I read this on Monday morning in my quiet time. It's taken from the Daily devotional book "At his feet" and just really struck the chord of where I've been over the past few weeks. I need to take my eyes off my problems, situations, workload and instead have a heavenly focus and spiritual eyes. I need to have a hunger to see, above and beyond anything else, God glorified in every situation..............will I strive for this is the question.........or will the "me" attitude return?


For His Glory
“This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life” John 9:3

IN WORD It is in the nature of man to ask why. We see tragedy in our world and we ask why. We encounter hardship in our lives, or suffer loss, and we ask why. We want to know the reason for it all, the unifying purpose behind this strange, needy world. Jesus reminds us: It is all for the glory of God. The universe exists to display His splendour.
We can see many specific examples in scripture. The Israelites were kept as slaves in Egypt in order that God might be known as Deliverer (Exodus 11:9). He led them to near disaster at the edge of the Red Sea in order that He might gain glory (Exodus 14:4). Many Psalms of David would never have been sung if not for his persecution. This man in John 9 was blind for his entire life “that the work of God might be displayed.” Paul suffered in order that Christ’s power might be seen (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
But we are slow. We can’t help but think this universe is about us, and when life is hard on us, it doesn’t make sense.

IN DEED If we remember that it is all about Him, we begin to see. It all makes sense. By our captivity He is known as Deliverer. By our sin He is known as Saviour. By our weakness He is known as powerful. Next to our hatred, His love amazes. Every evil we can think of has the potential of being a platform for the goodness of God. It’s all about Him.
Do we suffer and questions God’s goodness? Do we complain about our hardships? If so, we have forgotten that the universe is meant to glorify God, not us. Consider how His power might be known in our trials. Redirect your prayers not to improve the situation but to have your situation demonstrate His glory. Thank him for making Himself known.

Fellula the Fiesta has passed away!

So many things seem to have happened over the past few weeks; some good, some bad. Some that appear to be awful news but are a blessing from God. I will start with the most recent.....though thinking about it the story won't work if I do that!!
Firstly my brother has been admitted into hospital with depression and will be there for 10 days to 2 weeks. It is a relief in some ways to have seen this happen, yet in others is devastating. Firstly he needed a break from where he currently lives as there are 7 of them in a 3 bedroomed semi-detached council house. He had been in and out of A&E at the local hospital for the past 3 weeks or so but they couldn't find anything wrong with him. Anyway he went to see a counsellor on Tuesday and they referred him to the psychiatric ward to be admitted. In some ways I think this is tougher for my Dad than me as Dad has grown up in that generation where there is a stigma attached to any mental illness. I went to visit my brother last night and more than anything my heart was broken for him (many of you know that this could only be Gods doing as my brother and I have never exactly got on!). He looked so lost in the hospital and the guilt that I felt leaving him there was reminiscent of leaving mum in Clatterbridge hospital when she was having her treatment.....this feeling of abandoning him (I suppose the reality that there is nothing that we can do to help him) was like a weight resting on me. But I was reminded that I can pray; and that is far from nothing.
It's been tough trying to see the kids as I get the impression that Amanda's mum is attempting to imply that they don't need us or Gareth in their lives and so is out doing something any time any of us are meant to call or try to pop around. I haven't seen the kids for 3 weeks, Gareth's seen them once in 2 weeks. I can't describe how devastating this is.
The other heartbreaking thing was the grandmother of 2 of our youth members died last week and walking them through this time of grief; while there have also been a million and one other things going on in their lives while trying to be normal teenagers has also been heartbreaking. I suddenly got to Tuesday evening, having attended the funeral and then had the phonecall off my Dad to say my brother had been admitted and just sat on my bed crying for 30 minutes. I felt like I'd given so much out in the past 10 days that I was alone and empty. But I was reminded that I wasn't. "Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath. " Psalm 34:17-18
The straw that broke the camels back last night was that my car broke down; actually not just broke down but fell off it's last set of legs in a ploom of smoke! I was visiting my brother in hospital and came down the dual carriageway/freeway from my town towards the hospital when I started to hear this clacking noise. I pulled off at the next junction and knew immediately that the 'big end' had gone as the same thing had happened to me about 14 months ago when Becky Rasdall was visiting the UK. I rang my Dad and he said he'd come out and tow me home. It was actually a relief that I'd broken down but had been OK as there were a number of things wrong with my car and I was getting nervous at driving it (the steering was dodgy) and thought that I could end up in an accident. I was therefore so thankful to God that this had happened coming down a hill where I could pull off at a junction. I'd also decided that the next thing that went wrong with the car was the last thing, I was not going to get it fixed but replace it so Dad decided to drive it as far as he possibly could while I drove his car. My Dad is a star; he drove through St Asaph town, past a pub with 5 men standing outside staring at him in a car that was clacking so loudly I could hear it in his car, and he didn't care. As we were nearing Denbigh I could see that the car was beginning to struggle and could hear the crunching of breaks and was willing Dad to pull into the garage that we use for repairs that was coming up on the left. He didn't, but he'd only gone 10 feet past it when there was smoke billowing from underneath the car and the engine. I'm behind him beeping my car and flashing my lights at which point he thinks it might be an idea to pull in and that he probably isn't going to make it to the house!!! Dad and I just laughed about it; this was really the least of our worries. Of course, now I am worried as to how I'm going to afford a new car and where to I get it from so I won't get scammed etc etc. But I know that God has it all in hand.
There have been so many blessings over the past few weeks, not just 'bad stuff'. I had 2 weeks off work which was absolute bliss. I went out for days, slept in, had people over for lunch and dinner and visited people. I think I've barely cooked 2 meals for myself (when I haven't had people over) in over 2 weeks, what a blessing. The weather here has been beautiful and I was really blessed to take the 2 members of the youth group that had suffered the death of their grandmother to Bolton Abbey near Skipton where we met Jon. It was a great day out and such a reminder that you don't need computer games, TV and movies; you don't even really need books or outdoor games. All you need is a river, stepping stones, stunning scenery and prepared to have a laugh and you can have a great day.
Anyway that's pretty much been me.....still waiting on getting the camera fixed....a little more difficult now I don't have a car!!
~Blessings~

