Macie and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary this past Tuesday and it was a great time to sit down and talk over our lives and all that has happened. We are currently visiting Macie's family in Atlanta, Georgia so we went out for dinner together, walked through the park where I proposed to Macie and went out to Brewsters (ice cream shop) for dessert, the UK just doesn't do ice cream like over here. It was a wonderful evening.
During dinner we were able to sit down and talk about some of our funnest and hardest times during our time together and how God has guided and helped us along the way. By the end of the evening we both felt so undeserving of all that we have. We have been given so much, have such a fun marriage and three wonderful kids. We are both able to do what we love, as I play football and Macie gets to lead worship at church and home school the kids. We both sat there and felt completely overwhelmed with the blessings in our lives. We don't deserve this wonderful life we have been given and this made us thankful to God even more. Some people might say that we give a lot of our time to others, love and discipline our kids well and try to be the best we can and so we are getting what we deserve. Macie and I know however that at times we get angry, lose our temper with one another, can be very selfish and lots of other stuff we wouldn't want people to see. We have been given so much we don't deserve.
I am not saying this to brag on how good we have it, I have a point to telling you this. The club I finished playing the season for is going through a boardroom takeover and is therefore struggling financially. This has left the players with no pay for almost two months. On top of this the surgery I was promised at the end of the season for my hernia was not paid for. Luckily in the UK we have the NHS so I am hopefully getting the operation done when I get home from our stay in the U.S. Another factor is that my job is uncertain because that is the nature of football, unless you're as good as the likes of Wayne Rooney! My point is that by God's grace we are able to focus on Him, His goodness and everything that is good in our lives instead of the struggle and the unknown. This is why we can be so grateful and happy. It makes life much easier and peaceful when I focus on all that is good. Thanks for reading.
Jo, Macie and kids
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Monday, March 31, 2014
I'm going in for surgery
I have recently been diagnosed with a sports hernia and will have to go in for surgery pretty soon, haven't finalized a date yet. I have been playing with this hernia problem for most of the season but have managed to play through it up until about a week ago when I had to stop training because I was unable to sprint. I have been playing with a lot of stiffness and pain but have been able to play fairly well in most of the games this season.
The other week I got something tiny stuck in my eye which was really annoying and made blinking hurt. I tried to get it out a few times but eventually after 24 hours I'd had enough and asked Macie to have a good look at it and get it out with a Q tip. She managed to get the tiny speck after a few tries and the feeling of relief was fantastic. I was also able to see better and for the next few hours I kept thanking her for getting it out because I had forgotten what a normal blink felt like.
Like a hernia or something stuck in my eye I have realized that we all have 'things' in our lives that are really damaging to us if left alone. We simply learn to live with them and they go on hurting us, we forget what it's like to play fully fit or to see clearly. We simply learn to live in discomfort and think it is normal. I want to play fully fit again without any pain, I wanted to see clearly so Macie helped me and I was totally fine in an instant. I am going to a Dr. who knows how to fix my sports hernia so I can play fully fit again.
I have not been able to play to my full potential all year because of my injury but I have still done a good job and most people watching wouldn't even know I was injured. No one except my close family knew about the speck in my eye. I was able to hide it from everyone but I knew it was holding me back. I pray that God will show me things in my life that are holding me back from living my life to the full. Bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, fear of what people think etc. Then when he shows me I am going to ask him to heal/ help me because I can't heal myself sometimes. this could be instant healing like my eye or it may take a while, like rehab after surgery.
I don't want to get to the end of my life and find out I never had to live with a certain pain, injury or some sort of discomfort physical, mental or spiritual. Please lift up a prayer for my surgery and I hope this blog somehow encourages you to get 'fixed' anything that is hurting you..
The other week I got something tiny stuck in my eye which was really annoying and made blinking hurt. I tried to get it out a few times but eventually after 24 hours I'd had enough and asked Macie to have a good look at it and get it out with a Q tip. She managed to get the tiny speck after a few tries and the feeling of relief was fantastic. I was also able to see better and for the next few hours I kept thanking her for getting it out because I had forgotten what a normal blink felt like.
Like a hernia or something stuck in my eye I have realized that we all have 'things' in our lives that are really damaging to us if left alone. We simply learn to live with them and they go on hurting us, we forget what it's like to play fully fit or to see clearly. We simply learn to live in discomfort and think it is normal. I want to play fully fit again without any pain, I wanted to see clearly so Macie helped me and I was totally fine in an instant. I am going to a Dr. who knows how to fix my sports hernia so I can play fully fit again.
