A Quiet Christmas here..

We enjoyed a quiet family Christmas, missing Rob. Whilst he enjoyed a far different day in the French Alps!

During the morning, he dressed up as Santa and took a ski lift up the mountain. He then donned his sack and strapped himself onto his snowboard to set off down the mountain with goodies for the children in the chalet. Much to the concern of other children on the nursery slope - Santa fell over!!!! He hurt his coccyx heehee but, with a "HoHoHo" he got up and set off back down the main slope to the chalet. He had just arrived back and sat down surrounded by the children, when his mobile went off! So he joked it was Mrs Claus checking he had arrived safely. He loved the experience!

Sadly the day did not end so well! He ran out of gas during Christmas dinner and spent hours running up and down stairs to another kitchen to try to cook the meal. He was disappointed as it meant he spent less time on presentation than he would usually and so felt he had let the guests down.

I'm looking forward to getting some pics of him as Santa. I'll make sure I post one on here for posterity!

As for me? My worst present was THUD, by Terry Pratchett! It's made me almost a recluse whilst I read it! If I read it in the company of others I keep laughing and sadly if Iread back what has just amused me, it doesn't seem as funny to the listener. So I have to cope with being given strange looks, or becoming a hermit until I've finished the book. I truly love the writings of this author!

It may be Christmas but life goes on..

This week I've put in place the next step of my life. On Monday I went into school and handed in my notice. It's been a strange few weeks seeking God's will for our lives. It has been a joint decision with Ian and myself seeking what God wants for our lives. My cessation of teaching does not just affect me but the whole family.

The strange thing is that last night I realised just how much we live in this world, but not of it! Ordinarily people do not leave a job when they have no idea of where or what they are going to do next. Ian and I have considered the financial implications of my not having a job and although we recognise that my salary is vital to our living, we are not concerned about it's loss. We believe that God is in control of this situation and, if anything, we are excited about what he is bringing us into.

David spoke at the carol service last night about the season we are in. Ian and I firmly felt we are at the start of Spring. The old is dying off and under the ground new shoots are coming up. As yet they are not visible, but we have a hope, a firm belief, that they will come through. Soon the reality of new things emerging will be all around us. God has great things planned for our family. This time last year I was single with a new Christian as a partner and no thoughts of getting married. Within 3 months I was married and the strength and security I have received from God's union is awesome.

Now God's plan is moving on. It's an exciting time.

Almost Christmas

Tomorrow is Christmas Day.

It will be a little strange knowing that Rob is not with us, but cooking a fantastic Christmas dinner for 14 strangers somewhere in the French Alps. He's having an amazing time over there! He started ski-ing and snow-boarding about 10 days ago and gets a couple of hours in each afternoon. On Christmas Day he gets to dress up as Santa, throw a sack of presents over his back and ski across to the chalet. it seems strange that Rob's doing this seeing as he's the least experienced skier of the staff! We have visions of him ski-ing right past the chalet, not being able to stop, or else crashing into the french windows at the front. Whichever it is, I'm sure everyone will enjoy his arrival!

Back home, we are looking forward to a quiet weekend. We completed all our Christmas shopping on Thursday and have just relaxed since then. The house looks lovely! I'm so pleased with the new carpets and the completed decor. I was more adventurous with my Christmas decorations this year as I had been donated a lot of mum's things when she moved to Spain. It's strange how she considers me to be more creative, yet in this area I tend more to the understatement. Having mum's beautiful welsh dresser in the dining room, I simply remembered how she dressed it and hopefully followed suit. The dining room is now one of the warmest rooms in the house and I'm really looking forward to eating my turkey dinner there.

I wish all my blog readers, both regular and infrequent, a Very Happy Christmas. May you enjoy and relax at this special time and above all, celebrate the greatest gift ever given!

Living with past failures

Over the past couple of weeks I've been tackling the issue of whether I need to change my career. I now stand in the knowledge that it is time to move on. Satan has had a field day! He's been whispering in my ear about failure! This is something else I've failed at, something else that I just don't have the bottle to see through!

This morning I went to church knowing that both my peace and joy have been stolen from me! I've been living in the knowledge of who God is, but not accepting what it means to my life.

