I just thought that I would tell you all off.
After this post, not one of you has poked me! No one has poked me!!
Anyway, with God's help for the last month or so I have read my Bible everyday (minus one) and I have read all of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Job and most of Numbers. It is really exciting and I'm really enjoying it and learning what went on in those times and how God works. I'm reading the Bible in chronological order of the events it describes (roughly speaking!). I'm hoping it will continue to broaden my horizons and perspective of God.
I feel no pressure about reading it, like I have with all Bible reading materials. I just read as much as I can each night, and it doesn't matter whether that's one chapter or ten. If I miss a night, then nevermind - there is noooo pressure!
Thank you Lord!
Friday, March 31, 2006
Duck Duck Goose
Although this week has been quite stressful, today I successfully managed to make my whole class including the tutor sit on the floor in a circle and play duck duck goose! Although I hate the stress leading up to them, I quite enjoy presentations - I'd almost like to practice talking infront of people more and really get into the swing of it.
Today I made the decision to say yes to Bek about being a Christian Union small group leader next year! I am so excited now and she almost jumped out of her chair when I told her! I think it will challenge me and develop me and help my relationship with God - so yey.
Today I made the decision to say yes to Bek about being a Christian Union small group leader next year! I am so excited now and she almost jumped out of her chair when I told her! I think it will challenge me and develop me and help my relationship with God - so yey.
Week of fun
Yey Keith's coming tomorrow! :D
We're going to Paul's wedding first, and then driving back to York for a week of fun!
I can't wait to just spend some time going out and about in Yorkshire (please keep the Sun up God!) and just generally chilling with Keith.
Unfortunately I have an essay due in and it's really hard. I'm trying my best to finish it before he comes, but I don't think that's gonna happen. Grr! So please pray for lots of concentration and productiveness!
We're going to Paul's wedding first, and then driving back to York for a week of fun!
I can't wait to just spend some time going out and about in Yorkshire (please keep the Sun up God!) and just generally chilling with Keith.
Unfortunately I have an essay due in and it's really hard. I'm trying my best to finish it before he comes, but I don't think that's gonna happen. Grr! So please pray for lots of concentration and productiveness!
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Fountains Abbey
It was my friend Bek's birthday on Thursday and we went for a trip to Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire.
It was a gorgeous day!
It was a gorgeous day!
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Trust
Have you ever felt like God is teaching you so much at once that you're gonna explode?!
It's kind of an exciting thing, but scary and hard work at the same time.
The biggest thing he's teaching me is trust. To trust him. To trust his timing, to trust his will and his decisions and his plan and his control.
Timing is a big thing. I like to know what's happening and when. I liked to know when I'm next seeing people. But actually, it doesn't matter. God's plan is bigger than that, he's got it sorted. I don't need the rest of my life mapped out or just the next week or tomorrow - he's got it sorted so I don't need to know. In the same way, I need not worry about tomorrow. (Somewhere in Matt 6 or 7) In fact there's no need to worry about anything. God will sort things in his own time and in his own way not mine.
Another thing I'm learning is that God will work through anything and everything. I'm doing a Freedom Course with church and it's about being free in God and taking things to the cross (and leaving them!) and learning how to help others in that way. My friend and I were feeling quite pressured that we'd got to get something from this course and be changed in some way. But then we realised that the course is nothing. God doesn't need the course - it's just he may use it to bring stuff up, but if it doesn't, that won't stop him. If it wasn't for the course he'd just bring it up another way.
In the same way, if you miss church, or a big conference or prayer thingy, it doesn't mean that you'll miss out on something amazing God says, because if it's that amazing he'll tell you some other way. Therefore, for example, there's no need to run around like a headless chicken at Soul Survivor/Spring Harvest or equivilent, trying to get to every seminar, worrying that you may miss something important - because God will tell you things when he wants to. He will tell you what you need to know, when you need to know it.
There's more - I shall post more later
It's kind of an exciting thing, but scary and hard work at the same time.
The biggest thing he's teaching me is trust. To trust him. To trust his timing, to trust his will and his decisions and his plan and his control.
