Ahh, half term, a chance to sit back and relax, sleep in until mid-day, watch bad morning TV.......let's face it, it's probably the reason most people become teachers. So why am I feeling crazily busy and rushed off my feet?! Anyway, thought I would force myself to find some time to post something coz it's been a while.
I'm back at Mum and Dad's for 2 nights and once I've got over the initial shock of not being in my own house in my own space, it's lovely to be back! Last night I spent some time with them filling in a form for short term mission and I was once again struck by how blessed I am to have parents that I respect and who share my beliefs. This morning I dragged myself out of bed when they got up for work (see, no mid-day lie in!) and joined in with their daily bible reading and prayer time round the breakfast table. I love that time, it used to be nice as a child, but there seems to be something more special about doing it as an adult now. Today's reading was Psalm 139 - a Psalm that's probably overquoted, but reading it again today reminded me why it's so popular. It's a slightly weird one for me because whilst I find it really comforting to read how much God knows about us and our lives, it's also slightly disconcerting that he knows my thoughts because I know a lot of them aren't honouring to him. But at a time when I needed to know HE is in control and has a plan for my life, it was the perfect Psalm for me this morning. So I thought I'd share it with you.

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.