Mercy all, Immense and Free

Since becoming a Christian about six years ago, Easter has taken a bit of a different theme for me. It's always been a fairly big family day; a day for feasting and catching up with everyone, and of course for eating a tremendous amount of chocolate. 

But, when you get to know Jesus, the significance of Easter changes dramatically. I'd say Easter is pretty much the foundation of my life. Because my life and hope is entirely based on the fact that Jesus is ALIVE. And well, that's what Easter Sunday is all about - that this man who died, crucified on a tree, came back to life, destroying death, conquering sin and giving me life. It's incredible news, and though I get to celebrate it every day of the year, Easter Sunday is always something special.

Yesterday I was back at my home church, which is always a lovely feeling. I worked there for a year, and was fairly involved before I moved to London, so there's a large group of friends that I love to visit. On arriving at the door I was accosted by two of my favourite people, charging out of nowhere to leap on me. Easter, as I said is a time for joy and celebration, and perhaps our greater awareness of what we're singing adds a new dimension to our times of worship. These two verses of an old hymn blew me away yesterday.

He left His Father’s throne above

So free, so infinite His grace—

Emptied Himself of all but love,

And bled for Adam’s helpless race:

’Tis mercy all, immense and free,

For O my God, it found out me!

’Tis mercy all, immense and free,

For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

After church, I headed over to my Great Aunt's house, where there was a huge roast cooking. Lamb, potatoes, the whole shebang. We settled down to the feast, which was over far sooner than I would have liked! Afterwards, we went for a walk along the beach, intending to help digest the copious amounts of crumble we had eaten. 

It was absolutely freezing as we trekked along the promenade, and the wind whistled in my ears until it felt like I had none. Far to the west, the sunlight was seen through the storm clouds and as the sun set, it was absolutely stunning. 

Eventually we headed home to watch Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and some other terrible film that my mum had picked up cheap on DVD that I recommend no one ever watches. 

Sadly today is grotty and grey so I'm hibernating at home with that copy of The Great Gatsby, which I have very nearly finished. 

xo

Home

For the past two years (nearly) I've been living in London. This city has somewhat captured my heart with it's  skyline, markets, coffee shops and people. I have fallen in love. And I don't intend to leave any time soon.

Yet one fraction of my heart remains in the depths of Dorset. I grew up in Bournemouth (okay not really the depths, but you'll see what I mean in a minute) and my summers were spent whiling away the time at the beach, picnicing in the forest, and generally frolicking around the town trying to keep occupied. It was a good life. 

Now for someone that grew up surrounded by fields, ocean and space, the city doesn't always quite hit the spot. Sometimes, the silence and the peace of the countryside is exactly what I need, and after a busy few months, this is definitely the place I am at. Fortunately, my family and a few friends are still about, so I've come home for a couple of weeks during the Easter holidays.

This morning I woke up buzzing. Not just because of my phone alarm, but at the prospect of clean air and a bit of travel. It seemed to take forever to get to Waterloo, and forever and a day to grab coffee at Costa, so I only just managed to make it onto my train. And then I settled down with The Great Gatsby, the second book on a long list of 'non-uni reading'. Which essentially translates to: reading-for-fun-novels. I don't always get a lot of those. Armed with my coffee and music, I napped and read, until the grey of London turned into the grey and green of fields and clouds as I headed further south. 

One of the joys of getting the train for me, is based on the last five minutes of the journey. My great aunt and uncle live in a house not too far from a railway line. As a kid I practically lived at their house, and their garden was my home. My cousins and I spent a lot of time running around playing make-believe, but I was always super excited when a train went by. Don't ask me why. Perhaps it was the prospect of adventure, perhaps it was just the idea of a stream of people smiling as I waved at them. Either way, it was great. 

And now, as I travel home, I'm one of those people on that train. And it always makes me smile as I try and catch a glimpse of their house, and the garden that I used to know so well. 

Coming home is always a strange feeling. The tensions of old and new, familiar and different are ever present. But there is something infinitely comforting about seeing the landscapes that you've known so well, even if it is Castlepoint. I am very much looking forward to two weeks of peace and rest, catching up with old friends and wandering across the beach and fields that I have so, so missed. 

I look forward to keeping you updated on my adventures. 

During the Hail

"March winds and April showers, bring forth May flowers"

I won't lie, the sky has been a little bi-polar the past few weeks, what with icy winds, torrential rain and the odd outburst of glorious sunshine. It's made spending time outside an adventure in itself, and I've successfully managed to destroy two umbrellas in the space of three weeks. 

Still, it's leant me some time to do some reading, and some chilling, both of which I don't do that much of. And, as I hear you scoffing at my lack of reading, let me qualify that...I read a lot. But that's because my degree makes me. (And don't get me wrong I love the learning, geek that I am!) But, it's not the same as picking up any ol' book that you find on your shelves, and hiding away with dusty pages and a cup of tea.

