I've been incredibly bad at updating this, woops! If there's anyone still reading, thanks for hanging in there.
It has been crazily busy recently, I had my exams about 3 weeks after coming back from Christmas, so most of my time has been spent preparing for them. I only have two exams to sit in the rest of my degree, scary. Deadlines seem to be rushing at me, work piling up, and it's getting harder to catch my breath.
I spent the weekend in Reading, seeing Ben, Dan and Kita. It was so good to be able to stop, not think or worry about the work I had to do. The friendships that we had built over the last two years made it easy to slip into the familiar banter etc.
I think I'm fully starting to realise how much this period of our lives is a time of change and development. People are getting engaged and married. Some of us are closing in on graduation and the scary world outside of the university environment. It's a time when we move around, find out feet and build on the foundations of our formative years. It's when we make the friends for life, and the decisions that go along way to shaping our future. When I was at primary school, we had to write our autobiography. It was a little difficult at 11 to really understand what it meant to grow up. Here we were writing about our secondary school, the G.C.S.E's we got, the A levels we did, our university degree and our futures. I think I got married and had 3 children, and I studied to be a doctor specialising in sports injuries (I don't even know if I could have done that!!). I was treating the F1 drivers of the future. I didn't have any idea about what Biochemistry was, and looking back on it now, I've just realised God played very little role in my "life".
Oh how different reality is. God is a massive focus in my life. My doctor ambitions kinda fell through when my A levels weren't quite as good as the should have been (ok, they were no where near...). I am still vaugly considering getting involved in F1, but I think its a slim to zero chance, and not actually where I want to go. I may still end up in the NHS tho! I don't want 3 children anymore, but at the same time, I hope that I will be contented with as many or as few children as God choses for me (not that I want any right now, just in case you're getting worried...). I know have a better idea of what life is actually like, proper grown up life, and it still scares me, even though I'm taking tentative steps into this world of being a "responsible adult" (adult, gah, not yet, can't I wait a few years...?).
I can't remember if I've mentioned it, but I now have a mentor through church. It's been so good to have someone I can meet up with and chat God with, all the different things in my life, the struggles and the triumphs. It helps me keep balanced and focused. There are certain issues that I am struggling with letting go at the moment, but I have very much felt that I need to to move on and get where I need to be. (ok that was kinda vauge, but I hope you know what I mean).
Right I'm going to stop there before I go anymore crazy. It was more thoughtful that I was intending, but hopefully someone will read it!
God bless,
Night all,
Clare (Bristol/Ruth/Brian) xxx
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Monday, February 09, 2009
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Long time no chat,
so how are you all out in the blog world? (I know I haven't blogged in agessss, again, rubbish I know, i am very sorry about that! There is no excuse!!)
I have, unfortunately, been ill for the past two weeks, a really bad cold, but something that refused to get better. My supervisor told me to take the time off, so I haven't worked on my project for two weeks, and term ends next week...ah!! But I'm confident that everything will work out. I just need to get better!!
God has been very good to me over the last month. First, I received a message from one of my old school friends, reminding me of a conversation that we once had about Christian rock music. He had found a song, All the Words, by Kutless that he loved, but was very surprised to find out, on more research, that the band were in fact Christian. For some reason, and I'm really not complaining, he decided to share this story with me, which was awesome! The song is a song that I've found really inspiring, so I'm grateful to him for that as well. It's strange how God works isn't it!
We had a really good God time at cell a few weeks ago, talking about the gift of the profetic. The session ended with a prayer time asking for words for the other group members, which was awesome. Every member got at least one word. The words for me were very true, and helpful. I love how God works.
In another random event, I went to a church in Swindon a few weeks ago with a friend, to support them at their first visit to this church, in fact any church in a long time. It was a privalage to be able to go with them and provide the support. They were crazy enough to drive and pick me up so that I could go, as well as drive me back at the end of the day. Absolutely mental!! I had a fun time, and enjoyed the church. I was impressed with how welcoming they were, but was slightly surprised by the 2 minute break beween the worship and the talk, that was new on me!
Also, last Thursday, instead of cell, a group of us took mince-pies into halls to wish people a merry Christmas (yes, because it is nearly Christmass, somehow...not sure where November went, I think I blinked and missed it!!). We were also offering to do students washing up. People were either surprising clean and had already done it(!) or didn't want us to see the mess, and let us do it for them. Rachael did pray for one girl with a cold, and we had a couple of good chats, steming from the "why on earth would you want to do someone elses washing up?" question. I really pray that some seeds were planted in people, and that they remember us and think more about out motives.
I now have all of my coursework back, and was amazed by one piece in which I got 82%, I'm not sure how it happened, but I was overjoyed!! The rest of my work was good, but not quite as stunning.
