Thanks to Genevive we have tickets to see Show of Hands in the Albert Hall in April next year!

Way in advance I know, but we had to get in early, and there was no way I was going to be able to keep this to myself till then!!! There’s a group of 6 of us going, which will be lots of fun. And its the Albert Hall!!

Ok, sorry, mad folkie bit over. Although if I can’t do a mad folkie bit every now and then on this blog…

One of my favourites. Each time I sing it, it brings me back to reality with a bump. When I’m feeling down, lost, scared or like I just don’t know what to do. When I get caught up in the trivial, everyday things which easily take over, it reminds me that I give all of it to God, who will use it and me for His purpose. He will take my weaknesses and turn them into strengths, He will guide me through the rough times, and lead me in the right direction. If I give myself, my life, over to God, He will do the rest.

Lord of creation to you be all praise!
Most mighty your working, most wondrous your ways.
Your glory and might are beyond us to tell,
and yet in the heart of the humble you dwell.

Lord of all power I give you my will,
in joyful obedience your tasks to fulfill.
Your bondage is freedom, your service is song,
and held in your keeping my weakness is strong.

Lord of all wisdom I give you my mind,
rich truth that surpasses my knowledge to find.
What eye has not seen and what ear has not heard,
is taught by your spirit and shines from your word.

Lord of all bounty, I give you my heart,
I praise and adore you for all you impart.
Your love to inspire me, your counsel to guide,
your presence to shield me whatever betide.

Lord of all being I give you my all,
if e’er I disown you I stumble and fall.
But led in your service, your word to obey,
I’ll walk in your freedom to the end of the way.

Jack Winslow

How many Take That fans does it take to mess up a train timetable???

Answer: A millenium stadium full!!!

I never imagined it might be helpful to check the events guide for the Millenium stadium before planning an evening trip to Cardiff. How wrong I was…

Last night the city was swarming with thousands of 20 and 30 year old fans of one of the worst boy bands ever (though its a tough call, there are so many…) taking a nostalgia trip back to the 90’s. Thankfully they all dissappeared into the stadium about 7.30, but then reappeared a few hours later, filling every street and the station forecourt… which was set up as if for a major sporting event, with barriers and individual queues for each train. Trains being more full than usual I don’t think many people actually made it onto them, but west Wales (incuding Swansea) did not seem to be as popular a destination as others (fewer Take That fans here obviously!!!) so the queue was fairly non-existant by the time I joined it. Which was nice.

In future, I recommend scanning the listings in advance, at the very least to work out when to get to the station to jump the queue.

‘The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed…’

From the smallest seed comes the most impressive growth. The seed is nurtured and tended by the gardener who brings it to fruition, enables it to fulfill its potential. Out of this apparently innert and useless substance comes life and beauty.

Even the smallest and apparently insignificant have a part to play. The potential is there, even if its not immediately obvious. With the gardeners’ care, the seed will flourish and produce great things.

Thanks be to God.

Trust- in His timing
Rely- on His promises
Wait- for His answers
Believe- in His miracles
Rejoice- in His goodness
Relax- in His presence

I need to be better at listening to my own advice when things get me down. Unfortunately this is easier said than done most of the time.

I *know* I will be ok, I *know* He will look out for me and I *know* I have to give things over to Him to deal with. I’m trying.

First, in case you’re wondering, BTCV is the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, and I’ve just started doing some voluntary work with them in their project up in Penlan near Swansea.

Today was my second day with them. Now I know the whole point of work experience is to learn new skills and do things you’ve not done before. Well, when I got up this morning I never imagined that today I would learn how to use a cement mixer!!! I started off saying ‘no, I can’t do that, no idea what to do’, but thankfully the project co-ordinator didn’t take no for an answer. By lunchtime my fellow volunteer (who also had no idea about cement mixing!) and I were producing load after load of cement, and were able to judge the consistency of the mixture, add more sand or water if it was too wet or too dry. We got rather good at it if I do say so myself.

In contrast, the afternoon was spent sitting in the methodist church (yes, everywhere I go I end up in a church!) drinking tea and working on my ideas for the prayer garden which is also part of the project, and which it has become my job to design!

All in all a very interesting day- how many people can say they’ve spent a day mising cement and then designing gardens?! Next week I’m going up there to have a look at a potential Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which they’ve decided I can assess for them, since I’ve got experience of plant surveying. This is turning out to be a lot of fun

This weekend was the SCM gathering in Manchester, which meant as well as meeting up with a bunch of good friends I got to go home briefly aswell. One of the reasons I’ve been talking about juggling of commitments recently is that I’d agreed to stand for election to SCM’s general council (GC), and this weekend was elected to the role I stood for Mixed emotions since the elections on saturday morning , from really pleased to be trusted with such an important role, excited about getting stuck in to the challenge of it, to unbelievably nervous of what it all entails/how I’m going to manage it/not being sure I’m up to the job etc etc. The usual stuff.

I still have no idea what I’m doing with a large part of the role, (although I’m a little more clued up thanks to helpful introductions from my predecessor and others), and by the end of Saturday my brain was fairly scrambled with too much information! Combined effects of this and other things from the weekend made my head spin quite successfully!!!

This morning in our worship I prayed for help, and the strength to be able to do the job well. And I thought about what I’d written in my reflection, and decided I have to hand this over to God. Not to give it up as too much to deal with, but to commit it to him, for his service, remembering why I’m doing it in the first place. Something said last week for the pentecost service came back to me also, that we cannot do all things on our own and in our own strength, we must rely on the spirit which gives us the strength we need. I prayed for courage when I’m scared I can’t do it, for support when I feel like giving up, for guidance and wisdom for me and the other newly elected members. I don’t guarantee I’ll always remember this, and I’m sure there will be times when the stress gets to me, but knowing I’ll have support the whole way, no matter what, makes a huge difference.

I’ve been exercising my creativity again, in writing another reflection, this time for the SCM website.

Every month a reflection is posted based on a different aspect of the current theme, which this year is Life in all its fullness. Go over and have a look around, you never know what you might find!!