Well...I've never really been a huge fan of working. I like playing. Lots of free time to sit and read my favorite books (and a new one every now and again) to watch a good movie, talk with a good friend, or just sit quietly and listen.
But work, too, has its great opportunities for growth, fun and enjoyment.
I have worked since 8 this morning, it is now almost 4 in the afternoon. Probably one of the longer days I have worked in the recent past. And, as exhausting as it has been, it was a great day.
My feet hurt.
But I used the pain to remind me of how little and insignificant it is compared to what many other people suffer on a daily basis, what Jesus suffered on the cross, and what I will probably suffer in my future.
I am tired.
But I said, "there is time to be tired later." I did not want to slough off what I needed to do today, I wanted to make sure Capernwray Hall was ready for the ladies of this weekends ladies conference to enjoy.
I leave tomorrow.
But I did not want to use that as an excuse for not doing my job. I wanted to do the very best that I could do for the Glory of God.
This is a little bit of a "go Beau" post, but this is a big milestone for me. I am learning to no longer do things for myself, I do things for God. And because of that, I do things better. I do things more efficiently. I do things without complaining as much. I do things, and I enjoy them more because I KNOW God is enjoying the praise I am giving him in my actions and thoughts.
One thing I have learned in my time here at Capernwray, in lectures, in my travels, in my quiet times, God is everywhere. He is in the small things, the big things, the ordinary things, the extraordinary things, the new things, the old things, the sad things and the happy things.
God is everywhere!
Friday 9 April 2010
Thursday 8 April 2010
The power of a picture.
A picture is worth a thousand words...
We have all heard that one, in disney movies, from our parents, on the news, and in magazines. It has been proven over and over by tabloids across the planet. Pictures have the power to ruin lives, end jobs, relationships and to devastate.
They also have the power to evoke real strong and raw emotion. Emotion that is connected to the memory of the first look at that picture. Emotion that will forever be in my heart, and mind.
The background on my beautiful MacBook Pro changes every minute. I have hundreds of pictures in a folder that are prepared to come up next. I don't know what connections go on inside this hunk of technology to make them come up or what decides which one comes on next, but sometimes, most times, the picture that comes up next is the perfect picture to me.
God is even in technology. He is everywhere!
Pictures of The first term of Capernwray pop up...Kinsley and I, on a bench together at Windermear Lake...Kyia, Amy, Brady, Libby and I on the tower the very first week of winter school, posing like crazy people...
Pictures of home...Rahne and I at my Graduation Party...Mom, Dad, Carlie and I at the airport in Denver the day I left for school...and so many pictures of this past summer...tubing with Brandon...Carlie on the jet ski...
Pictures so close to my heart they might actually be living breathing things. They dance into my cornea's and awaken so many different thoughts, emotions and feelings inside me it is so hard to remember that they are just a moment caught in time, a moment that is gone, forever never to be retrieved...a moment that can only be remembered through a picture. But are they something more? That moment is also in my memory, a thing more powerful sometimes than anything I have ever witnessed.
But that is a whole other subject...
Read With Me! cont'd
Matthew 16
v. 24 and following
These are some of the hardest verses I have read. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
Wow. How powerful is that? We must take up our cross...what does that mean? In Bible times it was very literal. As followers of Christ the disciples were risking their lives to follow him. If they were charged and ordered to be crucified they would have to literally take up and carry their cross up to the crucifixion site. But what about today...I myself haven't heard of anyone being crucified in Alliance...well ever really. What does it mean to take up our cross for Jesus sake? We must still commit to Jesus whole heartedly, and maybe sometimes that might mean we lose friends, lose position, lose family even, and yes we might still lose our life. Many people die for their faith every day. In the western world we do not see this as much as in the east, where persecution is real and harsh. But it still is not an easy way out to be a follower of Christ.
"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" (v.26) This is now a song with the lyrics "I don't wanna gain the whole world and lose my soul" which is very true. So many things tell us to go out their and try and conquer the world, make all the money you can and do it any way, lie...steal...cheat your way to the top. We see many of the super rich charged with bribery, embezzlement and so many other illegal things that got them their wealth and luxury. But if we gain the whole world and lose our souls, in the end was it worth it? Absolutely not.
