So tired this morning, bought some herbal sleeping tablets and they are rubbish as I still woke up, mind you it was 10 minutes later than usual at 2:40am yawn yawn.

Finished early yesterday and went to prayer lunch, Gods presence was tangible. We had good fellowship, awesome prayers and worship,brill. At night we had Bible study, it was the last one before Christmas and was very informal. All just picking songs or readings, another lovely evening. Feeling rather overwhelmed as I'm typing at just how much Jesus loves me and how much I love Him, I can't describe it and I'm not even going to try...I want to surrender everything there is of me to Him and be on fire every minute of every day. Need to get off here and get to work. Have a really wonderful Jesus filled day, Jesus loves every single one of us no matter what!!!

"Do you want to be a Soldier of the Cross"?

The Christmas Fair was ace yesterday. We raised over £600 I think, I was listening this morning but I always forget whats said during the announcements lol. We probably would have taken more but there were a few other Christmas fairs in town yesterday. Everyone was smiling and welcoming people in, it was good to see. I had a conversation with someone yesterday that used to come to church and asked them what had happened. They said they needed to get themselves right with God before coming back! Thats mad and I told them so. Can you imagine if thats what we had to do before coming to church, I would never be saved now if that was the case because I would never have overcome all my problems without Jesus' help and the help of His church (the people not the building) Jesus accepts us as we are and then transforms us, but He can't do that if we don't let Him, and we have to want Him to help us....hopefully I said the right things...prayed really hard for them to come to church this morning but they didn't and there's not a lot I can say about that, just will keep on praying.

Church was fab this morning. Margaret and Tony led the meeting this morning and it was really really lovely. Tony led most of the songs and the prayer time and Margaret led the bits inbetween and gave the message which is the title of my blog today. We have been studying all sorts at Bible study and one of the blocks of learning was about meeting leadership so thats how that came about today.....excellent stuff. We have some ace ace peeps in our church....:o)

I've been reading stuff on the net about Holiness and how to get it or be it or wateva it is that happens. My understanding of it is very basic really and I've only just started thinking about it. Its not that I've not known about holiness before because I have and I have read things about it before but its never really got to me until now. I need to keep reading. If I get to a state of holiness will that mean that I stop sinning? will it mean that things that I do now that are wrong won't even enter my thoughts? I have loads of questions and my head is cabbaged with it all but I like it hehe...I just want to be the best I can be for Jesus and I know that this holiness thing is for me because I think God is convicting me that I can't go on the way I am going on and move forward...I have to have 'the something more' its not that I am doing all sorts of bad stuff but sin is sin and it has to all be gone. As I said my understanding is very basic and I am probably typing tripe but I know what I mean and getting in here down on here helps me to think about it. Its all good stuff innit.

A good week at work this week probably due to the fact that I only did half a day on Wednesday and had a day off yesterday yay hehehe. As I finished early on Wednesday I was able to go to our church prayer lunch which was ace. We share dinner together (lunch for the poshies) and then sing a few songs...actually this week we sang some choruses out of the back of the song book which I have never heard of, don't mind trying new stuff tho,that probably sounds weird as these choruses were written years and years ago but to most of us at our church they are new cos we have never sang them. Ian then shares a bible reading and this week we all picked a verse out of the promise box and read it out loud - all good stuff. I can't remember what mine was unfortunately grrrrrrr. We then get down to the serious business of praying which goes on for about half an hour maybe longer, dunno cos never get to see the clock cos eyes are shut tight.
Anyway thats just another midweek thing that goes on at church and one thats probably the most important really because we pray for everyone in Swinton, it might not be by name but we do pray that Jesus will reach everyone through our church, we pray for our mums and toddlers, for our kids club and youth club, for our church on Sundays, everything gets prayed for.

We have our Christmas Fair this morning so spend yesterday helping to set up church for it. I love the banter and being with friends it was much better than spending the day cooped up at work, we just have such a good time getting on with it and laughing and joking and drinking tea...Elaine drank that much tea that we could hear it sloshing around in her belly when she was laughing hehehe. Its going to be a great day today and I just pray that above everything that happens today that we will all shine for Jesus and have conversations with people that will be about Him.

Need to get dressed now as I am walking with Scot to the paper shop for his round. Might put some more random stuff on here in a bit.

Very tired this morning yawn yawn....I can't remember the last time that I had a full nights sleep, I must wake up at least 10 times every night its ridiculous. I need some knock out drops or summat stronger. Trying to get my brain into gear this morning for a hard day, I know its going to be and I know that I won't be getting a break and won't be finishing till 4ish..moan moan moan hehehe. I think I have put some more pounds on this week cos I just feel fat and swollen, the scales will reveal all tonight at fat club anyway. I need to go now.

