THIS SUNDAY (APRIL 1st)

I celebrate the fact that it has been a whole year since coming of my epileptic meds, all thanks to GOD'S healing power - it was November 2005 that i attended a healing meeting, a sufferer of epilepsy for 16 yrs since having meningitis at the age of two, i had battled with it time and time again, trying various times in my childhood to attempt to ween off the meds and with no success, i was now at bible college and though i had thought long and hard about the reality that God could heal, i was still not sure, but here was my chance to put my faith into action, to simply believe that God was indeed the same, yesterday, today and forever and he could heal me just the same as it has been written so in the Bible - i prayed beforehand for somekind of inclination and all i can say is that i felt a sensation all through my body, much like pins and needles, from that i believed on it and that God had done the healing work, so with this, i still retained the common sense to slowly reduce my meds over a period of time, that was from the november time til april 1st 06 last year, i waited in faith, as the weeks then went by (never going longer than 2 weeks before without relapsing and having a 'fit'). And here i am now, a year on - GOD HAS HEALED ME! I thank him so much, thankyou God, forever shall i praise you for this. amen.

FACING FEARS!!

Whilst being on a youthwork placement little do you realise that is so much of a personal journey, in fact so much so you find yourself facing 'unknown' fear - well in my case, i did. It was a couple of weeks ago now but it was mentioned about taking a group of young people ice-skating, i was asked if i wanted to come along and as far as i was concerned, it was a 'no' as i couldn't even skate - i had only ever been once in my life when i was younger. Score settled, or so i thought!! Later on we had a supervisory meeting and i was asked again, stating the same answer, though i was then challenged with why was that a 'good enough' reason for me not to go? Was it my only reason? It became clear that perhaps it was a whole lot of factors rolled into one that was stopping me, the fact that i couldn't skate, the fact i didnt want to look foolish and vulnerable infront of other youth workers and young people, the fact that i was afraid of getting hurt, the fact of just 'letting-go' on the ice, the fact that i had not worked with this group on such a level that there was a confident working relationship there!!! But it was said to me there was no reason for me not to play a role, i may just find that i am able to draw on the same level as the young people and be an encourager to others who are unsure...there is always things we will do that we are unsure of but this will then equip us to do more and be beyond limit as such!! So with his i went, the morning beforehand i was still very nervy and sick in the stomach but somwhow confident that i would overcome somthing, i went, found out that one of the young people had never skated before so was able to assure him that he wasnt on his own. I got out on the ice, though pretty much sticking to the edge, i was supported by the other youth workers, there challenged i was i steadily built a confidence and began to relax take a hold of this new experience, the young people aslo enjoyed themselves, everyone was left feeling quite happy and me eager to go again!!

PANCAKE DAY AT PLACEMENT!!

Im bloggin bout EMPOWERMENT in the workplace, i must say i didnt think the kitchen could be that effective in the youthwork context however it proved to be just that, infact it waas able to work the whole 4 core values as it happens!! Simply and effectively!! Yes, a group of young people entered the kitchen scene to do wat is to be called to do on pancake day - PANCAKES!! They were able with the help of the youthworker to produce their very own creations from scratch, the youthworker empowering by infroming them of the right ingredients and method needed, then giving them the indepedent opportunity to do this, making helpdul suggestions along the way such as the better way of mashing bannana in the mix etc, the result was that each young person presented their very own pancake, well more than one and to add to the fun we also had a pancake competition!!! The kitchen i learnt can be used effectively to empower young people in the area of food activity, it maybe learning to cook, improving cooking skills or simply for exploring food, healthy eating and other cultures etc.

BUSY BEE IS BLOGGING!!
Apologies go out to all my bloggin buddies that this blog is so latecoming but i hav literally been a busy bee as now started youthwork placement- but please breathe a sigh of relief as the busy bee blogs once more!!

DOES GOD ALLOW STUFF...!?

Aww...a hard question!
This was the question we were given in last tuesday's class and asked to mull over!
Here are my thoughts: What are yours?

