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.

the best friendship

Often I forget the amazing truth that God wants to be my friend. Too often I leave Him to be the One who hears me when I pray, who puts everything together, who is sovereign and over all creation. But I forget how much God loves me and desires friendship with me. Yet how often do I put into that friendship? Too often it's one-sided and I never stop to listen to everything He has to say to me. As I've been stopping these last few days, it's been incredible.

When we're with people, we often ask questions to get to know them or perhaps get to know how to relate to them. I'm reading a book right now and it suggests a few friendship questions we should ask God. So I encourage you to take the time and ask God these questions and wait on Him to hear what He has to say back. You may be surprised.

-What's grieving you these days? Why?
-What's exciting you these days? Why?
-What do you like about me? Why?
-What do you see when you look at me?
-When was the last time you wept over me? Why?
-When was the last time you laughed over me? Why?
-If you could meet me anywhere face-to-face, where would it be?
-If my heart is your home, what does that home look like?
-If you could play a game with me, what would it be? Why?

Don't discard the things that come into your head as imagination, because God speaks! We just need to take the time to listen. So go, take that time.

ungodly beliefs

In the last week, the topic of ungodly beliefs has come up twice and it's funny, because the first time God was really tugging at my heart about it and I ignored it. When I heard it a second time, I realized that I really need to deal with some of the ungodly beliefs in my life.

What things am I believing that are warping the way I view things in my day to day life? There's some things about God that deep down I believe about Him that change the way I relate to Him in a negative way. I relate to others differently based on my ungodly belief of relationships and people, etc. These beliefs are contrary to the word of God and to His character! I have to continually be examining myself, because the enemy is a liar and obviously he's going to try to put lies into my life...I have to contradict those with the solid truth of God. So I encourage you all to examine and see where there may be some ungodly beliefs creeping around in your own lives...

lazy day

Today was my first morning in a while not opening at work (ie. needing to get up at 4:30). So I slept until 11:30... haven't slept that long in quite a while. Now I'm sitting here and feel kind of lazy. Perhaps I should do something productive. Perhaps not. I'm going to go to some hip hop classes today. Not sure why. Perhaps because it's just a fun form of exercise? So I can learn to dance? (right, when am i going to use that?!?) Oh well, gives me something to do on a saturday afternoon. Yippee!

Critical

things at work have been irking me these last few days. And I'm not shy to share it with many people around me. was reading in james about the tongue today and how a spark can set a whole forest on fire. my words have become a force of destruction, making me miserable and attempting to make those around me not so great either. what kind of focus and end result is that for my life?

peace or restlessness?

just so you all know, my room is perfectly tidy again. so peace has been restored to my life. supposedly. now i feel the pressure of the ten million things I want to do and I just feel restless. i just need to keep resting in the Lord and take on His peace. After all, He is the Prince of Peace. I just need to keep turning to Him in all things.

chaos reigns

my mom is gone right now and i've been working lots and entertaining guests and i'm exhausted. as a result of my exhaustion, the kitchen has dishes and stuff everywhere and my bedroom is worse. quite odd for someone like me who likes everything to be perfectly in place. so it's driving me nuts and i can't bring myself to do anything. i wish my bedroom would just clean itself. poof!

it's official

It's official folks! I have a new blog where I will be posting a picture a day! Not too exciting right now seeing that this is the first day, but I think they're nice pictures, so I hope you will enjoy them as well. They are from my many adventures. Go check it out and let me know what you think. the link is on the side under pictures. Enjoy!

a day off!

Today ends my seventh day of work in a row. Tomorrow I think I will just sleep! Then I only have a six day week. I wonder if I will miss working tomorrow? Perhaps. I'm taking my omi to a movie, so that should be fun and watching the season's premiere of 7th Heaven. Pretty exciting in my opinion. whoo! right now i'm just excited about life and everything God's doing, but there's nothing I can say to express what I'm feeling or thinking! Maybe tomorrow or later on today. I'm thinking of starting a blog of pictures with a new picture every day, because i love pictures and taking them. i will to be sure.

Obsession

I read a book called obsessed the other day.

Usually when we hear the word obesession, we think negative things. Yet, this book suggested we need to be obsessed with God. When I think about the definition of obsession and what that would look like pointed to the Lord, it's amazing to think about. What passion that would be. That is what I truly desire. Often i obsess about the things of the world rather than about God. But I want every part of every moment of my day to be consumed with Him and who He is. here's a quote from the end of the book:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A certain man learned that the treasure existed and he developed a terrible obsession to possess it. He wasted all of his wealth and secretly sold everything he had to purchase the field so that he could own the treasure. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl of great price. When a man found it, he sold all that he had and purchased the pearl. Unless you, too, obsess after God's kingdom, like this man did over his treasure, you will not find it. Knock and keep knocking. Seek and keep on seeking. When they send you away again and again, come back and seek still again. Then you will find the treasure you seek."

charlie and the chocolate factory

Saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory again this evening. For some strange reason it's one of the movies that has most impacted me... God has taught me so much about compromise and how we give up Him (our family if you look at the movie) for the world (candy-following the movie again). What an amazing picture and a contrast between willy and charlie. one abandons His father who truly loves him in search for something that satisfied...and it does for a while, but in the end he's left unhappy. And then charlie who refuses some of the biggests temptations, because he's faithful to his family and the love that exists in that relationship. what an amazing picture. and when willy finally goes back to his dad's house, the walls are covered with newspaper clippings of everything he's been doing. If that were God, and I'd been straying for a long time, I think He would do just that-post newspaper articles all around, because He was so proud of me and loved me so much. Even though I abandon Him at times, He's watching my every move and knows all that I'm doing. Good reminders.

pictures

i was going to post the picture of thetis the other day, but it was too big and then I had to go. So here is a picture for all of you that I took from a boat. thanks to my new camera for taking nice pictures and to God who provides amazing material to be photographed! I would like to claim to be a good photographer, but really, it's not hard when He's so amazing!

A safe return

Well hello again! My thoughts and I have returned. My apologies for our absence. We went to Thetis Island to the Capernwray there to babysit for a week. I got to babysit with my good friend Lindie and the number of children in our care ranged from 4 to 8. always an adventure I can assure you! I have returned home exhausted and sick... but ready to go back to work! This morning i woke up a five for work and went there only to realize i work tonight. How silly of me! Anyway, i have much to write about, but will leave you with my welcome back greeting and a nice picture from thetis island.