It has been a year since I last posted on this blog. 
But I haven't been sure what to post, a lot has happened. We've bought a house, we now have a puppy, moved churches a few times, been on holiday, decorated the house. So many things. 

I guess the one thing you could say, is God has been a constant. That is wonderful. It's been such a roller coaster with my mental health and to be able to say God is a constant is what has helped me the most it is the most comforting thing.

My mother in law shared the most comforting and hardest to settle with passage at church on Sunday. First Jesus said store up treasures in heaven, then he goes on to say: 
“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 life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

How do you managed to live these truths out. Because it's easy to know the theology. We know the facts, but on Monday, Tuesday, on dark days when I can't get out of bed, when I'm in a room full of people and anxious thoughts come in. 

The only answer I can give is by the spirit living in me. I have to trust that by God working in me, I can daily begin to be shaped to trust him more and more. It is not something that I can do myself, it is all up to my father, to work in me. He will protect me, he will nourish me, most of all he will provide spiritual food for me. I must only seek his kingdom, to seek what he wishes for me to do, to serve him. He will provide the rest. 

So how do I live these truths out? Continuous prayer, Ask God to work in me to draw me into his comfort and teach me to hand him my anxiety.

This is not an overnight change, this will take my whole life and is a continuous work in me. But I need to take comfort that God is my constant, God will sustain me. Everything else may change, shift, move. God will not. I must rest in that truth.

What does it mean to pray: Our Father in Heaven?

So, I know I haven't posted in forever, I'm really sorry. But here's a talk I did at Keswick for some teenagers and I think it is so relevant for us everyday whatever age we are. Take 5, have a read, pray God blesses you in this!

Focusing on the first line of the Lord's prayer expanding what that means.

Our Father in Heaven.

We are a collective family,

If God is our Father, OURS collectively, have you ever thought about the implications of that? The fact that, we’re not in it for our own good, but all together as a family. The people sitting in this room, are your family. The wider attendees of Keswick convention. When we sit in small groups or the big marquee. Your church back home, they’re your family. The church down the road from you, they’re your family. Churches in other cities, other countries, christian’s we’ve never even heard about. Missionaries. Every single follower of Jesus is your brother or sister.

I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about being a Christian like that before. I hadn’t really thought about it till I was at uni, and this past year it really showed in our church community; a year and a half ago my dad had a heart attack. I took him up to hospital before we knew what it was and later the doctor to us that my mum and brother needed to come. My mum doesn’t drive, I was stuck at the hospital with the car.

A lovely older lady from my church drove from her home 10 miles away to pick up my mum and brother and bring them to the hospital. We got home at some crazy time that evening, someone from church had left us a meal on the doorstep, none of us had eaten since lunch time. Over the next week people we’re putting meals into a friend’s freezer for us, bringing fresh fruit and veg for us, my mum had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome so relies heavily on my and dad and me and my brother to help cook and things, So this constant ferrying of meals and shopping from church family was a huge help to her whilst me and my brother were working and visiting dad. That continued for a few months, and the help around the house/garden still is offered now. My dad recovered really well, but the church family really stepped in and were part of our family. 6 months later our friend’s husband died, her family all live away, so for a month or two she came to us to eat and rest because home was too painful for her, she still comes for lunch and bible study every Friday.

It's moments like that where we as a family have a chance to step up and look after each other. To put into practice being a family. And we want to do it because of Our Father. Our Father gave everything so we could be part of his family, so we should want to mirror his love in the way we relate to each other and the world.

God has given us this image of a family because it’s something we can grasp and live out. How are you being family to all those people I mentioned before? Prayerfully, practically?

If you’re ever stuck, think; what would I do for a brother of sister?

We don’t belong here. We belong with Our Father in Heaven. For now, we live out that family here on earth. We live in the love our Father showed. He’s Ours. And we are his. We are family.

One Way. Jesus

It's a been a while since my last post, I do apologise, life has been rather hectic.
I head off to Keswick then Maidwell for three weeks tomorrow but before I go I wanted to share this with you.

I've been writing a talk for the Keswick Youth this week about Peter's address to the Sanhedrin in Acts. My highlight has been Acts 4v12:

"Salvation is found in no one else, there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

I'm sure most of us have read that before and know that truth. However, I was challenged by Peter's attitude. He says MUST. And I briefly wanted to bring a challenge it's given me.

