On Tuesday night we visited OM's Logos Hope docked in Canary Wharf for a few weeks.
We went on board for the young professional's event and heard Ram Gidomal speak on hope in the workplace.
We visited the book shop, amazingly large and well stocked and had a drink in the coffee shop. A good evening all in all.

While on board I was struck by the fact that there were so many people from so many different countries, lots of different nationalities, all with different coloured skin, from all different walks of life, speaking all diffferent languages and all with different cultures, but all united in the universal love of Christ. It also struck me after hearing Ram's testimony that there would have been so many different stories and testimonies, so many accounts of the way that God has worked in people's lives and dealt with people in different ways.

What a mighty God we have! A God whose loves is so far reaching and there for all.

When I was out taking photos of flowers on Monday there were loads of bees. I reckon Monday must be the buzziest day of the bees' working week!!

Did a few jobs this morning and after lunch took myself off to Great Comp Gardens in Platt, Kent. Had a nice time walking around admiring the fantastic grounds, gardens and all God's creation. There was some great wildlife there too. I finished reading my book as two little Robins joined me at my table in the tea garden. I managed to finish the book I was reading and enjoyed the peace and quiet, a great time and place to sit and reflect.

Amy, G and Kelly came to Church this morning and then I had to whizz Kel to the station to go back to Norwich. It was a very fleeting visit but nice all the same. Still, next week she's back for a little longer! After lunch in the garden we went up the road to a classic and custom car show. It was good to look round and see all the old cars and soooped up ones, something both John and I have enjoyed together for years, one of our hobbies. In 24 years of car owning we think we've had nearly as many cars, most of the early ones were old bangers!
Here's a list of the ones we can remember:

Mini 1000
Hillman Super Minx
VW Golf 1500 Mk I
Rover P5B
Hillman Super Minx
Rover P5B
Vauxhall Astra Swing
Toyota Corolla Liftback
Datsun 120A
Vauxhall Cavalier CDi
VW Passat
Vauxhall Frontera
Toyota Celica GT
Toyota Sera
Toyota Hilux Surf
Toyota Sera
Toyota Sera
Toyota Sera
Toyota MR2
Mitsubishi Delica Spacegear
Nissan Skyline

Then it was home for a little rest and a cuppa before heading off to Church. Quite a nice relaxing day. I'm off work tomorrow and have a few jobs to get sorted. John's got some work to do at the church in the afternoon so if the weathers good I might pop out for a little wander.

Haven't done the box of odds and ends but I did finish spring cleaning the bedroom, I got into all the nooks and crannies that haven't been gotten in for ages and now everything shines!  Had a nice lie in this morning, it was well needed, the early mornings are beginning to take their toll. John got back late last night, I'd just finished watching a great film with Colin Firth in. 'What a Girl Wants', a real girlie film but it was great, no swearing, sex, violence or dodginess - just good fun and humour. A great way to wind down after a stressful week.

I finally got round to taking last year's Christmas tree remnants to the dump with a load of other rubbish and some garden cuttings from the pruning I did on the olive bushes etc and just enjoyed some nice lunch in the garden. This afternoon we are off to Lingfield Park with some friends to watch the horses and to hear the Saw Doctors in concert followed by fireworks. All rather exciting.

Last night I went to the Bible study feeling quite cheesed off, I didn’t really feel like going but knew that was the best place I could go. I knew we were studying Ephesians 1 and had been quite excited at the prospect but what a wise decision it was to go! It was a real encouragement to me and a gentle reminder of how much hope I have in life.

A reminder too about prayer, about the need to be thankful and thoughtful when I pray, not just reeling off a list of names and needs, requests and petitions but really bringing issues big and small before God and going deep with Him, and also remembering to continually thank Him for answers to prayers, blessings I take for granted so very often, for basic issues of life and for life itself.

We were reminded too of the power of God, the mighty power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, and that will one day raise all the dead, and create a new heaven and a new earth. The same great power that put Jesus at the right hand of his Father in the heavenly realms, and above all things. That not being an awesome enough thought in itself, we were then reminded that that power is not just for what will happen in the future, but for the present, the here and now, that that same power that conquered the grave lives in me now. Amazing!

We concluded by looking at Eph 1v4, a verse that I love, about being chosen by God before the creation of the world, before time even began. It’s a truly wonderful thing to know that God loves me, despite all I am, and that therefore I have a purpose in life to fulfil, all part of His plan. Although I know I’ll fail in fulfilling my life in many ways and quite often don’t feel fulfilled, I know that God’s power is at work in me by His Holy Spirit to make me into the person He wants me to be, and has planned for me to be. I just need to be more open and responsive to Him. It's really quite exciting.