I'm now looking at what next, after graduation, and that is a massive maze to get through, with so many options, and requirements, deadlines, etc to fight through. I am really praying into where I should go, but it's still going to be a lot of work. I know I will end up where God wants me if I listen to Him.
I really feel like I have missed something, this is why I should blog more regularly!! Woopsie!
I shall wrap up there, I really don't feel like I have done God justice in this post, but I hope and pray that His awesomness will still come through this post, and my blog, and my life!
God bless
Bristol xxx
I have, unfortunately, been ill for the past two weeks, a really bad cold, but something that refused to get better. My supervisor told me to take the time off, so I haven't worked on my project for two weeks, and term ends next week...ah!! But I'm confident that everything will work out. I just need to get better!!
God has been very good to me over the last month. First, I received a message from one of my old school friends, reminding me of a conversation that we once had about Christian rock music. He had found a song, All the Words, by Kutless that he loved, but was very surprised to find out, on more research, that the band were in fact Christian. For some reason, and I'm really not complaining, he decided to share this story with me, which was awesome! The song is a song that I've found really inspiring, so I'm grateful to him for that as well. It's strange how God works isn't it!
We had a really good God time at cell a few weeks ago, talking about the gift of the profetic. The session ended with a prayer time asking for words for the other group members, which was awesome. Every member got at least one word. The words for me were very true, and helpful. I love how God works.
In another random event, I went to a church in Swindon a few weeks ago with a friend, to support them at their first visit to this church, in fact any church in a long time. It was a privalage to be able to go with them and provide the support. They were crazy enough to drive and pick me up so that I could go, as well as drive me back at the end of the day. Absolutely mental!! I had a fun time, and enjoyed the church. I was impressed with how welcoming they were, but was slightly surprised by the 2 minute break beween the worship and the talk, that was new on me!
Also, last Thursday, instead of cell, a group of us took mince-pies into halls to wish people a merry Christmas (yes, because it is nearly Christmass, somehow...not sure where November went, I think I blinked and missed it!!). We were also offering to do students washing up. People were either surprising clean and had already done it(!) or didn't want us to see the mess, and let us do it for them. Rachael did pray for one girl with a cold, and we had a couple of good chats, steming from the "why on earth would you want to do someone elses washing up?" question. I really pray that some seeds were planted in people, and that they remember us and think more about out motives.
I now have all of my coursework back, and was amazed by one piece in which I got 82%, I'm not sure how it happened, but I was overjoyed!! The rest of my work was good, but not quite as stunning.
I'm now looking at what next, after graduation, and that is a massive maze to get through, with so many options, and requirements, deadlines, etc to fight through. I am really praying into where I should go, but it's still going to be a lot of work. I know I will end up where God wants me if I listen to Him.
I really feel like I have missed something, this is why I should blog more regularly!! Woopsie!
I shall wrap up there, I really don't feel like I have done God justice in this post, but I hope and pray that His awesomness will still come through this post, and my blog, and my life!
God bless
Bristol xxx
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Busy Week
Hello again,
I've just completed my first week of project research, which was really good if a little tedious. There are two of us try to use the same piece of equipment so we can be a little limited as to what can be achieved in a day. I am working on the BIACORE machine, using SPR (surface plasmon resonance) to detect binding of small molecules to a protein. There is a lot of set up that has to be done first, such as checking the right pH levels (pH scouting, which I have completed for the RNase E E. Coli molecule, but still have to do for the RNase E TB molecule) and finding the correct buffers, so as not to make the protein too unhappy. Toni, I will be working with HPLC in a few weeks I think, so I am not fully sure of the methods used yet, as I still need to be trained on the machine. Just in case you're wondering, (most of you probably aren't!) I have also been studying the turning on and off of genes, and embryo development, including a practical in a few weeks cutting up a chick embryo.
In other news, I've had a really good God week. I asked if Adam (Blade) could find me someone to mentor me through this year, as I feel that it is something I really wanted to do, and would be good to have that extra support. I met her on Sunday, and she is lovely. We had our first "proper" chat on Monday evening over coffee, and it was really good! I found it incredibly helpful, and I had space to think and hear God. Things had got a little...foggy, over the past few weeks, and after letting some stuff go, it was really good to feel God's presence everywhere in my life.
I'm settling into the house well, and getting back into the swing of fending for myself, kind of. My clothes are mostly clean and I haven't starved yet!!