I don't think I approach my evangelism and urgency that Peter has here. He says we must be saved, we live in a culture where your approach is fine for you and mine is fine for me. Peter doesn't agree. He sees that all MUST be saved in Jesus name.

SO next time you have the chance to share the gospel, I challenge you with the challenge I have brought myself. Do you have the urgent, desperate need that Peter sees in that we MUST be saved in Jesus name?

Can we be an Island?

I had my playlist on this morning whilst I was making my breakfast and a song came on called No Man is an Island, and it made me think, can we be an Island? Do we have a capacity to be alone?

Sometimes we can end up going through stuff in life that makes us feel alone in what we stand for. Standing firm in the truth of the gospel can feel really lonely. But I don't think we can be an island.

As the chorus of the song says:

No man is an island, we can be found 
No man is an island, let your guard down! 
You don't have to fight me, I am for you 
We're not meant to live this life alone

We're not meant to live this life alone, Paul spends most of his new testament letters instructing the church in how to live together, to love and support each other, to share in each others sufferings and joys.

So can we be an Island? By no means,

If you're finding yourself standing alone as an Island, pray with your church family, on your own and find a way to get stuck in and share life with your church family. We're really not made to live alone, God says in Genesis 2v18, it is not good for man to be alone, so I will make him a helper.

Don't be alone, call on your brothers and sisters for support and love. And be that sister your family may need.

Equipping Ourselves

Society is changing so fast. 

What's right? What's wrong? Who gets to decide that? How do we speak to each other? Where is it okay to say something to someone? 
There are an endless list of questions and it can feel like structuring a sentence means tiptoeing carefully across stepping stones so as not to offend anyone. If you hit the wrong one, you sink, it's over, the trust is lost and you're sinking.

How can we make sure we're equipped for this? 
How do we make sure what we're saying is Godly, Biblical, Christ-like?

I've been thinking through the importance of equipping ourselves for what society is asking and I quite quickly came to the conclusion that of course it's important! (that took about 30 seconds) 
Over the next few months I'm attempting to write a basic level training course for Christian women in Church. 
But to do that I've been attending conferences, training courses, reading my bible, by myself, with others, listening to sermons online, going to church, reading blogs, christian books and praying. 
I encourage you to do the same for the sake of the world around us, our friends and family want to know where Christians stand, the truth of where we stand on issues. SO be prepared.

No matter what our church is like or what our ministry is like I think we need to step up and read, listen, pray, and read again.

So let me urge you, please, equip yourself, because 1 Peter 3v15-16 says:

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

So that is my prayer for you sisters, be encouraged, wise and Godly men and women have answers, but ultimately your heavenly Father will equip you with everything you need. 

Romans 8v28 Is it really Good?!

I've been working through the book in my quiet times and the writer of the notes has pointed us to Romans 8v28 today and I have been wondering; What on earth is the "good" in this verse?

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

This is all very well, but my life isn't always "good" it doesn't always seem to work out for "good".
However this morning I was shown something new, God revealed a bit more understanding to me! (What a joy!)

The purpose this verse is talking about is transforming us into the likeness of his son! 

So to shape us and grow us in that, God may put us through to difficult times. In the book of Ruth, Naomi, loses her Husband and her Sons and her country is broken by famine, but she still calls on the Lord for refuge, she looks to him for comfort and recognises that her heavenly Father has her in the palm of his hand and cares deeply for her. 
It may be tough, but he's definitely shaping her and moulding her to become more like Christ. She just needs to trust.

And that's where I'm at now, I'm learning that through small trials and pains, or even large ones, God is shaping me and growing me to be more like his son, the king of the universe. That's where he's getting me to. I'm thankful he can see the bigger picture and truly is transforming me into the likeness of his son.

God works for the good of those who love him even in the tough stuff, transforming us into the likeness of his son. We just need to trust.

One to Ones

I've just recently started meeting with another one of the Young People in my Church Family and realised that yet again I've been struggling to remember the sort of helpful things to ask before getting stuck into the bible or the book we're reading together.

So I decided to compile a list of standard questions that I thought might be helpful and share them with you all in case any of them are helpful.
I'd love feedback of more I can add if you have more!

Blessings!

One to One Basic Questions:

·         How are you?

o   In yourself

o   At school

o   With friends

·         How is school?

o   Grades

o   Friendships

o   Joys and struggles

·         How are friends?

·         Church?

o   Attendance?

o   Understanding?

o   Joyful or a struggle?

