Good Times

Does anyone read this anymore? Probably not, but that's okay because I hardly write nowadays.

This year is beginning to draw to a close, though it's still very full on and things just seem to be getting busier as the date for my flight home for Christmas draws closer.

I will be very glad once I have my first year of bible college under my belt. It's been an amazing journey, but will be good to feel a sense of accomplishment that this is something that I am acutally capable of.

Things in Reservoir continue to be amazing. I honestly don't know the last time I've been so challenged, and moved and encouraged in the span of one year. It's definitely had it's downs, along with all the ups...but it's all been worth it. I just grow more in love with the children and youth in this community every day.

A high point recently would be our "mock" Canadian Thanksgiving we had last weekend. We had a real mixture of kids, teens and leaders...all gathered together as one big family enjoying a real Thanksgiving feast. It felt like home eating the cranberries, and even sharing a home-made pumpkin pie for desert (they don't eat pumpkin pie in this country!). It is definitely one of my favourite days I've had in Reservoir, and a real moment that I just felt home.

I'm already getting excited for all that awaits for next year, though a lot is uncertain. I am currently without plans of where I'll be living next year, and with whom. There are a few who are also in the same boat, looking for accommidation in Reservoir...it's just a matter of things coming together and waiting on God to open up some doors for that to happen. I'm not worried, but it is a prayer point and something that is often trying to stir up anxiety in me from the depths of my mind.

Things are good. Reservoir is good. God is good.

"Where I cannot see, I'll trust"

God is good...did you know that?

I am sitting here this Sunday morning in Melbourne Australia absolutely amazed by God.

I received a facebook message from my Uncle Gord that told me that while preparing for a Bible Study that he leads, he put in the song lyrics "Where I cannot see, I'll trust" and came up with my blog entry from October 19, 2005. Doubtful anyone who has read that would remember what it said...I certainly didn't. So I looked it up and began to read....

"Saturday night I had the privilege of attending a very beautiful covenant service with 614. Throughout the evening my heart was stirred as God spoke into my life and revealed some new truths to me.

"Humbled by Your Majesty,
Forgiven so that I can forgive..."

I came to realize how proud a person I am. I think it's a hard thing for me to admit that I'm wrong. Not just in terms of proving a point in a discussion or debate with someone...but I have difficulties accepting the fact that I am capable of hurting someones feelings without realizing it. Recently I had an old friend confess that I had hurt them in the past, and because of that they didn't think very much of me. Instead of humbling myself and apologizing...I argued. I gave reasons, excuses and pointed out in a very wordy speech that I wasn't the one to blame, and there was a logical explanation as to why feelings had been hurt and why we weren't friends anymore.

I realized Saturday night what a proud person I am and the difficulties I have in admitting that I have done wrong and require the forgiveness from someone that I may have hurt...unintentionally or otherwise. I think this is a hard thing for me to overcome and completely change...but I am glad to have been made aware of it and hope to continue to improve and have God keep me accountable."

For anyone who knows me well, you'll know the friend I'm referring to in this blog and that this whole issue has been one that has been on my heart these past few months following the accident.

I am sitting here right now just blown away at the full circle my life has taken these past two years, without even realizing it. I am presently in a place where I am again faced with the negatively that I have allowed eat away at my life and be present in my relationships with people, especially those I love the most.

I think that I've been made to rediscover this post for a few reasons. For a start, to realize that where I am now isn't such a new place...and surprisingly enough, I can reflect on the further words I wrote in that post and take a lot of comfort in faith and knowledge that I had even two years ago of how good God is and that He's with me every step of the way.

I think it was also to remind me of the relationship I had with my friend, both the good and the bad...and to know in the end it turned out just how God intended it.

And finally...I think it was so I could say I'm sorry. I had been struggling with that nagging thought these past couple of weeks, and I think that this is the time to say it.

I'm sorry. To everyone in my life where I've let negativity get the better of our relationship...or when I let my pride or stubbornness dictate my words and actions. I'm sorry to those I hurt, either intentionally or not...and to those whom I wasn't a listening ear when I should have been.

Also to my family. Being so far away for so long does nothing but make you appreciate how much you love those most important in your life. I am sorry for those moments of absolutely pride, stubbornness and grumpy days when I just couldn't be bothered. But...thank you for loving me anyways and always seeing past those moments.

I think that's really all I have to say. I have a lot of reflection to do, and I know I have a long and hard path ahead of me as I continue to nut out who it is God wants me to be. But I am so thankful for his continued goodness and love in my life.

To have a read of the full post of October 19, 2005...click here.

No matter where I go I am, proud to be Canadian

Almost Canada day..here's an oldie but a goodie...

Missing you Daryl...

O Lord my God, when I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hand hath made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, My God, how great You are!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Fig Newtons

Well, semester one is nearly finished. Hard to believe. Exams are just around the corner and coming up in a few weeks, which I'm not exactly excited about..but then I do have 5 weeks of holidays to look forward to afterwards.

