two quick pics…

Elijah – 1Kings 17

1 Kings 19:11-13 ‘The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord , for the Lord is about to pass by.’

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Check out this guy Elijah.

He’s this prophet bloke who is seen as a major man of God by all who meet him.

He has faith.

Look at chapter 18!

Here’s the story:

He stood before the prophets of Baal (a false god of the time in Israel) and challenged them to a battle between his God and theirs. He has that much faith that God will speak for himself that he throws down the gauntlet and bets these guys can’t light a bbq for their god. The vital hitch, no matches.

When they can’t do it he confidently stands there and mocks them, teasing them to shout louder, perhaps Baal was deep in thought and could not hear them. These false prophets, whether they believed or were just determined to save face, carried on and on until they realised dejectedly that it was hopeless.

Elijah steps forward, I imagine with a flourish and I’m tempted to imagine a grin playing on his lips. This was one duel he knew they hadn’t a chance of winning. He prepares grain and meat for the altar he’s created and then just to rub salt in the ever widening wounds of pride he gets his guys to douse it in water, not once but three times!

No matches in hand or secret blocks of quick lighting charcoal thrown on top, he calls out to God and ‘whoooof’ the whole thing goes up in flames. No trickery, no magic, just God at work.

Here is a man, slap bang at the forefront of mission.

He’s there living the dream and watching at that pinnacle moment when the people who follow Baal suddenly realise there is a God and they are not worshipping Him. Imagine what he must be feeling as he sees these people flung out on the ground in front of him their sudden realisation causing them to literally shout out ‘The Lord –He IS God!’

What a buzz! What an amazing feeling to be part of this massive conversion.

He can see God working before his very eyes. Surely this makes him a strong person, a leader, someone who never has any problems.

In the eyes of the crowds he has faith, he is invincible, he has everything sorted. He’s down with the almighty. Someone that is this close to God, why would they be anything but strong?

Elijah is Human

But Elijah, being human, needs God just as we do. Being a prophet had a heavy price in responsibility tied to it, there wasn’t much room for mistake in Old Testament times, If God told you to do something, you did it, Jesus’ sacrifice hadn’t been made so he wasn’t there to intercede between God and man.

Being anointed a Prophet meant a lot of challenges for Elijah to take on, a lot of new situations to get stuck into and a lot of stress to go through as he moved around. I’m sure culture shock is not just a modern day invention, and this guy was moving around a lot for God!

Prophets at the time were wanted men and Elijah was no exception. Evil King Ahab had been hunting down the elusive Elijah for years. Add that to your everyday stresses!

Elijah struggled just as we do and needed as much help from God as both you and me, whether we realise it or not.

A chapter on we see he comes before God because he’s at his wits end. He doesn’t feel able to cope anymore, he’s all burnt out. Just a few hours before this he walks into the desert and asks God to take his life.  He wanted a saviour, someone to take off the pressure, and a little breathing space. So much so, that he asks God to take his life.

God needs a heart to heart with Elijah.

God decides it’s time for a conversation with Elijah and calls him to his mountain, Mt Horeb. Elijah goes and when told stands on the mountain waiting for the presence of God to pass by.

Looking at the previous display of Gods power makes me love what happens with Elijah next. Such a huge display of fireworks storming from heaven to burn up that altar provokes the feeling that something equally impressive is about to happen when God passes by, let’s face it he has a few bits and pieces at his disposal to create a spectacular entrance.

So we wait, and read on.

A huge gust of wind tears through the mountains, it could be God, but Elijah is still stood stock still so he knows it can’t be him yet.

Next and earthquake, God could have used this to shake Elijah up and force him to his knees but still Elijah can’t feel Gods presence.

Next a fire. Now God had done this with Moses hadn’t he with the whole burning bush thing, it’d make sense to continue the theme, but STILL Elijah can’t feel Gods presence.

Suddenly Elijah falls on his face and brings his cloak up over his head awestruck.

Not a bolt of lightning, not a legion of angels singing in unison, but something as soft and personal as a whisper brings this big hearted prophet to his knees.