Matthew 17
How strong is faith?
v. 21
"I tell you if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. nothing will be impossible for you."
That is AWESOME completely and utterly awesome! Faith is our greatest asset, our most powerful weapon, our biggest defender! Faith that can move mountains.
v. 24 and following
These are some of the hardest verses I have read. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
Wow. How powerful is that? We must take up our cross...what does that mean? In Bible times it was very literal. As followers of Christ the disciples were risking their lives to follow him. If they were charged and ordered to be crucified they would have to literally take up and carry their cross up to the crucifixion site. But what about today...I myself haven't heard of anyone being crucified in Alliance...well ever really. What does it mean to take up our cross for Jesus sake? We must still commit to Jesus whole heartedly, and maybe sometimes that might mean we lose friends, lose position, lose family even, and yes we might still lose our life. Many people die for their faith every day. In the western world we do not see this as much as in the east, where persecution is real and harsh. But it still is not an easy way out to be a follower of Christ.
"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" (v.26) This is now a song with the lyrics "I don't wanna gain the whole world and lose my soul" which is very true. So many things tell us to go out their and try and conquer the world, make all the money you can and do it any way, lie...steal...cheat your way to the top. We see many of the super rich charged with bribery, embezzlement and so many other illegal things that got them their wealth and luxury. But if we gain the whole world and lose our souls, in the end was it worth it? Absolutely not.
Matthew 17
How strong is faith?
v. 21
"I tell you if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. nothing will be impossible for you."
That is AWESOME completely and utterly awesome! Faith is our greatest asset, our most powerful weapon, our biggest defender! Faith that can move mountains.
Wednesday 7 April 2010
one book, two friends, one beautiful afternoon…
Quincie and I decided to head up to the “Sherwood Forest” today and take along Q’s copy of “Robin Hood and His Band of Merrie Men” We spent the afternoon reading aloud to each other, and talking about things on our hearts. I even read some poetry out of a new poetry book I got.
A perfect afternoon spent with a best friend.
the little things, are what make the days so wonderful in this magical
Read With Me! ~Matthew~
It is Spring School time, and that means it is time for the New Testament!
And what does the New Testament start with? Matthew that's right! So I'll blog about what I am reading in the great book of Matthew as I go through it, and I'm going to attempt to keep this going throughout the whole New Testament! Good luck to me!
Matthew 1 and 2
Jesus! Welcome to the world. What a great opening to the New Testament, the arrival of our Savior. What a humble beginning. A barn, a manger, some hay, and smelly animals for the King of Kings? What is wrong with this picture....nothing...it's perfect and beautiful.
Matthew 4
Alright, who's idea was it for Jesus to be lead into the desert and have to starve for forty days? What is this, it's crazy. And then, after he has been fasting for FORTY DAYS, in case you missed that, he is tempted by the devil himself. The thing that makes me laugh and wonder is v. 2 "AFter fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry" (speaking of Jesus) He was hungry? Really? You think? If this was the 'Beau Standard Version" this verse would say something like, "after fasting FOREVER Jesus ABSOLUTELY, UTTERLY, COMPLETELY AND INCANDESCENTLY FAMISHED, STARVING AND READY TO EAT AN ENTIRE HORSE, COW, DOG, SHEEP, CHICKEN, WALLABEE, WHALE, ELEPHANT, AND ANYTHING ELSE IN THE GENERAL VICINITY. That is what my version would say.
I will admit, on an empty stomach, I can very tempted to fall into the sin of gluttony, and other things, and I get hungry after a few hours! But Jesus, he is the man! He does not give in to satan's temptations. He uses the power of the Scriptures to get through the temptation.
v.4
"Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word taht comes from the mouth of God.'"
Jesus rebukes the devil with Scripture! I powerful and awesome is that! I can do that to. When I am tempted, I can use Scripture to remind me, and Satan, of the power I have over him.
Twice more the devil tempts Jesus, and twice more Jesus tells satan what is up with Scripture.
Matthew 5
The Sermon on the Mount.
