the best busker ever...

This is great!

Assignments and CU...

So this morning I've just handed in 8% of my degree! Maybe sounds like nothing to you but I found it pretty scary! Up until now, none of our work has counted so to be honest, I hadn't given any assignment much thought! Apparently there is a huge leap in what is expected of a third year music student compared to second year however this left me with no idea to what standard my essay should be and as I was handing it in I was constantly questioning whether or not it was good enough! I keep reassuring myself though, I did my best and worked hard and thats all I can do!

On another note, heard this quote today and I'm LOVING it!

"I urge you to set yourself a goal. To know more of the word of God, to grasp more of the will of God, to love more of the wonder of God; then make a plan of prayer and study and worship, and go for it with all your might" John Piper

Heading to the Exodus centre in Coleraine tonight for our Magee C.U. weekend. I can't wait. It's been such a priviledge to see the journey God has brought the CU on over the past three years I've been here. Such a short space of time yet God has worked immeasurably and amazed me! I'm certain massive things are going to happen in this, my final year, and it excites me that long after I've left uni and CU, God will still be working on the Magee campus, using the CU to spread His name throughout a community of students searching and longing for something more.

Louis Walsh...

Was it just me or did Louis Walsh look really weird on x factor tonight? His eyes looked very wide and his wrinkles smoothed out!

The man does my head in.

The X Factor...

It's that time of the year again! The X Factor is in full swing and although being slightly disappointed with the audition shows this year, I am very excited about the live shows starting next week! I'm liking Rachel, she's got a very cool voice and the dude with the afro is cool too...early days but from the sounds of things it should be a good year!

I'll be posting about X Factor a bit...if you know me at all you'll know I'm fairly obsessed!

:)

The Soloist...

Went to see 'the soloist' tonight. Was expecting a fairly light hearted, uplifting, musical flick which would leave me with that warm fuzzy inspired feeling but actually found it to be rather uncomfortable to watch, slightly disturbing and a bit depressing! Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVED it but it totally wasn't what I was expecting. It was one of those movies that makes you want to be a better person! Now I'm psyched to go befriend a homeless person with mental issues, spend time with them and their friends and slowly but surely erradicate America's problem of homelessness...pretty sure that attitude won't last long!!

The film, which is based upon a true story, was particularly striking in it's portrayal of homeless people in L.A. I didn't have any idea it was such an issue. We're always seeing third world countries and poverty stricken places in Africa and the far east but we hear little of such issues in western countries. There are 90,000 homeless people in the greater L.A. area and the film looks at one particular shelter, LAMP Community, which helps to improve the lives of those with mental issues living on the streets. It's something I'd never given much thought to but after seeing the scary reality of life for these people and the warped way in which the government and police tackle the problem, it's definately an issue I'll be thinking about more and praying into.

Despite being a little uncomfortable at times it is a beautiful story, filmed in a creative and emotive way with a fantastic classical soundtrack (especially if you like your Beethoven and Bach cello suites!) I highly recommend the film, but go and be prepared to have your eyes opened a bit.

Two ways of life...

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Albert Eintsein

The full picture...

I can't wait to see the full picture! Every part of the jigsaw where it is meant to be making the most beautiful picture you have ever seen! It's exciting to think that tiny ripples can create big waves, tiny actions and prayers play a vital part in massive things! So in reality, everything we do for God is massive and has a massive impact because He uses everything and it is a necessary link in the chain.

This thought struck me tonight while sitting in a room with a group of 15 older people who pray faithfully each month for the CU's in the Northwest region of this island. It was so unbelievably encouraging to hear them pray for Magee and Coleraine CU. Their interest in what we are doing this year and their eagerness to learn of how they can help us as a CU was humbling. A small group of people, meeting once a month in a house in Portstewart, praying for a couple of universities - at first may seem so simple and insignificant but yet is unbelievably massive and vital in the effectiveness of Magee and Coleraine CU. I can't wait to hear what has happened and what is going to happen as a result of those prayer meetings. Probably will I only know the true extent of how God used them when, one day, I see the full picture. I can't wait.