Welcome to Gem's world!

2008-12-21T20:48:00.002Z

Privileged

The last few weeks have been a time of change for me. I've been packing up and closing down my work as Centre Manager in my role for Christians Against Poverty. This has been a very busy and hard time but I am trusting in God and I know he will look after me as he has done all my life.

I have been so so privileged to be in the position to be able to share in my clients, my beautiful clients lives. Its been such a humbling time for me and I truly Thank God for giving me the opportunity to do this.

On Thursday and Friday evening I went out and visited all my clients and gave them some Christmas gifts. This was such a moving experience as they are all so lovely and all said really lovely things about me which really made me realise how important the help from CAP has been to them.

Just want to tell you about 3 of them that stood out to me.

1- this client was my very 1st client. I remember being so nervous as I went to see this person, they were so so nice to me. This client and their child have been to all the events that we as CAP have put on and have worked so hard to become debt free, Which they nearly are. This client had bought me a lovely bunch of clients and some chocs to say Thankyou for the support they had received. I was so touched.

2 - When I first went to see this client they were living in the bottom flat of a derelict block of flats. They had no carpets and 2 garden chairs in the living room and was trying to keep a job down to keep the creditors at bay but was suffering from severe health problems which was causing great discomfort. This persons life as changed round so much since CAP stepped in. They have been able to move in to a new house with there 2 little girls and have carpet and a sofa and even a kitchen table!!! Wow! when I called at this persons house they said that I had saved their life. In reality God had saved their life and was using me to show his love to this client.

3 - The first time I went to see this client was a very difficult visit. The client's partner had tried to murder them and was now in prison. The client had been the subject of domestic abuse for many years and was carrying so much pain and hurt. This was one of the saddest cases I dealt with. This client never smiled and never had any joy in their life and was unable to work due to severe depression. I remember praying so hard that God would break into this client heart and take away the pain they had and that they would have joy in their life. I haven't seen this client for some time now. When I called on Thursday to see this client I was blown away! This client had started a new job the day before. I saw them smile! And then what topped it off was when I hugged her to say Happy Christmas and her big dog jumped up on us both and we laughed so so much and I just say Joy in this woman, pure happiness just a glimpse. I got out and sat in my car a cried, tears of happiness for the transformation in this client. I Thanked God for answered prayers.

All of my work has been in Jesus name and I pray that he will continue to look after all the families I have seen. They all have a special place in my heart.

Thankyou to all the people who have supported me in this work in prayer, finances and practical support.

Thank you Lord for all the opportunities to share your love.

2008-11-16T22:34:00.003Z

Gem Gym!

I really enjoyed going to the gym yesterday so much so that I went back today. I was really suprised at my fitness level, I was able to do half an hour on the treadmill, and cross trainer. then 15 mins on the bike and then half an hour on weights etc. It gave me a really good buzz and made me feel healthy! Yay!

I met up with Craig last night. He has been at the Youth worker conference this weekend. It was lovely to be able to spend time, just the 2 of us together. We went for a curry and then a nice walk along the front. The only downside is that it is getting harder and harder to say Goodbye and leave each other. Only 22 months to go and belive me I am counting down the days!

Anyway less than 2 weeks till we see each other again.

2008-11-14T21:34:00.004Z

Gym'll Fix it!

Long time no write! This post is especially for my friend Joy! After losing 4 and a half stone I am wanting to tone up my legs!

Tomorrow I am joining the local gym. I am very nervous about it! I have to have an induction so I know how to use all the machines etc

The good thing is that I am going my friend Angela who is the person who leads the aerobics classes that I go to, she is nice but Very fit which worries me! She said that we can do 10 mins on treadmill, 10 mins on the cross trainer, 10 mins bike and then 30 mins on weights etc. Feeling tired just writing this!

Oh well, I'll keep you up dated on my gym experience!

Happy reading Joy!

2008-03-05T22:00:00.002Z

God your good to me!
God is so great! It's amazing to think how God can use us even though we mess up loads. He still values us as prescious treasure even though it feels like we fell out the back of a wheely bin sometimes!
The last few weeks I have really seen God working in my life and all I can say is what a priviledge it is to do the kings work and see him alive and working in a powerful way. He he! Feeling very excited!

2008-02-07T19:33:00.000Z

Girl Power!!!!!!

The above photo is of me and Helen just before we went to see the spice girls a few weeks ago courtsey of wesley christmas!

I thought that I would blog tonight because i have had some very good news today and one of my friends told me off for not blogging!! Today I finally reached the 3 stone mark on my diet!!! Yeppie! so now i am 3 stones and 1 and a half pounds lighter and i feel great! ( even though i am still in the at risk BMI thingy!) I just wanted to share this with my friends who read my blog! i am still going to boxercise and am loving it, i go twice a week. I can even feel my muscles in my arms now!

So yes me and helen went to see the spice girls and it was so much fun! we had a great dance and a great sing, our ear drums will never be the same again it was so loud!

Me and Craig are still getting on great, we had a great weekend together last weekend while he was at my house. I took him over to delemere forest and it was great fun, we even saw snow! we also went to see cloverfield which we thought was really good!

Hope you are all well and I will blog again soon!

2008-01-15T20:16:00.000Z

Happy New Year!

Hello! I've just sat down after making some red pepper soup for me and mum to take to work tomorrow and decided that I should blog! i thought I would tell you about my crazy experience last night! First I should fill you in on some other stuff so it makes sense!

Just before Christmas ( after a long year of slimming) I reached an almost significant goal in my slimming success! I was just 2 pounds of losing 3 stone :-) but then over Christmas ( 3 weeks of not going to class) I managed to put 7 pounds on :-( But I'm not feeling to bad about this as it was Christmas and I had to eat Chocolate, and lots of it!!!

I have therefore started a fresh with my diet new year, new me! If i could lose the same amount this year then I would be the right weight for me height which I would be more than happy with. This week has been my first real week back and I have been so good! I've been cooking meals from scratch out of my slimming recipe books and have been drinking loads of water! i have also been trying to exercise more.

Last night I decided to try out an aerobics class at our local leisure centre. the class was entitled 'Boxercise' so I thought it would be fun and would burn lots of fat. I got there and was introduced to the instructor who was really nice and just said go at your own pace. the class was aimed at beginners. Oh my gosh the first 10 Min's went and then I realised that this was not a beginners class or if it was then i must be at nursery stage! The class consisted of lots of jumping around, squatting, running, bouncing, punching, twisting oh and lots of panting for breath from me!

I went on my own as I have got no one to go with who lives up by me and all the other women in the group were all in little groups chatting etc so that made me feel like a lemon! But the other thing was that I just put a pair of black shorts on and black baggyT shirt on as I thought that everyone would be wearing the same sort of thing but it turned out to be designer fashion show! I will have to get something tighter for next week!

The worst thing about it was the floor work!! I cannot do sit ups or press ups!!!!!!!

But I'm still gonna go next week! anyone who wants to join me please do!

2007-11-23T11:30:00.000Z

Smiley Gem is back!