Last weekend I paid a trip up to see Ben, Dan and Nikita in Reading. It was great to arrive on the Friday evening, and feel like old times again. I miss it, but realise that the friendships I've made may be sightly different, they are still as strong as the were. The one problem I've found with going to Reading was that I always end up bringing back more than I went with, and that usually means I've been shopping :S but it's still fun!! Ben and I met up with some of the King's guys who had gone up for a conference, and came back with them on the Saturday night, so Ben could see Portsmouth people. And annoyingly they are renovating the lock near Ben's house on the Kennet and Avon canal, so I could go sit on the balance beam as I wanted...so I'm going to have to pay another trip to see them just to do that :P.
Finally, if anyone can help me make sense of miRNAs that would be appreciated! I have a paper analysis to write by next Friday, and I am totally lost in my subject!!
God bless,
Clare xxx (Or Bristol, as I seem to now be in the house!!!)
I've just completed my first week of project research, which was really good if a little tedious. There are two of us try to use the same piece of equipment so we can be a little limited as to what can be achieved in a day. I am working on the BIACORE machine, using SPR (surface plasmon resonance) to detect binding of small molecules to a protein. There is a lot of set up that has to be done first, such as checking the right pH levels (pH scouting, which I have completed for the RNase E E. Coli molecule, but still have to do for the RNase E TB molecule) and finding the correct buffers, so as not to make the protein too unhappy. Toni, I will be working with HPLC in a few weeks I think, so I am not fully sure of the methods used yet, as I still need to be trained on the machine. Just in case you're wondering, (most of you probably aren't!) I have also been studying the turning on and off of genes, and embryo development, including a practical in a few weeks cutting up a chick embryo.
In other news, I've had a really good God week. I asked if Adam (Blade) could find me someone to mentor me through this year, as I feel that it is something I really wanted to do, and would be good to have that extra support. I met her on Sunday, and she is lovely. We had our first "proper" chat on Monday evening over coffee, and it was really good! I found it incredibly helpful, and I had space to think and hear God. Things had got a little...foggy, over the past few weeks, and after letting some stuff go, it was really good to feel God's presence everywhere in my life.
I'm settling into the house well, and getting back into the swing of fending for myself, kind of. My clothes are mostly clean and I haven't starved yet!!
Last weekend I paid a trip up to see Ben, Dan and Nikita in Reading. It was great to arrive on the Friday evening, and feel like old times again. I miss it, but realise that the friendships I've made may be sightly different, they are still as strong as the were. The one problem I've found with going to Reading was that I always end up bringing back more than I went with, and that usually means I've been shopping :S but it's still fun!! Ben and I met up with some of the King's guys who had gone up for a conference, and came back with them on the Saturday night, so Ben could see Portsmouth people. And annoyingly they are renovating the lock near Ben's house on the Kennet and Avon canal, so I could go sit on the balance beam as I wanted...so I'm going to have to pay another trip to see them just to do that :P.
Finally, if anyone can help me make sense of miRNAs that would be appreciated! I have a paper analysis to write by next Friday, and I am totally lost in my subject!!
God bless,
Clare xxx (Or Bristol, as I seem to now be in the house!!!)
Saturday, October 13, 2007
God didn't screw up when He made us
I was listen to Our God Reigns, by Delirious? and one lyric caught my attention "God didn't screw up when He made you". So I googled it and found the rest of the lyrics.
Psalm one hundred and thirty nine is the conscience to our selfish crime,
God didn’t screw up when he made you,
He’s a father who loves to parade you.
So I looked at Psalm 139, verses 3-5 say
3 You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
In what ever is going to happen God already knows, He's there Guiding my path.
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
How amazing is Our God. How little do I say that?
Psalm one hundred and thirty nine is the conscience to our selfish crime,
God didn’t screw up when he made you,
He’s a father who loves to parade you.
So I looked at Psalm 139, verses 3-5 say
3 You chart the path ahead of me
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment you know where I am.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
In what ever is going to happen God already knows, He's there Guiding my path.
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
How amazing is Our God. How little do I say that?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Me again...
Hello!!
Once again we have entered the dreaded exam period... :(, but that also means that I have nearly finished my first year at uni. I think that I more scary... To think that around 8 months ago things were sooo different, I had very few Christian friends, very few close friends, I rarely went out, whether it was just to see a friends, or a film, or clubbing. I never imagined quite how settled I would feel down here, that I would get on well with my flat mates, and hopefully not loose contact with some of them next year, that I was have a house sorted with house mates I'm looking forward to living with.
I go to a good, active church. I'm part of a great cell group, where I don't feel like I have to hide anything. God has been doing alot of work in my life, both with issues that I was aware of, and some that I had tried to bury. I would say that I have been broken by Him, but healed by Him. My faith has grown, through the rough patches, the really bad homesickness (which, I'm pleased to say has nearly gone..!! I still miss home tho!), the times I felt really distant from God.
The course is going well. I have found me feet, and am understanding lectures. The work side still need some more improvement, but it'll get there.
