A very Carol-y Day!

Went to Mum and Dad’s church for the day for a Christmas Carol service and Carols in the street. Loved seeing so many local families coming in the church and really felt the warmth of a family atmosphere. Had fun playing with the kids, at the end we made shadow animals with the projector. I forgotten how easy and simple kids are, their worlds are not complicated, they are just themselves living life from one moment to the next.

Dad gave a cracking talk today and Mum did her speciality – making everyone well fed, comfortable and welcomed. It was a lovely day and I feel very Christmassy now… right down to my toes! Going to sleep content, with my hair smelling of woodsmoke and my mind full of lovely memories. 

Home for Christmas!

For real, not in my dreams J

Log fire, family meal, new haircut… my beautiful town. Yay.

I even managed to finish my Christmas newsletter!

‘The plan for your life is unfolding before you. Sometimes the road you are travelling seems blocked, or it opens up painfully slowly that you must hold yourself back. 

Then, when time is right, the way clears - through no effort of your own. What you worked for God presents to you freely, as a pure gift….do not fear your weakness for it is the stage on which God's power and Glory perform most brilliantly. 

As you preserve along the path God has prepared for you, depending on His strength to sustain you, expect to see miracles – and you will. Miracles are not always visible to the naked eye, but those who live by faith can see them clearly. 

Living by faith rather than sight, enables you to see His glory.’ <3

- Jesus Calling. 

Day 82/252 Farewell Matthew

Ever so long marathon day! But I DID IT!!!!! I wrote my essay finished my assignment, packed and everything. Phew.

Really enjoyed everything God showed me about Him through the genealogy of Matthew. Loved seeing family again, legacy and hope for the future. Too much revelation and no time to process, argh! Hope I get some down time in the holidays to absorb some of this beautiful revelation. 

Day 81/252 Living it up!

Almost there but not quite… so close! Loved doing my BRI tonight. I’m realising how much I really love history, and I love that about me! 

Other people are going to parties, movies or Christmas meals....and I'm sitting in the classroom living it up in the first century... Roll on tomorrow night!   

Day 80/252 Lush!

Got test back… weeeeeeeee! (the excited sound Liesel makes in the Sound of Music in the garden, when it’s raining!)

Christmas meal, carols by candlelight and Christmas movie! Yay.

Day 79/252 Those Blessed Cheesemakers

So many paragraph titles… epic horizontal interspersed with amusing moments… 

"Blessed are the cheesema...., I mean peacemakers, Blessed are the peacemakers..'
This just happened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpkWT5voTSE

Day 78/252 Book #21 Matthew

Went to doctors today with severe stomach pain, says I have digestion problems and IBS, will have to look at understanding which foods trigger this because my tummy is not a happy bunny.

Almost there…. Can almost taste Christmas but can’t quite reach it! 

Felt sick all day and ended up with migraine so had to miss Christmas SBS party…. However, I did sleep well, first night right through in, well, I can’t remember since when!!

Day 77/252 Yuck.

Had terrible stomach spasms today and sickness, don’t know why but think it’s food related. Pain.

Observed Matthew, sooooo loooooong!

Day 76/252 Kept by Him.

Woke up feeling sick and last thing I wanted to do was do the test. I decided to call it a quiz to make me feel better!

Felt peace about it and just thought well, if I don’t know it by now then I don’t know it…! This it went really well in the end!

One of my friends put it like this:

‘End of term test done! Woot! Astheticism, liberalism, Sadducees, Pharisees, Claudius, Nero, Famine, Council of Jerusalem, c.30AD, 49AD, 64AD ..... I probably spelt nothing right on this test lol’

Sounds about right!

Loved charting today, revelation! This from my Vertical charts. Especially this bit which really blew my heart up…

‘The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.’ 2 Peter 3:9

Peter reacts to a possible untruth told about Christ’s coming back. He says that the Lord is not slow in fulfilling his promise. Why would he say this unless he has heard they are being lied to!? The scoffers doubted the promise 3:4. The coming of the Lord was a big deal because of the hope they had through this promise. They needed this assurance and they had it before the false teachers came. Peter goes on to say ‘as some would count slowness’. 

Perhaps they were telling the churches that the Lord was slow deliberately making them wait in vain, not saving them from their persecution, suggesting he was untruthful to his word. When in fact it was the false teachers who were untrustworthy. Peter goes on to say the Lord is patient not wishing anyone should perish. This would have quietened the voice of liars. 

Peter is speaking out God’s character, he is patient, but he is also merciful. He doesn’t want anyone to perish, he wants all to reach salvation. How glorious that truth is in light of the deception the churches would have been facing. A God they could count on to love them and wait patiently for others to come to know him!

Another bit that really got me was when Peter writes; According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 1 Peter 4:4-5

Day 75/252 Book# 20 Jude

Had an AWESOME lecture on Jude today by Andy, wow loved it. Here’s a glimpse from my charting…

Figurative Language: Jude describes the false teachers or ‘certain people’ among the churches as ‘Waterless clouds…Swept away by winds…wandering stars.’ Here he uses figurative language which is beautiful but also a very Jewish way of writing, considering this was most likely to a Jewish audience. 

