I was recently asked by a close friend to start blogging again. It is something I've been considering for a while but the busyness of life and the challenge of what to write has kept me away. There are certainly several 'controversial' topics I'd like to talk about, but the knock-on effects of those are always a challenge and the question remains of what is the best forum for such discussions. I've not yet made my mind up on whether or not to discuss them, and over the next few weeks I'm going to put a lot of thought into them and will come to a decision. But for now, I should probably update you on my life!
I'm currently in the heaviest part of my masters! (LLM Human Rights Law at The University of Nottingham! Exciting!) I have, since the beginning of March, written two essays of 4,500 words (roughly), and have another three to do before the 17th May! (Wah!!) On top of that I have an exam on the 1st May (worth 100% of a full-year module!) and one on the 7th May. So, life is certainly not pressure-free. It's also my birthday on the 4th, and there are some major social events happening on May bank-holiday in Aber that I'd love to go to, but I really doubt I'm going to have the time!
Although life is busy, I'm feeling really quite relaxed and at peace about it - I know God has it all in control! :) Woop for Jesus! It's so freeing to be able to sit back and know that it's all in His hands. The burden is lifted and I'm not panicking anywhere near as much as I was a few months ago!
I've settled in much more to my mum's house now too. Its a really beautiful place and my room, despite not being big, is beautiful. (and very girly). The only downside is that it is 45mins (with no traffic) from uni. This is a real pain when all I need to do is pop in to collect some books. Especially as the uni has a silly system of only giving out the same student parking permits to those that live miiillleeesss away that they give to student with their cars on campus - which means I have the joy of driving for what feels like forever, then walking up a hill lugging masses of books, my lunch, my dinner, a laptop, etc... pah! (You can tell this has been a cause of great frustration!) This is only made more annoying because staff that live close by can park right by the doors - unjust or what!?!
Tom and I have managed to see each other roughly once every two weeks which is great. Although when we have to stretch it to 3 weeks its much harder - 2.5 weeks is definitely my limit! We've also been able to see some of our really good friends a lot since we moved to the midlands which is really good as we had found really hard getting to see them whilst living in Aber because of the time it took to get there and Tom's work commitments. They've had a beautiful little girl this year and it has been great fun playing with her :) It's been especially good for me as I've had a fear of children (especially babies) for a good few years now so it's wonderful being able to deal with those fears and put them away :) Praise God!
I've also been going to a really great church in the centre of Nottingham - I'll post another post up about Gracechurch soon as I've been waffling for too long now and really should be writing an essay! I'm writing this one on philosophical arguments for why abortion and killing and eating unwanted children is wrong! Interesting, I know! (Follow the link for a wiki explanation!)
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Monday, 4 June 2012
Aberystwyth Comes to an End...
These past three years have been amazing and have meant so much to me... Let's take a walk through my time at Uni.
First Year
First year brought the joy of a new place, new people and lots of excitement...
First Year
First year brought the joy of a new place, new people and lots of excitement...
'Anti-Halloween Party' (for scaredy-cats)
The St.Mikes' Ball
CU House Party
Whilst I really enjoyed moving to Aber, didn't find moving away from home too hard, and thoroughly enjoyed making new friends and having a new adventure, November 2009 saw my family break up.
After a difficult Christmas I was thrown into depression. All I can say is a massive thank you to everyone that stuck with me and showed me such amazing love and support over the year! Especially to the amazing Hannah Sweeney...
and my fantastic boyfriend, Tom Lott...
Thankfully, through His love and grace, God broke my depression in June 2009!
Second Year
Second year was full of change and the joys of cracking down a little bit more with work and growing closer to different people... now for the pictures!
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| Isaac, Toby, Laura and Me |
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| Me and Laura |
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| Phil, Ben, and Mark - Ali's birthday celebration |
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| Laura and I go to Marseilles |
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| Harry, Dan and Tom playing FIFA |
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| Josh, Tom, Rachel and I welcome the summer with a walk along the sea-front |
Third Year
So, third year saw me become a bit more of a hermit :P I really put a considerable more amount of time and effort into doing my work, but I have had so much fun! I've learnt so much and thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with such amazing friends! So, here comes another year in photos...
