Blogging

I am taking a break from blogging :o)

Burdens

I have been feeling burdened by many things recently...this morning I was reminded of the verse that says COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND HEAVY BURDENED AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
Wow, there is such life in that verse.

"REST is not the absense of problems, but knowing who is in charge of them."

AMEN!


P.s Hello to Kailyn! :o)

My new blog

I have a new blog...it's called
www.youllneverguesswhatjusthappened.blogspot.com
Over the last couple of years I have noticed God provide for me in so many amazing ways, and He still is, so I have created a new blog, dedicated to sharing what He is doing...

Robbery

Oh my gosh
So the biggest robbery in English History has happened where I grew up...and there I was thinking I came from a nice little quiet corner of England...

Ouch!

I went sledding on Sunday.
It was great fun. My friends and I went to Fortinos (a supermarket for those English readers :o) and bought a $2 plastic mat...which works surprisingly well.
So there I was standing at the bottom of the hill, and then I was on my back lying on the snow.
Yes, it hurt.
I must say that I am not angry with my friend who accidentaly ran into me, it was a mistake.
So for the last few days I have had pain in all sorts of places. I am thankful however that nothing is broken, it could have been worse after all.
I am tired though
I need some refreshing.

More money

What I forgot to say in my last blog is that I am being given about $4500.....that is quite a return on $10!
I must hasten to add that this is for my SCHOOL FEES before anyone feels inclined to drop me major hints on what they would like me to buy them with my new found wealth! ;o)
This kind of provision is almost becoming normal.
What I have noticed is that God continues to stretch me. So, where I once had faith for God providing me with $10 when I needed it, I now have been stretched to believe he can provide me with $1000's.
I expect in the future there will be even more stretching.
After all God's provision is limitless!

Money, money, money

Well I have often felt like there is an unwritten rule in blogging world that you must blog regularly, however I am not conforming to that...quite obviously!
Well I had some great news last week.....
I had been feeling quite anxious because I was running out of money to pay for my Bible school fees, I do have a part-time job in marketing, but I still needed more cash. I prayed and I felt God give me a nudge to give away $10, then a few days later I received the news that the rest of my fees are going to be covered!! How great is that!!!!
Living by faith can be scary at times, but it is amazing too.

Holla! (my new American phrase)

So, I have arrived back from Phili! It was such a good trip.
I enjoyed the drive down, I like roadtrips...I think they are fun. It would be fun to just jump in a car and take off across the states...(well I would need my drivers licence for that..!)
I really liked being in the USA...it felt like home.
The creative went SO well. Someting really amazing happened....
During worship on Sunday morning I did a painting, and when I had finished it, I decided to write a verse around the edge. After flicking through my Bible, and praying I felt a small nudge to write some of Isaiah 35 on it:

"Wilderness and desert will sing joyously,
the badlands will celebrate and flower-
Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom,
A syphony of song and color....
GOD's resplendent glory, fully on display.
GOD awesome, GOD majestic"

Now this is the cool bit...
The Pastor's of the church were on the last day of a 21 day fast for breakthrough, and at the beginning of the fast they had received a prophecy, saying that Isaiah 35 was for them, and that they would come out of the wilderness. Unbeknown to me, I wrote exactly the same thing on this painting, which I had already decided in my heart to give to them! ISN'T GOD COOL!!! :o)
I was so encouraged and amazed.

Other than that....everyone was so hospitable and fed us loads. I had a cheese steak, which Philidelphia is famous for. I think I could have stayed there longer.
At the border the US goverment took my (and the other students) picture and fingerprints...but in return I now have a 3 month green card which means I can come and go into the states as much as I like!!! Yayyyy! I am praying more trips open up soon ;o)

Well,all the heart students have returned from their 1 month outreach. It's good to see them, but weird too, as I had adjusted to life without them....well they will all be leaving again in a few days. The great thing is that quite a few of them are returing for other schools. Good times.
I had a renewed sense today of how blessed I am to be here - Thank you Lord.

TACF is building a new school building which will be ready by the end of March/beginning of April. However, the finances could do with a boost-pray for breakthrough! I am so looking forward to moving in...this builiding is the first School of Ministry 'home' that has been specifically built for that purpose, since the school started. It will be great...

This is my 100th Post!

Well I am off to Philidelphia (no, not the soft cheese, the city) for 4 days on a ministry trip.
I am organising the creative for this trip, which means that I am going to be doing some artwork during worship and overseeing the corporate stuff too. I'm excited to be stepping out into an area that I love.

Rabbit fur

Well today I started in marketing....what a blessing! I am getting to use some of the skills that I have, and it is providing for my course.
My assignment for the afternoon was to read the articles for the next issue of the magazine, and find some photos to complemnt them, In my search I came across a photo of myself....and yes I resisted the urge to amke myself world famous! Not that it would have worked...it was the back of my head anyway.
But seriously speaking....I have seen TACF from the outside and now the inside. I have seen the amazing impact that it has had internationally (esp England...for obvious reasons.)
When I am in that enviroment day after day it is easy to forget the amazing impact this church has around the globe. It has brought life to sooooo many people. It has changed my life for the better, that's for sure.

Other news... I am currently wearing a rabbit around my neck. Sounds rather gross doesn't it?! Well, I was given a scarf made from rabbit fur for Christmas,but I didn't actually wear it until today...but now I have discovered how warm it is. It has been like having my neck hugged all day!
Then there is the whole fur issue...well in England I never saw anything made of real fur...no-one really wears it. However over here it is more common...I am not surprised, with the weather conditions.
Is it morally wrong? Well I am not feeling particularly convicted at the moment..but I am open to change!

Laughs

Today was a fun day.
I went with a couple of my friends to Sherway mall (for those who are not from T.O...it's a posh shopping centre not to far from where I stay).
As per usual I gazed in wonder at the Swaroski crystal shop...I love all those sparkly things!
There were some funny moments...like when my friend Kevin and I were walking past a shop that had a photo of some rather bare ladies in it, and wanting to protect his eyes I shouted 'look at me, look at me!'...it must have sounded like I had a major ego problem to any onlookers!!
Then at the end of the day Sara, Kevin and I were walking around the outside of the mall trying to find the bus staion...but we got a bit lost, so to amuse ourselves we played a game where you have to make up a spontaneous story, a line at a time..and it has to rhyme. You should try it...the more ridiculous, the better it is! Then we saw the bus and started running for it...except I was wearing my big chunky furry boots and I felt more like I was waddling! It was quite hilarious! Then when I got to the bus my legs felt like jelly...I think I need to work out more.
Today I bought my favourite shower gel ('Oceanus' from the Body Shop), super duper shampoo and conditioner ('Brilliant Brunette'-reccomended for all those brown haired people out there), cute socks from Gap, and had dinner out..and managed not to pay for any of it! This was not by a process of manipulation..but by people just blessing me....the truth is that my heavenly Daddy wants to bless me (and you). He constantly surprises me with His goodness :o)

January

Yes, it's been a while.
Life has been intense recently.

I heard this amazing quote yesterday that just keeps going round in my head.

WE WANT TO WORK FROM APPROVAL, INSTEAD OF FOR APPROVAL

This is just so true. It is a much happier place to be in knowing that we are loved before we do anything.