Back Home

Hello!

So, I’m back from my little 3.5 week jaunt into the Highlands.  I loved Poolewe, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience (not that either of those facts count to much, but nonetheless).  The children’s clubs went very well, and the evangelistic meetings were well received.  The door-to-door was good, but we were hampered by weather and circumstance.  I had my first taste of the Scottish Episcopal Church (an experience that has been very beneficial), and I think I’ve caught the bug for psalm-singing!!  But it’s good to be home.

The next thing is dissertation – which is due at the end of the month.  That’s going to be my life for the next few days.  Term also starts up again on Tuesday.

In other news – I’ve been reading a bit of Kierkegaard during my travels.  And my head is ready to explode in merry exhaustion.  However I highly recommend him.  I was first told to read him about 6 years ago (by a High School teacher who was brilliant!!), and now my only regret is being so slow!

So, that’s me.  Apologies in advance for the upcoming radio silence (that’s what I expect).  If you want me, you’ll find me either in the Library or in Procrastinatia.  :)

Leave a Comment
by tf on May 15, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by tf on May 15, 2013

http://gaininganopinion.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/back-home/

A short update before I run away

Disclaimer – It’s very early in the morning and I have used up all my words.  I’ll probably gaff something up in this post.

I just want to say good-bye for a little while. (It might not have much impact on how often I post here (only because I’m normally so bad at posting!))

Why am I leaving?  Part of my college course is a one-month placement with the Faith Mission.  This year, I’m up in Poolewe.  It’s a wee place in North Scotland; and I’m told it’s beautiful.  So a Faith Mission worker, another college student and I are going to be doing some work up there – and it’s pretty exciting (I don’t know if I’ll sleep tonight…).  But also a tad nerve-shredding (I really need to sleep!).

We’ll be involved in going door-to-door, putting on a short kid’s club, and then two weeks of evangelistic meetings in the village.  It’s an environment that I am completely new to – I’m a lowlander, and have never been to a tent mission – so it’ll be very interesting.  I think the phrase I’m looking for is a growing experience!

So, that’s me.  Please partner with us in praying for the team.  Each one of us has a burden to see people recovered for the Kingdom of God; and we need your prayers:

  • We need God to stir us up and put His message into our hearts and mouths.
  • We need God’s strength and wisdom in everything we do and say!
  • We need the Spirit of God to do a miracle in the lives of those who we meet.

Only God can raise the spiritually dead to life, and without His intervention we are powerless to save even one!

I thank God that He has ordained to use foolish people (of whom I am chief!) to proclaim His wonderful good news to the world.May God alone be glorified in all that we do and say.

Leave a Comment
by tf on April 20, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Life and Living, Ministry
Tagged ,

Posted by tf on April 20, 2013

http://gaininganopinion.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/a-short-update-before-i-run-away/

Away

So, I’m in Northern Ireland.  For the second time in as many weeks.

In many ways it feels more like ‘home’ than Scotland, my birthplace and continual place of residency, because it is the home of my parents.  It is the home of my family.

But really it isn’t home.  Because nowhere on earth can I claim as home.  I am an alien, and will be as long as I live – an exile from the home of my true Father.

And when I consider those who have left this scene of time, and who are now with God, I can be assured that I will see them once again when I go to join them – when I finally go home.

Leave a Comment
by tf on April 6, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Life and Living

Posted by tf on April 6, 2013

http://gaininganopinion.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/away/

Keeping Up

Hello lovely people!

Apologies for not keeping this up to date as I intended to, or even as much as I would like.  I’m afraid that I only have so much capacity, and recently it’s been getting a little too stretched for my comfort.

It’s exam season (Friday 22, Monday 25, Tuesday 26).  When that’s over, Bangor Convention begins on Friday 29.  And then I have a dissertation to write.  Like all these times of life I don’t think I can keep up, but thankfully it’s not about my ability or strength.  It’s about being faithful to the calling that God has put on my life and allowing Him to deal with the details.

And that’s hard to accept as someone who loves to be independent, stoic, and steadfast.  Because, to God’s perspective, I’m none of these things – I’m dependent, impatient & complaining, and weak.

But that’s okay.  Because the Gospel – the Good News on which my life is built – is all about GRACE, not keeping up.

Leave a Comment
by tf on March 24, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Life and Living

Posted by tf on March 24, 2013

http://gaininganopinion.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/keeping-up/

Broken

So, here we are again.  Some days I hate blogging – especially about personal stuff.  I really don’t like it in seasons like this: Dry seasons.  And I’m in the middle of one.  In some ways it feels like I’m being a bit of a whiny git – and maybe I am.  But in other ways, blogging is one of the few places where I feel able (or perhaps comfortable) to let my emotions out a little. I’m an introvert, and so there is safety in the written word.  Even when I know 20 people are going to read it, or that anyone who wants to can have access.  Kinda silly, but it’s the way my mind works;  So I hope you don’t mind.

I forgot to do what I said last week.  I forgot to be careful.  And I have reaped the reward, in some small way:  My joy is minimal;  My emotions are just knackered;  My tiredness is pretty high -  And I just don’t know how the next six weeks of term are going to work.  But He has been good to me.  He has kept me going, through thick and thin.  His grace has never been insufficient.  And that’s where I’m at.

Broken-hearted I come
My cup is empty, my mouth is dry
See how quickly I fall
Burdened with darkness
Heavy in lies I want to cry, but I can’t
I try to stand but I fall down againI need You to carry me
I need You to carry me
I need You to carry me
When I am weak

O this can’t be enough
To just say I’m sorry, to confess my fault
When I’ve hurt You so much
And now I am asking for You to do more

I want to cry, but I can’t
I try to stand but I fall down again

I need You to carry me
I need You to carry me
I need You to carry me
when I am weak

I’m always weak…
When I first met you I drew you in close to me
Your weaknesses covered with strength and security
I’ve never left you, nor will I ever leave
Child believe, child believe

But you are strong…
When I first met you I drew you in close to me
Your weaknesses covered with strength and security
I’ve never left you, nor will I ever leave
Child believe, child believe

I need You to carry me
I need You to carry me
I need You to carry me
when I am weak

Carry Me – Jenny & Tyler – Faint Not – Copyright 2010 One Eyed Cat Music (BMI)
Music and Lyrics by Jennifer Somers (BMI) and Tyler Somers (BMI)

Here it here.

In my brokenness, God shows Himself complete.  In my feebleness, He shows Himself strong.  Against my foolishness, His wisdom shines out.  And in my dependency, He is sufficient.

I love it when I remember that I don’t care.  I can be broken, weak, foolish and utterly dependant.  I don’t need to worry about masks or opinions.  I’m free!  And I hope that you are too.  Free to live in the joy of His love.  Free to live for the approval of only One.

That’s where I’m at.

Soli Deo gloria (Glory to God alone!)

Leave a Comment
by tf on February 24, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Life and Living

Posted by tf on February 24, 2013

http://gaininganopinion.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/broken/

« Older Posts
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 75 other followers