It's no secret that I love lists...
So, following on from yesterday's post I decided to write a list of some of the things that I love about my story...as a way to help me focus on the good things I have and great things God has done in and for me.
1. I love God
2. I love my husband and my beautiful son.
3. I love my family. And I know that they love me.
4. I love my friends - although I'm not always as good a friend as I could be
5. I love church. I am extremely fortunate to be part of a great church with a great vision and great people who really encourage you and accept you as family.
6. I love where I live - Edinburgh. Although sometimes (most of the time) the weather isn't as lovely as it could be!
7. I love and am very grateful that I can make mistakes and still be loved.
8. I love that God can do more than I can ever think, hope or imagine!
9. I love that I can be part of what God can do.
10. I love that God is revealing more and more of himself to me. And even though it's hard sometimes, I love that he is changing me, molding me, building me into the person he has created me to be and into someone who reflects his love and glory. I need to remember this more!
11. And I love the crocuses (crocii?) that have started springing up that remind me warmer days are coming! And in their honour I have coloured the numbers yellow and purple!
What do you love about your story?
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Loving your story
So, I was totally gonna write a completely different post about twitter and prayer and stuff...
But then I watched this, and my thoughts strolled (actually I think they skipped) down a different path and I wanted to share.
As I have said before on this blog, I love Jasmine Star. I love her passion for people and her art. I love her humility and desire to share and teach those around her. And I love her story.
Whenever I have watched the videos she has produced (see her website for some more) I have found it hard not to love her story. I have found it hard not to love her.
As her latest film came to an end, I found myself thinking about how great her story is and how I would love to have a story like that. And look as glamorous in front of a camera like that! In other words, how I would love to have a life like that.
Then I stopped myself. I don't want to spend/waste my time loving someone else's life.
I want to love, enjoy, cherish, celebrate my own life.
So often, and so easily, I fall into the trap of comparison. Which only leads to envy, jealousy, coveting, bitterness, depression. I think it's something that women struggle with more than men and something that the modern, western, media-obsessed culture uses/exploits.
I am so blessed in so many ways, and I'm so excited about the potential and possibilities in my future. And I'm so glad that I can give God the control and allow the story he has already written for me come to be.
I love that we can love each others' stories and cheer and encourage each other on. I love that we can write our stories together, not alone.
I pray that today, and every day, I learn to love my story as it unfolds. Every second, every minute, every moment, every opportunity.
And I pray that I learn to uplift and encourage those around me as they live out their stories too.
But then I watched this, and my thoughts strolled (actually I think they skipped) down a different path and I wanted to share.
As I have said before on this blog, I love Jasmine Star. I love her passion for people and her art. I love her humility and desire to share and teach those around her. And I love her story.
Whenever I have watched the videos she has produced (see her website for some more) I have found it hard not to love her story. I have found it hard not to love her.
As her latest film came to an end, I found myself thinking about how great her story is and how I would love to have a story like that. And look as glamorous in front of a camera like that! In other words, how I would love to have a life like that.
Then I stopped myself. I don't want to spend/waste my time loving someone else's life.
I want to love, enjoy, cherish, celebrate my own life.
So often, and so easily, I fall into the trap of comparison. Which only leads to envy, jealousy, coveting, bitterness, depression. I think it's something that women struggle with more than men and something that the modern, western, media-obsessed culture uses/exploits.
I am so blessed in so many ways, and I'm so excited about the potential and possibilities in my future. And I'm so glad that I can give God the control and allow the story he has already written for me come to be.
I love that we can love each others' stories and cheer and encourage each other on. I love that we can write our stories together, not alone.
I pray that today, and every day, I learn to love my story as it unfolds. Every second, every minute, every moment, every opportunity.
And I pray that I learn to uplift and encourage those around me as they live out their stories too.
Thursday, 17 February 2011
2
Two years ago today I wrote my first post on this here blog-thingy.
Two years! My how it's flown by!
I had planned to post more interesting and exciting things this week but so far things have been more than a little crazy.
We've had a very poorly boy, who was sent home from nursery twice and spent a couple of hours in the hospital last night. Not something I hope to repeat often.
