and all people under the same cloud of frustration, self-doubt and confusion protected by God himself who is my fortress and place of refuge. I think it also important to take on the armour of God:
The Belt of Truth.
Brestplate of Righteousness.
Footwear [of choice I assume] of the Good News of Peace.
The Shield of Faith.
The Helmet of Salvation.
The Sword of the Spirit [which is the Word of God]

And with this I go on into the world, not allowing the world to influence my emotions and feelings, but knowing that I am safe and protected by the Almighty.

More of what?

Ok, so I'm having an iPod shuffle songs kind of night and I came across the song 'More? (Louie Giglio)' by Steve Leach. Now, this guy is impressive, he takes sermons and puts the words to dance music. It's really incredible, and a great way to praise ... You have to hear it really. Anyway, this song 'More?' (Louie Giglio speaking) states: "and all we can think to pray is 'Lord Bless us'" which, from my experience, is all well and good because God always wants to give us more ... but then he goes on to ask 'more?' More of what? Read this, it gives some perspective to everything that God has given us ...

"More of what?
More than the fullness of Jesus Christ the Son of God, come down out of heaven, crucified for the sins of the world, raised from the dead by the power of God himself reigning in glory and living in your heart?
More?
More than the Holy Spirit who has come to dwell in you?
More than the Word of God which is alive in you?
More than the family of faith which you are now joined to permenantly and forever?
More than the fact that your sins are washed away? That your name is in the Lamb's book of life?
More than the fact that you have the mind of Christ?
More than the fact that you are holy in Jesus Christ?
More than the fact that you have the genes of God inside of you and have been partakers now of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places?
More than that?
More than the fact that you get to talk to God, that you are called by My name that you are one of My children that you are part of a movement, and army, a kingdom that is going to prevail in the end?
More than that?
More than the fact that you are alive for ever to never die again?
More than that?
More than the fact that you have everything you need?
More than the fact that the fullness of God is in you?
More than the height, depth, bredth, length that anybody can ever imagine?
More than that?
You want more than that?
You don't even know what to do with what you have!"

It makes me think twice when I ask for more - God has already given me EVERYTHING, but it is about using what He has given me. Using it, realising I have it already and doing something with it. Not that I am never going to ask for 'more' again, I want more of God like nothing else - but it's good to be aware and thankful for ALL that He has given.

I was just listening and thought it was worth sharing :)
And now I have typed the word 'more' so many times that it has almost lost all meaning and doesn't even look like a real word anymore ... weird.

Thankful for coffee and other matter...

So, I'm sitting in Costa coffee having a well deserved skinny latte to toast to a wonderful God (to be further explained) and remembering a dear friend who is a HUGE fan of the old 'coffee' drinking - to you Kikes *cooly raises her skinny vanilla latte into the air and looks around*
So, after my excessively expensive yet wonderful trip to Holland, I found myself £10 overdrawn - that's not a lot I hear you say. Well the truth is I am very rarely overdrawn-even when I was at Uni the thought of being overdrawn scared the crap out of me. So this morning I came into Oldham for a meeting and parked in Sainsbury's (as you do because it's free) and tied my card in the machine - purely just to check that I had seen correctly the day before... Just for the the record I had seen correctly I just didn't want to believe it.
In my account this morning was £71 ... I nearly fell over. God is SO good. SO good.

Generally my weeks aren't so busy and I bustle about doing this, that and the other...but this week I seem to be incredibly busy - it's bizzare.
But I am looking forward to Ian's BBQ on Sunday ago and praying for stunning weather because that would be sweet.
I just have to also say that God has really blessed me with an amazing set of friends both across the globe and in my church. I love my church family, my YWAM family and my friends from out and around...oh how soppy I am being - but it's true and I just wanted to thank God for it.

As for now I am going to finish my coffee, get into the suavest car I have ever driven (my Dad has taken my car to the south and thus left me with his Jaguar - sweet deal) and go wherever the wind takes me (probably home) good times!

Love x

Giraffes and Marshmallows

Today I had an interesting conversation ... mid sit-ups and other weird Gym-style excercises about a talking donkey.

You heard, a talking donkey.
It's biblical too.

Numbers 22 has a man and his donkey and an angel. Long story short, Angel in road - donkey sees, man doesn't. Donkey stops. Man gets angry with donkey and whips it several times. The angel then gives the donkey the ability to speak. The donkey turns to the man and says something along the lines of 'why are you whipping me, I have been loyal to you and taken you wherever you have needed to go' - something to that effect anyway... and so on. The point is, the donkey talks.

A fair few months ago, lets say around 5/6 months I had a house that I wanted to move into and no housemates. So I prayed that I would find people to live with because I cannot afford it alone at the moment and I have a house to rent out ... so I prayed. The house is 5 bedrooms.
My lovely friend Chande, from Uni, said she wants to move to Manchester with me (from Weymouth) but for a long time it was just the two of us. 2/5.
After a while Mum rang me (I was in the South of England) saying that another girl, Mel (she's wonderful) needed accomodation from August 09. Winner. 3/5.
God was moving. He was providing for me and for people in need of a house. It was great (still is)
Tonight one of the girls from lifegroup said she would love to move in also, Amy. I am looking forward to this more than ever now. 4/5.
Over the last few weeks, Katie, another girl from life group has been thinking about moving in too ... which would be a full house. God really knows what he is doing. From panicking about 5/6 months ago to chilling out about a full house ... I am filled with awe and wonder to such a perfect God.

* Good Times *

Speaking What My Heart Knows

'The word became human and lived among us. We saw his glory - the glory that belongs to the only son of the father - and he was full of grace and truth.' John 1:14

Daily, I am reassured of the character of God and His adoration for us ... for me. The Word that was God [John 1:1] became human and came to live with us ... Jesus came from the heights, the wonders of heaven, the safety and security of his own home to live amongst and around us. Interesting. Each and every time I think of this I am baffeled by how amazing it is.

Ok, so the way that it has recently become real to me is:

So I have just returned from India where myself, and the team I was with, lived amongst the towns-people in a little village in Chennai. We lived in their homes, we ate with them, we drank tea with them (a LOT of tea) and loved them. It was wonderful, but it was hard. So hard. To be so far away from home, from family and friends. We were there for 4 weeks. We went in and around houses, asking if people needed any help around the house, general duties or building or whatever ... we got turned away from a lot of houses, people didn't want anything to do with us. We had done nothing wrong. We went with the intention to help, ease stress, provide company, a smile, a laugh ... some people simply did not want it.

Others did.

We drank a LOT of tea and spoke the Truth of Jesus into their homes, into their lives, and accepted them for who they were ... and I love them. I continue to love them, it's not like 'Oh I did whilst I was there, but out of sight - out of mind.' No, no. I continue to love those people, the women and children that we met. And it doesn't stop there, I love the people that we met, and their children, and the idea of their grandchildren, and their children ... and so it continues.

Jesus came to earth spreading truth. The truth that in Him, we can live eternally. He came to earth, He lived amongst people, eating and drinking and hanging out with them. Talking to them, loving them and accepting them. And when He died, rose and accended to heaven, He did not forget. He continues to love us.

Some people choose not to accept this.

Others choose to.

I choose to.

I needed to say this because I stray from writing truth and talk about rubbish, which is fun and I will still do, but this is more important to me. And if something is that important, you share it.

This made a lot of sense as I was writing. Please say if it doesn't make sense, please, it'll help me gather thoughts better next time.