William Gurnall's Masterpiece

A few months ago, a friend of mine was telling me about a book that was next on his list to read. Being an intelligent Christian man whose recommendations I take to heart, I had to get a copy for myself.

Obviously, you can see 3 separate books...but don't be deceived. It is one book published into 3 volumes because it's over 900 pages long!

Too much for you? Swallow your fear, and get this book. I'm glad my copy is in 3 volumes and is a modernized abridgement. It makes it less intimidating for me to get through. I'm not even half way through the first volume and it's a absolutely AMAZING read. It has been said that if the Christian owned only 2 books...the Bible and this book...he would have all the information he needs to live his Christian life. I already can agree with this statement. It's perfect, simple, Biblical truth.

If the Bible is your sword, this book would be your dagger.

READ IT.

Fight the GOOD fight.

The Church...?

The thoughts I'm about to share started from a message I had heard a couple of months ago from a motivational speaker/financial success coach who is also a faithful believer. She said a lot of really great things, some little things I may not completely agree with, or may question...But she did touch on an incredible truth that I can't get out of my mind: Her thoughts on the modern Church. It caused me to meditate on these truths. To focus on them, to talk to the Lord about them. A lot. And I can't help but feel and believe that these words need repeating.

What I am about to say will be offensive. But I think it's the kick in the head a lot of us need...I know I did, and still do. That said, here goes...

Within the last week, a blog was posted by several Christian peers about why youth are leaving the Church. There were many great truths within that article. Hard core ones. And if you are truly are a believer and follower of Christ...punch you hard in the stomach ones. But if we are to truly be honest about what is going on in our churches, we should say that these truths encompass more then just our youth...it is affecting EVERY age group. They are ALL leaving the Church.

I don't know about you, but I have NEVER heard more about Church splits, people leaving the Church, or people being angry or complaining about things in their church like there has been in the last decade. The Church is falling apart at the seams...the simple yet foundational things like Doctrine and Scripture are getting manipulated and mutilated. We fight over worship music, we fight over how long the sermon should be, we fight over when and how announcements should be announced, we fight with each other about who should lead what ministry...

Hold on....

What is the purpose of the Church...the Body of Christ?

To build a HUGE building with a school, a ministry for infants, for toddlers, for pre teens, for teen girls, for teen boys, for single mothers, for single fathers, for single woman, for single men, for married women, for married men, for married couples, for seniors, for pastor, for dogs, for cats, for bunny rabbits??

Here's your cup of coffee and cookie...you are now redeemed?

That's a lot of work to get people to stay, and they are still leaving.

Yes, I know. There is much to do in Christian work. But what I'm talking about is needless, busybody work. Work that is taking up your time, your commitment, your affections, so you think and feel that you are being HOLY.

I said it. And I said it because I'm just as guilty. Am I saying that it's wrong to fellowship with other Christians? No. We need the support and the prayers of those faithful friends. But if your Christian life is centred around the time you spend with you Christian friends...then yes....it's a HUGE problem.

You see, this is what that motivational speaker I mentioned earlier was talking about. The Church is a mess, and in such a RUKKUS, because the Body of Christ is too self-centered and self-absorbed.

WE ARE SEEKING OUR OWN SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

We want to have spiritual identity and vindication among our Christian peers. This has become the #1 goal of the Church. No wonder all we do is fight! We are too busy trying to decide who is holier than he or she is, and once that's decided, we'll listen to what they have to say and follow them...until they do something we don't like, and then we start following someone else...or insist that everyone follow US.

The result of this train of thought is disasterous. Because of it we have done the WORST thing possible as the Body of Christ:

WE HAVE ABANDONED OUR POST.

When was the last time you were at work and someone said to you, "Wow. You seem so happy and your life seems to have meaning, what's your secret?". We should be asked that, you know. People should KNOW that we are different. Are we not referred to in Scripture as a "peculiar people"? That we are to "let our light so shine before men"? That we are not to be "conformed to this world.."? These are just 3 examples of references...JUST 3. There are plenty more (I'm not putting the references so you will be encouraged to look them up!).

When you are at work, are you different from everyone else? Is the only way someone knows that you believe differently is because you told them once that you "go to church"? The way we talk, the way we act... what we do and what we say...this is our testimony. If you think you are being a good Christian simply because you invited someone to church..think again. They see what the church is now. They see who you really are. We go to work to fill in time, to get a pay check, so we can get back to the church that evening and show THEM how righteous we are. It's nothing but a glorified social club, and they want NOTHING to do with us.

