Well I was inordinately excited the other day when someone told me they'd started getting my blog in a reader; so it inspired me to write one: here are some cheering events this year so far:
I am an auntie again...to a little nephew this time, ahh - he's been named after my dad, aint that nice!
Got notification of a pay rise; which will be backdated from last October as well as being more substantial than hoped. Very cool; especially in the light of the recent natural ending of the care home shifts (one closed); I am SO enjoying my Saturdays off at the moment!
Passed the last exam (theology) yay; albeit not very classily!The marker made the following comment: "Your mark would have been higher but for question 1g of the context quetsions when you gave the context the text as John's Gospel rather than 1 John" (!!!!)..."There was much that was good and thoughtful in your answers generally, so well done. A credit or distinction is well within 'your grasp' as the answers show" (Hee hee!)....I think I am going to continue the course for another 4 modules to get the next certificate; especially interested in one just on Ephesians - cool!
Ah the sweetest old gent (aged 88) I spoke to today, he was looovvely; so grateful for help and when I commented that he had some good friends looking after him (& he really does have good neighbours) he said he thanked God for them, and all the help he gets from the council. Bless him! And we have his picture, just as lovely as he sounds. I want to adopt him but apparently I'd lose my job (!!)
Continued revelation from God in wonderful ways; He is amazing - I heard a speaker talking about how God's healing for her had taken many years and many layers of healing; but by the time it was finished she was in love with the Healer. Isn't that wonderful? I feel like I know what she means.
Still great worship - at church the worship leaders are all mixing in some older songs with the newer which is wonderful. (We sang Majesty recently!)
So funny though, the leader this week was commenting on the words from the one we'd just sung being so profound compared to many newer ones... and he mentioned Shine Jesus Shine a few times as an example of how great it is that there are new Christians in the church who wouldn't know it because people are being saved etc. Anyway, his face when the elder said he felt we should sing that! I thought, I'm gonna sit down for this one! But it was lovely; really moving for some reason. I forgot how cool the verses are. AND - it was hilarious - the guy behind me just knew the words to the chorus and would suddenly belt them out really loudly - ahead of the band! Thankfully I was so much enjoying the worship that it made me laugh every time...
God's been putting people (friends) in my way; more and more; been learning to follow the Holy Spirit even about when & how to reach out when it's needed; for example the friend who really struggles with some things, we get together most weeks and sometimes we pray and sometimes we don't; and I resist the temptation to think that I must be in touch all the time as if I'm the answer to her troubles and not God.
Have just emailed the kids worker today that I'm going to stop doing it. I know I shouldn't be there, I've not really been enjoying it or had opportunities to teach them/speak to them about Jesus which I like best and is in my heart; I had a mini-revelation about this months ago really, when I realised that all the time I'd been getting more confident and leading in my old church was part of God's healing work and not necessarly a call to children's work all the time. And I know I AM in the right place in the welcome team.
'Focussed viewing' as one friend labelled my non- TV license situation; I like it still. Have been enjoying all series of Scrubs, kindly lent by my colleague's son... but even I am starting to feel a bit 'scrubbed out'!!! Check it out here (Overkill is the best!) if you've been unfortunate enough never to have seen this bonkers series.
.... Good!