Timing is a big thing. I like to know what's happening and when. I liked to know when I'm next seeing people. But actually, it doesn't matter. God's plan is bigger than that, he's got it sorted. I don't need the rest of my life mapped out or just the next week or tomorrow - he's got it sorted so I don't need to know. In the same way, I need not worry about tomorrow. (Somewhere in Matt 6 or 7) In fact there's no need to worry about anything. God will sort things in his own time and in his own way not mine.
Another thing I'm learning is that God will work through anything and everything. I'm doing a Freedom Course with church and it's about being free in God and taking things to the cross (and leaving them!) and learning how to help others in that way. My friend and I were feeling quite pressured that we'd got to get something from this course and be changed in some way. But then we realised that the course is nothing. God doesn't need the course - it's just he may use it to bring stuff up, but if it doesn't, that won't stop him. If it wasn't for the course he'd just bring it up another way.
In the same way, if you miss church, or a big conference or prayer thingy, it doesn't mean that you'll miss out on something amazing God says, because if it's that amazing he'll tell you some other way. Therefore, for example, there's no need to run around like a headless chicken at Soul Survivor/Spring Harvest or equivilent, trying to get to every seminar, worrying that you may miss something important - because God will tell you things when he wants to. He will tell you what you need to know, when you need to know it.
There's more - I shall post more later
Friday, March 17, 2006
Module Results
Although I've known my results for a while, I've just received a letter in the post from uni congratulating me!
'At the School Assessment Panel held recently, marks for assignments for the above modules were confirmed, and the Panel was delighted to learn from the module director of your outstanding performance on these modules. It is with great pleasure therefore that I write to offer you personally my warmest congratulations on this significant achievement revealing a positive, thorough and conscientious approach to your degree studies.'
blah blah blah
Wow! That's quite cool. I'm quite impressed that they send you a letter. Would have liked a present too ;)
I have since heard that they very rarely give these out and it's generally to people that think are in line for getting a 1st!! And it goes in my file. Although they don't say that to us. Wow. Pressure! I never thought I could be capable of a 1st. I'll be happy with a 2.1 so yey.
'At the School Assessment Panel held recently, marks for assignments for the above modules were confirmed, and the Panel was delighted to learn from the module director of your outstanding performance on these modules. It is with great pleasure therefore that I write to offer you personally my warmest congratulations on this significant achievement revealing a positive, thorough and conscientious approach to your degree studies.'
blah blah blah
Wow! That's quite cool. I'm quite impressed that they send you a letter. Would have liked a present too ;)
I have since heard that they very rarely give these out and it's generally to people that think are in line for getting a 1st!! And it goes in my file. Although they don't say that to us. Wow. Pressure! I never thought I could be capable of a 1st. I'll be happy with a 2.1 so yey.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
In the Air
Well it's been a stressful week, with threats of being blacklisted, housemates leaving and general life! But hey, it's the weekend and now I almost have a 4 bed house to just the two of us! Plenty of space and plenty less disturbed nights!
God's teaching me a lot at the moment too. Especially about asking him about things and trusting him rather than asking everyone elses' opinion. Don't get me wrong, there is a time and a place for that, but I often fall into the trap of just asking everyone else and not thinking for myself. One reason being that it takes the responsibility off my shoulders and another being just that I haven't learnt to have confidence in my decisions and God.
I feel like a lot of things are up in the air and I'm being forced/encouraged to go to God, because he's the only one with the answer - so that's a good thing. I think I am being mature about things and I think that God is helping me to be insightful.
But I have to make decisions. I cannot sit on the fence and take the easy options to avoid being hurt. Life is full of risks, and we won't get anywhere or live very fullfilling lives if we don't take risks.
La la la hmmm....
God's teaching me a lot at the moment too. Especially about asking him about things and trusting him rather than asking everyone elses' opinion. Don't get me wrong, there is a time and a place for that, but I often fall into the trap of just asking everyone else and not thinking for myself. One reason being that it takes the responsibility off my shoulders and another being just that I haven't learnt to have confidence in my decisions and God.
I feel like a lot of things are up in the air and I'm being forced/encouraged to go to God, because he's the only one with the answer - so that's a good thing. I think I am being mature about things and I think that God is helping me to be insightful.
