Fellowship

A couple of weeks ago Katy preached a sermon on Acts 19: 1-20. This is when Paul is in Ephesus. Her sermon was excellent with lots of good points. However there was one that hit home: We should talk about God, and where we are with Him and what He is doing in our lives. We should share with everyone Christian and non-Christian. How can we expect to confidently share our belief in God with non-Chritians if we can't even talk about God with each other?
Last night I met with my homegroup. There was no study prepared. I thought it might be a good chance to really hear what's happening in each and every person's life, where they're at with God and what we need to be praying for, so I took control. It was a shaky start but everybody shared something. It was good to be honest, it was good to reveal our hurts and anxieties as well as our successes and hopes. It was good to feel connected to a group of people in a way much deeper than the 'hello how are you?' I found it enjoyable, and useful and refreshing and I thank God for the opportunity.
H x

Morning Prayer

My Daddy sent me this. It's nice to have a dose of reality from time to time. Thank You and Amen!

"Dear Lord,

So far I've done all right.I haven't gossipped,haven't lost my temper,haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent.I'm really glad about that.

But in a few minutes, God,I'm going to get out of bed.And from then on,I'm going to need a lot more help."

- Author Unknown

Wedding News

Not mine this time though! My bestest, and oldest friend Camilla has finally set a date to wed the man of her dreams, to whom she has been engaged for about eighteen months. On Saturday June 24th this year she will float down the aisle of Burton Court in Herefordshire to become Mrs Chris Williams. The slightly bemused and almost certainly blubbing bridesmaid following her will be ME!
It's quite refreshing to put Bride mentality on hold and focus on what will be a very different wedding to mine. Chris and Camilla are not Christian and have decided that marrying in a church would not be right for them. They have found a lovely venue in Herefordshire and I can feel an English country garden style affair coming on with lots of champagne and pink wine flowing!
It's also dawned on me that this beautiful young woman, whom I have know since I first donned the navy blue cullottes and joined the 10th Worcester Guides in 1990, is still my best friend and even though we live on opposite sides of the country we are still sharing adventures together. I am SO lucky to have been asked to be her bridesmaid and even luckier to be sharing some of the most exciting times of our lives with each other.
Thank You Milla and I hope we continue to share fun and friendship until we are old and wrinkly! Hannah xx

Calm

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3, 5-6.
People asked me why I was so happy at work yesterday. I had no response other than I'm not worried any more. When I arrived at work yesterday my precautionary redundency notice lay waiting, warning me that unless the funding came through I woudl be out of a job in four weeks. However I'm not panicing. I just really feel that I have given it all to God and He will deal with it. I can't really explain the calm I feel but it's odd.

Evangelism

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew's Gospel, 28: 19-20.
These words are commonly referred to as 'the great commission.' Not just any old commission but the command of Jesus Christ to his followers to go out into all the nations of the world and tell them the Great News.
On Monday night I went to a meeting of my church's Evangelism Committee. Although the name is slightly comical in my opinion I have been asked to consider joining and the motivation behind this committee is genuine. It excites me that I may be able to get involved in this aspect of my church's work. I'm not from a church background. I wasn't brought up as a Christian, and my strong headed nature meant that I came to know Christ through frustration and intrigue. I am not one to lie down and accept something. This seems to have given me a desire to tell others about Jesus Christ in a really relevant and exciting way. I hope that I can do this through the evangelism committee.
The meeting was good. I listened to a lot, got a feel for the group and even made a valid contribution. I'm excited by it and I hope that God can use me in a really positive way.

Which Pirates of the Caribbean character are you?