Things have been very positive. Four months at home, then back to the uni life.
Clare xxx
Once again we have entered the dreaded exam period... :(, but that also means that I have nearly finished my first year at uni. I think that I more scary... To think that around 8 months ago things were sooo different, I had very few Christian friends, very few close friends, I rarely went out, whether it was just to see a friends, or a film, or clubbing. I never imagined quite how settled I would feel down here, that I would get on well with my flat mates, and hopefully not loose contact with some of them next year, that I was have a house sorted with house mates I'm looking forward to living with.
I go to a good, active church. I'm part of a great cell group, where I don't feel like I have to hide anything. God has been doing alot of work in my life, both with issues that I was aware of, and some that I had tried to bury. I would say that I have been broken by Him, but healed by Him. My faith has grown, through the rough patches, the really bad homesickness (which, I'm pleased to say has nearly gone..!! I still miss home tho!), the times I felt really distant from God.
The course is going well. I have found me feet, and am understanding lectures. The work side still need some more improvement, but it'll get there.
Things have been very positive. Four months at home, then back to the uni life.
Clare xxx
Monday, May 07, 2007
Transition...
...were absolutely AMAZING!!!! I'm really glad that I got to come back to see them.
Friday night was the acoustic gig, it was lovely. When I arrived, I managed to find Martin and Tina, Steve and Niall's parents, who I met and worked with for the Love Bristol Festival last summer. In the hall were large tables, with chairs and candles. The atmosphere was really relaxed as well. I ended up sitting at a table with some of the bands relatives: Steve and Niall's parents, and 3 cousins, and Jesse and Josh's mum and aunt...weird. The night started with Fiach, an Irish singer/songwriter, also Niall and Steve's cousin. He played a few songs, and really helped set the tone for the evening.
Then the band came on. The set was a mix of really old, old, new and very new songs, intermixed with funny stories about the band, mostly told by Jess but with input from the others. I'm not sure how funny it was meant to be but there were some very funny bits. On two occasions, the guys got us to sing along, complete with three part going during one song!! The band generally only play: bass, guitars and drums, but they even managed a harp for one of the new songs... I also got a Transition jacket :D
Saturday was the electric set, a lot louder, and with more audience participation. They had two support bands, who were good, before they played. What was weird was that the various members of Transition were wandering around the audience during the support acts. I brought their album, Openhanded and Undetected (again!!!, 'cos my last copy is still on loan somewhere...) and got the guys to sign it... Tina was with me and asked Jesse, who was stood next to us, if he would sign it, and he then offered to get the other guys to sign it as well, they really are lovely guys!!
The actually set was amazing, similar to the Friday, with the mix of songs an stories, but different stories, more relevant to the crowd, and a different set, ending with two fantastic new songs, which have made me even more excited for the new album... :D. Unfortunately, I had to leave before the guys had come out, so I didn't get a chance to say bye, but that can be said in the email.
And incase you don't know who Transition are... their website is here
and this is the video for While We Walk, played on MTV:
As to the rest of my weekend, it was really good. I had a good time at home. I helped to do the display for the 229th Scouts AGM, well the Beavers part. On the Sunday, I got to got to Salem again, an see everyone, and was there for a service for one of our missionaries, and for a bring and share lunch. In the evening, I went with the youth group, to the Mix, a monthly youth service. It was really good, and had a very good message about the Church. It also gave me a change to see a few people who I worked with during the Love Bristol Festival.
I came back today, and had a surprisingly good journey.
Think that's it...
Clare xxx
Friday night was the acoustic gig, it was lovely. When I arrived, I managed to find Martin and Tina, Steve and Niall's parents, who I met and worked with for the Love Bristol Festival last summer. In the hall were large tables, with chairs and candles. The atmosphere was really relaxed as well. I ended up sitting at a table with some of the bands relatives: Steve and Niall's parents, and 3 cousins, and Jesse and Josh's mum and aunt...weird. The night started with Fiach, an Irish singer/songwriter, also Niall and Steve's cousin. He played a few songs, and really helped set the tone for the evening.
Then the band came on. The set was a mix of really old, old, new and very new songs, intermixed with funny stories about the band, mostly told by Jess but with input from the others. I'm not sure how funny it was meant to be but there were some very funny bits. On two occasions, the guys got us to sing along, complete with three part going during one song!! The band generally only play: bass, guitars and drums, but they even managed a harp for one of the new songs... I also got a Transition jacket :D
Saturday was the electric set, a lot louder, and with more audience participation. They had two support bands, who were good, before they played. What was weird was that the various members of Transition were wandering around the audience during the support acts. I brought their album, Openhanded and Undetected (again!!!, 'cos my last copy is still on loan somewhere...) and got the guys to sign it... Tina was with me and asked Jesse, who was stood next to us, if he would sign it, and he then offered to get the other guys to sign it as well, they really are lovely guys!!
