Wild, Wacky, and Wonderful Friends

Friends are amazing! Especially my friends. It's funny how you become friends with someone. Take Loralee for instance. When I first met her we got along fine. But things changed between us and I started disliking her. It was pretty dumb. I didn't want to take the time to really get to know her and I just judged her. As a result I missed out on getting to know an awesome person. One day I went over to Loralee's dorm to visit one of my friends and Loralee came over. I remember being ready to bolt out of there as fast I could, cause I was really scared of her. But I stayed to be polite and started a conversation with her. I was amazed when we started talking and I realized that we had things in common. Since then our friendship has blossomed and grown so much. She is a farm kid and I am a city kid, but you know what? We have a common glue that binds us closer together. That's Christ. He is the reason why friendships work.


Most of my past friendships have been based on things that don't last. Boys, gossiping and etc. But God has shown me that when you put Him first in all friendships and relationships you love people more - with His love. You don't see them for what they are, you see them for Who they are in Christ. "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  1 Sam 16:7  I appreciate you lots Loralez!

WHAT IN THE WORLD?!

It was a beautiful summer day. My sister and I had decided to walk to our local library and take out books. Our library is located right smack in downtown, in a shady part of town. After making the trek across town, and checking out the books, we sat outside in this little park in the middle of the city. I have always loved that park because right across the street is this little stone church. I was enjoying listening to the church bells ringing, when I saw two young boys. They couldn't be much older than 11. They seemed to be enjoying walking around the park and playing with the leaves. It brought warmth to my heart to see those kids enjoying nature and a friends company. I thought to myself, maybe our generations is not as bad off as I thought. I could see those very boys becoming doctors and lawyers and helping society. Then the unexpected happened. The boys, who I had such high dreams for, came up to me and asked for a cigrette.

It makes me sad to think about these boys and others like them who are going off a bad path. They are bright, young, and full of oppurntunity. But a lot of times they can't see it. It makes me soo sad! The only thing that I can do is pray for them, and try to show them a better way.


What do you think?             

O World!

I read this poem the other day and it inspired me.


O world, thou choosest not the better part!
It is not wisdom to be only wise,
And on the inward vision close the eyes,
But it is wisdom to believe the heart.
Columbus found a world, and had no chart,
Save one that faith deciphered in the skies;
To trust the soul's invincibe surmise
Was all his science and his only art.
Our knowledge is a torch of smoky pine
That lights the pathway but one step ahead
Across a void of mystery and dread.
Bid, then, the tender light of faith to shine
By which alone the mortal heart is led
Unto the thinking of the thought divine.






-George Santayana

Fearless

When I was younger I had many phoebias. I was terrified of swimming pools because I thought there were crocidiles in there. I couldn't go any where near an ice rink because I thought the ice would break and I would drown in the icy water. I was also scared stiff of taking a shower, because I thought snakes and lizards would come out of the faucet. For that reason my parents decided to take desperate measures and enroll me in Figure skating lessons ( they solved the swimming pool phoebia by giving my a geography lesson. They shoved me into the shower and turned on the faucet, ignoring my cries of terror, whiched completly solved the shower fear.) Skating was the last one to go.


My dad tied on my skates, adjusted my scarf, gave me a kiss and pushed me into the rink. I tilited my head towards the celing and let out a scream that would have made any self respecting banshee proud. Then I felt a not so gentle hand on my shoulder. "Hey, you keep that up and you'll have the whole army here." said my skating teacher. It was the beginning of the end. I would like to say that even though it was hard at first, I mastered the art of figuring skating and now am a world class skater. But unfournalty life isn't like a Visa commerical. It is much more expensive. Anyways, long story short, I endured the skating classes for 4 weeks and after they were done, when my parents asked me if I would like to continue, I had 2 words for them. No Mas! They got the hint.


11 YEARS LATER..


I can proudly say that I am no longer scared of those other things that used to give me nighmares. Now I am scared about some not so visible apponements. Like my future, what I want to do, how to pay for my college tution, etc. If I let them, my fears could spin round and round my head until I was wrapped like a ball of yarn. I can't let them keep me from living my life. The Bible says 365 times not to fear. That's once for every day. God doesn't want us to wrapped ourselves into a fearful ball of yarn. He wants us to trust Him with everything in our lives. There is no point in us being afraid of something or someone. God is watching our lives not for the sake of entertainment, but because He genuinly cares about you. He loves you. He wants to wipe your fears all away and come in and save the day. But He can't without your permission. He would never go against your will. Even if it means your destrucition. It's your choice. Will you give Him permission to save you from all the monsters of life? He is waiting, He will always be waiting.

Changing the World

I want to change the world. How many times do I hear this or say this? I want to know that my life is actually making a difference, that I'm not just wasting air. But I'm not saving peoples lives or rescuing children from abusing situations, in fact I am not really all that much to improve any one's life. This needs to change!

