Living in a Field of Hats

IFES World Student Day

Sarah — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:07:37 +0000

The organisation that I work for, is one movement in an international group – The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students and today is World Student Day. A day for us to pray for one another around the world. Have a look at this for some ideas…

It’s such a priveledge to be able to join with these broters and sisters working in Uni’s around the world with the same aim as us here in the UK. Why not have a look at some of the latest prayer requests here now and pray?

I am loved

Sarah — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:24:40 +0000

I got chance to go to the London Womens’ Convention today which was a great time to hang out with some ladies from church. Having the chance to sit and chat without many distractions around was a real joy. Another huge joy was hearing the amazing Yvonne Lyon for the first time. Often I get bored listening to people sing after one or two songs but not this time!

My absolute song was ‘I am Loved’ which sadly it seems there’s no youtube video for… but here’s the lyrics

All tangled up in my own expectation
Barefoot and broken I lay on the floor
With only a flicker and feel for the future
I don’t know if I can compete anymore

When it all falls apart like it tends to do sometimes
I am loved
When it all falls apart like it tends to do sometimes
I am loved

All tired out by the best of intentions
Convinced I could carry this weight on my own
The more I discovered the less I am sure of
But I know I don’t face this journey alone

When it all falls apart like it tends to do sometimes
I am loved
When it all falls apart like it tends to do sometimes
I am loved

And the stillness soothes me and terrifies
it’s curious consolation

When it all falls apart like it tends to do sometimes
I am loved
When it all falls apart like it tends to do sometimes
I am loved

The theme of the convention was identity and this song fitted in perfectly. So often I experience the verse – feeling tangled and caught by what I expect of myself left broken on the floor with no way of getting up, and yet instead of “pulling my socks up” as the world would say, we can look to the place of our true identity and know we are loved no matter what.

How amazing is the gospel?!

If … then remember Jesus Christ

Sarah — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:58:56 +0000

A friend of mine passed on a link to a sermon by Lindsay Brown on 2 Timothy 2:1-7 and the last few sentences he says were so encouraging..so much so that they’re now on the bathroom mirror!

‘if you feel like giving up “remember Jesus Christ” who didn’t give up,
if you feel like you can’t persevere “remember Jesus Christ”, if you
feel you can not sacrifice remember Jesus Christ, if you feel there’s no one to
press on with “remember Jesus Christ”, if you feel you can not
continue remember the grace of God in Jesus Christ, if you feel you can’t be
single minded “remember Jesus Christ”, and press on loving him,
trusting him, holding on to him, holding on to the grace of God, and persevere
to the end.’.

No matter what, remember Christ!

The best encouragement!

Sarah — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:50:10 +0000

The last week has had more than it’s fair share of discouraging moments and so by yesterday evening I was ready to go to bed and watch West Wing, and heading to a prayer supporters evening seemed quite a lot of effort. But however much fun West Wing would have been, meeting with the local prayer supporters group was so much better!

They’re a group that have been meeting for a number of years and is mainly made up of graduates from the 1950s. It was a real great encouragemnt to share with them some of the discouraging moments and to hear their prayers. Joining to pray for the mission on campus with people who have been supporters of the work for 60 years was amazing. Their knowledge and wisdom shone through in the prayers and in our conversation.

It was great to hear of their experiences of CU as students and the way in which the Lord was working and using the CUs then. The differences beteween the student life back then and now was so evident, and yet CUs were being used by God then and now.

I cam away from the meeting being so glad that I had been there, and so thankful for all of those who faithfully pray for the work of CUs. Thank you if that’s you! It means a lot!

reminders of grace

Sarah — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:43:19 +0000

At team days a couple of weeks ago we shared stories of how God has worked in each of our lives. It was a great way to get to know each other with 8 new team members and also to be well aware of who it is that is in control of salvation.

Part of my testimony was seeing a sign outside a church and realising the truth of the things that I’d been told were true. After I’d told this a couple of people asked if the sign was still there. Thanks to googlemaps I can tell you that it is!

It was so weird to see it 9 years on but bizarrely really reminded me in seeing it, the wonder of the grace that has saved me. Thank you googlemaps!

Using our weaknesses

Sarah — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:41:57 +0000

The title of this post could be used to describe many different events that I’ve been involved with over my last year on staff but this evening was a perfect example. A CU event that wasn’t really organised, a last minute request to do a talk on the film and no real advertising. And yet God in His great mercy was totally in control. I’d text some friends asking them to pray for me and the event – what I wanted was for the event to become more organised, the CU to be less clueless and for a talk to magically ping itself into my head, or least my notes. Maybe that’s slightly overexagerating it, but it’s pretty much how I wanted the evening to end. And yet it didn’t end like that at all. As soon as the credits began to roll most of the people began to walk out the room and by the time the CU realised only 3 people were left! And at that 3 Muslim men! Inwardly I was thinking “they are never going to listen to me, they’re never going to believe that Jesus really is God”, and kinda wanted to disappear. Instead, I started a discussion about what they’d liked about the film, which although stilted got to Jesus and we talked about how he really can show us wisdom as well as the truth of the gospel. I was quick to end the conversation though with warnings of not “being too preachy as not to offend the Muslims” from earlier in the evening ringing in my ears, but others were less keen to let conversation cease. And so, came the ippurtunity for one of the Muslim men “H” to tell us about his first couple of weeks at Uni:

“I arrived from Iran and found in my room a book by my bed. I didn’t know what it was but started reading it and discovered that it was a bible. I read it and kept reading it because it was so easy to understand unlike the Qu’ran which is in Arabic and I don’t understand it.” (paraphrased by me but pretty much word for word!)

