Reason no. 1006...

On Wednesday I went to the last Alpha session of the series church put on. I hadn't been to the rest but it was a privilege to be there that night. At the end of the meeting I got to sit with a lady who became a Christian that night!  Amazing! Reason no. 1006 :)

Reason no. 1005...

You are the hope to the hopeless.

Reason no. 1005 :)

Reason no. 1004...

Thank you God for Your generosity towards me. Thank you God that You are not stingy but constantly giving in abundance. Reason no. 1004 :)

Reason no. 1003...

Having bought some new boots a couple of months ago, the heel on one of them completely caved in. I took them back to the shop yesterday and managed to get a full refund! Reason no. 1003 :)

Reason no. 1002...

Thankful for the holidays and a chance to have some lie-ins and recharge! Reason no. 1002 :)

Reason no. 1001...

Bill Johnson:

'God designed your mind to be one of the most supernaturally powerful tools in the universe, but it needs to be sanctified and yielded to the Holy Spirit so that you can carry out His designs, creative ideas, and plans in your everyday life.'

Reason no. 1001 :)

Reason no. 1000...

God is good day after day, week after week, year after year!  Regardless of how the day presents God is good in nature and He never changes.

1000 reasons :)

Reason no. 999...

On my bedroom wall there is a quote which  says: find what makes you happy in God and learn to make a discipline of it. Yesterday I was reminded actually there are certain people in my life who after spending time with I actually come away so encouraged in God, my faith levels rise and I am reminded of who God has called me to be. The whole thing of encouragement is huge. Words released have so much power. They have the potential to create and build up, yet they also have the power to tear down and destroy. God has put some incredible people around me and when they speak they release God's heart for me - even if done so indirectly!

I found this poem I wrote a few years ago, which fits just right!

Encouragement. Encouragement. Encouragement.

One act but a huge impact.

It's so easy to do, but so rarely ever done.

It can build a person up,

it can challenge their thinking,

it can transform an atmosphere.

The power it has, tells someone you care.

It can speak hope, it can speak destiny,

it can make a difference.

It may be a spoken, it may be written,

it may be a little gesture -

one smile can tell a thousand words.

Your words shape the world you live in.

To shape a culture, don't just conform,

rather counter with something far greater!

Imagine a world of encouragement...

joy, peace and acceptance -

is what could be on offer!

One step of encouragement results in

 a generation rising up and taking hold of:

who they are, their gifting and strengths.

Encouragement leads to boldness
and courage to step into destiny.

Reason no. 999 :)

Reason no. 998...

Yesterday I had a lovely catch-up with one of my old housemates! I am so thankful for the friends I have lived with for the past 2 years and how nearly all of them are still living in Manchester this year. I still remember worrying about the decision of who I would end up living with after 1st year at uni, little did I know and trust that it would turn out so well! Thank you God that you turn stories of fear into stories of Your goodness. Reason no. 998 :)

Reason no. 997...

Have finally nearly finished all the Christmas shopping! Only a few things left to go! Christmas is getting closer!! Reason no. 997 :)

Reason no. 996...

Fix your eyes on Him

Breathe in. Breathe out. And relax!

Fix your eyes on Him.

Let Him re-align all things.

With Him at the heart -

all else will fall into place.

Stresses, struggles, strains -

cast it over to Him.

He is HUGE.

He's so much bigger than all we face.

With Him we can do all things.

Nothing is impossible for Him.

As we hurl it onto Him,

sit back, wait and He'll come to the rescue.

If Peace is needed - He'll provide,

If Strength is needed - He'll provide,

There's nothing beyond His provision!

Draw Him into the circumstance

and just watch all He'll do!

He'll transform the situation,

bringing glory to His name!

So, breathe in. Breathe out. And relax!

Fix your eyes on Him!

Reason no. 996 :)

Reason no. 995...

