Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Beginning of last week we heard the news that the buyers for my house in Loughborough - which we need to sell in order to make the purchase of the place we want in Coventry- had pulled out. We'd originally put the house on the market for £112k and agreed a price of £108.5k. When we heard the news that the sale was off, right after the immediate disappointment I experienced a tangible rise of faith and started to confess that God would turn this for good and that, despite the estate agents' pessimism that we could still get a good price, we would sell the place quickly, and maybe even for a better price than before.

Silje and I spent last weekend at the house doing some decorating and tidying and it went on the market Monday, with 4 people looking round. Mid-morning Monday we had an offer of £105k. Late morning £109k, and the mid-afternoon £112k. By lunchtime Tuesday we'd agreed the sale at £113k. Only one thing to day - glory to God who is able to do immeasurably more than all that we can ask or imagine. He has far surpassed even my best imaginations of what a 'great outcome' would be.

I love Jesus and I love his creative ways of blessing us. I also love that he loves to bless us when our hearts are fully committed to him. I know this episode simply serves to take us further on this journey of faith, as we learn to trust him more and more and live less and less according to the limitations of the 'seen world' - "we live by faith, not by sight".

Anyway, we've moved into a room at Nettle Hill this week and are praying that the sale in Loughborough and the purchase in Coventry all moves quickly from onw on. Have a great weekend.

Today's been one of those long and never ending working days at Nettle Hill... The phone hasn't rung once since 10 o'clock this morning. And while I have to sit here and guard the lines, Nick has taken some guys out and about doorknocking!!! Both yesterday and today they've had some good conversations with people around in the area we live. It's very exciting...

I have started to do some swimming to keep fit and work out in my pregnancy.. Yesterday me and Sarah (who's doing summerschool and living with us for the moment...) went for aqua aerobics!!! Hehehe...us two with the old ladies... it was very fun! After we were done I noticed that I had recieved a text and my first thought was that Nick was beeing chicky about my aqua aerobic, but I was soooo excited noticing that it was a word from God texted by our norwegian friend and evangelist Arne Skagen. Very encouraging word about a new door opening for us and that more workers will come.... Bring it on!!!

Baby is growing and due to the fact that I look more like my mum in the pregnancy it is 75% chance of it being a boy... Hehehe, some of the things you can learn from the internet....

Talking of my mum; spoke to her today in one of the less busy moments of this wonderful day... and they are coming over to see us in the beginning of August...my mum and dad and sister Eva Mari.... My parents have always had a dream of going on a canalboat, so hopefully we can arrange for that to happen.

Well, believe it or not... even the slowest days comes to an end and suddenly I face the fact that it's Friday and I have a weekend ahead of me.

God bless you all.

Some happy memories of 27 Hastings Street

Hmmm, been back at my old house in Loughborough this morning to let round the investors who are purchasing the property to rent to students. As I looked round the house, that is now mostly empty, so many memories came flooding back - so many friends, people through the place, so many late nights and Saturday morning fry-ups...

I'm not one for overdoing the whole nostalgia thing, but I am finding myself thinking about all that this house represented, all that it speaks of God's faithfulness to me over the last 5 years.

I bought the house (by great miracle, and on the clear command of God) when I had just finished Uni and was starting to work in the Students' Union. Mark & Ian lived with me and we had great, great times of friendship, prayer, discussion and laughter. Mark has been in the house as long as I have, now moving in next door where he has bought, thus continuing the great Hastings Street tradition! Also living with me in that house have been Chris McDonald, Joe Turlington, Andy Wolfindale, then laterly since I moved out in December, Daniel Cole & Kachong Chiyesu. What a blessing that place has been.

Through the years of not having a salary as such, I've never missed a bill or a mortgage payment. God has been awesomely faithful (& creative) in his provision, fulfilling the word at the beginning of that adventure that he would provide everything needed to his glory alone.

Now in finally coming to sell the place, I have been so prospered by it's increase in value that we are in a position to buy a large house here in Coventry that can be a real base for our family and also the church (which is just as much our family) here. Our ability to serve others just increases on the next stage of the journey.

Anyway, my heart is so full of thanks to God for his indescribable kindness to me, and I'm reminded that obedience to his voice leads to blessing and goodness at the time, but also stored up for years to come. What a wonderful life this is with Jesus. That's all for now.