$200s in the mail

I recently received a cheque, in the mail, for $200's. The cheque was from a wonderful lady who I had the honour of meeting in the loos at Bethel.

It was an October evening and I had arrived early for church, I was cold as I hadn't brought a coat and was admiring this ladies beautiful full length mac. We had a good chat about England and the ever changeable weather, how English ladies usually carry a 'brollie' at all times and it was most unlike me to be caught out in the cold! She asked me if I'd like to try her coat on and took it off.

It was clearly an expensive brand with a patterned detachable lining and there was no way that a) I could afford such a coat or b) actually needed one as I already had a thick winter coat.  Anyway I tried it on knowing she would enjoy it and we both agreed that a medium would be a good fit. 

Then she got out a pen and paper, I thought to write down the on-line address, instead she asked for my details saying that she would "really like to buy me one" and it would be a blessing for her to do so.

I was a bit puzzled at this point - not used to such generosity in such odd surroundings, but more so because I didn't need a coat so why was God going to bless me with one? - I wrote down my name and address and told her that she was under no obligation and even though she had my details she didn't need to go ahead.  We hugged and parted.

Honestly I thought, that was nice but I didn't expect anything to come of it. At the end of November she called and apologised for the delay saying that the company wouldn't have the mac in my size and colour until December and would I be happy to wait.  She offered to send me the money instead and I told her that it was completely her decision, I thoroughly appreciated her generosity and whatever she decided would be wonderful. December came and nothing turned up, then when I got back from my trip home there was the cheque for $200s waiting for me!

I've learnt so much through this amazing act of generosity:

1. God doesn't just provide for our NEEDS

2. God can provide in ways we don't expect - I know He can provide abundantly more than I ask or imagine, but seriously - a lady in the Bethel loos giving me $200s that is potentially for a coat!

3. His timing is perfect - the cheque arrived just before I needed to pay for the next instalment of my mission trip.

Thank you Jesus!

Healing testimony

Over the Christmas holiday I've had some time to read through my journal and I found a testimony about healing that I had forgotten. 

It happened around the middle of October, not long after the initial leg growing incident (see October blog) consequently I had been praying for more opportunities to step out in healing. I was helping out at a Bethel conference, my job was to serve in the dinner queue. 

After the mad rush, 2 ladies approached the table and we got talking.  The 1st lady asked if I was a student - immediately I felt prompted that this was a healing opportunity. She had very swollen lower legs and was in pain.  I asked if she would like me to pray for her and talked about recently seeing legs grow out.  I commanded swelling to go but there was no immediate difference. 

She beckoned her friend over who was walking with a pronounced limp.  She asked to be prayed for and when I held her legs together you could see about 1cm difference, her spine was curved and she was in pain when she walked.  I commanded her leg to grow - I was pretty nervous as I had 2 other Bethel students and some of the staff from the Bethel kitchen watching.  The leg grew!!!  She stood up and walked around, you could definitely see a difference in her walk and her friend kept telling her so. 

By now the faith level had increased significantly, so I offered to pray for the 1st lady again, the other Bethel students got involved and we prayed for the swelling to go down - it did!, previously one leg had been bigger than the other and now they were the same size, though both still swollen.  She mentioned that she had pain in her ear - we commanded the pain to go and on a scale from 1 - 10 (10 being bad) it went from an 8 to a 4, we thanked God and commanded complete healing, this time the pain totally went!  By now the conference was starting up again - I encouraged them to keep thanking God for their healing and that He could finish the job while they were in the conference.

One of the things that I want to go for in 2011 is healing, it was so encouraging to remember this awesome opportunity that God gave me to partner with Him in bringing Heaven to earth. I'm definitely going to be looking for more opportunities to step out in healing.

Christmas in Redding

Here are a few photos that capture some of Christmas in Redding:



My family decided to dress up for our Skype date - French Magicians, Father Christmas/Shepherd and a Wise Fairy Mother, it was a lovely surprise.



 Christmas Eve and Christmas day were spent with the wonderful Horsburgh and Chadney families. From left to right - Amy Chadney, Mohini Horsburgh, Chia Horsburgh. The 4 of us took a break from Christmas prep and popped in to see a carol concert at the convention centre.



The Christmas tables were decorated with a Gram Cracker Village, complete with Play mobile people and roads



Left to right: Bec Mandl, me (with home made fascinater - be impressed), Amy Chadney

 

Christmas Tree Game. Rules: find a man and dress him up as a Christmas Tree using crepe paper, balloons, and any other objects that you can sneak in. My team dressed up Dan Horsburgh who is in the middle, his daughter Natarnia, is looking suitably impressed I think!

Boxing Day trip to Narnia/Mount Shasta organised by Joy Barham, it really was beautiful, I've never been in snow so thick

1st time cross country skiing, I managed to fall over only a handful of times. The trick is to stay in the ruts created by previous ski's. I couldn't turn round for the photo, hence the slightly disjointed appearance.



Chipmunk reveals changed mindset

Over the Christmas break I've been reading through my journal and taking note of areas in my thought life that have changed. It is often an event that reveals the truth of ones heart and mind, and in a recent opportunity that 'came across my path' I was encouraged to find a change in my thinking.

I had decided to take a bike ride along the Sacramento River Trail, about a 5 mile round trip which goes through beautiful countryside with a backdrop of snow covered mountains.  As I got further along the trail I passed less people and soon was by myself enjoying the sunshine and watching the fast moving Sacramento River.  As happens on such occasions my mind wandered and I imagined myself surprising an unsuspecting bear who was happily munching on a sapling.....instead, as I turned a corner, I saw a chipmunk sat right in the middle of the track. 