Today David and I have finally removed all the mould on one of the white walls in our flat. It is disgusting and grows so quick. It starts off as something small and quickly multiplies. However with some spray it vanished pretty much instantly with a lot of scrubbing. I was thinking about it a bit later and it reminded me a lot about sin and Jesus. Sin is like the mould. It is dirty, disgusting and it can be consuming. As I was scrubbing away that reminded me of how sometimes sin makes us try so hard to cover it up and to remove it all by ourselves. We may try to do loads of good things to counter the sin in our lives. But as I was scrubbing the mould it may have looked a bit better, but actually it was all still there just spread over the wall a bit more thinly. Me trying to remove it all in my own strength is impossible. But then when Jesus comes the sin is completely removed and what was once stained is now entirely clean and pure. That is what Jesus has done for me, He has done it all! Reason no. 995 :)

Reason no. 994...

Through writing this blog, God has challenged me to be expectant to find unending reasons to be thankful to Him regardless of how I am feeling. Each time I come to write, especially when my mind goes blank that is when God reveals something new of who He is. When I started this blog based on the song ‘10000 reasons’ I knew that there were definitely 10000 reasons out there as He is God but the reality of actually finding all of them I wasn’t so sure about. Hence the challenge! It annoyed me every time that I sang this song and I tried to think of some reasons I would always think about the same few reasons. But now I can sing it and have a much deeper thankfulness than before. Reason no. 994 :)

Reason no. 993...

'The Spirit himself testifies with our Spirit that we are God's children.'

Romans 8:16

I am His child. He is my Father. He is the Father who guides, the Father who speaks, the Father who loves to spend time with me, the Father who loves to listen to me, the Father who protects me, the Father who comforts me, the Father who provides for me, the Father who likes to have fun with me, the Father who chose me to be His beloved daughter. Reason no. 993 :)

Reason no. 992...

I am so excited for my sister and the adventure that awaits her in a few months time. I still can't believe that she'll be all the way over in Canada for a year. She is so brave and courageous! I love how she uses her creative skills to make cards and sell them so she can make the most of her time out there! She will be such a blessing to all the Canadians and other international students she meets out there! Reason no. 992 :)

Reason no. 991...

Thank you God that I am free and totally forgiven regardless of how I may feel about myself. Even when I mess up, You tell me I am not condemned. Thank you God for that love and grace You have so extravagantly poured into my life. Thank you God that it is mine for eternity - not something You will take back from me! Reason no. 991 :)

Reason no. 990...

Something I love about the Psalms and some worship songs is how the writers speak to their heart and their soul and activate it into worship, for example 'bless the Lord oh my soul'. Sometimes that is what is needed. I don't feel like worshipping God every second of every day, but He is worthy of it and He is worthy of whole-hearted worship. Sometimes our heart and soul need warming up and a re-focusing so that their attention is on God. Sometimes we need reminders of just how great and how awesome our God actually is. God has included it in the bible and it shows me how I can worship Him when I don't feel like it and it reminds me that I'm not the only worshipper of God like that. Reason no. 890 :)

Reason no. 989...

These past 3 days I have realised just how tough this semester has actually been and just how exhausted I really am - everything has now caught up with me in one go leaving me completely shattered! Having some time to rest is exactly what has been needed for ages and I'm now finally in that season! I've now had a bit of time to catch hold of everything  and reflect on what has happened and to simply say 'God You have got me this far and You will get me through the rest of this academic year'. He has been good and He will continue to be good! Reason no. 889 :)

Reason no. 988...

This week I have been thinking about how close I am to reaching 1000 reasons. I worked out that it has taken me about 3.5 years to do 1000 reasons, so then I worked out how long it might take to get to 10000 reasons...I recon 30 ish years! As I was thinking about how old I will be, I realised I would be similar age to my parents and could potentially have a child like me nearly finishing university! It was a scary thought but also pretty exciting!

Alongside this I've been thinking a bit about how older people invest in younger people in the church, workplace and society and parents to kids and just how valuable this is. If it wasn't for my parents, youth leaders/ kids workers at church, teachers etc. I would not be the person I am today. For they have imparted such wisdom and guidance to me. They have been the ones praying for me and my situations and challenging me to shift my perspective. They have modelled what a God-fearing life looks like. They are the ones who have given me time and have opened up the bible with me and shared what God's heart is.

