Christian on Campus

yesterday's gone ~ get over it ~ get on it today!

2007-03-10T13:15:00.000Z

Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you’ve broken
Don’t close your eyes, don’t close your eyes,
This is your life.
And today is all you’ve got now.
And today is all you’ll ever have.
Don’t close your eyes.

This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, is it everything you dreamed
that it would be when the world was younger,
and you had everything to lose?

Yesterday is a kid in the corner
Yesterday is dead and over.

This is your life, are you who you want to be?
This is your life, are you who you want to be?

'This is Your Life' ~ Lyrics by Switchfoot © 2003 Sony Music Entertainment Inc. / Sparrow Records ® taken from the ‘The Beautiful Letdown’ album

How does your garden grow? ~ ‘Letting’

2007-03-10T13:00:00.000Z

I heard a message at Christian Union on Wednesday which gave me a whole new insight into ‘letting’! ~ though that wasn’t actually the point of the message I found it fascinating!

Revelation ~ 'Letting' requires an action! We either allow something to happen or we don’t. The speaker on Wednesday likened it to vegetable patch with irrigation channels. There are little boards that can be lifted up to allow the water to flow in and out.

E.g. ~
“Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

We have the ability to let troubles, fears, or whatever else flow into our gardens. If that little board barrier is not down tight to the earth bad water will just flow in and spoil the crop. When it’s raised even a little the foul water can just seep in slowly and suddenly you’ve got a sick crop (in the bad sense!). So you have to not let it happen. Flippin’ revelation! Genius!

So I resolve to let my little veg patch be fed with good stuff not with bad. To (action word) LIFT the board to LET the bad stuff out, then close it tight down. Then lift up the other board to LET the good stuff (God's word) flow in. Then the garden will flourish.

LET the bad stuff out and the good stuff in.

Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)
11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

~ sow ~ water ~ reap ~

awesomeness ~ will post soon ~ mwah
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~ Scripture fix ~ friendship ~

2007-03-06T15:30:00.000Z

"Everytime I think of you, I give thanks to my God."

Philippians 1:3

"There are 'friends' who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother."

Proverbs 18:24

"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend shapens a friend."

Proverbs 27:17

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

Matthew 25:21

2007-03-06T15:13:00.000Z

"How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
I can't even count them;
They outnumber the grains of sand!"

Psalm 139:17

2007-03-06T15:00:00.000Z

"Look at the lillies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

And if God cares so wonderfully for wild flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you."

Matt 6:28-30

2007-03-06T14:49:00.000Z

"Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you.

Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

! Outing striving !

2007-03-06T13:16:00.000Z

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Oh my gosh, lots of v exciting stuff to tell...

Been in a bit of a state this last week. I handed in an assignment on Monday which I really let get the better of me. I wasn't strong and struggled to stand on God's word despite the fact He gave me a word...

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121 (NIV)

The NLT version reads 'mountain' instead on 'hills'. That assignment really did seem like a mountain!

Why is it so hard to believe? I handed in a muddled together, unfinished piece of work that I got three hours sleep for doing. Usually at least then, there is some sense of relief for effort and toil... but not this time. I really let the stress of all my work creep in... slash... totally grip, engulf and cripple me.

I got in so much the wrong place that I just could not see clearly about anything. My whole perspective got skewed... relationships with friends, family, going on twenty five!, my future, my self image... you name it, I was down on it.

I was laid in my bed most of Sunday persisting with the word but not really feeling any better because actually I was still trying to hold on to this gunk that was covering me. I felt so ugly I couldn't bring myself to even talk to God let alone praise Him. The creepy voice in my head kept whispering... 'you're not good enough', 'you're too bad to go to Him for help now'. Why is it that 'the hard stuff's easier to believe' (Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman).

In the midst of this I read Psalm 149 (NLT).

"Praise the Lord!"
Sing to the Lord a new song.
Sing His praised in the assembly of the faithful.
O Israel, rejoice in your Maker.
O people of Jeruselem, exult in youy king.
Praise His name with dancing,
accompanied by tamborine and harp.
For the Lord delights in His people;
he crowns the humble with victory.
Let the faithful; rejoice that he honors them.
Let them sing for joy as they lay in their beds.
Let the praises of God be in their mouths and a sharp sword in their hands...

