2016? - Already????????????!!!

Not exactly 'musing from under my duvet' but, as I've managed to access my blog (won't bore you with the details but suffice to say have been continually frustrated with my IT!) I decided it was high time I posted on here.
I'm actually in my kitchen watching a programme on keeping healthy as we get older.  Who knew toasted pumpkin seeds make a tasty snack?

Anyway, I digress.....

When I first started this blog I mainly wanted to use it as an encouragement to others. To encourage them in their daily lives, maybe give a few words of comfort when people are struggling with life, give my opinion on some topics which people like to discuss and maybe make a few people giggle along the way. 

I still want to do that, and hopefully this year will draw breath long enough to get some posts on here...............but I also want to share my love and trust in Jesus Christ.

Why?  

Because I believe more than ever, in a world which offers us so much stimulus, bombards us with so many differing opinions, so much which is 'guarantteed to make us happy' and yet is a world in which so many people are suffering - trusting in Jesus Christ and accepting his gift of love which brings us back into relationship with creator God (as we're meant to live) is the only option which gives us deep, long lasting peace. 

Whether you're a multi millionaire, or a permanent resident of 'Benefits street', or fleeing for your life from one of the many war torn places in this world.........

Jesus says 'I am the way, the truth and the life.........'
A very simple, straightforward, no nonsense statement.

I'm sure like many of you out there I find myself feeling frustrated by much of the terrible news from around the world. 

I don't know enough about the conflict in Syria to understand why so many people are risking their lives to flee the country, but it's obvious there are thousands who feel it is their only option. 

I find it hard to accept so many lovely people I know are struggling with physical, emotional and mental illness. 

I feel guilty knowing I have a warm bed to sleep in when there are so many people who will be sleeping in doorways and cardboard boxes this winter, right here in my own country. 

I find myself asking 'What can I do?' In reality,in practical terms, not a great deal as an individual person.  I can of course send a monetary contribution to one of the many aid agencies and add my small contribution to the many others who give generously. I can tut tut and send sympathetic thoughts to those suffering. But it seems such a small drop in a very large ocean of despair. It would be so easy to just think "What's the point? - nothing is really going to change."

But then I thought to myself 'Hey, you're a Christian.  You believe in the power of prayer, you believe in the sovereignty of Jesus Christ and that God is ultimately in control.  Why are you feeling so helpless? At the very least you can devote some of your time to prayer. Pray for an end to conflict. Pray for God to intervene in peoples lives and situations. Pray for other Christians to add their prayers to yours.
There are so many stories of answered prayers, when Christians come together in this act of communication with the living God, a the modern saying goes 'Why wouldn't you?.'

Once I started to think in this way I began to feel less helpless, less able to make a difference, more determined to follow Jesus example and 'love my neighbour as myself'. In other words put others at the forefront of my thoughts, and keep their needs, hopes and desires in my heart, interceding for them before God in prayer. 

I don't want to be a comfortable, go to church once a week Christian.  I want to feel for people, laugh with them, cry with them, rejoice with them but above all introduce them to Jesus. 

I have called him friend, confidante, shepherd, Lord and saviour for over 40 years. There have been times also during the past 40 years when I've been disobedient, wilful, stubborn and just determined to 'do it my way'. 

But you know?  - He's never forsaken me.
Never let go of my hand, even though at times, like an angry toddler, I've fought to pull my hand out of his. And, as I look back over the years, I am so grateful he has, because I wouldn't be the person I am today without knowing Him. 

I try not to be too 'preachy' in these posts but I just sense, as we are rapidly getting through yet another year, I needed to be a little more direct. 

I am a daughter of the living Christ.

I love the Lord with all my heart, mind and spirit.

I ask Him daily to give me love for everyone I come in contact with, and for those He knows, but I will never meet. 

I thank Him for showering on me so many blessings and for welcoming me into His family of believers. 

I am indeed rich beyond measure.

As I said at the beginning of this post, I seem to have sorted out the gremlins in the system so hopefully you'll start to see a few more of my 'musings' in the coming weeks and months.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be upon you and your loved ones, today and always

Amen. 

  

Heading back home........ (oh yes, its my birthday as well!)

I'm heading back to Northamptonshire today after an incredible week in Crewe with Anne's New Generation exhibition.  I should be putting some pictures and blog post on the website (www.mt4life.org) over the next few days so you can check out how it all went on there.

It's been fantastic but tiring so once we're packed up I'll be hitting the road to get home.  I think tomorrow may well be a 'duvet day'......... :-)

As I was laying here early this morning and just running through things in my head there was a niggle I'd forgotten something.  Then I remembered it was my birthday! You'd have thought after all these years 1 - I'd remember more readily and 2 - I'd be thinking about slowing down a bit. 
Well, failed (and failing) miserably on both counts I'm pleased to say.