The actually set was amazing, similar to the Friday, with the mix of songs an stories, but different stories, more relevant to the crowd, and a different set, ending with two fantastic new songs, which have made me even more excited for the new album... :D. Unfortunately, I had to leave before the guys had come out, so I didn't get a chance to say bye, but that can be said in the email.
And incase you don't know who Transition are... their website is here
and this is the video for While We Walk, played on MTV:
As to the rest of my weekend, it was really good. I had a good time at home. I helped to do the display for the 229th Scouts AGM, well the Beavers part. On the Sunday, I got to got to Salem again, an see everyone, and was there for a service for one of our missionaries, and for a bring and share lunch. In the evening, I went with the youth group, to the Mix, a monthly youth service. It was really good, and had a very good message about the Church. It also gave me a change to see a few people who I worked with during the Love Bristol Festival.
I came back today, and had a surprisingly good journey.
Think that's it...
Clare xxx
Friday, May 04, 2007
Manic...
...I have no idea what the time of this post will be, but it is now 3:02 according to my computer.
After leaving Dan's I came back to mine, to pack, and then get a semi-early night...why do my plans NEVER work...?? I had just finished packing when one of my course mates came online, then wanted to ring me. It was now 12:30 ish...not entirely sure... He rang me, and the conversation made me feel upset and guilty, I won't say why, but I really felt like packing everything in and just giving up...what was the point anymore...?
I rang Ben, and he was still at Dan's...which was good for me, because it meant that I could go up and see them for support, what I needed right then before I fliped, or started on that horrible dark, downward spiral that could have happened. Dan made me a great latte, hit the spot, and I had space to talk and cry. I then stayed for a bit, before I started falling asleep. At that point, the guys realised that there was some printing they needed doing. could I do it? It was gone 2...but sure, why not...? SO ran back to my flat, did the printing and then back up to Dan's. I have now left for the final time, and will probably try to sleep soon. TBH, I don't really feel like sleeping. Still feel a bit unsettled and upset, so my have a nice little chat with the Big Dude up stairs.
So much to do...so little time...
Clare xxx
After leaving Dan's I came back to mine, to pack, and then get a semi-early night...why do my plans NEVER work...?? I had just finished packing when one of my course mates came online, then wanted to ring me. It was now 12:30 ish...not entirely sure... He rang me, and the conversation made me feel upset and guilty, I won't say why, but I really felt like packing everything in and just giving up...what was the point anymore...?
I rang Ben, and he was still at Dan's...which was good for me, because it meant that I could go up and see them for support, what I needed right then before I fliped, or started on that horrible dark, downward spiral that could have happened. Dan made me a great latte, hit the spot, and I had space to talk and cry. I then stayed for a bit, before I started falling asleep. At that point, the guys realised that there was some printing they needed doing. could I do it? It was gone 2...but sure, why not...? SO ran back to my flat, did the printing and then back up to Dan's. I have now left for the final time, and will probably try to sleep soon. TBH, I don't really feel like sleeping. Still feel a bit unsettled and upset, so my have a nice little chat with the Big Dude up stairs.
So much to do...so little time...
Clare xxx
Thursday, May 03, 2007
My Week...
I am currently getting overly excited because I'm going home tomorrow!!! :D But it's te reason I'm going that I'm really looking forward to!! I am going to see Transition...yay!!! Have I lost you yet?? Transition are a Bristol based band that I met last summer and love!! It is their 10th anniversary gig, playing an accoustic set on Friday night and a electric set on Saturday. The only downside is that my dad is taking me, and it's about a 45 minute drive from home...so I owe him big time!! :P
My week in general has been fairly good, not quite the average week. Probably best to start on Sunday...
Sunday: My morning was lazy as usual, and things didn't really get exciting until the evening. Last Sunday, there was a baptism at King's which is always exciting, but we also had a really good speaker over from Australia. His talk was about trying to balance giving and praying. It was very challenging but such a good talk. God was really talking to me both then and during this week, prompting me to do a few things that I wouldn't have normally done, and had never done before.
Monday: I had a few lectures, then I met with Ben and we went shopping. We decided that for tea, as Dan was away, we would make Shepherds pie. So after Ben had got back from Big Band we went back to his kitchen and cooked! It was quite exciting really! And tasted good!!! :D
Tuesday: Started off the day by going to the beach with Ben and Sam, having ice cream (yay!!) and then lying on the beach before an early lunch so that Ben and I could get to our lecture on time. After Ben had finished work we went down to Jamocha's for Cell, complete with a cardboard cutout of Dan...!! Cell was good. We were looking at the main focuses of student life and how we can evangelise in those circumstances.
