Right, so I’m a wee bit late posting…Last Saturday was the longest day of the year (there is some controversy about this, as technically it was Friday, but the way the light bends to hit the earth would have made it Saturday…I don’t know about all that scientific stuff…) We had a wee bbq to celebrate.
It was an adventurous evening, with rain lashing down, the bbq precariously placed on the front stoop and consequently smoking out the inside of the house.  But we had a great group of folks round, chocolate pudding pie, a spontaneous gig from Mike.  It was all just a great evening.  When the sun set around midnight, I felt as though I had adequately enjoyed the entirety of the longest day:-).

I was just reading John 1 this morning, and am struck by the buzz that his new disciples must have felt.

I mean, for 400 years there had been silence.  No prophets.  No words.  Just waiting.  This wild prophet comes out of the desert and says, “He’s here!  Look!  There he is!”  And everyone begins to wonder, “Is this the Messiah we’ve been waiting for?”

Then I imagine Simon Peter, as Jesus says to him, “So, you’re Simon, son of John? Follow me!”  Jesus spoke out Peter’s significance right there, using his name, knowing he had an important calling that would change the world…and then Nathanael, who asked, “How do you know me?” and Jesus said, “Before Phillip called you, when you were sitting under the fig tree, I saw you.”  Can you imagine how exciting it must have been to be recognized by the Messiah, who had been prophesied and waited for for 400 years?!  Can you imagine those 12 boys, looking from one to the other, saying, “He picked me!  What?!  He picked YOU?  What do we do now?!  This is so cool!”

I wonder how long it took them to realize how integral to God’s plan each of them was.  I wonder how long it took the others who followed him to realize just what was happening.  The truth is, those disciples laid down their lives for Jesus right at that moment that he called them, but they had no idea what was coming.  I love to “watch them grow up” through the gospels.

I am struck by what this could mean for us today.  When I think that God has a purpose for each of us.  As we discover our vocation and begin to live it out, do we realize how incredible it is that we have a unique purpose?  When I think about God saying, “Jenny, come and follow me…” I am thrilled…and a wee bit terrified if I’m completely honest.  It is a giddy moment, though, to recognize that you have significance in God’s plan, and that he didn’t just say, “you’ll do for the job,” but actually has created us in specific ways and allowed us to go through the shaping processes we’ve gone through “for such a time as this…”

I know a lot of people right now who seem to be going through a transitional time, wondering if they are meant to change jobs, go into ministry, be more intentionally focused on a particular thing.  Do you think, just as those disciples changed the world, maybe God is raising us up to do the same?  Every generation has a contribution…what is ours going to be?  I guess we’ll see soon enough, eh?

Lennie, Susie and I went to the National Prayer Breakfast for Scotland this morning.  Aside from getting up at 6am to get there, we had a fabulous Scottish breakfast, and spent the morning with a couple hundred believers from different business, government and religious sectors in the country.  I was so encouraged to see how many people are out there really making a difference in this country, seeking God daily for their circles of influence.

From prison ministers to parliament members and everyone in between, we together prayed for this nation.  God is definitely at work, and He will not let His plans be thwarted.

I had a chance to talk with a beautiful intercessor, this woman literally walks the land and asks God for his heart and his will to be done.  Talking with her I felt at ease, as though God was reminding me that none of us is alone in this battle, and that he has plans which he has purposed for his glory to be made known in ALL the earth.

How is he at work in your land? Your heart?

with arms high and heart abandoned

in awe of the one who gave it all

I’ll stand…

my soul Lord to you surrendered

All I am is yours…

What would it look like to live all of life like this, not just sing the song and put a pretty picture next to it?