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| Katie |
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| Isaac eating cake off the floor! |
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| Amy and Amy |
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| Laughter in the house with Kirsty, Jo and Chris |
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| Surprise!! Kirsty's 21st |
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| Isaac and Toby in the SUN! |
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| Me and Tom on my 21st |
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| J-Wo! |
So now all that is left to do is to say thank you to all the amazing people that have made my time at Aber what it has been.
Thank you so much to all my friends for providing so much fun and laughter over the past three years! It's been a joy :)
And a massive thank you to St.Mikes (both staff and the congregation) for growing with me and encouraging me in my walk with God and being a support in times of hardship.
Bye bye Aberystwyth...
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Peace pressure
Pressures are piling up at the moment!
The term is slowly coming to an end and deadlines are starting to appear - I handed one essay in yesterday, have another to hand in next week, and then dissertatiooonnn!!
I've been quite stressed recently, hence not updating my blog, but here is a quote to keep you going.
'Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.'
- UNESCO Constitution
I think that it is such a beautiful mantra. Let's challenge ourselves to build the defences of peace in our minds and help encourage them in the minds of those around us.
Blessings to you all!
The term is slowly coming to an end and deadlines are starting to appear - I handed one essay in yesterday, have another to hand in next week, and then dissertatiooonnn!!
I've been quite stressed recently, hence not updating my blog, but here is a quote to keep you going.
'Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.'
- UNESCO Constitution
I think that it is such a beautiful mantra. Let's challenge ourselves to build the defences of peace in our minds and help encourage them in the minds of those around us.
Blessings to you all!
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
A prayerful person's heart...
'[A prayerful person's] heart is ever lifted up to God at all times and in all places. In this [they are] never hindered, much less interrupted, by any person or thing... [Their] heart is ever with the Lord. Whether [they] lie down or rise up, God is in all [their] thoughts; [they walk] with God continually.'
- John Welsey
This is such a challenge. A beautiful challenge. And it is something I've desired for such a long time.
I want to be someone who is consistently in a place of prayer. Someone who doesn't mind stopping and praying for someone crying on the train, someone who prays for those around her continually. Sometimes prayer can feel like such a burden when I know I have to pray for someone, but when I finally pray I feel like I could pray for hours. I just need to place my heart in such a place.
I want my heart to be 'ever with the Lord'. It would be so amazing. To have God in my heart and mind and soul continuously would result in me having such a close relationship with Him. A relationship I'd do anything for - however hard that may be to say... and actually do.
The repercussions of such a heart and place of prayer would be wholesome and pure. It would be harder for me to sin. When I'd sin, I'd immediately repent and ask for forgiveness. In receiving that forgiveness my heart would be so full of God's grace. This would lead to me being more gracious and patient with those around me. Which would lead to a clear pouring of God's love on those around me. Which would, I'd hope and have seen, lead people to be more loving and gracious to those around them.
This cycle would lead to a deeper understanding of God's amazing grace and love and would lead to a deeper relationship with Him.
Please pray that I will have a prayerful person's heart and that this would lead to growth in my relationship with Him.
And please challenge me to pray for you, even if you just bump into me in the street.
- John Welsey
This is such a challenge. A beautiful challenge. And it is something I've desired for such a long time.
I want to be someone who is consistently in a place of prayer. Someone who doesn't mind stopping and praying for someone crying on the train, someone who prays for those around her continually. Sometimes prayer can feel like such a burden when I know I have to pray for someone, but when I finally pray I feel like I could pray for hours. I just need to place my heart in such a place.
I want my heart to be 'ever with the Lord'. It would be so amazing. To have God in my heart and mind and soul continuously would result in me having such a close relationship with Him. A relationship I'd do anything for - however hard that may be to say... and actually do.