·         Personal Christian life?

o   Quiet Times?

o   Prayer?

o   Is it fun?

o   What are you studying?

o   What are you praying for yourself?

·         Home?

o   How is life at home in general?

o   What do you do in your spare time?

o   How are you getting on with your family?

o   Do you get your own space?

o   Do you get family time?

·         How can I be helping you? Praying for you?

Giving God the Glory

In my home group we're looking at 1 Corinthians 12-14 all about Spiritual gifts and our first session we looked at 12 v 1-11. 

The thing that struck me the most about this passage was how the Holy Spirit determines exactly what gifts each church needs and how they should use them. The most striking thing about that to me was how people thought that some gifts are better than others. 

This is a total misunderstanding of verse 11, the Holy Spirit is the one who determines the gifts we are given, he shows us how to use them and gives us the discernment, and most of all every gift no matter how large or small is a gift from God and is a blessing on His children!

Let's use our gifts to build each other up and grow His kingdom for His glory!

God meant it for good!

A while ago I put this verse on my Instagram page from Genesis 50 v 20: 

"You meant it for evil but God meant it for the saving of many!" 

So often I feel we can look around this world and ask How can God allow this to happen? But this verse reminded me that God looks after his children, he is shaping us and growing us to be more like him. We as humans have a heart problem, we are unable to be perfect, we are sinful people who need rescuing.
But who can rescue humanity? Clearly not a human because we are all messed up right?

Well, God came down from heaven as a man, fully God and fully man and lived a perfect life, he defeated death and was raised to the Father's right hand. Who better then to take the punishment for our wrongdoings?

If God wanted that much to save us that he would be able to send his only son to die to save us, then how can you think that he would want to hurt us? God surely just wants to shape us to show us what it looks like to be one of his people.

Hebrews 2v11 is one of my favourite verses in the bible and I'm going to leave it with you to ponder and reflect on but I hope you find it as encouraging as I do!

"Both the one who makes people holy and those who are holy are holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters."

Reflect, Receive, Respond

Reflect: It's the end of a term and a great chance to reflect on some on the great things that have happened this term! I have had the brilliant opportunity of going into local schools and getting them to look at the evidence and see for themselves. The kids have all engaged with this so well, interviewing the eyewitnesses (who tell the story from the eyewitness accounts in the gospels) and deciding who rolled the stone. 

Then to finish we read the passage where it says, the Angel rolled the stone and sat on it! What an amazing image, this super heavy stone that probably took 10 men and kit to move it and this angel just pushes out the way effortlessly and sits on it! It was such a great chance to really get my head round the events of the Resurrection because you have to know the accounts inside out!

Receive: In thinking through the Easter story so many times to present in so many different ways this term I've come to this point totally in love with the Lord Jesus and in awe and wonder of how painful yet miraculous this time would have been for him. 

The biggest act of love ever shown, and it's for me and for you! It's such a personal thing and I am so incredibly thankful I don't think words exist to describe it.

Respond: My prayer this week as we run up to Easter is to be: Thank you Lord Jesus for your wonderful sacrifice demonstrating your complete and holy power. Lord help me to submit to your power and kneel at the foot of the cross leaving all my cares and worries with you. Jesus help me follow your example of humility as I serve you and work for the growth of your kingdom!

Singing and Serving

Have you ever looked at your worship leader and thought, wow they seem so together and good, or, they're such a good performer. Or maybe you're that worship leader or band member.
Is this the question that should arise from our worship? Or should we not notice this and be thinking of praise instead?

Well I've been trying to think over this, as someone who sings in the church band, and work out just what our role is.

The first thing to remember is that as a member of a band we're there to serve the congregation, not as a performer. There is a time and a place for performing and I think it's a wonderful thing. But if you're in the band and you feel like you're performing, maybe you need to pray about your motives for being there.

Secondly, this is your opportunity to praise God! So remember who you're singing to, remember why you're doing it. This is an opportunity to spend time in prayerful reflection on your Heavenly Father.

Thirdly, read Colossians 3v1-17, especially verse 16 "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." We are to sing praises to one another teaching and charing wisdom, even in singing! So sing with your brothers and sisters, sing to them! 

Praise the Lord with all your heart, loving and serving your congregation. 
You have a gift. Use it for God's glory.
Raise your voice and praise the Lord.

Our Father

At the start of this month I had a wonderful opportunity to go to the 9:38 conference with a whole group of Ministry Apprentices just like me, and spend three days looking at our prayer life and what the bible teaches us about prayer.

