Tag: life

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

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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

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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

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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.

Pumpkin Spice

James HoganLeave a comment

So when I got home a few minutes ago, I thought I’d write a long intellectual entry today…but now, I’m looking across the lounge and see the comfy chair with the sunlight just perfectly shining down on it…and I think a reading session is called for instead. Yes? Yes.

I had a lovely morning at Books and Beans, drinking my peppermint mocha and letter-writing before being happily interrupted by Chris and Jo! After chatting for a bit, they went off to Pret and I finished my letter…upon which I thought lunch sounded quite a good plan, so I bounced over to Pret to join them for lunch. Had a delicious salad and even more delicious chat with Chris and Jo(mostly centered around writing joys, the merits of Russell Crowe and raw singing in Les Mis, and the impact our moods have on our literary pursuits…oh good times indeed).

Afterwards, stopped by John Lewis and picked up a cafetiere – honestly, how have I been living here over 2 years without one? I do not know. But now I have some beautiful coffee(mad props to Laura K for sending it thousands of miles to me!!) brewing in said cafetiere and I think it must be ready just about now. Or over-ready.

So I think I shall make myself a nice mug of coffee and read a bit this perfectly wonderful Saturday afternoon. Have a sweet day, my friends!!!

In This Fateful Hour

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A very quick Thursday night update!

I’m sitting on the sofa here, waiting patiently for my potatoes to finish baking in the oven, at which point I’ll enjoy them along with leftover meatloaf and green bean casserole. Mmmm…I’ve already eaten a whole bunch of grapes, so my appetite is sufficiently whetted. Anyways, I think I’m going to read a bit now, as the shining face of this computer screen is not enough to tempt me to stay online any longer. I want to read. I’ll either finish A Swiftly Tilting Planet or continue through Meditation and Communion with God – I can’t currently decide so I think…both? Yes, that sounds like a very feasible plan. And then in about 2 hours, will watch Suits with John to finish off our Thursday night. But now, to read. Have a gorgeous night, y’all.