The repercussions of such a heart and place of prayer would be wholesome and pure. It would be harder for me to sin. When I'd sin, I'd immediately repent and ask for forgiveness. In receiving that forgiveness my heart would be so full of God's grace. This would lead to me being more gracious and patient with those around me. Which would lead to a clear pouring of God's love on those around me. Which would, I'd hope and have seen, lead people to be more loving and gracious to those around them.
This cycle would lead to a deeper understanding of God's amazing grace and love and would lead to a deeper relationship with Him.
Please pray that I will have a prayerful person's heart and that this would lead to growth in my relationship with Him.
And please challenge me to pray for you, even if you just bump into me in the street.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Christ-Centred Worship
'Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord being tuned, not to each other, but to one standard to which each one must bow. So one hundred worshippers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship' - A.W.Tozer
How beautiful is that! When we worship together, focussing on Christ, we are united and we sing and pray as one. This seems to make sense of the idea that we will all worship in one voice in Heaven - the voice of that focussed on Christ.
This notion of true Christ-centred worship is just beautiful. The worship that focusses on Christ's awesome power rather than our problems or even our "awesomeness" in pride. How amazing is it to be able to sit back and think that all that matters in life, ALL that matters, is Christ and His person; what He has done for us; His love for us. In the end of the day it doesn't matter if I leave uni with a first or a third, ALL that matter is Christ. It doesn't matter if I find a job, ALL that matters is Christ. It doesn't matter whether I ever get married or have children, ALL that matters is Christ. How freeing is that!!
I'm not at all saying its easy if stuff doesn't happen in our lives, but if we re-align our focus to Christ, all that we get is blessing and in the end of the day, we have to worship. We're drawn to worship Him because He truly is worthy of it.
'HE is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by HIM all things were created, in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through HIM and for HIM. And HE is before all things, and in HIM all things hold together. And HE is the head of the body, the church. HE is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything HE might be pre-eminent. For in HIM all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through HIM to reconcile to HIMself all things, whether on earth or in Heaven, making peace by the blood of HIS cross.
And you, who were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, HE has now reconciled in HIS body of flesh by HIS death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before HIM...'
- Colossians 1:15-23
How amazing is it when we focus on Christ and His glory!
How beautiful is that! When we worship together, focussing on Christ, we are united and we sing and pray as one. This seems to make sense of the idea that we will all worship in one voice in Heaven - the voice of that focussed on Christ.
This notion of true Christ-centred worship is just beautiful. The worship that focusses on Christ's awesome power rather than our problems or even our "awesomeness" in pride. How amazing is it to be able to sit back and think that all that matters in life, ALL that matters, is Christ and His person; what He has done for us; His love for us. In the end of the day it doesn't matter if I leave uni with a first or a third, ALL that matter is Christ. It doesn't matter if I find a job, ALL that matters is Christ. It doesn't matter whether I ever get married or have children, ALL that matters is Christ. How freeing is that!!
I'm not at all saying its easy if stuff doesn't happen in our lives, but if we re-align our focus to Christ, all that we get is blessing and in the end of the day, we have to worship. We're drawn to worship Him because He truly is worthy of it.
'HE is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by HIM all things were created, in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through HIM and for HIM. And HE is before all things, and in HIM all things hold together. And HE is the head of the body, the church. HE is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything HE might be pre-eminent. For in HIM all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through HIM to reconcile to HIMself all things, whether on earth or in Heaven, making peace by the blood of HIS cross.
And you, who were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, HE has now reconciled in HIS body of flesh by HIS death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before HIM...'
- Colossians 1:15-23
How amazing is it when we focus on Christ and His glory!
Please also take a look at my boyfriend, Tom's, blog :)
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Walking with God
Over the last week it's been on the back of my mind that I am not as close to God as I used to be.
