We're off to visit the Vikings!

Mornin, I am up and at it early this morn as we are off to the museum with the homeschool group to find out about the Vikings, well I think it is the Vikings. Oh well it won't matter as I am sure we will enjoy it anyhow. Jonathan is going to the Faith Mission Bible college to make sure their computers are all doing ok under the strain of those studious students.
Later I am meeting up with a friend from school. Her name is Ailsa and she is a great girl. She is now expecting her first baby so I am sure this evening will involve a wee trip to Mothercare and then we will get all the gory details of being pregnant over a bite to eat. Isn't it great to meet up with friends and to share together in life's experiences. Ailsa isn't a Christian (yet), but she has been around my family since we were about 11 and she has talked many times about coming to church regularly but it just doesn't happen. Maybe with this big new adventure happening in her life God will prompt her again. The best gift we can give our children is to grow up in a safe and secure God honouring home. Taking them to church is so important but it also has to be lived out the other 6 days. Our families really know us best don't they. They see us warts and all. I would love my kids to say of me that I was the same person in private as I am in public. When I meet up with people and I can be friendly and try and show them Jesus that's what I want to be at home too! What about you? Does your family see Jesus in you? See you later!

A Chance Encounter?

Today I was thinking about one of the young mums who comes to Gorgie and realised that as yet we had not been able to tell her of the fact that we are leaving in a year. I wanted it to come from us and in my mind just wondered if I might see her today. On our way back from getting the photos developed there she was with the twins, Terry and Frankie and her nephew Kyle. They came up for a wee cup of tea and she was delighted that my house looked so untidy. This is a photo of the twins with "spy" goggles on! Also while the girls and I were sitting looking at the photos in the supermarket one of the dad's of a girl who had come to our clubs a few years ago came up and spoke. This man is a heartbroken man who has struggled with life after the death of his son. At one point a couple of years ago we spoke to him and he cried and said that God could never love him. Since that time he would never really speak to us. I was amazed that he came up to us and said hello. Are these chance encounters? I don't think so. Our lives are so exciting when we allow God to take care of the schedules.

A change for the better!

Can you believe how much the weather has changed from this morning? It is lovely now and so we are heading out! Just thought I'd share the change in temperature with you. We have finished school and had our dinner and it's not even 4 o'clock! So unlike me to be so organised! We have heard from three homeschool families who live in the Highlands. It has been great to get in contact and God is really putting His seal on our going. We were really hoping there would be some kind of group that meets with other homeschoolers. This group doesn't seem to be going long but it is there and already has a few families. God is gracious and kind when it comes to sorting out all the details!
Speak later, E.xx

Dreich!!! ( Means yucky day in scots)

Wednesday today! I like this day as I get some jobs done. Today after school I had hoped to get out to the park with the girls but true to Scottish weather it has decided to leave yesterdays sun behind and it is wet! This is a picture from our front room window. Doesn't entice you out does it?. Jonathan is studying for the Bible Study that meets at the Mission tonight. I am hoping to begin my scrapbooking experience so I am going to go to Sainsbury's and get my photos developed. I don't know where all these new hobbies have come from. It started with blogging and now I have moved on to scrapbooking. I got a journal thingy from one of those bargain bookshops. The pound shops also sell bits and pieces for the decorations.I have decided to keep a record of the events that this year brings. It makes me think of all the things that God records about me. He keeps record of everything I do, He catches my tears in a bottle and He even knows the number of hairs on my head. That's a lot as I have mad thick curly hair! The important thing is He knows all about me. Even when my day seems mundane, He knows about it.
I am sure my attempts at scrapbooking will not be very good, but hey it's worth a shot and we will enjoy looking at it in years to come. If God was to show you a remembrance book of your life since you became a Christian would there be a difference? Have you grown more like Him? There's a saying that used to be about, " If you were arrested for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Do people know you love Jesus? Don't be ashamed to bear His name!

Isle of Skye here we come!

Hello to all today!
I just noticed that Tuesdays Timely tale has Monday's date on it! There seems to be a wee problem with the blogs clock and I (surprisingly) don't know how to fix it.
Anyhow the coffee morning went well with a fairly good crowd in. There was a little bit of sadness as at the business meeting for our church last night, Jonathan read out our letter of resignation. We feel God has been calling us to the Isle of Skye for some time now.This is a picture we took while on holiday. It really is far more beautiful than this picture shows. God has confirmed this call through His Word and we hope to move there next May. Our role there as yet is still in God's plans, but there are many opportunities to get involved in the community life of the village and church there. We look to God to lead us and guide us every step of the way and all the while He is revealing His plans we want to be open to His leading. Gorgie Mission has been our lives for the past 4 years and we will continue to be involved during this year. We are looking to God to also lead and guide them. It has been a hard decision and it is with sadness we leave but also with excitement over the next chapter in our life and work for Jesus. I hope that over this year as you make the transition with us through this blog that we will all have lots to thank God for. His Word says in Jeremiah 29: 11 " For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope". That is a promise for all you who love God. Someone has said you can't break God's promises by standing on them. Claim this one for yourself!

Tuesday's Timely Tale.

Have you ever noticed how sometimes God uses stories and readings to speak to us right where we are at? The story I am going to tell today at the coffee morn is entitled "How Much Does Prayer Weigh?" It is a fantastic story of how God still does miraculous things, here's the story. Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food.

John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave His store. Visualizing the family needs, she said: 'Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can."

John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocerman that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.

The grocerman said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?" Louise replied "Yes sir" "O.K." he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."

Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.

The eyes of the grocerman and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down. The grocerman staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it."

The customer smiled and the grocerman started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocerman stood there in utter disgust.

Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer which said: "Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands."

The grocerman gave her the groceries that he had gathered and placed on the scales and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to John as he said, "It was worth every penny of it."

It was sometime later that John Longhouse discovered the scales were broken; therefore, only God knows how much a prayer weighs. I am amazed so often at the way God provides. Let Him take the burdens of care and need that are on your shoulders. He will provide what you need and show you Himself through the experience.

Hello to all!
We are having a fairly relaxing Monday after a hectic week-end. It was a good week-end though! This is the girls just now. Bethany is doing craft (no surprise there) and Lydia is blowing bubbles and both watching Narnia. Such multi tasking women they will be!!
I have just been reading a new book I got by Lysa TerKeurst. It is called,"What happens when women walk in faith" She writes," As we have seen in Hebrews 11, God doesn't seek out perfect people to do His work. I mistakenly believed at first that I needed to be perfect to serve God effectively. I think many people believe the lie that they must achieve a life of perfection before they can begin a life of faith. But I learned that God uses our imperfections and our willingness to share our mistakes to reach the hearts of the lost. As I speak to women all over the country, I share my mistakes, my clumsiness and my most embarrassing moments. While I am sharing, I watch. I watch their laughter give way to relief. These women seem to be saying to themselves, If God can use her, surely He can use me! Are you waiting till you arrive at perfection to step out in service to God? Are you afraid to show the real you for fear it will hinder your ministry? Don't be afraid to start where you are and be who you are. Blessed are the transparent, for they shall be used by God in a mighty way. How might God use you, weaknesses and all, to minister to other people?"
It is a good book, and the other one I read by her was called,"What happens when women say yes to God".

I was reading in Jeremiah 3 where God is calling Israel to return to Him even though they have backslidden so many times. God's grace is inexhaustible. There has to be the coming back part though and that is our responsibility. None of us are perfect that's for sure, but if we give ourselves to God He can use us, failures and all!