Summer

With summer being over and returning back to school the question constantly arising of “how was your summer?” To say that it was a great summer as most people tend to say I have summed up my experience as a good and hard summer. Then the next question that comes about is “what do you by hard?” This answer usually deems the answer of I worked as a PSW and took a summer course at the same time so it was hard. And this is very true, yet my summer was much more then that. It was a testing ground for my faith. I experienced a lot of loss this summer with losing Paul as well as other elderly people from my church.

Along with that came the struggle of my personal faith being challenged through my course consisting of world religions. With being presented with these various world views I was challenged to evaluate my own once again and stand true to what I hold to be truth, which is actual truth. Out of it though, I learned that being a Christian is very different then any other religion. Yes I would agree that there are many similarities between many of the world religions but the more one comes to understand each the clearer the differences formulate. Almost finishing this course (with the Lords strength only) I have walked away knowing that what I believe and depend on is not of myself but from God. Total dependence is the basis of our faith, and when we choose to not do this we land in more trouble then we began with. I definitely felt that way during this summer.

Throughout this summer I was often to be found sitting at the picnic table at my house doing homework and listening to the radio. A new release came out and I considered in my summer theme song. The artist talked about how we often talk about what God has done and how amazing it is to be with him but we fail to reflect on what it would be without him. This summer I think I experienced a little taste of that, being without him. The stress of the summer and the involvement of studying other religion was an excellent way the devil to wedge his way into my mind, and much of the song reflect my summer.

The refreshing thing about walking out of this summer into a new school year is that I now have that knowledge of being without him and have no desire to return. Additionally it gave me a taste of what it was like to live without Christ, something that I have not really experienced because I have lived to be a Christian my whole life. This summer was a hard but good summer and I can say it was good because of what I learned and how I grew. There is still much more growing to occur from this summer experience but I have confidence that God will not let that go undone.
 

In the meantime here is my summer theme song
Me without You

Some thoughts

As I am getting back into the swing of school I am also attempting to get back into the habit of writing blogs as a way to reflect on the thoughts that have travelled through my head as there are many.  Thoughts  that are sometimes put into my back pocket to reflect and other times are simply forgotten.

So here is one of those thoughts that might have a trail that is lasting.

I have been doing a bible reading plan (started it a week ago) because I was finding it challenging to sit down and read it. So I decided to try doing something different to make a change and get excited about reading my bible again. Part of the plan was to read though the Psalms, which I find refreshing to read because David is an ordinary person with extreme emotions and an AMAZING love for God. Reading psalms I sometimes find is a gate way to praying to God. The words that are written there are some of David's inmost thoughts and feelings that he expressed to God. After reading a psalm a few times I find myself praying the words of David. It's a very different, definitely different way to dig into my bible which has been like new and exciting.

I am very grateful that God interacts with his people in more then one way through his amazing letter that he has given to us.

So I guess I have a question, how do you stay interactive with you bible? What do you do to make it exciting to go back to everyday?
I think it would be neat to try some other new things!

The Drive Home

With being back at school and far from home, my regular radio station that I listen too is simply state of fuzz. So for the past while now I have simply enjoyed my car's silence as I drive from one place to another. One of these drives I was heading out to go visit some of my friends that I had met in nursing last year to catch up and hang out a bit.

We were talking about boys and the dramas many of us had either faced in the past and one that was currently in the midst. As I was sharing my story I realized how amazing picture of grace that it was.
I was in my first serious relationship and it was not a Christ honouring one and six months later it was ended. I struggled for a long time about how to restore what I had lost in that relationship and how Christ could forgive me of it. But as I was on a missions trip Jesus miraculously set me free from such bondage. I was forgiven and free. Later that year the boy's memory was completely erased from an accident that he had suffered. So in essence that relationship had completely disappeared.

It is really such a great picture of what God does for us when he forgives us. We are forgiven and free and he remembers it no more. I am always delighted to see small reflections of His truth permeate through my life. It is such a gift to now that I have a story of a great example of what Christ has done. Unfortunately I didn't make the connection until I was driving home so I wasn't able to share it with my friends I am still grateful that I had He gave me the courage to share it with them.

And thats a Wrap...