Wednesday: No lectures...!!! Tesco with Dan (who arrived back on Tuesday evening, very late...), then Diane came round to work on our project for a bit, before I headed up to Dan's flat, where we sat for a bit before deciding to go to see Shooter, a verg good film, better than I expected...!!
Today: (is it really Thursday??) My longest day this week...but surprisingly managble...Mervyn came round so I could go through Differentiation with him...so fun!!! And now, I am, as usual, sat in Dan's flat, typing this post, on Ben's laptop with a dodgy 'H' key... I do need to pack at some point...and I may go put the oven on, so we can eat sometime before midnight..!! :P
TTFN
Clare xxx
P.S. We're gonna have pizza...!!! :P :D
My week in general has been fairly good, not quite the average week. Probably best to start on Sunday...
Sunday: My morning was lazy as usual, and things didn't really get exciting until the evening. Last Sunday, there was a baptism at King's which is always exciting, but we also had a really good speaker over from Australia. His talk was about trying to balance giving and praying. It was very challenging but such a good talk. God was really talking to me both then and during this week, prompting me to do a few things that I wouldn't have normally done, and had never done before.
Monday: I had a few lectures, then I met with Ben and we went shopping. We decided that for tea, as Dan was away, we would make Shepherds pie. So after Ben had got back from Big Band we went back to his kitchen and cooked! It was quite exciting really! And tasted good!!! :D
Tuesday: Started off the day by going to the beach with Ben and Sam, having ice cream (yay!!) and then lying on the beach before an early lunch so that Ben and I could get to our lecture on time. After Ben had finished work we went down to Jamocha's for Cell, complete with a cardboard cutout of Dan...!! Cell was good. We were looking at the main focuses of student life and how we can evangelise in those circumstances.
Wednesday: No lectures...!!! Tesco with Dan (who arrived back on Tuesday evening, very late...), then Diane came round to work on our project for a bit, before I headed up to Dan's flat, where we sat for a bit before deciding to go to see Shooter, a verg good film, better than I expected...!!
Today: (is it really Thursday??) My longest day this week...but surprisingly managble...Mervyn came round so I could go through Differentiation with him...so fun!!! And now, I am, as usual, sat in Dan's flat, typing this post, on Ben's laptop with a dodgy 'H' key... I do need to pack at some point...and I may go put the oven on, so we can eat sometime before midnight..!! :P
TTFN
Clare xxx
P.S. We're gonna have pizza...!!! :P :D
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Tuesday Cell
Its been two days since cell group. I've been meaning and wanting to write about it, but I've really struggled to find away to communicate it effectively. I'm going to try my best now, but who knows what will happen.
The main point of the evening was just to spend a lot of time in prayer and worship and really come open hearted to God and honestly and openly talk to Him and meet with Him.
We started with a time of worship, writing a letter to him and just thanking and praising Him.
We were asked about things that we would like prayer for, things that we felt needed prayer for. I had two major points weighing on my mind. One was a connection with God, something that I have felt slipping and fading, the other being mental healing. We were then asked if we felt more comfortable praying in small groups, which I did. At that time, even though there were only 7 of us, I felt like that was still too many. So we split, with Dan, Dan, Ben and Matt in one group and Rachel, Adam and I in the other group.
TBH, I was dreading it, I had to be open and honest, and that meant revisiting painful things. Not something anyone wanted to do. I had been vauge about the cause of the emotional hurt in the larger group, and it was good to feel able to tell the others what was going on. I didn't manage it with out the inevitable tears but there was so much love and comfort around me I felt safe to do that and almost forget the situation and focus on God and the prayers.
I don't know how long we were praying for. But the more we prayed to more everything changed. This is the really difficult bit to explain. When we felt ready to finish praying we did. Adam asked me how I felt. I felt drained, empty. The really strange thing was, whilst I was vaugly aware of what the main prayer points were, it was, and still is, very difficult to focus on them. It was always a small trigger that could set my mind off, but it no longer feels that way. We then prayed for a filling and restoring for me. Things felt different.
We then went on to pray for Rachel and Adam for the various things that they needed.
The connection feels more there. The knowledge that I always held hasn't changed. Just the feeling and my heart.
I hope that this conveys everything clearly. I am sorry about the fact that some parts of this have been vauge but I hope that the general points are there.
Until next time...
Clare xxx
The main point of the evening was just to spend a lot of time in prayer and worship and really come open hearted to God and honestly and openly talk to Him and meet with Him.
We started with a time of worship, writing a letter to him and just thanking and praising Him.
