grumbling...

Lately I've been grumbling about a lot of things, especially at work. The hours I get, my wage and so on. And it's caused me to get angry, frustrated and changed the way I've acted at times which isn't so nice. And amidst my grumbling, God calls me to trust Him. And I don't. I keep looking at my circumstances and complaining. Then He gets me a raise. Then the person who took over for me in mornings is leaving so I get my mornings back. Not all that bad. Why didn't I just trust Him?

back again

Just arrived home from Africa yesterday. It was a wonderful two weeks, going on safaris, driving around and just hanging out at the lodges. I enjoyed getting to know other tourists there as well as the staff at the different lodges. Learned a bit of swahili, which was always enjoyable to those who heard. :) I am home now and it feels strange to be here. I feel like being back in Africa. Should have accepted the marriage proposal I got.. haha.. But I loved seeing the people there and their joy of life as well as their ability to simply rest and enjoy the day sitting by the side of the road. I need things to do. Imagine just sitting by the road all day. Resting and relaxing. Sounds good.

africa!

Well, that's it. I'm at work and in a few hours I will be on my way to the airport! Today I have a nine hour flight to Amsterdam, three hour layover and then a nine hour flight to Nairobi. Yay flying! And then I will be on a two week safari trip to Africa!! So you will not hear from me for a while, but I will be back. Be sure to leave me comments while I'm gone!! I'll miss you all! And Leslie, just in case I don't have time to reply to your emails, bye! I will miss emailing you!

hockey

Last night I went to the season opener for the Canucks. As I was enjoying the game and chattin' with my Lord, suddenly He revealed to me such a clear picture on how hockey parallels life, specifically the Christian life. So I thought I would share it with all of you, hockey fans or not...

The home team would be Christians. The visitors team would be evil, such as satan or the flesh, basically the things we war against. And we are constantly battling them, although in the end, ultimately we will have the victory (unfortunately not always true in hockey, but in the Christian life, yes). Sometimes we get penalties, because we've done something that doesn't line up with the word of God and sometimes we score. The whole team is always working together (ideally), coming together in a bigger picture. Often we watch just one player, perhaps the one with the puck, but meanwhile the rest of the players are positioning themselves for the play. Crucial to have all the players there and in the place they're supposed to be-likewise with the body of Christ how we all have a role to play and need to be playing it!

Lots of other parallels, but the one thing that blew me away that God showed me was the cloud of witnesses. In Hebrews 12, the writer talks about the cloud of witnesses surrounding us, cheering us on. As I watched the fans and saw how excited they were and how supportive it was such an encouraging picture of what the cloud of witnesses around you and i is as we play in this game called life. They're doing the wave, they're cheering, they have signs and so on. Spurring us on to keep running towards Christ with our eyes fixed on Him. What a great picture and a wonderful reminder!

self-righteous

Too often I think I'm better than those around me. Deep down I know it's not true, but I put this belief in my head, because I think I'm afraid of others being better than me. In my pride, I always want to be the best. And so I go through whatever means I have to in order to make myself think that... whether that means looking down on others, judging others, gossiping and so on. How horrible it is when I look at it. That I would rip others apart to build myself up, all in my head.

I think deep down I think everyone else is better than me and so all the other stuff is trying to cover up that belief (which is ungodly yes). We are all on an even playing field. I've sinned and am totally dirty without Christ. That makes me just as much a sinner as the next person. We've all fallen short of His glory one way or another... and He loves us all, no matter what. I need to stop looking at others through my narrow-minded love that doesn't go too far for fear of lowering myself and I need to start looking at others through Christ's wide, deep and overflowing love which knows no bounds. What a transformed life and attitude I would have.