Fear can hold you prisoner

Hope can set you free

Shawshank Redemption

*****Class film.

Watched it for the first time last night, and it was such a powerful film. It really moved me and I just loved it. When Andy isnt in that cell anymore, but during the time he has been there he has had this continual hope that one day he will be free. And that day comes! Even though he has to endure a lot of pain, suffering and sorrow, he doesnt give up on hope, but he really has this HOPE, a hope to live and to live life!

I didnt even notice the words that were written on the front cover of the DVD until my mum pointed them out to me, "fear can hold you prisoner, hope can set you free." It is sooooo great to see those words on written there, because it is true. Fear can hold you prisoner, it can hold you captive, BUT there is a real hope. This DVD doesnt illustrate a false hope - one that can just be created in films, like a fantasy, but actually there is a REAL hope that we can ALL have, and that is in Jesus Christ. And with this hope - there really does come freedom. Freedom is something that has definitely been on my mind recently.

A really good film, and a great watch! I definitely recommend it.

Your Love Is Better Than Life

dunno nothing that I haven't been taught,
I dunno why I was born into the family I’ve got,
I dunno if I ever had an original thought,maybe not, maybe so, maybe later, I dunno
I dunno how I can end a prayer, then turn on a friend,
I dunno what I was thinking when I just pressed send,
I dunno why I still criticize the things I dunnoI dunno, I dunno, I dunno, but this one thing I know

YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, I’m just a broken machine
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, it’s all a mindless routine
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, I’m in another free fall
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, I’ve got nothing at all

I dunno what goes down the moment we die
Do we get halos & harps? Do we sleep? Do we fly? I dunno
how, when and why this world will finally end,
Speculation’s gonna grow, who knows best, I dunno
I dunno if I should push ahead or stop and grieve,
I lie awake and wonder how to make a city believe,
I dunno when it’s a ministry and when it’s a show
maybe neither, maybe both, I dunno, but this one thing I know

YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, I’m just a broken machine
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your touch I’m not a full human being
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
If I should ever leave, where would I go?
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
I look to you ‘cause you’re the lover of my soul

HERE’S TO THE LOVER OF MY SOUL
HERE’S TO THE LOVER OF MY SOUL

I dunno when to walk away or stand and fight
just when I’ve got it wrong, I’m sure I heard you right
and when my arguments are watertight you expose every hole with a flash and a flood and I know
I hear you call in the eye of the storm and I know you’ve had my back since the day I was born still stoking my heart
still stirring my head
you’re my pillar of fire
you’re the wine, you’re the bread, and

YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, I’m just a broken machine
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, it’s all a mindless routine
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, I’m in another free fall
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
Without your love, I’ve got nothing at all

YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
I dunno nothing that I haven't been taught, I dunno why I was born into the family I’ve got,
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
I dunno if I ever had an original thought, maybe not, maybe so, maybe soon, maybe later, I dunno
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE
I dunno when I’ve got it right or wrong, I dunno how I can wrap it in a four minute song, but I know
YOUR LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFEMy grip is better when I’m not hanging on, your love is making us strong (all along)Your love is better than life

Freshness

I am sooooo glad to be here, and so glad I decided to come.
To visit and spend time with friends and meet new people.
I had such a beautiful walk this morning. 7.30am left the house and took advantage of the beautiful sunshine outside....it was such a gorgeous morning, and although Anna said I could stay in and sleep...with a day like today, I just couldn't!
I explored new areas of the town, and it was great. Also, whilst having a thinking and praying time this morning I thought of how I would love to live here in the future. I don't want to go back to where I used to be, nor be where home is now...rather I feel this is the place I would rather be....it is such a lovely place.

These last couple of days have been awesome. I have had some great conversations, and it has been so nice for my friends to put me up for a couple of nights....I very much appreciate it.

It was great to see my lecturers perform on Friday and go for a meal with Ray and Laura beforehand.
It has been really interesting looking at what I want to do for my dissertation...not sure exactly what I want to look at, but I have enjoyed looking into it!
Spending time with Ray...it was so nice to see her again after all this time, chat, catch up and eat pizza!

I have realised recently I have come to adore animals, esp cats, dogs and now rats! lolol!
Spent my last evening with Anna, met her housemates who are really lovely..and Molly and Pippa who are her beautiful rats....they are soooo cute! hehe

And today is my last day here....I dont want to leave!!! However I will have the memories of my time here and it has been such a refreshing experience =)
I really am looking forward to moving back!

*exciting!*

Nothing is impossible for God

I came to this conclusion on Sunday.
Please visit this site http://www.cuckfieldgallery.com/default.asp

In short this is his story:
Attended a meeting with Ian MacCormack - Jellyfish guy. If you dont know his story visit: http://aglimpseofeternity.org/
Ian singled him out and new his name...David. David had never met this guy before!
David, went out in the Spirit and felt his hands, lower arms were on fire.
David asked God what He wanted him to do. He said...I want you to become a painter.
David had never painted in his life before, had no interest in it or anything, and even thought that this was silly idea! But God is persuasive!
The evidence from that 40 minutes that David was out in the spirit, is what you see when you click on the link above - The Cuckfield Gallery. The God given talent of an artist!
Enjoy!

Update on my move!

Well.... I have been here for about a month now, and it hasnt been too bad so far. At the moment I have been settling into the area, getting to know people and getting involved with some things at church. It is wierd living out in the sticks although there is something refreshing about living out in the country.

The only thing that I do find wierd is the effort in which it takes to get things. I mean, where I used to live, everything was on tap. Buses til past midnight every 20 minutes or so throughout the day, access to supermarkets down the road, and a range of shopping with really easy access as well. Also a short walk to the train station.

Here - its a bit of a different story. Buses every hour til about 7 of an evening, but expensive too. Therefore I am coming to the conclusion that to live in somewhere like this, you need to have a car! I don't at the moment therefore I do depend on my parents to get to places.
However although it is really different living here, it is nice, the cleaner air, the green fields, and the little lambs ive seen which live nearby - they are sooooo cute!
Once I get my new camera - I will endeavor to go out and take lots of pictures! I need to add to my flickr!

So it has been an interesting month....looking for work, although that has been a bit of a mountain to me for various reasons...
I am currently at uni for a nice couple of days break and actually loving it! I really do miss uni and will be glad to go back in the Autumn. But while I am here - Im going to get on with research for my dissertation! Got to think about what I want to look at!

So yes, this is an update from me, with what has happened since moving.

Highlights:
Meeting new and lovely people at church.
Going out with three girls Nou, Gemma and Sonja which was fun.
Little lambs!
Taking Jack for a walk - lovely dog!
Going out with mum, diane and liz - they are sooooo funny!
Meeting up with Leila - it is so nice to have someone who has moved as well and doesnt live too far away!
YFriday....may be coming down *exciting!*
The sunshine when its out - because it makes the area soooo beautiful!

Things to pray for:
What to do with my time (job, money, dissertation research)
Friends - I miss them from home and uni! To make new ones here
Living in a new place which is different to what I am used to
The mountains to be moved