But I have to make decisions. I cannot sit on the fence and take the easy options to avoid being hurt. Life is full of risks, and we won't get anywhere or live very fullfilling lives if we don't take risks.
La la la hmmm....
Friday, March 10, 2006
CU website
We now have a CU website!!
It is up and running complete with a discussion forum - and one person has already turned up to CU having found out about it from the website! How cool is that?! Thank you Lord!
If you want to take a look... click here
It is up and running complete with a discussion forum - and one person has already turned up to CU having found out about it from the website! How cool is that?! Thank you Lord!
If you want to take a look... click here
Discernment
You know how you get really heated about things and annoyed with people and what they think and stuff? And then it calms down and drifts off into the past and you never think of it again?
Well that's what happened with this post.
But this evening I was talking to my church leader this evening and she was telling me that I have quite good discernment and gave me this situation as an example. Although they never told me this, my comments to them about all church socials needing to be outreach really hit home. They realised that I was right and that God was speaking to them through me.
So yey.
Well that's what happened with this post.
But this evening I was talking to my church leader this evening and she was telling me that I have quite good discernment and gave me this situation as an example. Although they never told me this, my comments to them about all church socials needing to be outreach really hit home. They realised that I was right and that God was speaking to them through me.
So yey.
Monday, February 20, 2006
illness
I'm fed up of being ill.
Everyone's ill. For the past few weeks there has been only about 50% of my course turning up to lectures.
I think I've been not quite right for almost three weeks now. Started with feeling sick, hot and cold, then turned into a sticking cold, then got better, but went hot and cold again, and now I've been feeling constantly sick for the last few days.
It's rude I tell you!
Most annoyingly, I'm not ill ill. I just don't have the energy to go about life as enthusiasically. I hate feeling sick cuz the only time I don't feel sick is when I'm eating or sleeping - and I can't very well do that all day!
Just thought I'd have a rant.
Everyone's ill. For the past few weeks there has been only about 50% of my course turning up to lectures.
I think I've been not quite right for almost three weeks now. Started with feeling sick, hot and cold, then turned into a sticking cold, then got better, but went hot and cold again, and now I've been feeling constantly sick for the last few days.
It's rude I tell you!
Most annoyingly, I'm not ill ill. I just don't have the energy to go about life as enthusiasically. I hate feeling sick cuz the only time I don't feel sick is when I'm eating or sleeping - and I can't very well do that all day!
Just thought I'd have a rant.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Emily and the geese
Emily came to visit me this week. She had great fun feeding the geese :D
They were very tame geese that kept looking up at as longingly for bread
She also enjoyed chilling with my friends
Thank you for coming to stay with me Emily - you're great! :D
They were very tame geese that kept looking up at as longingly for bread
She also enjoyed chilling with my friends
Thank you for coming to stay with me Emily - you're great! :D
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Heating Prayer Answered?
Not sure if this is a proper answer to prayer or what, but...
Woke up this morning to a freezing house, none of the radiators were working and there was no hot water. Fiddled with the boiler and followed the instructions, but there was no flame. So I rang our landlord.
I've been home an hour or so and have just been moaning to a friend about it, so she told me to go pray over the boiler. I ran down the stairs praying for God to send his fire (literally
) walked through the kitchen door and heard a 'wvrrooff' (or whatever noise flames make), looked at the boiler and saw the flame and felt it's warmth.
Then I noticed the note on the table from my landlord saying that he'd fixed it and it was probably the big winds we're having that caused it and to give him a ring if it happens again. So he's been in and sorted it while I've been singing to me music!!!
So it's kinda an answer - but whichever I thought it was cool to share
Woke up this morning to a freezing house, none of the radiators were working and there was no hot water. Fiddled with the boiler and followed the instructions, but there was no flame. So I rang our landlord.
I've been home an hour or so and have just been moaning to a friend about it, so she told me to go pray over the boiler. I ran down the stairs praying for God to send his fire (literally
) walked through the kitchen door and heard a 'wvrrooff' (or whatever noise flames make), looked at the boiler and saw the flame and felt it's warmth.Then I noticed the note on the table from my landlord saying that he'd fixed it and it was probably the big winds we're having that caused it and to give him a ring if it happens again. So he's been in and sorted it while I've been singing to me music!!!