Hello! I am back now and i am feeling pretty happy, Well i have decided to not to let things that i can't control get me down and to start living my life in all its fullness! Yeppie!! So what has been happening lately?! Well since July ( my last post) I've been pretty busy what with going to Summer camp with the young people from church and then going away for a few days with the lovely Craig :-) working hard with my jobs - Christians Against Poverty and My salvation Army job. I've popped down to London a few times to see Craig and my lovely Friends the Pearson's. Craig has been here a few times also which has been really nice too. I'm sure that i have forgot ton to tell you about lots of important stuff but I'm kinda starting a fresh with this blog so its ok!

I was having a chat with my gorgeous and godly man last night on the phone and we were talking about some pretty important things like the Future etc and then we got on to talking about our relationships with God and things and I was saying to Craig that i would really like to feel God presence really close to me right now and just have one of those moments when you just feel the love of God in a real tangible way. Do you know what I mean? But I want it to be just me and God in my quiet time not in a big Sunday meeting or with lots of other people around just me and God so i can feel his intimacy. I guess I'm thirsty for God. What I'm getting at the moment isn't satisfying me. I just wanna be closer to God, I wanna learn more about him, I wanna be more like him. I guess that I need to make more time for this, more time for God to be able to speak to me and for me to be able to speak to him.

2007-11-08T20:10:00.000Z

Sorry

Sorry i haven't blogged for a while, i'm feeling pretty useless and quite sad \t the moment.

2007-07-27T15:48:00.000+01:00

And there's more!!!

Craig got to meet my church family on Sunday which was lovely and probably a little scary too! Craig felt very welcome by everyone which is great! On Sunday night we went to to my other church were again Craig felt welcome and we both had fun and spent time with God.

Monday i had to work so Craig was left at home with my gorgeous dad who took him on a 3 hour walk around the fields of St Helens! ( exciting!) On Monday night we were invited out for tea to Cheryl and Gary Hayes house ( some lovely friends form the boiler room) Craig and Gary really hit it off when they first met at the boiler room ages ago. they both have a deep interest in theology. It was really lovely to chill out with Gary and Cheryl and spend time getting to know them better. It was also lovely to meet their family. It was really late when we left at 12.00am so Craig drove home as i was mega tired! I have never had a boyfriend who can drive before but i loved the fact that someone could chauffeur me around for a change! I think Craig enjoyed driving too as he doesn't get much chance at home.

On Tuesday we had a big lie in and watched a bit of super market sweep and then had planned to go to Tesco's and get a picnic and go to Croxteth Park to see the farm but as we got to tesco's i didn't feel very well at all and we ended up sat in Tesco's car park for an hour and 20 mins while i cried and waited for the tablets i had took to start working ( the didn't do any good!) I was in really bad pain and to make me feel better Craig read Harry potter to me! Sounds funny but it did help me to keep my mind off the pain. In the end we ended up going home to get a hot water bottle and i had a sleep. When i woke up i was feeling much much better! As it was Baileys birthday and Sam was up for the week we decided to go on a double date and go out for tea and go to the pics. We went to Frank and Bennys which i always call ben and jerrys by accident! And then we went to see hairspray. You must go and see this film it is so so good!!! i want to be in a musical so bad!!
It was lovely again to spend time with our friends and to get to know each other a bit better. I am so happy that Bailey in=s happy and has found Sam - he seems really nice and a good influence.

This led to yet another late night!!! Then it was Wednesday and we finally got to the farm at croxteth park and had a lovely ice cream ( mint feasts are back!!!) Then we went over to Crosby beach to look at the big men but when we got there Craig didn't feel too good so we but our seats back and sat in the car on the front and i read Harry potter to Craig for 2 hours! It was so romantic! Then we had been invited round to the pearsons house for tea ( very very special friends of mine and I'm sure Craig loves them too!) It was lovely to spend time with them and play with Katie - she is gorgeous!! We watched this great new programme called heros and then Will told us all about his game called torn city and how he is married to man on it so he could buy a house and get a better faction?! sounded very intense! I am really glad that my friends like Craig! It was another late night.

Then Wednesday finally came and it was time for Craig to pack his case and spend the last few hours with each other. We lounged around in our pj's all morning and then get ready and had bacon butties and cake for lunch! Then we decided to do a little photo shoot using my trampoline as a prop - impressive don't you think?!

I managed to get Craig to the station well on time which is a rarity! And then craig got on the train and choo choo'd out of lime street leaving me with tears in my eyes! I know i am soft but i love him!

Every time me and Craig spend more time together we become closer and closer, its so lovely. I don't know whats going on but when i look in to his blue eyes i get a funny feeling in my heart! Its defiantly love. Craig treats me with so much respect and love, he is so genuine. I love everything about him.

2007-07-27T15:19:00.000+01:00

Me and Craig Always and forever, Ba ba ba ba ba..........

Hello! As you may of guessed Craig came to stay at my house for a while last week and we got to see each other for 7 days!!!! That is a long time in our books! It was all very fun and very lovely.

On Thursday i got the train down to the City paved with Gold! Then on Friday i went out for lunch with Craig's sister Fiona. On Friday night we went to the essentials graduation which was really cool. I got to see some old friends and make some new ones! Electralyte were on and they were flipping great! Then it was back off to Craig's house after being interrogated about CAP by the man who gave us a lift home! Then on Saturday we got absolutely soaked down to our undies going to catch the train back to my house, so much so that i had to change my top on the train! It was so lovely to get the train back to Liverpool together and not have to do the whole nasty goodbye thing. It was just so loely cuddle up together even if Harry Potter joined us for the journey! When we arrived back in Liverpool the fun didn't stop! We had to get the bus over to the hall and pick my car up and then drive back over to my house. It had stopped raining at this point, thank god!!! We both looked an absolute state , but it doesn't matter when your in love! He he!

more to follow ............................................

2007-07-07T17:22:00.000+01:00

Can you spot the Gem?

2007-07-07T16:43:00.000+01:00

CAP Summer Holiday continued.......

At the Gala dinner we all got dressed up in our nice clothes and the menu was

Smoked salmon with salad
carrot and coriander soup
lemon sorbet ( to cleanse the pallet!)
Chicken breast in honey and mustard sauce with roasted parsnip, boiled potatoes, carrots, and cauliflower.
Marbled chocolate pyramid filled with chocolate mouse and raspberry sauce.
Coffee and mints

Then it was the CAPtatsic awards for people in the charity who had excelled in a certain area. Guess what?!..................

I won an award! It was for being dedicated to getting new life changers and for my effort in fund raising!!! wow! I felt so special had to go out to the front of the room and receive it and have my picture taken with John Kirkby ( CAPS founder!) I thought they had read the wrong name out! Boy did i feel special!
After the awards we had live music and danced the night away! It was such a great time! my legs are still hurting though!
During my stay i also went horse riding! for the first time and i was so so happy because i didn't have to go on the biggest horse! This may sound daft to you readers but as many of my close friends will know my weight has always been an issue to me since i can remember. This year i have lost almost 3 stone which is such a big achievement for me and believe me i am really feeling proud of myself. I have always wanted to go horse riding but always been worried about being too heavy and the stables not having a horse that i would be able to hold me. So not to have to go on the horse that will take the heaviest person felt so good! In fact my horse was underweight! The funniest part was trying to get off my horse! For want of a better expression i couldn't get my leg over his back! and then as I'm hanging off the poor animal i went in to a fit of giggles! fun fun fun!

