Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Discoveries in data entry

I've only had 4 days of doing data entry, yet already God's shown me that if I am to honour him in the mundane, boring and every-day un-inspiring things of my life, then I need to do it with a passion after his name!

Colossians 3v23-24 says:

'Whatever you do, work at it with
all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for me, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.'

In fact, this data entry is in one light how the world sees it; a boring monotonous way to earn money. But from the perspective of a Christian, someone who has seen and will continue to see the goodness of God worked out in their life, this is an opportunity to serve God with a passion after his name.

I wholeheartedly admit that it's not been easy all the time to work hard at it, but therein lies another truth - we can do nothing if it is in our strength! I've discovered this through finals, coursework, the saga of my gran, and in my everyday battles with the enemy for guidance in my heart.

So as another day of data entry lies ahead of me, I am honestly joyful in my heart that God's provided this work for me - because it is something I can invest my passion after him in. I urge you, take whatever God's laid before you in the day, give it up to him, and seek to use it for his glory. He's promised to inspire you in all areas of your life, if you'll seek after him!

Make this day his, and see where he leads you.

TheWeeScottie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Day one of data entry

All I can say, is Hurrah for God's inspiration in work when you ask him for it! :D I've just had a fab, productive day working on the database, setting up my desktop and lappy in tandem so I can read on one and type on the other, and it's working a treat.

Data entry may be labelled by most as a down-right boring, monotonous job. And they're right on the whole. But, even in the mosr mundane situations, God's glory is to be saught and given to him - and databasing is one of those situations! I found that each time I asked God to give me passion after his name, and in glorifying his name through the data entry, that I had such joy in doing it!

A verse my friend Anneke shared with me a while back sums this up perfectly:

'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.'
-- Colossians 3v23-24 --

From this experience of mine in work, both now and in exam revision, and lab work, to go about it remembering that is for his glory that we are here! And what a priviledge it is to remember that you have been chosen by GOD to serve him! He could have chosen angels to work on his behalf to humans, but he chose you and I, the 'humble things of this world to shame the wise' (reference unknown).

It's insanity squared, and it baffles me intensely, but I know it to be true. It's not just a case of seeing it i the bible, because a book can say anything. But seeing God's faithfulness, power and love leap up out of the pages and into my life confirms his sovereignty, goodness, and passion in my life. It's because of him that I can stand here today and say with full confidence that Jesus Christ is Lord!

And to that end, that glorious and wonderful end of serving Christ, I hope and pray that that he continues to inspire me to enter data to his glory.

Bring on day 2 :)

TheWeeScottie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Follow-up to Sunday

This is only a brief post, just to say WOW! The difference was palpable in the service. My desire to hear God speak was greater, my alertness in prayer increased, and my freedom in worship... well... free-er!

This past Sunday was a real blessing; on SO many levels! Not only in the service, but also afterwards. Let me explain. It's so easy to let Sunday just be a 'morning' thing - go along to the service, hear the preacher, sing the songs, smile and chat afterwards, then go home. This Sunday was a case of going home after the service and really wanting to come back in the evening - I was thirsty for more!!

Thinking about this as an observer, looking at myself (this is the way my mind works!) this has to be the result of an attitude change. I find that only when you're willing and wanting to hear to hear God speak, you are thirsty after him for more of his truth.

I propose this, therefore... not only Saturday evening, but Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. If one chapter of God-glorifying book or scripture can do this much to my focus in one day, imagine what a chapter a day for the week would do!

More to follow as I seek to condense the main points of Stop dating the Church into one blog post, and realise that when I write 'short' at the top of a blog post, it usually ends up not being.

TheWeeScottie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Positronic net-powered entry

As of this morning I am now a data entry clerk for the University of Bournemouth! Huzzah, I hear you cry! Yes indeed, dear reader. I'm loving, more and more, the way that God answers prayer! I sat in the car on the way back from church on Sunday and realised just how daft I'd been in getting worried about jobs. I'd allowed my financial situation to take my focus off God, who'd said a month ago or so that he would provide work for me - but I needed to trust him in the mean time!

It's often not easy when your bank account looks a tad bare, but it's then that you've got to rememeber that God's promised to provide for all you need. And even when you're needing something or going through a tough spot, we're called to lift our eyes to our Lord and Saviour and praise him:

'Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior'
--Habakkuk 3v17-18--

It seems to bizzarre initially, to be praising God in the midst of something tough, or a something that's distinctly un-praise-worthy. That's because it's not the situation we praise though; we're called to praise God! And no matter the severity or breadth of the situation, God promises to bring us through it, often one step at a time, but right to the other side.

We serve a mighty, powerful, loving and faithful God. This is shown in no greater or more profound moment in mystery that when he sent Jesus to die on the cross for us.

