Highs and lows...

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted here - or any of my blogs for that matter. There has been lots going on, some good, some bad......and for a time I was so pre-occupied with the bad going on around me I lost my focus, I took my eyes off God and couldn't see the blessings that were falling around me.

Luckily I have some very good friends who noticed I wasn't quite right (no matter how hard I tried to make everything look normal) and they pestered me and popped round until I shared......why do we hang onto things, when every time we share we realise it is so much better to not face it alone???

I had reached burnout and was exhausted and just wanted to run away and hide, but there is nowhere I can hide from God.......He was with me every step, giving me scripture to read, showing His mercy and grace and giving me permission to stop....."Stop and take rest in me......look to me, not the problems and I will lead through the darkness"........

I have taken some time out from some things and have taken some time to do things that I enjoy, things that had been missing from my life for almost a year.......scrapbooking, knitting, and my new craze - quilting!!!! And I'm starting a fab new bible study by Beth Moore called Jesus The One and Only which I'm sooo looking forward to........

Amazing.......

God is amazing.......I see that wherever I look. In everything Charley does or says, I see God shining through her, when I look at my friends I see God looking back at me........when I read my bible I hear God talking to me, when I pray He speaks to me.......he is everywhere and in everything.......

But the most amazing place I see Him is in me........sometimes I find it hard to link the person I am now, to the person I was before.........before I was all anger & hatred, bitterness, sarcasm, selfishness..........but now I am more generous, patient, forgiving and loving - and it's all God. I could never have made those changes if God hadn't changed me.......Amazing!!!!!

In true L.A. style..........

........us girlies went to a mall and had a pedicure and a new set of nails put on last night.........so our hands and feet are looking beautiful even if the rest of us is looking a bit pink!!!!!!!!

It is far too hot to sit out by the pool today so I think it will have to be yet another shopping trip - YAY!!!!!!

We have changed our holiday plans.........we are checking out of LA on Monday and driving to Las Vegas a few days early. We are booked into the MGM Grand on Monday and then on Thursday we will move to the Wynn, so a few extra days in Vegas to shop, soak up the sun and explore.......

Now some news from Loz....

HEY fellow sussex's...

Yes your right in hearing that my fellow pasty white body has now turned a very painful pink!!!... unfortunate but true, but im surviving in the wondereful hands of the moreton fords, with doctor Chaz creaming me up every hour or so!

However a little pinkness is a small price to pay for the great time i'm having out here, Ive still got to go shopping for all your wishes,

hopefully you got my bebo message i sent ben to all of u guys, if not ask him to show u!

Hoep u all are well,, can't wait to see the red carpet in the hall way!!

Lots of love to u all, miss u very much..

Lozzie xxxxxxxx

Julie Woo........check out my other blog too.... World Of Scraps

Hello from Beverly Hills

Wow.....I didn't realise just how much I needed a holiday. I am enjoying the rest and the sunshine - it is gloriously hot here!!!!

We have been busy but just not having to worry about housework or cooking or food shopping etc makes all the difference.......day 1 we went to Hollywood and some shopping, day 2 we wnt to Universal, I can thoroughly recommend the VIP tour, it was a full on day but we loved every minute of it and of course did some shopping, day 3 we left the girls at the hotel - they wanted to work on their tan, and I got Ross to drive me to a quilting shop where I tried my hardest to buy as much gorgeous fabric as I could......yesterday we went to SeaWorld, it was fun but extremely hot so we came home early, drained of energy and went and refreshed ourselves by the pool.

Today we went to The Mosaic Church, they meet in 4 places, one of them around the corner to our hotel, but Erwin McManus was preaching at the one in Pasadena, so we took a drive up there to hear him - Rico, he was awesome, you have got to come out here and see this guy for real........Pasadena is lovely, it has a beautiful backdrop of mountains, is very pretty, but also very hot as it is inland from Beverly Hills........the preach was awesome and we had a quick chat with Erwin afterwards, such a lovely guy........