It's been a busy past month or two. I had two lovely visitors from Toronto here for a week, Easter, a mega squad (taking 30 kids swimming),a wedding, 3 essays due, leading a church service, a new babysitting job...and of course just the normal work load of school and stuff going on at Shop 16.

But, I'm definitely not complaining. Things are going well. I'm having fun and learning a lot, both at school and at the Shop.

One thing I'm finding with school, especially after researching essay topics, is how many more questions spring up in my mind. I guess it's just the way it tends to work when you study theology...the more you learn, the more questions you end up with.

I think I'll throw up a topic that I just talked about in my New Testament lecture this morning. We're working our way through Mark, and today looked at the final days of Jesus' ministry in chapters 11-14.

One specific passage we spent a great deal of time on, was the 'clearing of the temple' in Mark 11:15-19. This passage is right in the middle of the miracle and illustration of the fig tree that Jesus condemns, and its pretty much standard belief that Mark uses that to draw comparison between the fig tree with no fruit, and the temple lacking proper worship of God.

The part that was of debate is the actual purpose of the clearing of the temple. When you see a proper sized illustration of the temple, and realize the thousands and thousands of people it could hold in it's outer courts, you begin to wonder how much of an impact Jesus really made.

Was it a small protest in a corner in the outer courts where sacrificial animals were being sold? Or did Jesus actually halt the all temple function suggested by the language in Mark?

Was this act just in protest to the corrupt trade taking place? Or to all trade in general?

Was Jesus even angry, which is a common assumption? Even though there are no words used of that sort in any of the gospels...only that he had 'zeal' when he was clearing the temple, which is a different thing all together.

Was he actually "cleansing" the temple, as is widely accepted, because there was a need for God to purify His temple? Or was Jesus providing the means for all nations to be welcome to come to and worship at the temple? Or was it a hint at the final days, and that the time of judgement had come?

Or was this simply another act of Jesus to symbolically suggest that there is no longer the need for the temple, or for sacrifices, because the old ways are coming to an end, and a new age will begin in Jesus..the ultimate sacrifice?

It was definitely an interesting lecture despite all the questions given to think about, and the various opinions and ideas on the matter. But, I think I'll just leave it there for now.

Blessings!

Mo'Money

Money.

Man, is there a word that is capable of stressing out more people with just the mere utterance of it? Well, I know it stresses me out anyways.

I just wanted to share a brief God moment I had this week.

Wednesday was a very stressed out day for me. I received an invoice for my overseas health insurance from school that I'd have to pay them for, as well as for a college community fee. Upon receiving those I checked out my credit card status to realize it was pretty much maxed out.

Stress set in...and maybe even a few tears.

I have just gotten permission to work, but I am getting busier with school as essays are due soon (as soon as 6 days for my first one) and the next month proves to be a busy one with Easter, friends visiting from Canada (yay!), a couple weddings, and a mega squad that I'm in charge of planning for about 30 kids from Resi to attend. Needless to say, there aren't many jobs that I have the time for at the moment.

With all these thoughts flowing through my mind as I sat on my bed looking at my two invoices...stress and worry very nearly got the better of me. I finally took a deep breath....cleared my head...and just said "God, I'm putting this in your hands. That's all I can do."

An hour or two later, my friend Katherine rang me. She was ringing to ask if I wanted a babysitting job in the city. I nearly cried on the phone. Turns out, Thursday afternoons (which is the day I finish school at 1, and I am about 10 minutes away from the city) are perfect and I'm starting next week. It's for a 18 month old and a 3 year old, for a few hours a week, so that the mum can have some time to herself. It's perfect.

Even more perfect was when I got off the phone and my Godspell soundtrack was blaring out "thank you Lord....all good gifts around us...." Yah, I cried. What can I say? God is good.

It's nothing huge, and I'm still pretty much broke and having to take it one day at a time to work things out...but if nothing else it was a reminder to me that God's got it under control. He's got me this far, he won't leave me abandoned now.

~Big deep breath~

God is good.

Yes, I'm alive...

Well I haven't posted in quite some time so I thought I should..even though it is nearly 1am.

I am very happy to be back in Melbourne, and it feels like a home away from home now. I've settled into my new home, where I'm living with 3 great house mates. You can check out my new digs by clicking here.

I've now survived three weeks of Bible College, though it feels like its been heaps longer. I'm learning lots and getting challenged by a lot...and man, do I have to do a lot of reading!

Nothing else too exciting is going on. I'm getting into the childrens team at Shop 16 (my church) and loving being around all the Reservoir teens and kids again.

I'm still waiting on the government to tell me I'm allowed to work before I seek out some part time employment.

I guess just to finish off this blog I'm just going to post up a devotional I had to write in my first week of school, for my communication principals class. I had to present it and hand in an oral text, and it was worth 20% of my mark. I was heaps nervous about it, as I'm not one for public speaking. As well as the fact there are some very brilliant biblical minds in my classes, so that's intimidating. Anyways, I got an 'A' on this, which made me very happy indeed, so I thought I'd share it. (if it reads weird its because I had to write it in "oral" format, so writing how I read it out.)

