



What a year it's been! And it's not even over quite yet. I have too many things I should probably be doing instead of this, but this is hopefully going to motivate me.
The last time I wrote it had been only three weeks, now it has been six months. There is too much to talk about and yet not enough. University has certainly had its struggles, but for the most part, I have enjoyed it, God has done some amazing things in me and given me the most amazing friends. Friendships at University are honestly one of the best parts. Although there may be a few I won't see next year, I believe we will stay in contact and I can't wait to continue to build on the friendships. My friendship with Tabbie has been particularly wonderful. If you haven't read my previous post, she is a friend of faith and it has been so wonderful to have that bond. What is so wonderful is she also introduced me to someone else who is a Christian and we all started this little Tuesday night worship session in Tabbie's room. It has been one of the best things and such a great support system to be able to gather, worship the Lord together, pray together and talk and discuss the bible. The Lord has given us so much joy and peace in that little room of Tabbie's.
The big lesson God has taught me this year is True Surrender. At the beginning of the year, I really loved doing all the uni things like going out twice a week, or even the fact that I live alone now means I can watch the movies I couldn't watch before. However, turns out, even though these things are fun, they are also the things that pulled me away from God in the first months of uni. Because I was out late, or maybe not even out, just generally up late, I wouldn't get up to read my bible, because I wasn't reading my bible I didn't really feel like going to church, because I didn't go to church, I sort of stopped listening to worship music. I basically became a pretty shoddy Christian, I would pray every now and then, apologise for my behaviour, but not do anything about it, tell myself the lord still loved me, etc. Before Uni I had been reading my bible so regularly and I was so connected to God. I think when uni started I got so excited about being able to do things I always wanted to try, but then I let myself enjoy the things too much because they drew me away from my faith. For almost half the academic year I struggled with this, I wanted to enjoy going out and getting drunk without feeling guilty after, I wanted to not have to put time into my relationship with God, but still have God speak to me and be filled with the Holy Spirit. There would be days when I would get up and read my bible or my devotional and feel connected to God again, but I wasn't really listening to him, I was hearing him telling me to choose Him or my own ways, and I would pray that he would help me be bold and choose him, but then hours later I would forget that I just surrendered to Him and go back to ignoring Him and choosing to do things my own way. The worst part about this is that I knew what I was doing was making me unhappy, it was making me sad and struggle to get through the week because I was so angry with myself, I always felt guilty and stupid and it was just not good, I knew I was living wrong. I would cry out to God for help because I was feeling so torn, I knew I couldn't have both, but I was afraid to give myself to God fully because every time I'm close to God I know He might ask me to step out of my comfort zone. That's what he does, every time I'm closest and stronger in my faith, He asks me to do something brave, something I don't want to do. I really don't like going up in front of people and talking, I don't like shouting out, it even took me a while to join the worship team in the church because I'm so afraid of His callings for me. I was torn between God and the world, but I got comfortable in the struggle. I was crying out for help, but I didn't do anything to change, I just wanted God to make it okay for me to have both, but I can't have both. God doesn't want my halfhearted love, He wants ALL of me. He is a jealous God.
It seems I've sucked at keeping up my blog this year, There have been many times I've thought about writing my blog but the motivation wasn't there. Today I am off work and have a completely free day so I am forcing myself to write my blog because I actually do enjoy it, it just takes time.
I've been at this job for a month now and I am really enjoying it. I'm working in a pharmacy, mostly on the till or serving customers. This job is very different from what I imagined myself doing, but I think it's exactly what God planned for me. The contract is also perfect, ending just a few weeks before I head to university. When I first got this job I was worried that I was going to really dislike it and get bored of it quite quickly. I am the sort of person that needs every day to be slightly different, I get bored quite quickly in a routine. When I was doing work experience in the RSPCA cattery I got bored very quickly because each day felt exactly the same, but I also didn't have that many duties so I wasn't kept busy either. But, in this job, in the pharmacy, every day feels different, you may have the same people come in, I might have the same sort of duties every day, but each day there is always something different. I am only ever in for half a day, I get along with everyone, I love that it is a people job and I get to talk to people and get to know the regulars. I feel very comfortable in this job and plus its great experience to have for the future. So, while I wasn't sure about the job to start with, I sure am now because I know it is exactly what God had planned for me.
My first week of work felt so good. To actually have been getting up to go somewhere and do something. To be interacting with people outside of my family, to be learning new things. It was just so good to feel motivated! Now that I've been working for 4 weeks, I'll admit I'm tired, but I'm not bored, I'm still fairly new at things, still learning the ropes with some things and so I am not bored. My hours are also so nice, for 2 days a week I work 10-3pm, which means when I get home I have time to paint or read or play games with my family. For 3 days a week, I work 1-6pm, which gives me a nice lie-in, it gives me time in the morning, if I get up early enough, to just do whatever, and then I just work until the end of the day. It's honestly a great job and it's all thanks to God and his amazing plan and amazing timing.
Thanks for reading.
A week and a half into 2021! Happy New Year! I hope despite being back in Lockdown that your year is going okay so far.
Guy Fawks night was pretty normal for us because most years we stay near our house, playing with sparklers and watching everybody else's firework displays in the park.
At one point in November, I had my own little disco party in my bedroom because the others were out recording for church.