Our desires

It's amazing how God can know your desires and grant them as well even though you might not have requested it in prayer to Him.  I mean, this is a great example.

I was due a replacement tuition vehicle from the AA this morning.  My first tuition vehicle was navy blue and I picked it up on 19 November 2009 down in Market Harborough.  I was the only person to get navy blue colour out of the fleet of black, silver, gun metal silver, blue, khaki etc.  So I felt it was quite a rare colour to get.  I returned to Glasgow to only ever see two or three other navy blue AA cars.  When I knew the time was up for a change of vehicle, I thought to myself what colour I'd like.  Well, Bryan got black colour at his induction (I passed my Part 3 in his car!), and he got another black coloured Focus for his replacement.  No change for him. Louise who recently qualified also got a black tuition vehicle.  So that is a fairly common colour.  And as Bryan said to me: it is hard to keep clean (dust-free) in this sort of weather.

Originally I did not want a silver car when I was down at the induction because I had my own silver Focus which was in the process of selling then.  However, as the replacement date drew closer I started thinking I'd prefer if I got a silver Focus.  That with yellow AA livery over it would look quite bright in the summer.  If I got navy blue again it would be nice, but not much change.  I wouldn't mind really.  But silver would be cool.

When I opened the window to check out my car this morning I saw in front of it another AA vehicle and this one was SILVER!!  Wow!!  It was like a dream come true kinda thing!  Weird how I didn't pray to God about this, thinking it is not that important anyway, only car colour.  Yet God knew my heart's desire and granted me it!  Again, this shows that God can see into our hearts and into our heads and grant us big and small things according to His will.

Hallelujah!

God's timing is impeccable!

This morning I received a phone call from a pupil who had to cancel his driving lesson originally scheduled for 12pm-2pm.  I finished my morning lesson then went home for some lunch and to do some chores etc.  At 1327hrs I received a call from an 0845- number.  I picked it up and was greeted with an automated message from Lloyds TSB Fraud Prevention Team.  The message was saying they detected some unusual activity with my Lloyds TSB Mastercard which were made recently and they needed me to verify these transactions.  The message listed out these three:

1) 13 May 2010 (today) £1119.18 - Made at a Travel Agency / Tour Operator in Israel - 1.26pm UK time

2) 8 May 2010 (last Saturday) £6.04 - Made at Miscellaneous retail store in the US - 11.05am UK time

3) 6 May 2010 (last Thursday) £34.99 - Made in UK online merchant (Play.com)

After these three recent transactions were read out I was presented with two options: Press 1 to confirm I made these transactions.  Press 2 to confirm that one or more of these transactions were not made by myself or Press 3 if I was unsure about any of the mentioned transactions.


I pressed 2 and got through to the operator after a two minute hold.  The operator asked if me I had made any of these transactions.  I advised I only recognised the Play.com purchase.  The other two mentioned I had no knowledge of those activities.  I told her especially the £1119.18 transaction which was made in Israel.  I said there was no way I could have done that if at 1.26pm UK time today I was still hoovering around the house.  So there was no chance.  The operator said I might have made a purchase recently which might have only processed through now at 1.26pm UK time.  I said to her that the activity was for a travel agency tour operator in Israel.  I told her I have no holiday plans at all this year and that it was definitely not me.  She said the transaction was declined so nothing will be done about that.  She also verified the £6.04 transaction from last Saturday.  I advised again I did not make that transaction either.  She will now put a trace on that transaction and find out where and how it was made.

The operator asked me I understood what was happening here.  I told her I understand there was fraud happening and although I sound calm, I am sure it will all sink in later.  Picture this, I was at home minding my own business, doing chores etc when suddenly this kind of phone call brings this sort of news!  It was a bit alarming, aye.  The operator told me she had blocked the Mastercard now and will arrange for a replacment one to be sent out.  Any monies removed from my account as a case of fraud will be reimbursed into the account.  The PIN will not be changed as that was not compromised, the card details must have been cloned from elsewhere.

After I hung up I went to tell my sister about it as she got home from being out.  I still have the piece of paper which I used to jot down the details of the transactions hence I could be so accurate.  But man, this is definitely scary thing.  My household has been so cafeful with our confidential letters and documents and we shred everything we do not want.  So it cannot be ID fraud by people searching in the bins etc.  It could only be information cloned from a non-secure website when I was using it to make purchases with the card.

Once the initial shock passed I reminded myself of God's way of working.  His ways are well and truly beyond our comprehension.  There I was a bit disappointed with my lesson cancellation, but that meant I was at home to receive the all-important call.  If I were working I'd certainly miss the call and there might still be  illegal transactions happening as I type this.  But no.  By God's grace and mercy the card is now redundant and I will get a new one.  Will have to be careful of how I use this one.  I thank God so much for His protection.

Guys be careful with how and where you use your credit or debit cards, especially for online purchases.  Make sure the website is a secure site (you can tell if web address begins with https://)

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!!