So it's kinda an answer - but whichever I thought it was cool to share
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Ironic-ness
Entertainingly, I have been at a conference Fri eve and all yesterday that involved healing - and I've come away feeling worse than when I got there!
The conference was at Manchester Vineyard and was called Signs and Wonders with speakers Jeff and Jan Jansen.
I felt slightly ill before I went, but put it down to being tired and a distraction from the devil following on from being Baptised a week ago, and going to a conference that he certainly wouldn't like! But no, this morning I woke (after not much sleep) feeling achy and manky and ill. I hate being ill. It's just rude!
The conference was... interesting. God was definitely there, but it was a little too extreme and hyped for my liking. I didn't really understand what the guy was talking about and it felt more like him telling stories and jumping round the Bible than actually teaching us anything. I guess there will have been people there who got something from it though.
But the thing that annoyed me most was the way people get carried away and swept up in the hype rather than God. We had emotional music going up and down, the guy kept shouting into his microphone, he went round the room hitting people on the head - some of which fell over, others didn't. People had all the usual manifestations, but it just could have been done better. I watched Mike Pilivachi's 'How to pray for someone' clip on the God Channel this evening from last years Soul Survivor, and basically this guy yesterday was completely going against everything I've been taught.
It annoys me that people hype things up because I know that it puts so many people off receiving God's power through His Holy Spirit in this way because it freaks them out, or disgusts them or whatever. God's Holy Spirit is an amazingly powerful gift that is incredibly useful and refreshing. But unfortunately open to abuse. I had to remember a lot to let it just be God and me, cuz he can work through anything and with most things in life, we have to disregard the stuff that's us, and focus on the God stuff.
Some cool bits of the weekend were getting a vision of God holding me under this right arm at the edge of the room while we watched what was going on. He was loving it, and cheering everyone on like a funky rap geezer and we laughed together. It showed me that it's ok if other people are doing freaky stuff, cuz he's got me and he loves us all and he just enjoys all that we do for him.
Also we had a fire/prayer tunnel where we made a circle in pairs, then one at a time people went through it and we all layed hands on them and asked God to bless them and send his fire on them. I was a little apprehensive, but in blessing others God was blessing me, it was like wow. Then as soon as I started going through I couldn't stop crying and felt an amazing outpouring of God's love as up to 200 people prayed for me.
So yeah, in summary, people are silly but God is amazing!
The conference was at Manchester Vineyard and was called Signs and Wonders with speakers Jeff and Jan Jansen.
I felt slightly ill before I went, but put it down to being tired and a distraction from the devil following on from being Baptised a week ago, and going to a conference that he certainly wouldn't like! But no, this morning I woke (after not much sleep) feeling achy and manky and ill. I hate being ill. It's just rude!
The conference was... interesting. God was definitely there, but it was a little too extreme and hyped for my liking. I didn't really understand what the guy was talking about and it felt more like him telling stories and jumping round the Bible than actually teaching us anything. I guess there will have been people there who got something from it though.
But the thing that annoyed me most was the way people get carried away and swept up in the hype rather than God. We had emotional music going up and down, the guy kept shouting into his microphone, he went round the room hitting people on the head - some of which fell over, others didn't. People had all the usual manifestations, but it just could have been done better. I watched Mike Pilivachi's 'How to pray for someone' clip on the God Channel this evening from last years Soul Survivor, and basically this guy yesterday was completely going against everything I've been taught.
It annoys me that people hype things up because I know that it puts so many people off receiving God's power through His Holy Spirit in this way because it freaks them out, or disgusts them or whatever. God's Holy Spirit is an amazingly powerful gift that is incredibly useful and refreshing. But unfortunately open to abuse. I had to remember a lot to let it just be God and me, cuz he can work through anything and with most things in life, we have to disregard the stuff that's us, and focus on the God stuff.
Some cool bits of the weekend were getting a vision of God holding me under this right arm at the edge of the room while we watched what was going on. He was loving it, and cheering everyone on like a funky rap geezer and we laughed together. It showed me that it's ok if other people are doing freaky stuff, cuz he's got me and he loves us all and he just enjoys all that we do for him.