And work has been a rollercoaster of deadlines and tears. Not my finest week!
So today has mostly involved lots of cuddles, children's tv and period drama dvds (Wives and Daughters...my favourite)
Anyhow, that's life I suppose.
Here's to some better days ahead x
Monday, 14 February 2011
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Big Word Wednesday #13
If I'm honest, I really struggle with criticism and being questioned.
Even if I know its coming or I agree with the other person. Even though I know its healthy and not usually meant as the personal attack I take it as!
After spouting on about whether or not we are 'relevant' to non-Christians, I was questioned as to whether that is actually what we should be seeking. After listening to the discussion from a different point of view and a different level of wisdom, I had to admit that my previous assurances where a little off track.
Relevant
1. having some sensible or logical connection with something else
2. having some bearing on or importance for real-world issues, present-day events, or the current state of society
I think in the church, we have taken being relevant to mean being cool or being similar to the world. We have tried to incorporate modern technology and modern culture into the way we do church and do life, so that those outside the church will see something they recognise.
Instead our lives should be relevant to others by the way we connect ourselves to them. And by the way they then become connected to God through us.
By living a life that clearly demonstrates the importance of God's love, his grace, mercy, kindness in every situation, we will demonstrate how important God is today. When we allow God to have an impact on every aspect of our life, we become relevant because we live out the Kingdom of Heaven on earth today. We show those around us how God is in the 'now' and also the 'not yet'.
When we seek to be relevant, we focus on the world around us. We look for ways to make sense in the world's terms.
When we seek first his kingdom, we place our focus on God.
When we look for ways to show his love (grace, mercy, kindness) we start to make sense in God's terms. We become so attractive and fascinating to the world that the world becomes desperate to know more. The world longs to see God in the 'now' and learns to anticpate the 'not yet'.
Then we become relevant.
Even if I know its coming or I agree with the other person. Even though I know its healthy and not usually meant as the personal attack I take it as!
After spouting on about whether or not we are 'relevant' to non-Christians, I was questioned as to whether that is actually what we should be seeking. After listening to the discussion from a different point of view and a different level of wisdom, I had to admit that my previous assurances where a little off track.
Relevant
1. having some sensible or logical connection with something else
2. having some bearing on or importance for real-world issues, present-day events, or the current state of society
I think in the church, we have taken being relevant to mean being cool or being similar to the world. We have tried to incorporate modern technology and modern culture into the way we do church and do life, so that those outside the church will see something they recognise.
Instead our lives should be relevant to others by the way we connect ourselves to them. And by the way they then become connected to God through us.
By living a life that clearly demonstrates the importance of God's love, his grace, mercy, kindness in every situation, we will demonstrate how important God is today. When we allow God to have an impact on every aspect of our life, we become relevant because we live out the Kingdom of Heaven on earth today. We show those around us how God is in the 'now' and also the 'not yet'.
When we seek to be relevant, we focus on the world around us. We look for ways to make sense in the world's terms.
When we seek first his kingdom, we place our focus on God.
When we look for ways to show his love (grace, mercy, kindness) we start to make sense in God's terms. We become so attractive and fascinating to the world that the world becomes desperate to know more. The world longs to see God in the 'now' and learns to anticpate the 'not yet'.
Then we become relevant.
Monday, 7 February 2011
naive tragedy
So, Brian Houston just tweeted this...
and it just made me go 'yes!' inside.
I'm a girl with a simple faith. I believe in God. And I believe that God can do great, amazing, miraculous things because he says he can, and because he has done in the past and he doesn't change. I choose to believe in the smallness of me and in the greatness of God.
There are some situations going on around me at the moment and I feel as though it is the 'norm' to just accept that things are going to be the way they are. But in my heart I don't want that. In my heart I long to see the things that could be.
I want to see restoration.
I want to see redemption.
I want to see wholeness.
I want to see love.
I believe that these things are possible because I believe in a God that wants to see these things too. And I believe in a God who has the power, love, grace and kindness to bring these things into our situations and our lives.
