Those foolishnesses

Many many years ago I did something fairly out of the box for me. I remember where I was, the people there, but most of all, I felt exposed, foolish and everything I wanted to hide away so much was on the outside rather than hidden away from the view of anyone. I can still 'feel' how I felt so clearly!!

Anyway, recently the fruit of that action was mentioned in a conversation- and I am talking nearly 10 years on. I am so glad the foolishness I felt is far outweighed by the blessing that has been given!

So often I don't understand the big picture, where I should invest my time, care, energy. There's no explaining why I care, or how I care and yet it's a gift given and is what is in my hands now, and best when given away. I don't understand why I feel so sure of some things with a beyond reason clarity about an enormously positive outcome while for others I don't, but there it is! It sure changes the way I pray about those things though- no matter how naive I am feeling!


There's a quote that makes the rounds periodically about being faithful in the little things, because looking back they often turn out to be the big things... And I guess they might be right!

The mystery of whys and hows

It's a mystery to me that there are some things that you want to have happen, you do what you can, or pray what you can, and nup. Nothing. No budging, or moving, or breakthrough... or so it seems.

And then there's other things where a whole lot of random facets, elements suddenly come together in an extraordinarily smooth  way. What was it that makes something go from a thought, hope, idea, glimmer to a whole lot of conversations and events coming together in a way that means that tomorrow, a whole new journey is about to begin!

I wish I could catch 'that moment', or 'process' or whatever it is that takes it from one level to the next- there's so many things I would love to do with that!

But for now, I stand in awe that what is planned for tomorrow is happening, in the way it has happened, and in the way it seems to be coming together. It's exciting, challenging, and going to involve a whole other level of grace in the weeks ahead- and will change life in more ways than I can imagine!

Bring on more reminders of God's great goodness in ways only He can do!:)

Flavours of the week

It's an amazing thing to see God present in different people's life in different ways, of seeing events come together in the big and small in ways that only He can do, of safety, precious conversations at all hours of the days and night in all kinds of different ways.
And it's such a gift to be able to share what you have seen with another, and in turn hear their amazing story too.

There are so many good stories to tell, and hear, and I am so grateful for the times in this crazy week when that has happened. And the week has felt like quite a pressure cooker, and a big mix of extreme and intense events, flavours and textures, all of which I am grateful for. It's funny looking back to what you were anticipating to what eventuated, and see how it all looks now!

I am so grateful for the people, opportunities and events, and look forward to seeing how they all continue to unfold in ways that only God knows!

Milestones

I have been thinking about milestones a fair bit recently. The January time marked a couple of biggish ones for me- 19 years since big steps happened towards me becomming a Christian, and  moving to London, and 10 years since I moved to Hong Kong. There are lots of other milestones but those are the two stand outs in terms of life changing-ness.

 I remember particularly, coming back from HK, and marking the milestones for about a year after that, as I journeyed the process of life as it is now.

There's milestones to mark the big huge events- normally the weddings, babies and farewells, but there's the ones that mark a journey, where you have come from, and where you're going to, but also the ones that you know are turning points in life. And in terms of coming back from from HK, it was a marking of being 1 mile from that life, 2 miles, 10 miles, and so on. Those are often hard, and just have to be journeyed through. And some just don't make sense alot of the time.

I get reminded of the Israelites, and their journey, and the times they stop, worship God and build a stone monument as a milestone, and act of marking the moment, remembering the turning point, and value the similar reminders around me that point back to God and his promises, of the turning points, faith, and trusting Him for the directions and unfolding journey.

Stand up, hold fast, remember the big picture, and just keep going:)