Reason no. 417...

Really blessed by the people God has put around me in Manchester - had a lovely evening with friends and meeting their friends too. Reason no. 417 :)

Reason no. 416...

"We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul." 

Charles Spurgeon

Thank you Jesus!
 Reason no. 416 :)

Reason no. 415...

Today I did my presentation. It's great to get it out of the way so I can now focus on some of my other work. It went well and I got some positive feedback. Reason no. 415 :)

Reason no. 414...

Today I have a presentation, which I'm not really looking forward to. I don't really like standing in front of people for 10 minutes and then being asked questions for another 5 minutes. For me, presentations are something that I fear...the fear of forgetting what I'm talking about, the fear of not saying what is right, the fear of people judging me. Yet despite the fear, deep down I know I have no  reason to fear. He is God and He is good. He's the One who goes before me and loves me unconditionally. The way God sees me is not based on my successes in my degree. His grace abounds in my weakness. He is my safety and my refuge. He's the King on the throne and He's looking after me. Reason no. 414 :)

Reason no. 413...

Yesterday I went to an evening which had churches around Manchester united together, all wanting to reach the students of Manchester and see God's love displayed to these people. Here's some of the things that I took away from this evening:

- We can't just assume that other churches are reaching the 18-30 age bracket (or wherever there's a gap in the church).

-We are Christ's ambassadors...we are acting on behalf of the King in the places we are now.

-I am a new creation and there's no way of going back to my old self.

-God wanted to be my/your friend before I/you even considered being His friend.

-Amazing story of how God kept creating God encounters within the space of a couple of days with the same person...God knows our days and where we are.

-Growing up in a Christian family is an amazing story of God's grace in my life.

Reason no. 413 :)

Reason no. 412...

Today I skidded over at lunchtime...I may ache quite a bit now, but it's reminded me that I haven't fallen over in years and it could have been so easy to have broken something or end up cover in bruises. God's protection over me day in and day out is yet another reason. Reason no. 412 :)

Reason no. 411...

New poem from the weekend...it's all about His Grace!

Grace like a waterfall,

a well spring that never runs dry.

Unending, unrelenting,

never ceasing to pursue me.

Once caught in the mud and mire,

entangled by my sin and shame.

You stretched your arm to me

and pulled me into your embrace.

Grace like an avalanche -

so thick, so deep and so pure.

I'm surrounded by your mercies -

they're new every morning.

Regardless of all I've ever done

Your grace abounds in me.

Reason no. 411 :)

Reason no. 410...

'Grace is the opposite of karma. Karma is: do good and good things happen to you, do bad and bad things happen to you. Grace is: you do good, you do bad, good things happen to you.' 

(Newday album 2014)

Reason no. 410 :)

Reason no. 409...

On the weekend away we spent time reading the book of Jonah. This book is amazing for displaying God's outrageous grace on an individual and an entire city. God sees a huge city: Ninevah and wants to bring redemption. He sees their wickedness yet that does not stop Him loving and pouring His grace over them. He brings about revival using just one man. The man God uses is far from perfect. After God tells him what He wants Jonah to do, Jonah buys a ticket in the opposite direction - a place that is not Ninevah. Despite Jonah running from God, God uses his mistake and gives him a second chance. In the belly of a fish Jonah has a fresh revelation of the grace of God. A grace that's so amazing, yet so undeserving. Having grasped God's grace towards him, revival came and a great city was turned towards God. Reason no. 409 :)

Reason no. 408...

Just got back from the weekend away with the Christian Union. It was a really good time with a lovely bunch of people, listened to some great talks from the book of Jonah and was reminded of God's grace. We went into the countryside, had a bonfire and ate some amazing food. One good weekend: Reason no. 408 :)

Reason no. 407...

Yesterday I went to a quiz hosted by Anne Hegerty (the lady in 'The Chase'). It was a really good evening! Reason no. 407 :)

Reason no. 406...