Here is a list of the things I can do to change the world:

1. Read my Bible everyday
2. Improve my relations with family/friends/people
3. Be diligent in EVERYTHING! (yes this does include organizing the shoes in my closet!)
4. Never judge someone (we never know what is really going on with people)unless you are a judge.
5. Cherish every moment that we have of life
6. Pray without ceasing
7. Never give up, even when it seems that there is no hope, there is always hope has long as God reigns( which is always)
8. Smile at people, even if you don't know them.


I have realized that this list could go on forever, because changing the world is not merely about just saving some one's life, it is also about changing yourself. By giving each day to God, we are asking Him to use our little, selfish selves to be a play a part in the big plan of redemption.

So you want to change the world? Give yourself to God. He's got some big plans for you!

Riding the rails

Peaches and Cream

Peaches and Cream

Those who decline the struggle lose the strength and joy of victory.

- Help in Daily pg. 28

Sunlight streaked across the sky and beamed its bright rays down upon my face as I fought the uphill battle. Wiping sweat from my brow, I continued to walk up Fountain Valley. Basically, this trail is a steep, long road that weaves it's way to the top of a mountain near our school. My P. E. teacher just loved making us hike up it during class.

I hated walking up Fountain Valley. I detested it so much that sometimes I would make up excuses so I wouldn't have to do it. One day, it came to my attention that I was not having the right attitude and it was all because I was not willing to go through one hour of struggle.

I wish my life was peaches and cream. Sweet and smooth, without any problems or trials. I wish that I could sail through life in a boat made out of chocolate and never have a care in the world. Of course life isn't like that, but as ridiculous as that sounds, it is exactly the attitude that I find myself having.

I have missed out on a lot of opportunities because of the peaches and cream attitude. I turned down these opportunities because I was not wiling to go through a struggle. I didn't want to go up Fountain Valley, because I knew that it would be hard. I missed out on one of life's greatest joys: the joy of struggling and then victory afterward. One day in P.E. Class, I decided that I was going to conquer this ridiculous ideology. I actually went up Fountain Valley, and, guess what? I loved it! I realized then and there that I had been missing out on an amazing chance to enjoy nature and the feeling of accomplishment.

It amazes me that despite the fact that I don't want to go through a struggle, Jesus was willing to go through one for me. We too can chose to make it a worth while labour and enjoy the sweet taste of heaven's reward, or we can give it all up because we want the easy way out. Which will you choose? Will you make His effort worth it?

Second Fiddle

Someone once asked the conductor of a great symphony orchestra which instrument he considered the most difficult to play. "Second fiddle," said the conductor. "I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who can play second fiddle with enthusiasm- that's a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony!"*

That's something to think about. Tired of being a second fiddle in life? Remember that without the second fiddle there would not be harmony in life's great symphony. So instead of complaining about your position, learn to play the second fiddle well.

HAWAII!!!!

I am waiting in the lobby to load the bus for hawaii!! I am soo excited and you can probably tell from my choice of punctuation!!!!!!!!!! I just have visions of palm trees and sandy beaches. But I think the thing I am most excited about is the opportunity to reach the people on the island. Please pray for all of us as we will be filming and singing. I know that this is going to be a big blessing!!!! Aloha Hawaii and goodbye to you... for a while!

I'm singing in the rain!

Singing has always been a big part of my life. It's my way of expressing myself and I just love it! People always comment on how they can hear me bellowing throughout the dorm when I am singing in the shower. Anyways I have a very big slight problem. I can't really sing in front of people, and being at a very musical school everyone expects you to do just that.
Every time I have to sing for voice lessons or music auditions my hands start shaking and sweating and I sound worse than a frog trying to sing karaoke at a bar. But I decided one day to conquer my old fear and to audition for this one song that I really liked. So I plucked up my courage and went to see my good old friend Dave, who works in the music office, and asked him if I could audition some day. He said sure and I went away feeling happy that I had asked. Later on in the day we were in orchestra when I heard Craig, our music director, say that he wanted to try "I want Jesus to Walk with me", which is the song that I wanted to sing. I felt the feeling of dread come over me as I watched Dave talk to Craig and realized that they were both looking at me. My first reaction was to bolt and run away, but I knew that if I did do that then I would be letting my fears control me. So instead I walked up front and took the mike that they gave me and prayed as I sang. It was such an amazing experience, letting God lead me as I sang. I really meant every word that I sang.


I want Jesus to walk with me
I want Jesus to walk with me
All through this pilgrim journey
I want Jesus to walk with me

 It's so cool to serve a God that is willing to walk with us wherever we may go. Through trails and tribulation I know that God is right there beside me leading me home.Even if it's a small thing, like singing a solo, God is ALWAYS THERE!

Let it snow...

For two days it has been snowing like crazy. Being in the warmer part of Canada this is usually ,but it's great! All the trees are covered with fluffy white perfect snow. It looks like we will be walking in a winter wonderland for the next few days.

When it first started to snowing I got so excited that I grabbed the person nearest to me, which happened to be Shenel, and started a snow ball fight. Well... sort of. You see Shenel has more talent for throwing than I do and in my excitement all the snow balls that I threw went sailing over her head. Meanwhile she had no problem pegging me in the eye. 

Anyway practice makes perfect... so Shenel, WATCH OUT FOR ME!!