This is such a special moment between God and Elijah. The Prophet is feeling fragile and God knows that completely, like a father he draws close and whispers to Elijah ‘What are you doing her Elijah?’

Elijah shares his heart with God:

‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’

Creation shares his heart with creator.

Instead of being angry with Elijah, angry that he was afraid of being killed when he has the creator of everything looking out for him God provides him with people to help. It’s a true Father son conversation, a display of compassion and love from father to child.

It only took a whisper.

Well this post is long enough, and despite a gross lack of pictures (sorry!),  you get my point.  We have a God of compassion, a father figure. He can use us to do great things but he’s interested also in the everyday. He’s never too busy for us and is always around if we are in need of some help.

Also, just because God is using you , it doesn’t mean your not allowed to have problems!

I guess God’s reminding me this today, for future reference, that when you or I are at our lowest points.

That’s when he draws near with a whisper.

Kathmandu – City that sleeps sometimes ..

Dear all =)

I’ve arrived… and I have my own office!

Well, I have arrived safely in Kathmandu! So far I have visited the office to find that I have my very own office! I have learnt so much today too almost too much to process. I had an interview with my boss Martin and he briefed me on a few projects he has lined up for me in Pokhara whilst I do my language training.  I am currently staying in the Gosham guest house where I will be for the next couple of days until I go to Pokhara and then when I come back I am moving in with a friend of mine, Ali Wilkinson.

Kathmandu… city of character

Kathmandu is such a lively city, it’s an explosion of people, places, colour and activity. It’s a noisy, dusty valley surrounded by mountains and with a character on every corner. In this vibrant atmosphere which is so different to the UK it is very easy to be daunted by the things that would be so simple to do at home.  Walking home after work for the first time, for example, or not speaking the language . At the moment I feel like I am more than living in a goldfish bowl, I’m practically too big for the glass to contain me. But as one amazing person said ‘Lets hope they wonder why the red haired girl is here and see the light of Jesus shining out instead of the Badeshi (foreigner) in the funny outfit.’

 I have a lot to keep me busy with over the next few weeks, but I am looking forward to the challenges that have been set for me.

Culture… cash in hand and ‘Christmas’

I have learned a little bit about culture today, that when paying for something you use your right hand. Also, when paying, you touch your right forearm with your left hand whilst handing the money over. This is seen as a sign of respect between shop owner and customer.

This weekend it is the Nepali version of Diwali called ____ this is the Nepali equivalent to Christmas/New year. Houses are lit up with small lights and candles in order to encourage the Goddess of wealth Lakshmi to enter the house and bless it with good fortunes for the year. It’s also accompanied by a weeks festival where various animals are worshipped. There is a day devoted to crows, dogs and cows as well as a day for brothers and sisters and a day for self worship.  This is a big festival in Nepal and is the one time of year that families travel to their home towns in order to be together.

Moment of the day:

-          I crossed a busy Nepali road, alone, without getting squished.

-          I also walked home alone today and didn’t get lost

Prayer points:

-          Safety in travelling to Pokhara this Sunday morning

-          That i will grasp enough of the language to get by in Pokhara and Kathmandu

-          That my confidence in travelling around the city will improve and I will trust that God will keep me safe.

-          Please pray for the loadshedding too, very often the electricity goes off in the evenings so that the businesses and vital projects have enough electric for the day. Most places have generators, but please pray that we don’t get more than our fair share of cuts as at times the electricity is said to have gone off for between 12 and 18 hours!

Sorry there aren’t many pretty pictures yet! I shall be taking some more soon I promise .. I’ll try and get one of the road I crossed if I can do it without being too conspicuous lol =)

Lots of Love and God Bless

Claire x

The Final Countdown! 10 Days to go!

 

Hi Everyone!

Before I get down to what’s going on with Nepal I would love to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me so far with financial help and also prayer support! I have been truly amazed at the amount of people who still remember me in their prayers and continue to ask for prayer requests for my different adventures! It’s an amazing feeling to see so many people interested in the work that I’m doing, some of which have never even met me!

 

So why am I going to Nepal this year then?

