Reason no. 556...

Thank You God, that You're the God of peace!

Reason no. 556 :)

Reason no. 555...

Beautiful day today! I love being able to walk back through the park after a day in uni :)

Reason no. 555 :)

Reason no. 554...

'Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.' 

2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Reason no. 554 :)

Reason no. 553...

I've got a new bed and it's sooooo good! Having had various problems with it and trying to get a new one for at least 3 months, today it finally arrived! Reason no. 553 :)

Reason no. 552...

'You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.'

Isaiah 26:3

Reason no. 552 :)

Reason no. 551...

An incredible testimony of outrageous generosity and seeing His provision!

http://newdaygeneration.org/blog/article/Education_Centre_for_Cape_Town?utm_content=buffer11a65&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Reason no. 551 :)

Reason no. 550...

The 5 senses are amazing and how they allow us to interact with the world around us, from eating food to having a conversation, to walking along a high street. I definitely take them for granted, but they're actually such  a blessing and allow me to live the life I enjoy! Reason no. 550 :)

Reason no. 549...

Thank You God that 'You know exactly what we need before we've even said a word'. You know every detail of every situation and none of it escapes Your attention. Thank You God that You care about the big and You most certainly care about the little too! You're the God of power, the God of provision and the God who delights in caring for His children. Reason no. 549 :)

Reason no. 548...

Grace is amazing! If it was all about works, me doing things to please God, I would never do enough, I'd never be able to reach a good enough standard. In fact I would miss the goal time after time, day after day. His grace, His unmerited favor upon me and my life, is a reason to rejoice! Reason no. 548 :)

Reason no. 547...

Thank You God that we don't have to have our lives all together, all sorted, all nice and presentable before coming before You. Thank You that You take the broken, the sinner, the prostitute, the rejected, the greedy tax collectors and You welcome them and You welcome me into Your presence. Reason no. 547 :)

Reason no. 546...

I love that You're a good Father. You've blessed me with an amazing dad, that represents You well, but You're better still. You constantly have time for me. You love talking to me, You love listening to me and You love giving me amazing gifts. You're my protector and You constantly look after me. Even when I've messed up, You don't keep Your distance from me. Thank You! Reason no. 546 :)

Reason no. 545...

Today we looked at what 'Therapy' really is and what it actually looks like for Speech and Language Therapists. In the past, there has been a lot of debate as to whether Speech and Language Therapy is actually beneficial or whether it is a waste of time. As a result of this, the profession has improved and it also means there is a much greater evidence base (than before) for assessments and intervention approaches. This is great news! It means that clients can have more confidence that the treatment they are given is of good quality and it has worked for people like them too. The fact that Speech and Language Therapy was negatively viewed in the past has meant that progress has been made in this field! Reason no. 545 :)

Reason no. 544...

I'm grateful for having lots of amazing single women around me both here in Manchester and whilst I was back in Ashford, especially whilst in youth group. It has definitely made it a lot easier to be content in being single when that's the culture I'm constantly surrounded with. It also meant I had a really nice girl-y Valentine's day this year! Reason no. 544 :)

Reason no. 543...

Every year my dad sends me a valentine's card on valentines day! So cute and such a good idea! It wasn't until this year, when it didn't arrive on the 14th that I realized just how much I appreciated it! Reason no. 543 :)

Reason no. 542...

Lent is here! This year I've decided to send out encouragements to various people over the 40 days, but also my house is doing our own take on the '40 acts' (as a house we're creating our own list of challenges of ways to be generous). It should be rather fun! Reason no. 542 :)

Reason no. 541...

I'm grateful for recipes that allow you to make some amazingly yummy creations! Yesterday I made some chocolate chip cookie dough truffles :) Reason no. 541 :)

Reason no. 540...

