Celebrating God’s good gifts May 1, 2012

We’re going through Ecclesiastes at chuch at the moment, and I’m really enjoying the chance to look closely at the whole book. On Sunday we reached chapter 3 and look at ‘time’ and how there is a time for everything. The real challenge for me came from verses 12-13 …

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

It made me realise just how rarely I take pleasure in the everyday good gifts God gives me. And so, here begins a new regular blog. Each week, I’m going to blog about things God has given in the preceeding week, to see the good that God does bless me with on a daily basis midst the things that seem more pressing. The good gifts in and of themselves are not the end, they’re not the thing that will ever give me true meaning but that reflect the gracious and loving character of the amazing life giving God.

I’ve had questions… April 29, 2012

Much of my time is spent in my car driving between the Uni’s in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire during term time, and the novelty of local radio often starts to wane late in the evening. So, I found my old mp3 player this week and let it play as I was driving to Bedford on Friday night. My mind started wander through some of the events of the last few months, and all of a sudden there was clarity in them. The song that had started playing suddenly made sense of what I was trying to process …

“I’ve had questions, without answers,
I’ve known sorrow, I have known pain
but there’s one thing, that I’ll cling to
you are faithful, Jesus you’re true

When hope is lost, I’ll call you Saviour
When pain surrounds, I’ll call you healer
When silence falls, you’ll be the song within my heart

In the lone hour, of my sorrow
through the darkest night of my soul
you surround me, and sustain me
my defender, forever more

When hope is lost, I’ll call you saviour
When pain surrounds, I’ll call you healer
When silence falls, you’ll be the song within my heart

I will praise you, I will praise you
when the tears fall, still I will sing to you
I will praise you, Jesus praise you
Through the suffering still I will sing “

Tim Hughes, “I’ve had questions”

This isn’t to say that listening to one song has sorted it all out – far from it. But it did clarify where I’m at – it still feels in so many ways that I’m ‘in the lone hour’, but that’s not a hopeless place to be, not because I’m not truly alone (although that is also true), but because the story doesn’t stop with me. There will be a day when there’s no more tears, pain or suffering because Jesus is faithful. And that is a day to keep on longing for through the many questions, doubts, tears and pain. But for now, it’s ok to keep wrestling with the questions, to keep admitting it feels sometimes like hope is lost and to not pretend to be fine because in all of it Jesus is faithful.

IFES World Student Day October 21, 2011

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 October 15, 2011

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 October 9, 2011

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! October 8, 2011

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 September 24, 2011

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 September 20, 2011

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… July 14, 2011

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 May 28, 2011

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!