Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Tonight, towards the end of a driving lesson a pupil drove alongside queued traffic on Byres Road when suddenly we heard a "clunk!" noise.  The pupil asked what the noise was to which I informed that they had hit another car's mirror.  Then I checked my rear mirror and saw the car started following us and flashing it's lights at us.  I asked the pupil to pull in to the side when safe and the other car parked in front of us.

I walked out to talk with the Asian dudes who came out of the car to examine the mirror.  They noticed a tiny crack on the casing of the mirror.  Whether it was from the impact of our mirror hitting it, I am not sure, but I was sure there was a crack there as I touched it.  With two more people in the back of his car there was more than enough witnesses to say what happened.  I was offering my details to the driver who was displeased with happened.  I had to own up and said it was our fault it happened and I was happy to exchange details with him as my insurance is with the driving school.  The guy wanted to settle it ourselves to which I told him it will have to be done through insurance because it happened during a lesson.  The guy was a bit hesitant and then said to leave it as he could not be bothered to go through the insurance.  That was a relief to me and I thank God for hearing my prayers because as I walked out of the car to talk to the guys I meditated inside asking God to protect me as it was a genuine mistake and that I'd do what I can to help resolve it.  God gave me the peace and the calm inside to talk to the guys ok and nothing else happened.

Thanks be to God for His protection.  =)

Safe in God's hands

This post is to give thanks to God for His protection.

On Tuesday 30th, there was heavy sleet, snow and rain and at the end of a driving lesson I asked a pupil to pull up to the side to park.  The nearside front tyre mounted the kerb then came back off with a nasty crunch.  Thinking it was a "normal" kerbing of the car I did not investigate, also cos it was so wet and cold outside.  However, I saw a little gash on the tyre wall on Wednesday morning at the start of a lesson.  After the two hour lesson I checked the tyre again and noticed the gash developed into a much bigger hole (as above!).

It was quite scary and horrible, to be able to see the inside of the tyre.  The Kwik-Fit mechanic said it looked like somebody tried to slash my tyres.  Haha!  I explained that a pupil mounted the kerb.  Which is what I had to report to the AA Group Claims number on Wednesday.  All I had to do was bring the car round to Kwik-Fit (nearest one was on Maryhill Road) and they had it sorted for me for free!

It's not just the free Kwik-Fit that I am thankful for, but thankful the tyre did not burst during the 2hr lesson which would have destroyed any confidence of the pupil and be quite scary, considering we were doing 60mph at some point of the lesson.

So again, thank God for His protection!  :)

Financial blessing

During my one hour break in between driving lessons I popped into Finnieston McDonald's for a loo break and to get a hot chocolate.  It was raining and I was walking quickly from the car park into the restaurant front door.  When I was around the corner from the door I looked at the floor and saw this Ten Pound note lying on the floor, folded in half.  Needless to say it was quite wet when I picked it up but I quickly put it into my pocket.  I was quite excited at picking this money up and felt it was a blessing from God.  I was also surprised that the guys sitting there eating did not see the money as they sat by the window looking out and would have saw me pick the money up.

However, at the end of the day I believe this is a blessing from God.  He knows that I am trying to save money right now and would rather use the McDonald's Monopoly stickers to get free food and supplement that with my own sandwiches or whatever.  Trying to keep my money because I don't have steady income anymore like I used to.

God's protected

This morning I left the house at 8:15am carrying my teaching materials, a 2-litre bottle of water, my tyre tread depth gauge and my shoulder bag.  On the walk to my car I somehow let slip of the bottle and it flew directly under a car.  Along with it, my tread depth gauge!  Noooo!!!  I use it to check my tyres and also teach my pupils how to do it too!!  I crouched down to get a better look and both items were directly below the middle of the car.  There was no way I could reach under to get it especially when the pavement and road were damp from overnight rain.  Argh!!  What a waste of £6.  Must I go to Halfords to get another one soon?  I thought my day was off to a crap start.  However, I decided not to think about it any more and focussed on delivering the day's driving lessons to the best of my ability.

When I got home from work I walked past the same part of the pavement towards my flat entrance and looked around the same area in hope of seeing the tyre tread depth gauge or the bottle.  Nothing.  I got ready for the gym and as I headed out back to my car I had another look.  A car must have just left because there was a big space and in that space laid a flattened plastic bottle (my bottle!!) and not far from it MY TYRE TREAD DEPTH GAUGE!!  Whoo-hoo!!  I was so happy when I picked it up to find it still works and only had one dent on it. Not sure if it was from impact when it dropped or a car ran over it?  Not sure, but I don't care really cos I felt God's love for me.  I felt God protected that tyre tread depth gauge from 8:15am to around 6:30pm!!  Ain't that amazing??  For those of you who have used one before you will know it is nothing longer than a pinky finger and is thinner than a standard pen.  For that to be on the side of the road where cars parked and it NOT be to broken after all these hours can only be down to one thing.  God's protection!!  =D


