Self Love Sunday (one day late)

Tags

Author, bible, bible verse, books, Choose Life, Choose Life by Simon Guillebaud, Choose positivity, christian, CLC Bookshop, Crusifixion, Daily Readings, easter, easter sunday, education, friends, Friendships, holidays, Importance, inspiration, inspire, Isaiah, jesus, life, love, people, Positive, qoute, reading, Resurection, scarf, school, School group, Scripture Union, Self Love, shopping, Simon Guillebaud, smile, Stay smiling, strength, sun, Sunday, teacher, thankful, Thankfulness, verse, weather

Its Monday. Not Sunday, I know. I wasn’t going to start this schedule thing until tomorrow. However, I just felt the need to write out some things that I am thankful for.

– HOLIDAYS
Easter holidays. I love Easter, because of the celebrations and the sun and the joy in peoples faces. School is almost finished too. 2 weeks of holidays, one week of school and then it is study leave which technically means we’ve finished school apart from going in on the days of our final exams. Ever.

– My Scripture Union group at school.
Last week was my last ever Scripture Union get together at school and the teacher who runs it gave me a book called Choose Life by Simon Guillebaud. This book contains daily readings. One verse from the bible and then a page of writing to encourage you for the day a head. This made me think that somehow she knew I was struggling with reading the actual bible. I have actually been struggling with reading in general – SHOCK HORROR. I know. I don’t know, I just can’t concentrate on it or can’t really be bothered if I’m being completely honest. However, I remember loving books. I still love books, of course. I’m just going through a phase of not really reading. And that goes for the bible too, its just SO. BIG. And it doesn’t really make sense and there is so much in it that I get frustrated when I can’t remember what I read a few days ago. SO, this book is kind of perfect really. While I’m at it, the verse for today is
Isaiah 40:30,31 “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

– My School Friends.
I’m really going to miss them when school is over. My year are so terrible. We have so many cliques and groups and it isn’t good at all. And the way I got through school is sticking to myself really. I never really stretched myself to make friends with the entire year. And that’s ok. There are times when I feel really sad that our year can’t just all be friends but actually there’s a gossipy side to our year and a friendly side and I’d rather stick with the friendly ones. And that’s ok too. But I have a few really close friends in school and they are some of my favorite people in the world. Because as we get older we realise that everyone is different, everyone has tricky lives but we choose to care about other people lives and not just our own. We remind each other how strong we are and how it’ll be ok even if we’re having a hard day. These friends in school are ones that have known me for years and they know me well enough to know that I am forever grateful for them.

– The Sun.
Bit of a weird one.. But the sun makes me smile more so I’m thankful for it too.

– My New Scarf.
I have a new scarf and its got blue flowers on it. I have worn it everyday since I got it and I love it so much. It’s just me in a scarf.

What have you been thankful for over this past week?

Much love

Feel The Fear and Do it Anyway.

Tags

accompnimant, Acoustic Guitar, afraid, Anxiety, cafe, church, Coffee, control, emotions, Encouragment, exam, examiner, faith, fear, feel the fear and do it anyway, flyer, friends, funding, fundraiser, God, guitar, health, helping others, higher music, hopes and dreams, inspiration, inspire, life, live music fundraiser, loving heart, Mental Health, Mission Trip, music, Musical, musicians, nervous, organisation, organising, performance, piano, practical exam, qoute, Raffle, respond rwanda, Rwanda, school, singing, sqa, storms, storms in life, strength, Summer, teacher, urban saints, Voice, worship

Most of the time, this is the best advice you can give. For me anyway, I don’t know about others. But saying ‘You’ll be fine’ doesn’t make sense to me because there’s no way of knowing that but to just be fearful but do it anyway is so truthful. 

Because yesterday I had my music practical prelim. 

And as much as I tried to fine, I totally wasn’t. And some people might not understand how difficult it is to spend all do your free time working towards something and being totally prepared but as soon as I walk into the exam room, I just can not control my emotions. As much as I try too. And it’s the most frustrating thing because it feels like all my work and practice is for nothing. 

