A bit of Rambling...

It's been two months now (and one day) since I first arrived in England, and a day later in Cambridge. On Wednesday of this week I had the fortune to spend a day in London doing touristy things and catching up with a wonderful woman whom I'm privileged to have in my life. As I walked around and looked at many old things in a modern city completely wrapped up in its past, I found myself becoming more and more interested in the history of this place.

 

An observation to make - if there is a slight interest, or curiousity in something, the more and more you are surrounded by that, the more and more your interest and curiousity grows.

 

For me, it has a lot to do with the architecture and how that reflects the thoughts of the day and those who built it or had it built. Also the marks left on these structures which tell stories of the lives which it has held. A crumpled arch delicately rebuilt tells of the destruction which befell it during the World War, it tells of the design ideas of when it was first built, it tells of the importance of that to those who had it rebuilt, and it tells of the people now who continue to have it preserved. The ornated ceilings which are of such high standard because you look up to God, and the ceiling is the closest of all the building.

 

History is often seen as such a boring subject, but it was once the present, and not the past. As George Santayana once said, 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' When you actually look at history, it is not all boring but rather very complicated, just like life is now - and a lot of recorded history is not things which we would like to repeat.

 

As a christian though, my interest goes further perhaps than some. Some might say that christians live in the past, but the truth of the matter is that we live very much in the present, with a hope for the future which is founded in the past. The more we learn about what happened in the past the more we learn about who God is NOW and ALWAYS.

 

John wrote in his gospel, 'And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name... This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.'

 

What do you believe, and why do you believe it? Everything which we know and learn is somehow found in history. If I was slightly more forthright I might challenge one to look into it if they do not know. And to follow up, if you are at all curious or interested, take that next step and start asking questions... Just some food for thought.

 

God Bless.

Reality of Past, Present, and Future

Recently, each afternoon I have been spending my time by sitting at a table with people from 4 or more different countries and speaking English. For me, this comes naturally as it is my mother tongue, but for others, not so easiliy - but sometimes I definitely wonder if maybe they know more about my language than I do. If nothing else, it has made me more aware of the words I use to express myself and also, at times, more thoughtful of philosophical.

 

For example, some words which came up yesterday were fade, forward, and ahead. Colours fade, fashions fade, seasons fade, memory fades. So many things just slowly start to fade away. In a year from now, how much will I remember of the past 5 weeks, which have been so amazing and encouraging in many different ways, not least of which is the people which have been met and come to know. Whenever I think of moving forward, and what is ahead of me, also the thoughts come of what is behind me which is so good sometimes that it is sad to think that our motion is forwards and not backwards, we will never see those times again - maybe similar times in the future though. It is also sad to think that maybe memory will fade and we will not remember those times. What is ahead is unknown - and what is unknown can be awfully frightening sometimes. Moving towards the unknown - this is what a forward momentum towards what is ahead gives you.

 

On the upside though I know some things which will never fade - like the love of God, and his faithfulness, mercy, and grace. I know that I will never be alone as He will always be at my side. I know that I will never lose some things from my past like the lessons one learns as a young child from their parents. I know that while what is ahead is unknown I am not alone in facing it, which makes it an adventure - one to be taken hold of with both hands, and that it is a privilege to be able to move forwards and seek improvement not only in the world around us but also in ourselves - I look forward to each day and the opportunity to come to know God more.

 

So lets not dwell on what will fade but be excited on what we know never will. And lets be unafraid of moving forward or looking ahead for the Lord has been there before us and with Him at ones side it is a privilege, an opportunity, and an adventure.

 

Thankyou Lord

 

God Bless

Gods Guidance

So, it's been a little while since my last post. Partly that is due to the fact that I am not on the internet reguarly and partly due to my momentarily forgetting about this blog, as nobody reads it anyway. Despite this, I am determined to keep it up and I think it is a good thing coming up with things to write about, reflecting, or venting, as the case may be.

Recently during my devotion time with God, He has really got me thinking about what He has designed me to do. And at the same time not dwelling on it, the future or the past, but focussing on what you can do right now while still keeping those thoughts in the back of your head. Multi-tasking in the process of thought and reflection.

single flame god future teaching plan

God has designed each and every one of us as a unique human being, a child of God. He has given each of us different talents and passions that we might all be able to work together to help do His work. This is not because He needs it but because He chooses to use us, much like a child 'helping' their parents cook or clean. And He knows what is ahead of us, the number of our days, before we are even thought of. How Amazing is our God?!

Who better to turn to when we have questions, are in grief, or are so relieved, happy, or joyful about something? I know God has something planned for me to do and in His time this will be revealed to me but for now it is best to do what you can while that time is still on its way. I'm waiting for that time but in this waiting, it is a preparation time and God is teaching me many things.

So, there is a little of what God has been teaching me.. what is God teaching you at the moment?

Endings and Beginnings

Don't really have much to say today but thought I had better put something up as I am leaving tomorrow morning and I have a feeling that the next couple days are not going to leave me feeling like updating this thing anytime soon so..

I mentioned last time that I really do not like goodbyes. Part of this is because it is a focus on the past, on what has been, and sometimes we just get too caught up in this to look forwards to where we are heading, to where God is guiding us.

You know that saying that sometimes when a door closes another one opens. Well sometimes it seems like there is no other door, there is just a room with one door in and out.. look for a window! Not everything is in our face, or obvious, but God is always there for us and if we go the wrong way, He will put us back on the right path.

What I am looking at at the moment is a new beginning, and I am excited to be going and trying to find out what God has in store for me. After all, we are to spread the gospel and do his work, not just sit back in our comfort zone with our friends and family around us, but to keep them while going forth and making new ones as well.

So, let us be strong, unafraid, and go forth! After all, if we are with God, we know that no matter what happens it will all be okay in the end, as He knows what is best for us, even more than we do!

God Bless.

New Year

tick. 3. tick. 2. tick. 1. tick...

It is but a moment yet it can mean so much. What were you doing as midnight ticked over this New Years Eve to herald in the year of 2011? Perhaps you were asleep insistant that it is just another day. Perhaps you were out with friends enjoying the chance to celebrate. Perhaps you were at home with family. Perhaps you were on your own.

I do not know how your year has begun but this I can say.. how my year began! A lot has happened throughout 2010 and there is a lot to look forward to in 2011.. a lot that I know of, and even more that I do not know. More than anything in each coming year the thing I look forward to the most is what God has in store for me, what it is that he will teach me, and how through that I will come closer to him yet still.

This year as it began I was travelling, on my own, towards a celebration with friends. While it was slightly disheartening not to be there that little bit earlier I would not change it for the world. As it was getting closer to that moment in time I was reflecting on all that had happened, all that I had learnt in that year, and as that moment in time passed I was in prayer.

For all that has been since the beginning of time, for all that God has done, for the year just been, and the yera to come, for those around me, those whom are close and those not quite so much - and those whom I am yet to meet, for all the bad times and the good times, and in everything I am thankful and in everything I asked that it would be for Him, and through Him, with Him as our guide that we may stand and move forward to embrace the unknown of the year ahead and what it has in store for us all.

I know some people who try to give each year a label at the beginning.. the year of fulfillment, the year of fun, the year of negativity, the year of continued pretended normality. Well following this I thought I would give this year a label.

2011.. the year of PRAISE amidst many CHANGES.