There is something so precious in the young and old partnering together. When the older share their God stories with the younger, the younger get to know what is possible with God and actually dream even bigger and go even further with God at an even younger age.

Reason no. 988 :)

Reason no. 987...

As I was walking home this morning I was reminded of a phonecall from a few weeks ago (or maybe even a bit longer) from David. He had just seen the royals and all their bodyguard protection drive past him. He didn't just ring me but he also rang a family member too. Earlier that week I'd been talking about Kate and William's arrival to the University of Manchester with a few other people. It crazy to think how much excitement and talk that situation got! What's even more incredible is that the King of Kings has already arrived and rather than Him being some distant famous person who I will probably never speak to, I get to have a personal relationship with Him and walk with Him each day. That's a reason to get excited and tell everyone! Reason no. 987 :)

Reason no. 986...

9 days till Christmas!! It will be my first Christmas with David as my husband! Reason no. 986 :)

Reason no. 985...

I find it amazing how some people go into research for speech and language therapy and how they are so passionate to find ways to improve diagnoses, intervention and outcomes for patients so that their quality of life can be improved. Through these people going into research the service patients receive as a consequence is advanced further. Reason no. 985 :)

Reason no. 984...

Thank you God that You provide so well for me. Today I was thinking about how I can come away so full from eating and snacking. I am in a position where there is food in cupboards for the next few days and I am not needing to be dependent on what a stranger will place in my hand. God thank you for Your generosity, help me to extend that generosity to those around me. Reason no. 984 :)

Reason no. 983...

'God love me purely, totally and unconditionally, simply because He made me and is my Father.'

Christine Caine

No love is ever as pure as His - completely faultless. No love is as full as His - complete wholeness. No love will be as independent of my thoughts, words, actions towards Him - He will keep on loving me regardless.

Reason no. 983 :)

Reason no. 982...

Thank you God for Your eye to detail - each tiny molecule has Your creative stamp all over it. Thank you God for how you draw things together in such a beautiful way. Thank you God that because I am made in Your image I am creative too! Reason no. 982 :)

Reason no. 981...

Thank you God that You love me! Your love for me is so much more than I know. My understanding and my awareness of it only scratches the surface. Ephesians 3:18 talks about Your love being wide, long, high and deep. On Sunday someone from church shared how Your love is not just 3D - it is something so much more. God, I long to be so much more aware, I want to grasp what Your love for me truly means! Reason no. 981 :)

Reason no. 980...

So proud of David...he has decorated the room for the youth Christmas party and it looks so great! I love how he is in a job that he enjoys, he is good at and gets to be creative within it! Reason no. 980 :)

Reason no. 979...

'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior'

Luke 1:46-47

This was the beginning of Mary's song when she went to see Elizabeth and they were sharing in the amazement of what God had done in each of them. Mary's heart in God choosing to place His son in her is something so beautiful. Mary was a girl who loved God and had found favour with Him. The result of that favour was God entrusting His only Son to be raised by Mary.

Reason no. 979 :)

Reason no. 978...

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121:7-8

Thank you God that You care about me and You choose to watch over me! Thank you God for being my protection. Thank you God that you are not the one-off God but the eternal God who keeps His promises forever. Reason no. 978 :)

Reason no. 977...

Thankful for a relaxed day, with a tiny bit of work thrown in! Going for a hot chocolate with David was an added bonus! Reason no. 977 :)

Reason no. 976...

'I lift my eyes up to the hills - where does my help come from?'

Psalm 121:1

'I lift' - an active decision. I choose to take my eyes off my circumstances and fix them on Him. I won't find the help looking at the situation but as I shift my gaze onto Him, my help will come!

Reason no. 976 :)

Reason no. 975...

Thank you God that You found me, You chose me, You love me, You protect me and You hold me. Reason no. 975 :)

Reason no. 974...

