babies taste of chicken....

“ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ”- Isaiah 53:5-6

Jesus really did do an amazing thing for us on the cross. I tend to only think about it in terms of salvation but what he did covered so much more.
He died so we could be healed,
He died so that we would have peace,
He died so that we could have a direct relationship with God the Father,
He died so that we didn't just have to meet God in the temple
He died so that the richness of heaven would be available to us and that we would always be provided for.

Maybe salvation is all these things. Maybe I have limited what salvation means, ie its more than simply going to heaven, it all of the above.

The 3rd of March's babies has been born safe and well, and as a girl - Congratualtions Lydia and Robert on the birth of Bethany Grace!

split ends...

“ He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. ”- Isaiah 53:3-4

Yesterday my lovely friend Val encouraged me from her blog with the following qoute:

'There is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is caused by things which happen around us, and circumstances will mar it, but joy flows right through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joys flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows through persecution and opposition; it is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring............' (L. Moody).

I'm sure Jesus was not always happy but he would have had this deep joy. Although I don't think I have this deep, deep joy that is talked about here, I know that it is available to me if I ever work out how to access it, I'm sure that I hope for this and I'm certain it exisits although I can't see it so hopefully my faith will be rewarded and one day it will happen.....

fill in the blanks

“ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. ”- 2 Corinthians 5:21

This verse looks like it should be really inspiring, thought provoking, poignant even...I know it is what Jesus did is bigger than I can ever get my head round - but today is all about me.

I am really PMTish and therefore the world is revolving around me and my feelings and thinking that I should be or am becoming the righteousness of God is'nt really helping especially when I don't feel very becoming in general.

If anyone reads this do they have any idea what it means to 'become the righteouness of God'?

magic bullet....

“ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ”- 1 John 1:9

Okay so some of you guys need a bit of a summary of what i've done. I wish it was more exciting but it really isn't....I have moved back to Gloucestershire, living wth my parents in Cheltenham but going to work and church in Gloucester. I'm working as a Business Analyst for the NHS, which is exactly the job i wanted but the problem at the moment is being new, office politics and generally not being trusted by the other members of the team to get on with the work i have been assigned.

I have joined my friends Dave and Paula in a church they are planting in Gloucester. The reason I moved was because I wanted 2 things that i just don't have in Sheffield - Family and Discipleship. Living back with my family is actually really lovely - i have meals cooked, washing done, no cleaning to do (yet) , company, and generally stability. Hopefully I will be able to use this time to get out of my student debt adstart a fresh.

Dave and Paula Keeper were my youth group leaders when I was a very tiny 13 year old. They (and Jesus) are really resonsible for shaping me spiritually and emotionally. I hope that being part of this new thing we call Church will continue to challenge me and keep me on the straight an narrow. I'll keep people updated with this progress...

Ps The reason I entitled this post Magic Bullet is because I am sat at the dining room table with something called a magic bullet looking at me. This thing is just a bit bigger than a pint glass, it plugs in, it costs £50 and guess what it does?.....it chops onions! I cant believe anyone would spend £50 on a lump of plastic that chops onions- but then, my Mum, bless her, isn't anyone!

alleluia

“ [ A psalm of David. ] The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ”- Psalm 23:1-3

I nearly cried today when I saw the view from one of the wards' windows today. I saw the Cathedral in the foreground and hills and fields behind that. I love being so near to greenery and beautiful views. One also gets Seagulls in Gloucester as they come up the Bristol Channel to the docks and it makes you thik for just a second that you're by the sea.

At the moment all I want for is more work to do. Every morning I wake up the view from my bedroom window is green pastures. I'm physically very tired but feel great inside....however, I'm still working on my righteous path.....

I can now blog again so I hope you folk out there will be reading again!