God's gifts to us are hope in things we do not see, and an ability to change with his help.
Some people might say that I'm naive. But I think I'd rather be this way than complacent, or apathetic, or sceptical.
I hope I never stop having hope and seeing how things could be.
and it just made me go 'yes!' inside.
I'm a girl with a simple faith. I believe in God. And I believe that God can do great, amazing, miraculous things because he says he can, and because he has done in the past and he doesn't change. I choose to believe in the smallness of me and in the greatness of God.
There are some situations going on around me at the moment and I feel as though it is the 'norm' to just accept that things are going to be the way they are. But in my heart I don't want that. In my heart I long to see the things that could be.
I want to see restoration.
I want to see redemption.
I want to see wholeness.
I want to see love.
I believe that these things are possible because I believe in a God that wants to see these things too. And I believe in a God who has the power, love, grace and kindness to bring these things into our situations and our lives.
God's gifts to us are hope in things we do not see, and an ability to change with his help.
Some people might say that I'm naive. But I think I'd rather be this way than complacent, or apathetic, or sceptical.
I hope I never stop having hope and seeing how things could be.
What to do?
So...
I haven't posted anything here for about a week but that doesn't mean I haven't wanted to.
I've had lots of thoughts about stuff and I thought about writing it here but then I changed my mind.
Because I've felt challenged by God a lot recently about many things, I've been wondering if my posts on here are always challenging too. I mean, that they're not always as positive and uplifting as they could be. That they might start to depress people!
So, I'm not sure what to do. Do I post my thoughts because that would be real and honest and may be a good reminder for me personally? Or do I keep my thoughts to myself so they only challenge/confront/question me?
Oh, I just don't know!
But I do know that I'm very much looking forward to cake this morning!
I love Monday morning cake time!
I haven't posted anything here for about a week but that doesn't mean I haven't wanted to.
I've had lots of thoughts about stuff and I thought about writing it here but then I changed my mind.
Because I've felt challenged by God a lot recently about many things, I've been wondering if my posts on here are always challenging too. I mean, that they're not always as positive and uplifting as they could be. That they might start to depress people!
So, I'm not sure what to do. Do I post my thoughts because that would be real and honest and may be a good reminder for me personally? Or do I keep my thoughts to myself so they only challenge/confront/question me?
Oh, I just don't know!
But I do know that I'm very much looking forward to cake this morning!
I love Monday morning cake time!
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
a quick shower
I felt the drip on my face and I couldn't belileve it.
I was only 2 minutes from the nursery door...no umbrella and no rain cover on the buggy...when the heavens opened and we got wet. I dashed into a shop to put the rain cover on the buggy and keep at least one of us relatively dry. Then I headed out again with a much quicker pace.
As soon as I reached the nursery door it stopped.
My wet hair stuck to my forehead. The hair that I had, not so long ago, straightened and brushed. Now windswept, wet and totally unkempt.
I sat on the bus, still damp from the short shower, and I thought about the futility of some of the things I had done earlier that morning.
Straightening my hair had been a total waste of time!
Wearing my smart but not waterproof coat had been a bad decision.
But I was glad I had put my boots on...at least I had dry feet!
And I thought about how something as short and momentary as a 2 minute downpour can highlight the difference between the temporary and the eternal.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4: 15-18
I was only 2 minutes from the nursery door...no umbrella and no rain cover on the buggy...when the heavens opened and we got wet. I dashed into a shop to put the rain cover on the buggy and keep at least one of us relatively dry. Then I headed out again with a much quicker pace.
As soon as I reached the nursery door it stopped.
My wet hair stuck to my forehead. The hair that I had, not so long ago, straightened and brushed. Now windswept, wet and totally unkempt.
I sat on the bus, still damp from the short shower, and I thought about the futility of some of the things I had done earlier that morning.
Straightening my hair had been a total waste of time!
Wearing my smart but not waterproof coat had been a bad decision.
But I was glad I had put my boots on...at least I had dry feet!
And I thought about how something as short and momentary as a 2 minute downpour can highlight the difference between the temporary and the eternal.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4: 15-18
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