Thank you God that You don't stop amazing me! Thank you God that You continually reveal something new to me about Yourself. You are so much greater than I know. Reason no. 974 :)

Reason no. 973...

Thankful for having an afternoon where I can tidy and sort our flat after the build-up of assignment deadlines between us! Reason no. 973 :)

Reason no. 972...

Thank you God for giving me this blog idea and the space to write, be creative and  to order my thoughts. Thank you God that it is a way where I can see Your incredible goodness reason after reason, day after day. I love how there is more than 10000 reasons to find. The reasons just keep going and going. Reason no. 972 :)

Reason no. 971...

'I produce what is around me based on what is inside of me.'

God let Your Holy Spirit fill me up till I am overflowing. God let my eyes be completely fixed on You. I want to carry You into the places I step foot in. I want to carry your life, peace and joy into situations. I want to bring Your word that it might shape what is around me. When You are present everything changes. Reason no. 971 :)

Reason no. 970...

Jesus is counter-cultural. He is the king. Instead of him having an expectation that society will serve him, he was the one who got down on his knees to wash people's feet. He is the King who serves. He shows us that nothing is too below him. He is the one who I follow, but does my life represent him? If it did, surely there would be such an eagerness to serve because that is what Jesus it like. He served with his whole life. He did not compartmentalise his life into sections where serving can happen -  no it over spilled into every area. Let my heart catch hold of Jesus's heart for people so that I might serve in the fraction of the way that he serves the people around him. Reason no. 970 :)

Reason no. 969...

Thankful for the year I have ended up on my uni degree and the people I have ended up with in my year. I am thankful for the friends I have made and the inclusivity between the whole class. Hearing some of the differences between some of the year groups made me realise just how easy this gets taken for granted. Reason no. 969 :)

Reason no. 968...

Thank you God that every day in the midst of everything happening around the world  that You are still God, still loving, still kind, still peace, still powerful, still strong, still reigning and still hope! You are God! Reason no. 968 :)

Reason no. 967...

Thankful for David's previous job before going into youth work. He has been able to help my family and give advice as they start needing to make decisions on care for my grandma. Thank you God that this was part of the journey David was on before going onto studying now! Thank you God that you know exactly the journey we go on and where each thing fits in with the rest of our lives. Reason no. 967 :)

Reason no. 966...

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”

2 Corinthians 8:9

Jesus came from the riches of heaven to a manger. These are 2 huge extremes and he did it for me! He not only does that, but he clothes me in  his riches that I do not deserve. Thank you Jesus!  Reason no. 966 :)

Reason no. 965...

Grateful for going to a uni where some of the leading researchers in different fields for speech and language therapy are and I get to have lectures from them! Reason no. 965 :)

Reason no. 964...

Today a beautiful Christmas card arrived hand-made by my mum! I love how creative my family are! Reason no. 964 :)

Reason no. 963...

Tomorrow is the youth Christmas party!! So thankful for getting to spend my Friday evenings with them each week for the past year and a bit. They are a great bunch of young people! Reason no. 963 :)

Reason no. 962...

In 2 weeks time I will be back with my wonderful family! I love being back! Just chilling in front of the TV together, going for breakfast with my dad, not having to cook most evenings or do lots of other housework, chatting with my mum in the kitchen, playing games...just a few things that make it a great time where I can recharge! Reason no. 962 :)

Reason no. 961...

Finished for the Christmas holidays!!! Although lots of study awaits, to have a break is exactly what I need! Reason no. 961 :)

Reason no. 960...

'Find out what makes you happy in God, and make a discipline of it.'

Peter Greig

In the busyness of life it is so easy for these things to be the first to go, but NO these are the things that need to be the priority. When I make time for these things I gain His perspective on the situation and who I am in the midst of it all. That is something precious. Reason no. 960 :)

Reason no. 959...

'The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.'

Romans 8:6

Your spirit lives in me and therefore I can walk in life and peace because that is what you have for me and that now becomes my default position. Thank you God!

Reason no. 959 :)

Reason no. 958...