I knew God saw me lying in a curled up heap in my duvet and I knew exactly that I might not be in this position had I yielded that sharp double-edged sword He'd given me.

~ 'Stop striving' ~

Sunday night I forced myself to go to church. Once again I scuffed my feet to the front for prayer. God gave me a word, 'stop striving'... I love how God is so direct! This was followed by the verses Matthew 11:28-30.

28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

~ Startin' out right ~

So now I am resolved to Praise Praise Praise Jesus while I am still laying in bed, from the moment I open my eyes in the morning to the moment I go to bed at night (Psalm 92:2).

~ Kitting up to serve the King ~

And I will don The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV) each morning - As UCB's Word 4U 2Day read on 22 Feb:

"So, how do you 'Put on the full armour of God...'? By prayer: '...pray at all times in the Spirit...' (Ephesians 6:18 NAS). Praying in the power of the Spirit clothes us for spiritual warfare. You need to pray specifically at the start of every day, asking God to clothe you with each piece of His armor. Don't go into battle spiritually underdressed. Again Paul writes: 'Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh...' (Romans 13:14 NAS). This is one of the best verses in the Bible regarding how to win over temptation. Don't give satan an inch or he'll take a mile."

Progress comes quickly and yesterday was a wonderful day of being in the right place with God!!

Awesomeness! I am soooo tired and I absolutely have to go and do some work!

To sign up to UCB's Word 4U 2DAY click here - it's awesome and always so relevant to whatever you're going through - God's immaculate scheduling!

~ Lovin' you're work ~

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very exciting PS: If you saw my last post you'll see that God told me to out anonymity and to share my blog a bit more. Now last night something really exciting happened! A lovely lady from my course shared with me that she had recently become a Christian! V exciting in itself! It doesn't end there though. She said that since I posted my blog on my facebook account, she's been reading it... which is well exciting!! God's devine purposes revealed!! It's amazing what He's up to under our noses!! ... so... I am v excited about that... and added woop for having a readership of about four!... v exciting in itself!

Now... in order to do what God wants I have designed this ever so flash JPG 'thing' to shove on e-mails etc.

I would really appreciate you telling me if its an arrogant 'too big for my boots', cheesy, ok, half-way decent, etc. move??? be honest! I can take it!

Also in the same vein... If you like my blog please tell your friends... that would be...

AWESOME!!

~ thank you ~ thank you ~ thank you ~ thank you ~ you're awesome ~

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Removing anonymity & devine appointments

2007-02-13T14:56:00.001Z

K, so about a week ago God told me to remove the anonymity from my blog, to get vulnerable and make it known that I am 'Christian on Campus' and even if I stuff up it's ok, God's grace has got it. I guess having a bit of privacy takes away half the point of it! I should be accountable, and I want to be questioned. It's a good thing. Hiding encase I stuff up is hardly showing the true colours of God! So there we go. I haven't had a chance until now because I've been studying and having an awesome time at my home church weekend away (more on that later).

So I'm out there... ha ha. Face on screen. Name's Katie and I think the rest you know... or are getting to. I also need to shove my blog up on my facebook page somewhere and a few other places. That's the next step to figure out. ...moving on...

~ Devine appointments ~

So I've been weeping through church and simultaneously trying to arranging serving opps there when God said to me the other day that I'm neglecting the devine appointments he's already given me. Club chaplaining (...that one not so much), but friends definately! Christian friends I've made at my new church and not-yet-Christians who I know God is working in. Also showing uni God (that's when He told me to quit hiding!) In these things lies my service for this Season. He told me to stop trying to replicate what's at home... which is such a release... because I was disappointed with church here not being all that it is at home - even while simultaneously valuing what exists here. Ah.

~ Away weekend ~

Anyway... also... I had the most amazzzzzing weekend. Truely awesome. Truely inspiring. Truely fantastic. Three immense days of action packed God awesomeness!!! I am loving it and having been flying ever since. God showed up and worked powerfully to bring freedom, release and new life, increase, affirmation and inspiration in the lives of so many of the young people and adults (for that matter) there. It was truely breathtaking and so thrilling for me to be there. It was God's amazing plan all along. ~ I went home late Wednesday night for a group presentation in London on Thursday and planned to go back to BM on Friday. By the by our ideas were shot down in flames and I somberly text Tim, a youth worker at church to see what was going down over the weekend... a place got sorted out for me and that was it. Awesomeness!

