Imagine...

Imagine your life different. Well that's what we were all doing at the weekend.

I was off at the training college for the weekend, with Cindy, Kelston, Christine, Chris and Phillip.

The weekend started off on Saturday morning for me anyways, as i got ready to leave, and caught the train from Laura's to Johnstone, where my uncle dropped me off at Glasgow airport.
I was flying from Glasgow, everyone else from Aberdeen, but their flight was delayed, so i was finding things to amuse myself with for three hours.

They arrived just after 5, and then we all hopped onto and off of trains, then arrived at the college, dumped our things then went to get some food. While on this bus, cindy decided to do my hair for me, so i was then walking round London with piggy tails. We went to this little Chinese place, was nice, then went for a walk round London.

We arrived back at the college with millies cookies and sweets, and Christine and i had Tea/Coffee, and the boys came and joined us before they decided to go watch the football and go on their own little tour of the basement.

Sunday went off to a good start, we were all up in time, and ready for 9. But i realized my fringe was longer than the other side, so, Cindy gave me a haircut, lol.

From 10 till half 10, we had refreshments in the dining room, followed by worship from half 10 till just after 12. Which was really nice. It was full of Cadets' choir, drama's, the worship band, and walking around shaking hands with everyone. A song they sang was this:

what can i do but thank you
what can i do but give my life to you

Hallelujah, hallelujah
What can I do but praise You,
everyday make everything I do a hallelujah
A hallelujah, hallelujah

We all then pilled into the dining room for lunch, then had a tour of the college.
Then our three sessions: Essential, a short time experience and a glimpse of college life. Unfortunately we never got to the last one, because we had to go to the airport. But all in all, it was a really good weekend.
Even if my phone battery died Saturday evening. Was a good weekend.

Back from the training college!

Too much travelling. I'm shattered.
But, London was well worth it.
And the training college is beautiful. Was a good weekend.
Will blog tomorrow in more detail. But for now, i'm off to bed.

P.S - Cindy gave me a hair cut this morning, lol!

I'll not turn back

Lyrics are two posts down if you want to read them again.
The songsters sang this song last night, and it means so much to me. Means so much to me because it reminds me and makes me think about officership, reminds me of certain people, and is just a great song in itself. Well done Mr John Gowans :)
And as Hazel said "This is a weepy one"...i sat there recording the songsters, but at the end i had to run to the toilets.

"If doors should close, then other doors will open"...."I'm called to live, to love and save the lost"

And a little note to the Bennett's if you're reading this. Hope you're having a lovely holiday, and enjoying time with your family =]

I had to do the report about the youth rally for the salvationist. I sent it to Kelston yesterday, who said i could be a journalist, haha. Got to send the salvationist a bit more details and it should be in next Sunday.

Moves are out.

Got the text this morning.
Cindy & Kelston are moving to Plymouth. I'm gutted.

Those two have became like family to me. Kelston's been like the dad i lost when i was little.
I'll miss them loads. =[

But i know that Plymouth are so lucky to be getting them as officers. And i know it's for the best, and God will take care of them.

Oh, and to top it off, Fiona is moving too. Going to Bolton. Leaves two days after our Africa trip.

I actually meet Fiona for lunch today. Had a lovely 2 and a half hour chat, and coffee, was a good laugh! =]

I'll not turn back!

If crosses come, if it should cost me dearly,
To be the servant of my Servant Lord,
If darkness falls around the path of duty,
And men despise the Saviour I've adored.