I don't know if this an age thing, and in growing up I have become less 'emotion based' and so I don't get the 'bubbly feelings' any more. Or maybe I'm just in a time where I don't 'need' God so obviously. Of course, I always need Him, but throughout my first year at Aber I suffered from depression and my family was going through a really tough time, in this year I felt God really closely. I guess life in general is much better than it was and I'm no longer suffering from depression, maybe then I don't need so much obvious support and closeness to keep me going.
I've just found it difficult remembering walking with Him and being close to Him, being confident of who I was in Him and in His love for me. I know things are always greener on the other side, and I'm not saying it was like this all the time, but I just miss it.
I remember walking around Aber, on the sea front or up Constitution Hill and feeling God there, right next to me. I used to feel Him in my room with me and I'd regularly worship at the top of my lungs in my room and spend hours with Him reading my Bible.
I'm currently in the process of reading three books: 1. Growing in Christ, 2. Knowing God, 3. Disciplines of a Godly Woman. They have already taught me quite a bit. I've finished the first section of Growing in Christ and it was really helpful at looking at the basics of the Christian faith, in a lot of detail. Packer goes through the Apostle's Creed bit by bit and explains it, taking each section back to Christ's faithfulness and love for us. Knowing God looks at more practical ways of getting to really know God and Disciplines of a Godly Woman (which I've only just really started) looks at spiritual discipline that will help us grow.
While all these books focus on the Gospel and God's greatness and are really very great, I've finding it hard to understand the Gospel in its fullness again, I just don't know how. I've been working my way through John's gospel which has been really helpful, but again I'm left with the same issue. - It feels awkward.
I feel really very awkward when I feel like God may be drawing closer, and so I push away. I don't want to, its just a reaction. I find the same thing when I pray with people or talk with people about God, I just feel like 'whoa this is so cheesy and cringe worthy'.
I do know that God is good, and I know He is faithful, but I want to be able to walk with Him again and not feel awkward, not feel cheesy and not feel weird. He is a good God and I know that in His time He will bring me back into His arms.
I don't know if this an age thing, and in growing up I have become less 'emotion based' and so I don't get the 'bubbly feelings' any more. Or maybe I'm just in a time where I don't 'need' God so obviously. Of course, I always need Him, but throughout my first year at Aber I suffered from depression and my family was going through a really tough time, in this year I felt God really closely. I guess life in general is much better than it was and I'm no longer suffering from depression, maybe then I don't need so much obvious support and closeness to keep me going.
I've just found it difficult remembering walking with Him and being close to Him, being confident of who I was in Him and in His love for me. I know things are always greener on the other side, and I'm not saying it was like this all the time, but I just miss it.
I remember walking around Aber, on the sea front or up Constitution Hill and feeling God there, right next to me. I used to feel Him in my room with me and I'd regularly worship at the top of my lungs in my room and spend hours with Him reading my Bible.
While all these books focus on the Gospel and God's greatness and are really very great, I've finding it hard to understand the Gospel in its fullness again, I just don't know how. I've been working my way through John's gospel which has been really helpful, but again I'm left with the same issue. - It feels awkward.
I feel really very awkward when I feel like God may be drawing closer, and so I push away. I don't want to, its just a reaction. I find the same thing when I pray with people or talk with people about God, I just feel like 'whoa this is so cheesy and cringe worthy'.
I do know that God is good, and I know He is faithful, but I want to be able to walk with Him again and not feel awkward, not feel cheesy and not feel weird. He is a good God and I know that in His time He will bring me back into His arms.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Freshers Flood
Well, last week was rather crazy - the freshers arrived!
Aber is again considerably busier than it has been for months and it is impossible to find a decent parking space! I've now gotten into the habit of when I get a parking space near the house, I don't use my car for a few days so that I can keep the spot - makes no sense really as I'm not benefiting from the parking space as I'm not using my car from it... but I guess it's there in emergencies!
I've been really good this term (so far)! I have only driven up the hills once and that was to help take things up for Fresher's Fayre! :) That makes a massive difference to last year! Oh, and it isn't just because I haven't been going up the hill because I have! :) I've walked up it loads in the last few weeks - more than I did in the whole of last year probably!
