Thoughts and Wonders

Self pride

2011-08-31T15:24:00.000-07:00

Long before i was of a mature mental age i told myself that i would never be on benefits. Thinking back this came out of thughta that my mother had so much potential in this world and it appeared to me that she had wasted so many years of her life claiming benefits and not living life to the full. Now she will probably see it differently and i only see one side of it but this has lead me to always wanting to work and have the capacity to enjoy life if every way i wanted.

Now as the clock strikes midnight i am officially unemployed. For some this is normal, for others they can't comprehend it, but for me it seems to take away so much of the identity which i tried to build for myself. Yes first and foremost i am a Christian and secondly i am a husband and a dad, but one of the key things i built the second part of my identity on was being able to provide for my family. I am called to a period in my life where i am left waiting for the manna in many respects. I try to raise support but hit walls which seem to make no worldly sense.

When will i truly realise that it's not all about what i can do. When will the truth set in that the key thing i need to base my identity on is God and what Jesus did for me on the cross. I keep telling myself that He is totally in control but when will i begin to live like it. I will wake up with no job security but i pray i can feel the safety which is given to me by God in His GRACE.

the Kia Pride - something else which has no reason to be prideful in it's self.

I forgot this existed

2011-08-31T15:02:00.001-07:00

I started writing this blog several years ago when i was travelling in Mozambique doing missions work. Since then i havent put anything in, much to my dismay. I seem to have forgotten what it means to process things in writing and i have forgotten the art of journalling. Hopegully i will remember to come back here and update what i'm thinking.

So why now? well i am about to enter a life of missions, something that scares me because i'm totally out of control. Hence i will have some thoughts and i will definately wonder

News

2011-08-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

Hi there,

News first... Gauntlet # 2 is being cooked nicely in time for mid march, prior to us moving in the Summer.

We have around 4 weeks left in Newcastle to Work ( F) to pack ( both) and to tie up final loose ends before moving. Please pray that we get further with the house sale....

We are just back from our holiday in Cornwall. We had a great time near Looe, with Fran's family. We got to be blessed by John Gillespie doing evening preaching at Grace Family Bible week again this year. http://www.gracecc.org.uk/ This year he spoke on Song of Solomon which was excellent.
Fiona had a lovely time being centre of attention, and swimming happily in the very cold sea.

So if you read this, if you pray... Please pray for the safety of the new baby, the house sale, the move, adjustment and financial provision for our time in ministry training in Birmingham.
THANKS!! x

oops

2009-08-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

sorry I accidentally logged in to this.
Love you

God's Creation

2009-08-08T11:20:00.001-07:00

I'm so happy God is in charge

2009-08-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

I just updated our family blog

( michaelgauntandfrancescadixon.blogspot.com/ )

as i had a hilarious experience today serving the Lord in Mozambique. After completing the post I read through our blog from eighteen months ago until now.

I saw things which I had forgot we'd even done or thought about and life has evolved as we would have never imagined.

I never thought I, the more reserved one on our previous trip, would be returning alone to Mozambique. In October we didn't even think we would be in Newcastle for the next two years but here we are.

I heard the start of a great sermon the other Sunday from Paul Scanlon of Abundant Life Church in Bradford. It was titled LIVING IN THE NOW. It used the word to explain how worry has no grounds in a Christians life as the past cannot be changed and the future is yet to come. The only thing which our direct actions affect is what is going on right now, as time actually happens.

I guess the reason why I am blogging is because I just had a deep feeling that this message is so true. Our own blog is a testimony to the fact that we don't know what is coming up and even if we wanted to we can't change the past.

I'm just happy that we are seeking God and aiming for the path which he lays before us. I pray you do too.

How much have I missed?

2009-08-01T00:49:00.000-07:00

I was reading the heavenly man this morning. Brother Yun explained that he had missed the direction of the spirit and as a result ended up in prison. Now this wasn't bad at the time, in fact it was what he needed to reconnect with the Lord and fall back in love with him.

It made me think though. How many times have I missed the voice of the spirit? Now i could try and rationalise and say that the spirit doesn't speak directly to me but i know that's not the truth. The most major time where God made me a promise was with our house. We spent much time praying about it and i clearly felt the spirit say that we would have a three bedroomed terraced house in Fenham, and that is exactly what we got. (Even though i didn't have enough faith or self belief to wait on God and adhere to the vision)

So how much have I missed out on? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying how much has been left undone because i didn't do it - I know that God doesn't need me, but how many little blessings and major ones have i left covered from not listening fully. How many people in the street has God asked me to bless in one way or another, or how many times have i refrained from praying for someone in fear of looking crazy?

Lord I'm sorry. Please discipline me when i don't listen, I pray.

My first thought (to blog - not ever)

2009-07-30T12:29:00.000-07:00

Why does it appear Africa a mile wide and an inch deep?

This is my second time visiting this amazing continent. I love the landscape, the culture and most of all the people. They show such an amazing desire to succeed and do well and it appears to me as if they have so much potential because they are so resourceful and hard working. (Obviously I’ve only met a small percentage of the population of Africa)

However I travel the streets of Maputo and I just see so much need, like someone has forgotten so many people. Now I know it's not God because Romans 10vs13 says ¹³for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved". I know it's not other people as I see both locals and foreigners giving to beggars and offering love and kindness.

So who is it? Could it be themselves?