So, that's what I did these past few weeks. Whilst it hailed outside, I've been working my way through a number of books, mainly about dragons and magic, and elves and dwarves. What can I say, I like fantasy. It's been pretty delightful.

Unfortunately imagination isn't reality, and I've had to break into the real world on occasion. Fortunately for me, that's not too difficult when there are lots of friends to catch up with and new cafes to try.

Yesterday I went to a new deli, about 15 minutes from where I live. This place opened a few months ago, and as they have bunting in the windows, I rather expected to like the place. I wasn't disappointed. Armed with vanilla chai, a friend and I whiled away a couple of hours, pausing our conversation to buy some earl grey and marvel at the cuteness of the cafe. Everything was really reasonably priced (one of the benefits of not being in London!) and the staff were so friendly. Made me want them to sit down and join us. 

Anyway, following my lovely morning of civilised tea and chat, I joined some other friends for lunch before heading home (in the rain and hail I might add). Today I paid my respects to Nero and got some work done in there, following a trip to T.K.Maxx where I ogled their handbags and debated buying half of them. 

I was very restrained you'll be pleased to know. Anyway, the tiresome task that is packing needs to be done as I head back to London tomorrow. I love home, but living in that tiny-box-harry-potter-couldn't-fit-in room, has stretched me to my limits. 

I'll be sure to note any interesting people on my travels tomorrow, and write about my appalling performance at the pub quiz in the evening. For now, I'm going to ignore the looming deadlines and exams that require my attention, they along with the hail can remain outside of my thoughts. 

Love and nuzzling friends.

xxx

Realisation regarding TOWIE

As mentioned previously, due to a birth celebration, my friends and I had a civilised evening of cocktails and dinner, and then a not so civilised evening, going out themed as TOWIE. Now, for all of us this was a bit of a revelation when we realised that...

1. There is good reason we don't own, let alone wear, neon, tight clothing.

2. Fake tan that is 50p from Primark is always going to look bad, no matter the hope you have that it wont be a disaster.

I also discovered that although my ridiculously blonde eyebrows require a daily application of brow pencil, this is not nearly in the same league as that which is required when you're pretending you're from Essex. Also, fake eyelashes are a nuisance like no other.

So, with those realisations documented, here's a few ridiculous photos. 

In addition to the excitement of a TOWIE night, the past few days have been occupied with friends, work and family. Friday night me and the girls cooked a lot of duck, and made slutty brownies, a recipe we stole from The Londoner, which is incidentally, one of my new favourite blogs. Anyway, after essentially eating delicious heart disease, we watched In Time, with a bit of Justin Timberlake and then went to bed. Saturday I returned to the beach to begin my seventh season of work there. Yes, seventh. I'm not sure what to make of that, but there we go. Sunday was full of church and family, and today has been incessantly pouring with rain, so apart from a food shopping trip with the mother, I've been locked inside with a novel.

It may not be extravagant, but it's been a good couple of days. Anyway, I need to go do tedious things like wash up and write a to-do list. So, farewell for now, and in the meantime, enjoy drooling over the delights of my cooking!

Love xo

The Great Exchange

I have a feeling that this time last year I wrote a post marvelling at why Good Friday was ever called 'good'. For so long I could never understand why a man's death was a good thing, in fact, it seemed utterly barbaric.

But today, I get to celebrate the love of God that overcomes all things, and is lavished on my life with such generosity it has changed everything I am. 


‘The soldiers stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him […] Above his head they placed the written charge against him: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” […] About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) […] And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.’ (Matt 27:28-31, 37, 50)


Jesus' death is remarkable, his crucifixion overwhelming, because he never deserved to die. As a man he was sinless and had done no wrong, as God, he is holy, perfect and powerful. The Great Exchange; that on the cross he exchanged his sinlessness for my sin, his perfection for all of my imperfections and in doing so, made a way for me to know him, with all of my sin and rubbish dealt with. 


Someone pointed out these incredible truths to me:

• Jesus was lead outside the city, so that we could be brought into the city of God.
• Jesus was stripped naked, so that we could be clothed in righteousness.
• Jesus' body was broken, so that we could be made whole.
• Jesus was forsaken by God, so that we could be accepted.
• Jesus was put to death, so that we could be made alive.

Good Friday is an incredible day. I look to the cross and see the love of God so perfectly displayed; a love that led him to His death, a love that welcomes me completely. Love that blows me away.

And what's even better is that Sunday is coming, for the Saviour didn't stay dead in the grave, but is raised to life, securing my hope in Him forever more. 

May you have an incredible few days lovely friends. I am off to marvel at this some more and enjoy dinner with friends this evening. What a weekend. I am just so, so blessed.