I'll not turn back, whatever it may cost
I'm called to live, to love and save the cost
I'll not turn back, whatever it may cost,
I'm called to live, to love and save the lost

If doors should close, then other doors will open,
The word of God can never be contained,
His love cannot be finally frustrated,
By narrow minds or Prison bars restrained

I'll not turn back, whatever it may cost
I'm called to live, to love and save the cost
I'll not turn back, whatever it may cost,
I'm called to live, to love and save the lost

If Tears should fall, If i am called to suffer,
If all i love men should deface, defame,
I'll not deny the One that i have followed,
Nor be ashamed to bear my Master's name

I'll not turn back, whatever it may cost
I'm called to live, to love and save the cost
I'll not turn back, whatever it may cost,
I'm called to live, to love and save the lost

- John Gowans

Spiritual gifts

"But i will keep on hoping for your help;
I will praise you more and more.
I will tell everyone about your
righteousness
All day long I will proclaim your
saving power,
though i am not skilled with words.
I will praise your mighty deeds.
O sovereign Lord.
I will tell everyone that you alone
are just."
Psalm 71 v 14-16


After Vocational Fellowship, i've been doing a lot of thinking, and spending like a lot of time reading my Bible, and time in prayer. Time with God, asking him to help me, asking him to give me the courage and strength to explore the spiritual gifts that he's been laying on my heart since Friday night.

And all that, for some reason, led me to the bible study tonight. Usually i wouldn't go unless someone was coming with me, or back when laura and i used to go on Tuesday nights. But yesterday and today, i've left something different. Like something within myself has went all calm, and like i knew i needed to be at that Bible study for some reason.

On Friday night, Kelston prayed that we'd each get a conformation of God's call on our life. And without thinking, like totally forgetting all weekend he had prayed that prayer, got to church on Sunday morning. Matthew's illustration that morning was, what do you want to be when you grow up?.Then he turned it round by saying that sometimes God has other plans for our lives and that we basically can't run from that. That, with what someone reminded us all on Friday night..."God will equip you with whatever you need, in his time".

So, thats the run down of my life right now. I am exploring the spiritual gift of preaching.
And on top of that, i'm trying to get myself ready for my teaching exams these next few weeks.

The run down of my 1st Candidates Interview

What would I do if I got sent to a Corps that didn’t have a brass band? I have no clue to be honest.

I am called to be a Salvation Army Officer so maybe it would be okay. God’s not called me to be a Band Master, so if I did get sent to a corps without one, I should be okay about it.

So, I have survived my 1^st Candidates interview. And the above was one Question I got asked. The interview went quite well. Better than I thought. And by the time I got to DHQ, I managed to get myself together and stop crying. Which was good.

Lots of questions were asked. Like how I ended up in an interview talking about wanting to become an officer, what makes the Salvation Army any different from any other church, if I had to choose between working in a church of Scotland Baptist or Army who would I chose and why, If I wanted to do corps work. Then I got given the ‘Towards officership’ document. This is filled with assignments and check lists. which will help me and get me ready for college in the next two years.

And do end with the DC said this “Well, I think we’ll take you on to the next step. So you’ll come back for another interview in six months”

All in all, it was good.
=]

A Christmas Present!

Sunday night, my DYO had a wee talk to me, and last night, i got this Christmas present form my officer.


















So, my first official Candidates interview is on the 7th of January, 7pm at DHQ. With Martin Hill, Kelston, Matthew and Catherine.
I will be getting introduced to the towards officership document, which is going to help me with my development towards training college.

Today's been a good day so far, got nice presents, and I'm looking forward to spending time with my family <3
Have a lovely Christmas Everyone.
Much Love, Sam xox

My Generation

i want to serve the purpose of god
in my generation
I want to serve the purpose of God
While i am alive
I want to give my life
for something that will last forever
Oh i Delight, i delight to do you will

What is on your heart
show me what to do
let me know your will
and i will follow you
<3

Those words were brought up in Driven tonight, and it reminded me of the years when i was at Music school. They were always printed on the first page of the weeks activities and timetable. Then i remembered that i sang this song a few weeks back, and they meant a lot to me, they still do.
These words helped me through wen i doubted officership, when i doubted in myself being an officer. So by simply singing those words tonight, it just meant a lot. It was a nice night at driven tonight, nice chats, and yeah, i really liked it.

Matthew asked us tonight you should we go to first, you should we reach out to type thing, and all i could think of were William Booths word: "Go for souls, and go for the worst!"