One of the highlights, for me, was hearing Richard Coekin speaking on the Lord's prayer, showing us how the prayer our Lord Jesus taught us can structure our devotional prayer time.

Now before I continue this post, I want to make sure you know my prayer life is a constant battle that I am trying to turn into a joy! And this is all stuff I'm trying to work on and want to share with you! But it's hard and I have by no means got an answer to making it easier, remember it's literally a spiritual battle, Satan will do literally anything to distract you while you pray. Did I put the Dog out? Did I turn the oven off? That was a lovely program I watched today. He tries anything, to stop you talking to your Heavenly Father.

So, why have I entitled this blog post, Our Father, well, the Lord's prayer begins with this and I was shown that it is the most wonderful reminder of the privilege of prayer and the power of the one we pray to. Just stop and think for a moment, how amazing is it that you get to call the creator of the universe Father. The King over everything, the most powerful one ever known, Dad. We get to come to Him in times of Joy, sorrow, weakness, strength, love, heartbreak, anger and compassion. He doesn't change at all, His love-o-meter is fixed at maximum love. 

Our phone-line to Him is never engaged, faulty, out of service, or in a queue. It's instant and always open.

So, next time you make an excuse to pray, just remember, your Heavenly Father is always listening. He delights to hear you pray to Him. He longs for us to find treasures in His word and ask Him for them. 

He longs for us to speak to Him as our Heavenly Father, to embrace the privilege of prayer. 

Women who made me the woman I am today

The Fruits of the Spirit are the true things we should be striving for, to grow in and pray through. Praying that we would grow in this is not an easy prayer because to become more patient we must stretch our levels of patience, to become more kind, we have to see how far our kindness will go, but with prayer for help from God, we can do it!

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"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." 

Galatians ch 5v22-23

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There have been many Christian women who have influence many aspects of my personal growth in my faith and my approach to the bible and prayer life and showed me how to live out the fruits of the spirit. God has truly provided for me with all these wonderful women who have spent time with me teaching me, showing me and serving God wholeheartedly and I am incredibly thankful to them all.
I can't list everyone and I know that I have much more growing to do because really, I'm only just at the very beginning of my spiritual journey and I'm sure many many more people who will shape me and grow me to serve God and his Kingdom!

My Mother: She probably has the biggest influence. She has taught me everything from the day I was born, she has always encouraged me to challenge myself and always be kind. Even if being kind it's the hardest thing you ever have to do, try to make it top priority. When I was struggling with being bullied at school, she taught me to pray because my Heavenly Father is bigger than all of that and will give me the strength to carry on. When I feel lost she points me to my bible and shows me look to God for guidance. But most of all, she has shown me how to love, when I am cross with her, she still loves me, when I do things wrong, she still loves me. Even when things are totally imperfect, love conquers all. It is a God given thing, it has to!

Tinkerbell: This lovely curates wife spent a lot of time in my earliest years as a Christian discipling me and showing me how to be strong in my faith when it wasn't cool to be a Christian at school. Tink still to this day is only ever a phone-call away and has shown me ways of being a good Christian mum, friend and encourage me in single service of the Lord.

Climber girl: This lovely lady regularly trusts me with her children and has been a mentor to me throughout my apprenticeship! Her biggest influence has been showing me how to be Gracious and loving when having difficult conversations and teaching me to keep a clear focus in the growth of the Church in what I do.

Belle: When struggling with my body image, the lovely B took me straight to Psalm 139 and showed me God's grace and true love in creating me exactly how He intended me to be! She showed me that my heavenly Father truly cares for me and would never let one of His children go.

C'Cee: She has shown me how your what work God has for you to do is so much more important than your own preferences and being where you're comfortable. In one of my lowest moments at university she stood by me and showed me that God can give you the strength and courage to stand firm in your faith. She has always stood firm in every situation and gets straight back up when things knock her back, C'Cee has always shown me that Go will always hold your hand and pull you up if you ask him.

Mrs B: When I got to my uni church it was Mrs B who took the students under her wing like a wonderful mother hen. That was the first time at uni I felt safe and protected, as if she was my own mother! This lovely lady is married to a lovely man who (as far as I know) is not a Christian but supports her faith wonderfully, and I was really show by this lady to make sure that God was always top priority, He always took priority if it was home group, church, students coming over, prayer time, quiet time, anything! And rightly so, Mrs B showed me a true discipline of faith and a real hunger to serve God in everything she does.