Normally they shoot off at the first site of anything, so it was odd that it didn't move. I stopped right beside it and could see it was still breathing, although there was a patch of red underneath it and I assumed it had been injured - HERE IS THE CHANGE OF THINKING - my first thought was....TO PRAY FOR HEALING!  As I got off my bike it suddenly skittered off, clearly not injured at all, and I realised that what I thought was blood, was in fact a red leaf it had been happily sat on! Although feeling slightly foolish at being mislead by a Chipmunk and my usually keen observational skills, I was so encouraged that my thinking had changed to - it being normal for me to pray and expect healing in any situation!

Abundant provision

My Grandmother - Eunice Hazlewood - recently died.  She was 94, a christian and died peacefully in her sleep.  I have many fond memories of my Grandparents, visiting them at their beautiful home in Donhead St Andrews, Shaftesbury. They were both wonderful Grandparents who have left an amazing legacy with God as their foundation and plenty of exciting stories and adventures together.

I had known there was a possibility that Grandma may die while I was at Bethel and had agreed with mum and dad that I probably wouldn't be able to come back for the funeral.  However when mum called and told me the news, my first thought was that I really wanted to be there. My main reason for not going would be financial, and that just doesn't compute in a supernatural environment where you regularly hear of Gods awesome provision.  So I mentioned to Father God that I would like to be with my family and that if I was to go He would need to provide for every area of my journey.

Within a few days of acknowledging my hearts desire:-

1. A friend had offered to pay for the entire flight home, over $800's

2. My Revival Group gave me a handful of cash, which when taking into consideration the exchange rate - was the exact amount needed for the train home from Heathrow

3. Another friend gave me an ipod Touch filled with music and teaching for the journey and for keeps.

I had 5 wonderfully precious days at home loving my family and celebrating my Grandparents lives due to Gods miraculous provision and peoples generosity.

When I was preparing to come to Bethel, I had more than one melt down over finances.  At one point Father God asked me if I would rather have the security of all my finances up front or joining Him in the adventure of His provision - what a choice...I realised that fear would choose 'security' where as faith chooses adventure. Sometimes it feels easier to cling to a familiar fear than launch into a fairly unknown ocean, but the reality is that God is good all the time. With Him a financial need and potential place for fear changes into an opportunity to see His manifest and glorious provision, which is always totally worth waiting for.  Which would I prefer?...hands down, last word said...I want His adventure every time!

Treasure Hunted at Winco

I have a black eye! Long story short, I jumped onto a 10ft, toppled, snow man, everyone jumped on top of me and in the process I either got compacted snow or a foot in the eye.  At the time I wasn't really aware what had happened - I'm like a 'cat in the wind' when there is snow and fun to be had - so adrenaline played a huge part. Within a few minutes it had swollen up and was turning blue, over the next few days blue changed to purple and I was colour co-ordinating my wardrobe and makeup to match. A week on the swelling has gone and the purple is slowly changing to lovely autumnal yellows and greens. Needless to say I'd kind of like it to go now, loads of people have prayed for healing and I have noticed some change, I'm a HIP - Healing In Progress.

So last night I popped into Winco (supermarket) with my friend and in the queue got chatting to 1 of 3 Bethel students, as we were leaving they approached us saying they were on a Treasure Hunt and that 2 of them had felt a sensation under their eyes, they said that I was their treasure!!! and prayed for me, I felt warmth in the brusing but there was no obvious change.  They then preceded to give me a few words of knowledge and thoroughly blessed my socks off. Adding to the coolness (if that's a word) was that in the morning I had been sat in He Brews (Bethel's coffee shop) watching a Treasure Hunt team getting ready to go out and I said to God "Someday I'd like to be the Treasure".

Now it was my friends turn, straight away they asked how her finances were, she explained how she had recently had a large unplanned expense and they all preceded to give her money saying that God had told them to get money out ready to give away, both of us left feeling totally blessed, humbled and loved by God.

So this morning I checked my eye and where the warmth had been the night before, a large chunk of bruising has dissipated!!!!

For all of you who are chanting "SHOW US THE EYE, SHOW US THE EYE" here is a 2nd day photo and a Today photo.  The bruising that has gone was actually on and to the right of the tear duct but without - real time - photography its hard to show...

Glory Glitter....

On the 2nd or 3rd day at school I remember having a conversation with a couple of girls (who are now good friends) about glitter.  They showed me their hands and there was this incredibly fine glitter on their palms, backs of the hands and some on their arms.  I checked my hands and sure enough I had some too.  At this point I wasn't convinced that it wasn't make-up so I decided to do a little experiment....

Over the next few days I was careful to wear only black mascara, therefore limiting the possibility of glitter from eye shadow or blusher (sorry chaps this is a bit girlie - stick with it) I also made sure that I thoroughly washed my hands before worship, didn't hug or touch anybody that remotely sparkled and check my hands pre and post worship.  I would wave my hands around in the air, swishing them about, trying to sort of collect it I guess- sure enough when I checked them, there it was...glory glitter!  I decided on the name because it isn't Gold Dust I've heard it called Heaven Dust, but Glory Glitter sort of has a ring to it. Sometimes it is really clear and you can easily see it, other times you have to move your hand around to let the light catch it, sometimes there isn't any. It doesn't seem to be measured (unsurprisingly) by how amazing the worship time is or if I've powerfully met with God. The coolest time it happened was when I was sat at home by myself doing my homework reading about the attributes of God and I was suddenly aware that the back of my hands and palms were slightly sparkling.  I'd just had a shower and nothing glittery had come remotely near me.

Why? I have no idea! I don't even want to try and work it out.  For me it is something about me turning my affections to Jesus only to find that His gaze has never left me, its like a visible reminder that He is here, omnipresent, and loving me.

Ask for it, I dare you