I'm grateful for church and that we can come with an expectation that we'll meet and encounter the living God. Thank you God that in Your presence there is wholeness and fullness of joy, there is freedom to be found and that You're a God who is not silent but a God who speaks today. Thank you God that I can come into Your presence because You have made me righteous. Thank you that it is nothing to do with me but absolutely everything to do with You: Your love, Your grace and Your abundant goodness. Reason no. 540 :)

Reason no. 539...

Today the Whitworth Art Gallery re-opened! The gallery has been shut for over a year and ever since I moved to Manchester. It was great to finally see what was inside the building that I walk past every day and even lived next door to last year. The building is great and so modern (with a mix of the old too) and definitely holds a real mix of artwork! Although a lot of it wasn't my taste in art, it was definitely a nice way to spend a morning. Reason no. 539 :)

Reason no. 538...

Some interesting facts about the human body:

• With the 60,000 miles of blood vessels inside the average human body, you could circumnavigate Earth two and a half times.
• Your body produces 25 million new cells each second. Every 13 seconds, you produce more cells than there are people in the United States.
• If the human brain were a computer, it could perform 38 thousand-trillion operations per second. The world’s most powerful supercomputer, BlueGene, can manage only .002% of that.

The human body is soooo incredible! The fact that it all functions so neatly together, it's so easy to forget what goes on to make it function so well. Reason no. 538 :)

Reason no. 537...

Ducks walking on water! Nature makes me smile! Reason no. 537 :)

Reason no. 536...

'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.'
1 Peter 2:9

Reason no. 536 :)

Reason no. 535...

I love having the time to be creative. 

His light, His joy, His hope breaking through the darkness!

Reason no. 535 :)

Reason no. 534...

'You can start bad and finish good because of the redemptive love of Jesus.'

Christine Caine

Reason no. 534 :)

Reason no. 533...

'I thank my God every time I remember you.' 

Philippians 1:3

God, thank you that there is something to thank you for in every person around me even if they've just really annoyed me. As we thank you for them our perspective of them will shift and we'll begin seeing them more like you do. By thanking you for them we get to call out the truth of who God has made them to be. Reason no. 533 :)

Reason no. 532...

Thank you God for the constant advances in medicine. Diseases that were once un-treatable now have the intervention to reduce pain and sustain life and advancements continue to be made. Reason no. 532 :)

Reason no. 531...

The words in this song are really powerful. Being reminded of the power of the King and the fact that nothing is impossible for Him lays a good foundation for prayer. It's so easy to ask God for something once and then move on, but He wants us to be persistent, to call on Him (knowing He is) and to keep going after Him until the breakthrough comes. 

Breakthrough: Simon Brading

You calm angry storms

You muzzle hurricanes

Water You walked, even the seas obey

There’s nothing that You cannot do

Nothing that’s too difficult for You

You open blind eyes, do many miracles

Raise dead to life, work the impossible

There’s nothing that You cannot do

Nothing that’s too difficult for You

You can shake the highest mountains

You can make the desert sing

More than we can dare imagine

You’re the God whose power

Can answer our prayer

Let Your kingdom come

Let these mountains move

Let unanswered prayer rise again to You

For the more we ask, it’s the more You’ll do

My heart is bursting again

God of power break through

You crushed even death

Now there’s an empty grave

Rose up in strength, to rule eternity

There’s nothing that You cannot do

Nothing that’s too difficult for You

So we rise up in faith, all things are possible

When we call on Your name

O God of miracles

There’s nothing that we cannot do

Nothing that’s impossible with You

Reason no. 531 :)

Reason no. 530...

Thank You God that we get to include in You in our days, thank You that You are with us in every step we take, thank You that Holy Spirit lives in us. Thank You that we're never alone as You are with us all the time,You talk to us and help us with all that we need. Reason no. 530 :)

Reason no. 529...

God, thank You that Your joy is our strength. Thank You that it releases freedom into situations and puts You in the center. Father, I pray for more joy in You today! Reason no. 529 :)

Reason no. 528...

You are the expectation-exceeding God,

The One who's far bigger and far greater

than my mind can comprehend.

