God's timing

Isn't God's timing just amazing!

Over the past few days I have been considering various options of going to events in different parts of the world. For various reasons - confusion in communication, lack of planning time, distance and difficulty in getting to the place - I decided not to go to any. I had been feeling very negative and confused as to what God was really saying and wanting me to do. You know the feeling - one minute you're so sure and the next it all goes pear- shaped and nothing seems to come right. I really felt that I should go to the conference on prayer and worship in Stirling in Scotland in July ahead of the G8 summit. Yesterday I had decided that I would probably go but this morning thought 'What's the point? Would it matter to anybody whether I went or not? Who cares anyway? What difference would it make if I were there or not?' and so on. (This I might add is not my usual way of thinking) In the end I just said 'God, if you want me to go then you'll have to tell me clearly.' and then got on with other things.

Then I discovered Vance's blog through Heidi's - he commented on her last post. He is another connection I have made through South West Emerge. So I thought I would look him up. His post said that to walk in the Spirit we need to use physical legs and that there are places we need to go and declarations we need to make. When I read that I felt as though God had just zapped me. So guess where I'll be in July.

The thing about God's timing is that Vance wrote that 2 days ago but I only read it this morning after saying to God that I needed Him to speak clearly to me. I have now added Vance's blogspot to my links. Thanks Vance but more 'Thank you God for the incredible ways You have of communicating what I need to hear just when I need it. You are amazing!!!'

Holiday

I have just returned from enjoying a week's holiday near Torquay. Although I try not to take too many clothes I feel as though I've been doing nothing but wash clothes since arriving back. After only a week there seems to be so much to catch up with - shopping, washing, reading mail and emails and responding etc. The other thing that struck me is how easy it is to be less disciplined with God when on holiday. Somehow there doesn't seem to be the same time set aside for reading His word or spending time with Him. I have had a real sense today of a need to catch up on some real quality time with Him. It reminds me of a little girl I knew many years ago - the daughter of missionaries. Their home was next to the hall where they used to meet and when they went on holiday she turned around and looked at the house and said 'Bye God'. It's not that I haven't been reading the Bible or praying and I have had opportunities to appreciate God in other ways - in the beauty of His creation and time to relax. But somehow time was always occupied with doing other things or going somewhere. I did enjoy my week but it's nice to be back home and while the washer has been working overtime I've been able to enjoy listening to Godfrey Birtill on CD and worship with him.