Also we had a fire/prayer tunnel where we made a circle in pairs, then one at a time people went through it and we all layed hands on them and asked God to bless them and send his fire on them. I was a little apprehensive, but in blessing others God was blessing me, it was like wow. Then as soon as I started going through I couldn't stop crying and felt an amazing outpouring of God's love as up to 200 people prayed for me.
So yeah, in summary, people are silly but God is amazing!
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Salsa
I have just been to 3hrs of salsa on the other side of York!
It took us about 20-30mins to cycle there and then it was a lot of work when we got there!
It was fun though - I really enjoyed it.
The question is, can I fit it in every week? I've got a lecture 3-5, then I will have a massage course 5.30-7, then salsa is 7.30-whenever, usually about 11/12 but you can leave early, then I'm working from 10pm-8am! Hmm...
Anyway. It was alright to begin with, dancing on your own and learning the steps. But then when we danced in pairs I found it all too intimate! I didn't know where to look and you were so close to your partner! I've never felt like that before. I felt like a little school girl discovering boys for the first time! I hope it wears off and gets easier.
It was just nice to be out with some friends.
It took us about 20-30mins to cycle there and then it was a lot of work when we got there!
It was fun though - I really enjoyed it.
The question is, can I fit it in every week? I've got a lecture 3-5, then I will have a massage course 5.30-7, then salsa is 7.30-whenever, usually about 11/12 but you can leave early, then I'm working from 10pm-8am! Hmm...
Anyway. It was alright to begin with, dancing on your own and learning the steps. But then when we danced in pairs I found it all too intimate! I didn't know where to look and you were so close to your partner! I've never felt like that before. I felt like a little school girl discovering boys for the first time! I hope it wears off and gets easier.
It was just nice to be out with some friends.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Birthday/Baptism
Yey! It's me 21st Birthday! :D
Happy Birthday to dad too.
Baptism was great - will blog more tomorrow, or actually maybe that's today now we've gone passed midnight!
Happy Birthday to dad too.
Baptism was great - will blog more tomorrow, or actually maybe that's today now we've gone passed midnight!
Monday, January 23, 2006
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Noise Polution - Who is right?
This is a topic that is really irritating me at the moment.
When I was at home over Christmas I read an article in the Evening News about an old lady who'd had a young couple move in next to her. This was fine until they started playing their music loud until 3am. This meant that the old lady couldn't sleep and it became distressing.
I was disturbed that the article was suggesting that it was a clash between young and old that could maybe never be resolved. I felt that it was leaning towards the young couples' side and saying that that is the norm for today.
I want to rebel against that though. Playing your music and staying up until 3am (or whenever) should not be the norm and it certainly isn't good for you. Staying in bed til midday is appalling! Isn't the best sleep before midnight? I think the young couple should have respect for their neighbours and stop playing the music so loud after 11pm.
This last week or so I have felt so irrated by my housemates and their nocturnal activity. Unfortunately they do not understand my point of view. They argue that they like to play their music loudly at night. I say that I like to play mine in the morning but I don't because I know it will wake them. Where is the respect? Where is the thinking about other people? This is my 10th night in York, 7 of which have be disturbed due to loud music, loud TV and people talking like it's the middle of the day. This things are all between 11pm and 4am.
My housemates do not get up until midday, whereas I'll get up at 8ish. They miss soooo much of the beautiful day! But who is right? I am I right to be annoyed about being disturbed? Should I be changing my sleeping habits?
When I was at home over Christmas I read an article in the Evening News about an old lady who'd had a young couple move in next to her. This was fine until they started playing their music loud until 3am. This meant that the old lady couldn't sleep and it became distressing.
I was disturbed that the article was suggesting that it was a clash between young and old that could maybe never be resolved. I felt that it was leaning towards the young couples' side and saying that that is the norm for today.
I want to rebel against that though. Playing your music and staying up until 3am (or whenever) should not be the norm and it certainly isn't good for you. Staying in bed til midday is appalling! Isn't the best sleep before midnight? I think the young couple should have respect for their neighbours and stop playing the music so loud after 11pm.