Ross and the girls are out by the pool, soaking up the last few hours of sun, and I am meant to be surfing the net looking for a bowling alley, 'cos the girls want to go bowling tonight. Better get on with it and I'll be back soon......

Holiday time.....

Tomorrow we are off on our holiday. Me, Ross, Chaz and Lauren (from church) are off to Los Angeles and Las Vegas. We are looking forward to a great time together, some great times with God, theme parks, sunbathing, swimming, shopping and most of all relaxing and unwinding.

We have 3 different Sundays planned, the first Sunday we will be going to The Mosaic Church, the second Sunday we are going to House of Blues Gospel Brunch and the third Sunday we are going to International Church of Las Vegas.

There is a heatwave in California and Vegas is currently running at approx 110*......it will be so nice to feel the warmth of the sun on us and get away from all the rain we've been having.

We will be keeping in touch, through the blog........now I'd better start packing, changing the beds, housework, laundry........but first I think I'll pop out for a quick coffee with my friend Heather........see you soon.

Praise God.......

It's one year to the day that my darling Nanny died. My Nan was one of the good ones and has left an ache that on some days I can't ignore. I miss so much about her but I know she is in Heaven with God having a ball.....this time last year, I had not long received the phone call to say she had gone and I went out into the garden to speak to God. I asked him to let me know that she was with Him. God spoke to me and told me to read Psalm 15......and there was my answer. Psalm 15 described my Nan perfectly......

1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart

3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,

4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,

5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

Thank you Lord. Your words soothe my pain and hurt......always.

An awesome God...

Back in February, me and Ross started looking at houses. There is nothing wrong with our current house and it has served us well and we have put it to good use and been able to bless others through this house, but we felt that if we had a bit more space, we would be able to use the house to bless more people. So we started looking for a larger house. We found a great house but it was out of our budget......we put in an offer of what we could afford and then prayed and left it with God. Yes, we wanted to live there, but deep down we just wanted to be where God wanted us to be.....and if we were to have that house we prayed that would accept our offer. They did - our offer was accepted. We were asked if we could be flexible about moving dates until the owner found somewhere else to live, and we agreed. Since then nothing has happened, and just recently I started to wonder if I really did want to move.....it had gone on so long that I forgot why I wanted to move and what I loved about the new house.

On Monday, I prayed again about the house - I have to admit, it had gone off my prayer list over the last 4-6 weeks, but Monday morning, I asked God to show me very clearly this week, why I wanted to move, whether I still wanted to move and if He did want us to move to make something happen. While driving my car on Monday past the end of the road where the house is, I just knew that I wanted to be there, in that house, the feeling was very strong. On Tuesday, God brought something to my door which reminded me of one of the strong reasons why we wanted to move in the first place. On Tuesday evening, during housegroup we all prayed that the situation would resolve itself and so today after I got home from my bible study, I received a phone call from the estate agents........the owner has put an offer in on a house he likes with a view to completing in August (which was when we wanted to move) but if his offer wasn't accepted, he has said that he will move out and rent somewhere so we can complete in August, because he only wants to sell the house to us........how awesome is that????

I know I shouldn't be surprised when God moves like this, but I am delighted to say that God does surprise me......and I'm so glad he does. Giving our lives over to God, following Him and only Him is huge, but the journey is so fulfilling. There is nowhere else I'd like to be. I love my life and I love my God.

Just do it.......

Why is it, that when God shows an area of our life that needs our attention, we try to avoid doing what needs doing??? Why do we think we can outwait God??? Why does it take sooo long to realise that when God wants you to address something - he wants you to address it and he will wait until you have addressed it??? Wouldn't I grow quicker if I just did what needed to be done???