Blessed...Well I for one want to be blessed so I am going to start working on being those things that Jesus said get you blessed! The poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted.
Alright, I'm going to be blessed. I am going to hunger and thirst for righteousness, be merciful and pure in spirit, all of those things. I want to be blessed, desire to be blessed by the Lord. If Jesus said this is how it is done, then that is how it is done!
Jesus goes on to talk about Salt and Light. I am the salt of the earth, Jesus said. I did a short message on our 'lights' for Jesus while on Ten Day Outreach in Morley. I talked about how we sometimes hide our lights, and then we also allow other things or people to hide our lights, and that if we are going to be lights for Jesus we much get rid of all those things and let our light shine bright! There are so many songs that come into my head when I think of my light for Jesus..."This Little Light of Mine," "Go Light Your World" "Shine (my favorite Newsboys song) so many wonderful songs talking about bringing our lights into a dark world!
Love your enemies? What? Even though I've heard it a thousand times I still have a hard time digesting it. Love my enemies, and pray for those who persecute me. OK...so I need to love the people who have hurt me, those who have never been my friend, those who have spoken about me behind my back. I will pray for them, I will work on loving them...I may not want to be best friends with them, but pray and love I will do.
This is a hard one, the human nature in me wants to just hurt them back so much, to never speak to or of them for the rest of my life and to tell everyone what they did to me. But, no, I can't do that, I will show them Jesus through my love and compassion towards them.
Matthew 6
Prayer...
This past six months at Capernwray has given me time to really work on my prayer life and quiet time spent with God. What a gift that has been! I have learned the true value and utter power there is in prayer. So many of my prayers have been answered during my time here, and I am positive more will be answered. I have learned that the motivation of my prayers is important. Is it to get somethig out of it? Or is it to spend time with God? Worship is an integral part of prayer, the biggest part of prayer I think. It is a time spent in direct communion with the most high God! The most high God who wants and desires to listen to me of all people! Now isn't that amazing.
Fasting...
Hmmm...I like food. But I have done a few fasts. I survived amazingly, but I am not sure if they were the correct way to fast. This one is still a new one to me...I'll keep you updated. I just like food...a lot.
Matthew 12
I do not want to be like the Pharisees, who knew what the Scriptures said, but did not understand the true meaning of them. I want to understand that God spoken meaning contained in the words on the pages of my Bible.
Matthew 13 verses 44-46
I love these few short passages about what the Kingdom of heaven is and how it is obtained. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. And when man discovers the treasure he goes and SELLS EVERYTHING so that he can buy that field and have the treausre. What I find great is that, he doens't just take the treasure, there is no 'finder's keepers' the man goes and sells all his worldly possesions so that he can buy the field and therefore OWN the treasure also. It is his officially after he has bought the field. The best thing is, heaven in actuality is a gift to us as long as we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross and in his resurrection.
to be continued...
And what does the New Testament start with? Matthew that's right! So I'll blog about what I am reading in the great book of Matthew as I go through it, and I'm going to attempt to keep this going throughout the whole New Testament! Good luck to me!
Matthew 1 and 2
Jesus! Welcome to the world. What a great opening to the New Testament, the arrival of our Savior. What a humble beginning. A barn, a manger, some hay, and smelly animals for the King of Kings? What is wrong with this picture....nothing...it's perfect and beautiful.
Matthew 4
Alright, who's idea was it for Jesus to be lead into the desert and have to starve for forty days? What is this, it's crazy. And then, after he has been fasting for FORTY DAYS, in case you missed that, he is tempted by the devil himself. The thing that makes me laugh and wonder is v. 2 "AFter fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry" (speaking of Jesus) He was hungry? Really? You think? If this was the 'Beau Standard Version" this verse would say something like, "after fasting FOREVER Jesus ABSOLUTELY, UTTERLY, COMPLETELY AND INCANDESCENTLY FAMISHED, STARVING AND READY TO EAT AN ENTIRE HORSE, COW, DOG, SHEEP, CHICKEN, WALLABEE, WHALE, ELEPHANT, AND ANYTHING ELSE IN THE GENERAL VICINITY. That is what my version would say.