Thank you God for being so faithful in all of Your ways. You are faithful to me yesterday, today and forevermore. You are faithful to me in the highs and the lows. You are faithful in every circumstance! Reason no. 958 :)

Reason no. 957...

Today David found out he has an interview in Canterbury the day after my only exam in January, the week before my dad's birthday. Therefore we can both head down to Kent together and have a bit of break before 2nd semester starts! Reason no. 957 :)

Reason no. 956...

Thank you Jesus for coming to earth for me and people like me. Thank you for living amongst your people. You were King in a society that did not know it. You came and worked as a carpenter and did not dictate over anyone. You lived and you worked. You lived the human life - knowing the good and bad in it. Thank you that you know what hard times look like in day-to-day life. Thank you that I can therefore come to you in the midst of the good and bad because you have walked through it too! Reason no. 956 :)

Reason no. 955...

Thank you God that You keep me safe and protect me each day.

Reason no. 955 :)

Reason no. 954...

Philippians 4:6-7

'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God . And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.'

So true...these past few weeks I have been attempting an assignment that has caused me so much stress and the crazy thing is that it is only worth 10 credits of my whole degree. The fear of failing creates such a huge amount of pressure. But actually each time the pressure begins to build God wants to take me to a place of reminding me who He actually is...He is so much bigger than my assignment, He is so much bigger than if I fail. Will my world fall apart if I fail? No! Will God stop loving me? No! Will God be disappointed with me? No! Will He still work all things together for good? Yes! Will His promises over my life still be true? Yes! He is God! Reason no. 954 :)

Reason no. 953...

I only have 2 days left in uni (spread over this week) before breaking up for Christmas! To have some time where I can simply rest is exactly what I need! Reason no. 953 :)

Reason no. 952...

Thank you God that Your mercy triumphs over Your judgement on me!! Even though I may condemn myself or think that You ought to be condemning me - You don't! Thank you God that the verdict has passed and I am free! You write freedom over me and that is truly incredible! Reason no. 952 :)

Reason no. 951...

As I was attempting to do one of my assignments at uni, there was a huge queue outside for the graduation happening today...I am excited how in a matter of months I graduate too! Reason no. 951 :)

Reason no. 950...

Christmas is coming! Baby Jesus is coming...that's what Christmas is all about: the birth of a little baby boy. That is true but it only scratches the surface. That Jesus was fully human, yet fully God. That Jesus grew up to shake societies thinking. That Jesus knew what it was like to party (wedding). That Jesus did what we deem to be impossible: healing the sick, bringing the dead back to life, walking on water. That Jesus spoke to women in a culture where that was not the norm. That Jesus knew what love looked like. That Jesus loved me enough to die on a cross. That Jesus dying on a cross meant that I can know God. That Jesus dying means that I walk free as every wrong thing (sin) I have ever done is no longer counted against me - it is all on him. That Jesus raising back to life means that He is victorious over sin and death. That Jesus living now means that an eternity with him awaits me. Reason no. 950 :)

Reason no. 949...

Thank you God that David already has one offer from a uni and that You are beginning to open doors so he can study social work. Thank you for how You spoke so clearly about him doing an Access course this year at Catalyst (Christian festival) and that is where he is now. Thank you God that You have called Your church to be a prophetic people who will speak out Your word and Your heart and how that builds, encourages, directs and strengthens. Thank you God for giving that person who brought the prophetic word the faith to step out! Reason no. 949 :)

Reason no. 948...

I find it is so easy to get bogged down by uncertainties. The uncertainty of what will happen when I graduate, what job will I have, where will I live? These questions quickly fill me with dread, stress and panic. It is so easy to say with my mouth that 'I trust God', but actually when in the midst of the situation a different story comes to play. I don't know the end result and I find that really tough. God knows exactly what is coming and I don't.