When God shows me something that needs work, can I really think that by procrasting, ignoring, avoiding, debating it will let me off the hook? If God shows me something that needs attention, then it needs attention....and the quicker I get it done the less painful I can make it for myself. I can take years playing at sorting something out, going through lots of heartache, taking steps forward but also taking some steps backwards and not really moving forward at all - OR I can accept that God knows when and what needs to be looked at and 'just do it'.........because God won't let you leave it, God will wait and wait and wait until you realise that He isn't going away and neither is the issue. So I can take years taking a few small steps or I can take a deep breath, be obedient and push on through and be triumphant.

When you see it written down, it is so obvious isn't it??? So I'm going to adopt that as my personal motto.......Just Do It........lets see if I go through less heartache and grow quicker

Strongholds......

...steal our freedom.
...end up holding us captive.
...are our hiding places.
...pretend to give us something we feel we must have (aid, comfort, protection)

I have a huge stronghold on my life. Built over many years, because I thought it was protecting me, but all too late I realise I am it's prisoner. I want it gone, I hate it being there......but at the same time I like to hide in that place sometimes, where I think I'm safe. On days when I feel strong, I shout out against it......."Go away, leave me alone, I'm not going to believe in you anymore...." I wonder why I think shouting at the tower of bricks I've built around myself, cemented in place over years and years, will suddenly fall away because I've said I don't want it there anymore. It can't happen that way - and it won't happen that way. There is only one way to demolish my stronghold, and that way is with God. After my bible study today, I had this picture about me and my stronghold and I'd like to share...

Imagine a narrow tower thats been built around you, tall and strong. Every brick has it's own reason for being placed in that tower, 'pain', 'hurt', 'lies', 'deceit', 'withdrawal', 'loneliness', 'violence', 'adandonment'....each one supporting the surrounding bricks....and giving every other brick strength to stay in place.
Now picture how dark and cold it is living in that tower. If you're lucky, once a day, when the sun is directly overhead, warmth and light will reach you in the tower, and you will feel good......but what about the days when there are clouds in the sky. Weak light and little warmth might reach you, but it might not, life isn't so good then. So you decide to break out. You chip away at one of the bricks, maybe you choose 'lies', you loosen it enough that you can poke it out - success!!! You can now see out and feel some warm air close to the hole. Clean air smells so good, so good that you want more of it, so you take out another brick, it doesn't matter which one as you are determined to break out. Eventually, you make a hole big enough to step out of the tower. You think you've made it, on the floor you see the broken bricks of 'pain' 'hurt' 'lies' 'deceit' etc., but you don't look back at the tower and see more of those bricks still standing tall. You feel triumphant and for a while you enjoy your freedom. You enjoy the warmth of the sun, life feels great.
Then, your old enemy 'insecurity' shows up again.......you start to look for somewhere to hide. There is your tower, just waiting. There may be a gaping hole in the side, but when you pop your head back inside you can see there are still shadows to hide amongst.....and it's so easy to climb back in. After a while you may chose to break open another hole when you feel strong enough, or you may keep using the original one to access your freedom. The point is this though, we don't want to just make holes in our towers. We want, and need, to demolish them once and for all, so there is nowhere to return to. We don't have the strength to knock out every brick, let alone crush them into dust - but God does. Give Him your all, bare your soul to Him and He will give you HIS all - His strength, power, love, encouragement, rest, peace......and His victory.
What happens then, if 'insecurity' shows up again??? You may look round for your tower, out of habit, but you will see there is nowhere to turn but God. God is our new tower - not to hide in, but our tower of strength and truth to stand upon and stare down 'insecurity' until it shrinks away. And never again will we have to go back into the dark.

My Lifesong......

I have been listening to Casting Crowns "Lifesong" album.........and one song that seems to be "my" song is "And Now My Lifesong Sings"..........I absolutely adore this song, it just seems to sum me and my life up completely.........

Hear it here....

Improve your blog month

I admit it.........I'm not very technical when it comes to pc's. Oh I can use them to chat to people on forums and shop online and send emails but anything more than that and I'm stumped, but I came across this great site which is helping peeps to improve their blog this month........sounds right up my street so check out the details here.......

Breaking Free......

