Happy New Year, thank you so much for being on the journey with The Heart Project.
Month: December 2016
Lessons I Have Learnt in 2016
The last day of the year finds me reflecting on the year.
I don’t know about you but this year for me has been full, with good things happening and then the not so good.
I am hoping that I have learnt some lessons from this year that makes me stronger for next year.
I have learnt that………
- I love my job I really do, I love the people that I get to journey with and the students who I see. I love the students faces when they achieve something that they didn’t think they could do. I love being a primary school chaplain. I really enjoy the school community.
- It’s good to have people in your life that you can be yourself with. You can be open, vulnerable and relaxed with them. I also appreciate friends/family that you can just have a really good laugh with. You know the one where your stomach hurts and you have to move away from the person that is making you laugh. Laughing is really good for you.
- Things will happen to you but it is how you respond to them that makes all the difference. Yes, I had a few difficult times in 2016 with having pneumonia, then having someone smash into my car. Then having my car written off and having to go to physio. I didn’t let that define me or allow that time to wallow.
- It’s okay to cry, to have a meltdown, to ask for help. It’s okay to have emotions and to use them. Having a good cry is quite okay. Just don’t unpack your bags and stay there.
- I haven’t learnt that I love writing devotionals, I am grateful to be able to write for two publications this year. I have written for Her Binder Project and Quite Women Co. I love these communities.
- I am grateful for friends and mentors that can speak into my life that can encourage me and challenge me with my goals and dreams.
- I am also grateful for the people that I have met this year.
- I have learnt that I am a Creative. Yes!
- I have learnt that I love writing and working on my blog The Heart Project.
- I have learnt that boxing is my happy place, it is where I discover my strength and determination.
I could probably add more to this list, but these are the ones that I wanted to share with you.
What have you learnt this year?
How has your year been?
I don’t ever want to stop learning.
Happy New Year.
Christmas Time
Love these quotes that I have found about Christmas and yes it is such a lovely time.
This quote says it all for me.
Embrace December.
There is something magical about this time of year.
Merry Christmas
Angels
Daily Reading: Luke 2:8-14
Daily Devo:
I love reading about the birth of Christ, every year I am more and more thankful and blessed.
In Luke 2:8-14 we read about the shepherds out in the fields watching over their flock. Then an angel appears to them. Wow! The Angel says to them “Do not be afraid, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”
When an Angel appears there always follows the words Do not be Afraid.
Do not be afraid.
Are you afraid?
Is there something that this Christmas you have been praying for?
Is there a family member that you haven’t spoken to in a while?
Is there something that has been on your heart, that you have been wanting to do?
Are you afraid of being who God designed you to be?
Do you need encouragement?
God sent an Angel to shepherds out in the field, just going about their work.
We later see in the verse that there was a heavenly multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying-
“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
The heavenly choir worship.
I would have loved to hear them.
Be encouraged this year pray and then worship.
Put on your favourite worship music and sing to the Lord a new song.
Sing to Him.
Do not be afraid.
He is for you.
He is with you.
Mary’s Story
Lessons we can learn from Mary
Daily Reading -Luke 1:26-33
Daily Devo –
The story of Mary is one of hope and encouragement.
In the Book of Luke, we see that the Angel Gabriel says to Mary “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
The Angel said that Mary is highly favoured.
Can you imagine what Mary would be feeling at the moment do you think that she might be thinking “Me highly favoured one, I am not sure, is he speaking to me?” She might have looked around to see if anyone was behind her.
She was probably afraid because the Angel said in Luke 1:30 “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favour with God.
We are the daughters of the most high and he sees us and says about this about us that we are fearfully and wonderful made and he is pleased with us. God has an amazing plan and future for our lives, during this Christmas season speak these words over you.
We also know that Mary was obedient to God, she may have been afraid but she trusted God. Mary had faith. She stayed on the journey.
This Christmas time spend some time with God, get away from all the distraction and thank Him for what he is doing in your life.
Trust him lean in to what he is saying to you in this season. What is God trusting you with, what is he asking you to do.
Be blessed.
Visiting Santa 2016
Today catching up with Santa.
Me- Santa I am still waiting for what I asked for last year.
Santa- Oh sorry you will get double this year.
Me- (smiling) Thanks
I left Santa thinking did he forget that I asked for a boyfriend/husband last year? Can’t wait for Christmas Day. #lovechristmas xx
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to everyone.
Words are Powerful
Daily Reading- Proverbs 18:21
Daily Devotional-
Words those little things that come out of your mouth.
