Time is Running Out

Well my time here in England is slowly coming to an end, and when things end they usually come with many final gatherings and goodbyes. This week I grabbed a cuppa with my friend Temi, we sat in this cute little cafe in Beverley and talked about my term here in England and all the beautiful things our Father has done and is doing in our lives.

While we were talking she said something to me that really stuck out. I had mentioned how I felt God had called me to come abroad and that coming to England was much more then a study abroad experience. I told her how I felt that God wanted me to do things for his kingdom but his plans were much different then mind. She said to me, that sometimes its not about coming to England and converting all of England sometimes its about having fun, God wants us to have fun, and learning how to serve God through our daily lives. She went on to say some other very sweet and beautiful things but this particularly stuck out to me because lately I had been doubting whether or not I lived up to the call that God had giving me to come here. (I know by this point any insecurity of mine does not come as a shock!)

I have been praying a lot lately, asking God to bring me confirmation that I served him and I lived for him and showed people his love and who he is, but I still let this insecurities creep in.
I had to remind myself that I did it God's way and not my way, so the results and the outcome was completely different, but I still kept doubting.

But, this morning the weather was beautiful and I decided to go for a run. As I was running one of my favorite Christian artists (Jimmy Needham) came on my ipod and these words stuck out to me.

We pass out paper facts all week but they won't come around, we can debate theology but they won't come around, apologetic reasoining but they won't come around come around, there's only one way they'll come and its love.

Now to be honest I heard the words and thought to myself, 'Man those are some really great lyrics' and didn't think much of it until later on. But when later on came I realized that God was showing me that I loved people. I fasted, had bible studies, made dinners, talked, laughed, traveled with people because of His love in me and my love for Him.

Not that everything I said or did this term was perfect but I realized that God taught me how to love the people around me through my actions and daily life, rather then bringing them a flyer and the answers to every question.

Thank you Jesus for your love! =)

Two Weeks

Well in exactly two weeks, I will be on a train to Manchester, where I will spend the night and then hop on a plane home to America the next day!
It is crazy how quickly everything is winding down, it seems like just last week I arrived here, and now I am leaving.

Today I turned in my first essay of the three I have due. Tomorrow my second essay is due, and next Monday (the 24th) my third and final essay is due.
I am done with the second essay and only have half of the third one to do. The problem is after doing nothing this whole semester I have become quite lazy and I cannot seem to find the motivation to write my essay. Hopefully I find it today at the library!
Today is a gorgeous day in Hull, for once, after the last week or so of cold and cloudy weather the sun has decided to come out and it has been quite nice. I even went on a run this morning outside for the first time in quite a while.

I am full of anxiety lately, I love being here, and I am sad to leave but since I know I am leaving in two weeks, I am really anxious for the time to go by. I have been finding ways to fill the time, last Friday we went down to Beverley and saw the antiques roadshow (by the way, I will be on the BBC come September =)) it was quite a lot of fun. Then on Saturday we went to Scaraborough which is this cute little beach town/fishing village. I absolutely loved, I think Kelsey and I might be going back with her roommate next week. On Sunday I sang on the worship team again, I love being the worship team so much, I am really going to miss it!!

Yesterday I had a really good talk with my housemate Ida. We were talking a lot about religion and sex before marriage, and she brought up a really valid point. She was telling me that she didn't think that sex before marriage was such a big deal compared to other things. She said that she thinks people should focus more on caring for each other and not so much on rules. It was so neat because I agreed with her, for the most part. I told her that the greatest commandment Jesus called us to was to love him and love our neighbors as ourselves. We talked a long time about hypocrisy in religion and Christianity, which is why she is so turned off to it. I was able to explain to her that we are called to be loving, and take care of each other and have community and she really liked that. Our conversation didn't go anywhere deeper then that but it was cool to share that much of the Bible and the Jesus I know with her. It ended with her saying that it was a shame that the media only displays the bad parts of religion and not the good parts because it seems that they are a lot of good things as well.
So I pray that God will grow that little seed planted in her heart! =)

Well, now that I have rambled about very random things, and procrastinated as much as I can I suppose it is time for me to leave and go "revise" as they say here!

Cheers!

Clubbin'

Almost every week since I have been here Ida (my housemate) has invited me to go out with her on Monday nights to this club called The Piper. Every week I am always busy and I have some excuse not to go, and I always feel bad because she wants me to go with her. Well last night she invited me and Kelsey, and we happened to have nothing to do so we went with her.

I was a little nervous about going because I didn't really know what to expect but it is really just a bunch of people hanging out, talking and dancing, well and of course drinking. It was fun to just hang out and chat with people and enjoy the music but what really caught my attention was all of the girls.

Almost every girl there last night was dressed in extremely short skirts/dresses and low cut tops...I definitely felt out of place, in a good way. As I was watching the girls around me trying to get the attention of all of the men in the room my heart started to break for them.

It made me sad and sick to think that these girls are dressed this way just so a guy will show them a little bit of attention. What I noticed about the guys is that they would give the girl some attention for a song or two but then they would get bored and go back to their friends or even a more modestly dressed girl.

I just wanted to tell all of these girls that they don't have to put their bodies on display to be loved and have attention. I use to think that girls who dressed like had a lot of self-confidence and had very little if any insecurities but last night I realized the exact opposite. These girls are really insecure, they need to be told that they are worth it and loved and cared about.

I know this isn't what you would expect to read from a blog called Clubbin' but this has been weighing on my heart.

God I lift up all of these girls to you, these girls who think that the way they dress determines their love and self worth. Lord show them that these women are beautiful, that you have made them, beautiful in your image. Jesus I pray that you lift these girls up and that they can see and feel your love, the only love that matters surrounding them

Greece

Well, after much traveling and very little sleep I am back in England from my amazing trip to Greece.

Greece is so beautiful, even Athens the dirty overcrowded city that it is, is surrounded by the beauty of old ruins from years ago. We spent most of our time in Athens except for Sunday when we took a day trip to one of the islands. The weather was sunny and warm and the water was cool, but warm enough to swim in!

I felt so spoiled to be sitting on this beautiful island soaking in the sun and staring out into the crystal blue waters of the sea. God really speaks to me when I am near the ocean/sea.
He loves to show me his love through the size of water. As I was laying on the beach I just felt so loved by my Father.

I don't have much else to say about Greece besides the fact that I had a lot of fun and it was really beautiful.

I am back in Hull now until it is time for me to pack up and go back to America. Things are starting to really wrap up here, I have two more classes to attend and two essays to write and I am done with school.
Bernice's dad is coming next week and they will be leaving to do some traveling around Europe before she goes home.
Kelsey's roommate and cousins are coming in two weeks to do some traveling as well, so everyone is wrapping up school life and our lives here in England and preparing for our journey back to the states.

It is so crazy that I am leaving in 4 weeks, it seems not that long ago that I boarded the plane in Phoenix and headed across the pond to England.

I am so grateful for this opportunity and all the amazing things that God has taught me, I can't wait to use this experience to continue to grow in Him and add it as a part of my testimony for the incredible things He has done in my life.

Jesus continues to provide, I found out yesterday that I was awarded a $1000 grant for summer school.

I feel so loved and blessed by my Savior, I am so so undeserving and yet he still continues to shower me with His love and blessings, thank you Jesus!

"Living he loved me,
Dying he saved me,
Buried he carried,
my sins far away,
Rising he justified,
Freely forever,
One day He is coming,
Oh glorious day!"