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while you may recall I was recovering from a serious illness when I turned 50 and as I realised it's now 5 years on from that I remember getting up at my birthday party and saying I had this incredible sense the 'best was yet to come'.  Well, I can honestly say I think that's starting to come to pass.

I love every day of my new life.  I get to spend so much time with amazing people. I've been staying with the most wonderful lady called Susan, Socks the dog and Jinx & Maggie the cats.  There's also a few chickens living in the back garden but I haven't been sitting on the sofa having a cuddle with them in the evenings! We've enjoyed great conversations, good food (you should taste her homemade quiche.........), few glasses of wine but more than anything we have laughed so much.  I will miss my evening ritual of coming in, getting straight into my 'jimjams' and joining Susan in front of the wood burning stove to wind down and chat about the day.  But I have a sneaky suspicion I'll be invited back and I hope to be able to reciprocate the hospitaity when she comes to visit me.

As I say, life is so good. I get to choose where I go, when, for how long and despite working harder than I think I have ever done I am so glad, and grateful, to the prompting of God to have made the decision I did last year. 
The best birthday present I could get is the assurance I'll never have to go back to that 'safe' 9-5 office job existence ever again.
With all the things that are happening I have a sneaky suspicion that's not going to happen.  As I said to my surgeon when we were discussing my knee op last year 'God has a lot of work for me to do over the next 25-30 years so these knees have got to be able to carry me around!'

Thankfully this week they've not only held up really well as I've been on my feet 7-8 hours a day but also as I've climbed ladders, lugged frames around and stacked boxes.  Today they need to keep me going as we try to figure out how to pack 34 massive silk panels, metal frames, numerous boxes of stock, 1 suitcase, 1 bag of shoes and various random bags + me into my car!  This should be interesting...........

Need to get up and get going.  It's a short few days turn around before the exhibition goes up in Bedfordshire from the Easter weekend.  Check out the website for details under Events.

Next post will have pictures, I promise.

Have an especially blessed time this Easter as we remember what Jesus did for every single one of us at Calvary. (and if you don't know what that was...........I'm always happy to share the story with you)
God bless
Jules xx

Easter

The sun is shining and it is a glorious day. I really must get out and enjoy this lovely weather but I’ve been ‘hooked’ by the IT bug this week.  I’ve recently managed to download the software so I can upload the photos from my phone.  Now I know to some people this sort of this is second nature but I have to learn by trial and error (more error than anything really) but eventually I usually get there. Having downloaded all my photos I’ve started to sort them into folders this morning, adding tags, dates and other bits of info.  I also discovered in Windows Gallery even though you’ve saved copies under ‘Pictures’ in different folders it’s not a good idea then to delete them out of the bit at the top where they’re stored in date order because they all magically disappear out of the folders you’ve just spent 2 hours lovingly creating!  Fortunately one of the first things I learnt to use was the ‘Restore’ function from the recycle bin........  J 

This is a fairly short post this morning because I am going to get myself out in this lovely sunshine.  But I wanted to take a few moments to remind everyone this is Easter Friday, or Good Friday to some. 

This long weekend off for many is just that, a time to unwind, meet up with friends, maybe to start getting down to some serious DIY or gardening. And that’s great, nothing wrong with that, lovely to spend time with those we love and I’ll certainly being that.  But for a huge number of people, including me, it’s the most important date in the Christian calendar.  This is the time of year when we especially celebrate the events at the heart of our faith.  The culmination of a time over 2000 years ago when a man named Jesus, after 33 years on this earth, fulfilled his divine mission.

Put very simply he obeyed his Father even though he knew it was going to be excruciatingly painful, he was going to be jeered at, spat upon, flogged and finally laid on a rough hewn piece of wood and massive 6” nails were going to be rammed home through his hands and feet.  Then he was going to be hoisted up and left to die.  That’s the events which are remembered today by thousands of Christians around the world.

And sadly totally ignored or dismissed by many more.

The most amazing thing is He went through all of that because of love.  Love for his father, love for all those around him and love for all those yet to be born; which is why those events over 2000 years ago are so completely relevant today because ‘those yet to be born’ is you and me.

If you’re thinking anything right now – why did he do it? did it really happen? what’s this got to do with me? I’m not really interested, or even ‘here she goes again’.........anything, any thoughts.

Then I urge you - explore them.  Grab a bible and read any of the gospels towards the end, ask a friend, google crucifixion – do something.

But don’t be one of the crowd who just ignores Him.         

Let him show you that this isn’t the end of the story, the chain of events - as they say in the movies ‘the most exciting bit comes next...................’

And if you’re anywhere near Bromham Baptist Church this Easter, or even if you’re not, come and gaze at his face.  Let Him give you the answers to your questions, let Him reveal himself to you through the pictures on display.......... (see earlier posts)

I’m off to enjoy the sunshine now.  Wherever you are and whatever you are doing have a wonderful, love filled break this Easter holiday.

Blessings

Jules xxx