So saving the most important stuff till last. The most important thing for me at conference is to rest and relax in the presence of God. I have a very busy life and as previous posts tell i find it hard to give god the time he rightful deserves. I was just able to worship him in total freedom through just taking time to look at his beautiful creation, listening to his word, through singing his praise, chatting to others about him, and resting. In one of the session i had a picture in my head of me and Jesus having fun, Jesus was giving me a piggyback and we were spinning around having so much fun. I am sure that they was god telling me that he is a fun God he wants to share in my joy as well as my sorrow. He wants to laugh with me and and just enjoy my company. That things don't always have to be so serious, God is the God of Joy and he wants to share in all the fun times of my life, all the blessings that he gives me that make my heart full of his joy. I am his precious daughter and as my dad he wants to share in my life in an intimate way. I think of when i was a little girl all the fun i had with my dad, the rough and tumble we used to get up to and the tickle fights, just having fun and feeling loved and safe in his company. My heavenly father wants to share in all of this fun too.

So all in all i just Thank god for his love for me and his constant encouragement and blessing in my life.

2007-07-07T16:21:00.000+01:00

CAP Summer Holiday

Every year i go away with CAP for our annual conference called Closer - Closer to God, Closer to each other, and closer to the Vision.

This year we went to a place near Dorchester called Chantmarle. Chantmarle is a christian retreat centre. The staff at Chantmarle are really good to CAP and are big supporters of the work of CAP. This was my 2nd year of going on conference and again it was really really good. On the site there is a really old and beautiful manor house (only the staff who had worked for CAP longer than 5 years got to stay in here, i stayed in a bungalow which was also very lovely.)

The Manor House-

On the Thursday night we had a gala dinner ( which was very posh!) In the afternoon all the girls pampered themselves in this very posh bathroom. We gave each other foot spa's, massages, facials, manicures etc - Being a typical girly girl i loved this! I so wanted to get in that bath and eat a flake!
The gardens were really lovely also, however it did rain lots so i didn't really get a big chance to look around but form the pics you can see that it was gorgeous.There was a lovely swimming pool too as you can see above. i love swimming but hardly ever get a chance to go, so this was a treat again.

( will have to do another post to get the pics right)

2007-07-02T15:56:00.000+01:00

Hello! As you will be aware i am travelling on the train alot more than i used to, making trips back and forth to London. I am trying go use this time to read and this weekend i took the the book ' The life you've always wanted' by J Ortberg. This book is about getting to grips with spiritual disciplines and the impact that they have on our lives. Its a great book so far, i am only up to chapter 5 but its really opening my eyes to what spiritual disciplines really are.

Before reading this book i would of said that spiritual disciplines are making sure you read your bible, making sure that you pray and give God the time that he warrants in your life, being able to quote bible verses in a discussion and that if i practice all of these things that i will be in Gods good books. How wrong was i! J Ortberg says that it is to grow in love for God and people and any activity that can help me gain power to live a life as Jesus taught and modelled it.

Quite different to my thoughts on the subject. I don't think that he is saying that we shouldn't pray and read our bibles more that we shouldn't get hung up on these things if we don't manage to fit them in to our day because we are too busy. I think that these things are really really important but just because we don't read our bible every day or we don't spend the whole day in prayer means that we are less mature spiritual than someone who does.

this makes me feel so much better about my spiritual life.

I have been trying to stay awake at night so that i can pray and read my bible but have been falling asleep mid chapter or trying to string some jumbled prayer together and then feeling really bad about it in the morning. The next bit that i have typed out below really helped me to See things a little more clearly on this topic

This is after a part on us growing in love for God and love for others.

"One thing that i have discovered when i spent the day trying to live in a love fashion is that love requires an enormous amount of energy. And i was just too tired to give it. So i realized that - as unspiritual as it sounds - if i was serious about becoming a more loving person, i was going to have to get more sleep!

I have discovered that i have a very hard time thinking and feeling and acting like Jesus when i lack sleep."

The bible has loads to say about sleep, in fact its actually an act of trust to fall asleep. I have never thought of it like that! Sleep is also a gift form God! wow!

After this i am going to try and get more sleep ( spiritual discipline) so that i can develop my love for Jesus and others! God is so cool!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

- this may not make much sense to you - its just my jumbled thoughts!

2007-06-26T10:22:00.000+01:00

I miss my time with you

Don't worry this isn't a soppy post about how much i miss Craig ( But if you are interested i do miss him lots!)

I have been so so busy this year so far, if i am not doing stuff for CAP after my normal working hours I'm busy doing stuff for church and it seems that whilst i have been so so busy doing stuff for God I've been neglecting him in quite a major way. I am not saying that i haven't been praying or reading my bible but i haven't been paying him the attention that i feel he deserves. I've got my self bogged down with so much rubbish recently and I've took my eyes off Jesus in order to help others which i feel sad about. The God news is, is that i am getting rid of all this rubbish and thinking about the concept of your eyes and ears being gates to your heart and what you put in to them effects your heart.

On Sunday night God really spoke to me, he popped the following words in to my head. I don't think i need to explain them as they speak for themselves particularly in my life right now.

i miss my time with you those moments together
i need to be with you each day
and it hurts me when you say
you're too busy
busy trying to serve me
but how can you serve me when your spirit's empty
there's a longing in my heart
wanting more than just a part of you
it's true
i miss my time with you.

Jesus,
Thankyou for speaking to me about my life at the moment, thankyou for reminding me that you are the fuel that i need to be using, that i need to stop relying on my own strength to do your work and that i need to be totally in tune with you. Help me make decisions in my life lord of where i need to cut down. I want to be totally on fire and healthy to do your work lord Jesus not tired and bogged down all the time. lord help me to be strong. Thankyou for loving and saving me Jesus. I am totally lost without you. help me to take the time out of my day to catch up with you and give yo the time that you deserve. I love you dad.
Your loving daughter.
xxx

2007-06-04T17:17:00.000+01:00

Who says that I am blonde?!

This weekend i went to London to see Craig and to meet his family ( very scary!)
I also met some of his friends from Uni. Now we had met up with Craig's friend Richard and his wife to be ( I can't spell that F word!) and were looking round the shops in Croydon. Romona ( Richards F) Was looking for some shoes to go with her wedding dress, we were looking in Aldo and i happened to see this really big new looking shoe on the floor. I picked it up and said to Craig and Richard " Wow! Look at the size of this shoe!" The next thing who i thought was a shop assistant asked me if i wanted the other one, this man turned out to be the owner of the shoe and was currently trying some other shoes to buy! Oh my word!!! I near dies trying not to laugh and go like a beetroot! I am lucky though as i think Craig understands my blondness and i also think he is a little blonde too!! He he! I never fail!!!!!