And to end of my Sunday night, I'm away to spend time with my mum :)

I do promise - My Gold helping

It was our last Vocational Fellowship of the year last night, and it was a really good night.

The night started off with managing to arrive at Cindy and Kelston's on my own, and surprising them by knocking on the door, haha, they were impressed. Since i turned up about two hours early, we had a nice wee blether, gave them some christmas pressies, watched TV and played a quick game of Buzz before we left for the Christmas Meal.
The Christmas meal was this wee, like warm cottage type place, and i loved it. We had a nice meal, good chats, shared some laughs then headed back to Kelston & Cindy's for desert, and for some fellowship. Which was really good. We talked about making resolutions, and how we hardly ever keep keep them. And instead, if we want to make some resolutions this year, to try looking at Romans 12: 1 -3., then we spent some time in prayer.

That all finished about 10, and we all left at 11. Which left us all with an hour, which was actually a really nice hour. I sat with Cal, Chris, Tim, and Phillip and just to chat with them, and laugh with them, something aout it just clicked. I liked it, was good fun.

Roll on next year, good things in store for VF by the sounds of it =]

Christmas Bells

Last Friday night was our usual Divisional Christmas carol service, this year, in Fraserburgh.

After college that day, i quickly headed into town, jumped on a bus and tried to find my way to cindy and kelston's and trying not to get lost. Well, that didn't really happen, because i got off at the wrong stop and Kelston came out looking for me once again. (I just hope i get off at the right stop this Friday) Arrived at theirs and got some lovely food. Had a nice chat with Cindy, then the three of us made our way to fraserburgh.

We arrived like well over an hour early because kelston had to sett some things up, so i spent some time with little George <3

This was the first Divisional carol service that i have not took part in for a long time, so it was nice just to sit back and relax for once. To actually hear an army band for once, and not just hear yourself play, and listening to the Gospel choir and not just hearing yourself sing, was great. For some reason, it just made the whole night really good. I don't know how to explain it., but just listening for once, and enjoying it, was amazing.

=]

And now, i'm in the middle of some lovely exams at college. 1 down and 2 to go. One three hour theory exam tomorrow morning, which i am away to study for, and a 10 minute presentation on my views on anything to do with teaching music you could possibly think of. Lovely.

But to top the exams week off, i get a bursary, so Christmas shopping is getting done on Friday afternoon, then I'm going to Cindy & Kelston's a little bit early, helping them with the food, then i have VF Christmas Feast =] yaaay! Can't wait

The joy of candidaticy

I don't like this word official anymore. It's got some scary thoughts to it, well for me anyway.

In just about under 6 weeks, i shall be having my first 'Official' Candidates interview at DHQ, with Kelston, Matthew and the DC. Wearing Uniform. Like official. The reason why everything is happening so quickly, is that Kelston feels that nothing has really happened, and if i want to go in three years, they need to start interviews.
Oh, and my after that my next step is to fill in registration forms. Which makes it all final, and it's all sounding far too scary, and exciting. But at the same time, i need some time to get my head around this.

Anyway. Christmas is coming which means the following:

7th - Divisional Carol Service
14th - Vocational Fellowship Christmas feast, at Kelston & Cindy's
15th - The Greenock bunch are up <33
17th - Gig at the Blue Lamp, Aberdeen
- Laura home (?)
18th - Day off (?)
21st - Band at harbour for the lights thingy (like last year)
- YP workers Christmas meal
22nd - Madeleine is home =]
- Gemma is home =]
- Driven Christmas meal
24th - Working (?)
-Watch night service =]
25th - Christmas Day, Hatton (?) <3 =]

Youth Councils! <3

It was youth councils this weekend, and I've been looking forward to it for a long time, because i missed last years, and it's always good to meet up with everyone.