We were asked about things that we would like prayer for, things that we felt needed prayer for. I had two major points weighing on my mind. One was a connection with God, something that I have felt slipping and fading, the other being mental healing. We were then asked if we felt more comfortable praying in small groups, which I did. At that time, even though there were only 7 of us, I felt like that was still too many. So we split, with Dan, Dan, Ben and Matt in one group and Rachel, Adam and I in the other group.
TBH, I was dreading it, I had to be open and honest, and that meant revisiting painful things. Not something anyone wanted to do. I had been vauge about the cause of the emotional hurt in the larger group, and it was good to feel able to tell the others what was going on. I didn't manage it with out the inevitable tears but there was so much love and comfort around me I felt safe to do that and almost forget the situation and focus on God and the prayers.
I don't know how long we were praying for. But the more we prayed to more everything changed. This is the really difficult bit to explain. When we felt ready to finish praying we did. Adam asked me how I felt. I felt drained, empty. The really strange thing was, whilst I was vaugly aware of what the main prayer points were, it was, and still is, very difficult to focus on them. It was always a small trigger that could set my mind off, but it no longer feels that way. We then prayed for a filling and restoring for me. Things felt different.
We then went on to pray for Rachel and Adam for the various things that they needed.
The connection feels more there. The knowledge that I always held hasn't changed. Just the feeling and my heart.
I hope that this conveys everything clearly. I am sorry about the fact that some parts of this have been vauge but I hope that the general points are there.
Until next time...
Clare xxx
Thursday, November 30, 2006
The Passion of the Christ
I finally watched it, I've been meaning to watch it for ages and I finally did. Dan, Ben and I all gathered in Dan's room and, after what can only be described as delaying tactics (food, drink, web type things), we finally put the disk in and pressed play. The film bought up a lot of questions, and I think we all decided that it wasn't a film you could be quiet in or watch alone. Having Ben and Dan joke about stuff helped lighten the mood when the horrible stuff happened. It was a really good film, but one I'm not sure that I would want to watch again.
Last night we said that one of the reasons it was so hard to watch, was that it wasn't a fiction story, sprung from the mind of a writer some where, but it happened, it really happened, and it happened because of me, He died for me!! There are many times when its still a really hard concept to cope with. The reality of the suffering is very clear in the film. Sometimes, the only image you see of Christ on the cross is a man with a few scratches and a hole in his side, not the image presented in the film, the more accurate version.
I also agree with what Ben put in his blog. You can read it here.
Thats all for now folks!
Clare x
Last night we said that one of the reasons it was so hard to watch, was that it wasn't a fiction story, sprung from the mind of a writer some where, but it happened, it really happened, and it happened because of me, He died for me!! There are many times when its still a really hard concept to cope with. The reality of the suffering is very clear in the film. Sometimes, the only image you see of Christ on the cross is a man with a few scratches and a hole in his side, not the image presented in the film, the more accurate version.
I also agree with what Ben put in his blog. You can read it here.
Thats all for now folks!
Clare x
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Fusion
Right, I'm far to tired to write this, but I know that if I don't write it people will moan that I haven't blogged!!! So here it is, my view on the Fusion weekend.
We, Ben, Adam, Adam and I, travelled to Oxford Friday night, Dan had travelled down on Thursday and Sam was coming down later. Adam (Blade) had bought some cards, sensible idea!! So we had something to do. Most of us had a seat for most of the journey and eventually arrived in Oxford, to be collected by Dan. We drove back to his house, abandoned our bags in the kitchen and had time for a drink and PS2 playing before leaving for Fusion. Arrived at about 6:30, was still really quiet, but we had cards so we were alrite!! The first session was really good, we stayed for the after hours stuff, then went to leave at around 11:30. Sam had to drop some friends off at the Park and Ride, easy...right? Um...no. There are quite a few in Oxford, and we had got lost. So after a lengthy phone conversation with Ben, trying to give him and the others some idea where we were, they found us and led us to the right Park and Ride!! We got back at around 12:30 i think, plenty of time for tea and PS2!!!!!! We eventually got to bed at 3ish, Dan, Adam and Adam in Dans room, and Ben and I in the living room. Ben borrowed this massive blow up bed, it was taller than the sofas and took up the entire spare space in the living room. Fun!!!
We had set my alarm for 7:30, the time Dan said we should be up to get us there in good time. So, at 7:30 my alarm went off, and Ben and I dragged our selves out of ur sleeping bags and got up. We were kind enough to wake the others up. It only took three attempts and was well past nine by the time they were up, so we had missed half of the first session, oh well!! We had a good, if busy day. Two main sessions, then lunch, of rolls and stuff, then three seminars, tea (McDonalds...) then back for the main evening session. The speaker was really good and inspiring! We got back earlier, after staying to play cards eat cake and listen to the jazz band, and managed to make it to bed at around 1.