2007-05-28T21:21:00.000+01:00

On Saturday a number of my friends and friends friends went to Delamere Forest to tackle to 'Go APE' High wires course including the longest zip line in the country and many many more scary and high obstacles.

The reason for doing this was to raise money for the charity that i work as a centre manager for, Christians Against Poverty(to find out more got to www.capuk.org)

We had great fun! It was lovely to spend time with old and new friends.

2007-05-24T21:40:00.000+01:00

Its like riding a bike?!?!

As you will of read form my previous post, for the last 5 months i have been going to slimming world and one of the things they want you to introduce is body magic - Which is basically exercise.

When i was a little girl i used to love riding my bike down to the park near to our house and it always seemed so effortless from getting on to the bike to going full speed with the air blowing in your face and feeling free. It was such a joy to ride my back, totally pain free. I hold on to these memories..............

Tonight i thought i would be super good and get Wesleys new bike out and have a litttle ride, remembering it was quite low impact sport and what a lovely evening it has been so as a bonus i would also enjoy nature etc as i was on my little trip to the park.

Oh how wrong i was!

First of all i couldn't mount the bike (so to speak!) Then (something i never thought could ever happen to me) my bum hurt, really bad. I know i haven't got a bony bottom but oh my word it hurt! Then i realised that it was flipping hard work on your legs! Then i realised that the bike had gears and that i was in 6Th gear for the whole bike ride! So i managed to get down to the park, through the park but at the thought of trying to ride back up our road which is on a hill i decided to walk!

2007-05-22T17:14:00.000+01:00

The Jolly Miller public house of prayer?!

I wanted to blog about this the last time it happened but i didn't get around to it. every now and then i met up with my friend and work colleague Claire wilner who is the centre Manager at The Frontline CAP centre in Liverpool. we meet up to go over our publicity within the area and see how we are getting on for clients and just to encourage each other really. Claire and I get on really well so its lovely to spend time together catching up and stuff. At the end of each get together we always pray. The first time we did this in the pub at lunch time ( so you can imagine it was packed!) For some reason it felt a little naughty! I guess i was worried what others may think. I do that all too often, worry about what other people think. I really need to address that characteristic in my life as it makes my life a misery sometimes.

Anyway back to the point!

Today when we prayed it just felt really natural! I guess prayer should be natural well just as natural as talking to your best friend as that's what God is to me.I was thinking that God is all around us and we can talk to him when we are doing anything so why not in the middle of a pub?!

2007-05-17T23:01:00.000+01:00

Proud not to be a size zero

I am so saddened by this picture i found on facebook of a teenage model whose starved herself to death. Now i know that some of these pictures are airbrushed but even so why do people in marketing think this sells? Do men really find women who look like this attractive?

This makes me feel so sad.

2007-05-17T21:37:00.000+01:00

I am very very happy and proud!

Today I have finally reached a point in my slimming when i have lost 2 stone and 1lb and i have lost 10% of my body weight! Yeppie! I am so proud of myself.

I was reading a prayer journal from January and i had written that i was joining slimming world but i wasn't in the frame of mind for slimming and i knew that it was going to be a waste of money and that i would always be fat and that i wouldn't be able to do it. Bi-jingo! I have proved myself wrong! Yeppie! I am feeling very very proud of myself. Well done Gemma Lou!

2007-05-09T16:51:00.000+01:00

A pick me up!

Great news!

2 people that i have been really praying hard for attended the new Alpha course at our church last night and really enjoyed it! Come on God!!!!!!!

2007-05-09T16:41:00.000+01:00

Feeling mostly sad today ( 08/05/07)
I am feeling pretty sad today for a number of reasons.

1- I had a really bad day at work, things didn't go like i had planned. Sometimes no matter how had you try it doesn't seem to be good enough. Even though you don't do things for praise, its really nice sometimes when you do something well to be told so and be given some encouragement. If you give your best how can you give more?

2- I had to say bye bye to Craig for a few weeks which was hard espcially when you are feeling poo and you just wanna cuddle - 3 weeks is a long time!

3 - I am feeling really tired physically and emotionally after the weekend which always makes you feel worse. When i get really tired i cry at the smallest things!

4 - Because i feel poo and tired and deflated i am going to buy loads of choc and naughty things and then feel fat in the morning!

Woe is me!

2007-05-09T15:54:00.000+01:00

This year I had the privileged of being on the Roots prayer team. At first I was mega nervous, especially after we met as a team for our first meeting as all the other team members were really wise and had loads of prayer experience. Then I realised that for the last year I have been praying with loads of people (all my clients) on a weekly basis and taking in to account that to most of these people prayer and god is a totally alien concept.

The first lady I prayed with was an elderly lady who had really bad arthritis in her knee, I thought to my self that God doesn’t normally answer my prayers for healing but I prayed really hard anyway that God would heal her of the pain that she felt in her knee. After praying I asked her how the pain was and she said that it hadn’t changed. I was really disappointed and said to God “ God please can you just flipping heal her!” This happened in the morning and I couldn’t get her off my mind all day so continued to pray for her. I saw her later on that night and asked her how she was feeling, she said that they pain had gone! Praise God! I was so shocked that God had used little me in that amazing situation! I was so shocked that the lady didn’t have any pain anymore!!! But then I thought that I shouldn’t be surprised when our God who is the God of miracles does something so amazing! So then I felt bad that I didn’t have high expectations of him! Oh dear! My brain is crazy and believe it or not thinks too much!!!

There were loads of other high points of the weekend including a real confidence that God installed in me to just get on and pray with people and not to feel shy but have confidence that he was working through me and that as long as I stuck with him I would be fine! I prayed with a number of people who had been in difficult relationships and had separated. I prayed with a lady who was struggling with her prayer life. Another great thing was I prayed with a mother and daughter who was having a really tough time with her friends and was moving away to uni so was really going to miss her mum as they were really close because of the daughter’s father who had left them with nothing when she was a little girl. The next day they both came back in to the prayer tent to say thank you and that they were feeling a lot better. Yeppie!

Then there was the whole seeing Craig thing, which was great even though it was a little messy as he was working most of the time that I was off and I was off most of the time that I was working. But it was still great! I got to met some of his friends who are really nice (was nervous about this!) And he got to meet some more of my friends which was really good too. The more time we spend together the more I realise that I really love him and just how much he loves me. He treats me with so much respect and love its beautiful and makes me feel beautiful! He He! I got really upset though at the thought of mot seeing him again for a few weeks but hey its real love and we wil get through.

And then to top off a lovely weekend I go to have tea with my lovely friends from church – Deb, Will, Katie, Mary, Peter, Rosie, Sarah, Heather, Kev, Al and a man who plays the bongos and used to be in wham! Crazy!
Thanks God for a lovely time at Roots and Thank you for my friends and family and for Craig. I love you!

2007-04-22T18:32:00.000+01:00

Old friends

It was our north western youth chorus reunion on Saturday and i have to say that i had a great time! It was so lovely to catch up with people that i haven't seen for ages. I was really nervous about going just because i always remember getting really nervous before going to practice every month but really enjoying it when i got there. Kevin and Gaynor used to take me home when it was in Preston, and i remember so vividly this one time when Kevin was telling me and Libby ( who was also having a lift) about how he had a really hot kebab one time and it was so bad that it stung both ways! this has been a lasting memory of Kev! He He!

