Monday, June 25, 2007
Czech and V7 bbq
Today I had so much fun! I had the V7 team from Colorado and the Czech team over for a bbq at my house. It was awesome. It was nice to just hang out and play crazy games. Plus of course taking photos! Which I'm gonna share with ya'll. I wanna thank everyone who provided food, made themselves avaliable and made it such a fun day! But thanks to my dear mummy who worked her butt off (some of it uneccessary but that's my mum!) she was awesome!
I'm gonna miss the V7 team a lot. They're so much fun and I've really enjoyed all the time I've spent with them the past sort of week and a bit! Thanks guys for your efforts and enthusiasm. You've touched many this week!
Enough of me talking for a moment lets see the pictures (I hear ya'll say!These are just my favourties!).......
Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You
we turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You,
we long for You
'Cause when we see You,
we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away,
washed away
Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God Who saves us,
worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
Hear the sound of hearts returning to You
we turn to You
In Your Kingdom broken lives are made new,
You make us new
'Cause when we see You,
we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away,
washed away
Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God Who saves us,
worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
'Cause when we see You,
we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away
'Cause when we see You,
we find strength to face the day
In Your Presence all our fears are washed away,
washed away
Hosanna, hosanna
You are the God Who saves us,
worthy of all our praises
Hosanna, hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here, Lord Jesus
Labels: Czech, Fun, Laughter, Summerfest, V7
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Falling short...
At last the most awful exam timetable of my life is complete. Today I had my second R.S paper and of course like many people from my class I chose the 2 easiest questions or rather the 2 I could write most about. One on early church worship (included baptism, eucharist etc) and the spread and expansion of Christianity (of which the part B talked about monasticism and I completely slagged off monks-Oopsies!!) I'm just so glad they're over coz my head really hurt today and all I could do before I went in was concentrating on staying awake. So there's a few more exams ticked off my list but probably not my best. But I'm not gonna dwell on that now plently of time for that later in the summer.But the past couple of months I've been feeling like I'm falling short of everything. It's really hard to put this in words but it just seems like sometimes I'm not needed. Let me give you some examples (coz otherwise you would just write me off and say I'm being silly...) so ok 6 out of 8 of my close friends are in relationships and it's like I've been tossed aside. Then when I'm with certain people it's like they'd rather talk to their other friends instead of me. But then they'll be like aww I love you etc but how when their actions to live up to what they say? I know I'm being totally shelfish and just completely stupid but sure that's me! I'm just not seeing the need for my presence right now or the purpose of my race that I'm continuing to run. I'm getting tired and it would be so easy to give up right now. I mean would I have more freedom if I wasn't a Christian? Would my options and oppurtunities be better?? I don't know. I just don't know. I really haven't explained anything properly but I don't think it helps that I've no idea how to put it into words! Just complete crap to sum it up in one word.
But at the same time I feel that I'm falling short for God too and I don't wanna do that either.
I can't figure out who likes me and who doesn't I'm tormented by paranoria and haunted by self doubt. I dunno guys, I'm just being silly.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Just thought I'd share....
" God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains." Psalm 46 v 1-3 (The Message)
I took this picture today between the showers of rain. I thought it was rather random but it signifies life for me right now. The bright green track is my journey with God. It's an up hill struggle and I'm fenced in by all kinds of crap. My strength wears thin but even as everything around me changes and fails, I keep walking searching for my light at the end of the tunnel.
I think this is why I haven't freaked out as much this year. God hasn't let me. I've been living through Psalm 46 this week. And he is all I need. I'm realising I don't and can't rely on my own strength.
I got this wee devotion book from one of my friends (Rosemary Cuffey one of the sweetest ladies you could ever wish to meet!) and it has all these topics and sections and I've found myself over the past couple of weeks reading the God's words of life on perseverance:
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1v12
"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5v 3-4
"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." 2 Thessalonians 3v 5
God's word has been a blessing....and it's taken me this long to realise it!
His love is strong and I don't care what goes down!
**((P.S to Miss Skelton..I'm going to Portrush on Wednesday afternoon and returning Friday evening. I'll try to come out shopping with you guys but after yesterday I'll be lucky if I can buy a packet of chewing gum! Lol!! Loves you!))**
Ok I can't get the song on here so check out....
Labels: Bible, God, Love, studying, Switchfoot
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Strangely peaceful....
Ok. So I thought that this week would be one of the worst of my life. (and I'm only half way I know things could change but whatever!) But so far I've loved life this week. Began with a full day on Monday to get prepared for 2 geography papers on Tuesday. I spent this time really well and I was actually was able to answer everything on the physical paper which is an encouragement. But the skills paper......hmm?!? My fieldwork statistical anaylasis was fine 'coz I had memorised the spearman's rank correlation work. I'm not sure how I did with the rest of it. And it didn't help with me forgetting what a friggin flow chart was, resulting me in scribbling down whatever in the last 5 minutes but sure. I'm no genius. During my geog exams the terenchal rain was beating down which didn't help with the whole concentration thing. On the ride down I was going over in my head my case studies and I said to mum'What other american states where effected by Hurricane Katrina?'
She replied 'I don't really know Rachel I don't keep track of these things.'
We then pulled up behind a van that had a number plate from Georgia in the back and I was like
'O was Georgia hit?
Mum replied saying 'Rachel just coz it's on that van doesn't mean that it's a Holy sign from God.'
Oooo but was she wrong, she just had to eat her words there now, coz Georgia was hit and 2 people died! So ha ha to her!
After my exam mum took me out for coffee and I ended up buying 5 new Cd's it was sweet and I haven't even listened to any the whole way through yet! Ahh can't wait.
My exam today was ok, I was able to do it like and I got scholar quotes in but I just think I might have wrote the biggest pile of bolloax. I chose a question on Stephen's role in the book of Acts and one on Paul's conversion. Of course it was the height of amusement. But the only thing that kept me going was that I was going for a starbucks afterwards (a definate plus side to going to a school so close to town!) I also had a lot of clothes to take back so I did that but ended up buying other stuff so it was all good. Have a look at these kick ass photos!.....(Sarah=curly hair and Megan=brown hair!) We are going to Portrush next week how fun?!?! Wheeha! Cannae wait! They're my very own Trinny and Susannah, I'm keeping all they chose for me apart from one top which I have to say I picked myself so I can see a future for these two!!
I have felt a great deal of peace these past few days and I have not freaked out as much as I did last year! Paul hasn't had as many headaches this year as I haven't been in complaining as much! Is that a good thing though?!? I'm comforting myself saying 'it's coz you've grown in your faith with God.' All I can say is I hope so and that this complacency isn't a sign of failing. Prayers are greatly accepted and appreciated!!
Love and prayers to all!
Labels: exams, God, good times, shopping