NOTHING.

So, we can't get people to stay, and we can't get people to come.

Um...I'm not the only one seeing a problem, am I?

Where did Jesus spend most of His time during His ministry? In the MARKETPLACE. Think about that.

His followers were fishermen, tax collectors, doctors...every day regular working people. Do we realize what our job REALLY is? It's a MISSION field. This is our MINISTRY. How powerful would it be if President Obama's personal assistant was a radical believer in Christ? Someone who prayed everyday for his boss, prayed over his desk, prayed over the documents in his hands that he is about to give to the President? And through that The President got saved, started reading the Scriptures, and sharing with others? The entire nation of the United States of America would be not only influenced, but changed!

Sound far fetched? Not so much...

May I remind you of Daniel. That's right...Daniel. Jewish captive in Babylon. Know for his intelligence and skills. Mostly his interpretation of dreams. Which caused him to be a member of the counsel to the King. And eventually the Chief of Sorcerers. What? You read that right...SORCERERS. The King's counsel, his wise men, were Sorcerers! Daniel was put in the most prestigious, but dangerous positions in Babylon! But he was put there by the hand of God. And Daniel THRIVED at his post because of his faithfulness to his God. Because of his influence of righteousness IN the world. Because He trusted God to do His work through him where God CALLED him to serve. All Daniel did was follow in obedience and what happened?

The King of Babylon came to worship the God of Israel!

I believe that this is the problem. We are ignoring the call of God on our lives because we don't think it is spiritual enough. We are creating our OWN ministry and our OWN calls on our OWN lives. We are either IGNORING God's call on our lives, or allowing others to GUILT us into places and things where we do not belong. We are not being OBEDIENT because we are not where GOD wants us to be.

We are STRIVING when we are suppose to be SUBMITTING.

I do want to make a point here that I do firmly believe that there are some who are called to specific ministry...Pastors, missionaries and the like. But I also believe that there is a specific call on their lives to do so...and there is no doubt in their heart as to what God is calling them to do. The fault lies in the Christian world and our mantle of guilt we lay on those who are "trained" for ministry but do not go into ministry "full time". How is working amongst non-Christian people, being faithful to God, and actually taking the time to care about those people not FULL TIME ministry?

The fighting and arguments within the walls of the church would cease if we got back out into the world where we belong. Caring for people, loving people, bringing hope, THE GOSPEL, to people. But this can't happen if our main goal is ministering to other Christians. Our "ministry" is nothing but petty fights and disagreements amongst ourselves, arguing over how we can be more affective in ministry. Then we wonder why the church isn't growing and why people are leaving.


It's time we get over ourselves.

It's time we get back to our post of influence.

It's time to preach the Gospel. And if necessary...use words.

Just Do It!

I've been learning a lot in the past few months about to do lists. They are important and essential to organization and accomplishing things in our every day lives.

With that said, the past few months have been difficult to make any to do lists at all...so many distractions and frustrations. I was reminded on Monday while listening to a sermon, that my most important "to do" list has been being ignored and cast aside in my every day life. Which is why I have been struggling with negativity and remembering the promises of God. I know now that unless I have this to do list done every day, first thing, life is ugly.

So I encourage each one of you to start your day and continue the rest of your day, EVERY DAY, with these 5 essential to do's:

1) Pray
2) Glorify God
3) Learn from Him
4) Be patient
5) Trust God's Sovereignty

The rest is just details that are His to take care of anyway...

Earthen Vessel

Oh, I have missed writing on here. I promise, it is the truth. I'm not sure why I have been lead to not write on here for such an extended period of time. Maybe I felt nothing I had to say was worthwhile in the past couple of years to write about.

I know that may sound depressing, but before when I had written so much about life, and especially my spiritual journey, I was surrounded by friends...Godly friends full of faith and influence. Really, it was easy to write. It was easy to be DEEP. The last two years, those things have not come easily...

I don't think it's because there wasn't anything I haven't learned. In fact, I've learned a lot, if not too much about myself...especially in the last year. To be honest, it's made for a difficult year, maybe the hardest of my life. And just in the last few days, there has been a climax in this "troubled" time of mine.

I'm not saying that I fell off the spiritual "horse", if you will. I've done the best I can to be faithful, to believe and to press forward. And yet, I have been feeling like I've been getting no where...not just spiritually, but in life in general.

