The coolest kid in town ...

Here's another interesting little story. When a group of people were selling eco-friendly bags here, one actually called out "You'll be the coolest kid in town!"



Is that a good enough reason to buy one? I've never really wanted to be that popular. The things the so-called "cool" kids around here wear and have seem a bit over the top sometimes. And to support this, here is a quote from iwise.com:



"I want to be different, like everybody else I want to be like. I want to be just like all the different people. I have no further interest in being the same because I have seen difference all round and now I know that's what I want. I don't want to blend in and be indistinguishable. I want to be part of the different crowd and and assert my individuality along with others who are different like me."

What does God say about this? To look at Romans 12:2, we are told to "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

In a previous post, I mentioned Philippians 2:14-15, as it has the words "shine like stars", which I have a bracelet with that on. God's view of "the coolest kid in town" is different to that of the world's. So let's be the coolest kid in town, in God's eyes!


On another topic, on the query in the last post about the Iceland volcano, that's in the comments on said post. And the funny story about that, for you people not in this area, there was a group of scientists from somewhere in the UK stranded in Norway and they got on a ship headed for Orkney. But they are now stranded in Orkney as the regular boat for here passed them headed for Norway!

And finally please pray for Chrissie - go over to All Are Precious In His Sight for details.

Life is just too short

Just last night my auntie phoned to say one of her colleagues had died suddenly. I had known the family a little, my sister was friendly with the daughter so we have met them quite a bit. There was just the one child, so she has been left with just a dad.

When you hear something like that, I think sadness and emotion takes over. Then, pray pray pray. Something that gets me there is I don't think the family were Christians, so when it comes to the question of heaven or hell, I really don't know and it's quite doubtful. So when you consider that, it's hard to know what to think.

It finally ocurred to me that maybe God intended this as a wake-up call that life is too short. Maybe we need to reach out to the rest of the community more, help more people get to know God. I find doing that quite difficult, so then it was "How do we do that without making a fool of ourselves?" In Me by Casting Crowns helps a bit on that. "I'll go but I cannot go alone, cause I know I'm nothing on my own. But the power of Christ in me makes me strong ... Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability".

I was thinking about other deaths I've known, thinking how this affected me differently. I think only once before have I known someone personally die. But certainly never anyone young, or fairly young, anyway. And it certainly wasn't expected- maybe if you know it's likely to happen, then it can be easier to deal with, I don't know. And lastly, I've never known anyone die who I've had any doubt about whether they were saved or not. That's the hardest, when you're brought up to know that hell is a reality (a solemn thing, as our preacher would say). Recently I've been trying to focus on the positive things about Christianity, rather than the negatives. But there are times when you realise it's necessary to think about it sometimes.

About five years ago at a church service, Arthur Pollard said "my name's written in the book of life and someday I'll be there in heaven". He was there just two years later. So ... death comes sooner than you think. When you hear news like this, nothing else seems important anymore. All throughout the day I'd been making a mental list of people needing prayers, as there were quite a few, but unfortunately something big like this completely takes over and well, everyone else was kinda sidelined.

I never know how to finish posts, so all I can say now is to anyone not saved reading this, please think about it, and those who are, maybe it's time to reach out to people more. I hope to try to do that myself.

Smaller than a bowl of flour

So today I was making bread and when I weighed out the flour, I realised something. With all these blogs I've followed over the last year and a half, I've seen a lot of tiny premature babies on them. And I mean tiny. It hit me today that that flour's weight was 1lb 4oz and there have been many babies born smaller than that. It seems crazy with that small bowl of flour in your hands to think there could be a living thing smaller than that.

On that theme, I recently bought a Green Beans wristband, seen in top picture. And on that thought ... sadly, small babies don't always survive. Until that happened with these people last year, I didn't really know, as in really know, the reality of that. Only God knows why, obviously. Sometimes it's obvious what He's doing, sometimes it isn't. And we can only accept that.

The other two in the picture are WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) and Shine Like Stars. So now that these two are in my mind, let's have some scriptures about them, which don't really have anything to do with the above topic, but I feel like writing them, so here goes.

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe". Philippians 2: 14-15, NIV

That first part, Do everything without complaining or arguing, is very clear and to the point, but yet one of the hardest things to follow that the Bible says. I'm sure I'm not alone on that thought. How often we complain or argue, myself included, I don't know. And when you think, what would Jesus do, I have a feeling He wouldn't argue. When someone offends you, it is so easy to yell at them, particularly if they do so themselves. But the best thing there is Jesus understands:

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. " Psalm 103:8

Beauty Will Rise

This week I've heard about a lot of people in this area being ill or depressed or something. One person I know even said this week that life wasn't worth living anymore. I hate to hear people say things like that obviously.

