JMUCU Houseparty!

Last weekend, as a CU, we went to spend the weekend at Pentrenant Hall in Powys, just outside of Shropshire. Despite the slight transport dilemma on the way, where the minibus decided to break down, leaving around 15 of us standing in the dark and freezing cold at the side of a road in the middle of nowhere, the weekend was all round fab!

There were a number of activities that were carried out across the weekend - we had meetings which were led by Ste Robbo (focusing on 1 Peter), time spent in prayer, seminars, silly but exciting evening games, etc. Some of the pictures below will give you an idea of what we got up to:

For me, the weekend was exciting because it meant I would be able to get to know other people within the CU a lot better - and that's what I did! It would be safe to say that in a way I feel like I belong to another little family, inside a wider family filled with God's people. There are so many lovely faces within CU and I have definitely made some long-lasting friendships :).

But as well as being able to form friendships and get involved with silly games, the weekend was a massive encouragement and a real challenge for me. The main focus of the weekend was 'Daring to be different', looking at how we can grow as a CU and spread the gospel, and how we can achieve our vision statement:

The Friday night was focused on being gospel centered. This really refreshed and strengthened my love for the gospel. It really reinforced the power of Gods word and how it is because of the gospel that our lives have meaning, and it is because of Jesus that we can have a living hope!

Saturdays meeting was focused on being marked by grace and what it means to be on mission. One thing Ste mentioned struck and challenged me most - "Mission is everyday life with gospel intentionality". Everyday we should be on mission for Jesus. In everything we do, think or say, we should always be intentional. Intentional in sharing Jesus' love with those we come across. I think it is so easy to miss opportunities to share Jesus with others, but it is so important that we go out of our way to share God's love. 

Dukie spoke on the Sunday morning about daring to be different in our personal lives and within our evangelism, which echoed a lot of what Ste said and really helped it all to hit home further. He mentioned that there are only two reasons why we don't share the gospel: we either don't believe it or we do not love our friends. If we truly loved Jesus, we would want others to love Him too. We will want others to hear what He has done for us, so they themselves can be transformed by the gospel! A massive thing I have struggled with over the past few years is sort of making up my mind about whether God can save people. I'd often choose not to tell certain people about God because I don't think they'd listen or I think they'll laugh it off. But God's word is so powerful and has the power to break down barriers and change people's hearts.  A question that was asked was, 'Who are we to judge who should hear the gospel?' And that is so true! God has called us to go and make disciples of all nations - and we should be bold and courageous, and answer that calling!

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) - Matt Redman

A week with my faves x

This week I had the lovely company of Nathan, and a beautiful visit from my nearest and dearest, Luce. It's quite hard summing up a beautiful few days but, as always, being in their company was quite a treat!

Nathan, the cutie, even treated me to a lolly!
- Currently in my hand. So very tempted to eat it, but too yummy to eat!

'There is a green hill' by Geraldine Latty.

Two posts in one night, a rare occasion, but I absolutely love the words to this song. We sing it at my home church, but it has taken me so long to find a version of it online.

'I may not know of the pain of His passion,
But I believe that in my place he stood:
That I may know freedom and live in forgiveness,
For I am redeemed by His great love.

There was no other good enough
Willing to pay the price of sin
For he was the only one who could reach out
And unlock the gates of heav’n to let us in.'

♥

Being able to sit in tonight has allowed me some time alone to reflect on how gracious our God is! Since being in Liverpool, I have been so overwhelmed by the many blessings that God has poured out upon me each day, and I am so thankful that I have a Father in heaven, looking out for me during every step of my life.

One of the things I absolutely love about being part of God's family is that I am never alone. I always have God to turn to, no matter what circumstance I am in, or no matter how I am feeling. I have a God who loves and cares for me like nobody else could! I just find that so overwhelming. 

'For I am convinved that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'

(Romans 8:38-39)

We need a desire to share Christ!

'I am convinced the greatest act of love we can ever perform for people is to tell them about God's love for them in Christ.'

- Billy Graham

I suppose this post is more of a request for prayer. Over the past few months in particular, I have really been challenged to stand boldly for Christ and to share the love of Jesus with other people. Sharing the gospel is something that we should do at every opportunity we can get - and we get lots of them, even though we don't necessarily take them!

At our CU, they have a vision statement which has set us the exciting challenge of 'engaging with the 24,000 students of LJMU, through the relevance of the gospel, with boldness and courage, for the glory of God.' Now when I first saw this, I thought 24,00 students is a lot of people to reach out to, particularly for a group of around 30 students. Don't get me wrong, 24,000 people is a lot of people. But I don't think that it is a number which is too great for us to share Jesus with. My thinking has been massively encouraged through one verse:

'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' 

Matthew 19:26

So I suppose a huge prayer for our CU would be that we wouldn't be discouraged and think that this is an unachievable task, but that we would be reminded of the power of the gospel. God's word is a word that can change lives. It's not just any old book - it's a book that holds the Truth that is found in Jesus Christ. Spreading the news of Jesus to these 24,000 people is impossible if we don't have God on our side and at the forefront of our minds. BUT. We need to remember that we do have God on our side. And although it may be quite daunting talking to people we may not necessarily know, we need not be afraid because Jesus has promised that He will be with us every step of the way.

Recently I sat down and thought about this, and questioned why I often find it so hard to share my faith with other people. Is it because I am scared about what people will think? Am I embarrassed? Then I thought about people who follow other religions. It is quite scary to see how public and open they are about their beliefs and how they aren't afraid to share their beliefs with other people. So why are we?! As Christians we believe that there is only one God. We believe that Jesus died for our sins so we can know Him as our personal Saviour, and so we can be with Him in heaven. If this is a truth that we know everybody should hear, and everybody needs, and if its a truth that we know to be the only truth, why are we so afraid to hold it back? We shouldn't be!

Something that has also really been on my heart for the past year - and particularly since the Aberystwyth conference this Summer - is getting involved in mission work. At the conference, one of the meetings focused on being part of the mission and not part of the mission field. And its made me realise, how better can I spend next Summer than serving my Saviour? 

I just pray that this year God would guide me in deciding how I can spend this summer - whether it's abroad or even just within the UK. I've looked into a couple of organisations and spoken to a couple of people for help - but I just pray that whatever I end up doing, God will really use me, challenge me, and maybe bring me out of my comfort zone, in order to share the gospel!

'And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'

Mark 16:15

Indescribable!

I couldnt find a single post with the full video, so its all in parts. But had to share this because everytime I watch it - without fail! - it blows me away and makes me realise what an awesome God we really have!

cf