Good Morning, its 5:08am and I'm just ready to leave for work in 10 minutes. Thought I would come on here and just post a plea to everyone and anyone who reads my blog to pray please. This has kept me awake most of the night so here goes. Every christmas until this one there has been a television appeal for toys for needy families..unfortunately this year they aren't doing it. The Salvation Army has still joined forces with the Asda Walmart Chain and customers are being encouraged to buy toys and drop them off their for the local Salvation Army to pick up and distribute. Unfortunately my Salvation Army in Swinton doesn't have any local Asda and so the families of Salford are going to miss out and thats why we need prayer to ask God to provide through people. Also need prayer for Christine cos I know she will be taking all the phone calls off people who need toys and food parcels and is probably gonna end up going under if there is nothing for them to have. So take a few minutes to ask God to provide for us this year as He does every year...ta very much and Thank you God in advance!!!!

Everyone who comes through our doors is a candidate for Salvation!!

Church this morning was fab..its always fab but you know sometimes Jesus' presence is stronger for me than other weeks...I'm not sure whether thats how its meant to be or whether its a good thing but I can only tell you whats what!! Ian gave a really powerful message entitled 'Preparation Principles' and again this week it meant more to me than other weeks...wierd!! I was on the edge of my seat hanging onto every word. There are a few of us taking notes at church now and its great. I wrote loads of stuff down and will probably spend all night thinking about some of the stuff that God gave Ian to say.

We are having our Christmas Fair this Saturday so we are all preparing for a busy week ahead. I'm going to be at church every night this week doing something or other, most of us will be but its ok cos we love it and its all for Jesus...prayed this morning that we will have courage to witness in some way or other to the people that come to our fair...as the title of my blog says 'everyone who comes through our doors is a candidate for Salvation' Ian said that this morning and I liked it. Another thing Ian said this morning was that Jesus is not coming to evangelise but to collect those that we have evangelised...really liked that one too, its all good thought provoking stuff init.

Spent a bit of time last night before going to sleep looking through a prayer diary of mine from 2001....I need to get back into keeping a prayer diary as it kept me disciplined and also makes great encouraging reading to go back and look at and see answered prayer...a few of the people I prayed for in those days are now coming to our church regularly and some of them including my friend Shelley are still hanging around on the fringes. Maybe I haven't prayed hard enough, or maybe its just not Gods timing yet, I know that God has his hand on Shellys life though and sooner or later she will live give her life to God completely, I hope I am there when it happens wooohooooooo....come on Jesus. Reading through that diary though reminded me that I shouldn't ever give up on praying for people..we need to keep at it.

Linz

hmmmmmmmmm

Busy busy week last week, work was hard but copeable..now I know that isn't a word but I have made it up and I like it!!!! Went to fat club on Tuesday and have put on 2 pounds...I am flipping livid.. I know I don't try as hard as I should but I haven't been that greedy hehe...anyway it was a different teacher this week and I think she had different scales, thats the theory we've all talked ourselves in believing anyway...Alan said if thats the case then I should lose at least 4 pounds next week, there is just no convincing some people is there!!

Went to this thing with church last night at Bolton Salvation Army, the write up said it was the Divisional Welcome for our new leaders, Lt Colonel John Hassard and Majors Henrik and Lisbeth Anderson......hmmmm...hmmmm what to write about it without being rude. I'll just come right out with it and say it was a brass band concert, how on earth did it manage to get hijacked into being a concert? I have nothing against brass bands, in fact I love them and used to play in a very good one for 10 years but I don't go to church to sit and listen to them. I know for the musicians themselves that they will call it their ministry and worship to God and thats good, and I know there are people that will probably have been touched and moved last night, but I am entitled to my own opinion on the matter and can honestly say it was awful. The only highlight was hearing John Hassard and Henrik and Lisbeth introduce themselves and tell us about the vision for our division...all good stuff!!! Last night was so far removed from anything that my own church (Swinton Salvation Army) is like. I was puzzled and this part of The Salvation Army is strange. Anyway thats my moan of the week!!!

I recieved an email off my long lost sister Tracey this week and we have arranged to meet up on the 2nd December, I have never ever met her, its gonna be so weird. Also got another sister who I haven't met called Julie, I have been in contact with her but it hasn't got to the point of meeting up yet...in fact she thought she was an only child until I got in contact with her and told her she had 4 sisters and 2 brothers hahahaha..no wonder she aint been in contact for weeks hehe.

Anyway I need to get off here as I have a man coming to look at my pipes.


bye for now.

Linz

Christmas is coming..the goose is getting fat!!