My job...or jobs if I am to be honest, has been one subject. The complete and utter frustration of feeling like I've been tossed back and forth. Not because I'm not wanted, or can't do a good job. In fact, it's been told I am the opposite of that. But because of circumstances beyond my control...financial cuts and natural disasters... Having a steady, reliable income has been challenging.

My personal life. Dealing with a broken relationship. Giving a piece of my precious heart to a guy who didn't deserve it and didn't want it. Knowing I was used for my companionship by someone who just wanted someone to talk to, not spend his life with. And again, I'm back where I've always been...waiting.

I haven't just been feeling like at I'm a stand still...I have felt beaten down. Not by the just the world but by the One who is suppose to love me most. So many things that I don't understand...why must my heart keep breaking over the same thing? If I am to live on my own, God, than why can't I find a job that would sustain me to do so? I have been faithful for so long...will I ever be rewarded?

These thoughts have made me feel so incredibly selfish. Who do I think I am to not have difficulties? What makes me think I deserve ANYTHING?

This has been the struggle. This constant pull back and forth between my carnal self and my spiritual self. No wonder I have felt so angry, so sad, so lonely, so....forgotten.

BUT GOD...2 of the best words in life. But GOD...

But God gave me a revelation just today. Something that hit me hard enough, I couldn't help by pour my heart out...just in case someone out there needs the revelation too.

You see, what I didn't realize until today is that God gave me EXACTLY what I had asked for. I said to my friend Laura over a year ago..."You know what? I'd rather be the valley. I'd rather be weak...because if that's where I am, I can't do anything. God has to do ALL of it".

Wow. Oh to be reminded of our own prayers....And I don't think that this prayer was foolish, but I do think I didn't understand what I was really asking for. You see, I learned something today through the words of Andrew Murray:

"The Christian often tries to forget his weakness; God wants us to remember it, to feel it deeply. The Christian wants to conquer his weakness and to be freed from it; God wants us to rest and even rejoice in it. The Christian mourns over his weakness; Christ teaches His servant to say, 'Most gladly will I glory in my infirmities (2 Cor 12:9). The Christian thinks that his weaknesses are his greatest hindrance in the life and service of God; God tells us that it is the secret to strength and success. It is our weakness, heartily accepted and continually realized, that gives us our claim and access to the strength of Him who has said, 'My strength is made perfect in weakness'."

I have been doing all these things. I said I preferred to be weak but I haven't let God do all these wonderful things that He wants to do with my weakness. I have been seeking self righteousness...thinking weakness would be "MORE HOLY", and I would be all the MORE holy if I could overcome these weaknesses! Yet, I've been striving..working....struggling...to do something I can't do AT ALL. Because I'm not suppose to overcome my weakness...I'm suppose to find His strength IN it.

This year, I've been asking why God has let certain things happen, why when I feel like something is going my way, FINALLY,... it suddenly turns to dust.

Self sanctification does that. To paraphrase Murray again:

"The Christian is in danger of seeking sanctification in the power of the flesh, with the help of Christ, instead of looking to Christ alone for it and receiving it from Him by faith....one is the carnal way, in which we put forth our utmost efforts and resolutions, trusting in Christ to help us do so. The other is the spiritual way, in which, as those who have died and can do nothing, our one care is to receive Christ day by day, and at every step to let Him live and work in us."

WOW.

Lord, rid me of my carnality. I don't want to labour in vain anymore.

So friends, a revelation which hasn't quite sunk in yet, but I pray I'm reminded of every morning....

I'm DONE with self. I want HIM.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us". 2 Cor 4:7

My Date with the Kid

Oh, where to begin! What an incredible experience it was to go to Pittsburgh to a Penguins hockey game! So much fun, so much excitement! I got almost everything I wanted out of the trip. Our seats were AWESOME, Sidney scored a goal, and Pittsburgh won the game 5-1.
The only thing missing was the other half of the reason for choosing this particular game, and that was to also see Vinny Lecavalier who is the captain of the Tampa Bay Lightening. Unfortunately, Vinny fractured his hand and wasn't playing...in fact, he just had surgery on it yesterday. He'll be out for 6-8 weeks. So, that was a little bit of a let down, but in retrospect, it made it much easier to cheer for Pit all the way!!
Our hotel was literally across the street from the arena, so once we got there we stayed put in the downtown area. Pittsburgh is a nice city. We thought the people were great, and would go back in a heartbeat.
But most importantly, the atmosphere was insane. There is nothing like standing and screaming with people by the thousands, pounding the glass, cheering with the strangers beside you....it was really my favourite part of the whole experience.
Would I do it again? Oh YEAH. I am in 15 days in fact! Heading to Dallas to watch the Stars play 2 games! Now that the Pit experience is still fresh in my heart, I'm looking forward to this trip even more!
The epic saga of my hockey life continues,....
Stay tuned.

