Light Uncloaked

James HoganLeave a comment

Before I turn off my computer for the night, thought I would just say again how amazing of a day this Sunday has been! A beautiful evening service at church(rejoicing in the sovereignty and love of our God!!) and some pretty sweet times talking with friends afterwards. As always.

And now I sit cozy in the lounge, nice and warm and at peace. Me and John are enjoying some pretty awesome apple pie(if I do say so myself) and now I think it’s time to get back to that, my coffee and my book. Blessings in abundance! Peace and love, my friends. Always.

Clouds and Snow

James HoganLeave a comment

So as I look outside the window now, I see the grey skies of this morning have vanished, although snow still graces the rooftops and lingers on the pavement below. But the winds of winter are strong, sending beautiful cottony clouds to billow across the blue of the sky. And the sun shines!

I did so think that winter was over and spring was coming, but apparently I was mistaken. Awoke this morning to see – snow everywhere!! So I spent a nice morning with my eggs and coffee and reading before tramping through the snow to church. And oh what a joyous time at church it was!! Singing with all our hearts(Psalm 24 was particularly lovely – The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains! …who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty!) and enjoying being together as a church – an amalgamation of people from all over this earth, people from all walks of life and manner of living. And yet we all share a common bond – we are heirs of God and brothers of Christ and bought by the blood of this Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit and desirous of being with our King and God forever and ever!! And so today, as our local fellowship of believers in Christ – what a wonder it is that I have been blessed so be included therein!! – met for the first time as a new church, we couldn’t help but exult in the Lord and worship him oh so heartily!! We are no longer part of the Church of Scotland – nay, we are no longer tied to an organization who deems servility to the world of higher value than being submissive to Christ and all He has told us in His Word. And so this new church – Gilcomston Church – is no less a church because we are not tied to a denomination or hierarchy of men. Gilcomston Church remains part of the church universal – the body of Christ – and as we long to worship Him in spirit and truth with all our might and all our heart and all our soul, I simply bow my head and rejoice in my spirit. That God has blessed me so…by putting me with people here with such a passion for God and His Word – what have I done to deserve this? Nothing. And yet God blesses me.

And indeed, God our Father – the King of glory! – has blessed our simple church. And as we rejoiced this morning in song and word and love(Dominic had a beautiful sermon from Psalm 98…oh, how we long for the return of the King!), I was overwhelmed by what God has done for us. He has given us much. May our hearts continue to cry out to Him all day long and through the watches of the night! And if you are reading this and don’t know our church, pray for us, I ask. Pray for us.

And I was not planning on writing all that, but I shall let it remain.

Now time to prepare some dinner before evening service! Oh how I love Sundays! A day to worship God and enjoy the rest He has given me and be at peace in my soul. And y’all – I pray that you may have such a peace – a peace as sweet as the most beautiful sunrise, and no less glorious. Grace and peace.

This is Not the End

James HoganLeave a comment

Hey all!! Just thought I’d briefly pop my head up and wave hello, as much as I should probably soon go to bed! The rain drums softly on the roof overhead and I sit on my bed in contentment, having enjoyed a night sweet and full of peace. Made a heap of burritos for dinner for me and John…disgracefully, we could only manage to eat five of the twelve. Shocking, I know. Now I’ve been reading for a while, but taking a short internet break now and chatting with a few people on gmail(Hi Laura!!). I really should sleep, as my body is weary and needs it. And tomorrow promises to be a busy(but awesome!) day, and so let me treat my body well and grant it the rest it so needs.

I may read a touch more first as I enjoy my hot cocoa! Have a lovely and most restful evening, my dear friends.

Inkstains

James HoganLeave a comment

And night falls. I am home somewhat early this evening(not yet half past six!) and am now sitting sleepily on the couch before I prepare dinner(either leftover hamburgers and green beans, leftover spaghetti, or a frozen pizza. What shall I eat – too much delicious possibilities!)…so even though dinner-making(er – dinner-heating-up) would be a good plan, sipping on my smoothie and relaxing for a few moments feels amazing.

Anyways, why am I writing this? No idea, simply felt in a bit of a writing mood! I also feel in a bit of a running mood, but it is dark and cold and yes I am a fair weather runner.

And because I’m clearly incapable of writing half-decent sentences at the moment…the following gasp of poetry I leave with you. Now I’m off for my dinner! And after that…who knows? A book and a song and a prayer for help divine.

I see stars
welling through my window
I see candles
lighting up the sky.

I see heaven
reflected in these pages
I see stars
singing in the sky.

At the End of the Day

James HoganLeave a comment

As so often happens, I feel like I have many words stored up in me waiting to spill out…yet now that my fingers touch the keyboard ever so softly, I draw back. I don’t think words on the page can quite describe my thoughts this night. So maybe I will just sit back and rest in that wondrous peace of God. I sit on the couch here in the lounge right now, the music of Les Mis spilling out and swirling about me, the smell of my meatballs floating through the air. Tonight, a delicious dinner of spaghetti and meatballs awaits! YES. I called home earlier to get the meatballs recipe and got to talk to both Dad and Mom for a while as I browsed the aisles at Sainsbury’s – oh how I love them!