I think the highlight of Sat was sitting next to Rachel and Becky, i had forgotten how to read music!! So the 3 of us were coming in with the men, missing coda's, singing notes that weren't there! Rachel had to remind me that we sing the top line! Very funny!

You can see by the picture that it was well attended. i think its quite a nice picture, don't you?

2007-04-20T20:07:00.000+01:00

Real life

Did anyone see Holby city this week? I did and i want to write down a few of my feelings around two of the story lines covered in this episode. First of all i know that its not real but it does cover real issues. The first storyline was about a girl who was 14 and was involved in prostitution (some of you will know that this is something that is very close to me heart) she had been beaten up by a customer and found herself in hospital. After having some routine blood tests guess what? yes you guessed it she was pregnant. The doctor who was treating her ( who i think had a link to from a past experience? I'm not sure) kinda made her mind up and managed to get her booked in for an emergency termination. This whole story broke my heart, i was crying while i was watching it because even though i knew that its a fictional story on the TV i also know that this is a real situation and is happening in our country, and in our City of Liverpool. It made me think of a time while i was volunteering with Heavens Kitchen ( A soup kitchen that used to run for sex trade workers on Crown Street in Liverpool) and the chats that i used to have with the girls. I remember one girl who was so so drunk that all she was doing was crying ( It was her first night and she had drank so much so that she wouldn't remember exactly what she was doing) this girl was only 17. There were a number of girls in similar situations both younger and older. the youngest girl i spoke to was just 16 years old.

This is such a huge issue all over the world, but what as Christians are we doing about it? As Christians we want the lost to be found. Jesus wants us to be practical Christians. i desperately want to be a practical Christian , I'm desperate to show Gods love to the people who need it most. God is challenging me to do something beautiful for these people in his name, but what can i do? Two songs come to mind

people need the lord
Everyday they pass me by
I can see it in their eyes
Empty people filled with careHeaded who knows where
On they go through private pairLiving fear to fear
Laughter hides their silent criesOnly Jesus hears

People need the Lord
People need the Lord
At the end of broken dreamsHe's the open door
People need the LordPeople need the Lord
When will they realize
People need the Lord

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right
What could be too great a cost forSharing life with one who's lost
Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share

People need the Lord
People need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams
He's the open door
People need the Lord
When will they realize
That we must give our lives
For people need the Lord
People need the Lord
People need the Lord

and my response

I want to be the hands of Jesus, my hands his deep compassion show
I want to be the feet of Jesus, As to a needy world i go.
I gladly give my all to Jesus Through me redeeming Love must flow.

I'll tell you about the other storyline some other time.

2007-04-15T17:07:00.000+01:00

Shloer its your sparkle or is it?!

Yeah! Army wine! Yum Yum! I am a red grape kinda girl really.

Anyway more to the point......

Shloer claims that it give you your sparkle but i beg to differ. The last month I have been getting to know Craig Gaudion and i would like to tell you how he makes me feel. For the last 4 weeks i have been speaking to Craig on the phone every night for at least 3 hours! I know i can talk but 84 hours (at least!) is a little excessive! Its been so great to get to know Craig's heart. Craig is one of the most caring, genuine, trustworthy and crazy men i have ever met. I feel like i have known him for years its really strange! Craig's passion and zeal for God is an inspiration to me and encourages me to develop my faith. I have to say that this is all pretty scary for me as i am so so frightened of getting my heart broken and getting in to something that isn't right, Craig knows all about this and so accepting of my feelings.

Craig is so complimentary to me and also is really nice to my family which is really important to me. I feel like i can totally be myself with him, no masks, just Gemma and guess what?! he's still interested!

I have been reading through my prayer journals from the last year and i can't believe how God has answered my prayers even when I haven't trusted in him he has still kept by me and sorted me out. I wrote a list of all the qualities that i wanted my future man to have and offered it as a prayer to God and guess what?! Craig meets it to the letter! I shouldn't be surprised really, i always seem to forget that God is a pretty clever guy and he knows whats best for me.

I have drinking shloer on and off for the last year and still felt the same, no added sparklyness! But since i have met Craig i feel like I've got butterflies living in my heart! I feel so happy and i have definitely got my sparkle back! So i am changing the catch phrase to Craig......He's my sparkle!

ps- Sorry is this makes you feel sick Kev and Will!

2007-04-15T14:43:00.000+01:00

West Kirkby

After going to see my very good freinds Lynsey And Neil we went to west kirkby to have a picnic at the beach! We couln't find a legal parking space so had to stay near the car but still it was lovley! The weather was really nice too!

THen we went over to see my other good friends Debbie, Will , and Kaite!

Fun Fun Fun!

2007-04-15T14:28:00.000+01:00

THE GEMSBOK!

Hee its me! a new crazy specie originating form St Helens and grazing mainly on cadburys. One of a kind!

2007-04-15T13:13:00.000+01:00

CHESTER ZOO!

Wesley and Helen bought me and craig tickets to go to Chester zoo for my birthday! How exciting! We had a great day and got to see lots of animals, birds, and snakes etc

We had loads of fun! We even tried out what we would look like as some of the animals! What do you think?

Hee hee! Then i got stuck up an tree! Criag pretended to be a jaguar thingy! We also went in a bat cave which was really scary as the bats fly right over your head! Craigs hand was rather sqashed at this point!

Then we saw the lovley elephants, there was a baby one too! Sweet!

2007-04-15T10:33:00.000+01:00

Boy Meets girl .............

Miss Gemma Louise Mackay, St helens

Mr Craig Simon Gaudion, Thorton Heath

Hello! Sorry for the delay in blogging! I have been some what busy this week but i have got loads to tell you guys and loads of pictures to show you. For some of you this may even be answered prayer , it is for me! Hee hee! Thankyou God!

I would like to introduce my sparkly new fella to you!

Craig has been to stay with me for the last week, its been so so lovely. Ive got loads to tell you about it, we did lots of exciting things like going to Chester Zoo and playing with the animals! Trips to North Wales, and introducing Craig to some special friends of mine. All will be revealed in my next posts. Hee Hee but for now i am so excited! Criag went home yesterday and yes i was a little sad, infact i'm not feeling very well today could this be love sickness!! Cheesy!

more to follow........

2007-03-30T10:40:00.001+01:00

Happy day!

Hey My blogger friends

I still very happy at the moment. Last night i think my friend Kev wanted to know why!? Is that right Kev?

Well I am so happy because i have got a new friend who is one of the sweetest, most genuine, caring men i have met. His name is Craig, he's a good army lad! One of the most attractive things about him is his super strong faith in God. He is coming up to stay for a week over Easter so you guys might even meet him.

So that's my good news! I'm excited, are you?!

2007-03-18T18:15:00.000Z

Great things happen when you least expect it!

Sometimes just when you've almost lost hope and given up God intervenes and you are given fresh hope again!

