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Isaiah 24

2012-01-05T14:36:00.001Z

First post of the new year, hope everyone had a nice festive period. Despite starting work yesterday I am off sick on the second day - I guess the cold I had before Christmas never really went away. Praise God for allowing me to be well enough to spend Christmas celebrations with my family though.

Just wanted to upload a quick post about this sort of amazing revelation I had, before my headache comes back to torture me.

I know a lot of people who are somewhat shocked when I say I am a Christian, simply because my actions don't show it. And to some extent I am embarrassed when I do say I am a follower of Christ because I don't show it. I guess you could say I have given in to peer pressure, as a lot of my friends and family do not share the same beliefs as me.

As I was sitting on the edge of my bed this morning, not knowing what to do with myself I picked up my Bible and done my devotions - something I do once in a blue moon now. I turned to Isaiah 24 and this was the message of the day:

Isaiah 24

The LORD’s Devastation of the Earth

¹ See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth
   and devastate it;
he will ruin its face
   and scatter its inhabitants—
² it will be the same
   for priest as for people,
   for master as for his servant,
   for mistress as for her servant,
   for seller as for buyer,
   for borrower as for lender,
   for debtor as for creditor.
³ The earth will be completely laid waste
   and totally plundered.
   The LORD has spoken this word.
⁴ The earth dries up and withers,
   the world languishes and withers,
   the heavens languish with the earth.
⁵ The earth is defiled by its people;
   they have disobeyed the laws,
violated the statutes
   and broken the everlasting covenant.
⁶ Therefore a curse consumes the earth;
   its people must bear their guilt.
Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up,
   and very few are left.
⁷ The new wine dries up and the vine withers;
   all the merrymakers groan.
⁸ The gaiety of the timbrels is stilled,
   the noise of the revelers has stopped,
   the joyful harp is silent.
⁹ No longer do they drink wine with a song;
   the beer is bitter to its drinkers.
¹⁰ The ruined city lies desolate;
   the entrance to every house is barred.
¹¹ In the streets they cry out for wine;
   all joy turns to gloom,
   all gaiety is banished from the earth.
¹² The city is left in ruins,
   its gate is battered to pieces.
¹³ So will it be on the earth
   and among the nations,
as when an olive tree is beaten,
   or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest.
¹⁴ They raise their voices, they shout for joy;
   from the west they acclaim the LORD’s majesty.
¹⁵ Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD;
   exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel,
   in the islands of the sea.
¹⁶ From the ends of the earth we hear singing:
   “Glory to the Righteous One.”
   But I said, “I waste away, I waste away!
   Woe to me!
The treacherous betray!
   With treachery the treacherous betray!”
¹⁷ Terror and pit and snare await you,
   people of the earth.
¹⁸ Whoever flees at the sound of terror
   will fall into a pit;
whoever climbs out of the pit
   will be caught in a snare.
   The floodgates of the heavens are opened,
   the foundations of the earth shake.
¹⁹ The earth is broken up,
   the earth is split asunder,
   the earth is violently shaken.
²⁰ The earth reels like a drunkard,
   it sways like a hut in the wind;
so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion
   that it falls—never to rise again.
²¹ In that day the LORD will punish
   the powers in the heavens above
   and the kings on the earth below.
²² They will be herded together
   like prisoners bound in a dungeon;
they will be shut up in prison
   and be punished after many days.
²³ The moon will be dismayed,
   the sun ashamed;
for the LORD Almighty will reign
   on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
   and before its elders—with great glory.

For those of you who live in Britain, you will understand that instead of having snow this year, the country has suffered severe damage to buildings, transport and also claimed the lives of many due to the wind and rain. In weather terms, this was an European hurricane.

I found this passage so apt to today's circumstances. Me being a science geek I have always blamed it on global warming. The way our ancestors treated the earth when they discovered oil really irritates me because they didn't think of the ramifications. However, upon reading today's word, that just isn't the case. I have always known that Earth just isn't where we belong. And I am angry at myself that I haven't shared the Lord's word to my nearest and dearest. And I am angry at the fact that my actions haven't allowed people to see that I am God's child. Our sins have effectively accerlerated the deterioration rate of the world and only when we believe and renounce sin will this rate decrease.

2012 resolution: To really assess my relationship with God, on how to improve and restrengthen it but also to introduce others to Him by proclaiming on how great the Good News is.

This isn't just a new years resolution, I aim to do this for the whole year and the rest of my life. Please join me.