Having the freshers arriving also meant lots of CU/Church events... freshers' week was very busy! I didn't get involved as much as I would have liked though (I slept through prayer meeting and so didn't get to sign up to things - but I did ask to be on things any way :) )... We had a lot of freshers round at our house after the events though so we've definitely gotten to know people which is great :)
In fact, after CU on Friday Malcolm, Laura, Kirsty and I came home with a group of freshers (8/10 of them) and had just started playing a game when Isaac and folk came in with nearly everyone else! It was insane! We didn't even count how many there were but there were more than enough for an EPIC game of Articulate... we had 6/7 groups of 5-6 people... it was crazy! But fun :)
Sunday lunches have also been a bit crazy... Fresher's Sunday we invited back a group of people and I ended up making roast dinner for 18 people (Thank you Jesus for multiplying food! <- He's good at that!) and then last Sunday we made dinner for 20 people! 38 people in a week can't be bad! I was quite impressed if I say so myself, I've never really been amazingly skilled at the cooking front but people seemed to really like it (in fact, some were commenting to others about how good it was) :D
I was going to title this blog post 'back to routine', but I haven't really yet settled into a routine... this week is a seminar-less week and I have been given LOADS of shifts at work so it's been a bit crazy and definitely not standard routine...
Also, a quite add... thank you ever so much to Rachel from Dreaming of the Country for giving me a blog award :) And a very big welcome if you've found me through her post! :)
Aber is again considerably busier than it has been for months and it is impossible to find a decent parking space! I've now gotten into the habit of when I get a parking space near the house, I don't use my car for a few days so that I can keep the spot - makes no sense really as I'm not benefiting from the parking space as I'm not using my car from it... but I guess it's there in emergencies!
I've been really good this term (so far)! I have only driven up the hills once and that was to help take things up for Fresher's Fayre! :) That makes a massive difference to last year! Oh, and it isn't just because I haven't been going up the hill because I have! :) I've walked up it loads in the last few weeks - more than I did in the whole of last year probably!
Having the freshers arriving also meant lots of CU/Church events... freshers' week was very busy! I didn't get involved as much as I would have liked though (I slept through prayer meeting and so didn't get to sign up to things - but I did ask to be on things any way :) )... We had a lot of freshers round at our house after the events though so we've definitely gotten to know people which is great :)
In fact, after CU on Friday Malcolm, Laura, Kirsty and I came home with a group of freshers (8/10 of them) and had just started playing a game when Isaac and folk came in with nearly everyone else! It was insane! We didn't even count how many there were but there were more than enough for an EPIC game of Articulate... we had 6/7 groups of 5-6 people... it was crazy! But fun :)
Sunday lunches have also been a bit crazy... Fresher's Sunday we invited back a group of people and I ended up making roast dinner for 18 people (Thank you Jesus for multiplying food! <- He's good at that!) and then last Sunday we made dinner for 20 people! 38 people in a week can't be bad! I was quite impressed if I say so myself, I've never really been amazingly skilled at the cooking front but people seemed to really like it (in fact, some were commenting to others about how good it was) :D
I was going to title this blog post 'back to routine', but I haven't really yet settled into a routine... this week is a seminar-less week and I have been given LOADS of shifts at work so it's been a bit crazy and definitely not standard routine...
Also, a quite add... thank you ever so much to Rachel from Dreaming of the Country for giving me a blog award :) And a very big welcome if you've found me through her post! :)
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Summer comes to an end...
Summer is now swiftly coming to an end and things are starting to normalise again...
This summer has been really quite good. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at CARE and loved 'working' in London for those 5 weeks. It definitely tickled my taste buds for the future. I've just in fact been looking at possible posts in London for myself next year if I were to do a part-time Masters - I've decided I'm going to apply for a Masters!