I'm Seeing Stars....(but I'm sorry, I guess you can't)

Yes, it's that time of year again.

Summer is my favourite season (weather wise), but there is only one thing that I struggle with during that time: NO HOCKEY.

For me, hockey season is the best season there is. And the extra blessing was that it started earlier then usual for me, and in such a special way.

About a month ago, I grabbed my friend Jenna and headed to PEI for the weekend. This weekend was going to be different than my usual visits to PEI because that always includes a long visit with my dear Blinders. This time, it was about hockey....and coming across an article online that I know for sure now, was NOT a mistake.

Charlottetown became home for the weekend to the Dallas Stars. It was on PEI that they were to have their training camp. I know most people don't find that exciting. But when you are me, and your favourite player of your favourite sport plays on that team,...yes dear friends, it's exciting!!

So, I got to watch Brad Richards practice and play hockey with his team....and meet him. Only for a second. I didn't want to monopolize is time with a lame attempt at small talk, so I shook his hand and walked away. I hope my actions were respectful and admirable....for that was my intention. But all in all, it was a great experience, with happenings I'm still reeling over and meditating about. I'm just so amazed that God could take something as simple as hockey and use it as a blessing to me. It really shows that he does care about the little things....even someone's joy in a GAME.

Experiencing what I have so far so early in this hockey season, I know it's just going to get better. And yes, if the Lord wills it, I'm hoping to head to Dallas sometime this season to see them play on their home ice.

Though it's still early (no team has played 10 games yet), it's wonderful to see the Stars have a perfect 4-0 season so far. And Brad is playing his best hockey in years. It does my heart good to know that I saw the start to this back in PEI a month ago. I'm hoping it will lead to a season of hockey that I will never forget.

P.S. I would have posted some pics, but I don't know how to get them off my phone. Sorry!

I See His Blood Upon The Rose

I see His blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.

I see his face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds
Are but his voice-and carven by his power
Rocks are his written words.

All pathways by his feet are worn,
His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,
His cross is every tree.

-Joseph Plunkett

The Heavens Declare!

Ever since I was a kid, I've had a fascination with the cosmos. Stars, planets and galaxies...all of it is....well, pardon the pun,..ASTRONOMICAL. i've been known over the years to stare at a clear sky on a cool night, and having a hard time walking away.

As a Christian, the sky was always one of those things I never really felt right about studying. Any books you could find were either saturated with evolution or astrology. Well, in reading a recent fictional Christian novel, I found some resources of how the cosmos don't have anything to do with horoscopes. But the stars "speak" of their Creator....including the Birth of Jesus...the Son of God. FASCINATING STUFF.

I've really just started my study on this VAST subject...but if you'd like to experience something on this subject that's a good start, I'd recommend a video called, "The Star of Bethlehem". What this man has to say was so incredible, it blew me away. That God would be so detailed in the birth of Jesus to plan it in the cosmos at the time of creation...what LOVE.

I hope you take the time to experience it. It really makes you think...and thank God for all His extraordinary favour to us.

Some Interesting things about Erin....

Erin....the Green Isle....Ireland.

Here is a list of things you probably didn't know about the Ireland of the Dark Ages.

-Public Education began in Ireland.
-In one generation the people of Ireland mastered Greek, Latin and some Hebrew.
-In this same generation, the Irish language was so pure, there was no dialect.
-The Irish invented a secret language called Hisparica Famina, made up of parts of Latin.
-Ireland was the world's first publisher of books.
It was the Irish priests and druidic bards that preserved books on history and culture while libraries all over the world were being destroyed.
-During the Dark Ages, it was Ireland that shared the light of the gospel to the world. In fact, Ireland has turned out more missionaries then any other nation in time.

Thanks to Linda Windsor, Christian writer of historical fiction, for these green gems of historical facts.

A Little Different

I'm Back!! Although I doubt that many people out in Blog world really noticed I was gone.(:

I have missed sharing on this thing, but I have to admit, I wasn't writing because I felt I wasn't being INSPIRED. Nothing I felt was worth posting was coming to mind.....