I will admit, on an empty stomach, I can very tempted to fall into the sin of gluttony, and other things, and I get hungry after a few hours! But Jesus, he is the man! He does not give in to satan's temptations. He uses the power of the Scriptures to get through the temptation.
v.4
"Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word taht comes from the mouth of God.'"
Jesus rebukes the devil with Scripture! I powerful and awesome is that! I can do that to. When I am tempted, I can use Scripture to remind me, and Satan, of the power I have over him.
Twice more the devil tempts Jesus, and twice more Jesus tells satan what is up with Scripture.
Matthew 5
The Sermon on the Mount.
Blessed...Well I for one want to be blessed so I am going to start working on being those things that Jesus said get you blessed! The poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted.
Alright, I'm going to be blessed. I am going to hunger and thirst for righteousness, be merciful and pure in spirit, all of those things. I want to be blessed, desire to be blessed by the Lord. If Jesus said this is how it is done, then that is how it is done!
Jesus goes on to talk about Salt and Light. I am the salt of the earth, Jesus said. I did a short message on our 'lights' for Jesus while on Ten Day Outreach in Morley. I talked about how we sometimes hide our lights, and then we also allow other things or people to hide our lights, and that if we are going to be lights for Jesus we much get rid of all those things and let our light shine bright! There are so many songs that come into my head when I think of my light for Jesus..."This Little Light of Mine," "Go Light Your World" "Shine (my favorite Newsboys song) so many wonderful songs talking about bringing our lights into a dark world!
Love your enemies? What? Even though I've heard it a thousand times I still have a hard time digesting it. Love my enemies, and pray for those who persecute me. OK...so I need to love the people who have hurt me, those who have never been my friend, those who have spoken about me behind my back. I will pray for them, I will work on loving them...I may not want to be best friends with them, but pray and love I will do.
This is a hard one, the human nature in me wants to just hurt them back so much, to never speak to or of them for the rest of my life and to tell everyone what they did to me. But, no, I can't do that, I will show them Jesus through my love and compassion towards them.
Matthew 6
Prayer...
This past six months at Capernwray has given me time to really work on my prayer life and quiet time spent with God. What a gift that has been! I have learned the true value and utter power there is in prayer. So many of my prayers have been answered during my time here, and I am positive more will be answered. I have learned that the motivation of my prayers is important. Is it to get somethig out of it? Or is it to spend time with God? Worship is an integral part of prayer, the biggest part of prayer I think. It is a time spent in direct communion with the most high God! The most high God who wants and desires to listen to me of all people! Now isn't that amazing.
Fasting...
Hmmm...I like food. But I have done a few fasts. I survived amazingly, but I am not sure if they were the correct way to fast. This one is still a new one to me...I'll keep you updated. I just like food...a lot.
Matthew 12
I do not want to be like the Pharisees, who knew what the Scriptures said, but did not understand the true meaning of them. I want to understand that God spoken meaning contained in the words on the pages of my Bible.
Matthew 13 verses 44-46
I love these few short passages about what the Kingdom of heaven is and how it is obtained. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. And when man discovers the treasure he goes and SELLS EVERYTHING so that he can buy that field and have the treausre. What I find great is that, he doens't just take the treasure, there is no 'finder's keepers' the man goes and sells all his worldly possesions so that he can buy the field and therefore OWN the treasure also. It is his officially after he has bought the field. The best thing is, heaven in actuality is a gift to us as long as we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross and in his resurrection.
to be continued...
I WILL
What do you do when your head is full of different ideas,,,
so many choices to make...
too many paths that one person can take?
What do you do when everything sounds like it will be the best thing in the world...
sounds like if you don't do this you will regret it forever...
sounds like God's calling on my life?
I just wish God would place a huge flashing billboard over the right path...
the right idea...
the right way...
the right job...
the right city...
the right person...
the right answer.
