I know it’s march but I have a new C.D, with several Christmas themed songs on it. (Thea Gilmore, Strange Communion) One of the songs on it set me thinking, it has the line, “There’s a star in the east, the Magi in their turbans bought there luxury toys, in homage to the child born to capsize there values.” How often do we forget that Christ’s birth is about turning on it’s head our values, and instead we want it to be all nice and cute, a child born to make the world right, but not upset out world.

I’d started a lovely blog, pressed the wrong button and the computer ate it! So here is the second attempt. Firstly I have moved, I am sitting amongst boxes but am feeling so much less stress now that I am removed form the stressful situation that my last flat had become.
Secondly I thought I would tell you about Holy City (Iona monthly service in Glasgow) that I went to last night. I attended a seminar on hoe to cut your carbon footprint in the house. I was expecting to end up feeling helpless as I rent a Tenement flat so, high ceilings, and not a lot I can do about insulation, double glazing etc. Instead I learnt that yes there are big things that home owners can do, but that there are many other things that I can do. One person commented that she has found that the one single thing that she did which made the biggest difference to fuel consumption, was only boiling the water you need, sounds simple, but how often do we boil more than we need, not put lids on pans etc. Secondly they were talking about hoe old buildings need to be able to breath so sealing every draft isn’t the way to go, but that some drafts should be stopped and that can make a big difference. My flatmate and I had already identified that the biggest draft comes from the front door, so we are going to make a sausage dog in the next few days. Finally the last thing that I can easily do, which to a great extent I do, do already, is except that when it’s freezing outside, it won’t be boiling in my flat, so put on a jumper.

My meeting at work went ok. They are keeping me on but cutting my hours. This means that i still need to look for a new job, but it takes the pressure of a little. Thanks to you all for your prayers, and can I ask you to continue to pray as i job hunt.

This morning I had an initial meeting with a mission organisation, to talk about that scary thing called “the future”. I felt it went well. Before going in to the meeting I had an idea in my brain as to what is and isn’t important to me, about any organisation that I work with. I had purposely decided that I wasn’t going to ask straight out questions about these areas, but to see what was discussed, so as to get a feel about what is and isn’t important to the organisation. One area that is important to me is who else I am working with, this came up as the mission representative, talked about the importance of who you are working with, often being more important than where you are. We also talked through other things that made me feel happy, that it is worth seeing what happens with taking my initial enquiry a bit further.
In other news, I have a meeting on Thursday with the big boss at work after which I should know more whether I have a job or not come the end of March. I also had my blood pressure checked this morning, it’s the high end of normal but nothing to worry about which is good.

I have a feeling that this could be one of those rabbeting posts that makes sense to me and noone else! I’ve been thinking through some issues, and realised how interconnected so many issues are. As you think you have one think, you realsie that is attatched to so many issues, and your thoughts on those either become tided in knots, or totally unravel!
In other news i am moving next weekend, as the situation in my flat has come to a head and moving out seemed the best option. Also still have no idea what is happening on the job front, and if i will have one after the end of march, so i wasn’t surprised when i had my blood pressure checked and they said it was high!!

After a break while life attacked (and a holiday) i am back suggesting countries for people to pray for. This week i would like to remind people about Lebanon, a country which has in the past been wracked apart by civil war. It still has UN peace keepers stationed their, as the Israel conflict often spills in to Southern Lebanon. It has some difficulty with it’s relationship with neighbouring Syria. Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of the assignation of it’s former president, where Syria maybe be implemented. The UN are still investigating who is responsible.
Lebanon has the freest press of any Arab state. It has historically been a place of refugee from oppression in neighbouring states. It has a mix of religions. This is demonstrated by having a Christian president and a Muslim prime minister.

Prayer and Praise points
* Praise that different religious groups work together and that this will continue to be the case
*For relationships with it’s neighours – Israel, where the UN police an area in the South of Lebanon
– Syria with some in the country being pro and some anti
*Praise for the current press freedom, and that press freedom would continue to grow.

I’ve been meaning to post for a while, but well life attacked! I’ve been away for two weeks, and had planned to blog about a new country to pray about on my return. Instead work has been manic and the rest of life has jumped and down refusing to be ignored. This morning i finally have some time, so far i have viewed one flat, and have another to view before going to work, e-mailed off and application form, finished writing a reference for a friend who wants to foster, i’ve also started looking at job adverts and job specs to think about what else to apply for!

This week I want to encourage people to pray for the Falkland Islands. It is a British Overseas territory. This means that it is self-governing, but defence and foreign affairs are handled by the UK government. It is famous for the UK and Argentina going to war over it in 1982, while the UK retains sovereignty, the Argentineans are still claiming sovereignty over it. There are still disputes over fishing and flights over the Falkland Islands. There is also thought to be oil reserves of the coast, which could lead to further disputes. It has a permanent British military presence. It’s economy depends on fishing, and sheep farming. Tourism is on the increase but only makes up a small proportion of the economy. English is the language of the Falkland Islands with most of the population being of British decent. It is a wind swept island and is famous also for its penguin population.

Prayer points
• That the environmental and economics of tourism will be balanced.
• For continued improvement of relationships between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland Islands.
• For both environmental and political management of potential oil.

I was listening to “If I Stand” again this evening. I love this song, it reminds me that if I stand it’s only because of God, and if I muck it up I can fall back on God. It reassurances me that when I muck it up God is still there waiting to catch me. I need to be reminded of this, as sometimes I’m so scared of mucking it up that I do nothing. When I get it wrong I need to remember that I am falling on God’s grace, and that when I get it right it is only because of God.

New week new blog. This week, I would like to encourage people to pray for Lesotho. Lesotho is a small landlocked country, completely surrounded by South Africa in. due to its size and position. It is very dependent on South Africa. With many migrating to work in South Africa, particularly, South African mines. Politically Lesotho is a democracy, generally, elections have passed off relatively peacefully. Lesotho has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world. They are taking steps to stop the spread of HIV. However, at the moment, the life expectancy in Lesotho has fallen from 60 years to 35 years. This has brought with it the associated problems of orphans and the elderly left to bring up grandchildren. At present, under the constitution women are regarded as minors, under the guardianship of male relatives.

Ideas for Prayers.
• That democracy would continue within Lesotho
• For the rights of women.
• The child headed households, due to the AIDS epidemic.
• For a continuation of the education into the prevention of HIV and AIDS.