I feel so happy today and i just wanted to share it with my blogger friends! In fact this picture sums up exactly how i am feeling right now, like a little girl who has got her whole future ahead of her and is so excited about the endless possibilities!

Thank you you Jesus for giving me fresh hope! You are simply the best and i love you lots! Amen

2007-03-14T19:14:00.000Z

How do you eat yours?!

Some one asked me the other day how do i eat my creme eggs?!

I have to say it depends on how bad i need the chocolate fix! If I've got time and I'm not desperate I'll bite the top off then lick the middle out and then eat the chocolate. If i am desperate for chocolate i just eat it in 2 bites or the whole in one!

So the question is How do you eat yours?!

2007-03-14T18:05:00.000Z

Having a Mary spirit

Over the last day and a half I've seen and read quite a few things that have made me think about God and his love for us.

I've started reading a book called 'Having a Mary spirit, allowing God to change us from the inside out' by Joanna weaver. I've only read the first chapter but its seams really good.

The first thing that struck me was this sentence

'For God never withholds good except when he has better to give.'

Over the last year i have really struggled with the whole being single thing as most of you will know! There have been times when i have thought surely God has got a husband out there for me, someone who will love me and want to serve god together etc etc so why is he holding it back from me? why is he putting me through this time of sadness and loneliness? I guess he could just magic up a man for me but if I'm not ready myself to get in to a relationship then that won't be any good for the poor bloke or for me or for God. I'm thinking over the last year God has been saying to me 'Gemma the best thing i can do for you right now is to bless you with the gift of singleness. I have to say that people have said that to me but I've thought flippin heck and God calls singleness a gift!! What a meany! But if i hadn't of been single for the past year i wouldn't of been able to put my whole heart and time in to CAP and to developing my relationship with God. If i hadn't of had the time to develop my relationship with God then i wouldn't of felt so comfortable talking about him to complete strangers! In the last week i have given my testimony to 3 compete strangers and most importantly 3 non Christians!! Woo hoo! God has developed a Passion in me for telling people about him! I even started to chatting to a random guy in starbucks about God! He was really interested! God just keeps giving me opportunities! Its amazing! So maybe singleness is a gift! Maybe ( I can't believe i am saying this!) Singleness is a good thing sometimes!

The other thing i wanted to talk about is a bill board type thing that i saw outside a church today as i was driving. This is what it said

Feeling Helpless reminds us that we are hopeless without God.

How true is this?! I was chatting to a friend last night who is having a really tough time at the moment for lots of different reasons but unfortunately she is not in a position were she can change anything. Its other people that surround her that need to change. One of the things she said was i just can't do anything i am helpless. I said to her at times like she is going through you have to cling on to your faith more than ever before. You might not be able to change a situation but God is the God of miracles and he can do what seems the impossible! Without his strength, guidance and forgiveness we are hopeless, totally hopeless. In fact so is life! I just can't imagine what it must be like not to know and have the security that you know what your aim is in life and what your goal is. It must be hell.

Anyway! I think i got a little carried away then! Hope it makes sense!

2007-03-10T10:21:00.000Z

Whose a clever girl then!

Look what I got this week at Slimmers world! My stone and a half award!I am feeling so proud of myself at the moment! I haven't lost this much weight for a number of years now, well 7 years to be exact! I lost 2 stone with our church body and soul group in 2000. This time I am totally determined to get this weight off! The thing is is the plan is really easy to follow and i am eating loads of lovely food! I can even have a creme egg every now and then using my syn allowance! Its great!

I have also started swimming again and been doing the Vicki Entwistle WOW workout DVD! Its great fun but very energetic, but hey that's what gets the calories off. The workout is split up in to different sections. First you have to warm up then the fat burner, then Belly Buster, and the stretches and cool down. The instructor who does the DVD with Vicky encourages you all the way through the workout to smile and it does make it easier i think. I do the DVD in our living room, we have a huge mirror that you can't really escape when you are standing in front of the TV and i smile at myself and i have a laugh but it spurs me on!

Do you think we smile enough? I was looking at this thing the other day about a smile cost nothing to pass on and it makes the other person smile too! ( well most of the time anyway!) I challenge you to smile to at least 10 people you don't know this week! Its fun and what have you got o lose? It makes you feel better and it makes the person your smiling at feel better too!

Smiles all round!!

2007-03-02T10:17:00.000Z

Pain

Hello My lovely friends!
Sorry i haven't blogged for nearly a whole month. Its been a little crazy recently, I have been sick and i have been busy with work as well, what with going away for our winter conference and having support worker training and a client event, its been crazy!

While I have been poorly I've been thinking alot about pain, pain relief etc etc ( this may sound a little strange!) I've been taking lots of paracetamols which have numbed the pain which has been great but when the tablets have worn off the pain comes back until i went to the doctors and got something to deal with the infection that was causing the pain.

I've been thinking in a emotional sense that's what we do too. We hurt, so we do things that take away the pain for a little while and the things that we do to forget about the pain sometimes hurt us even more. Then once that's over we end up feeling rubbish again and stuck with the initial pain. ( I hope this makes sense!) For example i went out with a friend on Tuesday night to see the film 'Music and Lyrics' , a romantic comedy staring the lovely Mr grant and pretty Miss Drew! The film was great and i had a lovely time but then on the way home i cried my eyes out pretty much all the way home! I suppose I am going to see a nice feel good film about something that i want to happen to me (The falling in love bit not writing a song and becoming famous!) but really it only rubbed salt in the wound so to speak and made me feel worse! And of course the film was unrealistic! I mean how many of you know of a happily married couple who met when the girl came in to water your plants! Not many I'm sure!

Anyway not really sure what the point i am trying to make is?!

I know that God heals emotional pain as well as physical pain but i really think that there are things that you have to do to help him, i think its to so with your whole mind set. But how much easier is it to say yeah i am going to change my mind set than it is to actually do it?! Its flippin hard! really hard!

Anyway enough rambling on that probably doesn't even make sense to anyone apart from me but nevermind! Most of you already know i'm a nutter!

2007-02-01T21:07:00.000Z

Wedding Bells!

Not for me yet! This was taken at a wedding that i was bridesmaid for last July. I have to say i love this photo!! Can you guess why? I think i look quite skinny on it!!
I also look VERY white! I'm not bothered about that I am just loving the slimness! You proberly don't see it but i do and it makes me feel a million dollars!!
Taking about weight and things for the last month i have been following the slimming world plan. Its really easy to follow and I've lost some weight on it too well 11lbs to be exact! I will obviously keep you updated on this( as long as its going well!)

2007-01-19T11:30:00.000Z

Lost

One of the priviledges of my job as a programme assistant at the Salvation Army is that i am able to meet new people and develope relationships with these people and hopefully they see that i am diffirent because i am tryinjg to live a christian life.