Also very excited about the possibility of doing a year at Graceworks Mission School enroling for Jan ... a year dedicated to God and His mission on earth. Awesomeness. Watch this space for more. In the mean time... check it.

Nice one. Anyway, it's almost 9pm and I must go home. Will be spending a lonely pancakes' night pancakeless in my flat... but I am going to curl up on the sofa and watch The Constant Gardener instead with a big bowl of soup. Reward for the exam I scrapped through today.

Note: Must also decide what i'm going to give up for lent... chocolate probably. Better make the most of it tonight all those doing the same!

ha ha... it's so funny the way I write this as if people actually read it.. ha ha!!

~ Grace flows ~ Lots of love to ya ~ Katie ~ AKA ~ Christian on Campus ~

~ Expectations ~

2007-02-13T13:49:00.000Z

What a weekend! Such fun... little work... but it's all good.

Well... It was fabulous fun followed by the seemly weekly event of crying all the way through Sunday evening church. I have no idea why but God's got it so it's cool.

I had some prayer at the end and got a word... 'expectations' ..... fits.

Maybe.. perhaps sometimes.. I can feel v bad and v sad that I continually let God down on a regular basis. The same old lies that I believe, the same old traps, the same old habits, the same old sins.

I heard Bobbie Houston give this great sermon, where she read a scripture that stood out to me. I remember it distinctively (I must track down where it is! - apologies) . . . anyway the scripture said... 'just TRY' ... as in... God wants us to just try - that's all He's asking.

Reflecting on it now, perhaps I did let a little guilt creep in. It's so easy to do, you don't even realise it's happening. ...Perhaps I was carrying around a bit of guilt about the fact that I feel... felt... I let Him down again... again and again... and maybe I am a bit of a dissapointment... I do dissappoint him - BUT - it's frustrating me as I write this because I know that... in fact, the truth is He and the angels in Heaven are rejoicing because I am trying!

And I remember that I am only human and only made of dust (Psalm 103:14 - for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust).

More on God's latest challenge in a bit... off to lec ~cc~

Scripture fix:

"But come on, all of you, try again!
Job 17:10

So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:12

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
1 Thessalonians 5:15

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,
Titus 2:9

Trials and tribulations

2007-02-13T13:30:00.000Z

~ "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." ~

1 Peter 1:7

Another UCB anecdote - The heat it takes to purify gold is considerably warmer from that of tin... and i'd sooner be gold.

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In need of God's love

2007-02-06T14:46:00.000Z

At church on Sunday I watched an amazing sight. This ‘old’ guy (like in his seventies, white hair with an awesome knitted gillet) singing his heart out to the Lord - full on Céline Dion / Whitney Houston-style-y actions - singly the words to the songs, asking for God to 'hold him' and so on.

God spoke to me through that... I thought... 'man, he knows, I mean, he really knows, how much he needs the love of the Father'.

I know God's love should form the solid foundation we need for our security. From Him alone we should seek our comfort. I should always turn to Him first. But I so often don't. It's which ever friend first answers their phone.

It was just that he laid it bare, he exposed that vulnerable, needing sole, so honestly. It really touched me.

Even when we're old... slash much older, we'll still be like children, craving love and affection - and God lavishes it upon us.

Scripture fix:

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
Psalm 73:23

May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
Psalm 119:76

~ Glad to be a work of grace ~

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Too big for my boots

2007-02-06T14:24:00.000Z

Humbleness, I think it's the most awesome quality!

And it's one that I think.. not all the time.. but enough times to know my heart's not right yet.. I can be accused of not being.

This is awful!!... You're going to think I'm awful!! But if I don't tell you, I would just be lying to myself.....

I can be accused of walking down the street reassuredly thinking... , 'yeh, I'm cool'

Now that, is not cool!!!!!

I get listening to a bit of hip hop or rock and suddenly it's like I'm invincible!... What's that about!?!...

(- a poor attempt to justify!)

Am I the only one? Tell me I'm not the only one?!?

