More on Walk Thru the Old Testament

Walk Thru the Old Testament
This is the organisation that organised the Walk Thru the Old Testament. It was billed as a day to help you understand the main people, places and events of the Old Testament. I was quite keen on this because I spend quite a lot of time in the New Testament - Gospels of Jesus and after - and inwardly groan when someone suggests reading anything from the Old Testament which is Creation to 400 B.C.
It was a day of interactive learning. The story of the Old Testament, or the histories, runs from Genesis to Esther. All the other stuff runs in parallel, not in series. Which makes sense. The day taught us hand signals for the story and keywords for every book.
One of the main aims of the day was to encourage us to go and put the 'meat' of the stories on the bones we had learnt by reading the Bible everyday. At the moment I am encouraged and trying to work through the 30 day plan from the seminar book. Now I have the events and people straight in my head the whole thing seems less daunting.
In reply to Aeileish I don't know how much is fact and how much is allegory but I believe that the main events are historical and therefore factual. God is the same God yesterday, today and forever but Jesus changed the way humans deal with Him. I'll learn more as I read and get back to you!
H x

Blinked and Missed It

I think I missed this weekend! Well I missed the resting bit anyway.
TGIF was awesome, the kids have turned a corner, they listened and interacted well. I did my 'God Spot' bit and got a spontaneous round of applause. Thank You God for your inspiration and support. I couldn't have done it without you.

On Saturday I walked through the Old Testament. It was wonderful, I get it now and I can't wait to walk through the New Testament to complete the story. All the big scary murkiness of the 39 books of the Old Testament has been lifted and now I want to get in there to fill out the details of this amazing story.

Felt God was close again this evening. Guest Preacher at church induced 'get out there and DO IT' feeling. I guess I should talk to someone about this it could be BIG. I feel like I know that God it too big to be put inside this box called Church and that I need to be a Passionate Christian. But HOW? Well that is the question ...

I love this picture. This guy Craig Gilles plays for Worcester. He is an awesome 7' something tall. I like the way he is head and shoulders above everythign else here like he is in his own special world, and the only thign that matters is the ball. Wow.

Tired

This week has been irksome. I've been fairly busy, well busy out of work anyway.

Monday the cat went to the vet for her jab, she was fine but it's the first time I've had the pleasure and I had to do it on my own. There was a family there with their elderly Dog who was about to be put down. Their sadness was written on their faces and it got to me a bit.

Tuesday was a perfect example of me trying to fit too much into too little time. I got back from work early and decided to do the Tesco shop. It was easy enough but the new diet means shopping quite carefully. I got back home 45 minutes before I was due back out the door for a Rugby Players meeting. In that time I unpacked, with James' help, then decided to cook too. I didn't have time to eat before I went the meeting so when I got back at 9 I had 45 minutes to myself before going to do an overnight shift at the homeless shelter at church. I have no idea how I managed to stay awake.

Wednesday was a day of sleeping till half past one then washing up, which neither James or I had done for three days. Then I went to the cinema with my godmother and three of her four wonderful daughters. I would recommend 'Memoirs of a Geisha' to all who enjoy love and art. James and I also managed to squeeze some US time in to he evening and actually prayed together.

Yesterday was rugby and tonight is TGIF - Friday night youth group at church for 11 to 14s. I am doing 'The Spot' this evening which is the 15 minute slot to try and impart some sort of message to 30 or so assembled kids, a few of whom are intent on causing havoc. I think I have it sorted but we'll see. I just hope that the kids will begin to want to know more about God, and that God will help me to share His message.

So that was my week. My job is frustrating at the moment. The funding runs out in two and a half months and the PCT have not yet chosen to share whether we are getting more money. This means I can't start anything big, and it's driving me nuts. Again this is a situation I need God to step into soon.

Sorry for the BIG massive long post. Please feel free to comment if you're reading this, no matter who you are. H x

Birthday Girl

A short post cos it's late.
Today was my birthday. I have now reached the grand age of Twenty Six. I had a fairly low key day, but I shared it with good friends and a good chocolate cake! I know cake goes against my diet but if you can't eat cake on your birthday when can you!
I once again realised how lucky I am to have people who care about me around me.
Right must sleep, reality returns tomorrow.
H x

And then it hit me...

Last night James gave me a present. It was one I had sort of asked for. As per my last post I have decided to do something about my weight, so we had a conversation about needing a book to help. I read a good article about Rosemary Connely's GI Jeans diet, and I like the sound of low GI eating. I like bread too much to be an Atkins girl.
So anyway James said he'd look for the book in his lunch hour. Last night he gave me two books. Neither were the Rosemary Connely one but they were a carefully selected GI diet book and Food Doctor cookbook. They weren't cheap.
For some reason I was really touched and quite emotional. I insisted he take them back and that he shouldn't spend money like that on me. He hugged me and said I want to help you, I want you to be happy, because when you're happy I'm happy. If I want to spend money on my fiance then I will. This made me cry more!
Later driving to rugby training it hit me: I was overcome because for the first time since we got engaged I realised that this man that I love will be there forever, helping me, loving me and providing for me when I need him. And that's amazing!
Hannah x

Changes

I like the Boots marketing ploy this new year. For you media phobes it implies that we all fail at our Resolutions in the New Year because we try to change too much. It suggests you change one thing and then promotes a million products to help you!
So one thing.
Well I'm going to have two - I always do too much.
Number One is: Loose Weight.
The dreaded 'D' word. The thing is I'm fat, but not good fat and certainly not happy fat. I have clothes in my wardrobe that I remember looking good in that now don't fit. I feel miserable and I don't like the outside of me, which means the inside of me ain't happy either. So I'm going to do something about it. I have two motivations: a holiday in Rhodes in September and my wedding next May. Shorter term motivations include fitting into the top I bought for my birthday last year. James is being quite sweet about it, fact is he's skinny, but he's trying to help and I think after all these years he understands more about how to do that without driving me to nearest biscuit tin in anger. So yeah. I currently weigh lots and I want to weigh 2 and a half stone less. Will keep you updated.
Number Two: Slow Down
I do too much. This week yesterday is my only free night. I say yes to everything without really engaging my brain in some bid to keep everyone happy and let no-one down. The result is I end up resenting doing things and not enjoying anything. I threaten to nod off in Home Group and only half hearted play rugby. So this year I am going to do less. I am going to stop playing rugby at the end of the season. I am going to say no to things. I am going to share the housework with James. I am going to enjoy my relationship with my fiance. I am going to talk to and hear from God more.
So I hope these changes combined will bring the results I hope for. We'll see.

First Things First

Well here I am. I've been thinking about this whole BLOG thing for a while now. I have quite a lot of stuff going on in my head so I thought I might write some of it down. It's not very enthralling but it might help me to muse and reflect on stuff.

I have a feeling 2006 is going to be a good year! I am starting the year as an ENGAGED woman. This is something that I have been thinking might happen for a while (James has been around for over 5 years) but now it's actually happened it's quite exciting. Wedding is in May 07 so plenty of time to turn from a rational human being into Psycho Bride.

I also think that maybe God has something BIG up his sleeve for me this year. It's just a sense right now but I sense He is close and moving in my life. I was listening to the sermon at the evening service last night and I got really uncomfortable, not in a bad way but in a God is messing with my head way. I look forward to seeing how that pans out.

Also on the whole Jesus front I want James and I to grow together in Him. James introduced me to God which is the most awesome present ever but we've been on quite different journeys lately. We both want 2006 to be the year to draw closer to God and put Him first in our lives.

So watch this space as they say.