 

I’ve told a lot of people that I’m going away for six months, from close friends to the taxi driver who drove me home the other night. I love the reactions I get when I tell people what I’m up to, especially when I mention it to non-Christians. It’s such a great conversation opener for me when people cannot quite comprehend why I would go away for six months working and not getting paid for it.

 

The main reason I’m going is because God told me to! I know the basics of the work I’ll be doing there but also have the constant feeling that something BIG will happen from this and I’ve found with God so far, nothing is too big when he’s by my side guiding me through it, so i’ll take on the challenge knowing that when it all gets too much there He is carrying me through.

 

As well as doing as i’m told (for once), I have the desire to open people’s eyes to the wider world, letting them know that God is my Hero! He saved me and it’s in my heart to share his love with others and offer people out in the wider world the chance to meet their saviour!

 

I also hope my journey will open the eyes of people back home, to show them that our world is filled with such need, not only physically, but spiritually too. The world around us is in dark times, poverty, disease, death, both physically and spiritually and it’s the job of the church to reach out and do something about it. As Christian band Casting Crowns so poignantly reminds us

 

If we are the Body?

Why aren’t His arms reaching?

Why aren’t His hands healing?

Why aren’t His words teaching?

And if we are the Body,

Why aren’t His feet going

Why is His love not showing them there is a way?

 

I want to be a part of this Body that goes out and plants seeds for God, but I also want to inspire other people to go out and  teach, preach, heal and live in Jesus name to further his Kingdom.

 

Let’s get one thing straight!

 God can use ANYONE for his work, let’s face it he’s letting me do stuff for him =) He changed me from a shy girl who hardly spoke to anyone she didn’t know into a Journalist who’s very job is to go out and interview people she doesn’t know! God equips us for his purposes and it’s up to us to ask him what he’s calling us to do.

 

If you’re sitting there thinking, ‘I could never be a missionary,’ I’m sorry but I don’t believe you! As Christians our very comissioning from God is to go out into all the world and tell people about Jesus! Maybe you don’t fancy travelling overseas, thats fine because you’re already standing on the frontline in your very own neighbourhood! All you need to do it pray, pray, pray, for the opportunities to speak to people and take advantage of them when they appear.

 

The low down on what I’m doing:

  

Country and location: Nepal, Pokhara language training for 2 weeks and the remainder of the time based in Kathmandu, working on various projects around the country.

Mission Organisation: INF – International Nepal Fellowship

(see them here: www.inf.org)

Dates: 12th October 2009 – 31st March 2010

Job: Working in INF’s publications department on projects involving their website, magazine and also advertising materials. Also taking part where needed in events. I’ll be relying heavily on my journalistic training to help me and also my very basic photography skills.

  

 

Check out these youtube videos for more, sorry they won’t let me embed..

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgz_GDA-rUM&feature=related

 

 

 

Please Pray For:

  

My Spiritual Life:

  

Please pray that I would have time and the discipline to sit spend time with God and that God would provide someone for me to be accountable too also.

  

Going to any new place brings with it challenges, please pray that I will have lots of opportunities to share my faith but also to grow with God. Please also pray that God would really show me his plans for the next stage of my life.

  

Safety:

  

In travelling across the country, I shall be travelling between the capital Kathmandu and Pokhara at least once and more than likely more, this involves a bus journey that takes most of the day… I shall hopefully be able to get some pictures and write you an interesting little blog post about travel! From previous experience it’s certainly interesting!

 

In travelling around the city, being seen as a westener automatically brings with it the implication that I am rich, as we know here that certainly isn’t true so prayers for safety and also for me to be aware and considerate of those around me when spending money etc.

 

Health:

Please pray that I will keep healthy in Nepal both mentally and physically and that I won’t try and push myself too hard during the transition period between getting there and settling in. I really want to be as much help as I can when I get there so health will be paramount.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Training week for Nepal and also Freedom in Faith

I guess this is what happens when I put on the blog cam and don’t really think about what i’m going to say until it comes out =)

 

Also.. a little video i found on youtube about INF the people i’m going to be working with in Nepal. Nepalgunj is a place I will more than likely visit.

Kinny does Durban!