The whole theme of the weekend was 'HEROES!'. Saturday night was Bowling and a social. After bowling we all shard some food, then had a had few songs, and good fun trying to come up with our own superheroes in little groups. Good good fun! Ha ha.
Mark Herbert (Candidates Director) was here this weekend as a speaker, and i thought he was really scary to start with, bad idea telling Fiona that, because she told him, so when he talked to me it was all awkward. But it's okay now.

Today was the day that made me think the most, today was the day that, i don't know, just planted something inside of me that i can't really explain, Even if i tried i wouldn't do it any justice.
This morning, I had to say my testimony about officership. Before the meeting this morning, Kelston asked me if i wanted to pray with them all. So i went out to pray with the band, Russell, Mark & Martin, And Cal. It was a nice way to start the whole day off, and it encouraged me so much.
The meeting went on, and it was nearly time for me to share, after Cal shared his testimony. Which was really good, it's nice to hear how he's getting on, and how God is using him through the essential programme. Then i got up, a little unwilling, to be honest, but kelston handed me the mic, and i just got up there, and done better than i thought. A few people told me i spook really well. But what stuck out to me more, was that, there's this girl i've known since i've been like what, 8 or something. She came up to me after youth councils had ended, gave me a hug, aked me how i was, how i was doing, and then said this "You have given me some hope. I always thought i was too young to do anything!" That girl, my friend, made me smile, made me cry. I am thankful to God for her <3 class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">saturday night, that she has had an experience with god, and is now like on fire for him, and that was so evident today, and yeah. It was nice to see her again!

I had a chat with Mark after tlunch today. Well it was more of a, Samantha come here, from Kelston, to a table with Him, Cindy, the DC, Russell and Mark, ha ha. It was a good chat though. And they're sending the officership training stuff so we can get started with that, and i'm meeting my officers on tuesday afternoon.
Excitment!



' And I will live for all my days
To raise a banner of truth and light
To sing about my saviours love
And the best thing that happened
It was the day I met you

I've found Jesus
I've found Jesus
I've found Jesus
I've found Jesus

Well you lifted me from where I was
Set my feet upon a rock
Humbled that you even knew about me
Now I have chosen to believe
Believing that you've chosen me
I was lost but now I've found...'
- Delirios?

My Testimony (Updated)

It happened at the youth rally this year, but I now see that people were trying to tell me what God had in store for me before then, and I just didn’t listen, and thought there was no way I was doing that.
It was during the evening event at the youth rally, that I just fell to pieces on the inside, this is when it all began to happen. Where God called me to officership. I’ve never had a feeling like it before. The band had just finished playing ‘In Christ alone’, and the line ‘Jesus commands my destiny’ kept going through my head.
The bus journey home that night was interesting. The weather was full gales of rain and snow, and my phone battery had died which meant I couldn’t tell anyone what just happened, and how I was feeling, I couldn’t even tell my youth worker as the rest of my youth group were screaming and all so hyper in the back of the bus. I sat there crying for the majority of the bus journey home, crying & questioning God.
I kept thinking, No way! I can’t do this, I was only 18 years old, and had hardly any experience of life. I kept thinking that I can’t lead people to the lord, but in amongst all my tears and upset, a friend told me…”yes you can. You brought Laura to the army!”
I was scared. I tried my best to block it all out, and it worked, for a while, but it didn’t last though.
One Friday night at Driven (our youth group), the week after the rally, it was all about feeling God’s call & what it was like when it happened & what being silent meant. For me, being silent was just sitting there, with the loud music in the background. There was another few nights that confirmed being called to officership, but I’ll only say one. It was a meeting led by Catherine Wyles, where she talked about how God gives us everything we need, in his time. So the doubts about not being able slowly fade away.

There’s a bible verse that stuck with me during the summer, and it’s Psalm 51 v 13 – 15…”Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise”

Things have changed a lot since February. I’ve been attending the Vocational Fellowship groups, and I’m going to be having meetings with my officers about everything.. I’ve already had a interview at DHQ, but more than anything, I have a year on my heart that God’s been telling me to go, that year being 2010.

