Serving

This totally smacked me in the face today...


Live = Serve
''...THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE...'' MARK 10:45
Jesus entered the world to serve. And we should do the same. Whether it is our school-world, our work-world, our community-world or our church-world. Serving requires no special training or qualifications. Here's three things to know about serving: 1) To serve is to love the overlooked. Jesus sits in your class wearing thick glasses, outdated clothing and a sad face. You've seen Him. Jesus lives on your street, pregnant again, no one knows the father. You've seen her. When you love the misfit and befriend the hurting, you love Jesus. '"...Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored...you did it to me"' (Matthew 25:40 TM). 2) To serve is to wave the white flag. We fight so much: 'Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from?' asks James, 'Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way...' (James 4:1 TM). Real servants don't fight for their rights if it means someone else will lose theirs. No, real servants empty their own lives so that others can be filled. 3) To serve is to do something selfless every day. Pick up someone's litter. Let someone in front of you in the queue. Give up your seat on the bus. Tell someone you appreciate them. It doesn't have to be a big thing. Don't be too big to do something small. '...Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort' (1 Corinthians 15:58 TM). Are you getting the message? To live = to serve.


I think sometimes I serve with totally the wrong motives... I want my heart to be shaped like Jesus' heart, I want to love the lost for who they are, not who it makes me.

God is SO good.... today I have such a peace, it's beautiful.

Aqua

I went to Aqua Aerobics this morning. It was so fun... I love going, it gets me up in the morning and it totally kick starts my day.

It was really funny today, we were like proper school kids. The woman who does it is called Julia and she kept giving us her 'headteacher lines' coz we were hitting each other with woggles etc. There's a few of us who are substantially (sp?) younger than everyone else and we giggle a lot, hit each other with woggles and generally cause a lot of comotion! Anywho, this morning we were on top form, like no other Thursday morning to be honest. It was hilarious. I felt like a school girl again and it was so fun :-)

Indulgences, God vs the devil

I've seen this before, but still find it completely hilarious!!

In the beginning God covered the earth with broccoli, cauliflowerand spinach, with green, yellow and red vegetables of all kinds so Manand Woman would live long and healthy lives. Then using God's bountiful gifts, Satan created Dairy Ice Cream andMagnums. And Satan said "You want hot fudge with that? And Man said"Yes!" And Woman said "I'll have one too with chocolate chips". Andso they gained 10 pounds.

And God created the healthy yoghurt that Woman might keep thefigure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat and sugar fromthe cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 12 to size 14.

So God said "Try my fresh green salad". And Satan presented Blue Cheesedressing and garlic croutons on the side. And Man and Woman unfastenedtheir belts following the repast.

God then said "I have sent you healthy vegetables and olive oil in whichto cook them".
And Satan brought forth deep fried coconut king prawns, butter-dippedlobster chunks and chicken fried steak, so big it needed its own platter. And Man's cholesterol went through the roof.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat andbrimming with potassium and good nutrition. Then Satan peeled off the healthy skin and sliced the starchycentre into chips and deep fried them in animal fats adding copiousquantities of salt. And Man put on more pounds.

God then brought forth running shoes so that his Children mightlose those extra pounds. And Satan came forth with a cable TV with remote control so Manwould not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughedand cried before the flickering light and started wearing stretch joggingsuits.

Then God gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer caloriesand still satisfy his appetite.
And Satan created McDonalds and the 99p double cheeseburger. ThenSatan said "You want fries with that?" and Man replied "Yes, And supersize 'em". And Satan said "It is good." And Man and Woman went intocardiac arrest.

God sighed ......... and created quadruple by-pass surgery.
And then ............ Satan chuckled and created Medicare.

THE FINAL WORD ON NUTRITIONAfter an exhaustive review of the research literature, here's thefinal word on nutrition and health:
1. Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.

2. Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.

3. Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacksthan us.

4. Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heartattacks than us.

5. Germans drink beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewerheart attacks than us.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Fear

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Send

So I went to see Rita with Dan yesterday. It was SO good to see her. It's been a while, can't remember if I last went in November or September, either way, that was ages ago!!

We had a great time, a real giggle and she seemed well and quite happy considering. I think she appreciated seeing some younger people. I'm not sure how often any other TNT folk visit her, but she was so grateful to see us. It doesn't sound like that many people are writing or visiting at the moment, which kinda sucks. I can't believe she's been in there 2 years now. It doesn't seem real. That means she has a minimum of 3 years left, which is something.

I'm so bowled over by the opportunities she's getting and am really glad about all the stuff she's getting involved in. Yesterday was like seeing the real Rita again and it was really good. I always feel so privileged to be able to visit her and be a part of her life. I just hope things turn out ok in the long run...

Will definately have to go visit again soon

Bassoon, essay

Today I had a bassoon lesson. I didn't have one last week coz Bronia was on a training course. I must confess I hadn't practised much since my last lesson. I meant to do some yesterday, but had to write my essay. And I wanted to do some on Sunday, but ended up at Carol's longer than I expected, then I had to play piano at church, so I didn't practise. So I think last time I did any was sometime last week, but can't even recall when!! So that's not a good start. But even so, I went to my lesson and loved every minute of it. Got a bit confused at times when I was reading tenor clef and then changed to bass clef, except I kept misreading it, but hey, it was fun. I'm amazed at how far I've come in about 18 months. To go from nothing to playing Mozart's Bassoon concerto listed as a grade 8 piece in 18 months is very exciting!! It gives me so much joy, makes me feel alive and like I'm acheiving something in life. And Bronia's pleased with my progress, which is fab :-)

Very excited that I finished my essay yesterday. It was becoming such a drag. I just couldn't get into it at all. Ok, so I know child abuse isn't the easiest subject to write about, but I don't ahve any personal problems with it and I had all the information I needed, so I really think it should have been easier to get into! Anywho, it's done now - woohoo!! That means I have one more essay left this module and exam! Very exciting!! Then to decide what module comes next... I think it'll be care, welfare and community which starts in October. Grand :-)

Tomorrow I'm going with Dan to visit Rita. Little worried we'll get lost, but hopefully not!!

Nothing in particular

Ok, so i've not blogged in a while. I guess not all that much as happened. Matt turned 16 on Friday, but other than that, life is just bumbling along.
Things with God are kinda good. I've been using lent to try and really get into The Word and praise God it's working, so that's really exciting.
It's amazing how a year ago I'd never have thought I'd be thinking about going into health and social care, yet now, that seems to be where I'm headed. It's phenomenal how God totally changes things around and sends us in new directions.
Hoping to get some work experience leading up to the summer, so watch this space...