I believe in choices. We make choices. Yes God is all knowing, he knows what choice we made yesterday, what choice we made today and what choice we will make tomorrow, but we still have choices to make. There are so many choices. I want to make the best one, the one God has set before me to fulfill HIS will for my life. I want to be used by Him in incredible ways, in people's lives, in the world, at home. I want to join in with my friends ideas of building schools in Africa, in starting a youth center in England, in having a summer Ranch camp somewhere in Montana. I want to come up with my own amazing ideas to further the kingdom of heaven. I want to be involved in a church. I want to bring one person to Christ, I want to bring the whole world to Christ. I want to take the gospel to a people who have never heard it before. I want to bring Bible's to people who live where it is illegal to even speak the name of Jesus. I want to risk my life for God. He gave his son, what shouldn't i want to do for that?
There are so many things I want to do for God...what does he want me to do for Him?
But if I am living for God, what isn't done for Him? If my life is centered around Him, I am always a part of His plan, I am always following in His steps, listening to His voice, and following His will.
Why doesn't it always feel like that then?
Why, sometimes, does it feel like I'm a tiny little boat on a great big sea full of snapping turtles, killer sharks, and jelly fish just waiting to gobble me up? Then in a forest, set on fire, smoking me out, burning my heals as I run for life towards the Lord only to find He is still just over the next hill....just over the next hill...just over the next hill.
If I am going to live my life for God I better expect the sharks and jelly fish, I better expect the fire to be hot, to burn and to consume! But I KNOW it will never consume me! God is on my side, he has me hedged in on all sides. He is guiding, has been guiding me and will always be guiding me! I MUST rely on HIM! Always and forever.
Nothing more, nothing less.
I will pray...I will listen...I will read the Bible, discern what it has to speak to me. God will show me, in little pieces, the plan he has for me, and I will do my best to follow it. There will be times where I will get lost, where I will stray off the path set before me, where I will see a short cut that I think looks better, looks easier, more tantalizing than the one I am on, but even when I do wander off, when I do get lost, God will still be with me, will still be there speaking quietly into my ear telling me how to find His path again.
I WILL make the best choice, the one God has set before me to fulfill HIS will for my life. I WILL be used by Him in incredible ways, in people's lives, in the world, at home. I WILL join in with my friend's ideas of building schools in Africa, in starting a youth center in England, in having a summer Ranch camp somewhere in Montana. I WILL come up with my own amazing ideas to further the kingdom of heaven. I WILL be involved in a church. I WILL bring one person to Christ, I WILL TRY to bring the whole world to Christ. I WILL take the gospel to a people who have never heard it before. I WILL bring Bible's to people who live where it is illegal to even speak the name of Jesus. I WILL risk my life for God.
And I will be the best Christ follower I can be. The best Child of the one true God I can be. The best Christian I can be!!!
so many choices to make...
too many paths that one person can take?
What do you do when everything sounds like it will be the best thing in the world...
sounds like if you don't do this you will regret it forever...
sounds like God's calling on my life?
I just wish God would place a huge flashing billboard over the right path...
the right idea...
the right way...
the right job...
the right city...
the right person...
the right answer.
I believe in choices. We make choices. Yes God is all knowing, he knows what choice we made yesterday, what choice we made today and what choice we will make tomorrow, but we still have choices to make. There are so many choices. I want to make the best one, the one God has set before me to fulfill HIS will for my life. I want to be used by Him in incredible ways, in people's lives, in the world, at home. I want to join in with my friends ideas of building schools in Africa, in starting a youth center in England, in having a summer Ranch camp somewhere in Montana. I want to come up with my own amazing ideas to further the kingdom of heaven. I want to be involved in a church. I want to bring one person to Christ, I want to bring the whole world to Christ. I want to take the gospel to a people who have never heard it before. I want to bring Bible's to people who live where it is illegal to even speak the name of Jesus. I want to risk my life for God. He gave his son, what shouldn't i want to do for that?
There are so many things I want to do for God...what does he want me to do for Him?
But if I am living for God, what isn't done for Him? If my life is centered around Him, I am always a part of His plan, I am always following in His steps, listening to His voice, and following His will.
Why doesn't it always feel like that then?