I have not been able to play to my full potential all year because of my injury but I have still done a good job and most people watching wouldn't even know I was injured. No one except my close family knew about the speck in my eye. I was able to hide it from everyone but I knew it was holding me back. I pray that God will show me things in my life that are holding me back from living my life to the full. Bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, fear of what people think etc. Then when he shows me I am going to ask him to heal/ help me because I can't heal myself sometimes. this could be instant healing like my eye or it may take a while, like rehab after surgery.
I don't want to get to the end of my life and find out I never had to live with a certain pain, injury or some sort of discomfort physical, mental or spiritual. Please lift up a prayer for my surgery and I hope this blog somehow encourages you to get 'fixed' anything that is hurting you..
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Not blogged for ages
Why has it been so long since our last blog? Mainly because every time I say, "We should blog again" Macie says, "go on then", and I do nothing and put it off. We do that with so many things in life, just put them off. I've been putting this post off since Feb 28th 2013, almost a year. I'm going to keep this blog simple and just give you an update on where we are at.
Hopefully most of you know we have a new addition to the family. Our first son Judah Myers Connor was born February 1st 2014 at 8 lbs 13. The name Judah means praise and Myers is Macie's maiden name. We have had this name picked out since before Miriam was born. We want Judah's whole life to be one that praises God and so we simply named him that. He has been with us two weeks now as in an incredible blessing to us all. Miriam and Eliana adore him.
I finished off last football/soccer season with Hereford and really enjoyed myself. I chose to play for Macclesfield Town this year because it was the closest professional club to home that offered me a contract. It has been a really fun season this year so far and if we continue performing the way we are there is a chance to make play offs and go for promotion.
Hopefully most of you know we have a new addition to the family. Our first son Judah Myers Connor was born February 1st 2014 at 8 lbs 13. The name Judah means praise and Myers is Macie's maiden name. We have had this name picked out since before Miriam was born. We want Judah's whole life to be one that praises God and so we simply named him that. He has been with us two weeks now as in an incredible blessing to us all. Miriam and Eliana adore him.
I finished off last football/soccer season with Hereford and really enjoyed myself. I chose to play for Macclesfield Town this year because it was the closest professional club to home that offered me a contract. It has been a really fun season this year so far and if we continue performing the way we are there is a chance to make play offs and go for promotion.
Miriam is doing really well with her first year of home school and is flourishing as a big sister. Everyday she loves to dance and perform and Eliana loves to follow along and copy what she sees her big sister doing. They have become best friends and when Macie talked about putting Eliana in day care for a few days a week Miriam started to cry because she would miss her too much. Children are a blessing from the Lord and we cherish our beautiful daughters everyday and try to teach them God made them for a purpose and has an incredible plan for their lives. I tell them almost everyday they were made to change the world because I truly believe that God would not create a life if he did not desire it to do something wonderful. It is our job to do the great things we were made for and help others fulfill the destiny God has on their lives. That's what we love most about being parents. God has given us the job of helping three incredible children discover the reason why they were made and help them live it out.
One of my favorite things we were involved in this past year was a New Years eve celebration at an 800 year old church. Macie and I were so blessed to be able to help out at a 24 hour prayer event that united a number of churches around Stockport and the local area to pray and worship under one roof. Christians from all different denominations came together and prayed together for God to move on the hearts of the people of this town and praise him in various worships styles together. Macie led the worship team for two nights whilst I led the service on New Years eve which was a great honor.
Loads more has happened to us this past year but I know how annoying a really long post can be so hopefully i'll be blogging again sooner rather than later. Love to all our friends and family we don't get to see enough and we pray for blessing over your lives.
Jo, Macie, Miriam, Eliana and Judah
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Taking the next Step
The last month has been a time of uncertainty and waiting for Macie and I. This season I established myself as club captain of my home town professional football team but when our manager was sacked on the 15th of January this year I haven't played a single minute of the past 7 games. Unfortunately I got injured just before the arrival of our new manager and was not able to play for two weeks but after getting back fit again I was told there was no future for me at the club. This came as a surprise because the new manager had never seen me play before and he had already made his decision about me. Whatever the reason for the club not wanting me, I was now in a position where I would have to find a new club or a new job within the next couple of months.
What do you do when things out of your control completely change or determine your future? I can honestly say that throughout this time I have had total peace knowing that "God works out all things for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28) and if his eye is on the sparrow then his heart is on me (Matthew 10:29-31). I have spoken and prayed over these scriptures so many times over the past month that in the middle of uncertain times I have had so much joy.
If the Bible is true, then because I love God he is working out all things for my good, and if he is watching over a sparrow than how much more is he interested in my well being. Some people reading this may have never heard of these scriptures in the Bible and some may be very familiar with them. To those who are familiar with these scriptures I say that this is a promise for those who are in love with God through Jesus Christ. Not for those who kind of believe but don't really follow or love him and his commands. Remember it is not always what we see as being the best outcome that is really the best thing for us. For those who are not familiar with the Bible I can say from my experience that God really does work out all things for my good and he is true to his word.
