We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.

Romans 5:3-4 (The Message)

It's funny how when you're completely focused on your troubles that you forget that in amongst them all is GOD. Sometimes I get so blown away by the fact that He doesn't ever give up on us. Even when life sucks, and we feel completely alone, He's always there, guiding, moulding, comforting, loving....

I love this verse from the message - it's so easy in everyday life to allow God's opportunities to slide on by because you're too busy or too wrapped up in your own problems to notice. But this is what I want - I need to be alert and ready for what He's going to do in my life next!

Festival Spirit

Has been a while since my last post. This weekend was Greenbelt which is held at the Cheltenham Racecourse really near me. I went for the day yesterday and had a blast. I love the festival spirit! Everyone's there, very chilled, and having a very good time! There were some really random things going on, here's some of the things I got up to....

• Drumming workshop with the Psalm Drummers
• Discussion panel about reality TV (Big Brother etc)
• Watched the Manchester Passion
• Ate loads of yummy stuff!!
• Drank Chai!! (never tastes as good here though!)
• Chatted to a clergy guy from the York Minster who knew my godfather - just met him while eating dinner outside!
• Saw Daniel Bedingfield perform (absolutely brilliant!), and then got a 'hi-5' from him afterwards!
• When to a comedy thing after the concert which was ok, but left that a bit early coz it wasn't the best!
• Came home and went to bed!

Think I might go again next year!

Tyddewi

That's the Welsh name for St Davids which is where I've just been on holiday to with some friends. Had a lovely time even though the weather was decidedly British. Roll on moving abroad!!

Long lost poem

I was looking in one of my drawers for something just now and came across this poem that a guy wrote for me at uni. He is not a Christian, and one day when we were talking about my faith, I said something which wasn't politically correct (can't remember what now), and I remember apologising for it. The next day he came back with this poem he'd written for me. Now I know very little about poetry, but I think it's quite good and I find it quite a challenge in places......


Do not apologise for one's faith,
Faith is beyond the rational,
Don't count the logic of one's belief,
Let a proud soul have a proud faith,
and let both grow within one.

Let your eyes wonder,
perceive visions of light and wisdom
seek beyond the illusion of this reality
Do not fear what is there,
purely embrace and accept.

Take up the gift of enlightenment
use what is bestowed to you,
use it with heart and kindness,
show others beyond this illusion.

Follow the word that is shown to you,
be a guide to those that are lost,
help them through their disillusioned questions,
help them through this illusion.

Jon Bacon

2002

Mero Nepal

Ok, a big part of me was really laughing when I saw this video - I have never seen a Nepali pop video before, but the more I watched it the more stunning I found it - it gives such a snapshot into life in Nepal - especially the landscape outside Kathmandu valley.

Mero Nepal means 'My Nepal'..........
I was very chuffed that I recognised a few words from the verse about Everest (Sagamartha).......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNynDfqJ0QE&search=Nepal



Wow, I miss it.

A little Comic Relief......

OK, I was just reminded of this sketch today by a friend and could not stop laughing over it. I love it! Especially at the end when she says, 'I ain't McBothered'! hee hee!! Have a look!!

(Just to explain, McFly are a band in the UK, as were Busted, another band mentioned in the interview!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnocm6Msz-E&search=catherine%20tate