Amazed & Confused

Mr Blue Sky

"Mr Blue Sky, please tell me why, you had to hide away for so long, so long, where did we go wrong..."  E.L.O

There are few sensations I enjoy as much as the warmth of the sun on my face.  Today, as I walked through town buying Birthday presents and cold capsules I tilted my face to the sky and negotiated the crowds through half closed eyes.  This is the first blue sky I've noticed in 2009 and in it's honour I popped E.L.O on my iPhone and half skipped and sang my way home.  Contentment thy name is sunshine... xc

Signed, Sealed, Delivered...

Today the 24-7 team is printing, folding, stuffing envelopes and sticking stamps all in an effort so send some super encouraging stories to all the amazing people who support 24-7 Prayer financially.  As I took my turn in the proof reading duties yesterday I was blown away by how much God has done in the last year.  We have sooo much to be thankful for: prophetic promptings that lead to churches planted, a Prayer Room in Bagdad, a global explosion of prayer, people saved and lives changed.  Amazing.  I am chuffed for the people who are going to be getting this booklet of sunshine through their doors in the next few days.  What a privilege it is to send them such good news... and a nice new copy of Relevant magazine just to celebrate that we're the feature.  So where ever you are, you people who make it possible for 24-7 to happen, I really hope you enjoy this! xc

Prayer Helps Me Work

Last Monday I knew I faced a week of writing... it was an important though rather daunting job and to my shame I don't motivate myself well when I know I have to spend days in front of my computer.  So I thought... "Hey I tell people they can pray about anything.  I can pray about asking God to help me write lots about prayer."  So I did and He did and I wrote loads!  There was no stopping me, my fingers were on fire and the words were flowing easily from my mind.  For days this lasted and rather predictably (though I was fairly blind to it at the time) it slowed and stopped when I stopped chatting to Him about it.  Now the job is pretty much finished.  I was so chuffed at such a helpful answer to prayer that I thought I'd have a go again...

Yesterday I decided to get a slightly later train into London so I'd have time to do some of our household's laundry.  No big deal I'd only be half an hour later into the office.  I had some breakfast, hung out my washing to dry and put another load on.  Then I half skipped to the station listening to Anastacia and JLo (I'm revisiting pop tunes of the past at the mo) and with five minutes to spare walked into a surprisingly packed Chichester Train Station.  The queue was moving slower than the hair growing on my head, the quick purchase machines were having a mini fit and the man by the gates wouldn't let me get my ticket on the train and instead sold me one at an incredibly slow (and I suspect deliberate) pace.  As he handed me my ticket and receipt the train to London sailed on by.  I have to confess I stormed onto the platform and swore.  Not my finest hour.  It was under my breath but swear words are the easiest to lip read, they're such satisfying plosives.  

I stood there feeling stupid.  What a way to start the week, an hour late into the office and I had such high hopes for continuing my working streak.  I sat on the cold station bench and opened my laptop bag.  Inside was a brand new journal and my favourite Parker fountain pen.  I usually embark on empty pages with hopes and dreams, the potential of the blank book spurring me to positivity.  Yesterday I started with honesty and said sorry for letting my frustration turn to suspicion and anger (maybe the ticket man wasn't being deliberately slow) and for letting it all bubble out in one ugly word.  I felt a lot better.  The next half an hour waiting for the next train to Victoria I filled the pages of my shiny new journal with some reflections on how I'd responded, some things I love about God, and the people and situations I'd love His attention on.  Again I prayed, even though I was starting on the back foot, please help me work well and as I stepped on the train, that's what happened.  Two documents I was blocked on flowed almost freely onto my laptop and by the end of the day I was amazed how much I'd done with enough time to chat to Andrea about prayer guides, Wardy about jury service, Smiles about India and Toggers about our latest books in our read-a-book-a-week challenge.  God is good.  If I just hang out with Him I'm genuinely a better person... xc  

Days that stand out...

I want to remember today... it's not an anniversary, we've not done anything particularly special, but there's been something about it I have relished.  Many moments of contentment.  It's been a busy week for Steve; he's had a band and a singer in the studio and mostly worked ten hour days.  He's done well especially fighting the early grog of a cold.  I've barely seen him really so maybe that's why today was so lovely.  We got up when we woke up, ate a half English (forgot to defrost the Sausages and we ran out of baked beans!!), got ready at a very slow and purposeless pace, read books on opposite sofas, ate a slow lunch with Fumino, caught a film at the cinema and we just polished of dinner with Fumino and Itzi... It was on my way back from the film that the realisation of how great this day is struck me.  I love this day.  Soon it will come to an end.  I'll put on my jammies and fall asleep and when I wake tomorrow might not be like this one.  We may not have the same time to talk about things we don't need to, or move without urgency.  It may have it's own moments but it won't be today... xc

Superficial Joy

OK guys, you have my full permission to switch off now because this post is unashamedly superficial and girly... Today marked the end of a two year search for the best hair dresser I've ever had.  Tracy, who once cut locks at the creative Chi Hair Salon Hoppers, gave up the scissors to train other hair dressers just before I got married.  Normally when your hairdresser moves on it's a bit annoying but in this case I was genuinely gutted.  Not only is Tracy a lovely person but she is also the best person I have ever witnessed at cutting curly hair.  In the years since I've tried three other hair dressers but have been miserably disappointed with the mediocre results. This morning, after asking around, I finally tracked her down and she graciously agreed to cut my hair again.  I can not describe the deep joy it is to have my long, dry locks expertly cut into cute, bouncy curls.  Yay for easy hair! xc

Four Years

On the 12th of February 2005, Stephen Harding kissed me after the 24-7 Birthday celebration IAM5.  After months of chess, adventures and conversations my friend Sven became my Boyfriend Steve.  It's really weird, I loved his nickname but I've not felt right calling him Sven ever since...