This last week or so I have felt so irrated by my housemates and their nocturnal activity. Unfortunately they do not understand my point of view. They argue that they like to play their music loudly at night. I say that I like to play mine in the morning but I don't because I know it will wake them. Where is the respect? Where is the thinking about other people? This is my 10th night in York, 7 of which have be disturbed due to loud music, loud TV and people talking like it's the middle of the day. This things are all between 11pm and 4am.
My housemates do not get up until midday, whereas I'll get up at 8ish. They miss soooo much of the beautiful day! But who is right? I am I right to be annoyed about being disturbed? Should I be changing my sleeping habits?
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Tagging Again
7 Things I would like to do before I die (no particular order):
1. Own a house
2. Get married
3. Make people smile
4. Becomes wise
5. Have children
6. Be a little famous in some way
7. Tell people what I really think
7 Things I can't do (yet):
1. Stay up all night
2. Have as much confidence as I would like to have
3. Read my Bible every day
4. Drive
5. Rule the world
6. Do what I want to do
7. Know what I want to do!
7 Things that attract me to Blogging (in no particular order) :
1. Being able to keep up with people I don't see regularly.
2. Not having to say everything I've been doing 10 million times over.
3. Showing off photos.
4. Getting other peoples' comments and thoughts.
5. Being able to comment on others and therefore being a small part of their life
6. Keep up with what I've been doing!
7. It's nice to have somewhere to vent.
7 Things I say most often (in no particular order):
1. Indeed
2. Helen!
3. lol
4. aaaarrggghhhh!!
5. ;-)
6. cool
7. I'm tired
7 Books I love (no particular order):
1. Narnia
2. The books I've read by Frank Peretti
3. Harry Potter
4. Bible
5. Do blogs count?
6. Star girl
7. Live the Life
7 Movies I watch Over and Over:
I don't! So I've put TV programmes in no particular order
1. Casualty
2. Home and Away
3. Eastenders
4. Lost
5. Documentaries
6. My Parents are Aliens
7. Good films
7 People I want to join in too (you've been tagged!):
1. Emily
2. Lou
3. Laura
4. Paul Cracknell
5. Carl
6. Drummerboi
7. Rachel V
1. Own a house
2. Get married
3. Make people smile
4. Becomes wise
5. Have children
6. Be a little famous in some way
7. Tell people what I really think
7 Things I can't do (yet):
1. Stay up all night
2. Have as much confidence as I would like to have
3. Read my Bible every day
4. Drive
5. Rule the world
6. Do what I want to do
7. Know what I want to do!
7 Things that attract me to Blogging (in no particular order) :
1. Being able to keep up with people I don't see regularly.
2. Not having to say everything I've been doing 10 million times over.
3. Showing off photos.
4. Getting other peoples' comments and thoughts.
5. Being able to comment on others and therefore being a small part of their life
6. Keep up with what I've been doing!
7. It's nice to have somewhere to vent.
7 Things I say most often (in no particular order):
1. Indeed
2. Helen!
3. lol
4. aaaarrggghhhh!!
5. ;-)
6. cool
7. I'm tired
7 Books I love (no particular order):
1. Narnia
2. The books I've read by Frank Peretti
3. Harry Potter
4. Bible
5. Do blogs count?
6. Star girl
7. Live the Life
7 Movies I watch Over and Over:
I don't! So I've put TV programmes in no particular order
1. Casualty
2. Home and Away
3. Eastenders
4. Lost
5. Documentaries
6. My Parents are Aliens
7. Good films
7 People I want to join in too (you've been tagged!):
1. Emily
2. Lou
3. Laura
4. Paul Cracknell
5. Carl
6. Drummerboi
7. Rachel V
Monday, January 09, 2006
Back
Well it's back to York tomorrow and straight into house hunting.
Lord please find us the correct house - (that's cheap and has decent sized rooms and is 5-10 mins from college). Thank you.
Sigh
Nothing much else to say really.
Lord please find us the correct house - (that's cheap and has decent sized rooms and is 5-10 mins from college). Thank you.
Sigh
Nothing much else to say really.
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