Lukewarm is not an option and other lessons I'm learning

Hello!

Whilst I don't really consider myself a blogger, we are only a couple of sessions into the new module (Spiritual Formation) and I feel like God is already doing so much in me - I have to have somewhere to record all of this stuff that's going on! Hope you don't mind too much! :P

So, we had our first training session for this new module (which looks at who the Jesus of the Gospels really is and what it means to live a missional life within a missional church)  a few weeks ago. All was good and I was really excited! Last week, I turned up at training and for most of the session, I just felt really uncomfortable and totally didn't want to be there. What was going on?! That afternoon, I went to Coffee 1 and just prayed. It was then that I was reminded of a picture that my beautiful mentor, Cathy had had the night before at small group. She had seen a picture of the front carriage of a rollercoaster. Now everyone knows that once you're on a moving rollercoaster, you can't get off - right? Cathy said that she had felt that we should all be reminded/ prepared to just let go of the bars (as it were) and trust God. At this point, I knew that there was no way that I could get myself out of this module and that I couldn't explain what was going on within me as a part of the teaching we were recieving. So I decided to just accept how I had felt about training and to leave it with Him. That was the end of it...or so I thought!

I'd like to say that I have had a sudden revelation as to why I felt so uncomfortable last Thursday. Sadly, that just isn't the case. However, the last few days have proved to provide some definite food for thought. For example, if I'm honest, I've always thought that the Western Church is largely pretty comfortable but maybe this somewhat arrogantly misses out the suggestion that, in fact, I am comfortable?

My journey with God has always been one which has been a bit up and down. For example, I have had a bit of a tendency to go through periods of being really on fire for God then kind of take a dip, at these times neglecting to pray and read the Bible. Is it any wonder that I don't grow at these times? I feel like this is maybe why I felt uncomfortable the other day...because deep down, I'm not consistent with God and I'm not pursuing Him with everything and in everything, as I ought to be.

 The other day, I was reading the Bible and praying when I had a sudden urge to grab my copy of Francis Chan's Crazy Love. My housemate, Nate - who has a bit of a bromance going on with Chan - would be so proud!! I turned to the chapter which is called Profile of the Lukewarm which essentially challenges comfort masked as Christ -likeness. To be honest, I read this thinking 'I'm not this bad'!! But it says in James 2:10 that if you 'obey the whole law but fail in one point, you become guilty of all of it'. Point taken, I think! One of my favourite quotes from The Shack (W.M Young - read it!) refers to two of the main characters - Nan and Mack. The quote is 'Mack's faith was wide but Nan's was deep'. It is my prayer for 2012 that I begin to go deeper with God and give Him everything as I've realised recently that lukewarm is not an option - you either give Him everything or nothing at all. No pressure then! So glad that He has grace for me and is 'merciful and will not abandon me' (Deuteronomy 4:31)

In other Cardiff - related news, I am gradually being drawn into the craze that is Sherlock by my mildly addicted housemate, Deb - looking forward to a series 1 catch - up this coming weekend! Welcoming Tom (the new intern) has been great these past few weeks and I'm glad to have finally found someone who can share my German nerdiness!! Finally, I have recently been nicknamed 'Rhi the stalker' - but that's another story!

Woop - I actually just wrote a full length blogpost and totally meant to say so much more than I actually did. It wasn't even nearly as painful as I thought it could be (although you may beg to differ :P) - perhaps this may just become a new habit of mine!

Much love from Cardiff!!

Rhi xx

God the Provider!!

Thank you God for all that you've given me...

For two weeks, I've been thinking about money and my lack of it in terms of being able to socialise etc! I felt like this was really trivial and selfish but still...:/ Today I recieved a cheque which gives me money to spend time with everyone...I feel so blessed and love how God cares about stuff that isn't even essential to my life! YOU ARE SO AMAZING!! :D xx

HGPF re-thought :)

Recently, I've been feeling really down and frustrated about the cliqueiness and divisions in our house. Everything in me has just wanted to be really angry and annoyed about this situation as exclusivity kinda does my head in! However...it made me think...how does any of this show HGPF? So it's all good to show humility when all is fine but the minute something hard crops up...it's all about how I feel and my frustrations? What about gentleness? Patience? Forbearance? I've been finding it really hard to give this over to God...but He is who I have chosen to live for...not amazing relationships or the approval of people. I know that I need to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which I've been called (Eph 4:1).  This is my new challenge...to worship Him even when the tears fall and when my heart is aching and overwhelmed...Psalm 61 :)

Stuff I'm learning!

Over the last 24 hours I've been freaking about stuff that has bothered me since I got here! Today, it struck me that I have somehow decided to leave this issue with God for as long as I feel it is okay to wait. I feel really challenged that stuff has to happen in God's time and not within the small time frame in my mind :) God, I'm so sorry for this and I put this in your hands as I know your timing is perfect. Isaiah 55: 6-7 is cooooool, one for me this week :)

Cardiff...one month in...HGPF :)

Well, as the title suggests...I've been in Cardiff now for one month!! Can't quite believe it to be honest but I love living in this city :) Was really excited last weekend as the interns got free tickets to the Michael Jackson Tribute gig in the Millenium Arena. We all loved it...especially Jo...I've never seen anyone wave a flashing star that excitedly before! Other highlights include last week's roof top modelling session (ha!), Johnny English 2 (beats Tinker Tailor hands down...Cerys and I fell asleep!), 'street dancing' with Deb and endless games of Bananagrams in the first week! Thank you Jordyn for that one...and Isaac...why are you so good at that game!?

If you don't really have a clue what I'm doing this year then I'll tell you!! I am an intern at Glenwood Church/Going Public and I do lots of different things during the week including youth work and kids work in various different capacities! Also, on a Thursday, all the interns come together with a few other awesome people and we have training on the Bible and also in youth wor k or creative stuff! It's great :D Today, I went to Fun Factory, an after school club for juniors in a local primary school. There is something really precious about kids praying...whether its for their dog (I happen to think that Noodle is a great name for a dog!) or for life changing operations, it's amazing to hear them chat to God in such a natural and chilled way!

I feel like we have been totally blessed as a group in the last month. Whether it was the sale of Jordyn's car or the fact that we live in a beautiful house, God is good to us all the time!! I feel like I'm learning stuff constantly...this week, I'm challenged, as ever, to practice what I preach/ teach to young people and kids. For example, I spent Sunday morning telling kids that they are significant because God created them and has a plan for them...and I'm now challenged to live a significant life for the One who created and loves me more than I could ever imagine. I've also been thinking about rights recently...they're something we talk about so easily! I guess sometimes we feel we have the right to be frustrated or angry about something but I feel like I need to give up my percieved rights daily to Jesus...the one who willingly gave up his rights to being worshipped and treated like a king to serve us! Anyways...I guess I came into this year wanting more than what I had before with God and I am so excited to chase after God and his will for my life and the lives of others.

I know this isn't normally my style...I've never been this open about me and God before...I think it's time that changed!

Just to say that I miss Bristol...the craziness of my home in Aust and also the funny nights in town!! Much love to all you guys at uni...I can't wait to see you again soon!

In the words of Jords....

Holla (meaning see ya in America, much better than any words we use! :P)