One year older, one year happier

2011-11-03T23:14:00.002Z

I am officially 23 now, sigh. It was depressing for a little while but when I think about how I have my family, my lovely hippo and my friends, I couldn't be happier. I am so thankful for how my life has been so far and definitely looking forward to the future.

Haven't really done any more planning for the big move yet, it's still all very daunting but exciting at the same time. I'm just sad to let to everything go but when I think about the fresh start I know it's definitely worth it.

My lovely birthday cake :)

An amazing surprise cupcake bouquet from the hippo :)

Sorry for being so scruffy, it was late at night when the cupcakes arrived, hence wearing the boyfriends jumper! And a picture of my poor baby, he fell up the stairs because of his cast! Still love him nonetheless :)

01 October 2007

2011-10-01T23:00:00.001+01:00

I just can't believe we have been together for four years now. Both of us are just so involved with each others lives that it would be hard imagine life without each other. And now, we're going to embark on this journey abroad together, which is exciting but terrifying at the same time. I'm just glad I'm not doing this alone.

This year we decided not to get each other presents but oh! Guess who is going to the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn on the 18th November?

I say holla!

reality isn't very nice

2011-09-22T11:16:00.000+01:00

Just to be spontaneous (though I never am), I decided to go to the travel agents at work to ask about flight tickets and what a fright I got. I knew travelling to the other side of the world is expensive but I didn't think it would be that expensive. Last summer, Hippo paid around £700 for his return ticket but for February it's £1200...

Oooooft!

I would have thought summer tickets would have been more expensive than tickets in February. However, we are making a stopover in Hong Kong first so maybe that's why it's a bit pricier than usual.

I'm just so glad Hippo's sister and brother in law have said we can stay with them as they were thinking about moving to a bigger appartment anyway. And I'm also glad that my lovely baby aunt has said we can always stay with her - which reminds me, I haven't quite told her yet that we are planning to travel there. Whoops. Completely slipped my mind.

So thinking about working visas, plane tickets, travel money etc. it's all just a bit daunting. Reality isn't very nice. And for that reason, I am planning on selling...

The Yaris.

Bad times. Even though I insult it on a daily basis it was my first car. And my sisters. And you could also class it as my mums first car as she drove it when she made the transition from auto to manual.

I hope he goes to a nice family. Just thinking about selling him makes a big hole in my heart.

I have news for you...

2011-09-18T21:27:00.000+01:00

After graduation last year, myself and Hippo have been feeling a bit down, as if our hometown just isn't the place for us anymore. But we ploughed on, found jobs in our respective fields and just got on with it.

However, we have both decided that because we're still young, we're going to do a bit of travelling, to...

Australia.

Yay! G'day mate!

We both think it will be a good opportunity to refresh ourselves. And of course there'll be lots of things we'll miss here, but I'm happy enough because I'll be with my Hippo :)

Ahhh! mixed feelings! but they're positive ones.

2011-09-15T13:07:00.001+01:00

Congratulations to the McCabes. Thank you for inviting me to share your wonderful day with you. I have truly enjoyed myself, despite it all being hectic and stressful at times. I have had an amazing time and can't wait till you're back during Christmas. Yay!

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me on the day, but here are some pictures that were snapped up towards the run up of the big day.

And on the day...

Some bridesmaid loving and some Mc guy bee loving, bless! Even baby was happy :)

This weekend has taught me the importance of family. Keep them close, you only have one family.

2011-08-26T10:39:00.000+01:00

Don't always be so suspicious of your surroundings, relax a little and eat cake.

my 5 days of summer

2011-08-20T11:13:00.001+01:00

I work in a lab and as much as I love my job, I have to make sure I am covered up for health and safety reasons - even in the hot summer.

So this is my interpretation of my five days of summer.

2011-08-12T10:43:00.001+01:00

In response to the London riot, one youth justified his actions by saying,

"It was Comet - they didn't reply to me emailing my CV, or going up there so this was payback man, payback."*

Why is todays generation of youths so unable to accept failure and rejection?

I understand that living on, below or just above the poverty line is tough but stealing from other people will not make things better.

A temporary buzz will not change the future.

*http://uk.news.yahoo.com/exclusive-teen-gang-reveals-looting-spree-041951519.html

2011-08-12T10:37:00.000+01:00

Why do humans only understand the true value of things when they disappear?

Save Glasgow architecture.