It’s beautiful because it is poetic but what Jude is describing is far from pretty. ‘Waterless clouds’, means that they are empty, devoid of any use, especially not for refreshment or for watering the ground. Which is what clouds are normally for; growing crops and refreshing parched lands. In direct contrast to the water of life Jesus brings. 

He says they are ‘swept away by winds’, meaning they are unstable and easily changed, fickle and changeable in nature. People like this usually snap at you in irritation when you do something they don’t like because they are not secure and have no identity to stand on. Not enjoyable people to be around, they would have been like poison to the churches. 

He calls them ‘wandering stars’, which have no use at all. Stars were used to guide yourself by in the night sky, they were extremely important, because they were fixed points to navigate. If one was wandering it would have been dangerous, you could have got lost at night or even worse, lost at sea. 

Jude is basically using these examples to tell the church they need to stay away, not only are these people false, empty and useless but they are extremely dangerous!

Day 74/252 Because of love.

Today I was struggling to find anywhere quiet where I just be with my Father God. I knew I needed to re focus and just be his daughter but I was panicky when people were everywhere to the point of crying. Eventually I found somewhere and read this. It made me weep as my heart was squeezed with the reminder of why I’m doing this, because I just love him.

'Alexander Maclaren, the great Scottish preacher, attributed everything he knew to one habit: spending an hour each day alone with God. 

Sometimes he allowed others into his study, but they were never allowed to speak. Maclaren would sit in a well-worn armchair with his Bible lying across his knees. Sometimes he’d read its pages, but mostly he’d just sit with his hand over his face. 

During that hour he wouldn’t read the Bible as a student, or study it for sermons. One of his assistants noted, ‘He read it as a child would read a letter from an absent father, or your heart would drink in the words of a loved one from far away.’ 

How well do you know the Lord? How well do you want to know Him? The answer is not in what you say, but in what you do. What you truly desire, you pursue. The Psalmist said, ‘When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.’’’

http://www.ucb.co.uk/word-for-today-22933.html

Day 73/252 Book #19 2 Peter

I think I’m enjoying the 2 Peter’s more than a lot of other books we’ve studied, looking forward to charting and taking that time with God. Very tired though but will push through.

Pondering on this today…

http://brenebrown.com/2013/12/10/rsabear/

Day 72/252 Book #18 1 Peter

Giving myself freedom to have time to myself today. Amongst getting back into the swing of everything. Read some of my novel, went of a walk, felt the fresh air on my face – it was like a holiday! I need to do more of this. 

Day 71/252. The mountain.

This morning was difficult, it was like everything was happening around me and I wasn't registering any of it.
Then Andy gave us a picture to think about. He said this point in term is like a mountain with a very steep face. Some of the faces and more slanted and not as tough but this week especially it like a sheer cliff. He encouraged us to just hold on, with all we have, with a pick axe. Just hold on, it will get better. This is one of the hardest weeks!
I thought it was just me until he said that, granted I've been away but I was feeling the atmosphere!
It's time to stand firm again, be steadfast as it says in James.
This is my turning point. To stand on my path and do not sway. (see Picture!)

Day 70/252. The Worst Day.

Lots happened today. Too much.
Today was the only part of the SBS so far when I've considered if this is worth it?
I don't feel part of the experience of the school and I'm not excited to study.
I'm really not sleeping well.
Maybe this is just a bad day, let's hope that's all it is!

Day 69/252. Back to the Lodge!

Today was back to the Lodge day. Hard to leave home because I become more in love with Shrewsbury every time. But know I'm on the right path for now.
Got to spend time with Dad in the car on the way back and see his scissor sharpening business first hand!
Got back to Dinner for 8 at Andy's place, was so nice with an open fire, good foods and good friends.

Day 68/252. Studying from Home. Book #16 Titus #17 James

Today I studied from home, next to our open fire. Marinating in home, family and wood smoke. Definitely turned a corner in my health.
Enjoying James!

Day 67/252. Attempt #2.

Time to let go. Today I attempted to go out again to get my strength back. It was great! Mum and I were in town and just enjoyed the Christmas-ness! I really love my home town.
Learned a bit more of what it means to rest in myself when I have no control over circumstances.
I had a dream that I had gone back to the Lodge too early, I had a terrible time then I heard a loud voice say: "You only have one body". I woke up straight away because the voice sounded like it was in the room with me.
Then it dawned on me, I need to look after myself because this is the only body I have. I think God has been trying to tell me this and I'm finally getting it.

Day 66/252. Decision to stay. Book #15 2Timothy

Today I decided to stay at home. That was a hard decision.
I really want to go back but still unwell.
Tough to admit weakness but necessary.
Read and did horizontal for 2 Timothy.