Charlie Lavin

Wishing I was by the sea again! Recently I have been trying my best to be more disciplined with getting into Gods word daily. Some days it has been a real struggle, but this morning was such an unexpected joy. I have been working through a devotion book which splits Hebrews up into 26 days, so you read a few verses a day and then have some reflection time. It has been such a great way to access the bible and be fed daily, without the daunting experience. Would reccomend to anybody wanting to get into the word! There's a ton of physical copies on Amazon, but there's also digital ones avaliable for free. Anyway this morning, I was reflecting onto this new season I feel God is taking me into. I have felt a big spiritual battle these past few months and my heart has been pulled in all sorts of diirections. So God has been the only consistent thing I have felt close to me. I was worshiping and the song 'voice of truth' by Casting Crowns came on and man I wa

It's okay to feel panicked, scared, nervous, annoyed. Just please don't stay there. I feel you and how daunting it is to know you won't return to university until September, or never if you're final years. For some, this may be amazing news, but for the majority it feels disappointing.  You won't have your last classes, graduation shows, graduation etc how you imaged it. No goodbyes. I myself moved back home this week, for the foreseeable future. My parents moved to a small village near Hull last year, which means I have no friends or community here.  It would be super easy for me to feel frustrated (I have had those moments for sure) and just stay in that place.  Whereas I believe in a God who is calling us higher, to see above our own circumstances. To be thankful for what we do have in this time. Also, to make the most of this season we're in.  If you're anything like me and thrive from people, you will probably not like the i

Photo by  Francesco Ungaro  from  Pexels   Hey! I'm here on a less cheery subject, but there is hope. Now don't be expecting to come here and read educational facts about COVID-19, as honestly I am as stumped as you are. I just wanted to share my feelings and how it's effecting the communities I am apart of. Being a student and living away from home in a time like this can be scary and daunting. The media has covered this with so many agendas that it has left me questioning what is true and what is being hyped up to create moral panic. Should I be going home asap and self isolating for the unforeseen future? Or should I be living my life like normal, just with extra precautions? I am still unsure where I have landed on that one. However what I do know is that I cannot be living this out in fear. My God calls us higher than living in fear and promises to bring us peace in troubling times. As Psalm 91 teaches "v1- Whoever dwells in the shelter of the M

Photo by  PhotoMIX Ltd.   from  Pexels So the other night I was having a chat with a good friend of mine, who never fails to encourage and bring his wisdom. We were talking about University and how much time (might not feel it guys, but it's probably true....) you have compared to working a 9-5 job as a fully fledged adult.  We got talking about how the foundations you put down whilst at University really prepare and speak into how you live after graduating.  I love a good analogy and found this sums up what we were trying to say.  So University is the time you're building your house, which when you graduate you will live in. The disciplines (or lack of!) will be what takes you into adulthood and drives you.  Do you want to build a tent that may be quick and easy to put up, but will probably fail you when storms hit? Or is putting in the hard work now, to live in a secure and safe house with good foundations actually more beneficial?  I am not going to cl

Oh hey! Most blog posts seem to start with an apology of why I haven't posted in 6 months, so lets just skip that and accept this blog is not as consistent as I wish. (Still determined to be a weekly publisher- one day!) Life has been pretty chaotic for me these past few months, with lots of life changes and new seasons. I have been learning a lot about myself- the good, the bad and the down right ugly. So I thought I would share a bit of that with you, in the hope that you can join me on this crazy journey. Lets take a backtrack..... I moved to Bournemouth in 2018 to study a Communication and media degree. I was so fresh faced and genuinely ready to tackle adulthood and all it threw at me. I got stuck into church and university very quickly- trying to make friends with everybody and give everything a go. Looking back- I really was living my best life. This was the year that 20 year old Charlie learnt what an unhealthy extrovert looked like. I would never spend time alon