How amazing is that?! That a guy comes all the way from Iran, has never heard of Christianity or the bible really picks one up, starts reading it and is intrigued. And then a couple of weeks later stumbles upon a Christian event and hears people talking about Jesus. And then – even more excitingly(!)- agrees to meet with a British Christian to read the gospel of Luke together.

And, he’s not the only encouragement from this evening. “A” from Aghanistan has spent a couple of years working for a Christian charity in Afghanistan and come into contact with many American Christians, although he himself is a Muslim. He was just as interested in the gospel and he, H and the third guy are all attending church with CU members this sunday.

What a reminder at the start of this year that God does use the weak and that he is control at all times!

It’s sure been quiet around here…

Sarah — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:16:22 +0000

Blogging appears to have fallen by the way side with the busyness of end of term and planning for summer team! I got back yesterday and enjoyed a lovely 15 hour sleep but still feel a little groggy to tell you of all the excitment … so instead, have a watch of this interview with Veronika. It says everything!

Other people’s blogs

Sarah — Sat, 28 May 2011 18:04:28 +0000

I love reading other peoples blogs! There’s links to the ones I read on the right hand side. Many of them are friends and colleagues. In fact four of us were sharing a room last time we were on a work conference together and it was great to chat about our own blogs and other ones that we all enjoy. Turns out we all love Emma’s blog for many reasons (even though none of us know her in real life), not least the way she tackles issues that so often aren’t talked about, in a really down to earth and genuine way. One of the things that Ellie, Cat, Emily and I were chatting about was being able to make sure that on our blogs weren’t not painting a picture of us that isn’t accurate, trying to make ourselves look great. I think Emma is a great example of being honest – give her blog a read. It’s really refreshingly honest and biblical.

And check out Ellie and Cat too – always a good thought provoking read. And Emily is a new blogger so let’s up her hits to encourage more posts but do check out her photos page to see some lovely Norfolk! :)

So, this was a post to big up some other people you should go and read! Enjoy!

“Do all things without grumbling or questioning”

Sarah — Fri, 27 May 2011 22:03:10 +0000

I’m working through Philippians with a friend from church at the moment (though predicted end date is somewhere near to December at this rate..!) but last week we got to the second half of chapter two.

The thing that really struck us both was this verse: “do all things without grumbling or questioning”. For me it was a real challenge as grumbling really is culturally acceptable in the UK. We grumble about the weather, we grumble about public transport, we even grumble about people grumbling! But as Christians we are clearly commanded not to do so. The context here is really key (as always!). Paul has just described exactly what Jesus was willing to lay aside for us – without any grumbling at all – and he’s moving on to talk about what that looks like in everyday life. And the shock I guess. is that he doesn’t say “Look what Jesus did for you – go on and do something good for him”. No, the application is for us to not grumble. Wow. It seems so little and yet as Emily and I started chatting about what not grumbling would mean in our lives it became clear that it would make a huge difference.

Not grumbling about a student being late for a meeting (suprisingly some stereotypes are true!), or grumbling that it’s raining once again really would chage our attitudes to life. But, Paul doesn’t just want us to have a nicer quality of life, he wants us not to grumble so that we will be blameless and pure children of God. Now, that in and of itself isn’t going to make us pure and blameless in God’s eyes, no that’s what Jesus does for us. But, the way in which we live is to reflect the goodness of the gospel.

So that’s my challenge . To not grumble but to rejoice in the goodness and truth of the gospel. Wha t that looks like totally I’m not too sure as I don’t think it means not saying anything negative but actually it’s the attitude behind it. I’ll be trying to work it out so feel free to be anti British and join me – and to point out where my grumbling is still in existence!

How to tell I’m a Northerner at heart

Sarah — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:44:43 +0000

No, it’s not by my accent anymore (which is very sad!), it’s not even by the fact I love meat and potato pies (which seem impossible to find in the south!), nor by my real love of chips with gravy and mushy peas. No, today the thing that makes me northern is the real joy of staring out the window at this view…

Rain! Real Rain (which this photo really doesn’t do justice to!)! We’ve not had any down here for a good month (ie I’ve owned my new car for 4 weeks and not had to use the windscreen wipers yet!). So when the torrential rain/thunder storm started I smiled, grabbed my fleecy blanket and settled back to doing my admin feeling a lot more energised. I love the rain – how could I not when I grew up in a town where it literally seemed to rain daily. Oh how I’ve missed it .. now to dig out my umbrella!