Maybe it's because for some reason I thought everything I shared had to be about sometime spiritual and uplifting in some way. I do hope that whatever I post on here is encouraging to people, and after you read it you feel a little happier then you did before. But then I realized that this blog is to share who I really am. That definitely involves talking a lot about God, for He is the one who created me, and made me who I am. But I'm hoping that in sharing things that He has taught me, you can learn too!

God is, and always will be the centre of what I write here. I love talking about Him, learning about Him, sharing about Him. But He is the one who has given me all the different interests to learn about and share with others. I guess by nature I'm somewhat of a teacher. I love knowing things, but to me the best part about knowing something is sharing it with someone else.

So, from here on out, what's posted on here with be from a wide range of different sources. Sports, cultures, travel, recipes, photos, history, music, books, theology...little bits and pieces from many places and people.

Please read and enjoy!

Waiting with Anticipation

Psalm 130:5,6:

"I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His Word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more then they that watch for the morning, I SAY, more then they that watch for the morning."

Everytime I quote this verse (which is done every day when I wake up), I think of the context of it. I heard a speaker once say that the waiting in this verse refers to soldiers who are fighting through the night, and are waiting for the morning. From what I understand about battle, there is anticipation with the coming of the dawn. If you just make it through the night.....

When I heard this description, I was reminded of "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers". I thought about the battle at Helm's Deep. They are significantly outnumbered , and there is little hope for those fighting for good. In the beginning of the battle sequence, Gimli says at 2 difference times, "Let's hope they last the night".

The goal was to make it until the morning. With the morning comes hope.

As the battle is in climax, defeat looks imminent. Surrender or death look to be the only options. Then, as the last glimmer of hope is fading, Gimli says with deep emotion, "The sun is rising". Then Aragorn remembers the promise of Gandalf. "Look for my coming on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East".

Deliverence was possible. Hope was swelling. Victory was reality. Salvation was coming.

This is how we should wait for the Lord. Most of time, we sit back with folded hands, claiming we're waiting on the Lord, praying that He will deliver us from whatever trial we are facing. Soldiers who are in battle don't sit with folded hands....they are getting the work done. They are fighting for truth, they are pressing forward in hope, waiting with anticipation for the dawn, believing that in it's coming, so is their salvation.

We should be waiting for the Lord with great anticipation. Sitting on the edge of our seats, filled with excitement, knowing without a doubt that with the dawn, HE is coming. We are suppose for anticipate Him "...MORE then they that watch for the morning".

Let's stop sitting on our hands, in sorrow, hoping that He will rescue us. We are to fight the good fight, looking to the morning not just hoping for the dawn. We are to look with great excitement, great anticipation because with the dawn HE IS COMING.

We are to wait for the Lord MORE then they that watch for the morning. Because although we are looking for hope and deliverence, what we're WAITING for....is HIM.

My Favorite Thing About Autumn...

A Tree stained in crimson.

The Gospel really IS everywhere.

Pan meli, aisthanomai Grlik!

I know! What the heck does that mean? Well, I'm sure it's grammatically incorrect somewhere. But what is means is part of a new chapter that the Lord has called me to in my life.

In this time of stepping back, trying to figure what God wants me to do next, or where God wants me to go, one thing He has made clear...

"Pamela, learn Greek!"

So, I'm going to start with making myself familiar with the beautiful Greek alphbet (have you ever realized that the word "alphabet" is the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, Alpha and Beta?). I will go over it and over it until I dream about the letters and it's so familiar that I don't have to think about it. Then, I will start with Biblical Greek, followed by Modern Greek.

Greek is not an easy language! But if I'm called to it, I trust that I will have a knack for it. I'm sure there still will be times of frustration, and a desire to quit, but I pray that I will press on in obedience.

I don't know what it means for the future....but I will wait with anticipation on the Lord,..."like they who wait for the morning" Psalm 130:5,6.

I'm excited, but still need your many prayers. Thanks!

Where's My Sword? Part II

Here is something you might find interesting...

This morning I was gathering all my stuff together for church. I had my purse, my water bottle and my Bible.

Somehow, it the hurriedness of leaving, locking the house and telling my dog to stay.....I didn't grab my Bible.

I FELT LOST ALL MORNING!!!

Hallelujah!! It's working!!