Why, sometimes, does it feel like I'm a tiny little boat on a great big sea full of snapping turtles, killer sharks, and jelly fish just waiting to gobble me up? Then in a forest, set on fire, smoking me out, burning my heals as I run for life towards the Lord only to find He is still just over the next hill....just over the next hill...just over the next hill.
If I am going to live my life for God I better expect the sharks and jelly fish, I better expect the fire to be hot, to burn and to consume! But I KNOW it will never consume me! God is on my side, he has me hedged in on all sides. He is guiding, has been guiding me and will always be guiding me! I MUST rely on HIM! Always and forever.
Nothing more, nothing less.
I will pray...I will listen...I will read the Bible, discern what it has to speak to me. God will show me, in little pieces, the plan he has for me, and I will do my best to follow it. There will be times where I will get lost, where I will stray off the path set before me, where I will see a short cut that I think looks better, looks easier, more tantalizing than the one I am on, but even when I do wander off, when I do get lost, God will still be with me, will still be there speaking quietly into my ear telling me how to find His path again.
I WILL make the best choice, the one God has set before me to fulfill HIS will for my life. I WILL be used by Him in incredible ways, in people's lives, in the world, at home. I WILL join in with my friend's ideas of building schools in Africa, in starting a youth center in England, in having a summer Ranch camp somewhere in Montana. I WILL come up with my own amazing ideas to further the kingdom of heaven. I WILL be involved in a church. I WILL bring one person to Christ, I WILL TRY to bring the whole world to Christ. I WILL take the gospel to a people who have never heard it before. I WILL bring Bible's to people who live where it is illegal to even speak the name of Jesus. I WILL risk my life for God.
And I will be the best Christ follower I can be. The best Child of the one true God I can be. The best Christian I can be!!!
Tuesday 6 April 2010
London:
Friday 19 March.
Woke up at the butt crack of the English dawn to catch the 5:19 train from Carnforth to Lancaster and then the 5:35 to London Euston Station. Brad mom and I enjoyed the very quick train ride through the English countryside. Upon arriving in London, we caught the tube to King's Cross Station to make a quick stop by Platform 9 3/4 for the avid Harry fan in our traveling group (ME!) What a great thing to have a picture of. Then we got back on the tube to find our hotel near Victoria Station. As we exited the tube station we walked up into London and immediately in front of us was the Apollo Victoria Theatre where 'Wicked' is on stage! What a great thing to see since we already had tickets to see it the next day!
We found our hotel pretty quickly, it was just a short stroll, lugging by two backpacks and trying to make sure mom didn't get run over by a double decker on the first day ;) After dropping our stuff at the hotel, changing to a different room so we can feed our tech appetites, we headed back to Victoria to use the Tube once again. We headed to see Big Ben, Parliament, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's, the Globe Theatre and everything in between. What a wonderful day spent touring such a beautiful city! After our long day of walking, training, and tubing we made it back to the hotel, rested for an hour or so, booked rooms in Florence and such, then headed to dinner just across the street from our place. What a wonderful dinner. I had Wasabi Swordfish with veggies and rice, so delicious.
After that crazy day we slept soundly, and didn't wake up until 10 the next morning, even mom slept in! Saturday morning we headed to Harrods, just to see the mega department store, and get a little souvenir! We saw the Princess Diana memorial and Brad and I got our picture taken in front of the Emma Watson for Burberry poster! Dream come true! Then we tubed back to Victoria and headed to 'WICKED' :) The theatre foyer was lit with green light, filled with people of all shapes and nationalities, i spotted a man wearing my old Coogi sweater, and mom and I both enjoyed the Art Deco decorated wash rooms. What an awesome show! The first act alone was so awesome I could hardly believe that there was still a second part. The costumes, music, acting, and settings were beautiful and magical. At interval Brad headed to watch his boys, the Arsenal team, play West Ham (and win 2 -0) but before he left we decided to squeeze in another show, so we planned to meet at the evening showing of 'Billy Elliot.' Such a good choice! Although very different from Wicked, Billy Elliot was just as beautiful, with a heart wrenching plot, and a 12 year old boy lead, I was in awe the entire show with his talent, voice and dancing. The show featured ballet, tap, and just general hilariousness thrown in! What a perfect day! Today (21 March) mom and I said goodbye to Brad and headed to catch the Eurostar train to Paris!