I am currently in the midst of a fantastic bible study called Breaking Free by Beth Moore.........so many, many things have been revealed to me along the way but yesterday was the most amazing part so far.

We have been discussing the potter and the clay and how God has the right to rule and that God's rule is right. We just have to be obedient to that rule. Beth Moore then goes on to describe a picture........

Imagine going to heaven and standing by God as He lovingly shows you the calendar of His plan for your earthly life. It begins with the day you are born. Once you received Christ as Saviour, everyday that follows is outlined in red. You see footprints walking through each day of each week of your life. On many of the days, two sets of footprints appear. You inquire: "Father, are those my footprints on the calendar every day and is the second set of footprints when you joined me?"
He answers, "No, My precious Child. The consistent footprints on your calendar are Mine. The second set of footprints are when you joined Me."
"Where were You going, Father?"
"To the destiny I planned for you, hoping you'd follow."
"But, Father, where are my footprints all those times?"
He answers, "Sometimes you went back to look at old resentments and habits while I was still going forward, hoping you'd join Me. Sometimes, you departed from My path and chose your own calendar instead. Other times, your footprints can even be seen on another person's calendar because you thought you liked their plan better. At other times, you simply stopped because you would not let go of something you could not take to the next day."
"But Father, we ended up OK even if I didn't walk withYou everyday, didn't we?"
He holds you close and smiles, "Yes, Child, we ended up OK. But, you see, Ok was never what I had in mind for you."
"Father, what are those golden treasure boxes on certain days?"
"Blessings, My child, I had for you along the way. Those that are open are those you received. Those still closed were days you did not walk with Me."

How awesome is that.......it really stirred me up and has prompted me to try my hardest to be obedient and join God on my calendar every single moment of every day.

Blessings to you all.

Challenging times.....

Well the last 2-3 weeks have been a challenge. I got over my flu, but have since had an ear infection, an abscess in my ear, a burst ear drum and no hearing in that ear. The pain has been intense, not to mention the dizziness and nausea and I have found it hard enough to just get through the day let alone be able to study or spend time with God. But it has been a period when I have had to press into God more than usual, so you understand why I think it's been challenging........

The great news is that God has answered many prayers concerning my dear friend Helen - a buyer was found for her house, she found a house to buy straight away, the children loved it, her offer was accepted along with a long snagging list of things Helen wants the current owner to put right.........it can only be God at work. I have also been challenged by God about where I shall serve him in the future...........some of it's scary, some of it seems completely out of my reach, and some of it is what's been on my heart for a while but still out of my comfort zone, but the one thing I am sure about is that I know and trust God to lead me on the right path for me and my family.

I have been reading a book by Joyce Meyer called 'Do It Afraid'.........it is fantastic and really makes you look at things differently. One of the great things she has said is that it's not wrong to be afraid, but it is wrong to give in to the fear and run away from the path God has set out for us..........I've read it, agreed with it and now I have to put it into action.........I don't want to jump in and tell you all what I have been challenged about, as I know I have to spend a lot more time with God making sure I have heard right and I also have to share with my family and see how they feel about things too.

So I welcome the next few weeks and whatever they may bring...........however scary that may make me feel.

Wow.....

So much can happen in a few weeks.........firstly, this has been a sick household. I got flu, very suddenly while Helen was visiting us. The day I got struck down with it was Pancake Day and of course we were hosting a pancake party that night - so luckily Helen was here and spent the evening flipping pancakes with Ross. All I was good for was to stay curled up on the armchair under a blanket. Helen left the next morning and I went to bed, and couldn't emerge for 3 days. Just as I was starting to feel a bit better, ross and Charley went down with it - they were both off work and school for a few days, but we are all slowly recovering........and we need to, Ross and myself are cooking for newcomers at church on Sunday, so we have to cook a meal for 50 or so peeps, so glad it was last week we were sick and not this one!!!!!