I have been in the office on my own this morning and a lady came in to me in floods of tears. Everything seems to be going wrong for her. Her mum has got cancer and is really poorly, her marriage has failed and things seem so bad for her at the moment. There are alot of deeper emotional issues that she is also stuggling with too. At one point in our coversation this morning this lady said" I just hate my life" At this point i am sure i should of mentioned Jesus to her but i don't think that she is at that point yet for us to be able to have conversation about God. But i suddenly realised this morning this lady is lost, lost in this world and the only light that is pure for her to find is the light of a fresh start in Jesus. I really belive that it is no co incidence that she has come to this centre and i am asking that you would pray for this lady in the next week, pray that the right oppertunity for us to talk about God will pop up and that she will be responsive.

I'm getting on my knees right now!

2007-01-17T14:44:00.000Z

You shall go to the ball!

At church we have just appointed a new leader for our childrens work, Sylvia Wills. Sylvia is a primary school teacher and also is an absolute natural with children. the kids just seem to respond to her really well which is great! During the Christmas period sylvis organised a great christingle service for the children, during this service we had a puppet show and Father Christmas even made an apperance! The christmas kids programme also included a fairytale/Princess party were we all dressed up as our favourite fairytale character ( I think the adults had more fun dressing up than the children did!) We had a great disco, more puppets and party food! At church it really is a blesing to work with sylvia and the other childrens workers in looking after the children.

2007-01-13T14:34:00.000Z

Midget Gem!

Awww! Little smiley, sweet, inocent Gemma Louise Mackay! Do you ever wish you could be a baby agian? It must be so lovley to be so carefree and not have a worry in the world.

2007-01-05T18:55:00.000Z

BY THE WAY IF YOU CLICK ON THE PICYURES THEY WILL COME UP BIGGER SO YOU CAN SE PROPERLY.

2007-01-05T18:46:00.000Z

Last ones now if your still awake!

A bunch of friends
More witnessing by the boys in the underground.

Weel thats it for today! The new scanner has got steam coming from it!
x

2007-01-05T18:40:00.000Z

Holland with the Songsters!

Easter Sunday- Does anyone remember the lamb story?!
Mum and Rita with real clogs on!
Feeling Good! The girls show the boys the way!
There is nothing like a timbrel march in the underground!
The Dutch Donkey! and Paul!

2007-01-05T18:20:00.000Z

More old pictures!
Sorry if this is boring but i am excited and so is my dad!

Ok this is my at my old place of work, a private day nursey, I am so glad that God invented Straightners!!

And Wesley "talk to the hand!"
My dad can even get the birds to listen to him! He is special! Just another talenthe has as being the best dad in the world!

The lady in the picture below is my Nanna on my mums side. I didn't get to meet her but mum says she was the best! Do you think i look like her?

I have put this picture in to show you that i can be slim and i once was even if i was about10 at the time!

2007-01-05T18:11:00.000Z

THE GOLDEN DAYS!

WE HAVE JUST GOT A NEW PRINTER SCANNER SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHOW YOU SOME OLD PICS! YOU NEVER KNOW YOU MAY APPEAR ON THEM!

1ST ON HERE ON THE LEFT IS ME AS A LITTLE GIRL WITH MY DAD IN OUR OLD HOUSE ON MOSTYN AVE, AINTREE.

THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT HERE IS ME GETTING MADE A SENIOUR SOILDER AT WALTON.

ABOVE IS ME WITH ROAD RAGE! AND TO THE LEFT IS ME HAVING A SNUGGLE WITH MY MUM IN OUR OLD BATHROOM, NICE TILE DON'T YOU THINK !

BELOW IS ME WHEN I DECIDED TO DYE MY HAIR RED SO I COULD BE LIKE GINGER SPICE. I WOULD RATHER NOT TALK ABOUT THIS INCIDENT!

2007-01-04T21:33:00.000Z

My long lost love in Chans chinese takeaway on Knowsley Road, St Helens!!!! ( in the style of a Mills and Boon Classic!)

Oh my goodness!!! I have just been to Chans for the last treat ever before i start the slimming world healthy eating plan in the morning. As i went in i noticed that there were 2 policemen and one police woman.

One of the police men kept looking at me and was extremely lovely! He had the most dreamy eyes! Chocolate brown! I smiled back at him then his order was called so he came and stood next to me and brushed my arm it sent a shiver down my spine! He order some spring rolls and a portion of chicken fried rice and then asked the assistant for "2 cans one coke and one 7up! and said diet of course" and laughed, i also let out a little giggle! The Chinese assistant didn't get the joke! He looked me right in the eye as the assistant was packing his order up and smiled again to which i of course smiled sweetly back!

He pulled out a £20.00 note to pay and the assistant took it and then went to the till on which it said £6.50 change he looked at me and give a look as if to say "how much?!" i giggled and said "that's an expensive tea!" He laughed back in a shy manor.

Meanwhile is 2 colleagues had been stopped by 2 local girls who were asking about some local youths who had been throwing bricks through one of their relatives windows, you could see that they were wanting to get away and have there tea.

Brown eyes looked at me and rolled his eyes to which i said "You can't even have your tea in peace!" Brown eyes bending over closer to me to hear what i was saying! He laughed "You can't even go to the toilet in peace!" With that he winked at me and left the Chinese never to be seen again!

I love my world!!!!

2007-01-02T19:35:00.000Z

Oh What a night....................

New years eve 2006 was a great night for me this year, in fact i would even go so far as to say the best new year ever! I spent it at my 2nd church which is the Liverpool Boiler Room. I had ad great time we had some worship and a small message and then just had lots of fellowship with each other. Then as 12 o'clock struck we went out side and watched as the fireworks went off one lady even prayed with me for a happy and healthy 2007 and that God would really bless me and use me in this new year. Then we went back in and just had a crazy time of worshiping God! It was amazing! The holy spirit presence was so close.

What a way to enter in to a new year than with your church family praising God for all he has done for us and all he is going to do in 2007. This made such a change form some of the places i have spent new year of which i don't even want to mention.

At the end of the day Christmas and new year are all about God and all the glory should be his its by his grace that we are here to celebrate. I personally was celebrating all that God has given me in 2006 and the things he has taken away that have made my life so much better. I was celebrating the exciting challenge of another year of following Gods exciting plan for my life.

So new years resolutions!!!
Well the obvious one is the one that gets on my list every year! I'll see if anyone can guess that one?!

1 - To grow closer to God and to spend more time developing our relationship together .

2 - To make the most of now and not to wish my life away. Every moment of our lives if a gift even if its not were you want to be at the time. I need to learn to be grateful for what i have got now and be excited for tomorrow!

3- To read my new 'Cover to Cover' daily reading guide that some very nice friends of mine bought me for Christmas. If anyone else is reading this let me know, it would be cool to do it together?

4- To develop the fruit of the spirit - Patience.

5 - To be still and listen to God on a regular basis! In all the hustle and bustle of last year this was one thing that i really didn't do much but i want to hear from God as we know prayer is a conversation and we all know that conversations are a 2 way thing. I don't give God much time to answer back its always me just gabbing away!

6 - To stay focused on the positive and not to dwell on the negative.

7 - To believe in myself! I am a beautiful child and princess of God! I am a capable young woman with a life full of potential. ( I will need to work on this one!)

8 - To manage my time better and to learn to say no!

9 - To grasp the concept that I can only be completely fulfilled in Jesus and remember that he is all sufficient.