Also I've been reading Hidden by Cathy Glass and although it's hooking, parts of the story are quite shocking. And it's based on a true story. It's written by a foster carer and a child comes to her who has nothing with him and appears to have no records of even existing. His mother was a "drink-and-drugs" type. His past comes out and he had worked in a factory for long hours with little pay, kinda like the workhouses about a hundred years ago or so. But this was in this country. He had fallen asleep while working on a machine and had quite a wound, which of course wasn't treated as he wasn't registered with a doctor.

All through the story, however, the boy was positive he would meet his father again. Social Services couldn't find the man since he didn't know the address, but as the boy was on the Social Services records, his father did find him. All through the book he had been told it was unlikely he would meet his father, that it was probably impossible, yet he held out hope and it happened.

I found a song recently by Steven Curtis Chapman, called Beauty Will Rise. Obviously I know the story behind this album, about the death of his five-year-old adopted daughter when she was hit by a car driven by her older brother. But in this song it says out of these ashes, beauty will rise. "If you won't believe, I will believe for you" ... just like the boy in the book.

actually all the songs on this album are well worth a listen ...

Just felt the need to post ...

These pictures are of the view from my house over Christmas. While most of the country, and even the county, were covered in snow, we had none yet had a clear view of the snow-covered Hoy hills across the sea. Is that a good thing or not, I'm not sure. But it makes an interesting contrast anyway.

These past few days the biggest topic on Blogger is, quite predictably, the earthquake in Haiti. I saw it on the news again last night, and the news reporter said that even with outside help, it will take a long time to recover from this. Years, probably. So the question is, what do we do? I don't know. But I know someone who does, God does and He has great plans for them. So keep on praying for them and I know He can do miracles. In fact, He already has in some ways. It was reported on the news last night that there was a survivor found in the rubble after a week, when hope was fading. Check out the latest post on Smith Soup for some encouragement to do something.

And one last thing: the end of this month, January 30th, marks one year since little Tuesday Whitt went to be with Jesus in heaven. I didn't really know the family well, either in real life or online. However, I have been following Who Says 8 Is Enough? for quite a while and it is plain to see the effect she had on this family. To know a child die from cancer is something I never have done and certainly don't want to, but it's at times like these when you see how God has clearly worked His plans: by taking one little girl home to Him, He has ensured more souls have returned to Him spiritually. From now until the 30th, Debi on Who Says 8 Is Enough? is donating $1 for every comment left on her blog to peadiatric cancer research, so do visit and drop a comment or two.

New Year

Well it's the last day of 2009 so time for recap and looking forward.

This year has been a really good year, but not really how I'd expect it to go. 2009 was a big year for me as I left school and started college, something I wasn't all that sure if it was the right thing or not. In fact, to begin with I really wondered what I was doing. However, after October it all took an unexpected turn and it got better - just got a bit more comfortable really. I have a friend now and I'm really thankful for every small thing.

This summer was a different one as I did camp leadership at the local Christian Endeavour camp as a first. It was an interesting experience I have to say.

The other thing about this year ... I've spent so much time online but it's been a good thing in my opinion because all these people over there <<<<<< in the blog roll who continually amaze me with their faith in hardship and with many other things. Obviously I'm not naming anyone here, but I'm sure everyone knows who they are.

2010 looks uncertain and I didn't think it would be a good year. However, I then realised I said the same thing last year! and as I've said, this year's been fine! So that gives me hope. Right now I'm excited to see what God has in store for me.

While writing this post the song playing on my computer is this - the current number one in UK singles chart - while I don't really pay much attention to that normally this one (ok, X Factor winner!) includes lyrics which fit the New Year pretty well.

A happy new year to everyone out there. The end of this year has not been good for some people (see previous post for example) but who knows what God is planning for next year - keep smiling, even when things don't go your way. (Here's some more song lyrics - I love them!)

Blessings for a good 2010 everyone,
Emma

Prayers Needed!!

Can't believe how bad some people have it ... Just checked the Riggs family blog and after all the concerns with Abby's cancer, now it's a car accident for their son .... oh grief.

Please guys, remember them in your prayers. Hope everyone had a great Christmas.