They can be destructive or they can really be an encouragement to someone.
I found myself last week being a bit ungrateful, being negative. I found the words coming out of my mouth were not very positive. I actually didn’t like it at all.
I don’t know why this was happening? Maybe it could have been a few things that contributed to the situation.
One was that it was it was the end of the school term, it has been a busy full term. It could have been that I was unwell and just trying to end the term well. Maybe because I was just tired.
I have been reflecting on what I say to others.
In 2017 I want to be more intentional with my words, I want what I say to others to be edifying to be encouraging to build others up and not to tear them down.
I want to catch myself before I engage in gossip. I want to have the courage to walk away so that I am not tempted to be part of the conversation.
I want to think before I speak and take a moment to shape the words that I am saying.
I also want to be mindful how I speak to myself when I make a mistake. I can be quite hard on myself and focus on the one negative thing that has happened instead of focusing on all the other amazing experiences that have happened during the day.
Does that mean that I won’t make a mistake or speak negatively?
No!
I also want to speak the truth and stand up for those with no voice. I have always wanted to and have stood in the gap for others. The other area that I am passionate about speaking up for is injustice.
It does mean that in 2017 I want to be part of the solution
I also want to be brave enough to speak life with my words.
So, today I am starting afresh.
What are your words saying to someone today?
A Chaplain, Two Schools and No Voice
This morning I woke up and tried to talk and…..nothing. I have no voice. Which for me and what I do is going to make for a very interesting day.
If you have been reading my blogs you will already know that I work as a primary school Chaplain. This week I have four days left of school with students and one day left for a Professional Development Day on Friday.
Today I am finishing up at two of my support schools and I really wanted to say goodbye to the students that I have been seeing over the past two years and the staff.
So, I made a decision that I would go into work. Yes, me and my very quiet as a mouse voice.
But you see I have no voice, I just have a whisper and I love to talk. I really do.
Yesterday I wrote a blog about titled No weapon formed against me shall prosper and I am claiming that scripture over my life today.
This is just a little interruption.
Well I have managed to go and see the students that I have been journeying with and have said goodbye to them. Yes, I will miss them but I know that there will be someone else to help them next year which is great.
Today has been interesting to say the lest, I have had to write on paper today, to ask students questions, which was quite funny. I had one students who said that they would be my translator. They really are so helpful.
I have been whispering to people today and I notice that because all I can do is whisper that people are whispering back to me. Yes!
I am praying and hoping that my voice will make a return tomorrow. I really need it for the rest of the week.
Tonight, I will be resting.
Hope that your lead up to the holidays is going well.
Will hopefully chat tomorrow.
No Weapon Formed Against Me Shall Prosper
I have been reflecting on the year and the things that have happened.
It has been an eventful year and I could have got lost in the struggle.
No weapon formed against me shall prosper (from Isaiah 54:17, this scripture is one that I have been speaking over my life for this year.
I am going to stand and not let circumstances define me.
It all started with week 3 in term one at the beginning of the year. I had a cold rather I thought it was then on the Saturday morning I could feel a rattle in my lungs. So, I went to the doctors and had tests and sure enough it was pneumonia. I had to take a week of work and then take it easy.
Then my computer crashed, died actually so I had to get a new computer.
Next on the list was the first day of the school holidays when I was driving home from a professional development workshop I stopped at the lights and a car crashed into my car.
Yes, my car was written of and once again I had to take it easy. There were physio appointments to attend.
I had to buy a car.
Then in term 3 holidays I was sick for a week and yes had to take it easy again.
I was trying to be strong and not let what had happened affect me.
I think that being unwell, not being able to exercise, dancing or boxing somehow, I crashed. I think it was about half way through the year. I did hit a wall so to say. Emotions consumed me, questions surrounded me it was a little bit of a difficult time and I wasn’t really happy with myself.
Then in fourth term I was unwell again and had to have a week of work. I had to wait for test results.
Somehow, I knew that I was going to be okay with it. I just knew that my results would be negative and they were.
I have learnt a lot this year. I have learnt that it is how you respond to things that makes all the difference. I could have seen this year as a really difficult and negative year. It could have consumed me and brought me down.
But No!
I have chosen to embrace all the other amazing things that have happened this year. Little moments at work, spending time with my nieces and nephew. Hanging out with family, hanging out with amazing friends that can speak into my life. I am back at boxing and dancing again and I am much stronger.
Do you need encouragement?
Whatever happens – No Weapon Formed Against Me Shall Prosper.
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