Now is it time to put down this computer? Surely it is.

Be valiant in the glorious strength of the Lord, my friends! May we seek our Lord as a lion stalks its prey – may we draw close to Jesus and look upward into heaven as we long to see Him standing at the right hand of God and may we find our purest joy in knowing Him. Always.

And truly, what pitiful words are mine! Oh that my fingers could express the true song of my heart.

Praiseworthy

James HoganLeave a comment

As I begin my dinner of hamburgers, fries and green beans…I simply wanted to say what a glorious week it has been!! Through the ups and the downs and swirling emotions and pits of vain sorrows and cries of fierce longing and jagged peaks of joy, I can only boast in the strength of my Father, my God. Him alone have I sinned against. Him alone do I serve. To Him who is the Almighty God and Eternal Father and who saved me from my iniquities – be all praise and glory and dominion and honor! To my Lord Jesus Christ who loves me so – hallelujah!

Praise the Lord!!

Raindrops and Roses

James HoganLeave a comment

Hello Internet! And by Internet, I mean People-That-Read-This. Which may or may not equal the whole internet. I know not.

Anyways! A pizza is in the oven and a bowl of quite delicious looking tomato salad is before me, so I shan’t linger over the keyboard. Just wanted to announce the end of a beautiful week and the beginning of a glorious weekend as tomorrow I travel off to visit Robbie! Taking the train down to Oxford mid-morning tomorrow and then…awesomeness awaits. Now I think I shall take up my tomato salad and watch a bit of LOST. I thought about reading a bit, but decided that can come later this evening…after me and John watch Suits of course, as it is a Thursday evening, which equals Suits night in this household.

So have a most delightful and peace filled evening, my friends! And if you live in America…have a great afternoon. Grace and love be yours in ever increasing abundance.

Peace.

And He Shall Reign

James HoganLeave a comment

A quick post before my dinner! Just had a lovely time at Wednesday night bible study at church…Dominic’s message on witnessing(truly out of our passion and joy from what God has done for us – oh glorious good news that Jesus is the Christ our Saviour! – should our outpouring of testimony to others spring! How can we not speak what we have seen and heard??!?) and now I’m a bit hungry as it’s past 9 and I haven’t yet eaten! So burgers and chips tonight? Yes. It’s been a bit crazy few days, but God is glorious and has blessed me so and I cannot – never ever ever – complain.

Now, time to take the chips out of the oven. Peace y’all!

Ghosts Upon the Earth

James HoganLeave a comment

I was going to write a much more involved entry, but alas, I got distracted doing my taxes and posting pictures on facebook and reading my M. Lloyd-Jones book. So, still – a productive morning has been had! And now as the clock ticks ever closer to 1 o’clock, I think it’s time for lunch(and by lunch I mean ham and cheese panini here at Books and Beans!). Yes. Maybe I’ll write more later tonight? Perhaps. Have a gorgeous day, my friends!! I love you all.

Peace.

A Heart Full of Love

James HoganLeave a comment

And yes, my friends, I most certainly should not be writing this entry so late on a Sunday evening! But I cannot help but pen a few words. Whether they be worthwhile, I’ll leave you decide. But ever so briefly before I dive into a book and let myself slip into sleepiness…

Today was a beautiful Sunday, made all the more appreciated for the fact that I was working part of the day yesterday. Truly, a day of rest is needed and I cannot help but be thankful that today was indeed restful! Enjoyed a glorious morning at church before coming back to the flat with John and having lunch together. I cleaned my room a bit, but in the main I spent my afternoon on the sofa with my coffee and book! Lovely.

And then this evening, I skipped church for a very good reason…got to have an international skype call of awesomeness with Steven and Anna! The three of us hadn’t talked in…a long time. And yet we enjoyed a most amazing time of talking and laughing and reminiscing and praying and more laughing and..well, I can’t really say much more than that I have been greatly blessed with friends such as these. Hopefully we’ll get to actually reunite someday soon! Germany + Hungary + America forever!!

And once I tore myself away from skype, church was over, but I couldn’t let my Sunday evening go out with a whimper, so I made my way over to Andrew and Sarah’s to watch the BAFTAs(I could leave you ignorant, but for your education – British Academy of Film and Television Arts, basically the British version of the Oscars) with them – also joined by Ruth and Zara and Steph! I discovered several things – first of all, I have definitely not seen many movies this past year. Secondly, my aforementioned BAFTA-watching companions made for a most enjoyable and amusing viewing experience, especially as they were far more cinema-knowledgeable than I. Thirdly, movie stars appear to have very…interesting tastes in clothing. That is all.

I really want to see Lincoln now. I also want to see Les Mis again, but I should probably not see it a third time. Its music is now stuck in my head. Yet again.

Ah but a most lovely evening has been had. And now the clock ticks ever closer to midnight and I must bid you all adieu. I again just can’t say enough to express what gratitude overflows from my heart. Our God is good, my friends.

Grace and peace.