You see, I was reflecting upon this on my drive to the gym and I was reassured inside that once God protects something then NOTHING can break it.  NOTHING can get in the way.  It will be fine.  No matter how "dangerous" the situation may be, everything will be ok.  That's the same with love, with matters of the heart, with our emotions.  If God protects a relationship, or the feelings of two people, then NOTHING can get in the way.  No matter what, these two people will end up together in the end.  But how will you know who God has for you?  Well, you have to get to know God right?  Or continue to seek Him and seek His will for you.  How do you know what your parents are gonna cook for dinner?  You ask them right?  "Mum/ Dad, what are we having for dinner tonight?"  Ok, some might say you can just turn up at the table and just eat.  But that's not the point.  To get to know someone and what they think you should spend time with them.


So my recent battle between the heart and the mind, questioning who my future life partner will be.  To be honest, has a been a waste of time.  Why should I worry so much?  I should spend more time seeking God.  Working hard.  Making sure God is pleased rather than pleasing other people.  I should not look to satisfy my desires but satisfy God.  I focus on the things that are eternal.  Relationships will come at a good time if it is God's time.


I recently reminded myself: "A good thing at the wrong time is just wrong."


So therefore, "Seek first the Kingdom of God." Matt 6:33

Cake treat

Last week during conversation Caroline mentioned she will bring in cakes for my final week at the office.  I totally forgot about it until around 1030hrs this morning when she opened up two boxes of cakes: a box of cream-filled yumyums with icing on top and a box of cream donuts with a bit of jam.  Wow!  She was very kind indeed and let me have first choice as well.  I chose the yumyum one because I had not had that for ages since healthy eating etc.  However, I took it this time cos I have recently let myself go in terms of eating food cos I'm going for the bulk and I know I exercise so much these sort of food does not affect my body that much =)  Caroline said the cakes were because I was leaving and when I thanked her she told me my mum and my sister will each get one too.  Once everyone took a cake there were three donuts left and she gave them to me.  My my, how very kind of her.  It is not the first time she has spoilt us with her treats, but this time it was "for me" and I also got to share the coolness with mum and Cat.

All good things come from God, so therefore I praise God for providing such nice people in workplace.  At lunch both David and Caroline treated me to my ciabatta bread on chicken mayo, coleslaw and a side salad and a bottle of water.  So kind of them.  Praise God!!

Lose One, Gain More

Well not long ago my Polish colleague Ewa told me that she has to cancel Saturday's driving lesson because she only just found out her friend from Poland is giving her a surprise visit this weekend so she won't have time for the lesson. We can't reschedule to the following Saturday either because her sister arrives then, and she had originally hoped to go out this Saturday to drive on the left side of the road and get used to it so she can hire a car for possible road trip etc.

When I heard it my heart sank. Yes, my first disappointment of a cancelled lesson, even worse - loss of pupil. Especially when last night I checked my business account and realised it was very low in funds cos the franchise fee kept coming off it and I have not input my February takings yet. Sigh....made me worry about having so much free time cos that's loss of earnings. Self-employment ain't fun!

However, a few moments ago I checked my phone (whilst still in the office) and saw a missed call from an Unknown number. With that was a text message from Auntie Linda who said she passed my number onto someone looking for a Chinese driving instructor. Wow! It's like, potentially I haven't lost a pupil. Or at least, it feels like God is reminding me not to worry, that He has my back covered. It's amazing! =)

(continued)

Another amazing thing happened once I got home from work. Jean texted me asking if I'd be interested in giving driving lessons to her sister each time she visits Glasgow. She'd be looking to take three to four hours of lessons each time. I told her I'd be delighted to take her out for lessons, they'd be in the west end but she'd definitely need her provisional license to come through first cos legally I'd need that. Jean said she will get back to me once her sister receives her provisional.

Again, thank God for providing another potential pupil for me at this time =)

Throughout the day though I had been a bit "bothered" by something. To do with my driving instruction: whether I can make enough money, whether I give good enough lessons to my pupils. I felt Wednesday's lesson with Elaine was kinda sucky. Maybe cos it was a one hour lesson and things felt rushed. Sigh. Anyway, went to Fellowship and went to the GCCC survey meeting and in Fellowship I watched the start of a Christian movie called "Facing the Giants" about Christian people who have everyday problems and being reminded of God's love for them. I was reminded that no matter how bad life is God loves me and He is in control. He won't let me die. He will take me through anything. =) I got home and then Matt called to see how things were and I got to ask him some questions about the clutch, about moving off and then in the end we had an interesting conversation about girls and who he can match me up with. Lol!

Picked up money!

God is amazing! Today as I walked out of City Park I saw a crispy blue Five Pounds note which was half scrunched up, lying on the ground. I quickly dashed down to pick it up and continued to walk out with Eileen and David. What a blessing this is from God as I can now use the fiver to pay the donation which I said I'd give to Rachel for the new Beatson Oncology building. That's me saved five pounds AND the charity has gained from it =)