I mean, seriously.  I really love sung worship, and am becoming more and more open to God in it…but what I really want is courage to live my life with my arms held high in worship and my heart abandoned to God Himself (metaphorically of course because they might get tired and/or look pointlessly silly!)…

(Thanks Krista for the pics from Cuzlean castle)

Some highlights from yesterday:

Catching the underground. Partick has begun this fascinating renovation project, which involves one side of the station always being closed, and therefore on many occasions requiring an all out race for the train. I now experience the near daily ritual of coming down the escalator, seeing the sign on the other side flashing “OUTER APPROACHING,” release my dignity and run for all I’m worth down the platform, into the emergency exit, up the stairs, through the corridor, down the stairs, out the other side, usually to see the end of the train waving it’s bum at me…but this day…I made it! Ah the kind driver who gave me the knowing, pitiful look as I came to a stop and walked calmly onto the train. Psychologically this shouldn’t be a big deal, as the trains come about every 6 minutes…but somehow that doesn’t seem to matter at that moment when you know the driver saw you running and chose to just callously leave you behind! Ah the rejection!

FREE CONE DAY at Ben and Jerry’s! Ah the bliss of double fudge brownie! I am so glad that this day is international! It was worth every moment of the wait in the queue.

The thunderstorm. Now mind you, I left my flat yesterday in pure sunshine, and being the eternal optimist (as well as reflecting on the weather pattern the day before), I chose not to wear a jacket, or socks, and I wore these cute little flat shoes…so when Mike and I were having a meeting in the atrium at the Brel, and it began to rain…and rain…and rain, I realized I was not exactly appropriately dressed for the occasion. I chose to enjoy the experience, however, rather than think about how I’d get home…and it was so worth it! I love a good thunderstorm! The room we were sitting in was covered in plexiglass so you could see and hear everything. The best part was that we could predict every thunderclap by the HUGE spark that erupted from the wall socket above us seconds before each peel of thunder. Absolutely incredible…and then there was the hail!

So, there were definitely multiple seasons going on yesterday, and I re-learned the lesson to never leave the house without a jacket and an umbrella, no matter how warm it seems to be.

My friend Debbie has inspired me to start my own gratitude journal. Sometimes I forget that God has given us everything we need to fulfill the purpose for which he has created us. He is the “Father of Lights” and he delights in giving good gifts to his children! So…here’s the beginning of my list:

I am thankful today for:

1. This last weekend away with St. Silas church, which is so full of people who love God and each other

2. My flatmate, who seems to have been divinely appointed for this season

3. The events of the past 2 years, the good the bad and the ugly that have deepened my dependence on and confidence in God, as well as deepening friendships as we all are walking with each other!

4. My parents, who are committed to loving us kids even as we are all grown up and out of the house, and when we don’t seem to appreciate all they still do for us.

5. My guitar:-).

What are you thankful for?

Right. So this actually feel a wee bit vulnerable…Megan tagged me for this “What’s in your bag (purse) game” and I thought, sure I’ll do this…but then I emptied out my ginormous bag and realized it is full of the most ridiculous things! How I used to make fun of my mom…I take it all back…sorry mom!

So what’s in the bag? Here’s an overview:

Wallet

Journal

Mittens (you never know when you need them!)

little kids tights (found them in my bag one day…have been meaning to return them…but don’t know who’s they are! Mysterious.)

Sewing kit

Watercolor pencils

Cinnamon Altoids

A couple of underground passes

A bunch of receipts

Face grease blotters (dang that sounds gross…they’re actually very helpful on a hot sunny day…which you also never know when this might happen)

pen

lipgloss

jump drive

hair bands

safety pins

girl stuff

a button (?)

ear bud pads for ipod

a wee card that a monk gave me a couple of years ago

I think that’s it! Time to clean out I guess…

Tagging:

Kristin

Sarah

Christine

Love you!

When it rains it pours!

Just kidding…these are actually droplets from this fountain:

I have a new favorite London airport…LUTON!  What is so great about this airport?

Flights were exactly on time, even on easyjet!  We literally took off on the nose at the expected time.

Very easy access into the center of London…just an hour bus journey…cheap and easy to figure out. 

They had a Krispy Kreme donut stand…which made my day…I brought a dozen home to Glasgow, AND the girl at the counter gave me some very good news, that they are opening a factory in Buchanan Galleries in June! Yippeee!!