Today I am leaving Stockport to go play for Hereford United FC until the end of the season. A team that beat Stockport County on Tuesday night and are 10 places higher than them in the league table. This has all happened through people I had never met before until recently and the connections they made on my behalf had never even crossed my mind. It is easy to say I just got lucky but I am convinced that there is an unseen world around us that has been causing things to happen in my favor. There is a God that has been working all things out for my good.
If you believe in the God I am talking about please pray for me and my family moving forward because we will be separated throughout the week. Pray that I play better than I ever have before and that I am a blessing to Hereford. If you don't really know the God I'm talking about you really need to seek him out. He is so amazing and faithful to those who love him. Ever since I gave my life to Jesus my life has been an incredible journey and he wants to take you on one too.
What do you do when things out of your control completely change or determine your future? I can honestly say that throughout this time I have had total peace knowing that "God works out all things for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28) and if his eye is on the sparrow then his heart is on me (Matthew 10:29-31). I have spoken and prayed over these scriptures so many times over the past month that in the middle of uncertain times I have had so much joy.
If the Bible is true, then because I love God he is working out all things for my good, and if he is watching over a sparrow than how much more is he interested in my well being. Some people reading this may have never heard of these scriptures in the Bible and some may be very familiar with them. To those who are familiar with these scriptures I say that this is a promise for those who are in love with God through Jesus Christ. Not for those who kind of believe but don't really follow or love him and his commands. Remember it is not always what we see as being the best outcome that is really the best thing for us. For those who are not familiar with the Bible I can say from my experience that God really does work out all things for my good and he is true to his word.
Today I am leaving Stockport to go play for Hereford United FC until the end of the season. A team that beat Stockport County on Tuesday night and are 10 places higher than them in the league table. This has all happened through people I had never met before until recently and the connections they made on my behalf had never even crossed my mind. It is easy to say I just got lucky but I am convinced that there is an unseen world around us that has been causing things to happen in my favor. There is a God that has been working all things out for my good.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Journey with the one I love
Everyone has a story of their own. A history of relationships both good and bad with different experiences and events that shape who they are. Unfortunately in life we only really get to hear a handful of these stories, even from the people closest to us. How many people really know your story and how you feel? I tell my little girl Miriam every night before bed that God made her to change the world. One day I hope she will ask me, "how"? My answer will simply be, "one person at a time".
Since I became a Christian almost eight years ago it has been my to desire love as many people as possible in truth and grace that can only come from knowing Jesus. I have dreamed of speaking in front of thousands of people whilst Macie sings inspiring music to touch peoples lives and they instantly become the people God really made them to be. But our God is too loving for a simple quick fix solution. He wants to really know us, inside out. He wants to be the one who really knows your story better than anyone. Eight years ago I would have asked how can God know me and really care about me that much? Then I met Jesus. In a way that a child can understand he hung on a cross 2,000 years ago for me, stretched out his arms and said, "Jo, I love you this much. And i'm dying for you to know that. I want to walk with you everyday and know your story and help you write the rest of your life."
After saying yes to him and asking him to guide my life I can say with out a shadow of doubt how real he is and I found out he loves me a whole lot more than I first thought. Moving into a new year helps us to look back on what we have done, who we are and what we want to achieve in the future. I challenge you to really ponder those questions and ask God what he thinks about it all.
Everyone has a story, we only know a few peoples, but God knows every single one of them. Some seem to have had a nice easy life, some have suffered horrific things, some have lots of money, some have very little. But each person has a story that is unique and special that is worth writing a book about even if you're not famous. It is only those that hand the authorship over to their creator Jesus Christ that will have a story worth taking into eternity.
This new year find out some new stories from people. This can be hard sometimes and normally involves tears. And understand that your story is written everyday by the little choices you make. Write a story that God can look at and say, "That was worth dying for".
Since I became a Christian almost eight years ago it has been my to desire love as many people as possible in truth and grace that can only come from knowing Jesus. I have dreamed of speaking in front of thousands of people whilst Macie sings inspiring music to touch peoples lives and they instantly become the people God really made them to be. But our God is too loving for a simple quick fix solution. He wants to really know us, inside out. He wants to be the one who really knows your story better than anyone. Eight years ago I would have asked how can God know me and really care about me that much? Then I met Jesus. In a way that a child can understand he hung on a cross 2,000 years ago for me, stretched out his arms and said, "Jo, I love you this much. And i'm dying for you to know that. I want to walk with you everyday and know your story and help you write the rest of your life."
After saying yes to him and asking him to guide my life I can say with out a shadow of doubt how real he is and I found out he loves me a whole lot more than I first thought. Moving into a new year helps us to look back on what we have done, who we are and what we want to achieve in the future. I challenge you to really ponder those questions and ask God what he thinks about it all.