Oh, and P.S. Uncle Brad...both the Bible and the flash drive you gave me are coming in VERY handy!! Thank you so much!

P.P.S Only one month until Jenn and Heather visit!! Yay!

Time

I have some trivia questions for you. Feel free to shout out the answers.

How many minutes are there in an hour?

How many hours are there in a day?

How many days are there in a year?

So, what do all of those questions have in common?

Time.

Time governs our lives.

Time tells us when to get up.

Time tells us when to go to bed.

Time tells us when to eat.

Time tells us when classes are starting.

And time tells us how long until a project is due.

Sometimes, impatience becomes our middle names as time slowly passes at a red light.

Sometimes, we hit a birthday of a significant age and wonder, where has the time gone?

Time.

Time is continually passing.

Time brings us moments.

Some moments that are a cause to celebrate,

And some that break our heart.

Time brings us life experiences.

Time brings us knowledge and wisdom.

Time brings us old age.

We live our lives according to time, without the ability to stop or control it.

Now, I have a question for you.

What are you looking forward to achieving as time is passing?

A diploma?

The man or woman of your dreams?

A career that will set you on the path for the rest of your life?

I have another question for you.

Are you living in the time and moments that God is giving to you right now?

Or are you in a constant state of waiting for the next big moment yet to come?

The big moment when life will really start?

Donald Miller in his book, Through Painted Deserts says this.

“I don’t think we can really understand how time passes.

We can’t study it like a river or tame it with a clock.

Our devices only mark its coming and going.

I dropped an anchor three months back but time didn’t slow.

Some things have to end, you know.

You feel like life is always leading up to something, but it isn’t.

I mean life is just life.

It’s all happening right now.

I only say this because I am trying to appreciate everything tonight.

I will be leaving soon, and I want to feel this,

Really understand that it is happening because God breathed some spark into some mud that became us, and He did it for a reason, and I want to feel that reason, not some false explanation.”

God has a purpose for our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 says

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.

Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.”

That hope and future that God has promised, has already started.

Life is meant to be lived, not just gotten through.

Time is fleeting, and it’s not going to slow down.

You, have a choice to make.

Will you wait for the moment when all the pieces fall into place?

Or will you take every breath that God gives you,

as an opportunity to live out His purpose for your life?

Snowy January in Toronto

Well, what can I say?? It's definitely been a while since I've posted...especially since I've written something in a post.

I've nearly finished up my stay in Toronto, and will be flying out to Vancouver on Monday to stay with my family out there for a week..and then will be flying to Melbourne to begin year two in Australia.

It really has been a very good visit home. I've had more meals bought for me in the span of 6 weeks then I think I have in my entire lifetime...but its all been accompanied with amazing fellowship, catching up with both family and friends, and just sharing what both I and they have done over the past year.

Christmas was very good. I got exactly what I asked for, which is definitely helps with me going back to Australia...especially the stationary! Our family mini-holiday to Niagara falls was also a really fun time. In all honesty, I don't find the falls that interesting, but I did very much enjoy the time spent with my family.

Nearly everything is in place now to go back to Melbourne. I got my student visa at the beginning of January. I even got a Wii for Matt a couple of weeks ago (fantastic story about how I actually got my hands on one...but I won't type it out right now). And have gotten to do a lot and see a lot of people here in Toronto over the past month or so.

I was a bit nervous about coming home, and the possibility of not wanting to leave again. But, never once since I've been back in Toronto have I not been excited to get back to Melbourne and get my year going there. Oh, I'm definitely scared as anything to start school and to begin a year that is going to be both intense, demanding and very very busy...but I am excited.

It has been good to be home for this time and to just reflect a bit on who I am. I came to know a lot about myself while I was in Australia, and I guess coming back to Toronto has allowed for my two worlds to meet in a way, and for me to again look at who I am and who I want to be. I think it has helped to ground me again and allowed me to put together a fuller picture of what kind of person I am, who is important to me in my life, and what direction I'm going in.

I think leaving my family in Toronto again, is still going to be the hardest part about going to Australia. They're definitely a HUGE part of my life, and have helped to make me who I am...and I'll really be sad to say goodbye yet again. But, I know that they'll still be here, supporting me and praying for me, and before I know it, November will be here and I'll be seeing them again.

Definitely not excited about more planes. A plane ride out to Vancouver. Then a very long plane ride to Hong Kong, where I have a lay over...and then a final very long plane ride to Melbourne. Really really not excited about that. I'm not sure I'll ever quite get over my fear of flying and actually enjoying being in a plane. But, I've just got to know that the motivation to take such a long flight is worth it, and God will get me there in one piece.

I guess that's about it for now. Will try to do better to post more regularly!

Blessings!