Roger Aubrey was speaking and very powerfully spoke into many areas of people's lives. For me, it was the word that nothing will seperate me from God, not my present nor my future. He pointed out that the past is not mentioned in Romans 8: 37 as it has already been dealt with. The past has no hold on my life, it cannot dictate how my future will be or even how my present will be.

As a Christian, my sins have been forgiven, the old life no longer has a hold on my present or future. My past mistakes are just that past! They have gone and are no longer to have a hold on my life.

My peace has been restored and now I need to rediscover the joy of being in Christ and being filled with his Holy Spirit. I've felt so low recently as I've gone through this time of searching. This is not how God wants me to seek his will and direction in my life! He wants me to know his joy at all times in my life for what he has done for me and to rest in the security that his plans are for my prosperity and not harm, plans to give me a hope and a future.

I'm getting excited now about what God has in store for me. When chatting to Roger after the meeting he said something about us never knowing in January what December will bring. I recalled that in January I was a single woman with no idea that on March 26th I would be getting married! If such a major change can happen in 3 months of this year, what amazing things has God got in store for me over the next few months??

All I know is, I want to be where God wants me to be! If that means stepping out and facing major changes in my life then I'm prepared to do it. It's a small step compared with the steps Jesus took to bring me into a place where my life is held secure in the loving hands of an all powerful and all mighty God!

Plans and Promises

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I've been fretting and worrying about something big recently. Whether or not I'm in the right job, whether or not I'm even in the right career. The part answer appears to be no but whether it's to the first or the latter I'm not sure. I've been putting off making my decision (and to a certain degree still am) because I'm concerned about the pressures I'll put my colleagues under, and about what they will think about me if I quit. I was reminded last night that I need to be concerned about only one person - God.

My decision to stay or to go must be based purely on whether it is God's will that I remain. My decision about when I go should also be based purely on God's will for my life.

My desire is to do the will of God, sometimes it can be so difficult to know exactly what that is.

Be Still and Know

I'm trying to study for an Open University course. I have to admit that it isn't going too well. I'm not a single player, I don't work well when I get stuck. My first thought is to quit. I'm someone who needs others around me to get my little grey cells working.

The course is all about how our minds solve geometrical problems, what strategies we use. Now as someone who quits when the going gets tough, this is a bit of a dilemma for me! The interesting thing is that whilst doing the last 2 tasks I have given up each time, then when I just lie back and try to sleep, my mind solves the problems. The truth of the problem comes to me and I'm able to work my way around to the solution.

Sadly, this is not a pedagogic strategy and I don't suppose I can use it as my method for solving these problems! I need to continue to look for the correct learning terms for my assignment.

I do however believe this is a God given strategy!

Psalm 46:10 says:

"Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

God knows there are many times in our lives when it just gets too much for us. He wants to help us to overcome our problems and he's given us the key - Be still and know that I am God. When we sit back and rest in his presence, the worries of the world pale into insignificance. They don't disappear, they are just put into perspective.

Learning to be still in God's presence is something I particularly need at the moment, but it's something I believe we all need to practice everyday.

Arrived!

Yesterday Rob arrived at the main resort where he'll be staying for one week's training. Then he spends a further week at the smaller resort where he'll be for the remainder of the 5 months. I haven't had much feedback yet, apart from a few daft texts and the knowledge that French soup and bread are the way forward!

At least he sounds happy and his nerves seem to be settling! This is such an amazing opportunity to experience so many new things! I just wish I could be a fly on the wall to see how he reacts! :-)

Zeal for my House

I've found recently that I'm struggling at work with the way children speak to each other and to their elders. There appears to be nothing but hatred and malice in their lives.

I get so angry inside for the way they are and I want to challenge them and change them. But what right do I have? Am I perfect myself? No way! Not by a long way am I any better.

Yes, I do love my God, I do sing praises and worship the God of all creation. But is it having an outward effect on my life? Am I any better than the people I see around me? I don't think so. I'm critical and often condemning. I pass judgement and want punishment for those who misbehave.

Yet one day, I (with everyone else who has ever lived) will face the judgement seat. Being a christian will not save me from judgement! I will be judged according to how I have lived my life in the knowledge that Christ is King over all, in the knowledge that God is an awesome, mighty and holy God! Am I living as though my judgement will come? Is my life an example to others of how to live or am I just judging them? If I really want to change them, I need to follow the example of Jesus and just live my life as an example of how to live in obedience to God. Listening and obeying his word for my life.