God is still here!

It's been a looooong time since I have last posted so it seems very fitting to update you on what's going on in my life.

You may have noticed (and even 'liked') the following verse posted by my Facebook page earlier today:-

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you;    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you;    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I think this verse is one I will attach to the last two years. In these two years I have had to make some difficult decisions, struggle through some difficult moments and endure pressure beyond what I have had in my life before.

In these years I have been far from the ideal servant, whilst everything has eventually made it's way to God's hands sometimes I was reluctant. Sometimes you think you can handle it or it's too small for God but when it's too small for God it often then snowballs into becoming too big for you. The pressure and time needed to concentrate on my exams has meant less time for God and important disciplines in my life being disrupted, many of which I am still trying to rebuild now.

However I can comfortably, easily and safely say that despite my shortcomings, despite my reduced situation at some points, God has been here. He has been my God. He has strengthened me and upheld me with his righteous right hand!

Around last October God gave me notice. He told me that my life was going to change and I should expect it. I appreciated this because I always find change hard to adjust to.

God has again been as good as His word. I managed to pass my exams and become a fully qualified accountant. My girlfriend and myself found an opportunity to serve God in one of the most deprived areas of Cardiff, Tremorfa. She is moving to this country to live and serve there in 11 days time. I will be joining her in serving and striving to join her living there as soon as I can. It is something I have always dreamed of doing and since we have started going up there seeing the area, the Church and the fellowship it has only further confirmed that this is where God wants us each time. I am very excited to have Caitlin in the same place but even more excited for how God can use us and the people already serving in Tremorfa to further His Kingdom.

Furthermore, since I am qualified my role at work is set to advance further which is exciting but also scary since I am certainly having to come more and more out of comfort zones.

Lastly and more trivially, our much loved family cat sadly passed away and our much loved football team, Cardiff City, made it to the Premier League.

So, as you can see, change is afoot!

Cardiff City are a good symbol for the last two years of my life. It was a long, long struggle with much patience needed and many low points along the way but they finally did it and whilst I have needed much patience and had some low points over the last two years, God hasn't let me down and has me exactly where He wants me. Only by His Grace and Power.

My message simply is, don't give up on God, don't even be negative about the state of your life. God is looking out for you, He is there for you, His righteous right hand is upholding you at whatever moment you are at in life right now.

Our individual 3-2 wins over Man City are coming in that blind but beautiful future ahead of us, but only by God's Grace.

PCY Camp 2011!

I said I would blog on the recent PCY Camp, which we hold every year at Pembrey Park in Llanelli, so here it is!
I have to say that the 2011 edition of Camp was the best yet personally. What set this year apart was how much fun we all had and the wonderful atmopshere all around Camp. The feeling of wishing I was still there lasted longer than it had before. I guess it's a taste of what Heaven will be like, sharing super-fun and worshipful fellowship with great friends and brothers/sisters in Christ! I am already excited for 2012.

Apart from the two guys far left, these were the boys in my tent - Tent 1! :-) I must say they played a great part in it being such a great week. We had a lot of fun and everyone treated each other with love and respect. It was wonderful to see them encouraged in their faith and two of them give their lives to Christ. I was also blessed to see them be more like the people God made them to be!

This is Me with my second cousin Sam. Sam & Joanna came to Camp for the first time. It was the first time I had seen them in 6 years! It was a pleasure to get to know them again and see the fun, friendly and faithful people they had become :) This picture also give an indication to the fun we had on Camp, particularly with the £1.20 shop!!

Lastly I give thanks to God for all He did on Camp! I know of 4 commitments and many, many hearts and lives changed and encouraged for Him. I am so excited to see what He does in our lives, the happiness He will bring, the purpose He will give and the product of 50 people leaving Camp with their minds on serving God. This was all His Work and it's the greatest privilege ever to be a part of it, not just at Camp but all year around. THANK YOU LORD!

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 119:1

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

What do we expect?

In PCY last Friday one of the leaders told us that he was going to Pembrey Park in Llanelli to set up for the treasure hunt at Camp. I'm always excited for Camp but I think this has kicked off the real countdown in my heart this year. I'm always so excited for Camp because some of the most amazing things I have seen God do have come on Camp.

However, I was challenged by my attitude. Why don't I get as excited everyday for what God can do? God just as present everyday as on Camp, He is just as powerful everyday as on Camp.

To trust in God is surely to be expectant that He will do incredible things.

Jesus said in Mark 11:24-
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Let's put our trust in God's amazing power and see what he does! Let's get excited!