Everyone has a story, we only know a few peoples, but God knows every single one of them. Some seem to have had a nice easy life, some have suffered horrific things, some have lots of money, some have very little. But each person has a story that is unique and special that is worth writing a book about even if you're not famous. It is only those that hand the authorship over to their creator Jesus Christ that will have a story worth taking into eternity.
This new year find out some new stories from people. This can be hard sometimes and normally involves tears. And understand that your story is written everyday by the little choices you make. Write a story that God can look at and say, "That was worth dying for".
Sunday, October 7, 2012
What Are You Being Taught?
Last Saturday I was playing in a game when I went up for a header, hit an opponent and got my legs taken out from under me. I fell straight onto my right shoulder and tore a ligament that was very painful. I was told I'd be out for 4-6 weeks and sent home to go and rest. I have been unable to help around the house this past week which has caused so much extra work for Macie.
I believe in a miracle working God and I thought this would be a great way for everyone on the team, people who work at the club and all the fans to see how great our God is. I am writing this 8 days after the event and even though I should be ready to play soon I did not see the instant healing miracle I and many others were praying for. This blog is not about questioning if God still works miracles and if he does why does he only perform them at certain times or why when you pray does God sometimes seem silent. I believe in a miracle working God and have seen some miraculous things but I cannot give you an answer to why it doesn't always happen. This blog is about what I learnt this past week.
I am embarrassed to say that it wasn't until the following Saturday, a week later after listening to a sermon I asked God, "are you teaching me anything through this injury?" When I finally asked I felt like he was so quick to tell me.
Does this mean that God gave me an injury to teach me something? I don't believe he gave me the injury and I don't want to get into a deep theological blog about how a good God can let suffering happen. All I know is that I've seen God do miracles and prevent horrific things from happening and I've prayed for others and watched no change happen. God is way too big for me to understand his ways completely. The question is how do I react to this? How do you react in times like this? I think we should always be asking, "what can I learn in this situation?".
So here is what I feel God taught me and I'd like to share it with you. Your strongest, most important gifting can become your biggest hindrance My right arm is probably the part of my body I use the most in physical activity and this past week it has hindered almost all my physical activity. Be careful not to let your greatest gift become the thing that stops you from fulfilling the life God has planned for you.
He also taught me that I am only as strong as my partner (Macie) and the people around me. If any of you have been sick recently you quickly realize that without loved ones or someone helping out, you are completely useless. It is so important to understand how important your partners such as spouses, friends, family, work mates, etc are in your life.
I hope you enjoyed this blog and maybe learnt something from my experience this past week. What I really want is that you ask more often, "What can I learn from this?" Instead of trying to figure out the mind of God and why sometimes he seems to ignore our cries for help, healing, less stress, more money, better relationships etc.
I believe in a miracle working God and I thought this would be a great way for everyone on the team, people who work at the club and all the fans to see how great our God is. I am writing this 8 days after the event and even though I should be ready to play soon I did not see the instant healing miracle I and many others were praying for. This blog is not about questioning if God still works miracles and if he does why does he only perform them at certain times or why when you pray does God sometimes seem silent. I believe in a miracle working God and have seen some miraculous things but I cannot give you an answer to why it doesn't always happen. This blog is about what I learnt this past week.
I am embarrassed to say that it wasn't until the following Saturday, a week later after listening to a sermon I asked God, "are you teaching me anything through this injury?" When I finally asked I felt like he was so quick to tell me.
Does this mean that God gave me an injury to teach me something? I don't believe he gave me the injury and I don't want to get into a deep theological blog about how a good God can let suffering happen. All I know is that I've seen God do miracles and prevent horrific things from happening and I've prayed for others and watched no change happen. God is way too big for me to understand his ways completely. The question is how do I react to this? How do you react in times like this? I think we should always be asking, "what can I learn in this situation?".
So here is what I feel God taught me and I'd like to share it with you. Your strongest, most important gifting can become your biggest hindrance My right arm is probably the part of my body I use the most in physical activity and this past week it has hindered almost all my physical activity. Be careful not to let your greatest gift become the thing that stops you from fulfilling the life God has planned for you.
He also taught me that I am only as strong as my partner (Macie) and the people around me. If any of you have been sick recently you quickly realize that without loved ones or someone helping out, you are completely useless. It is so important to understand how important your partners such as spouses, friends, family, work mates, etc are in your life.
I hope you enjoyed this blog and maybe learnt something from my experience this past week. What I really want is that you ask more often, "What can I learn from this?" Instead of trying to figure out the mind of God and why sometimes he seems to ignore our cries for help, healing, less stress, more money, better relationships etc.
Monday, August 20, 2012
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