Priceless

This morning- Saturday morning - I opened my back door to let our little doggie out into our backyard.  I noticed one of the men that I had prayed with last night sitting on the steps of the main house. This young man has been in Betel for about 4 months and while getting along and working hard, you could tell he was not buying this whole Jesus thing.  He was just putting up with the songs, sermons and prayers.  But last night he asked for prayer.  And this morning when I looked again, I saw he was with one of the men's leaders, head bowed and they were praying again.  This is the breaking point, where self no longer has it all figured out, plan B is a bust and they give over to a higher authority.  This is the miracle.  Absolutely priceless.  

English Summer

I heard a quote on the radio last week: 

The English Summer consists of three fine days and a thunderstorm.  

Cockney

We have a resident, named Tony, at Windmill house who is very proud of his cockney heritage.  He will tell you that he was born is east London within the sound of the Bow Bells.  (Bow Bells are the bells of the church of St. Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, London. To be 'born within the sound of Bow Bells' is the traditional definition of a Cockney.)  Here is a portion of his discourse on all things cockney:

By birthright is given the title of cockney and all of the blessings that this title bestows.  Namely: courage, panache, tact, stunningly good looks, slang language, good singing voice, and the ability to make up any absurdity of a story and make it believable.  

Some of Tony's cockney rhyming slang:

A cockney might say:                           Meaning:

Apples and pears Stairs   

Frog and toad Road

Hampstead Heath Teeth

Belt buckle Chuckle

A giraffe A laugh

Trouble and strife Wife

Pie and liquor Vicar

Jam jar Scar

China plate Mate (friend)

Dog and bone phone

Mince pies Eyes

Boat race Face

Plates of meat Feet

Current bun Sun

Whistle and flute Suit

Lady Godiva Fiver

Actually, I think he is having a giraffe on my behalf.  

Sheep

I was out walking with Scott and Peter this past Sunday.  We went through several sheep fields and the sheep were quite vocal.  They are funny sounding  - the young ones with higher pitch bleats and the older with funny low bleats.  Peter and I wondered what they were trying to communicate.  Peter suggested that they were telling each other corny jokes.  But I said no, they did not sound happy, they sounded like they were complaining.  They sounded loud and complaining, grumpy and whiny.  Isn't it apt that we are called sheep in the Bible?  Doesn't complaining just come so naturally?  God wants to give us His best for our best, yet I can always find something to complain about.  I want to try to emulate the content sleeping sheep or the happy ewes that scamper and frolic.  Dear Lord, show me my sin when I bleat and whine - lead me to a heart of gratitude.  

Steering my own course

Why, after all this time, do I continue to come up with ideas and then try to steer everyone involved in that direction. Even when people are warning me. Even when I have doubts. I am a risk taker. I like change. I get bored easily. I hate being hemmed in. I like to steer.
The best learning experience God ever gave me was to hem me in for eight years. I had to deal with it. I had to seek Him and trust that He had not forgotten me. I had to trust His timing. I was bored at times. I was restless. I became self-righteous and hurt others. I was humbled. Pride took a fall and I saw God's hand at work.

I scream inside when I want something and it is not easily in my grasp. This is usually a good thing - even godly - but the course that I think I should be cruising on veers off into a different direction. No one buys my rationalizations or reasons that I am trying to use.

God is good that way - cutting through (my crap) my independent desires and showing me that He has a plan. I know if I drop my plans and look to Him to fulfill me that He will not disappoint. Pray that I will look to Him for His ways and His timing, not mine!!!!!!

Harry

Harry is actually Harriet - a woman who has been in the women's house for almost two years. Everyone in the women's house has some sort of nickname, so they call Harriet: Harry or Larry. She is blooming into a beautiful young woman who radiates God's love. She has a 5-year old son, Eli, and is learning to care for him well when he comes to visit. He lives with Harriet's mother and father. Harriet has had a difficult relationship with her mother since her teen years. This past Sunday her parents came to the Betel church to visit and to pick up Eli after he had spent the weekend with his mom in the women's house. We were sitting directly behind them. Harriet's mom seemed particularly moved by the worship and started wiping away tears. Harry turned to her mom and put her arms around her and kissed her cheek. I teared up as I watched, wishing I could put my arms around my mom and give her a kiss one more time. But I was also left in wonder at how God has worked in Harry's life - how she used to wear all black and pull her hoodie over her face so you couldn't even see her. She has been plagued with bad dreams for years, but now is experiencing more and more peaceful nights. Nowadays she stands up straight, looks you in the eye, dresses nicely, hugs her mom and cares for her son. This is the life she was made for. God is faithful and good.

School stuff - I don't get it.

September has flown by - from the beginning week when we were scrambling to get all the school stuff together - mostly uniforms and gym kits. I still feel like I am punching in the dark with school stuff here.....not quite sure that I have all the information that I need. The British moms just seem to know how it all works while I am the one who has to find out stuff like Christopher didn't get a locker this year because we did not know that we had to reserve it. They gave his old locker to someone else and now he is on a waiting list. I always feel as if I am on slippery ground when they use the acronyms like GCSE's (still not sure what it stands for, but it means intense tests at the end of year 11) or PHCES (Personal heath and citizenship something). After four years I feel I have barely cracked the system and now my boys are all in different schools so that means three schools to keep up with. The schools are good - the teachers are interested and engaged and they give the kids lots of opportunity to grow in personal interests. Christopher can stay after school any day of the week and work on either art projects or computer projects. Peter has been accepted for the after school computer club. Paul's school is doing an excellent job in giving him opportunities to develop a well-rounded resume. He is part of an extend class where he mentors younger students both academically and socially. They are helping him explore the opportunities to participate in either a volunteer program or a work study program. I am impressed with their level of care and direction that the teachers give. So I am pleased with the education that they are receiving, I just wish I didn't come out looking like a ninny at times. This year I am just going to try to make sure I know which days are uniform days and which days are non-uniform days. I get a very sinking feeling in my gut when I walk Peter to school and he is the only one in his uniform. I think they do it on purpose just to keep me confused.