Beauty

A beautiful quote on beauty...

"Beauty isn’t an airbrushed face, a perfect body, or a wardrobe that’s always in fashion. Rather, beauty is under-eye wrinkles from smiling often. Beauty is hands wrinkled from years of serving. Beauty is knees covered in dirt from working the earth. Beauty is wallets empty from giving, and well-worn houses from hospitality. It’s the worn out pages of a Bible. It’s cracked voices from singing so much, broken hearts from loving so many, and bruised feet from dancing so frequently." -Saralyn Weitzman

Thanksgiving in the UK

Thanksgiving dinner=success. I'm so glad my new British friends from church were able to experience our lovely American holiday. We ate turkey and gravy, stuffing, mash potatoes, roast veggies, and warm bread...talk about carbs! :) Gotta love holiday food. It's so comforting. Then topped it off with pumpkin and pecan pie, apple crumble, ice cream, and Oreo cheesecake.

I read Psalm 100 which talks about giving thanks to God:

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

We went around the room talking about what were thankful for this year...I'm thankful especially for my church staff and feeling a part of the family. I know God placed me at All Saints Woodford Wells for a reason...they are such caring people and I'm excited for the relationships already forming. Having a spirit of thankfulness is so important each day...my friend mentioned she lists "5 things to be thankful for each day." Even being thankful for the little things...

Today I'm thankful for:
1) friends
2) Ian and Eunice's warm cooked meals
3) farmer's markets on Saturday mornings
4) vanilla lattes
5) a place to rest my head

Identity in Christ

Thank you Lord my identity is in Christ. I am thankful that you know the outcome of every situation, whether good or bad...all things work together for my good. Even when situations seem uncomfortable and unfamiliar, you are here holding my hand and speaking to me.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" -Proverbs 3:5

When God is silent, it doesn't mean He's absent. In Isaiah 42:16, it says "along unfamiliar paths, I will guide them."

Today was a lovely day...besides the freezing 50 degree weather. Staff prayer/Bible reading, coffee with Jacqui and Tom discussing youth plans and events for the year, and Olympic planning. After, Eunice and I went shopping for our church staff Thanksgiving feast Friday! I'm excited they will get to experience our American holiday. I will be making pumpkin pie...hopefully it turns out ok! We ate delicious fish pie for dinner...I hear it's a traditional English dish along with shepherd's pie.

Just Skyped with Mom, Dad and Puppers...it's so nice being able to see them even though we're on the other side of the world. It will be weird being away from home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but glad I'll be with friends. :) Here's our Christmas card I designed below:

Rest

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28

I have this verse stuck on my wall...thank you Lord for taking our burdens and giving us peace. This song "When my Heart Runs Dry" by Matt Redman keeps playing on my iPod and at church so I thought I'd share...

When my heart runs dry
And there's no song to sing
No holy melody
No words of love within
I recall the height from which
This fragile heart has slipped...

And I'll remember You
I will turn back and do
The things I used to do
for the love of You
Lord, I'll remember You
I will turn back and do
The things I used to do
for the love of You

You are my soul's desire
You are the hope within
You bring my heart to life
You make my spirit sing
I recall the height from which
This fragile heart has slipped...

Contentment

God has been teaching me about contentment lately. I was listening to Reality Carpinteria's sermons and stumbled upon Pastor Britt's teaching about being content and having joy. That's what we all want, right? Jesus is the only one who gives us peace, joy, and contentment. It's so easy to look to other people, materialistic items, and "having fun" to fill an empty spot. I noticed I was letting my circumstances dictate my joy and peace. At the moment, it's hard being away from home, even though I love London and getting to know new people. It's easy to feel isolated and not make an effort to make new friends. However, this is a year of growing and realizing it will all take time.

I love this verse: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being CONTENT in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."-Philippians 4:12

It's through suffering and hard times that we find contentment. The more trials I encounter, the more I press into Jesus and how much more enjoyable He becomes. After all, the goal of life isn't for myself. It's to enjoy HIM and bring HIM glory. Thank you Lord for reminding me this truth.

British Slang

So I've almost been in London for 2 months and learning new British slang words everyday. My goal for the year: come back to the states with a posh British accent :) Here are some words/phrases I've picked up:

-dodgy (sketchy)
-rubbish (garbage)
-you alright? (how are you?)
-brilliant (awesome)
-posh (proper/high class)
-knackered (exhausted)
-marmite (gross yeast spread you put on toast)
-loo (bathroom)
-queue (line)
-"mind the gap" (on the tube)
-cider/pims (alcohol)
-wicked (sweet)
-reem (beautiful)
-bare (lots of)
-loads (a lot)

...to be continued.

I can't get enough of the fall leaves. Makes me excited for Thanksgiving too...I can't believe my church staff haven't had a proper thanksgiving dinner, so we are having a party next week! Turkey, gravy, mash potatoes, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, pecan and pumpkin pie, apple cider and the whole shabang. :)

Quotes I love:
"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -Matthew 5:16

"The world is a book and those who do not travel only read one page." -St Augustine

"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home." -James Michener

"By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show." -Samuel Johnson

Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

"Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent
To blow up the King and Parli’ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s mercy he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Hulloa boys, Hulloa boys, let the bells ring.
Hulloa boys, hulloa boys, God save the King!"

So tonight we celebrated Guy Fawkes with fireworks and bonfires! I've never heard of this holiday before coming to England...in a nut shell, Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up parliament in 1605. Thankfully, it never happened and so we celebrate this day. Kat, another TFG volunteer from Westmont and I had a lovely day exploring the city...we just kept saying "I love this city." I really do. I love how you can walk everywhere (unlike Hawaii and California where you need a car).

We started the day at London Bridge station...walked to Borough Market...quite possibly my new favorite place on Saturday mornings. This was no ordinary farmer's market-it's huge with vegetables, fruit, meat/cheese stands, cakes, homemade chai (delicious), flowers, and "the best coffee" in London. Then walked to London bridge...so amazing to see up close. Reminded us of Disneyland's castle. :) I'd like to go in the Tower of London sometime...even though it's 20 pounds!

After, we walked to Brick Lane aka hipster town. Loads of vintage shops, Indian curry, and coffee shops. We ate the best hummus and falafel wrap. I love all the international food. :) My dad thinks I should have my own food blog. It was getting cold, so we met up with a friend, drank tea, and headed over to a park to watch the firework display with music. The British people know how to put on a good firework show!

What a night. I'm knackered (exhausted, as the Brits would say). Thank you Lord for a good weekend. I am feeling more at home everyday. :)