Feeling like Indiana Jones and that 'leap of faith'!

Morning everyone on this beautiful warm sunny day - that's five in a row!

I'd better be careful what I say - this could be it - the summer of 2012 and next week we could all be back to jumpers, brollies and wellies!  Hopefully that won't be the case and my plans to dig out flip flops, summer dresses and giving myself a pedicure over the weekend will be worth it.
(I love the sun but it does mean having to face reality and realising there are certain bits of our bodies which the general public should never be exposed to until they've been properly scrutinised and had a sympathetic makeover.....know what I mean??)

Talking of exposure I was in a Bistro having lunch with a couple of girlfriends the other day and a young couple came in and sat at the table just across from us.  He was sat with his back to me, dressed in jeans and a tea-shirt which was fine.  Unfortunately he was wearing a popular style of straight leg jeans which although sat nicely on his hips when he was standing slipped considerably lower than that when he was sat down.  Which wouldn't have been so bad except the tea shirt probably sat nicely on his waist when he was standing but again rode up when sitting. 
You're probably already way ahead of me  - 'builders bum' I can just about cope with on a building site.  But in a restaurant, when I'm eating my lunch......oh dear. 
Poor man, he obviously didn't realise but fortunately his companion made a trip to the ladies and on her return had a discreet word in his ear and he valiantly attempted to get jeans and tea shirt to meet whilst still being able to sit down.  He didn't fully succeed but let's just say it was a big improvement and I no longer found my eyes drawn to this vision of the 'grand canyon' whilst tryng to enjoy my lunch.  

As I say, I love the sunshine and want to make the most of it as I'm sure we all do but when I remembered the 'grand canyon' incident I knew this was just the start.  The sun coming out does have this bizarre effect of causing people to expose varous parts of their anatomy in rather inappropriate settings.  I'm sure I'm just as bad  - and my grandsons and son-in-law no doubt will let me know when I make a fashion fo pa - bless them.

Now I was supposed to have uploaded my first 'verbal blog' by now but have hit some technical probems.  Mainly, I have no idea what I'm doing and need someone with far better technical knowledge tham me to help me!  I was getting so frustrated wth not having the time to write very often and I know I've got a few regular readers now so I hit upon this idea to record some short soundbites.  I've started recording short notes on my mobile phone to remind me about certain things, subjects I wano t write about, maybe an idea I feel God is giving me to give a talk on - that sort of thing.  The only problem is I've only discovered how to record on my camcorder! (Yes, I can hear the laughter now - I'm sure there's a better way of doing it I just haven't found it yet!)

So I made a recording (on the camcorder) about 3 weeks ago.  I've even managed to finally get it uploaded on to my PC.  So - I should be able to 'attach' it to this blog - yes?  No! - at least I can't which is as I say probably the main obstacle to getting it sorted out.  The fact it's me trying to do it.
I think it's time I finally conceded defeat and sought help.  Anyone between the ages of 12 and 16 should be a good bet .........................................

Yes -I'm still here!

Hi everybody

Firstly let me say a huge thank you to all of you who are reading my blog and must have wondered if I was still alive and kicking!

Well, as  you can see I am (well maybe not so much the kicking with these knees)

If I tell you it's taken me over half an hour just to get on here this morning as my laptop seems to have gone on strike, I'm now running late for work, there's a pile of paperwork I should have dealt with before I even go to work and I'm straight off to a meeting after work tonight then maybe that gives you an idea of why I'm so frustrated in my attempts to find time to write.

I know I'm normally pretty busy but over the last few months it seems to have got worse - and not in a good way.  I'm so time poor for doing the things I'm passionate about, the things I feel are my real purpose for being here that the frustration has been building.

So, as I've learnt over the years the answer is as the old hymn says, 'take it to God in prayer'.
So, that's what I've been doing. 

The only thing with prayer is we expect God to answer in a way and at a time that suits us.  You'd have thought by now I'd know better............!

Although I've been asking for more time I have to work 5 days a week to pay the bills (well in my tiny mind that's how it seems)
So - how was God going to solve my problem?  Promotion so I could cut down to 3 days a week maybe? A rich relative dying and leaving me lots of money? A mystery benefactor?  

No - recent restructuring at work means my job is disappearing - and soon.  Simple really - the thing which least fulfills me, motivates me and gives me a sense of purpose is no longer a problem.

Er - 'Dear Lord, thank you for answering my prayer and giving me lots more time - great. One slight tiny concern I have -   if you don't mind me pointing it out - it does mean I won't have any money coming in to pay the rent, buy food, put petrol in the car etc etc. Any ideas?'

Now at this point you might expect one of those wonderful stories about how the phone rings and someone offers you your dream job. Well, maybe that will happen but it hasn't yet.  Neither has any rich relative suddenly materialised to my knowledge. 

But you know what - I can honestly say I am not worried.  I feel very peaceful and even excited and expectant about the future.  Of course I have been looking for other jobs but for most of my life I've thought in terms of working, building a career and then fitting in around that the things I enjoy, the things which give me a buzz, my passions and interests.  There have been many times in the past I've had to rely heavily on my faith as you'll know from my previous blog posts but for the first time in my life I think I really understand what it is to take a real step of faith.To choose to rely totally on God and his will for me.

I have come to realise over the past year I've needed to change my way of thinking to say 'OK, Lord I want to serve you 24/7.  I want to put my time, energy, talents and passion in your hands and to be the best I can be  - for You.  That truly is a purposeful life lived.'  As long as I concentrate on that I know He will take care of the rest.  So I'm not getting into the frantic panic at work about what to do secure one of the places which will be open to me.

I'll continue to pray, my friends will contiune to pray and at the right time, in the right way God will reveal His plans for me.  And to be honest, putting my trust in Him makes a lot more sense to me than any other career advice I've ever had.

We always have a verse of the year at our church and I'm going to leave you with that as I really have got to get going as I still have a job for a few weeks .  Little did I know how significant this was going to be..............

'Trust in him at all times. O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge'
Psalm 62:8

Lord - I'm pouring, oh boy am I pouring..................:-)

God bless - be back soon 
Jules x