I reckon it's all to do with CHOICE and freewill!
In creation God created choice and freewill, we had a capacity to either love and obey or not to love and obey! As a result an angel rebelled causing man to also rebel = humanity and nature now stained and sinful! Remaining with that choice to continue in evil!!
The reason God allows evil is because if he hadn't and didnt we would be forced to love God (what love is that..?) and secondly it would mean not just ending evil but putting an end to us! Instead God still gives us time to be reconciled with him and he has even given us the how in Jesus! Plus if God ended evil he would also take freewill away from us!!
So...God does allow it...rest assured it is only for a time tho..the day is coming where he will execute justice over all!! He will deal with it then! (Judgement Day as it is reffered to!!)
Nothing is beyond God's control, its with him and he will see to it in his own timing i believe!
I reckon the bad things that happen are a result of freewill, freewill was something God desired to give us, and its humanity which abuse it!!

My example i have been thinking on - if i was to walk the streets on my own in the dark and i was attacked - what woul i as a Christian think! Well i concluded in my thinking why should God stop it after all its freewill and the attacker is the one who chooses to act evil on it!
I would like to think i wouldn't blame God because of this understanding and that i would trust in him to see justice done when the time comes!

In the natural too, the world was subject to the fall and its consequences, its perfection ruined which means it acts in tragic ways as a result - natural disasters!

An upside to all this is i also think all things happen for a reason...both good and bad!
It helps our eyes to be open.....humans when faced with tragedy in turn often call out to God whether they believe or not!! leading to helping us as humans to seek him as we ought have done from the satrt yet we have been sidetracked by sin...plus the hard things we can often go through can in turn develop us and strengthen us depending on our understanding!!
When we see the 'good' result, when we come out the other end we smile!
And who can we thank but God!

P.s Im thinking we might not see the 'good' result (justice done) or necessarily come out of the other end whilst here on earth - we trust in God and his timing, even if that means Judgement Day!

I BEEN A BUSY BEE!

Sos 4 the lack of 'posts' peeps - i jus been real busy..but i betta get busy blogging ay lol!

TODAY!!

This morning we dealt woth WORDS...arent words funny things!!
Who could imagine there would be so may complicated words associated with Youthwork, Ministry and Theology! Where have they all come from!!
CHALLENGE: If your reading this and you have know of any lenghty complicated word that relates..blog it... and see one if it beats anything i heard today and better still if i can define it but you gotta know what it means to blog it mind!

Today...
We were also asked for a review of our first 3 weeks here of study!!
These first 3 weeks for me have been immense, overwhelming, 'buzzing' (im just going off everything i am taking in...its crazy really!) and the challenge has only just begun......................lol

LAST FRIDAY..?

We did a class around judging and value judgemments?
As part of it we did a bit of role-play - for that morning only we took on a character!
The purpose was to put "ourselves in their shoes" kinda thing! Well it had interesting results..
We are a large class and we all had a character with a conditiion of some sort,so you can just imagine it....
I was a '17 yr old with no hearing' so for the morning i had my fingers stuck in my ears and couldnt hear a thing! Others were maybe blind, phusically impaired etc.
For me apart from hearing next to nothing, it did help extrodinarily with my perspective!
Even for someone who used to suffer with a hearing problem in the past and thought i would be a better person than any to understand...i didnt know the half of it!! In that morining even though i was familiar with the people and my surroundings i had felt so vulnerable, insecure, isolated, depressed, confused, i could go on!! And i am sorry to say i was thankful it was only for that morning...sad to say i was relieved...but for those who do suffer in reality...it.s permanent...it doesnt stop...these feelings aren't just for a time..they dont go away! SO it's us that has the part to play...its our response to them that counts!

LOOK BEYOND...?
Look beyond what is the question?
What is beyond..?

FIRST WEEK...!

Wow, i done my first week at Chester university...did i really just say that - its true!
I've DONE it - WAHOO! WAHEY!
The tutors and students r sound.........
It been a bit of skills, a bit of issues (0ooo i like issues)........
......... plus theology............
Wont say it been a breeze cos ive had to bear up wiv 'fresher's flu' so they call it - to me it just a damn annoying cold!! Can tell winter's approaching guys * -. * .- * u cud b next! Achooo..........!
I can tell reading gonna play a big part in it all.........
......I dont think i ever have or will ever read so much.....
I got here not knowing wat to expect so dunno if i can quite say it exceeded my expectations!!
(Thought that a clever line........that all)
But it sure been a good start - so it sure to be a good future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Look forward to it.

WHAT U THINK ON THIS FOLKS!

A motto of mine: Possibilities r Endless?
Would you agree? What you think y'all?