Woke up at the butt crack of the English dawn to catch the 5:19 train from Carnforth to Lancaster and then the 5:35 to London Euston Station. Brad mom and I enjoyed the very quick train ride through the English countryside. Upon arriving in London, we caught the tube to King's Cross Station to make a quick stop by Platform 9 3/4 for the avid Harry fan in our traveling group (ME!) What a great thing to have a picture of. Then we got back on the tube to find our hotel near Victoria Station. As we exited the tube station we walked up into London and immediately in front of us was the Apollo Victoria Theatre where 'Wicked' is on stage! What a great thing to see since we already had tickets to see it the next day!
We found our hotel pretty quickly, it was just a short stroll, lugging by two backpacks and trying to make sure mom didn't get run over by a double decker on the first day ;) After dropping our stuff at the hotel, changing to a different room so we can feed our tech appetites, we headed back to Victoria to use the Tube once again. We headed to see Big Ben, Parliament, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Paul's, the Globe Theatre and everything in between. What a wonderful day spent touring such a beautiful city! After our long day of walking, training, and tubing we made it back to the hotel, rested for an hour or so, booked rooms in Florence and such, then headed to dinner just across the street from our place. What a wonderful dinner. I had Wasabi Swordfish with veggies and rice, so delicious.
After that crazy day we slept soundly, and didn't wake up until 10 the next morning, even mom slept in! Saturday morning we headed to Harrods, just to see the mega department store, and get a little souvenir! We saw the Princess Diana memorial and Brad and I got our picture taken in front of the Emma Watson for Burberry poster! Dream come true! Then we tubed back to Victoria and headed to 'WICKED' :) The theatre foyer was lit with green light, filled with people of all shapes and nationalities, i spotted a man wearing my old Coogi sweater, and mom and I both enjoyed the Art Deco decorated wash rooms. What an awesome show! The first act alone was so awesome I could hardly believe that there was still a second part. The costumes, music, acting, and settings were beautiful and magical. At interval Brad headed to watch his boys, the Arsenal team, play West Ham (and win 2 -0) but before he left we decided to squeeze in another show, so we planned to meet at the evening showing of 'Billy Elliot.' Such a good choice! Although very different from Wicked, Billy Elliot was just as beautiful, with a heart wrenching plot, and a 12 year old boy lead, I was in awe the entire show with his talent, voice and dancing. The show featured ballet, tap, and just general hilariousness thrown in! What a perfect day! Today (21 March) mom and I said goodbye to Brad and headed to catch the Eurostar train to Paris!
Jesus Teaches about Worry: Matthew 7:25-34
v. 25
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not he life more important than food, and the body more important then clothes?"
Do not worry about your life...
Ok.
Don't worry.
Easy enough?
HA, yeah right. I worry about my future, my career, university next year, tomorrow for crying out loud. No, I don't let worry run my life, but I'm not free of worry. Yes, my life is way more important than the food I put into it (although I really enjoy some of the food I put into my mouth) and my body is way more important than the clothes I put onto it (and yes, I do enjoy great clothes) But what about things that have a little more pull? What about things that have gravity in my life...college...a family...a job...money...and so many others.
v.33
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Seek first His kingdom. Seek first heaven, the abode of God and of the faithful after death, seek first the spiritual reign or authority of God (as my trusty mac dictionary put 'kingdom') So seek heaven, live as if I will be winging off to heaven tomorrow. Prepare for it, that glorious place of eternal worship of the Most High.
If I look forward to heaven, I can see how worry would slide right out of my vision and thought. But the moment I take my eyes down from their heavenly gaze, all that worry would wash in like Niagara Falls.
v. 34
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Hm. I never really thought of days having trouble, but I suppose, with us troublesome humans all up in the days grill, they would have a lot to trouble over. This verse makes sense, why worry about something that is coming no matter what I do, something that God already knows about, something that...yes...worries about itself, takes care of itself.
Worry causes wrinkles.
Worry causes sleepless nights.
Worry causes ulcers, heart attacks, and headaches.