It has also been wonderful seeing friends of mine get married! The Brights and the Sweeneys both got married this summer and to have been part of such wonderful events was lovely. They are wonderful people and I am looking forward to seeing how God uses them as couples in the future! :)
This summer has been really quite good. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at CARE and loved 'working' in London for those 5 weeks. It definitely tickled my taste buds for the future. I've just in fact been looking at possible posts in London for myself next year if I were to do a part-time Masters - I've decided I'm going to apply for a Masters!
It has also been wonderful seeing friends of mine get married! The Brights and the Sweeneys both got married this summer and to have been part of such wonderful events was lovely. They are wonderful people and I am looking forward to seeing how God uses them as couples in the future! :)
While that has all been wonderful, my highlight for this summer has to be the time I've spent with my family. I haven't spent too much time at home as I was staying in London for a large chunk of the holidays, but what I have spent at home has been wonderful. Now I'm back in Aber I'm really going to miss them! In fact, I only left yesterday and I already really miss them!
It's been exceptionally wonderful spending time with my sisters getting to know them better. As siblings the tendency to fight with each other and argue when we were younger was very strong, but now that we're all growing up we can have civilised conversations! and much more of course! :) I really do love them both greatly and will really miss them!
Here are some photos of us (and my cousins) messing around a few weeks ago...
Friday, 26 August 2011
Drive time
Tuesday (23rd) I got to spend nearly a whole day with my sisters, it was wonderful!
I had to collect them from a little cottage half an hour outside of Aberystwyth where they were staying with my grandparents then drive them home to Nottinghamshire to my mum... my granddad had welled up when we were getting ready to leave and told to me to make sure I drove very carefully as if anything happened to us it'd kill him... no pressure!! (Of course, I do tend to drive carefully and wouldn't want anything to happen anyway)
After I picked them up we drove back to Aberystwyth. I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye again yet and wanted to show my sisters my new house... we then went to the beach for a while...
After playing around for a bit we then set off to Nottingham... However, not long out of Aber, we had to make another photo stop!
Esther also took lots of photos of the Welsh countryside on the way back, but they're her photos so I shan't put them up here as I don't want to get done for copyright! :P
I had to collect them from a little cottage half an hour outside of Aberystwyth where they were staying with my grandparents then drive them home to Nottinghamshire to my mum... my granddad had welled up when we were getting ready to leave and told to me to make sure I drove very carefully as if anything happened to us it'd kill him... no pressure!! (Of course, I do tend to drive carefully and wouldn't want anything to happen anyway)
After I picked them up we drove back to Aberystwyth. I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye again yet and wanted to show my sisters my new house... we then went to the beach for a while...
After playing around for a bit we then set off to Nottingham... However, not long out of Aber, we had to make another photo stop!
The journey back was hilarious. The three of us sang at the top of our voices for close to 5 hours non-stop! Our throats were starting to hurt by the end... but it was worth it!
Esther also took lots of photos of the Welsh countryside on the way back, but they're her photos so I shan't put them up here as I don't want to get done for copyright! :P
I really enjoyed the drive back, and while it is always scary driving with both of them in the car (all mum's eggs in one basket), it was wonderful spending some fun time with them. I definitely feel like I'm growing closer to them! :)
Sunday, 17 July 2011
The Sweeney Wedding
Last weekend saw the wedding of two of the most wonderful people I know.. Hannah Purnell and Alistair Sweeney.
The wedding was beautiful!
It was such a moving wedding. I found it so hard not to cry all the way through!
Ali's speech at the reception was so moving! I nearly cried!
The wedding was beautiful!
It was such a moving wedding. I found it so hard not to cry all the way through!
It was really moving and the love they have for each other and God was so clear throughout the whole service.
Ali's speech at the reception was so moving! I nearly cried!
(the lego was Ali's one request)
After the honeymoon the Sweeneys will be off to Leicester to start a church with a church plant from their current church in Derby. I know that God will use them both greatly. They are a wonderful and wonderfully blessed couple.
I am so happy for them :)
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