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. 

  

Hi everyone - yep, still alive and kicking!

You know that feeling when you've been meaning to do something for what you think has been a few weeks and then you realise it's been months!
Well, that's how its been with this blog.

I've got a very techie friend who set me up a website (more Time 4 Life), twitter accounts (MT4Life & JB) in addition to the FB page I already had and this blog. When I get stuck in and start writing I love it but life just has this funny way of eating up my time and I struggle to keep all the balls in the air, as the saying goes!

He told me I needed to make sure I was blogging at regular intervals (at least once a month), the same with tweeting and my other social media sights. Something to do with the way Google rates you. (Er, not sure I'm doing too well on that one). Sound fairly simple doesn't it?
But the reality is when you're living life to the full, you have a lot less time to tell everyone about it!
So, rather than worry about the months I've missed I've decided to just jump straight back in and pick up from now.

This isn't going to be a long post as I don't want to start by boring any potential new readers (or old ones for that matter). I just thought it might be good to catch up and then I promise to try and be a bit more disciplined and get something on here regularly (well, fairly regularly.........)

Sufficient to say I've been involved in lots of different projects the last few months including preaching, fundraising, putting on a variety show (we expected and audience of about 60 and had over 200 people turn up!), performing and of course lots of crocheting.  The variety show was a fantastic success, with all the performers local to Bedford and we're already gearing up for next year.

I've become an expert at laying on Afternoon tea for up to 150 people and can bake a batch of 100 scones in just over an hour!
I'm currently using my 'down time' to get my stock of hand crocheted poppies up as these sold really well last year and I raised £90 for the British Legion.  I'm hoping to exceed that this year.

I'm still at Bible college (love the classes, still struggling a bit with the discipline of writing assignments), but hey, can't be good at everything, right?
So, as promised, not a lot of words but as they say - a picture is worth a thousand words so here's a few pics to give you flavour of what I've been up to recently.

81 hand crocheted flowers, all different to make up the blanket
for my daughter and son-in-laws 5th wedding anniversary.
A real labour of love for my wonderful family

I cross stitched this cougar years ago but had
never created anything with it. Combined it with  my love of crochet and now have him proudly displayed in the lounge. 

Customised a handbag for a good friend for her birthday.  A girl can never have too  many handbags.......

My daughter, Amy, is currently in South Africa for a week, as a volunteer with the NSPCC.  She's gone complete with tool belt and hard hat to help build a school and having the time of her life. So many wonderful friends have donated and we had a number of fundraising events to help. Below are some pictures from two garden parties held. One was in the beautiful garden of some friends of mine and the other in Norfolk when my Mum and Dad opened their garden to their friends in the village. Between the two events we raised over £800 towards the min target of £2000. A fantastic effort by many wonderful friend's and family. 

Clive Rudd entertaining the guests as they enjoyed their afternoon tea.

  

Three lovely ladies deciding if they can manage just one more cream meringue! 

Beautiful setting in my friends garden.  God blessed us with wonderful weather as well.

Mum and Dad's garden in Norfolk. 
Friends came, enjoyed cream scones and tea and didn't want to go home!



Mum and Dad just about ready for a well earned sit down.
They'd worked really hard for a number of days - not bad for a combined age of 160! (oops....going to be in trouble for this one :-)



Well, I need to get on and do a bit more living, so am going to sign off now. It's my son-in-laws birthday today and I know my company is poor substitute for his wife but as she's away the other side of the world, I'm cooking his dinner tonight, so need to get a few bits.

 

I've lots more pictures and bits to share with you so ,as I said, I promise to keep a better eye on the time and make sure it's not so long before I hit the keyboard again.

 

Blessings to you and your family and those you love.

 

Be back soon

Jules xx