Again... I need to grow up, mature, sort my life out.......

It comes down to security issues and knowing who God is... if you know securely in your heart who He is then you know who you are, or you know who you should be...

If I focus on Him. Myself will be sorted out by Him.

Scripture fix:

The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts
1 Samuel 2:7

For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
Psalm 149:4

~ Keep trying Kate ~

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'Club Chaplaining'

2007-02-06T13:18:00.000Z

Haven't talked much about 'Club Chaplaining' which has formed a pretty awesome part of my BM life these past two terms. A bunch of people rotate to go out in twos or fours each Friday and Saturday night, 10-4pm. We mosey around Bournemouth's hectic clubbing district and attempt to get stuck into what ever God's got started (and by that I don't mean fights!!!).

Cliché... but no week's the same. Activities range from street debates about God and the meaning of life, explaining that 'Club Chaplain' (which is emblazoned in white across the back and front of our black puffer jackets) is not an actual club...but instead what it's really about... through to... picking up guys who've had one to many, from their collapsed position in the street, offering a listening ear to guys who've had a bust up with a mate or b/g-friend, slinging the odd glass bottle in the bin to avert later disaster, or simply to pointing someone in the direction of a particular bar / taxi-rank / ATM / burger bar or kebab van!

It's amazing how we always seem to rock up in the right place at the right time. I'm sure this would happen regardless of what route we took or how slow the stroll.

The presence of God is always phenomenal. On occasion the very sporadic drunken hostility we've received has receded into smiles and ''alright mates'' before us!

I love it! ~ I've been so inspired and challenged by it.

Another muse has been this scripture I read a little while ago about the way God moves in our lives before we turn to Him. It is so evident in the people we meet and it's amazing that it's happening in Bournemouth, at home and all over the world.

John 6:43-45 (NIV):

43"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. 44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: ' They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.

I'm praying that God the Father draws increasingly and more intensively and that I can give Him the room and humbleness to just let God be God and listen for words He might want to say through me... and... well, at least (trying desperately) not to say anything that might hinder the awesome work he has already begun!

See the website: www.clubchaplain.com

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Imagine

2007-02-06T11:55:00.000Z

just thought I would share the profound notion of the youth at my church in Bournemouth.

Among otherthings... to be:

More concerned about Jesus's reputation than about their own.

Just never heard it executed that way before and it really struck me!

See their captivating website here - Imagine

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Life's full of 'chickens'

2007-02-06T11:48:00.000Z

I read this today and just thought it was amazing.

Enjoy reading UCB's 'Word for Today', Life's full of 'chickens' - scroll to 6 Feb 07

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Quitting complaining...

2007-02-06T11:19:00.000Z

Feeling good. Usual workload craziness but feeling v positive. Heard a great message at church on Sunday about 'complaining'. Something I do far to much! This blog prooves it! BUT now making a concious effort to quit it. This is something which has kind of been on my heart anyway... my effort to be 'bright and breezy Katie' (last post).

Andy, the vibrant speaker dude, talked about the language of the Kingdom, the language of the World and this complaining culture that we live in, that sees us so unsatisfied and basically says, 'If I was God I would do it oh so differently... there would be done of this bad weather rubbish for starters... bla bla... so on... and so forth.'

The language of the Kingdom is a language of praise... we're aiming to be a people of praise.

Scripture fix:

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
Psalm 34:1

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
Psalm 71:14

challenged - inspired - encouraged - awesomeness - loving you - cc

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'Cease striving and know that I am God'

2007-02-02T14:07:00.000Z

Psalm 46:10

Fire Up!

2007-02-01T15:29:00.000Z

I started this blog post so gloomy. See what happened when God stepped in...

Uni sucks... But I basically feel like I'm not allowed to say that. Because... 1) it doesn't really suck it's just the way that I am feeling right now....overwhelmed and underachieving. So behind with my work and struggling to stay afloat. and 2) because it is not the relection of a calm Christian, in control .... and I KNOW I KNOW, I'm broken..in need of fixing... not perfect ...far from it! But still I WANT to be calm, collected, not easily angered, not high spirited, not HITTING the keyboard as I type this now out of frustration and in ability to see past the piles of books I have to get through....................BUT...... that is it entirely isn't it!?! Seeing past the piles of rubbish. The stuff that gets in the way of us just seeing...that this is nothing. Nothing to God. Nothing in the grand scheme of things. A momentary blip. Something that God can get me through so breezily if I would just trust Him. But this is the image I wish to convey...'bright and breezy Katie', 'God's got it all, all in control Katie', 'No need to worry Katie'.