However, even though my head was literally shaking at first, the first 2 songs on Guitar went fine 🙂 but then I totally messed up the next one.. My hands were so shaky that I couldn’t pluck the strings. And I couldn’t control it and I didn’t know what to do. So that didn’t go so well. Then I finished with a song that redeemed me a bit. Then voice… Oh man. The first song,  I burst into tears with in the first few words. The examiner said that I could have a break. So I went outside to bawl my eyes out for a while and catch my breath. My teacher came as well to see if I was okay. I don’t know if I’ll get marked down for having to have a break but I literally couldn’t sing. Or breath for that matter. So then I came back and the first song I sang, my voice was pretty shaky but it went okay. 

 And then I totally nailed the last song. 

I sang loud and did dynamics and I managed to sing the three notes at the end which I was really struggling with for the entire year because I have to sing super loud to be able to hit the notes. That was the first time I sang it right in front of anyone which is probably why Mr Ross (my music teacher) was having a party to himself afterwards aha! And the examiner was proud of me to come back and do that. 

I was so glad it was over. 

Well the performance was over but I was still so overwhelmed. I cried for ages afterwards. It was probably partly because I was sad that I messed up quite a lot but most was probably being so overwhelmed. I am so glad it’s over. But I wish I could just perform like I can do when I’m in my little practice room by myself or together with the rest of my music class. It’s so annoying! I hope I’ll get there one day though. 

On the plus side, it’s like a ritual for the teacher to give you a cream egg once you’ve finished your exam. Which is fabulous.

On a happier note, my friend very kindly made me this flyer for the fundraiser I am organising for my trip to Rwanda this summer. It’s so pretty, isn’t it? 



What Is My Purpose? And Banana Pancakes!

Tags

Andy Croft, attention, Banana pancakes, bible, Bible in a year, Bible study, bible verse, blbbiblestudy, Books of the bible, breeelovesbeauty, breelovesvlogs, cambriajoy, devotions, encouragement, fleurdeforce, food, future, God, inspiration, jesus, kindness, life, light hearted, love, Mathew, Mike Pilivachi, missglamorazzi, motivation, music, NIV, peace, purpose, reading, relationships, Revelation, satisfy, sermon, song, Soul Survivor, strength, thought provoking, Treasure, vlogs, What is my purpose, Youtube, zoella

I’m just going to get straight to the point. I can be unbelievably undisciplined when it comes to reading my bible. Who would have thought that, huh? Lisa loves to read… so this is weird. Yes, I do love love love to read but I love to read page turners and things that are easier to follow and easier to remember. I don’t know if that makes any sense. But sometimes I feel like I don’t understand what I’m reading when I read the bible and it frustrates me so much and then I’m not motivated to read it. I’m sure I’m not the only one here… Or I read something and I am thinking about something else and I don’t realise I’m thinking about something else until I zone back in and find out that I hadn’t been concentrating on anything I just read. That is probably why Revelation is my favorite book in the bible because  it intrigues me the most I guess… Fear not! I found a solution. Or, the solution found me.

I am currently reading the Soul Survivor NIV Bible In a Year. Mike and Andy also upload daily videos to help us understand what we are reading which is very very helpful for me I must say. Now, I have failed many times and missed many days but I haven’t given up on it so we’re good! 🙂

I realise that the title of this blog post makes no sense as yet… It will guys, it will.
You may know that I watch youtubers like Zoe and Ingrid and Fleur. But I came across a youtuber called Cambria Joy and as well as her other videos she makes weekly bible studies too and they are SO good. They are like little 5-10 minute sermons but with so much thought-provoking stuff. There’s much encouragement, joy and inspiration in her videos. So I wanted to share one with you.

I noted down some of the things she said and verses she referred to in my journal.
For example, she said things like ‘Do whatever you’re doing for the Lord and you will find joy.’ and ‘If you’re scared about the future, God will accept you with open arms.’
She also refers to Mathew 6:21 where she challenges us to think about where our treasures lie. Because, we were made to worship something. Whether its money or relationships or attention. We, as human beings, crave something all the time and only God can fully satisfy it. The verse before that, (Mathew 6:20) says that our treasure is in heaven and God is our strength and our song. There is just so much I could write about this one video but I encourage you to watch them because they really are great, light hearted videos and you can really see that she means every single word she says.

On that note, I’m going to go and make some banana pancakes 😀 have a lovely, lovely day!

God Is Love.