So as I embark into the wonderful world of data entry, I'm hoping and praying that I keep this in mind:

'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.'
--Colossians 3v23-24:--

Battle onwards guys, the road may seem tough, but we have the best guide imaginable at our side - and he knows the way.

P.S. I'll now be online 9-5, and most likely will have messenger running, so feel free to nip online for a chat! :D

TheWeeScottie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Prepare for Sundays?

I'm most of the way through reading Josh Harris' 'Stop dating the church' and he quotes a pastor he knows, who challenges you on how you view Sunday - and how you prepare for it. The question he put forward, that hit me earlier today, was what I get up to on Saturday evening. He'd found that what you feed your mind on Saturday evening is often what occupies your mind the next morning.

He has a strong point, I feel. If you don't take a time to step back and remember that Sunday is often our most prime day in the week for teaching and fellowship, we risk accidentally relegating Sunday to mere routine. i.e. get up, go to church, tick the box, get on with the day as if it were any other. Considering this, I've decided to put his point to the test and see what turning off the TV (or 'idiot box', as my grandpa puts it), and see what reading a wholesome book, that is good for the soul does for my mind - both last thing at night as I try to get to sleep - and first thing in the morning. Not to mention an early night, so you're physically refreshed and awake to both hear God speak during the day, but also to obey him!

More to follow as I see what the difference is on the morro. I will hopefully blog this topic in more detail in the next 2 days or so, as I've been a firm believer in keeping Sundays work-free for the past 3 years of Uni life, keeping God first, and he's not let me down in that time.

Until next time: good night fellow bloggers :)

TheWeeScottie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Friday, August 18, 2006

What are the odds?


















5 O's, but man I love scrabble! Despite that playing my mum means a 90% chance of learning humility via letters ;)

Just what do you do with 5 O's, and E & an M? And yes, Mooooo was my first idea!

TheWeeScottie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Yaaaaarrr, that treasure be mine!

In true Piratey fashion, I've introduced this post, so it's only right that I explain why I'm more in the mood to swash some buckles than normal. The local AD (amateur dramatical) society is putting on a pantomime loosely based on 'Treasure Island', (loosely, because the writers got their research from watching 'Muppet Treasure Island' and 'Treasure Planet'!). Anyhoo, quite how I don't know, but after turning up with my mum to auditions yesterday, we've both come away with parts!!

So, as of yesterday evening, I am now the timber-shivvering Long John Silver; complete with peg leg and hook for a hand (they cost me an arm and a leg! Yes, that's one of my lines!!) The 3 performances are in the first week of December, I'd guess on the Thurs, Fri and Sat evenings.

If you're interested in seeing me act with a broad cornish accent next to my panto dame wife who towers over me by a clear foot, leave a comment on this post or email me!!

As for Mr. Silver, I'm thinking of taking a leaf out of Jack Sparrow's style and having him slightly wide-eyed and crazy-looking!












As you can see above, I'm working on it ;)

More to follow as dates and my insanity progress.

TheWeeScottie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Lyrics and stuff

Man I just love the way God takes hold of something you hear or see. Taking something mundane and normal and turning into a point of sheer inspiration. And it's often the simplest of things! I was listening to a song the other day, though I can't remember the name of it, and I ended up with the following lyrics for the chorus:

'You know the me I often hide,
the me inside
you know the way i really feel
the looks I sometimes steal
you know the pain i hold up still
the way it really feels
yet love me just the same,
claim me in your name
and take my side when all I've left
lies in tatters at my feet
my friend'

...and that's it in a nutshell - God's love is beyond what we can understand. For so many of us, our true selves can be so deeply covered and hidden, and yet God looks at our inmost heart - the one we hide from any or everybody, sees our sinfulness and doubt at times. And draws us to him, smiling. It's darn painful at times to let him do it, yet when you allow God to look at you as you are, you realise what you knew all along - he loves you continually, and whole-hearyedly. Why? Because we're his, and that's the simple fact. Mind-blowing, but that's the God we love and serve and brothers and sisters of Christ. This is the mighty and powerful, yet tenderly loving God who we have been called to serve and love.

Could there be anyone better to lead us on through the easy and tough of our lives? I can't think of anyone I'd rather have.

TheWeeScottie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Church Holiday Club!

Hey ho all, it's that time of year again and I'm so looking forward to it!! I'm not allowed to lead a group sadly as I'm not a church member (not because of my child-minding skills, but maybe that's for the better) but I'm allowed to be a group helper, so I'm soon to don my loud hawaiian shirt and baggy shorts for the 'Seaside Rock' week starting tomorrow from Monday til Friday.