Now that would be a sparkling immpression of a Christian................This blog is amazing! it teaches me things I needed to hear just hadn't stopped for a while to think or hear. SPACE. I actually feel better for STOPPING and reminding myself of the truth. Five minutes later and I am in a better place.

De-junk. Make life simple. What's important......PERSPECTIVE!!!

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Fire Up! ... a little bit of encouragement

Fact: exciting things are happening all around in the Kingdom all the time.

A friend and I got chatting and my low was completely transformed by the sheer awe and wonder at God. Get into encouraging...

Chat with your Christian buddies, share testimonies, answers to pray and so on. Build each other up and encourage each other and you'll be amazed at how fired up you get!!

Scripture:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
Ephesians 5:19 (NIV)

Love it!

Gotta chip

~cc~

What's your opinon?

2007-01-23T12:07:00.000Z

What do you think would attract more young people (aged 15-25) to church and or to Christianity?

How do you think the message of the gospel could be put across to make it more attractive or even... irressistable to 15-25 year olds?

...maybe events, loud graphics and pumping sound systems are the way forward?
or is faith in action's the way?

Thoughts, comments, opinions, ideas and banter all welcome...

Loving your work!!

News flash

2007-01-23T11:21:00.000Z

Alright? Apologies for recent lack of content. Put it down to general insane busy-ness. But truely plan to be a much better blogger from now on!!

Good news is that I got great 68% on assignment for uni which nearly broke me. I cried and cried and prayed and prayed through the studying and God totally came through as I knew He would...He's a legend!

It's given me a real confidence boost this term and I know more than ever that I can do this, I just need to get focused. So hoping to boost my present 58% (2:2) up to a 2:1 (60%). That would be the ace-est thing that could happen but simulatiously...really not the end of the world by any means if I don't!!

Really, really want to show these guys at uni what God is made of and be such a witness of faith in action. Read this awesome scripture over Christmas that resonated loudly...

(Hebrews 12:1-6)
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

I want to say that I am determined to make this happen, i.e. be sinless... but obviously this is totally impossible on earth and especially if trying to do it through my will power alone. It is only through seeking more of Him and the Holy Spirit's work in me that I can be transformed from the inside out and see my character change. I will be turned into more of MYSELF (if that makes sense). God brings out in us what He always intended us to be like, both in personality and being able to use the abilities He's given us. We are the empty vessel that becomes useful when we are filled by Him... (where is this scripture?).

... And I definately have not resisted to the point of shedding blood!

K, I'm not going to get on one... instead I'm going to hit the books and crack out my methodology. Dissertation is going ace.... yeh... it's really tough and progress is really slow but have a feeling that... though I don't know where it's going now... God does and He will reveal it to me. The two interviews I've done so far have been really interesting.

Keep the fire stoking!

cc x

Happy 2007!

2007-01-15T16:04:00.000Z

Really only want to say how excited I am about the year to come! I am the busiest I could possibly be with uni work and so much else but it is going to be a great year and I am so looking forward to the challenge and the presence of God through it!

This year I seek to:

know God more
know His word more
apply His word more
let His Spirit roam free in me - get in tune with it
Strive to be holy - 'Catch all the little foxes' (Song of Songs 2:15 NLT) / also 1 Peter 2:17 word
De-junk my life - get rid of the junk in order to see clearly

The greatest thing in the Kingdom is a relationship with our Creator. From that all life stems and peace flows.

May God's joy and peace reign in your 07!

Bring the Kingdom to earth!

cc x

'Catch the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the vines are blossoming' (or words to that effect)

Bringing it home

2006-11-22T14:57:00.000Z

Awesome weekend. God has totally chilled me out and really enjoyed just hanging out with Him and being at church.

We had an awesome time at Soul Sista on Sat - and the talks were as relevant as ever - fear, knowing you're God's daughter, walking through the valleys, when God seems silent - all themes that spoke volumes to me.