Ten months later, on the 14th of December, Steve asked me to be his wife in the beautiful and uber romantic Venice, Italy...

On the 4th November 2006 we were joined in Holy Matrimony by our beloved friends Pete and Samie Greig and then I embarked on a new chapter of my life with a different name and funny fuzzy companion...

I was looking back through the photos of the last four years and I had to grin at the number of costume parties we feature in: Mexicans with Mustaches (above), Tonks & Lupin, Leia & Vader, Pavarotti & the Queen.  Is it normal to dress up this much?

Even though we're now old marries I'm getting to live out my teen fantasy of singing in a band with my best friend... and Steve... only joking.  I feel very blessed that we've had such a fun and colourful four years.  Here's to the next four... xc  

Narnia Incarnate

I spent my teen years growing up in the beautiful, rural village of Grendon.  Small, pretty and though not terribly exciting or social, it was easy to love.  I relished in the quiet and very much associate the village with big hugs from my Dad, amazing meals cooked by Mum, being bundled by my sister and brother and generally sleeping very well.  Last week Steve and I braved the snow and drove a few hours north to return to Grendon for my sister's Birthday celebrations.  Snow was thick on the ground when we arrived and when we woke the next morning there was the closest thing I've ever seen to a blizzard happening right outside our window.  The whole village looked like Narnia had arrived as we took a walk up the Knoll, threw snow at each other and marveled at how white mush made everything look so beautiful.  What is it about snow that makes everyone so excited and happy? xc

Closing the book...

As I took a Prit Stick to my journal this afternoon, adding my most recent cinema stubs and the emails I wanted to keep, I realised that I’m fast approaching the end of this particular incarnation of my written thoughts and prayers.  I’m actually sad to finish this one. As I flicked back through the pages I laughed at my terrible drawing, paused over a few prayers and acknowledged that I’ve hit a new stride with journaling in the last few months.  My thoughts and prayers have gone a little deeper.  My mind wandering in thoughtful conversation just a little further.  Normally a new journal is an exciting affair, I write very neatly and wonder what will fill the coming pages, but this time I’ll be sad to relegate this particularly tatty but loved journal to my book shelf… xc 

Lovely Lili

25 things I’ve loved about my little sister’s 25 years on planet earth:

1. Her infectious laugh
2. Her fierce loyalty
3. Her honesty
4. The way she loves with everything she’s got
5. Her wisdom
6. Her commitment to friends
7. The way she dances
8. Her journey with God
9. How kids love her
10. Her excellent costume making
11. Her neck braking hugs
12. Her buoyancy and enthusiasm
13. The look on her face first thing in the morning
14. How she holds court around a table full of Trundles
15. Her sense of adventure
16. Her beauty
17. The excellent clothes advice
18. Her ‘extra-mile’ attitude
19. The hours we spent choreographing masterpieces to Janet Jackson and Aaliyah
20. Her brave adventures in hair
21. Her (nice) bossiness
22. Her follow through
23. Her ridiculous generosity
24. The music she’s accompanied by
25. The happiness that follows her every step

Happy Belated Birthday my lovely Lili xc

TOTALLY AWESOME!

How exciting are these???  With Star Trek, Transformers two, the Watchmen and Wolverine on their way 2009 is going to kick bottom in the action adventure department! xc

Our Community is 25 Years Old

I had no idea that Revelation Church was so old.  Roger and all the old skool originals don't seem very old to me, so they must have been really young when the seeds of our community were planted here in Chichester.  All last weekend we celebrated the life of the church is many different ways: we worshipped, we prayed, we heard from God and each other, we looked at our vision, our commitment and the challenges we face together.  We feasted, we partied and we all dressed in 80s-tastic outfits.  (Hence my *cough* interesting look above.  The DeLoreans led the party and it was amazing to see so many old faces in the same room.

So much life has sprung from this community.  It amazes me when I think about it... there's Life Centre, Big Love, Fusion, Children on the Edge, Cred, Pacso, 24-7 Prayer and so much more all centred on loving God and people.  Surely that's a disproportionate amount of activity for such a relatively small and undeniably scruffy bunch of people.  It's amazing what God can grow from a tiny mustard seed.  Wonder what the next 25 years will hold.   

The Beauty of Snow Days

Snow is magical.  Tiny crystals of ice fluttering down from above making even the most industrial of landscapes beautiful.  Snow has brought excitement, adventure and an unexpected holiday to the city of Chi.  Simple pleasures... xc