You're in the business of taking the little 

and making it so much more:

You're the God of multiplication.

The prayers I bring with the little faith I have

You listen and You do immeasurably more,

You take every situation and bring good into it.

You take my dreams, desires and hopes

and You cultivate them into reality,

in You I can dream big and not be disappointed.

With You nothing is impossible,

will You take off every limitation I've placed on You

and give me the faith to dream bigger still.

Reason no. 528 :)

Reason no. 527...

I love how people have clicked/ stumbled across this blog from around the world. This week there have been people from the Ukraine, South Korea, Romania and France, along with the USA and UK. Technology and the internet are incredible with how it all works! Reason no. 527 :)

Reason no. 526...

I've got a job for the summer! Having re-applied last week, they sent an email saying that they're happy to offer me the same position again this year! Amazing news, thank you God! Reason no. 526 :)

Reason no. 525...

Today, we briefly looked at: at what point is someone not considered to be eligible for therapy? We ultimately reached the conclusion that if they were in the bottom 2% that's when specialist intervention would be given. Why, so low? Ultimately it's all due to funding and cuts and all the issues that seem to be a frequent problem. As I was listening, inside I was really annoyed, why does it have to reach such a low point before direct intervention can be given? But as I was listening, God reminded me that He is the God of Justice and things like this have not escaped His attention. They may escape people in governments attention, but they will never escape His. He's the One who puts the wrongs to right! Reason no. 525 :)

Reason no. 524...

Freebies - I love them! Today I got a bag of goodies with sweets, a pen, post-it-notes and other odds and ends! Reason no. 524 :)

Reason no. 523...

Worship is a posture of the heart that is going to waste time on Him. Radical worship releases His presence into situations and shifts spiritual atmospheres. Father, let my heart be abandoned in worship to You. Where I have put restraints on my worship, will You come and break them off. Father, will You throw off distractions and be my One focus. David worshiped You freely and with all that he was and that's where I want to be too. Reason no. 523 :)

Reason no. 522...

'Our feelings are true, but His Word is truer!' 

Julian Adams

Reason no. 522 :)

Reason no. 521...

'Surely your goodness and love will follow me

    all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.'

Psalm 23:6

God, thank You that I can not escape from Your goodness and Your wonderful love. Thank You that every step I take Your goodness and Your love for me goes with me. Thank You that I get to spend eternity with You. It can be so easy to focus on the now, but there's something far greater that awaits - an eternity with the living God! 

Reason no. 521 :)

Reason no. 520...

I'm grateful for church family and people inviting me over for a meal to get to know people in the church and feeding me lovely food. It was definitely a blessing! Reason no. 520 :)

Reason no. 519...

I love lyrics packed with truth and this song is just that: This is Amazing Grace by Phil Wickham.

He's the One who breaks off sin, He's the One who releases light into the darkness, He's so holy that the earth responds to His holiness, He's the One who is captivating and brings peace into messy situations, He's the One who adopts us as His children! How amazing is He the King of Kings?!

Who breaks the power of sin and darkness

Whose love is mighty and so much stronger

The King of Glory, the King above all kings

Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder

And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder

The King of Glory, the King above all kings

This is amazing grace

This is unfailing love

That You would take my place

That You would bear my cross

You lay down Your life

That I would be set free

Oh, Jesus, I sing for

All that You've done for me

Who brings our chaos back into order

Who makes the orphan a son and daughter

The King of Glory, the King of Glory

Who rules the nations with truth and justice

Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance

The King of Glory, the King above all kings

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

Worthy is the King who conquered the grave

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn5zk3yCRr0

Reason no. 519 :)

Reason no. 518...

It's amazing how God takes Esther from being an orphan and a 'nobody' and raises her to become the Queen of a land. He's in the business of turning situations around. Reason no. 518 :)

Reason no. 517...

Another thing I was reminded of today was just how powerful God is against the enemy. For every one demon there are two angels. Already the enemy is outnumbered, and that's not even including God Almighty! There are more people for me than against. Reason no. 517 :)

Reason no. 516...