On Friday night the lights and Christmas tree in Swinton town centre were officially turned on...and our little brass band were invited to play christmas carols....it felt a bit weird as it was still only the 1st week of November, but it was actually lovely. We played 4 carols and Ian led the crowd singing, Ian never misses the chance to talk about Jesus and mentioned Him between each song which was cool. After we played and left the stage, they had a bit of a ceremony and the lights went on and then this man blew a massive green balloon up, stripped off to his shorts, smeared himself in oil and somehow got in the balloon..........I have never seen anything so weird in my life, he bounced around to music for a while and then the balloon went down and he emerged dressed as father christmas...there are some flipping weirdos in Swinton I'm telling you!!!!!!!!

A bit of a mixed week for me personally this week, work has been the usual hard slog, felt quite ill all week but praise God I'm back to normal now (wateva that might mean) I have learnt that I should talk to my mates before going off and making rash decisions. I already knew that one but still went off and acted a bit irrational...anyway alls well that ends well, I'm still alive, I haven't been sectioned and I still love Jesus :o)

At fat club this week I lost a pound, the weight is coming off slowly and I don't even try that hard to diet, just cut out what I know I shouldn't be eating. The thing is with me is that I am by nature a greedy girl, I will eat and eat and eat just because I love the taste and love food, so I can still eat and eat and enjoy food but just have to make sure its the right stuff. Its not that hard as I will eat anything including lots of veggies. I have decided though that I am going to make a proper effort from now till the new year to see if I can shift another stone...will keep posted on that one!!!!

Had our Bible study group on Wednesday and started a study on the sacraments which was very interesting. Its really good deep stuff that I like to get my head round even if it hurts a bit, and also its good to understand why we as The Salvation Army believe what we do. Kids club was very quiet this week, had about 24 kids which was still busy enough but was easier on the ear drums. Forgot to count how many at the youth club but I think it was about 15....hard work as usual but we love it.

Might post some more in a bit

Jesus the Lamb of God

Work today as usual, had a good day. I had to attend a greivance meeting this morning with regards to my letter of complaint to Human Resources. I wasn't expecting any solution to be offered so wasn't surprised when none was..I have made my opinion known anyway and caused a bit of a stir so there you go.

I forgot to write anything about church for last week so here goes. Ian and Christine were away at Failsworth SA for the day so Beauty Elaine led the meeting. It was a lovely meeting and I'm not saying that just cos she is me best mate haha, it really was. Jesus was in da house woohoooo. The theme of the meeting was "whats your story" and was about how we can share our story of our faith with others. Lots of stuff to think about. Clubs last week were a bit quieter than previous weeks, I think it might have something to do with going dark earlier and the fact that it was flipping freezing, I don't remember how many kids came, I usually always make sure I know tut tut... all the usual lads were missing from the youth club but still had 13 there. At the younger club we sang a song at the end called "I believe in Jesus, I believe He is the son of God" we also used the sign language for it which the kids (and adults) love doing. Elaine did the God spot at the end and then one of the boys had asked to pray for his Aunty, so he prayed at the end. Pretty amazing stuff as none of these kids come to church. I really do believe that we are sowing seeds into these lives, nothing may happen for years and years but I think that one day it will. Me and my sisters and brothers used to come to the Salvation Army club when we were kids, we joined the Sunday school from that and then we all drifted away. Up to know I am the only one thats saved, but I believe that Gods plans are in place with my family, they already know the way to God..they just have to accept. I mentioned last week in a post that I was distressed that I hadn't been brave enough to share my faith with my sister, well the day after I sent her a text inviting her to church...she still hasn't replied yet haha.

Ian was back leading the meeting yesterday and the theme was "Jesus the lamb of God" He is always trying to encourage us to take notes during the message, some do and some don't. I always do because I always like to have a bit of discussion about things I have wrote down with Elaine, we like chewing over difficult stuff even if we don't get it. I think its a good habit to get into. Ian always encourages us to go home and make comments on readings etc so it kind of encourages us to make sure we are reading the word. I like it all. Also every now and again I will get a random thought in my head so I write that down to haha (no shopping lists tho)
It was a really great message and I think most of us were moved to make a decision about Jesus being the lamb of God.

Might add some more later

Don't really want to post about work as it riles me and I want to try and keep whatever I write as positive as I can. All I will say is that I went to work and worked hard and got stressed.

Not as many at kids club or youth club this week, probably due to the fact of it being flippin freezing and going dark early. Still had a great time. Church this week and last week was lovely. My mind isn't working well tonight and thinking is giving me a headache so I am going to leave posting anything more and try again tomorrow



Linz