To start with it was all scary to think in 3 years, I’ll be in London at Training college. But now that I’ve had time to think about it, it’s becoming more exciting, and I just know that it’s all in God’s hands.

(updated for Youth Councils, as Kelston asked me to share about officership)

I wanna go deeper...

So, we've all been back for about two full weeks now, and trying to settle back in to your own lifestyle here, and boy it's difficult. So much choice, and it's just well different.
I went to bug a drink at my work today, something to waken me up, and it was gonna cost me £1.29, i just stood there, all i thought of was, how much that is in anfrica, the fact you can just about get 7 bottles of water for that price, it's nuts.

We had a Team Tanzania reunion tonight, which was good fun, was nice to meet up and have a banter with everyone. After we had our meal, we sat on comfy chairs and had a yap about things to do with next year, prices of flights, details of the trip, fund rasising, etc etc, so yes, things are getting started and it's very exciting. I so can't wait to go back <3 Miss it so much.

And in other news, i think i might be meeting up with the officers on tuesday afternoon for a wee chat, not sure what about because i have told them that a few things need changed, but it'll probably cover nearly everything. So i'm looking forward to that, it'll be nice to actually sit down and talk to them, because i've not really had that chance yet.
Was at Dundee for Vocational Fellowiship, and got to have a wee tour round a social centre, where all the homeless stay and learn what things they go through, what the Salvation Army does to help them up to the place where they are ready to move back into the city and look after theirselves. But they were saying last night that, when they move out into the city, the accomodation they will recieve wont be as good as the hostel they have right now.
Please keep Strathmore lodge in your prayers, they have a lot of men, and have about 50 odd staff members for two centres within the city, and they has to be at least two staff members covering at each shift, each day of the year, 52 weeks a year.

The end of vocational fellowship last night was spent in worship, and some of the guys that life there joined us, and that was lovely =] But the thing that hit me deep down, was the song Kelston used, because it was my Song - The potters Hand. I guess it was just one of those nights, where God really talks to you, and you just feel his call again, that reassuring presence, it was lovely.
So thanks to Kelston for starting up the Vocational Fellowship group, for always being there, and for being so sweet, and just looking after me.

I really do have thee most amazing people around me! I love them all heaps!

little things

Little things are starting to happen with the prospect of me going to Training college in three years. Kelston seems to think there's no problem and that if i feel that's what God is saying, then we need to start doing something about it.
It wasn't until this sunday just past, that i started doing something about it myself.

After Driven on sunday night, I was helping Matthew and Kelston tidy up, and i had a wee chat with Matthew. Chats about going to their house to talk things through, how i'm feeling, what needs to happen sort of thing. He also said that when Driven lead the meeting in November, it would be a good time for me to give an update on the whole Officership stuff.
And with some encouragement, i'm now talking about prayer request boxes & praise request boxes that driven use every sunday night in both of the meetings on sunday.

I was on the bus home from aberdeen yesterday and, i was just sitting there smiling. Thinking about what God has got planned and how much i'm looking forward to it, and how scary it is, but more than anything, i'm happy.

the whispers in my heart againt your kindess

It's been such a long time since i've updated this thing, i honestly don't know where to start.

I'm back at college, started back about a month ago now, and i'm loving it. It's so much fun, and filled with lots of laughter and smiley faces. It's good to get the chance to just talk about ways that are effective in teaching, nice to think that when you arrive in college for a three hour theory session it's not all theory, and there are some games sloted in it (obviosuly we're trying them out for our pupils, aye!) It's just good, a really good course, better than i thought it was going to be anyways.

Life outside college is lovely too.

I had a chat in the office with the Debbie and Anna a few sundays ago, trying to work out what was going to happen with singing group, and if i was getting them back, then what time and what night of the week it was going to be. W e sorted that out, so singing group is now on a Thursday night at 7pm, which hasn't really been that well attented, but the reasons they've not been there are good ones. Hopefully as we get into it a bit more, they'll come more. But i have them back so that's all good, and i'm loving having them.

