How has LIFE changed my life.

So last night at the summer formal we were asked how LIFE has changed our lives. I figured that standing up infront of everyone wouldn't have been enough time to say how it has.

So. For starters life has made me a much more confident person, I went from a place of constant negative thoughts towards myself to a place where I can be myself and be confident about who I am. Secondly LIFE introduced me God and Christianity, something that has completely saved my life and stopped me from doing incredibly stupid things that I would do if I never thought of Church. Thirdly LIFE has introduced me to some incredible people that I wouldn't give up for the world. 

Lastly LIFE has enabled me to see that every person who walks through the doors on a Friday night is different. Everyone is their own unique person with their own background trying to find a way through it. Whether they be a Christian, or an Atheist or someone who doesn't know what to believe, they walk through the door at the end of a long week, for the start of an incredible weekend. 

Life. Living.In.Freedom.Everyday. 

My sister gives me faith in the world

Negativity.

There is a lot of negativity going on at the moment. All I keep seeing on facebook is how horrible peoples lives seem to be just because they're having a few "down days" whining and complaining because one thing isn't going your way. Although I can be the same at times I very rarely publicly post it to the world just so everyone cares. Truth is people rarely care when things are going badly for you, they see it as attention seeking and an excuse to gossip. 

We need to learn and this is more words to myself as well that although one thing might not be going your way. That guy might not like you back, you may be tired because you chose to have late nights, there are so many incredible things that are good in your life. You have a computer so you can keep in contact with your friends, you have a house and food provided for you. You have a family & friends that love you. You have a phone and so many other luxuries that are something to be happy about. It may sound cliche, but when you're sat complaining that the world is against you, it's not. You are the one that's against the world.  

LIFE: Prayer for Life on Tour

LIFE: Prayer for Life on Tour: "Well the time has finally come! Life on tour starts tonight and I don't think it's a longshot to say that almost everyone in the South East ..."

This. 

Overwhelming Case Of Responsibilty

The past 2 weeks I've been fending for myself at home whilst my mothers been away. In this time I've had several letters from the church concerning my job, booking in dates to work, trying to work out how much I'll be paid over the months and working out how many driving lessons I can squeeze in. On top of that I start my first training session for work. I was also asked today about going on my first non-family holiday to Spain which I will also have to pay for. All these financial based moments have made me realise that I'm starting to grow up. I'm suddenly starting to keep in contact with my family with particular situations, trying to organize other situations as well. 

I've always been the kind of person that tries to take each day as it comes, now I've got to start thinking of things for the future, I've got to starting growing up and taking control of my life. It's a weird feeling for me to grasp. 

In March a photo from the second gig I'd ever shot was published in Guitar Magazine. It's only a small caption and I've only just got around to loading it onto the internet, but it's a small achievement.

Baptisms always remind me of this. . . .

I'm here again
A thousand miles away from you
A broken mess, just scattered pieces of who I am
I tried so hard
Thought I could do this on my own
I've lost so much along the way

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole

I've come undone
But you make sense of who I am
Like puzzle pieces in your hand,

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole!

I tried so hard! So hard!
I tried so hard!

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole
So you can make me whole


Pieces - Red

Reflections on REAL

This weekend I was lucky enough to attend REAL 2011. It was my first ever full Christian conference and I was incredibly unsure about what to expect. Once getting there I was amazed by all the effort the team had made to make the Church all feminine and wonderful, from the writing on the toilet mirrors to the lovely young men in suits greeting the ladies at 8:30 in the morning. Rachel Hickson  opened for us and gave an incredible speech about closing doors on both good and horrible memories. Catrina spoke to us about transforming moments and how we need to get out of the habit of jumping to the worse conclusions and Liz spoke to us about tough moments and how God is with us throughout them. All 3 speakers bought something different to the conference and all had inspiring words that I'm looking forward to looking back on in the future.

There was also other little moments, such as hearing a large room of woman worshipping, me and Beth Rutland trying to "sign" the worship lyrics which bought even more emotion to the worship. It was also very lovely to see both Dave and Anna Hulme on stage playing keys together. Then there was our senior pastor Simon Benham singing amazing by Bruno Mars to his wife Catrina which yet again set a whole new mood to the day. Overall the REAL was an incredible experience for so many different reasons. I definatly can't wait for next years.