The NHS is great! There's so many things that it does really well. Today I had a talk from a patient who had a hemorrhage in her brain several years ago. She reminded us that if she had the incident in another country she would have had a completely different experience and the outcome could have been very different. It's great how it provides a health care for all. Reason no. 406 :) 

Reason no. 405...

This week I went to CU and the person who spoke was a really gifted bible teacher. He spoke on Ephesians 5. The passage talks a lot about sexual immorality. He reminded us that we are probably all sexually immoral. In the passage it says: 'among you there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality...' and reminded us what that actually looks like in our lives. But, at the same time it's not all bleak for us, for He has made us a holy people. How amazing that He has transformed us from where we once were. It also says that we were once darkness but now we are light! Reason no. 405 :)

Reason no. 404...

There's a lovely little cafe near where most of my lectures are based. It's all vegetarian food. It's really good value for money and cakes and soup are delicious! Reason no. 404 :)

Reason no. 403...

My lecturers at uni are really helpful, supportive and friendly. Reason no. 403 :)

Reason no. 402...

I love Manchester. Apparently it's the 3rd most diverse city in the world, with 200 languages being spoken among its population. Reason no. 402 :)

Reason no. 401...

He is the Lord of the Sabbath. In Him there is rest. Thank you God that you model rest. When He created the world, He stopped on the 7th day - not because of tiredness, but because His creation was good and He enjoyed all that He had made :) Reason no. 401 :)

Reason no. 400...

Thank you God that I do need to fear failure. Why? Because in Jesus there is no failure. In Him I am a success. Reason no. 400 :)

Reason no. 399...

This evening I watched the film: 'Chariots of fire'. It's a film about Eric Liddell who was an athlete back in the 1920's and competed in the 1924 Olympics. Eric loved God and refused to run in the Olympics on the Sabbath day. Instead he entered a different race - one that he had not trained for. One thing that God reminded me whilst watching the film was that:' Those that honor God, He will honor.' Eric put God first, he put him above the thing he loved to do (running), he put Him above his country and the pressure those around him placed on him to compete. Eric honored God and as a result God honored him. In the end Eric won the race he entered. Eric pursued running, the thing God called him to do, which gave Him pleasure. 

I want to be someone who will honor God in everything I do, who will pursue the things God's called me to do. Reason no. 399 :)

Reason no. 398...

'God was our original habitat and our hearts cannot but feel at home when they enter again that ancient & beautiful abode.' 

A.W Tozer 

Reason  no. 398 :)

Reason no. 397...

Really love learning what I'm learning on my course at the moment. It's so good to have lecturers who are really passionate about their subject. Hearing their stories with different clients, gives me confidence that where I am is where God has called me to be. Reason no. 397 :)

Reason no. 396...

Just watched: 'Heaven is for Real'...the film is done really well and I think it's really good for getting you to dream for heaven, reminding you that more is to come and God's heart for children. God's chooses to speak and reveal himself to kids and use them. Imagine having a generation of kids who have caught something of God and His kingdom and carrying that through the years ahead, passing it onto the generations to follow. Reason no. 396 :)

Reason no. 395...

Having had to pay for my placement first (all the accommodation and travel expense), the NHS have paid it ALL back. Reason no. 395 :)

Reason no. 394...

Me and a couple of my housemates cooked a lovely meal yesterday: chicken stuffed with pesto and wrapped in bacon, roast potatoes and carrots then mixed veg and cheese sauce...yummmmm! Reason no. 394 :)

Reason no. 393...

Last weekend I spent the day in London with my family. It was so lovely to spend the day with them :) We went out for a meal and walked around Regent's Park. 

Reason no. 393 :)

Reason no. 392...

Autumn is here and the colours that come with it are beautiful!

Reason no. 392 :)

Reason no. 391...

'I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.' 

Psalm 4:8

He is my safety, my refuge and protection. He watches over me and His peace transcends understanding.

Reason no, 391 :)