I went to the last Vocational Fellowship last month, and it was really good. It was at Jane and David's house (My old Officers) and it was just nice to hear their story. Stories of what they did before becoming an officer, how they got there, and their experiences at the 3 appointments they have had since leaving college.
I'm really enjoying this Vocational Fellowship, I'm so glad kelston started it up, it's good to have the group there, to just chat about things, and now that there's more of us thinking officership is for us, it gives us time to chat to each other about our worries, thoughts, concerns etc.

Last sunday was my first time leading the singing group in years, and i was worrying int he afternoon. W e were singing without music, and i just got myself all worked up, about leading and when do i bring them in after the first time, and then, i recieved a text, from Kelston. A text simply saying "Good luck with leading the singing group tonight, hope all goes well. God Bless. Kel" and that encouraged me. Then i got to the hall, and walked in to see Kelston & Cindy there. I awent over to ask Cindy if she wanted to sing with us and she leaned over, gave me a hug and whispered to me and Hazel, "Kelston found out Samantha was leading the singing group tonight, so he wanted to come and support her", and handed me a card. Which was cute, and had a wee card inside it with a prayer verse on it. This man, is so sweet, and has made me smile lots recently.
He also got me into going out collecting on monday night...by using the line "You'll get asked about it in your Candadate's interview" haha.
It was good though, i'm glad i went out.

And that, is my life so far.

College is officially over for the year. I had my cornet exam yesterday, and i think it went okay.

It was an experience anyway. The examiner stood behind me for one of my pieces and totally put me off, then he decided he's going to ask questions about the terms in my pieces, expect he wasn't happy i had written what certain things meant on one of my pieces, oops!

Apart from that itr went okay, quite pleased with it :)

Oh, and Alister made us cake for after our exams, was well ace and we had a lovely chat since we were all in at like 9 till 4, was a lovely day.

Tuesday we had5 hours of recitals, which was ace. Although some of us, were getting a wee bit emotional cos some are leaving for Uni and the rest of us are staying at college, and Alister performed the song he composed for those going to Uni called "farewell". I heard a what John said about my recital, he told Madeleine that he was shocked i sung, because i hardly talk, haha, ace!

Was two lovely days, and a good way to the end of term.

Holidays are here, which means extra hours, late lies and adventures, prestwick kids club, reach out, new officers
:)

Tagged.

Tagged.

Tagged by Laura-Lou. Thank you :p

Grab the book closest to you. Turn to page 161. Print the 5th complete sentence on your blog. Tag 5 others.

Closest Book to me was Echo By Francesca Lia Block

"Aren't you worried about him?"

I tag Laura Logan!

Book Tagging. Laura caught me..

How many books do you own?

Not that much, i wasn't much of a reader when i was younger, totally hated it. But since like 5th year, anbout 3 years ago, Laura got me back into reading.

There however, is, a lot of books on my bookshelf, but i think most of them are the broons or oor willie, haha!

What was the last book you read?

The last book i read was Velvet Elvis, which i think was totally amazing. Might go out and get my own copy :)

What book are you presently reading?

I am reading Seasons 'a womens call to ministry' by Johann Shade. She's a salvation Army In the USA. I only started reading it today, but so far its really good. Its about how women serving in the salvation army ministry face distinctive challenges throughout the changing 'seasons' of their lives as their personal and family circumstances intertwine with their work as officers. The book explorers these issues and provides theological and practical support through biblical character studies and wisdom gleaned from the author's nearly thirty years of officership.

5 books that mean a lot to me are...

1. Girl Goddess #9 By Francesca Lia Block. Because, i think it was the Book laura gave me that got me reading again, and she let me share two of those stories with her.

2. Echo By Francesca Lia Block. Some parts of it make me think of my dad!

3. The Bible :)

4. A walk to remember - Nicholas Sparks....it's a beautiful story! Films good too :)

5. P.S i love you - Cecila Ahern. Really goood book. Might read it again after i've finished reading seasons!