10 - To be honest with myself and others, not to pretend i am ok when really i feel like i am struggling and can't keep my head above water. this is one of the main reasons God created friendship!

I think that is enough to be getting on with! What do you think ? Will i be able to keep to them? I am accountable to you my fellow bloggers!!

Bless you all in this exciting new year!

xxx

2006-12-19T21:50:00.000Z

I haven't told you about CAP yet!!!! By the way thats our logo at the top but for some reason blogger has turned the blue writing in to green?! Weird!

Anyway CAP!

What is it?

John Kirkby founded CAP in 1996 in response to the tremendous poverty he saw in his home city of Bradford. As a Christian, he felt God call him to help using his skills gained through 17 years experience in the consumer finance industry.

CAP aims to show God’s love in action by providing sustainable poverty relief through debt counselling, advice and practical help. CAP’s unique ‘hands on’ approach empowers people to help themselves out of poverty and be released from the fear, oppression and worry generated by overwhelming debts. Vital financial and budgeting life skills are developed through our services, thus ensuring poverty relief is sustainable.

The charity operates through a growing network of centres based around the UK, all opened in partnership with a local church. Over the last ten years, the charity has grown from one man to a national charity with 41 centres open across the country.CAP’s vision is to help answer the national problem of debt in the UK by opening a CAP centre in every major town and city by the year 2021. We have recently been in a period of consolidation and are now stepping out to achieve our 2021 vision by opening 20 centres a year from now on.

Its such an amazing charity, i am so blessed to be able to work for them as a centre Manager at the Walton Centre which is in partnership with the salvation Army.

Got lots of exciting stories to tell you all about CAP but i think thats enough one one sitting!

If you wanna know anymore about CAP take a look at our website

www.capuk.org

or ask me!

2006-12-16T10:42:00.000Z

Prayer request for today

Hey friends

Its our church Alpha Holy Spirit day today and i am really excited that lots of good stuff is going to happen. Please pray for us, we are meeting a tthe boiler romm from 12.15pm till god knows!

Will give you a report of the day when its over.

Thanks!

xxx

2006-12-15T11:29:00.000Z

More little friends

Here are 2 more of my little friends! This is Miss Chloe and her little sister Miss Lauren. Chloe is so cute! She always tells me that she loves me! Her best friend is Jesus cos he's always with her and when she laughs he laughs and when she crys he crys and that he loves her very much! Bless her.

We are so blessed at our church as we have loads of lovley kids!

2006-12-15T09:42:00.000Z

The Nativity Story

This is the new film that's just come out, well I say new! The story is probley one of the oldest ever!!!

I went to see this on Tuesday night with our Alpha group. It was really excellent!

I don't think I really realized how difficult things were at that time. Herods tax collectors pinching everyone's money and if people didn't have money then they would take an animal or a child from the family. A little bit like what we call bailiffs.

Mary was so so faithfully to God, one thing that really stuck out to me was her response when she saw the Angel, and he told her what Gods plan for her was

" I am the Lords servant. May everything you have said about me come true."

What an amazing woman of God!! In those times you would get stoned for getting pregnant before you were married, not like now when its just one of those things so to speak. Mary knew that her parents would be mad and that Joseph would also be devastated and that you would be classed as muck by her whole village. Nevertheless because she trusted God so much she accepted his plan for her. What a woman!!!!

Its certainly challenged me, I want to be as trusting and as faithfull as Mary was.
I want to be a moden day Mary! ( obviously i don't mean with a baby etc!)

2006-12-13T13:20:00.000Z

Does anyone read my blog?!!!

2006-12-12T16:29:00.000Z

Look its a baby! Arrrrr!

Most of you will know that i have an absolute fasination with babys! This is another one of my little friends called Mufarowashi just call him Mufaro for short!!!!

He's a little sweetie and he has the most gorgeous hair! Its like crushed velvet!!!

He's so much bigger now than in the pic!!

2006-12-09T20:43:00.000Z

Are you Amazed?

Check out this link

http://www.ignitermedia.com/amazed.asp

I certainly am!

2006-12-09T18:27:00.000Z

AWWWWW!

Yes this is me and my little brother! See we do love each other!

This was taken at a wedding that i was bridesmaid for and wes was best man on an extremly hot and sunny day back in July!

I Love this pic cos wes looks really happy on it.

2006-12-08T17:59:00.000Z

To quell the spirit

Been thinking quite a bit recently about the holy spirts power and if we ask to be filled of it but then become a chicken when we are prompted to do stuff then wahts the point?
Also been thinking about all the bizare and amazing things that the holy spirit does ie Healing, casting out deamons, speaking in tongues, slaying in the spirit etc etc

If that doesn't happen at your church beacause people think its all a little strange and weird does that mean that you are quelling the spirit? and then if you are doing that does that mean your kinda speaking bad of the Holy spirit? therefore committing the unforgivable sin in ignorance?

I don't know why we find this stuff strange!(thats me included) It talks about all this stuff in the bible really clearly! I mean we don't find the fact that Jesus tells us he loves no matter what strange or the fact that God made the world strange etc etc We just take it as normal beacuse its in the bible. So what can't we get our heads round this stuff?

2006-12-08T09:44:00.000Z

The Blogger returns!!!

Sorry I haven't blogged for so long! I have been rather busy the last few weeks what with nipping over to Egypt for 2 weeks and then over to the lovley Bradford ( not so glam or hot!) and then down to busy London!

I thought i would show you some of my holiday photos form Egypt!
Sorry if I bore you to death!

Desitnation - Sharm el Shike, Sinia Pernisular, Egypt
Dates - 30th OCt - 13th Nov 2006
Who - Val, Dave, Gemma, and Wes
Hotel - Domina Coral Bay Beach Resort

Nice hat! I don't own this! A strange bloke stuck on my head so i would buy it!

This is Cario, you can see the Pyramids in the distance if you look really carefully!

The great pyramid!

More pyramids!

It isn't very comfy on a camel, we don't really mind at all.......

So thats your first installment of Eygpt! The next part of the adventure will follow shortly!

2006-10-27T19:20:00.000+01:00

http://www.myheritage.com

2006-10-27T00:07:00.000+01:00

2006-10-26T10:08:00.000+01:00

I would like to introduce you to someone who is very special to me and someone that I love lots and lots!

Miss Katie Ellen Pearson. Katie is the daughter of some very special friends of mine who have just officially been accepted as Salvation Army church leaders! whoo hoo!! The down side to this is that they will proberly be moving away from Liverpool at some point in the next year which makes me sad but on the other hand I am happy that they have found the path the God wants them to go and down and are being faithfull to his plan. I will miss them loads though!

Me and Katie are having a lovely snuggle on this pic. I love the way she cuddles in to you its so sweet!

2006-10-26T09:54:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to my blog!

Hopefully I am going to remember to write on this so I give you permission to shout at me if I don't. I think your supposed to blog about things that intereset me and about my feelings etc.

I'm new to blogging so you'll have to bear with me. Hopefully over the coming weeks - you'll see the blog develop.

Thanks for having a look

love

Gemma
xxx