Disseration - Can you PR the church to Generation Y (15-25 year olds) - is going really well but slowly slowly. God is really speaking to me through my dissertation about how desperately He wants to have a relationship with His children who are looking in all the wrong places to find fulfilment but all they actually need is Him.

Ephesians 1:11 (MSG) states: “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ,…he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”

Luke 13:34 (NLT) is an illustration of this longing: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.”

The greatest thing in the Kingdom is a relationship with our father God.

I am convicted that God is ‘bringing it home' - the Kingdom (bit obvious I know!). He’s claiming back His children. It’s all He can talk about. It’s time to get our hands dirty, keep the fire within us stoking and bring His glorious Kingdom to earth. See scripture fix below - 'Fan into flames' - awesome stuff.

I am SO excited.

x

Scripture fix

2006-11-21T18:10:00.000Z

6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV)

Will post soon.

cc x

bla bla

2006-11-14T15:28:00.000Z

K, so I've not written any thing for ages!! Been crying then flying bla bla...

I am soooo busy and pretty much hating uni but know God's in the middle of this. No, I have head knowledge not heart knowledge. Yes, I will look back and know that I have been strengthened by this wind. I'm in the middle of a storm standing of a rock. Walking through the valley but God's light is shining on me. Tripping along the path but still knowing the direction I'm going in. Brilliant. Be strong and very courageous. Get up! Stand up! Rise up honey, Rise up! Don't let your emotions rule you. Rise up!

Everything I read tells me, but only sometimes do I have the faith to believe it. Take my eyes off the problem and focus on God and this little problem will melt away and God grace and peace will consume me. I try and run into the shelter of his wings but struggle to get there. I pray to Him is desperation and He tells me Hebrews 6:17 - 'I promise' - so it will be ok.

But I still struggle to believe Him. So there is just nothing more I can do...but keep going. I love Him after all. Even if I do have the faith of a disciple who won't get out of the boat. - v.little.

I have nothing to fear. God is so much bigger than this puny problem. He makes rivers flow through the desert after all.

Failing my degree is the worst thing that can happen and I am not to worry about tomorrow, "today's worrys are enough for today" besides i could be run over by a bus tonight. Brilliant.

Right well, that's pretty much it. Not enough for a God who IS awesome in deed!!! He really really is!!! Wish it would stop raining. Since Sunday I have lost my scarf, my student ID card and missed the bus incessantly - all that is required is for me to fall on my face at uni and my day will be complete.

Glad God's on my case, ccx

Scripture fix

2006-11-03T16:51:00.000Z

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:16-21

Dude!

2006-11-02T16:29:00.000Z

Third Day get their groove on! ~ Brilliant!

Click here to view

Come on!

2006-11-02T10:34:00.000Z

Come on! Bring it on!

First and foremost - today the cold is considerably better than Tuesday - Praise God - last night I thought it was getting worse - not so! God's in control.

Such awesome stuff happened yesterday and I am well excited!

As I've kind of mentioned the last few weeks have been a bit tough (painful /spiky) to say the least. I've got so down and when I get down I am totally ruled by my emotions (not a good thing!) Thankfully God always sends a friend to pick me up off the floor (not literally). They always remind me that in fact God's promices are true because even though I do know this, somehow when you get into that place it's always easier just to believe the lies and you end up in a pool of self pity brought on by disception.

I have spent a great deal of time bursting into tears but anyone who knows me knows that that is not an uncommon sight - however as God promices, "Those who sow in tears will reap in joy" (Psalm 126:5) (not sure that it's these tears He's talking about though!) and I am hoping that what has come out of this will be of overriding inspiration!

So yesterday I listened to my audio bible - amazing. Listening to end of Matthew and beginning of Mark. Here's what stood out:

Preparation
Matt 25:1-13 (The Parable of the Ten Virgins) - The fundermental thing about this is PREPARARTION - We need to have fuel in our lamps ready - because the Kingdom is coming. Q: Did you hear on the news yesterday about the fortune teller in Middle East (I think in the Middle East) predicting events that actually happened? - in my personal view - so make up your own mind - but fulfilling Mark 13:22 - as soon as I can find the article I will stick it up, but I think the signs mentioned in Mark 13 are all around us.

