Focussing on strengths

I don't like to think about Christmas too early. Infact I tend to get my daughters birthday out the way first. That is in early December.
Earlier this week however I went into a blind panic. I got so stressed as I suddenly realised I should have at least done the parcels that need posting.

Christmas cards too were not complete.
That is where I see hubby and I work well together. I like doing a family letter, since I enjoy that, I managed to write that even with the children interrupting within an hour.

Hubby is a geek and has a spreadsheet of all the cards and addresses. When I was out at meetings this week hubby did the admin.

My hubby hates Christmas shopping and has a big family and panics at the thought of what to get people. I love doing the shop and normally has things in mind for all ages.
Phil took a day off work to look after my son for me to shop and get it all done. Blitzed the list within 2 days.
I get all the pressies and hubby packages it up ready for me to post.

Great team work and it all gets done and with time to spare. Sorted.

Changes in YWAM Stirling

I feel like this could be an almost constant title for our team. In September we had new team members come and join us Gary and Vanessa Irvine with their daughter Dara and my sister has come back from sabbatical.
In November, my sister announced her intention to leave the YWAM Stirling team and therefore the Team Leadership position in April 2012.

So what does that mean for us? Several things.

1)That means I will soon be the only original team member left.

2) We will have to agree who will take over the team leadership with the national leadership team of YWAM Scotland.

3)We will need to find a new office, as our current office is associated to my sister's home.

So as ever we are in a state of change. Over the next few weeks and months we will be trying to seek the best way forward.

On the up side though, it is an exciting time to be in ministry in Stirling.
Just last week saw the introduction of a Bible in the chapel at the castle. Ministry like light and life is developing. There are obviously the Stirling Street Pastors.
New ministry is also being explored such as a Stirling House of Prayer and there is also the potential that Teen challenge may set up in Stirling which would complement the work of Street Pastors.

Prophetic Art Workshop
I am currently in the process of organising a one day prophetic workshop. The date and venue of this is still to be finalised but if you are at all interested in this please get in touch as it would help me to know the demand for it.

Getting an Office
This is a big commitment, so we are currently putting the feelers out. Ideas vary from working from home ( which I have done for a while but it is not easy with no designated room), virtual office or mail address to an office or building.
I think our preference is a building /office where we can go to work or have meetings.
It is a big vision and big commitment. My question would be is anyone else excited about such a vision, comments would be appreciated.

So there is a lot of change in the coming year and lots of potential, looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead.

Summer Holidays

Well the summer holidays are nearly over...just under a week until the school goes back. I must say at the start of them, I thought 8 weeks was going to be long. In actual fact it has flown by. We have had a week away at CLAN Gathering, a week doing the kids club at church ( 60 kids a morning), and a week of swimming lessons.
As well as that we have taken in the Medival jousting and various sport and craft days.
We did have quieter weeks too however, Jen had her second ear operation and Douglas had chickenpox (so we were out of circulation for a bit) Never a dull moment.
Study has been few and far between with the kids off but I am hoping to get some done next week.
I have continued to help try and save our local pool complex and we are now a constituted group called Ochil Leisure Enterprises. We hope to develop a business plan to convince the council to asset transfer the facility to us by mid Sept. So it feels like its been busy...not sure if it will get busier once next week comes along and brownies, tennis and swimming restarts or whether it will be more of the same only different..

People who know me well don't expect me to take it easy and so you are proably used to my madness by now.

I will try to update soon about YWAM Stirling, the new members are due to join us in October so we will know more soon.

Human Nature

Tomorrow I have an interview.
I am a bit out of practice as far as interviews go I have only had one in the last 5 years. I am quite happy with my ministry but at sometimes see jobs that are like "tent making ministries". Things that fit along side my work but also go a way towards helping fund my ministry.

We have just finished Christmas, and part of the story of Christmas is the fact that Mary and Joseph have to travel to Bethlehem to register in the Census.

That is the Job I am going for...to assist in the Census due this year.

I have also seen a few other posts that might mean a few changes.
The other jobs are more in line with my degree, but it could be argued that I am over qualified for them.

With this in mind, over the last few days I have found myself switching viewpoints.
I am going from Knowing God to be in control and trusting that He will lead knowing that He knows the situation and how I feel .

Then I think...

I haven't heard anything - Did I do anything wrong? Did I undersell myself? Are they thinking I am over qualified and therefore I won't stick around long?.... Oh I hope they like me!

Then there is the whole question of what to wear....how to dress to impress!

The nerves begin to rise ... then I catch myself thinking... STOP!

Within the space of a few minutes I have gone from having confidence in God to worrying about what people think of me.

Now I am not saying that I should not make an effort and prepare, of course I should but at the end of the day God is in control and I have confidence He will guide my path.
If these jobs go passed me, then I am confident He is guiding my steps and will lead me on to the next new thing.

Matthew 6 :25 -26
25 "So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothes?
26 "Look at the birds. They don't plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they?

Taken from God's Word translation

New Year and lots of potential

Well Happy New Year to anyone reading this. I have not written here for a few months which I apologise for but boy this New year has brought lots of potential and its only Day 9 of the New year.
The period between Christmas and New Year, Phil and I set about re decorating what used to be our office for our little boy's new room (I have lost the office sob!)
The tail end of 2010 saw us have a cold spell that has lasted for a while. The snow first came the at the end of November and it was almost away on Thursday...but then we had another 3 inches on Friday Night. So that is 5 or 6 weeks with snow.....I can't remember the last time we had snow for that long.
During that time our car died but thankfully we have managed to get it back on the road. (Having no car with two small children and bad weather is not a nice combination)

On a slightly different note, for some time I have wanted to do a Certificate in Christian studies with International Christian College. I can now thankfully say, I can now start this....which I am really excited about ( and the cost is paid in full, which is astounding). So as of this week I will be spending some of my time doing the first Module - Introduction to the Old Testament.

The kids have been great stuck in while we decorated. So the picture incase you are wondering is one I took on a day out to Edinburgh Zoo
Blessings