2007 personal thoughts

Posted on December 31, 2007
Filed Under thoughts, family news | 3 Comments

On a personal level 2007 has been a year of dying for me. In some part I have had to die to my hopes and dreams in order to settle where God has us.  I’ve found this really difficult, as some of you know, but I think I’ve now reached acceptance within me. I don’t believe it is an end of these dreams, as I think God planted them within me, but it is not the time whilst we are still here in the UK.

We’ve had many new beginnings this year too.  One was the realism that our son has High Functioning Autism (which for those of you who don’t know, means he is fully communicative!). In part it has been hard accepting this, but it has also been a new beginning as we can now learn how his mind functions, we have access to different groups and organizations. Things can only really get better. We also began to home educate the children this year. Wow, what an adventure that has been.  I really feel like the children are starting to blossom.  They both seem so much more confident and relaxed.  We also got a glowing report from our education department inspector, which is always good news! I completed and passed my environmental science course - hurrah!

Things have been tough here, and Canada seems a world away.  Something broke this month though, and I think it was through an offer we had. We were offered the chance of going to France to live for 12-18 months whilst we waited for our permanent residency to come through for Canada.  The offer was incredibly tempting.  It meant we would have had a more relaxed family way of life for a time.  We would have been able to live life in the slower pace we crave, doing church in the way we believe. So …… we turned it down. It was very tempting, but God was quiet.  We didn’t want to move without hearing from him. I guess that means we have chosen to stay on the tougher road, and see it through until Canada comes calling.

I feel quite excited about 2008 - I guess mainly because this is theoretically the year that our permanent residency application will start to move through the system (three years later!).  I don’t want to get my hopes up about that though. I guess I feel like 2008 is going to be a good year - maybe I’ll be wrong, but right now my spirit feels excited!  Bless you all in 2008 and thank you for reading my thoughts this year.

2007 Blogging Thoughts

Posted on December 31, 2007
Filed Under blog | 10 Comments

I’ve been thinking a lot about 2007 over the past few days, both on a personal level and on a “cyber” level!  I’ve really valued the community I have been part of in the blogging world this year.  I have received much encouragement and love - so thank you all. As I’ve thought about this years blog posts certain posts and themes have sprung to my mind.  I’ve enjoyed viewing Jonny Baker’s ever increasing photo collection, and reading (and using!) his worship tricks.  I’ve been impacted by the wonderful words and work of Cheryl Lawrie. I was very blessed by being part of, and reading other posts from Erin Word’s and Pam Hogeweide’s Faith In A Dress. Bill Kinnon’s The People Formerley Known As series has to be one of the most memorable things from 2007 for me.  Grace produced some really fantastic posters.  I had the honour to collaborate with Cindy Bryan and Erin Word on the prayer synchroblog, and through that have found two fantastic new friends. Both of their blogs have also been very thought provoking.  Sonja has kept me drawn in with her esquisite writing style. I’ve also enjoyed the questions and debate over at John Smulo’s blog. Great conversation has happened at Emerging Women.  Jamie Arpin-Ricci has had many challenging posts.  Brother Maynard has been not only humorous, but also very reflective throughout the year. He brought the year to an end with advent reflections. I’ve has also enjoyed reading the thoughts of Paul Mayers, Jim Lehmur, Makeesha Fisher, Matt Stone, Glenn Hager, Jason Clark, Len Hjalmarson and Rick Meigs - to name but a few of the great bloggers who I regularly read. Finally 2007 has also been full of great cartoons from the Naked Pastor, and of course, Asbo Jesus.  In my blogging world I have had great conversations and walked through the good and bad with people.

What has stood out for you in blogosphere in 2007?  Please leave your thoughts, or perhaps write your own post.

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Advent reflections

Posted on December 28, 2007
Filed Under Jesse Tree devotion | 2 Comments

I really enjoyed putting together the daily advent Jesse tree devotion this year. I got a lot out of it, and I think my family did too. We had a special time together each evening after dinner, where we listened to the devotion and prayed together, waited on God etc. There were some days when I wondered why I decided to do them, as I sat in front of the computer for an hour or so trying to find something meaningful to write! I had the verses and symbols for each day, but the rest I put together … with the help of my bible commentary!

On a personal level it was great to see how Jesus’ genealogy and prophecies all fitted together. I also appreciated for the first time how many bible stories are interconnected with other ones throughout the bible. I think the most powerful message that came through for me was that throughout God was saying to his people “trust me” “I’m your protector and provider” “Lean on me” “Let me guide you”.

I’ve been considering carrying on with some form of devotion or meditation - maybe once a week initially - on my blog. I’d love to know what you thought about the Jesse tree devotions. Did they help you at all this Advent? Did you enjoy reading them and meet God within them? Would you like me to continue to put a devotion or meditation on my blog?

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Prosperity teaching leaves woman broke

Posted on December 28, 2007
Filed Under current affairs | 3 Comments

“The message flickered into Cindy Fleenor’s living room each night: Be faithful in how you live and how you give, the television preachers said, and God will shower you with material riches. Evangelist Benny Hinn, raises his hands in prayer during a service at the Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2002. And so the 53-year-old accountant from the Tampa, Florida, area pledged $500 a year to Joyce Meyer, the evangelist whose frank talk about recovering from childhood sexual abuse was so inspirational. She wrote checks to flamboyant faith healer Benny Hinn and a local preacher-made-good, Paula White.

Only the blessings didn’t come. Fleenor ended up borrowing money from friends and payday loan companies just to buy groceries. At first she believed the explanation given on television: Her faith wasn’t strong enough.”I wanted to believe God wanted to do something great with me like he was doing with them,” she said. “I’m angry and bitter about it. Right now, I don’t watch anyone on TV hardly.”‘ Read more.

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Ruby Anniversary

Posted on December 28, 2007
Filed Under family news | Leave a Comment

We’re going away to London for a few days today.  Jonathan’s parents. Bernard and Margaret, are celebrating their Ruby wedding anniversary.  40 years is definitely something worth celebrating these days when a lot of marriages don’t make it anymore. Congratulations to them.  We are going to watch Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward theatre tonight, and will spend the day in London tomorrow.

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