The second thing that stood out, and I believe it's related to this:

Jesus always knows the answer
Mark 12:24-27 This really challenged me. Jesus is like, "Dude, don't you know what it says in the bible? Common? In the book of Moses? Ok well it says..." He then goes on to recount the whole thing! So the point is He knows the whole deal off by heart. Surely then, to prepare, I need to know the scriputures off by heart! (also see Matt 12:1-8)

For ages I've been saying this and struggling to do it - I/We need to know the scriptures off by heart - until they become written on our hearts - until they become part of us. When Jesus was led into the desert by the devil His defense was to use the truths of the scriptures - He knew the scriptures off by heart. I know it seems like obvious basic stuff but I am certainly not in that place where I can recall them off the top of my head and use them as my defense against these emotional outbursts (or what ever other attacks might come along) and I want to be!

A step on from this - I said it had been an exciting day and these are the other themes that are being brought home at the moment:

Wholeheartedness

I said that I need to know the scriptures - But there is knowing in my head and knowing in my heart. There is also giving your whole heart to God which is what He wants from us. Mark 12:30: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

I think I have possibly not been doing this, all of the time exactly... cringe... example:

The great thing about an audio bible is that you can listen to the scripture while you're doing the washing up, in the bath or doing your make up / hair (if your a bloke!). The trouble with an audio bible is that you can listen to the scripture while you're doing the washing up, in the bath or doing your make up/hair (if your a bloke)!

Listening to the bible whilst simultaniously organising my life might be great for head knowledge it's not neccessarily so good for heart knowledge. God requires our time, attention and devotion. It's a bit hard to hear God when I'm so busy doing other things!

God whispers

Do you remember I heard a message of 1 Kings 19 on Sunday? There are a number of ways that message spoke to me. The first was the desperateness and despair of Elijah - The people saw God and still they turned away from Him (Chap 18-19), the same thing that happens today - It happened to me many times over! The second thing is that after Elijah flees, the Lord appears to him. 1 Kings 19:11-13 reads:

The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

God whispers (another example - Matt 10:27) which is why He asks us to, "draw near" and draw close ("Draw close to me and I will draw close to you" - Jeremiah 29: 12-14).

He wants me/us to wholeheartedly seek Him. Above everything else. I have been particularly challenged by this which I read last night, Matt 10:37 (about loving God more than your mum and dad). That's a lot of love and sometimes I get it and sometimes I don't. I mean, sometimes I feel that way and sometimes I don't. 'Consistancy' is important to God and it was a real reality check on Mark 12:30 (Love God with your whole heart...)

To summarise:
The Kingdom is coming ~ I/We need to be prepared ~ I/We can do this by knowing the scriptures in our heads and in our hearts ~ To know God in our hearts and love God wholeheartedly requires drawing close to Him and listening for His whispers.

I know God is going to stretch me so much this year and He really wants me to start relying on Him - leaning on Him, for comfort, rest, peace and everything (but these things especially) instead of relying on friends, family and most of all chocolate! This means I should be a stone lighter next time you see me! lol!

I hope you find these words which a friend wrote to me encouraging, mashed with a bit of me and a bit of God:

Don't forget you're Jesus's Abassador on earth. You represent Him. Show Him. Display Him. Just let Him come out. Walk with Him & Rest in Him. Find your comfort in Him. Don't be ruled by your emotions and Stay strong. You are strong.

Watch my Momentum prophecy (Jeremiah 29: 11-14) be fulfilled.

Verses for Comfort: Philippeans 4:6-7, Matthew 11:28-30 & Jeremiah 29: 11-14

* * *

Please please comment on my blog (clearly desperate!!). I'm a beginner and definately need to be corrected if I miss interpret scripture or wrongly reflect anything (!) or if you can give me any pointers or if you've experienced something similar (?) Would be so appreciated!!

Wishing you bountiful blessings!

CC x

PS. I didn't go to the party but text my friend to thank her for inviting me.

PPS. That took me a long time to write - I don't expect all my entries to be as long as these last few so please don't be put off! But at least now I can look back at this and rain check.