Why worry.
It is now seeming to be a pretty legitimate question.
I love how the Bible makes me think, makes me question what I think, know, say is true. It is the greatest book I have ever read, and I'm not even done with it yet. What powerful messages are contained in its pages I have not even begun to skim the surface.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not he life more important than food, and the body more important then clothes?"
Do not worry about your life...
Ok.
Don't worry.
Easy enough?
HA, yeah right. I worry about my future, my career, university next year, tomorrow for crying out loud. No, I don't let worry run my life, but I'm not free of worry. Yes, my life is way more important than the food I put into it (although I really enjoy some of the food I put into my mouth) and my body is way more important than the clothes I put onto it (and yes, I do enjoy great clothes) But what about things that have a little more pull? What about things that have gravity in my life...college...a family...a job...money...and so many others.
v.33
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Seek first His kingdom. Seek first heaven, the abode of God and of the faithful after death, seek first the spiritual reign or authority of God (as my trusty mac dictionary put 'kingdom') So seek heaven, live as if I will be winging off to heaven tomorrow. Prepare for it, that glorious place of eternal worship of the Most High.
If I look forward to heaven, I can see how worry would slide right out of my vision and thought. But the moment I take my eyes down from their heavenly gaze, all that worry would wash in like Niagara Falls.
v. 34
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Hm. I never really thought of days having trouble, but I suppose, with us troublesome humans all up in the days grill, they would have a lot to trouble over. This verse makes sense, why worry about something that is coming no matter what I do, something that God already knows about, something that...yes...worries about itself, takes care of itself.
Worry causes wrinkles.
Worry causes sleepless nights.
Worry causes ulcers, heart attacks, and headaches.
Why worry.
It is now seeming to be a pretty legitimate question.
I love how the Bible makes me think, makes me question what I think, know, say is true. It is the greatest book I have ever read, and I'm not even done with it yet. What powerful messages are contained in its pages I have not even begun to skim the surface.
Monday 5 April 2010
Comfortably UNcomfortable
My life as a follower of Jesus Christ is not a comfortable one. I am told that I will have troubles I will be persecuted I will be uncfprtable. But when I am uncomfortable do I find comfort in it or do I rely on God in it? Am I comfortably uncomfortable? I am very nervous and scared to go to Africa in 25 days. I am continually reminding myself that I must rely on God in my insecurities. But where is the line which divides relying on God and being comfortable with my insecurities, if we are to be uncomfortable in our lives should we be glad when we are or should it make Us so sick to our stomachs we cannot help but throw ourselves into God’s arms.
Sunday 4 April 2010
it's not about bunnies...
…colorful eggs, marshmallow peeps, or the arrival of multiple family members. Easter is so much more than what is has commercially come to be known as. This holiday is to remember that our savior chose to die on a cross, a death he did not deserve, took on all of the world’s sin…
all of my sin…
so that no one else would need to die.
Jesus suffered at the hands of Caiphas, Pilate, and countless others who mocked him.
All for me…
All for you…
Being from home for this holiday has really made me sit back and look at the true reason we celebrate, not just to get another day off of school or work. But to remember what Jesus did for us.
What God gave to us.
We watched “The Passion of the Christ” last night. I haven’t watched it since it came out, however long ago that was. And I probably won’t watch it for some time again. But it is something to see how graphic the beatings Jesus went through were. It makes al the paintings I have ever seen of the crucifiction of Jesus seem like watered down version of nonsense. Jesus didn’t look angelic as he hung on the cross with a samll drop of blood from his brow or his side, a light breeze rustling his hair.
No.
He was beaten to a bloody pulp…
and all for me…
all for you.
All because Pilate had to apese an angry mob…
all because God sent Jesus for it…
all because Jesus CHOSE to.
But does the death of Jesus on the cross mean we have to go around wearing sackcloth, and mourning all the time?
NO!!!
Jesus is ALIVE!!!
That is the power of this holiday we call Easter.
Our savior conquered death, a cross, beatings, and the grave!!!!
I know my redeemer lives!
What a happy ending…
the perfect happy ending.
Happy Easter!
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