Inspiring

I pinched this off Chris's blog because I liked it a lot.

I refuse to be discouraged, To be sad, or to cry;
I refuse to be downhearted, and here’s the reason why:
I have a God who’s mighty, Who’s sovereign and supreme;
I have a God who loves me, and I am on His team.

He is all-wise and powerful. Jesus is His name;
Though everything is changeable, My God remains the same.
My God knows all that’s happening; Beginning to the end;
His presence is my comfort; He is my dearest Friend.

When sickness comes to weaken me, To bring my head down low,
I call upon my mighty God; Into His arms I go.
When circumstances threaten to rob me of my peace;
He draws me close unto His breast, Where all my strivings cease.

When my heart melts within me, and weakness takes control;
He gathers me into His arms, He soothes my heart and soul.
The great “I AM” is with me. My life is in His hand.
The “Son of the Lord” is my hope. It’s in His strength I stand.

I refuse to be defeated. My eyes are on my God;
He has promised to be with me, As through this life I trod.
I’m looking past all my circumstances, To Heaven’s throne above;
My prayers have reached the heart of God I’m resting in His love.

I give God thanks in everything. My eyes are on His face;
The battle’s His, the victory mine; He’ll help me win the race.

Stronger

I know I've said it many times, that God is my strength, but until recently I had just related that strength to the fact that I got through losing my lovely son and can still look at life with a positive mind. But it is so much more than that. I have totally changed, I'm not the person I was before I asked God to come into my life.

Frida's visit was the first thing that lead me to look at where I am now. I remember thinking how is it possible for anyone to forgive on the scale that she had, and how can she smile and be so positive. Second, I recently had what people who have lost someone very close to them term 'a wave', this is when grief hits you all over again. Afterwards I realised that although I'd been terribly sad during that wave, I still remained positive about everything else in my life. Terribly sad and positive are two emotions that could never have happened at the same time in my old life. Oh no! if I was terribly sad, then I would veer towards negative and depressed would usually make an appearance.

Thirdly, on Sunday Col (our pastor) talked about achieving greater things through faith, he said we're surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses, we should choose to find the gifts in each other and encourage them to get to the finishing line. We all have a different race mapped out for us and we all have a different finishing line, so there's no competition and we can all help each other to get there. Don't look back, look forward and with perseverance head for the the finishing line throwing off anything that entangles us. A few years ago I would have heard those words and my reaction would have been 'easier said than done Col'. but college this year has shown me time after time that to live by this brings out the very best in the human spirit.

I have a fourth so sit back down.

An injury to my shoulder and neck prompted me to get in touch with someone I haven't seen for two years, she's a holistic therapist and she's going to fix me, but the bonus is, she will also give me an insight into treating people from a holistic point of view and that will be invaluable for when I become a nurse.

Because I'm a student I now have to evaluate.

Because I have God in my life I have equilibrium, I trust totally in where I am and where I'm going and if things change tomorrow I know I'll be ok.

Amazing

My life goes from strength to strength, I haven't been on here for a while but I just wanted to do a quick update to let anyone who reads this blog know I'm good. I have something on my heart and will blog soon.

God Bless.
x x x

Special day.

I have had the most amazing day today and I'll carry it with me for ever and ever. We had Frida from Rwanda visiting us, she shared her miraculous story of her escape from death during the genocide in 1994. She also spoke to us about forgiveness and how she'd been freed by forgiving the people who killed her family and left her presumed dead. I mentioned Frida previously on here when her husband was visiting us sometime last year and I longed to meet her, but didn't ever think I would. You know that feeling you get when someone inspires you and you would love to meet them in person, well I had that when I listened to Steve (her husband) talking about her. I couldn't believe it when Col (our pastor) said she was going to be coming to our church sometime this year.

This morning I was humbled by her courage, touched by her sincerity and so full of happiness from the infectious joy that she spread through the whole room. I cried the whole way through the first part of her story this morning, but tonight, yes, I was still moved beyond belief that a human being should have had to endure such horror, but I was also fired up with enthusiasm. Frida will probably never know the extent to which she has made a difference to me, I'll hold her in my heart for ever and I thank God for sending her to our church. Frida has written a book about her story, if you have a few bob spare go buy it and help her to continue to make a difference.

'Chosen to die, destined to live'
Frida Gashumba

God Bless you Frida.

I do like Sundays.

I had the skin prickling much joy feeling at church this morning and the amosphere was amazing, as it always is when many people gather in the presence of God. I've been praying for someone very dear to me and while I was driving home a picture came into my head, I saw the person smiling and chatting with a look on their face that I haven't seen for a long time.

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles.

James

Have four birthdays really passed
Since we spoke
Since we shared a smile
Or listened to
'A different beat'
Together.

Missing you lots, Happy Birthday babe.
Love Aunty Sue x

When the lion roars.

I think this video is totally awsome, what an amazing testimony. Thanks to Chris for posting it on his blog and to Rebecca for sharing her story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut1SR4pPMKA