Will you mention that you’re a Christian?

When I started university I must have told hundreds of people my name, where I’m from and what I’m studying. They’re standard questions that are often the first thing, and sometimes the last thing you say to a fellow student.

The three answers we give start to form an identity and an image for the enquirer.

It is after this that the spontaneity and variety in conversation comes. There is potential to focus on any one of the answers and delve deeper, finding out more about that person and starting to properly get to know them.

I suddenly discovered I could be whoever I wanted to be! No-one knew me or anything about me from my previous 18 years. I had the freedom to make my own decisions and do whatever I chose with my time. Looking back I think I did tell people selective information and perhaps tailor the interests that I mentioned depending on who I was chatting to.

As Christians at university we have the awesome benefit of being able to root our identity in God. It is He who made us and loves us, and who we can trust in no-matter what. Therefore be challenged- are you focussing on God and trusting in Him to guide you through the next year of your studies? Is it an important part of your life that you tell people about when you first meet them, or is it something that you avoid mentioning to friends?

The UCCF have written a really good article on this subject and others, which can be found on their website: http://www.uccf.org.uk/freshers/adventure/

***

No Lunch this Sunday (17th) Bus leaves campus 9.30am and will return to campus at 12.30am.

Starting the Term off with a BANG!!!!!

Well that’s not exactly the word I got when I was praying the other day. While praying I just felt really calm and at peace with the things going on in my life, (and I easily panic), but from that I felt the word ‘silence’ would echo over our lives. Silence over all the stresses and problems that would cause us to worry and get us down in the dumps. We are FREE!! God is in control over our lives. You may be just starting university, and maybe you’ve just realised all the work you’re going to have to do or you are not getting on with your flat. But be encouraged to know God is in total control of our lives and we can speak silence over these things. Since giving my life to God I always seem to be joyful at times when life is just hard, but when I know God is in control and how much he loves me and supports me, I feel so free and happy.

From this Freedom in us we can better demonstrate the awesomeness of God to our friends.

Have a peak at:

1 Peter 5 v 7

Tim Boxer