It was well worth going last night, so often when I feel like not going out and making excuses, God blesses and encourages me all the more.  So, thanks be to God.

God you are my God
My soul it thirsts for you longs for you
Though my heart is faint
I long to worship you worship you

And all I am I place in your hands

I'll put my trust in God
Knowing His truth as my rock
His mercy is greater
Compassion runs deeper
So I will rest in his love

Though my words are gone
You search within my heart know I'm yours
Though the pain is strong
You give me strength to hope through the storm

I have tasted of your goodness
I have seen your power and glory
Won't you lead me to the rock that is higher than I

Lou & Nathan Fellingham off the new Phatfish album 'In Jesus'

On Monday morning I decided to pick up the bike Kelly bought off ebay from Harlow and drive it up to her in Norwich so that she can start using it straight away and not be late for uni anymore!

It was due to be a nice day so I thought I'd make a day of it and go and look round the gardens at Ickworth on my way back. Things always take a little longer than you think and the traffic was quite bad, so by the time I got to Ickworth I had an hour before they shut! I had time for a nice cream tea and then went for a wander round the gardens. They were well kept but no actual flowers, only shrubs and trees, quite different. Anyway, I enjoyed my little wander and just got back to the car before the thunder storm started. Boy did it rain, the motorway and the journey home was a complete nightmare - the lightning was really quite scary. Still, I was in Kelly's little banger of a car and it made it there and back ok, and so at least we know that's good for long and wet journeys up to Norwich for when she's passed her test.

I've got a three day weekend ahead, as I'm off work on Monday!

So..... out street pastoring tonight, church cleaning tomorrow followed by the local summer fair on Chislehurst Common, hopefully the sun will be shining and we can enjoy some lunch al fresco too.

On Sunday we have a family service in the morning at Church followed by a lunch, and then I'm gonna start some major clearing up in the afternoon. I'm gonna spring clean our bedroom and do a ruthless clear out of the wardrobes and drawers. I might even get some time to sort out the front garden.

On Monday I hope to go out for the day and chill a bit.

Next week John's off to France to do some work on the roof at the house and so my mission for the week is to combat the filing pile and box of odds and ends that has been such an eyesore by the patio doors for the past 18 months!! If I get that done, I will be so happy.

So, here we go, let the weekend begin.

Every blade of grass, each leaf, each seperate petal, is an inscription speaking of hope. Richard Jefferies.

Well, another weekend goes by! On Friday night I went with friends to see the new chick flick ‘Last Chance Harvey’. I thought it was quite good, it was great to see a film set in London with all the places, busyness and hustle n bustle of our capital that I love.  I like both Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson and thought they were well cast.

On Saturday I had a nice lie in as I knew I was out street pastoring in the evening, which went well. In the afternoon John and I saw the Terminator Salvation film. Again, another good film, although I didn’t really keep up, John had to explain what was going on and it was what I call a boy’s film! He thoroughly enjoyed it though.

Sunday was spent at Church, I did crèche so missed the morning service but the evening service was good, a reminder to be pure and in this world but not of it. A challenge about how much of my time is spent doing and thinking worldy things, in comparison to how much time I spend with God and His people. We spent the day with friends, had some nice food and went for a walk in the afternoon. The rain held off after the thunderstorms of the night before and it got quite warm.

I've been to a drug awareness seminar tonight organised by Street Pastors, it was very informative but really rather daunting and scary too. When I got back as I lay in the bath thinking about some of the things I'd heard tonight and worrying about the evils and vices that so many young people are exposed to today, I had a real overwelming peace from God and sense of reassurance that despite such things He is in total control. As I think of my own daughters and worry about them now being independent and supposedly mature enough to make life affecting decisions it struck me that I just have to let them get on with it and live their lives how they see fit but be there to offer support and advice when asked. Me worrying about every little detail, money, drugs, sex, alcohol, relationships, uni courses, qualifications, weddings, whether they've eaten well or not today, is really not going to change the way things unfold, I'll just get greyer! Ultimately, we are all responsible for our actions and all make good and bad choices in life. God is faithful and His love abundant. He loves us all and many of His promises kept coming to mind, so reassuring and so wonderful:

Cast all your care upon Him because He cares for you

God is faithful, He will not tempt you beyond what you can bear, but when you are He will provide a way out.

He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to the day of completion.

Come near to God and He will come near to you.

Come to me all who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest.

So, as I contemplate all this, I need to trust God that He will work His purposes out and that He will protect and have His hand upon all of our lives and to find joy in believing these things. I need to learn to better trust Him for the future and all that it will bring, and I am real thankful to Him just now for these great reminders of His endless greatness, love and care for all His children.