There I was trying to find some nice new wallpaper for my computer screen and I came across this quiz. Well it's fun and frivalous but alas I am not Johnny Depp, but I am Keira Knightly which should make James a happy man! H x

Feeling Blue

I'm feeling a bit blue today, even though I have a good weekend ahead of me. I am finding my job just naff at the moment. This is not really anyone's fault, well no one internally. I'm also not in a position to complain too much now because a whole team, in another bit of the organisation, has been put on cautionary redundancy notices. This is because a chunk of their funding is yet to be confirmed after the end of March by the funder. So yeah it's all a bit miserable in the office. Boss is on annual leave so I can't talk to him about it. I keep going to meetings and talking about the future but it all feels very hollow. I've been through all the job sites I can think of and I have a couple that I think I'll apply for. There's nothing that leaps off the page as 'my dream job.'
James keeps telling me to trust God. I want to, but I'm so down about this I find I can't even pray about it. I've turned into my worst nightmare, where I keep burying my head and hoping everything will be OK.
I'm sorry my blog is turning into a kind of up and down rant from happy and motivated to plain old down in the dumps.

Prayer and Evangelism

I have made a decision to DO something about a nagging feeling I've had since I returned from Tenerife last August. I have been inspired by Red Moon Rising which is the story of how 24-7 prayer started and the effects it has had. You can read more about 24-7 here: http://www.24-7prayer.com
I have a nagging feeling that God is asking me to DO something about 24-7. In Tenerife He taught me so much about prayer and about He works with me. I know that when I have a good prayer life then my faith is strong, and I feel equipped for the the world. I truly feel that I am walking with Jesus. Also God answers prayer and I've seen big and little things happen. I believe that prayer can change people, places and communities.
As I sit and listen to the sermons in church about becoming a people of faith, about passion and about becoming a church in the community I can hear God louder and louder telling me to sort it out. Months ago I mumbled at the vicar about prayer, weeks ago I found someone else inspired by Red Moon Rising. But I haven't done anything........Yet. So I can't ignore it any more. I truly believe that prayer and evangelism are inextricably linked. I feel that God wants our church to grow and He wants to hear us pray.
24-7 prayer isn't about sitting in a circle with your eyes closed. It's not traditional intercession. It's about creating an environment and inviting the Holy Spirit in. It's about active prayer, creative prayer, shouting singing prayer, scribbling on the walls prayer. It's infectious and exciting and I want other people to experience it. Please God show me how.

Monday Morning Lie In

Yesterday morning as I lay sleeping deeply, James leant over me. 'What are you doing?' I asked, "Seeing what time it is," he said. I lifted my phone and focused my blurry eyes on the small digital screen of my phone: 08.24. The little black numbers shone out at me from below Martin Corry's newly photographed face. S**T. The alarm usually trills out at 06.40 every weekday morning, rousing the bleary eyed Hannah and James and spurring us towards the kettle, shower and leaving at 08.00 am. Not so yesterday. Having turned off my alarm on Friday - day off you see - I failed to reset it. Mad dash, garbled message on colleague's phone, which she laughed at later, and inhaled brekkie saw us leave the house 25 minutes later. Not a recommended start to the week I can assure you!

Stuck

I feel stuck again.
My job is so slow. Last week my boss nearly had news of continued funding but there have been even more delays by the PCT. It means that I am still potentially without job in about six weeks. I should be bothered. I should be trying to finish off, or close doors. I should be job hunting, searching for my next career move.

But I can't motivate myself to do it. I can't even be motivated to find stuff to do at work. It's giving me a headache. I also feel guilty because I should be doing something with the next six weeks. Also if my funding does come through and I stay - which is the preferred scenario - then I'm going to have to pull my finger out and start working hard.
I did have a job interview yesterday, and whilst it did produce the obligatory butterflies I wasn't overly enthusiastic or excited. I answered the questions. I gave my presentation. I'm waiting for news. But if I get offered it will I take it? Truth is I don't know.
Being stuck at work makes me feel stuck at home. It makes me want to eat comfort food, slob on the sofa and watch TV.
I can't get excited about anything. I went to look at a photographer's portfolio yesterday, and share the company of three wonderful South African women, and two children. It should have been great fun, but I felt odd and uncomfortable. I'm going back to my parents tonight. Again it should be fun and exciting, especially with the National Wedding Show and dress trying on to look forward to.
But it's not. Cos I'm stuck.