Camera- lack of!!

My camera is broken....can you tell by the lack of blogging that is happening at the moment! Maybe this is my oppurtunity for me to post the many random musings that occur in my head!!Too much to figure out at 11:00pm at night!!

Preaching on giants

As some of you know I preached in church on Sunday.....a very scary yet rewarding experience. There were so many things that I learnt about myself, about God and just about people in general. It was based uon the book to the right called "Facing your Giants" by Max Lucado. A book I would highly recommend and could easily be read in day.

It talks about the "giants" that David faced, not only the human one we know as Goliath but also the temptation, discouragment, loneliness etc that were giants in his life and can be giants in ours too. Sometimes I feel like these giants are so much louder in their pronouncements in my life than God is but I know that that isn't true.

The sermon went well (i think!) and I had great feedback from people. I always remember Mike Pilivaci saying that he wanted to graduate from youth preaching to adult preaching, and to a degree I have to admit that I went in with that kind of mindset.....so wrong to have that. With the youth it is a lot easier to provoke them to respond and they're quite used to interactive preachign where they also have to give their thoughts and ideas. It was great preaching to a different group of people with different needs and issues; but you do have to focus on the people that look like they're engaged and following what you're saying. That is not to say that people aren't listening, the feedback implies that are a number of people were; but when your uncle falls asleep for 5 minutes during the sermon and can only tell you that you spoke about 5 stones, you have to learn to laugh it off-don't let that giant tell me that what I had preached was worthless and sent people to sleep!! What was awesome is that my Dad came, my Aunt Mag and Uncle Tom, and my Aunt Lyn.....they all thoroughly enjoyed it and felt that they had been very much welcomed at the church, it felt like a family. Dad is even talking about coming back for Easter Sunday.....praise the Lord!

Anyway I feel like there is so much going on in my head at the moment, yet don't know where to start writing it.....maybe thats why I haven't posted in a while!

