such a long time!

woah! i can't believe its been sooooo long since i last posted anything. i really have neglected my blog! so much has happened since the last time i posted, but i won't go to detail. well not at the minute anyway.

Just going to leave a poem!

And even through my heart felt tears
My dark dreams and all my fears
You find a way to light my path
to stop my falling hand

My stumbling foot doesn't carry on
But stops as you hold out your arm
My head is held like a child
my wounds are healed again

And when my past decides to haunt
My foes and woes distaught my thoughts
My heart in anguish for those day
when I forgot your name

You cradle me and hold me tight
Remind me I laid rest to ghosts
My lifeis new, I'm fresh, Forgiven
my stains washed from my cloak

Though hurt and pain I still feel now
You puut joy in my heart
To flee from what I was
to become a new creation

I will lay down my tortured soul
That through all faults of my own
Mistreated myself and all my friends
the soul was selfish and with revenge

My hastey marks and actions left
The bruises on my neighbours cry
And sorrow that i gave in vain
to leave them empty with all scorn

But then to learn of your great love
Oh rescue me from my own mind
And as I left my ruined soul
at the foot of your cross

On which you bore my shame and sin
Wept and bled to gain my heart
Bought eternity for me
serving even in your death

The ransom on my life is paid
The lamb has conquered deaths foul stench
For those who would all have faith
in his most precious name

Healed, Washed, Forgiven.

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hopefully i will manage to keep a bit more up to date in the future! i will get some pictures of my new guinea pigs etc. they are so cute, Agnus and Freda.

And also some personal studies on the fruits of the Spirit.

hugs and blessings!

Claudia

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TRUST!

Wow, what a day I've had!

I feel I keep discovering new stuff. And today this thought occurred to me during a sermon at chapel.I'm sure many people have had the same thought, but I've never really heard many people mention it!

We touched on the conversion of Saul/Paul. road to Damascas! the Big one in the Bible. very profound! People bang on about how Saul killed many Christians and what a bad guy he was etc (and i am not saying it wasn't bad he killed Christians) but we have to remember one thing. He actually believed he was doing God's will at the time, the thing was He was trusting his own judgement in which he saw the right. It didn't occur to him that God didn't want him to do that.

God wasn't just telling Paul because he was persecuting Christians, but because of the Belief he was doing it in. Trusting himself that he was doing the right thing and not God. No wonder God blinded him. God had to make him completely trust in him. That meant trusting God would guide him to the right place and into the hands of those he had previously hated.He had to trust God that those people would take care of him. The people God lead Paul to, are the one he was on his way to kill or imprison. With Paul being blind, they could have really took advantage of that situation. Paul knew that, but was having to trust that God would bring him no harm. The people paul was lead to also had to completely trust God that paul wouldn't harm them, how hard knowing that he would have been going there to persecute them in the first place.

Sometimes I think we need to be completely blinded by God to reaffirm our faith in him. We need to learn to trust him with our whole lives, hearts and bodies. after all he knows whats best!

Acts 9

Saul's Conversion

1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord," he answered.

11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

13"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."

15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" 22Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.^[a]

23After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, 24but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

many blessings

Claudia

Top 10 to Knowing Me!

I thought I'd let people have a bit more of an insight into what I am like. I've done 10 points. There's alot more than this I could tell you, but then it could make the blog almost pointless and we don't want that! lol! Any way here we go....

1. Faith - My faith has to be the most important thing in my life. Many people already know I'm a Christian and that I go to church. Most people don't realise how seriously I take my faith. I am by no means perfect, Nor will I act as if I am. But I wish I could be and will try (failing many times). I will stand firm for what I believe in and I often argue the point with people. This doesn't mean I disrespect or don't understand other peoples view or that I dislike people with opposing views, but it does mean I will not be swayed from my beliefs, as I guess many of the people will feel the same with their beliefs and values.

2. Caring - I try my best to care for people. I will try my best to be there for people. If they need a shoulder to cry on, someone to moan to, need advice or someone to laugh with. I will try the best I can. Again I'm not perfect and I will make mistakes. Sometimes I'll say the wrong thing and put my foot in it. Sometimes I'm not good enough. Those times I often need a slap, but sometimes I feel vulnerable or not good enough. But I am making a conscious effort to be better!

3. Jewellery - Making jewellery has got to be one of my favourite hobbies/jobs to do. I love making pretty and original designs. I am constantly looking at beads, putting new designs together and deliberating what colours work with what, to make sure I get the best designs I can. I mostly use semi precious gems, Freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver.

4. Music - I love listening to music. I don't have an absolutely huge CD collection, but enough to see me through. I do own an iPod, so I listen to most stuff through that at the moment. I have quite a few favourite bands really and all seem to be differing in sounds. I mostly listen to Idlewild, Newsboys, Danielson Famile, Jars of Clay, Why?, Camera Obscura, Architecture in Helsinki and Y-Friday. bit of a mish mash there.