Auntie J: Auntie, Grandmother to all, totally loving and a homemaker. If you were to pop round to auntie J's she'd truly make you feel like you belong, her home is like a safe space, a place to laugh, cry, be honest, be silly and talk about penguins with no knees! Auntie J has truly shown me that loving everyone with your whole self is so important, and that a Godly love can be to rebuke as well! But if you live by God's love, you're onto a good start!

Snow White: Snow is one of the most wonderful women I've met, she is kind, gentle, loving, patient and has a real heart to disciple women carefully studying the Word of God. She has truly shown me that challenging yourself with God'sword is so important, and whenever you're questioning what to do, pray. If you're doing well, pray. If you're struggling, pray. Snow has really shown me that a dependence on God, through prayer and disciplined study of His word is the way to get to know God and to grown in his knowledge. And that friends, couples, churches, families that pray together, stay together.

Ultimately though, I have been taught all these wonderful things by the grace of my Heavenly Father and without Him not only would I have none of this, but I wouldn't be here! So my aim is each morning to wake up thankful that He has given me another day to serve Him and to continue to study His word and grow in all these things.

Shaking up my Faith

Myself and a friend have just begun reading through Jen Wilkin's new book together None Like Him which is an exciting and challenging read so far.
I'd not heard of the wonderful Jen Wilkin until my friend showed me her blog, so I started to read through some of the posts. I have never felt more challenged and inspired to get stuck into being more proactive with my faith! Jen has a wonderful practical way of challenging your thinking and your faith.

Now I wouldn't say I was passive with my faith, but I had realised quite much how I'd got into a monotonous routine and that I'd forgotten to be joyful in my quiet times and prayer life and serving for the LORD.
Because honestly, God is AWESOME and He deserves to have 100% of everything! My joy, my love, my time, my energy, my all. The hymn that says Demands my soul, my life, my all. Has never been more true and such a kick up the backside! I would urge you to spend 10 minutes of your day to go over to Jen's blog http://jenwilkin.blogspot.co.uk/ and read through some of her posts. I would think she would graciously challenge you too!

If you have more time, invest in her book, |None Like Him or Women of the Word. Both of which I am greatly enjoying and are so well written for refreshing your quiet times and approach to God!

So I urge you to read to read one of the above, or even just have a think and pray into what you can do to spice up your quiet time or prayer time, because we must rejoice! Rejoice the LORD has come!

Nativity Study Book

My mum used to have a business making crafts and little gifts and last year she was commissioned to make a Nativity for a neighbour as a wall hanging for her classroom. As mum was making it I wrote down a bible thought for each day as they added each character and assembled it as an accompanying booklet. 

This year a lovely lady in my congregation has suggested that I do a bit more work on it and send it off to a publisher as something they could work into an Advent family bible study!

So hears hoping that next year I could be handing out a family gospel study book, 

Keep watch!

Fearing the created or the Creator

This week I've been doing some work on the story in Luke's gospel where Jesus calms the storm and I've found some interesting things that I have never noticed before.

This storm terrified the disciples and they thought they were going to die, it was the most powerful thing in that situation. Until Jesus stood up and said Be Still.
Now what's intimidating is not really the storm, but Jesus, the one with power over the storm.

So now, would they trust the one who is in control of creation, the creator as opposed to fearing the created.

We need to do the same, we need to remember that we are children of the creator.
We need to fear nothing, because our heavenly Father will protect us.

We should pray that we would trust everything to God no matter what and that we would hand control over to Him.

Reflections of Proverbs 31

This week I’ve been looking at Proverbs 31 the Epilogue bit, and really trying to pray into it and reflect on it. So here are a few of my thoughts.

To begin with I had to take away my selfish attitude and realise this isn’t about me or what I can be as a noble wife in the future, but the example Jesus sets here to the church. Remember ALL of the Old Testament points to Jesus and tells us about His character and His mission, so this must also have the focus on Jesus.

Secondly the bible talks about the church being married to God so this could also be a reflection on the behaviour of the church as a whole in it’s service to the Lord. It’s strange picture language for the church as a whole but as you begin to break it down it has similarities to preparations and harvest which is the work Jesus sends us out to do really in the Great Commission.