He promises to work all things together for good and that includes the situation I'm in and about to walk into. He has done incredible things in every situation that has involved a big decision/move (even in the little things too!) - embarking on Impact in Horsham - how I ended up there just had God written all over it, moving to Manchester for my degree and actually seeing God's plan spoken to me 8 years ago and to be right in the midst of it now is truly incredible!!

This time God is doing something different. He is the Almighty God and He can choose to speak in any way He chooses and in  His own timing - not dictated by me. He is God and I am not. It is His words that I will choose to cling and will let override my thoughts and others opinions. He is King.

Reason no. 948 :)

Reason no. 947...

'It is finished, He has won!'

Reason no. 947 :)

Reason no. 946...

So thankful for how God can use a not so nice situation (a family member being really ill) to enable me to go home and have a time to recharge with my family. I am thankful that it is always a place where I can rest well. Reason no. 946 :)

Reason no. 945...

Today I watched a tiny clip from the Voice in America, where a guy got up and sang a worship song in the middle of the competition. It was so incredible to see God lifted high in that situation and in that area of culture. It is exciting to think of what else God has in store and what else could happen as God's spirit truly breaks out in society. Reason no. 945 :)

Reason no. 944...

Thank you God that in the busyness of uni, assignments, exams and illnesses, You have rest, peace and joy available for me! Reason no. 944 :)

Reason no. 943...

You are God and You go before me! Reason no. 943 :)

Reason no. 942...

God uses the roots in where you are from in where He is taking you. Thank you God that nothing is wasted! Reason no. 942 :)

Reason no. 941...

Thank you God that Your voice over-rides every other voice! Thank you God that Your voice is truth in midst of uncertainty. Thank you God that when You speak clarity comes. Thank you God that Your voice brings such life and such peace. Reason no. 941 :)

Reason no. 940...

Thank you God that You are in the waiting and the promises You have spoken will come to be. Reason no. 940 :)

Reason no. 939...

You will turn my fear to faith

and teach my heart to sing again.

Failure and disappointment

no longer have a hold on me.

There is victory in the name of Jesus

and freedom written over me.

I will go to the hidden place

and I will wait for you to speak.

Your word is truth, power and life

and it will silence the lies of the enemy.

I will know your voice

and it will guide my every step.

Reason no. 939 :)

Reason no. 938...

I'm taking you by the hand,

leading you on an adventure

that I have mapped out for you.

I'm taking you out of the mess

that has entangled you

and lifting you upon higher ground.

I'm placing you in my light

so you can gain my perspective

over each situation that you face.

I'm inviting you into my presence,

a time where I will speak

and you will know my voice.

I'm inviting you to come deeper with me,

just to sit and to be close with me,

for I will totally restore you.

I'm reminding you of my promises,

my love, grace, peace is unchanging,

yesterday and today I am pursuing you.

Reason no. 938 :)

Reason no. 937...

Thank you God for still giving me poems to write! Your words spoken over me still have life! Reason no. 937 :)

Reason no. 936...

I've been married to David for 5 months today!! He is so loving, kind, generous, funny and wise! He amazes me with how well he does with his access course and with uni interviews! To be out of studying for so long and to go back into it is not an easy thing to do! I love his passion to become a social worker and his heart to see injustice put to right. One day he will make an incredible social worker. Every time I look at a speech and language therapy (SLT) case where a social worker should be involved, I'm just amazed at what they do! Reason no. 936 :)

Reason no. 935...

I am grateful for being in a uni where quite a few of my lecturers are actually writing the research that I have to read about for my course! Reason no. 935 :)

Reason no. 934...

So thankful for finally having a draft on an assignment due really soon!! It has taken so long, but now it is finally close to the end! Reason no. 934 :)

Reason no. 933...

I love it how God can speak through a lecture at uni. The lecture was all about bilingualism, something I find so fascinating. At the end of the lecture I realised that I had written myself from working with this population in the future due to the huge amount of skill required. God gave me a little prod: 'you placing limits on yourself is limiting me'. He reminded me of everything that He taken me on so far through learning languages, mission trips in the nations to working in an international school over the summer. There's still more to go - the door is not shut!! Reason no. 933 :)