'The Father is kinder than I dare believe.'

Reason no. 516 :)

Reason no. 515...

Today I listed to a talk by Katia Adams, which was amazing and definitely shared God's heart for us as His children. One thing God spoke to me about was the fact that we are a NEW creation. We are not just a cleaner version of our old self. In fact, we're a new substance that has never been seen before (that's what new is!). One thing she shared was how when we pray we should thank God for our new being rather than for a change in our old self, by doing this we are calling out the truth of who God made us to be. For example when Jesus healed the sick, he didn't pray for the sickness, rather he commanded wholeness. He doesn't speak condemnation or conviction rather he speaks in grace and power. Thank you! Reason no. 515 :)

Reason no. 514...

There is so much more delight in God to feast on. God has so much more to give. We have only tasted a mouthful of who He is. Reason no. 514 :)

Reason no. 513...

Had a great evening celebrating my housemates 21st birthday last night! She had 90/00's themed party, which was fab! Reason no. 513 :)

Reason no. 512...

In my tiredness, my weakness, my insecurities and feeling a bit under the weather, You're still God and You will be my strength for the day ahead. Reason no. 512 :)

Reason no. 511...

Taste and see that the Lord is good,

an invitation that will not disappoint.

His goodness is unending,

showering down blessing upon blessing.

For all my days I will sing of:

how good You are to me.

Reason no. 511 :)

Reason no. 510...

"To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us." 

Tim Keller

Reason no. 510 :)

Reason no. 509...

Today I had one of the most smiley lecturers ever. It's so nice to learn stuff from people who are really passionate about what they teach. Plus, I love being around people who are really smiley! Reason no. 509 :)

Reason no. 508...

It's funny how other people's throw away little comments can trigger something so much more...This morning I was reminded of a little comment of what someone said yesterday, which was essentially about their presence making, someone else feel better. There definitely is truth in that. Holy Spirit lives in us, so we're carrying God's presence into situations, we're carrying Him into work, into lectures, into conversations. So it's not just between you and another person, it's between you, them and God. If God is a being so full of power, love, healing, surely there is no reason why the atmosphere can't change when we step in the room - God's in us. It's not because of who we are, but who is in us. Reason no. 508 :)

Reason no. 507...

Thank you God that even though this world is not perfect, circumstances might not be great, disappointments happen, there is a HOPE that is far greater and goes beyond this lifetime. Thank you God that we get to spend eternity with You in the new heavens and the new earth, where all things affected by sin are cut off. Father, I want a heavenly perspective that looks beyond the now and looks to what You have promised us. Reason no. 507 :)

Reason no. 506...

Thank you God that I am Your child, adopted into Your family and have You as a good Father. Reason no. 506 :)

Reason no. 505...

Today I got 64% on one of my assignments that I struggled so much with over Christmas! Thank you God for getting me through it and getting a decent grade!! Reason no. 505 :)

Reason no. 504...

The fact that our brains are able to understand allophones (slight variations of sounds) is incredible. What we're able to identify as 2 separate sounds, other languages would not recognize the difference at all. How our brains can fine-tune into the slight details of these noises and it can completely change the meaning of a word. At the same time how our brain is able to fine-tune into speech over background noise is amazing! Reason no. 504 :)

Reason no. 503...

'For we trust in our God and through His unfailing love we will not be shaken.'

Brian Johnson

Amazing truth!

Reason no. 503 :)

Reason no. 502...

Free food! Yesterday, I was given an amazing lunch at the refugee group, then a pack of vegetables and some chopped vegetables to go into a soup. The people that organize the group are so generous. Reason no. 502 :)

Reason no. 501...

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to help with a refugee conversation club. It's such a privilege to speak with people from all over the world. In the room yesterday, there were people from Iraq, Russia, Albania and Eritrea - how amazing to see so many nations in one room. Reason no. 501 :)