~Blessings~

Oops!

.....and I've just managed to dribble tea down my white vest....I think I need to go home!

Mmmmmm sleep!

Woke up this morning with a real feeling of not wanting to face the week. Am not normally like this and don't mind getting up in the morning; especially with the light mornings coming. I think I'm looking forward to the 10 days leave that I'm taking in April where I have nothing planned except lie ins and spending time with friends so am subconsciously winding down for that and I was in Ellel Friday to yesterday and always find that exhausting.

I think I may have been better staying in bed as have just managed to spill my first cup of coffee of the day down my white blouse in work. Praise God I had a white vest top on underneath and have just taken the blouse off and put my jacket back on........do I need to start keeping clean clothes in the office!?!?! With my track record of spilling things down myself I'd say yes!!

Anyway the weekend was good; God spoke to me about loads of different things. Am clinging too them now and not allowing the enemy to steal them away.

Must get back to work!

~Blessings~

You know me so well......

Either that or I'm utterly predicatable. For my brithday, the majority of gifts that I received were jewellery as you can see from the picture.

They are all so different but I love each and everyone of them. Thanks so much.

Had a lovely evening last night at the Siam Tepenyaki restaurant in Chester. Was such a giggle the way they flip all the utensils around and flick food at you which you're meant to catch in your mouth!!! Such a giggle!!!

Today I went for lunch with Dad and my aunts and uncle which was also lovely. I appreciate their take on life sometimes and the hilarious exchanges they have with one another!

Anyway off to watch some of my season 7 West Wing now; my Dad even wrapped it after watching it!! Bless him

Traumatised I tell you!!

OK

You want to know whats just sick sick sick sick sick.......I was in Asda and decided to try on 3 tops that I quite liked so I had a new top for this evening. Anyway i took then into the changing room and was just trying on the second one, when this guys goes into the one next to me and is talking to his girlfried (who praise the Lord at this point was outside the cubicle) saying that he'd go in the cubicle and then in couple of minutes she could slip in and then they could 'get it on', Needless to say their language was more vulgar than this and I didn't end up buying any of the tops as I just wanted to get out of there asap! Am I prude or would this offend someone else as well......I mean come on, get a room!!!

Birthday present

OK, you know whats sad......my birthday present from Dad....he's using it before I even have it! Sadly I seem to have got him hooked on The West Wing and he's gone through the first 6 seasons in about 8 weeks. So for my birthday he got me season 7.......which he's now watching as he wants to know what happens and can't wait! I don't know whats worse; that we like the same programme or that he's even more hooked than I am!!! Bless!!!

Looking forward to the weekend....Chinese Friday night, Japanese Saturday night and then British roast on Sunday at lunch! Hmmmmm......this week I only have to fix my own on Thursday!! I am so blessed.

Anyway off to try and grab an early night now!

~Blessings~

DVDs

I have no idea whats got into me at the moment!!

I seem to be buying DVDs like it's gone out of fashion! I managed to get The American President fr £5.99 from play.com. I love this movie. It reminds me so much where the West Wing came from as the director of this movie moved onto direct and write The West Wing as a behind-the-scenes-what-goes-on-in-the-White-House. Secondly, also bought Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants after seeing it with Amy in the States in December. This was also a bargain at £5.99 and is sucha great chick flick........reminds me of true friendship and the fact that it can span oceans and any situation. Then today I was in Somerfield and there was the 2 Bridget Jones DVDs in one package for £6.99!

I love Bridget Jones, there are so many typically British things in there, and so many typically single situations and reactions; though I think the majority of them are just female reactions and fears that we do and have!! I love the fact that she wears the big knickers to pull her tummy in, the way she walks in her dress (thats so me, trying to look pretty but coming off as walking like a penguin!!), the way she just sits and watches Mark sleeping (I can se this being something I do when I'm married), the little white lies she tells of being able to ski (sooooo something that I used to do!), the way she tests him to see whether he's true to her or not. This movie makes me laugh and cringe at the same time!! Anyway going to get back to movie now!

~blessings~