In my first GinjaBlogCam video I mentioned Kinny and his trip to Uganda. Well he’s been and come back and I’ve stolen his testimony for you guys to read.

Kinny felt called to mission at a Soul Survivor event a couple of years ago. He felt challenged year on year at soul survivor events to pursue a mission based project and last year he decided to take on this challenge. This month he traveled to Uganda as part of a two week action team organised by Soul Survivor.

Soul in the City Durban 09 truly changed his life and the following is the testimony he has written to explain how.

Read, be inspired and think about mission!

SITC: DURBAN 2009

This trip can be summed up in two words; “life changing”

A lot of people have said that; those that have served in many sorts of ways. Some  serving very close and some very far away.In the past two weeks I have felt God working not just in western countries but in fact more fiercely with the less fortunate, the least and the lost.

I asked myself why is that so? Then I found out. I’m wrong…in so many ways.

Kinny asked himself, ‘Why isn’t God working in certain countries?’

One – It’s not that He’s not working fiercely in certain countries. He just does it in so many ways that we can’t begin to imagine or feel it.

Two – It’s not him that’s not working fiercely for our reunion with him. But ourselves blinded by the lives we lead.

The people I have served with and the children I have seen had nothing. They depended on our all mighty God for everything; and that is what’s important at the end of the day.

So why was this life changing for me?

Was it the fact I had to wake up really early and spending the day working in a township?

Was it painting a school or the orphan crèche?

Was it that there was no phone connection or internet?

Was it worship & spiritual hype?

No, is my firm Answer.

It’s not by me or us that we change, it’s by God. God has shown me so much these past weeks that he’s shattered alot of my life and expectations and totally remodeled them.I wish I could share all my thoughts; but here is a few of just many:

On the first few days in Durban my heart was shattered over and over again. God was slowly breaking me down for a purpose I’d find out later.

First we went to visit the churches we were to serve with, one of the schools we were to paint, a nursery & the site where the holiday club would be. It started to sink in how things were there, the tension in the air; and just how things were. When it can’t get any heavier, we visited the orphan crèche at one of the churches. Those beautiful and innocent children…their parents that just left them; we were told the heart-breaking stories of how they got there.As the week progressed without me realising it God was reshaping me. Not until the second day of the holiday club could I see God’s amazing work in this place. After a chaotic first day; I was left asking God “Why?” bad mistake.

God answered me before I could finish my questions. I understood, I caught a glimpse of his pain for this world. And how much he loves them and wants to help them, we are his tools. Now I fully understand why he wanted us to go to serve in Uganda. Not for us. Not for our own fame or simply a good time. Serving is not a holiday, serving is to glorify God, serving is about being God’s tools of healing and ministry.Over the holiday club; I’ve learnt to deal with a lot of real life situations and how to use the skills God has generously given to me. Like the parable of talents, the Master gave generously to his servants according to his skills.

I’ve learnt a lot from thefive short days in the I spent with those kids. I learned how to care, love and serve them. I thought I always had a good idea on how to step into people’s shoes and see their views. But this week I’ve learnt that I could have done  better.  Overall I had a large learning curve both spiritually and physically.

my lovely group! it’s lunch time!

It brings me to think on how I felt about how loved and privilege we are in this country. I always take for granted  a lot of things in my life. I knew about a lot of poverty in other countries but never really understood how bad it was.

I could only imagine and see pictures from TV. But I’d never experienced how bad it was. After all a picture can only tell u so much. In the end I have learnt a good lesson about my own life as well; and brought back new views on how I should live this life. And how to live it with God’s purpose in mind and in a godly way as well.

Kinny leaves us with one question…

How can we serve if we don’t set ourselves as examples to this world?

There is so much more I want to say. There is so much more I want to share with you,  about the kids I’ve met, how God spoke to me during the days there in worship times.

To wrap it up a few things I’ve heard from sermons this last two weeks that stood out more then others:

There was a man who had a vision from God. He was very depressedthat people couldn’t see God’s love and his mercy. (To us Christians we find it easier to see the Lord’s mercy). The vision showed a giant honey comb in the sky; the honey drips onto the earth and lands on people. There were two types of people; ones that thinks is disgusting and tries to wipe it off them and those who couldn’t get enough of it, they loved it and were dancing in it, playing with it, eating it. Which one are we today? Can we see how God take cares of us? A home, food on the table, clothes?

