Daughter

"My daughter, I HAVE plans for you,

And in freedom you're sent.

Wait a little while with Me,

Wash your hands within the bowl,

Take My body and My blood,

And you will be made whole.

I'll refine the words you speak,

And I'll help your steps be firm,

For all the promises I've made,

I'll bring words to confirm.

Don't despise these small beginnings,

I have it all in hand,

My wisdom is eternal,

The universe, it spans.

Where you have not been parented,

I'm your Father God,

I also am you Mother,

And when life feels like a 'plod',

Remember I can lift you high,

And we can soar together,

I'll be there your whole life long

And also your forever!"
By Mairi Jane

Holidays

Well,
Am sitting back in the office now, looking out of my round window at a black sky full of clouds and the trees being battered by the rain.....back to the British autumn after a beautiful week on the island on Kos in Greece.
Hmmm.....an interesting and very revealing holiday.
Firstly I went with my Dad. He hasn't been on abroad for about 3 years as he has no one to go with so thought it would be a nice break for him. After this holiday though we both decided that the time has come where we won't go away just the 2 of us again. It would have been fine had my brother and his tribe come but it is the lack of conversation (my dad is a man of few words!) the looks as people try and figure out the relationship between you (are they partners, friends, father and daughter) and the different types of holidays we both enjoy. It just felt like the end of an era and the closing of a chapter as we were there on holiday. It was good that he realised it as well as I myself.
Secondly, I met the man of my dreams.....the sad thing was he met the woman of his dreams 3 months ago....God has a sense of humor! He was a gorgeous guy, with a eyes that concentrated on you as you spoke as if he was really interested in what you were saying. He wanted to settle down, he took his girlfriend horseriding on the beach and to see beautiful sunsets. All of this mixed with him telling me I had beautiful twinkling eyes and a zest for life made me turn to jelly!!! (I know he sounds cheesy but he wasn't!) When I regained my thoughts(!) I really had to think, why I have I met this guy, why has God placed him here for me to meet him. Firstly I wouldn't date him. The God I put my faith in and my life orientates around this guy knows knows nothing about. In effect we both worship 2 different things, how could I spend the rest of my life living intimately with someone who didn't understand a large chunk of my life. On this holiday though I really needed a guy to say something nice about me. I've never been one to be paid compliments and looking back, I went on holiday at such an emothional low point (the dread of Dad's drinking / the issue of singlenees that I think many of us are battered with on a regular basis) that I really needed a guy to make a comment like that about me, that I could be physically attractive. It also got me thinking about the things I would want in a man. Of course he would have to be a Christian, there is no questiona about that. But when he was saying about the horseriding, the sunsets and the compliment he paid me, I realised that I would want to date and marry a guy who would realise that those are the types of things that touch me. To be able to share a beautiful sunset with someone and know to attribute it to our Father in heaven, to pay me compliments when sometimes I'm feeling a little low, or just beacuse he appreciates me and recognises God working in me, to be romantic and for us both to keep that romance alive for years to come.....does that make sense?
Anyway the physical part of the holiday was OK, Dad didn't drink too much.The island was beautiful and a wonderful place to go to chill with friends or as a couple. We toured the island, went over to the island of Nissos to see the volcano and over to Bodrum in Turkey shopping as well as spending 3 days just sitting by the pool and enjoying the sunshine.
So now it is back to the office, back to everyday life? For now sadly yes.
ELJ

Morning

How is everyone today? Hope that you are all well.
Even now I am not entirely sure how much I am going to write, just feel that I need to put something down!!
I was reading Job this morning. Am trying to read the bible in chronological order. I never knew that Job came after Genesis so this is quite interesting. One thing that really struck me is that in life the only thing that we can be sure of is the goodness of God. If we know that He is good, His plans are perfect and He has control then what ever calamaties we are presented with we can get through them. The other thing that struck me is even when we humanly know everything that is going on, we can never fully know what is going on in the spiritual world. We can never fully discover the reasons for certain events happening and that is why all we can do is trust in Him.
Trust that He is in control and knows what is going to happen around the corner or 30 years down the line; trust that our future is secure in Him; trust that although we may kick and scream His plan is perfect.
Am learning a lot about this at the moment in so many ways!
Hope you all have a fab day
Love and blessings
Emma x x

Friday nights

Another friends post really!
I had some friends come over from Liverpool for the weekend and it was great. We went out to an Italian for dinner on Friday evening and laughed our way through 3 courses and coffee afterwards.
It really struck me how blessed I am to be in the position I am in at the moment. I know there are many things in my life I wish were different; I'd hoped I wouldn't still be living at home, I wish I was in a job that challenged me more and was more people orientated and I struggle with my singleness. But then I sat there thinking about the fact that yes I am single, but that means I am not having to consult with someone when is a good time to go out. Yes I am living at home but that means that I do not have the financial burdens that some other people do and that I am able to go out with friends and have a really nice meal (though bless her a friend actually paid for my meal!)
It just struck me that though these have been a tough past few weeks, Gods plan is really much better than my own. The only issue is whether I decide to see those blessingsand be thankful for them or whether I decide to focus on what I don't have and what I want.