Above all I'm hoping and praying that God'd use me among the young people, to the glory of name there. Fun and games are dead important, but I know that this is such an awesome opportunity for them to hear the gospel and, God-willing, receive it! Thanks everyone, expect posts to follow with progress reports of sorts, and maybe some passage posts as I've heard some quality stuff lately!

TTFN :)

TheWeeScottie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

weird is just your own personal brand of normal

Thursday, August 03, 2006

the path ahead

This one's for you; Ceryn, Jess, Ed, Drew, Paul and Nu :)

the path ahead

TheWeeScottie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

weird is just your own personal brand of normal

the path ahead

This dislogue came to me very much with my friends Ceryn, Ed, Jess, Drew and Paul in mind as they prepare to take a year out in discipleship on Relay. Keep your focus on him guys; let him guide your steps (Prov3v5-6).

'I stood at the foot of the path. I looked back, knowing I'd got this far, and looked forward. But what WAS coming next? I mean, I knew what was coming up but I just felt so unprepared! How would I pay for that, or where would I stay, or how could I look after myself. Just then, as my mind raced with all those things, I tripped. He stopped with me though, taking my hand as I fell. 'But it's such a BIG step!' I said, with apprehension in my voice. 'I mean, how WILL I do, or pay, or work, or... or...' He waited patiently while I stuttered, struggling to get the words out. 'Did I ever say that this path would be easy, my precious one?' 'Well, no, but there just seems so MUCH of it! I mean, there's the work and the money and... and...' He sat down and moved me next to him. 'When have you been without what you've needed?' I pondered this for a moment. Before I could even form a reply he said 'when have you been without what you're REALLY needed?' I looked at my shoes, scuffing them on the road. I looked up. 'What's that?', I replied. He smiled; that same smile he holds for no time in particular, and every time he sees it. It being that spark of recognition as the truth sinks in once more that what I've always needed, and have had when I've really need it, has been him. The stark truth of this, of him and his faithfulness, sunk in afresh, and I let it wash over me. I glanced up the road again. 'You knew I'd do this, didn't you?' 'Of course', it was all I needed to hear. He knew this'd happen, and yet kept walking with me. I'd never understand that about him... 'and I knew you'd need to hear this,' he continued, 'you always do!' 'Doesn't mean I love you any less though; I can't' It suddenly occurred to me, 'but how did you know?' He turned to me, and said 'because I know you. You are mine. And neither my love, nor my faithfulness, nor my desire to see you grow in me and follow where I guide you, will ever change. THAT is my love for you.' I looked back up the path, and saw for the first time in a while that at the end of it stood a magnificent emerald gate. And beyond that, a sight that I couldn't put into words - it was beyond my imagination. I jumped to my feet, to find him there, beckoning me on with him. 'come with me,' he said, 'trust me with what's ahead.' I looked down, saw his feet standing square next to mine. I tightened my grip on his hand, noticed that patient smile of his; and took that step. '

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Back from Bude

Yes, after 7 days of sun, sea and sand (as well as Sudoku, Sewing, Snoozing and other things beginning with 'S') I'm now back in lovely ol' Swindon. Sadly my camera was AWOL for most of the week, so I can't post many pics, however once I've scoured my phone I'll post the 5-6 I managed to snap!

My dad went into holiday overdrive, and ended up hiring body-boards (surf board for me!) and wetsuits for us for the whole week, so we got about 5 days in the surf. I really wish I could have surfed more as I was beginning to direct the board by the end of the week! So, if any of you fancy a week away in Cornwall next year in the Summer, just give me a buzz ;)

Apart from surfing and visiting places like Boscastle - absolutely beautiful little town in a harbour valley - we also played Scrabble, much to my mum's delight, and did many crosswords and Sudoku (is there a plural form of Sudoku? Anyway...) having bought a bumper book of 200 on the way there.

Back into the swing of things now, I'm very glad to say that we think my Gran's taken a turn for the better, and our prayers have been answered in her being more determined by the day to get mobilised and get back onto her Zimmer-frame. This represents a massive step forward, as before we were facing a brick wall of a determined mind. I'm reminded that only God can melt the heart and renew a mind. If you have been praying for her, and us (or not!), please praise God for his faithfullness and goodness in answering out prayers.

We know that in all things, God works for the good of those he loves - and we are his! - so do keep praying for her in the days and weeks to come. It's a first step, but a good one :D

In the mean time, I'm now job-hunting and getting used to the feeling of being independant in terms of transport! Onwards and upwards, as they say, I'm just loving getting to know God better atm - just reading a bit of the bible each day, learning more about him, re-learning things I'd forgotten. We do indeed serve an awesome powerful and loving God :)

Rock on in him!

TheWeeScottie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

weird is just your own personal brand of normal