Not far on

2006-10-31T14:10:00.000Z

How funny that no sooner than I put 1 Corninthians 13:4-7 on my blog, than it should be the subject of the latest Youth Ministries devotional - brilliant!... challenging!

I read it and started looking into my last few days and recalled the annoyance I felt to the Librarian when she told me I had a £1 fine - £1! (that's it). But I was like... that's odd, because I get longer because i'm dyslexic..da da da (annoyed) - I didn't mean to do it, but I think my attitude was less than loving!

'Love them to death' - has been a phrase on my mind this week - I'm not sure why seeing as I don't want anyone to die! - but I think it kinda goes with loving your enemies - some how people just don't have the power to hurt you if they are broken by the power of love!

And I've been thinking... about how people see me here! I'm wondering...any different from before? I've had a whole year out of uni and in that time I've become a Christian. I have a whole new centre. I'm not living for myself anymore. I've died and only Jesus in me lives. But how much of that's true and if its true how much do people see that's it's the spirit in me..what of the Spirit's fruits (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) am I displaying?

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

Certainly not self control (I just ate two biscuits) (But no-one saw me so does that count?) Kidding, k, I'm diluting the point...LOVE... powerful stuff! And I want people to see that I'm different! So not giggling in the back row at the foreign seminar leader because I have finally realised that they've not been talking about 'people in the rain forrest'..but 'people who reinforce' (I'm really sorry I just laughed again - It's not even that funny!) It's not even their fault! I should a) sit at the front, b) pay more attention, c) start with the right attitude - one of love - (NOT in that order!)

Here's another tricky one. I've been invited to a Halloween party. I don't want to go and even told my one Christian friend here that last night. I said I would just stay in and study instead because I have so much to do. So this morn one of the friend's whose party it is asked me outright...'So are you coming tonight?' ...I panicked and said... 'Hopefully'... I am SO WEAK!! It's a really simple answer too, 'Afraid not', 'I can't make it', 'No I'm sorry, but thanks for inviting me' - It should have been easy! I didn't even need to go near, 'Well actually it goes against my Christian beliefs' - that probably would have been the correct answer. Having had time to consider this, after lunch I bump into her flat mate... 'So you coming to the Halloween Party tonight at ours?'... with a clear voice I say, 'mmm actually I think I'm loosing my voice'...BRILLIANT! Nice one Kate!

Is it so hard? Appartently! Any pointers VERY welcome! - You can talk the talk but can you walk the walk? Not without stumbling.

Still doing really badly on the uni work front so all prayers welcome. At the chaplaincy now to try and sort some counselling to try and cope with my work..which I am basically tackling by pretending it doesn't exist. - Don't copy me! Plus I am getting sick (rephrase... sickness is trying to attack me) and really just want to be in bed, but instead will pronounce God's truth that I am healed and will be firing out an e-mail to say likewise by Thursday!!

Also will ask God to help me choose the vulnerable option and tell the truth about tonight and hope that they don't condemn me for panic lying about coming. Thank goodness God's on my side.

CCx

The journey begins...

2006-10-30T09:35:00.000Z

Well, it's Monday morning. 9.36am. I've been sat at this computer in the library for over a half hour and so far all I've done is check my e-mail.

I have so much study to do and I've got to say I am finding it hard to get on with. I am not a natural born academic! But... this is final year and it is high time to crack this and get my head stuck in some books!

Yesterday, in the pursuit of looking for a church in Bournemouth I did double services. In the morn I went to one with fantastic worship and teaching but not so friendly as I would have liked. I'll give it another go next week or maybe the one after (got another church in mind for next Sunday).

Then at 5pm walked along the beach to a bible study held at a church I've been to once before. (Awesome sunset! Brilliant reds and oranges and pink... cliché... candy floss clouds against blue sky...love it!)

Really great study on The Cross (Luke 23:26-49) followed by church. In contrast I couldn't walk through the door without three people shaking my hand, wishing me a good evening and welcoming me in. Great message on 1 Kings 19 followed by pizza and catch up.

Party didn't end there... met up with an old friend and ended up going dancing in town. 5 hours sleep and a busy day ahead so better chip.

Oooo, did buy an audio bible at the weekend..think it may change my life! Will keep you posted. Please pray for a productive day and a review of priorities!

Christian on Campus x