A shepherd to his flocks; is not the leader but rather the servant to the flock. He’s there to look after them and make sure they don’t get lost or hurt. In a sense we are all shepherds to each other; the foundation of the church is our love for one another. To care, guide & listen to one another. Even if it means admitting you are wrong.

Lastly, what do you class yourself as? White? Black? Asian? Mixed? As Christians we all bleed the same blood; we bleed Jesus Christ blood. We are all part of the Great body of Christ. There is no difference, the only race we all belong to; is the race of Christians – God’s People. The body is as one and should live in harmony together; one supporting another and working as one. This Trip to me is truly “Life Changing”
God Bless you all

A shot of the holiday club

BlogRoll ~ the Update and my ongoing battle with YouTube!

Fed up of no Jobs…

RECESSION, UNEMPLOYMENT, REDUNDANCY! GAH!

I finished university the other week! I hate to brag but i’m pretty chuffed with my 2:1! Don’t worry people i’m not going to strut around demanding that you all call me Miss Claire Baines BA Hons however much I am tempted! With this celebration in educational achievement also comes a reality check and a forceful plummet to earth!

Coming home was one culture shock. As I left my amazing housemate Gingell and our pet scribble to fend for themselves, I have to admit, a sly tear escaped my eyes as we drove out of the Stokie smog and sailed through the heavenly purity of the A500/M6Toll.

I’ve been home now just over a week, it feels like an eternity! Who would have thought that it would be so hard to find a job! I guess I’ve taken previous jobs I’ve had a little bit for granted and not working whilst i’ve been at Uni hasn’t really helped the situation.

Now that I’m home, everywhere I turn there seems to be someone asking ‘Have I got a job yet?, another newspaper advertising jobs I’m not qualified for, or another email of rejection in my inbox because of the short span of time I am available to work before going to Nepal.

It’s more than a little bit frustrating!

Today I told myself enough is enough, If I can’t find paid employment I’m going to do something else, I’ll get a voluntary job somewhere. Something to keep me out of mischief until I find something, so watch this space.

Lastly … check this lil vid out.. legend Chris Moyles bigs up church on Radio One … one to watch =)

Read this Blogpost for me!

I apologise… someone told me this would be a good idea…

Equal in partnership – not stronger or better: different

Once again I’ve left this blogpost far too long. I guess this time however was because I wasn’t sure of the answer to this whole women are weaker and men are leaders hypothesis. I’ve asked around and had various responses to the conundrum but I guess there’s no actual way of getting a non-biased opinion of either.

Thanks so much guys and girls for the responses to my previous post I’ve been looking through and reading and trying to figure out what my opinion of it all is. Here’s a couple of things I came up with.

The general consensus was a little scattered between women being weak and women not being weak but having to be submissive to their husbands/male role models. I took my debate to the Bible to check it out some, I mean in my head biblical teaching applies very much to today’s society so why shouldn’t the roles of women too.

Jamie suggested a great verse in Peter about the way wives and husbands should behave together however there is a slight ambiguity in the way you can interpret what is written if you look at two different translations of the Bible. For example, the New international Version – the current version I use – says this:

1Peter c3v7:  Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (NIV)

However the New King James version of the Bible says this:

⁷Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (NKJ)

Spot the difference? A key piece of punctuation – the comma.

This verse is saying to husbands treat your wife with respect, with care and consideration as if she were a weaker vessel.. It does not out rightly say that women are weaker.

Perhaps I’m looking at this wrong, I mean I’m no great theologian but I don’t think God intended us to be pitched against each other, he created us so that each of our strengths compensates for  one-anothers weaknesses. It says in Genesis that Eve was created to be mans helper:

Genesis c2v18: The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

God looked at the earth and saw that it wasn’t good for man to be alone so I guess it would be possible to say that mans one weakness was the lack of woman. What do you think?

Lauren made a great point too when she said this :

Read this Blogpost for me!