5. Christmas, Easter and Pentecost - These have to be my favourite times of the year. Christmas is just ace. I get so excited and I'm usually awake at about 3 in the morning just waiting and too excited to go back to sleep. I never know what I'm going to get so it's always a surprise. But it's not just that I enjoy everything about it. I love buying presents for other people, I love putting the tree up, going to church for the carol service and to top it off the Christmas eve service. That's just wonderful. Easter's as exciting, but we don't go mad with the presents. I think the most distinctive things about Easter is the Good Friday procession through the town and then Easter morning, waking up early and going to Church. Its so wonderful. Then Pentecost. Wow! celebrating Pentecost is great. the coming of the Holy Spirit. This usually means doing something wacky with my hair. It gets people talking and asking questions.

6. Laughter - I love being able to laugh. I sometimes laugh too much and I like laughing at the simple stuff too. I like witty comments and quick comebacks, silly songs and jokes that don't really make sense. Other things that make me laugh are singing out of tune or in a silly voice, dancing around like an idiot, making animal noises and impressions, pretending I'm great and just generally being silly.

7. Watching Films - Some would say I don't watch enough, the odd few may say I watch too many. But really I don't watch loads. I really don't have a huge collection, but I really love watching films. I do have a few favourites, Muppets Christmas carol being top. I love Christmas films, funny films and ones that make me cry. I tend not to watch the latter for that reason. My dad used to laugh when I cried at E.T. so I haven't seen it since I was about 10. If I know a film's going to make me cry I try and watch it on my own.

8. Nerves - Apart from me getting on people this is quite an odd thing of mine. If I see people I know who I've not seen for a while I may not always speak to them, just incase they don't remember me or don't want to remember me. I often think people from school won't want to speak to me ever and things like. People may add me on msn, myspace or facebook or even give me there numbers but until I'm absolutely sure they want to I'll often not speak, Just in case.

9. Dislikes - This is not me trying to put a downer on things and I would urge people not to get put off by my dislikes. Just because I dislike certain things doesn't mean I dislike the people who either like or are into these things. This is often a common mistake made by people who then accuse people with similar dislikes to be 'judgmental'. My first is Harry Potter (sorry folks) just something in my gut says its wrong, besides the fact I feel it promotes witchcraft. Witchcraft is another, but this does not mean I hate witches or want to burn them. I just don't agree with what they do. Some would feel the same about me. Which I suppose leads me to Halloween. I don't like Anne Summer's stuff or things to that ilk, I really don't like moths or daddy long legs and I'm not to keen on compulsive liars!

10. My work - Last but not least! Most people know I work at the Golden Arches, but a lot of people do not know about the 'project' set up but me and my mum. This is what my jewellery making is going towards. We have kind of founded a Christian initiative called Habakkuk. The aims are to provide Christian Information easily to the public in Swadlincote. The information includes things like Church service times and contacts, Christian events, Christian Organisations like the YMCA and Barnardos. We also aim to provide Bibles and Christian tracts (leaflets and booklets) for little or no cost. The work for this will be funded by the sales of Handcrafted Items through the Mustard Seed Gift Shop. We are looking for shop premises at the moment, but that's taking some time.

Sorry if it a bit long, I think I got carried away.

Hugs and Blessings

Claudia

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Time for Tea!

I thought I'd share this cute pair of earrings with you. I love them to bits, so much so I'm thinking about keeping them. But I shouldn't thats kinda naughty. They are made from Bali sterling silver charms and as you can clearly see there's a spoon, a fork and a cute teapot, and the teapot has cute heart detail on it. They are quite detailed too. I've attached them on to chain so they dangle at different lengths and I think it add great 'movement' to them.

They remind me so much of tea parties. You just don't hear of tea parties going on like you used to. I reckon we should bring them back in to fashion. It would make a good alternative for things like Hen nights, baby showers, girly nights in etc. I reckon you could have a right laugh too. I haven't ever been to one.

And this subject brings me on to a mini rant! There are 2 items that are a right pain to find in shops, and believe me these hunts have been going on for months in as many shops as I can go in too. These items are a tea infuser ball but left plain and a cake slice. I really want a cute cake slice, I went on the hunt for one in 3 different towns and didn't find one! the cake slice is for our turkish delight soap cake! The tea infuser's is the same. I wanted ones that weren't decorated and on a chain, i went all over the place. I could only find ones with dangly bits on the ends! I wanted to put my own dangly bits on the end. No fair! But thats my rant over.


One last jewellery bit for now. My go with almost anything earrings! I made these for my self, with the matching necklace and bracelet. I made them in black so they go with a lot of stuff. I love them. Nice and dangly, with my very comfy ear wires! they have the cute ribbon/fish charm, a cross charm and then Black onyx and clear Swarovski crystals! So as well as them being gorgeous they also say a bit about what I believe! Hopefully a good witnessing point. I'm hoping to get a few more piece like this done, they make really good presents for us Christians!

Well, last but definitely not least, i will share on the MAJOR thing that happened today. I went to the hair dressers. (dun dun duuuuun) Yes folks I had a hair cut. Pretty major for me as my hair has never been short than wait length before, ever! Now its just below the shoulders. so far it feels a bit more managable, and a fair few people seem to like it! I am hoping that I can get an awesome 70's do going on! That would be really ace! But for now I think I'll just go to bed. lol

Hugs and Blessings

Claudia

xxxxx

Luke 11:27-29 (New International Version)

27As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."

28He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."