Completion.

So I overcame paperwork mountain. And I will tell you how: It was so simple, I can’t believe I didn’t use this method before. You will need 1 ring binder and about 25 polypocket files. Sort your paper into piles. Then label the piles. Pop into polypockets and repeat every time a fresh piece of paper enters the house.

Well. It worked. I can do this for receipts/bills/insurance/admin…. But now I have a place to store ‘my paper work’ Files like ‘cake’, ‘recipes’, ‘school’, ‘ideas’, ‘lessons I’ve written’ (which I have to say, I am so glad I have compiled them together. This is the biggest pile! I had to make a sub-file!) ‘book-pending’ – sadly, this is still pending. I wish it wasn’t. I wish I would get a move on.

And this is what I was thinking about. I did the paperwork. I did 245/500 mini project (which is almost half way to completion), I wrote two teachings for groups this week. But why do I find it so hard to complete something I am so desperate to have finished? It’s almost as though I could finish the tasks that even if more difficult (who has done an hours’ teaching on tongues and the interpretation of the gift? Yeh that was difficult but I did it…) But something more personal, with more reward – perhaps – is so much more difficult. If you’ve read this blog long enough, you’ll realise that this is a re-occurring theme.

Perhaps it’s because I don’t have a deadline. I work incredibly well towards deadlines. (I read this back and was going to delete it, but it’s true!). My deadline for the 500 mini project (will tell after next week when it is complete) is, next Wednesday. 7 days. And I only have another 1.5 hours to complete the task, and it will be done today.

So should I set myself a deadline? I was reading about completion in the Bible – and this has really helped me. Perhaps it will spur you on to complete whatever exciting project is sitting in your mental to do folder

So now finish doing it, that your [enthusiastic] readiness in desiring it may be equalled by your completion of it according to your ability and means. (2 Cor 8:11)

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. (Phil 1:6)

The first verse refer to the completion of things that we have begun, and enthusiasm to complete things – it feels like short term plans. Then there is the second verse, the work that God has started in our  lives of which He is perfecting leading to completion in heaven – a long term plan.

May you (and I!) know what it is to complete the things that we have begun and that He who has begun a good work in our lives will continue that until completion. Love A xox

A lunar eclipse?

Last night, I was lying on the sofa reading the news and I stumbled upon the bit about how last night in the UK there was meant to be a lunar eclipse. Ryan was making music in the ‘garden room’ – it’s like a conservatory but just not as hot in summer or cold in winter…

I opened the doors onto the patio and looked around. Nope. No eclipse. I could see everything, there was no red sheen. Shame. Then I went back inside and explained it all to Ryan. He had his headphones in because he was recording. Then it hit me… The last Lunar Eclipse was July 2000/2001. I think it was 2000?

What were you doing when the sky went black around 10 years ago at noon? I had just returned from a trip to America with my parents, we went to Alaska too. I was working in River Island Dudley, I had a bright yellow VW old Beetle as my car. I was about to start a gap university. I had just arrived at work and was on ‘security’ (hahaha!) and that gave me a chance to go follow some people outside and see for myself what the sky was like darkened in the day time.

Last night, I realised my life was sooooooo different ten years on. Not only the fact that I wasn earning something like £3.75 per hour (hahaha again! how low were the wages? Better than my first job of £2.10 as a waitress though?) Where we were living, who I was living with. Friends I had then. Most of whom I no longer even know. What I thought about life, and love and everything in between.

Who would have known I would then have begun university, travelled the world, met and married Ryan and then had a brief career as a teacher. OK. It was very brief. Before having my Bethany Hope. And Benjamin Theo.

God knew.

He delicately holds every desire of my heart in his hands and enables my dreams to become reality by believing in His will for my life. Controlled? Nope. Free Will to chose what I want? Yes, absolutely. Free Will to choose God’s best plan for my life: YES, YES, YES! This way, I can hope, dream, and imagine life in the future. Which becomes my present.

A decade ago life was fun, full and exciting as I didn’t really know where I was heading, who I would share the journey with and where it would take me.

Now a decade on, I am delighted with my past and delighting in my present and can’t wait for what’s around the corner…

I talked to a friend today who said his birthday is approaching, at the age of 27 he feels he is getting close to 30. I wanted to say that I am 30 in 6 months…. And I love it. I love that I’ve had a go at so many things for so many days, weeks, months, years! Sometimes things don’t work out. Sometimes you just have to try before you realise it’s going to fail. Sometimes the reason you try and fail is to learn the lesson of the process. I guess the reason we are afraid of big birthdays (we is the generic term. I think it’s going to be quite THE partay!) is because we try to take stock of how far we have or haven’t come, where we are or are not satisfied.

But if you allow yourself to love, live and let the master potter create true beauty from the muddy clay of your life there is no way you can fail! By surrendering you can have it all. I know. It doesn’t make sense this life of being a Christian, does it? Misty Edwards says ‘it’s an inside out, upsidedown kingdom where you die to gain…’ not literal death, just the kind where you allow God to take your life and as I wrote a few paragraphs ago, remind yourself that:

He delicately holds every desire of your heart in his hands and enables your dreams to become reality by believing in His will for your life.

I could make more of the allegory of the moon blocking the view of sun. And the comparison between things in life that cause a total or partial eclipse, but you know what I’m saying

With a heart full of thanks, hope and love for all that has past and all that is to come, A xox

Wide eyed in the dark night.

So. it’s midnight. Apparently, there is a big scary monster in the house and for that reason Bethany needs to come in my bed. We prayed. The monster fear was gone. I tucked my princess into bed, and lay there.  Couldn’t sleep. Soon enough it was 1am. Ben was crying. Ryan went to him. I went to him. He cried some more. I went back. Ryan went back. Now it’s 2am. Couldn’t sleep.

I start thinking of all the jobs I have to do tomorrow (which is now today)

* Clean * Laundry * Iron * Bake 50 cupcakes (for sale, not for me to gobble up) * Buy things * Check my ebay for what has sold * Feed the rabbit * Find the rabbit * Prepare for the wedding address for my sister’s wedding.

Then I begin think of opportunities I have been given.

Have I taken every opportunity I have been presented with? Would I always say yes and take a chance to succeed. Succeed? I love that is the way we think. First option is success. Not in a proud, boastful way. But in a thank you God for everything you present to me, if I’m given an opportunity it must be to stretch me in a way  that I couldn’t otherwise do by just going about my normal every day life. Not that I think every day is normal. No day is ever the same. EVER. This week is conference week. For me that means being home alone from tues-sun. Usually (well. last year) I would have been freaking out. This year, I am different. I can’t exactly work it out. I am more peaceful. I am more settled. I am more confident that I can cope. Ha. And this year I have 2 children!

I started to worry that I wouldn’t cope this morning. I worried that I would get upset with the children. That I would miss Ryan. That my family would be too busy. I prayed. Silently. As I brushed my teeth. ‘Help me find peace, please’. I know. Short and Sweet?! But it was answered. I checked my fb and I had a friend from Canada write me asking to meet for lunch. Ahhh. What a beautiful opportunity! I said yes. And this week will be wonderful, I will succeed, my children will have fun with me. I will love. x