Finally of course it applies when thinking personally about growth in my own personal character with the help of the Holy Spirit. If I’m striving to be Christ-like and this is pointing to Christ’s character then surely this is something that, with the Grace of God, I should be striving for also. Even in my role in church service and discipleship this is something also I should reflect on.

Now when I read Proverbs 31 I can say:

• Wow, Jesus is amazing 
• Oh man, I’m rubbish!
• Thankfully God is gracious and I can ask Him to help me to grow in this!

25 Things to be thankful for

I've decided to take note of all the great things God provided over summer this year by making a list, I love lists so that's my first thing to be thankful for!

1. My job
2. Keswick Convention
3. New Friends
4. Old Friends
5. Waterfalls
6. Coffee
7. God's Wisdom
8. Laughter
9. Answered Prayer
10. Snap-backs
11. Bullet Journalling
12. Psalm 107
13. Prosecco
14. Lake District
15. Martinis
16. More Coffee
17. New car!
18. Reunions
19. Camp
20. Crutches and Cocodomol
21. Family
22. Photographs
23. Sunshine
24. Washout
25. Talkin Tarn

So many great things happened and on reflection I am able to praise God for His continuous blessings and trust that He knows the plans set before me!

My Journey of Humility

Today whilst travelling on the train, I had to learn to be incredibly humble and ask for help.

Anyone who knows me would tell you that I like to be very independent and do it by myself and I allow my pride to get the better of me because I don’t want to appear “stupid”, I believe this is also a very British thing that we don’t speak to anyone but just get on with things.

Now the thing is, there was nothing stupid in what happened, I was waiting for a train at Appleby and wasn’t certain if the one that pulled in was the right one. After almost everyone else had got on I was still sat on the platform thinking this train was way too early.

A guy ,also going to Leeds, came over to me and asked where I was going and if he could wait with me. Great, my independence has someone other than me relying on it, time to learn to humility and take responsibility for the situation. Five minutes later the train is still at the station and I’m no longer sure if I should stay off this train.

So I stepped onto the train and prayed to the LORD asking that he would provide someone I could ask, and of course, he did and it was the train I needed to be on. The guy who was on the platform with me also got on the train in a slight panic but now, en route to Leeds station my journey continues but with much more humility.

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On the way back from Nottingham I was reminded how God never leaves us alone and we are always surrounded by other Christians. I boarded the train at Preston which was fairly empty, but my reserved seat was on a table with two guys probably about 19, and one had their bible on the table and must have been reading a particular passage. As I sat down next to the I felt a huge sense of relief, comfort and of being with family. We didn’t speak but just silently enjoyed Christian company. I thank the LORD for his lessons he has taught me on my travels that no matter how far away you may feel God is always bringing you back to His love.

What is the ideal Woman?

What do we think about when we think of image? 

What we should look like?

We’re comparing ourselves to this illusion of the ideal woman aren’t we. 

Well the average woman is 5’4” and weighs 10 stone. The average model is 5’11” and weighs 8 stone. 

That is a truly scary and unhealthy statistic. Only 2% of women are models. And we’re expected to aspire to that?! That’s ridiculous. It's a false standard. 

So here's what I think:

I think we need to forget what the media says to us and focus on the real women around us for a start! That is the reality, not some magazine. We can’t aspire to be like 2% of the population when we have been made to all be beautifully different.

Just pause and think

What are some of the issues that we struggle with when we think about our image?

Most of these things happen because we are comparing ourselves to someone. But why are we comparing ourselves? Well I think there are three underlying reasons which have come from Sophie De Witt's book, Compared to her:

• o Significance: making sure you’re worthwhile
• o    Satisfaction: making sure life is as good as it can be
• o    Security: making sure we have what we need

I’ve been reading this book and Sophie talks about something called Compulsive Comparison Syndrome or CCS for short, and I honestly believe we all suffer from it, I’ve struggled with it all my life I know that. But for me it all came to a head in my first year of university when I tried to change me and having the “ideal” body and being the most like this unrealistic expectation l I could be became the most important thing in the world. 

I found myself hating the body God had given me and trying to achieve the false ideal. Thankfully I kept going along to church and summer camps and God slapped me in the face with Psalm 139 in my face over and over again.

READ PSALM 139

God made us and knows everything about us. The creator of the whole universe made you and me exactly how we are supposed to be. We are made in the image of God, when we look in the mirror we see the image of God!

How does that make us feel?

How does that change how we view ourselves?

He has made us all differently however we look, it’s how he made us.

He has created a temple in us.