The alarm was set for the same time, and once again, Ben and I were up, with a bit more effort this time. We decided not to poke the others until 9, the time the first session started...so we missed that one!!! We got there with time to spare before the main and final session. So, guess what...we played cards...you seeing a pattern here? Then it was time for the main service. We were all still half asleep, but some how only Ben managed to fall asleep during the talk!!! We were sat on the floor, and he had lay down with a cushion under his head, so it wasn't that surprising. At the end of the service, we had to rush off because Chris, Dan's brother needed his drum sticks, which were in the car we had. So back to Dan's house briefly before go to meet Toni and Chris. It was great to finally meet them after hearing so much about them and reading Toni's blog for a while. We had lunch there, before deciding, well Dan decided and the rest of us just sat there, to visit Dan's church. It was a good service there, but we had to rush off again to get our bags from Dan's house before catching the train home again. It was a fairly uneventful journey home, I was sooo tired!! Then back to my flat.
I ended up going to Dan's flat where I watched two episodes of Torchwood. Then I went back to my room, and failed to get the early night I planned!! Oh well....
Today and Monday were fairly uneventful. Only one lcture yesterday, then worship training in the evening, and I didn't feel well today so I only went to one lecture today...oops!!
Now sat in Dan's flat, with ben, all three of us on computers....who said people don't talk anymore...???
That's it for now...you can stop moaning about a lack of blogging for at least a day of two...can't you?
Clare (or is it Ruth again?) xx
We, Ben, Adam, Adam and I, travelled to Oxford Friday night, Dan had travelled down on Thursday and Sam was coming down later. Adam (Blade) had bought some cards, sensible idea!! So we had something to do. Most of us had a seat for most of the journey and eventually arrived in Oxford, to be collected by Dan. We drove back to his house, abandoned our bags in the kitchen and had time for a drink and PS2 playing before leaving for Fusion. Arrived at about 6:30, was still really quiet, but we had cards so we were alrite!! The first session was really good, we stayed for the after hours stuff, then went to leave at around 11:30. Sam had to drop some friends off at the Park and Ride, easy...right? Um...no. There are quite a few in Oxford, and we had got lost. So after a lengthy phone conversation with Ben, trying to give him and the others some idea where we were, they found us and led us to the right Park and Ride!! We got back at around 12:30 i think, plenty of time for tea and PS2!!!!!! We eventually got to bed at 3ish, Dan, Adam and Adam in Dans room, and Ben and I in the living room. Ben borrowed this massive blow up bed, it was taller than the sofas and took up the entire spare space in the living room. Fun!!!
We had set my alarm for 7:30, the time Dan said we should be up to get us there in good time. So, at 7:30 my alarm went off, and Ben and I dragged our selves out of ur sleeping bags and got up. We were kind enough to wake the others up. It only took three attempts and was well past nine by the time they were up, so we had missed half of the first session, oh well!! We had a good, if busy day. Two main sessions, then lunch, of rolls and stuff, then three seminars, tea (McDonalds...) then back for the main evening session. The speaker was really good and inspiring! We got back earlier, after staying to play cards eat cake and listen to the jazz band, and managed to make it to bed at around 1.
The alarm was set for the same time, and once again, Ben and I were up, with a bit more effort this time. We decided not to poke the others until 9, the time the first session started...so we missed that one!!! We got there with time to spare before the main and final session. So, guess what...we played cards...you seeing a pattern here? Then it was time for the main service. We were all still half asleep, but some how only Ben managed to fall asleep during the talk!!! We were sat on the floor, and he had lay down with a cushion under his head, so it wasn't that surprising. At the end of the service, we had to rush off because Chris, Dan's brother needed his drum sticks, which were in the car we had. So back to Dan's house briefly before go to meet Toni and Chris. It was great to finally meet them after hearing so much about them and reading Toni's blog for a while. We had lunch there, before deciding, well Dan decided and the rest of us just sat there, to visit Dan's church. It was a good service there, but we had to rush off again to get our bags from Dan's house before catching the train home again. It was a fairly uneventful journey home, I was sooo tired!! Then back to my flat.
I ended up going to Dan's flat where I watched two episodes of Torchwood. Then I went back to my room, and failed to get the early night I planned!! Oh well....
Today and Monday were fairly uneventful. Only one lcture yesterday, then worship training in the evening, and I didn't feel well today so I only went to one lecture today...oops!!
Now sat in Dan's flat, with ben, all three of us on computers....who said people don't talk anymore...???
That's it for now...you can stop moaning about a lack of blogging for at least a day of two...can't you?
Clare (or is it Ruth again?) xx
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