Well with one week of summer left and being back into the full swing of school not far from me I decided that I would attempt to get back to blogging as well. Apparently summer zaps my blogger initiative. It's been a very different summer, I have never experience anything like it before that is for sure. I was the first time in a long time that I didn't not spend most/all of my summer at camp and the first time that I spent 4 months (minus 2 weeks at camp) living at home as summer. That reflection will come later.

Right now I wanted to post something that I was discussing with several ladies at work. In my generation people are in constant communication, either through text message, facebook, twitter or even blogging. We are always talking to each other and one of the ladies suggested that we talk too much, we are constantly sharing every small detail of our lives and not afraid to expose anything and everything. Something that happens when we are in constant communication is that the idea of missing someone or looking forward to seeing someone is often missed. Now I would say that texting or talking or skypeing verses seeing someone is still very different, but the problem I often find is that once you see the person you have nothing to say to them because you have already told them. And then you miss out on telling the story with facial expressions, and actions and connection at a different level.

Yes texting does make things more convenient but for me personally sometimes I really enjoy getting that email after a few days, waiting in anticipation for it and getting excited when we finally receive it. or better yet the snail mail which barely exists except for those people who go to camp and do not have Internet access. I love to read snail mail and I enjoy writing it too. I love to know that someone actually took time to stop there day and sit down and write me a letter. WOW

In a time of Instant gratification were everything is now, at this moment we lose much of the little moments in life, a man that I worked with told me to slow down, stop rushing and I have held onto that. We need to remember to slow down and look at the little things in life.

The smile on a cute old ladies face
The butterfly or Caterpillar that is crossing our path
The moment of silence in the day
or the simple sounds of kids laughing and playing

All these things we can so easily walk by while we are texting our friend or rushing from one place to another because our schedules are so full. So as I head back to school and finish off my summer, in the midst's of the chaos and commotion I am going to attempt to slow down and remember to look for the little moments, I like to call them little hidden treasures from my King, to remind me that He is there and the Beauty of the life that He gives.

Self

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me

-Jesus

Self. It has these desires of staying up late and sleeping in, drinking to it's heart content with only it in mind. Selfless. It has the desires of serving others, waking up early to spend time with a close friend; a King, and to go to bed tired from doing service for others. The battle between self and selfless has been one that has been dueling within my body and soul. This current battle that has been happening has not been to pretty either, with self often winning. With the battle looking pretty low I found the outside having its repercussions, being angry, doing things that I would not normally do and wondering astray.

The amazing thing about my the King is even though this battle was looking aweful, he came through, like he always does. I simply forget He is there. The whole time that I thought selfless was lossing I kept seeing foreshadows of victory, Him never giving up on me. Calling me through unexpected answered prayer, revelation of his word through communication with others and him pressing upon me to get back into his word through several differant sermons I stumbled apon with his guidence.

He calls me to deny self, it's desires, wants and infatuations with the world. I have discovered over the last little while that this is a choice that I must make and each moment of the day, each day of the week and each week of each year. I am simply grateful for the fact that that once the choice is made, he will help me stick to it, from start to finish.

This picture was taken as we were climbing Mount Cameroon, we were all pretty tired but still excited for the adventure that was adead. We never made it to the top but it was amazing what we got to see and explore during that time. Life is like that too, sometimes though we forget to be excited about what is ahead becuase we only see the mountian infront of us that we need to climb. Remember that you can go to him right where you are and give him the backpack that you are carrying. Then get ready to climb the mountian, because he carrying your load and all you have do to is be willing to keep going.

Little Gifts with fun History

With traveling friends and the blessing of souvenirs, I was given a necklace that made me rather curious so I decided to do some research.

I was given a beautiful necklace with a black cord and a pendant, the pendant being called a harmony ball and is traditional hung on a black cord. The harmony ball originated in Bali, a small Island near Indonesia. Within the ball there is a small bell that creates a gentle noise and vibrates. This is then to create a feeling of harmony and calmness to those who wear it. The harmony ball is also a symbol of of calm and relaxation. Pregnant women are often found wearing them to promote those things. It is often said that the baby is also able to recognize the sound of the harmony ball. It's probably more the fact that the baby can distinguish a mothers voice from others.

Anyway I am grateful for the gift and the small history that is associated with it.