Tags

bible, bike, church, clothes, Dress, faith, family, Fellowship, friends, fruit, funny, Germany, God, heart, Holiday, Hope, jesus, Joy, kind, life, longboarding, Lord, love, love never fails, mind, motivation, patient, soul, spirit, sport, strength, trust, truth, vacation, worship

Now, I realize this was my first time back at church since before Germany so I think I am a bit behind with all the sermons but today we looked at a fruit of the spirit, Love.

God’s love:
– His character
– It’s everlasting
– For everybody
– The unlovely
– His motivation. 

Let me explain.
How do we describe God? God is love. If you look into other religions, if you read the Koran there is nothing that says anything about God of love. Our God has everlasting love. Everlasting. Whether you are pleasing him and serving Him or doing things that break his heart, his love never changes. He loves you always. God loves the unlovely. For God so loved the world that He gave His only son. Why? because he loves us, even the unlovely.

We need to have passion for the lost. We need to love the lost like God loves the lost.
Love is: Patient, not jealous, not proud, not self seeking, no wrongs, rejoices in truth, trusts, perseveres, kind, does not brag, not rude, not angered, no delight in evil, protects, hopes, love never fails. We must not keep records of any wrongs!

Now, love is tough. God says we are to love God, we are to love each other, we are to love our neighbor, we are to love our enemies, we need to love with all our mind, heart, soul and strength (Just like Maria explained in the kids talk during the service).

There is good news! It is Gods love through us. *exhale*. That makes it easier right? Its a fruit of the spirit.
Our responsibility is to “Enjoy serving the Lord and he will give you what you want.” (Psalm 37 verse 4)

There are results of loving. 
1. God gets excited.
2. The world is touched.
3. We are enriched.

The love of Jesus flows in our lives. 
Amen.

P.s you have homework! Well, we got homework 😀 Our Pastor said we should read Ephesians chapter 3 verse 14 to 21 (The end of the chapter) every day for a week (or longer if you like;) )  I encourage you to do the same 🙂 

Now, after church Rachael and I longboarded back to her house. Just for the fun of it. I did have a rather funny experience. Just as we were leaving Peta, your longboard decided to make its way into the bike compartment. Now baring in mind it’s a Sunday which meant all gates were shut and probably padlocked, so this led me to having one choice. Climb the fence. I’m about 5’1, I estimate the gate being double the size of me if not more so I had to sort of pull myself up over it, in a dress. Lol!! It was quit funny. I guess all those childhood years of climbing trees does come in handy in situations like these 😀 

Choose Life.

Tags

Abraham, adventure, Africa, bible, blogging, care, church, commands, creator, destiny, faith, faithful, fear, Fellowship, forever, God, heart, Hope, Isaac, John 3:16, life, Lord, love, New Hope, obey, power, purpose, serve, shell, speaker, strength, trust, United States, verse, walk, Word, world, worship

First of all, I apologise for not blogging the last couple of days. I don’t actually know why… but I’m back!:-)

Last night at New Hope we had a guest speaker who was originally for Africa I think. We continued the series on Trust and how we need to trust God with our lives and choose life.

Love the Lord your God. Obey Him and remain faithful to him. Fear the Lord your God and worship Him. You may wonder what you want. Why are you here?
Because God brought you here. The simple and complicated things have all brought you here. You are here not by default but because He has a destiny for your life. He brought you here for Him.

In our generation people think about what something gives them. They want to do things only for themselves. There is a lot of selfishness. They are in there own little bubble. We need to come out of our shell and realise it is all for God not for us. We are brought here for a purpose by the Creator.

This is what God has done for us. This is where we are. Choose today who you shall serve. God wants you to choose life. It is God who chose you. It is God who called us.

Genesis 12 vs 1 “The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your fathers family, and go to the land that I will show you.'” his is a calling that God put upon his heart. He didn’t know where he was going to end up but he still went. Sometimes you know who you are in God but you want to do things with your own strength. Your missing out. God has a purpose.

Maybe you don’t understand the power of God in your life or what he has done for you. We must trust God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We must have faith. God is able to deliver us. God cares for you and is able to reach out to you.

Why would God be so interested in us? Why bother with us? Because He loves us! For God so loved the world. He came to save the world. In the small things in life, He is interested. That is the God we serve. Nothing is too big for Him. He looks upon us and says “I love you.”

How do you choose life?

1. Choose to love the Lord your God.
2. Walk in His ways.
3. Keep His commands.

We have His Word to guide us.