2004 - Quite a year!

Well, a common saying is 'practise what you preach', and I am often guilty of not doing that, so here is just a little bit from me about some things that happened in 2004.

For a number of months I had been praying for more people in church, particularly people of my own age and younger. What to do about it? God didn't say anything for a while, though he did give me opportunities to talk things through with people. At the beginning of the year David H and I discussed the possibility of a Church web site. Was this the answer God was giving me? Ideas were put before PCC, and eventually http://www.stthomasbradley.inuk.com was brought into being. Was this my answer? I'm not sure, but certainly it has given me the opportunity to share a little of St Thomas' with the 'outside world', and has helped me share my faith with others.

April brought my first visit to Spring Harvest. This was particularly special as I could share this time with all my family, including my husband. Good friends made it easy for us to 'fit in' and feel safe. We got to know acquaintances better, and I now know they will be good friends for life. What an opportunity!

Music spoke volumes during the week (not just to me I am sure).

You pour out grace
I will bless the Lord forever
At the foot of the cross ………
It's Amazing, astounding, extravagant grace.. Lord, to You I lift my praise!

One evening, the chap (don't ask me names and details, I have a useless memory for these things!) asked us to chance our right arm. If we wanted to do something special for Him, we had to hold our hand out in front during the prayer. No way was I doing that…….but whose was that hand out there in front? Oh no! At the time, I had no idea what I was agreeing to do. I guessed it was the website.

Back in Huddersfield and down to earth again.

Colleagues asked about our week, and as a consequence Alpha in the workplace began at Bradley Infants.

I continued to pray for our young people in Bradley. They are so in need of God's love!

Off to Scarborough, and the picture came to me of our children sitting with their adults in a warm cosy atmosphere, having fun and finding out more about Jesus. What could we do? What did He want us to do? It was so obvious that we should do something, but what?

God gave me an hour. That may be the norm for you, but for me it isn't. 'Me' time is usually a grasped 5 minutes if I am lucky. He gave me a whole hour.

Within that hour of chatting to Him, TC's was here. All of it. Not just an idea, but set out on a plate. Using the skills we already had we could provide a safe secure environment where the children could learn more about Him and give Him their praise and thanks.

Now I'm not sure that we have got it right, or that that was what He had me chancing my arm for, but we should soon see. Whatever happens next, the journey with our Lord is so exciting! Why don't you join me?