The other exciting thing to happen is that our offer on a house we both fell in love with has been accepted. We both viewed this house, loved it and put in a very low offer (because that was all we could stretch to). We never thought it would be accepted as the house had only been on the market for a week, and our offer was so low that we thought they'd just laugh it off, but we prayed and asked God that if this was he the house he wanted us to be in, he would give it to us for the price we stated and not a penny more. I also prayed that if the house was to be ours, it would be taken off the market and no more viewings allowed on it so less chance of being gazumped. Well last friday the estate agent rang, said our offer was accepted and it had been removed from the market and no one else was going to see it. How clearly did God speak to us??? There is still a long way to go, surveys etc., but we really feel this is where God wants us to be and we remain faithful that God will bring it about to completion.

It looks to be an exciting season coming up for us, some things we wanted to do have already started and there are a whole host of other things we want to get started on, but all in God's timing, not ours.........

It all starts with love....

I discovered an amazing site today Faith Lifts. Todays entry really spoke to me as I have been guilty of not "hearing them"........I never want to come home at the end of the day and know that I chose not to hear them..........I never want to come home and realise that I chose not to reveal God's love to anyone else, that I chose to pass them by..........

Are you going to hear them this week???

Amazing......

How amazing is God??? I have never been able to imagine just how great, how big, how amazing God is........He is just too awesome to comprehend.........always faithful, always loving, always there.

And sometimes He takes you completely by surprise..........yesterday morning while I was spending some time with God, I got just a glimpse of how huge His love for me is..........I had been thanking God for the massive gift He gave me - His son Jesus dying on the cross for me - and knew I would never really fathom just how big that was, when God showed me kneeling at the foot of the cross. I had my head bowed when I heard "Look"..........I lifted my head and looked up towards Jesus on the cross and I was completely overwhelmed.........I had expected to look up and see Jesus, I thought I had an idea how big the cross would be and that Jesus, would be a regular guy size on the cross...........was I wrong??? As I looked up what I saw was an immensely huge cross, it stretched so far up into the sky and stretched so wide that I couldn't see the top or the edges of it..........it took my breath away - it was HUGE!!!!! And on the cross was Jesus, he was huge too, this great man, so big in all things...........love, forgiveness, grace, gentleness, kindness............so big and great and yet, he laid down his life for me - little old me............

Like I said, it was only a glimpse, I don't think I have the comprehension to deal with anymore than a glimpse, but a glimpse that was so powerful that all I could think was 'How can I not honour and serve Him all my life???'

I love it when god chooses to reveal things to me...........they usually leave me overwhelmed and weeping, but I wouldn't miss them for anything.

Forgiveness....

.....can be such a hard thing. Especially when it involves hurt & broken friendships.

I will be able to forgive, but for today I need to grieve over friendships lost and deal with the pain that has been inflicted.

Gods love will heal me and his grace will carry me through.

A very sad day today.

Growth......

This year has started amazingly. As I've said before, I've really felt God speaking to us about 'growth and stepping up'...........me and Ross have taken on some new things and are really excited about them. We have taken over the coffee at church on Sundays, we want to create a nice environment where people want to come and sit and have coffee and chat before the service starts. It's been going very well for the last few weeks and we have had lots of great feedback and lots of offers for help - we are trying to build a team who are willing to serve and enjoy chatting, serving and most importantly washing up!!!!!

The other area where we felt God challenging us was in starting up our own housegroup. We discussed it with Mark, our pastor, asked a few people from church if they would like to join us and I'm really excited to let you know that our first meeting is on Tuesday. We have a good core of people to start the group and are praying that we can gather more and more people into the group.

We have just finished a week of prayer, in which God spoke to me very clearly about a few issues. I have been really praying that God will tell me what direction he wants to lead me in. I'm so excited by where I'm going, there will be lots of hard work and some courses to go on, but I'm ready for the challenge. I will reveal more as it all unfolds.

I don't usually make New year Resolutions but this year I am determined to allow God to direct every aspect of my life. My resolution is to serve God wholly with everything I have. This is going to be a fantastic year!!!