The Word is becoming my prize possession, the ONE object that I can't live without, I feel lost without,...I am imcomplete without!!

Write Your Word on my heart, Lord. May Your Word become flesh in ME.

Where's My Sword?

This week, I've been spending significant time with The Word. Yes, I have been reading it all the time, but that's not exactly what I meant.

I went on a walk this past Monday, and had a push on my heart to take my Bible. Which isn't unusual when you're someone who loves to sit outside in nature when reading and studying your Bible. But the experience was more unique then even this...

I walked for a full hour and a half. I didn't stop to read my Bible. Not because I didn't want to, but because I felt as though I wasn't suppose to stop. So, I walked, and walked and walked. My iPod in ears, my Bible strapped to my back. I wasn't understanding why God wanted me to take my Bible if He wasn't calling me to stop and read it somewhere! But I still keep walking....

Then it hit.

One of the songs I was listening to was by Steven Curtis Chapman called "Bring It On". Suddenly I had this picture in my mind of me being a soldier. Walking through life with my Sword strapped to my back, everywhere I go, everything I do, my Word, my SWORD is present with me. Then this thought came to me: If I am suppose to be obedient according to what is written in I Peter 3:15, then shouldn't I have my Word with me ALL THE TIME?

How many times are we without our Word? Do we take it to school? Do we take it to work? Do we take it on a walk? Do we take it with us to do the dishes?

Sounds a little obsessive, I know. But think about it this way: If you were in the heat of battle, would you carelessly leave your sword somewhere? Would you say to your comrade, "I need to go talk to someone about how they can fight better, but I'm going to leave my sword right here. You watch it, ok? I don't want to lose it." What kind of fighter are they going to be if they haven't had proper training in how to use their sword? We tell fellow believers all the time that we're in a battle and need to be PREPARED. But while we're telling them that they should to do this, WE are unprepared to train them. Why? Because the tool we're suppose to teach them to use is sitting on our nightstand! It's not strapped to our backs, ready at any given moment for battle. And we go through life everyday wondering why we feel so defeated...

So, hearing this from the Lord, I put a challenge out to myself. Everywhere I go, my Bible goes to....no exceptions. Yes, even the bathroom! I know you don't need your Bible in the bathroom, but isn't it good to be a habit of having your sword with you at times when you are most valnerable? Would a soldier in battle put his sword down in the middle of the battlefield so he can go have some "private time"? NO! If anything, the exact opposite!! We can't EVER let our guard down.

I have to be honest though, it's so hard! I have easily forgotten it. But what's amazing about it is now I'm conscious of it. Now I'm more likely to carry it everywhere I go,....more and more everyday.

Are you up for this challenge? Where is your Sword right now? Strap it to your backs, my friends. The battle is on, and the opposition is getting more aggressive. Don't be without your Sword....be prepared to give an answer to those who ask.

Fight the good fight....keep your Sword at striking distance.

What's next?

Even though my last blog was a few months ago, I'm finding that I'm now experiencing what I was writing about: change.

Change is so hard when you have NO idea what direction God is leading you next. All you can do is wait, trust, and walk in obedience!

More to come....stay close.

Weak in the Knees

In the past few months, an intriguing subject has been the topic of many conversations with two close friends of mine: Knees.

Shawn, a Florida boy who has been raised being pulled behind a ski boat, had a very unfortuate incident happen during the summer months. While he was wakeboarding, his knee blew out on him. And he wasn't even doing a trick! The result has been painful surgery with a slow, uncomfortable recovery.

Laura, who is actually a distant relative of Shawn's (ironic,eh?), also had a knee incident within the last couple of weeks. She was on a run and jumped over a chain not even a foot off the ground, and suddenly she was down on the gravel with a gash in her knee all the way to the bone. She is off her crutches and gets her stitches out tomorrow, but her knee will still be sore for quite a long while.

What's special about these 2 people is that they are both children of God. God the Father is their Abba. Jesus Christ is their Teacher, Master and Rabbi. And the Holy Spirit is their Comfort and Joy. Because of injury and circumstance, they have been given the opportunity to spend more time at the knee of the Lord, learning, studying...just spending time with Him.

What have I learned from the knee injuries of my friends?

That I need to spend more time on mine.

What does it take for us to purposefully sit at the feet of the Lord? Pain, death, suffering? Shouldn't we be there at all times, just because we want to be?

I think we all need to pray for the heart of Mary, who spent her time with Christ at His feet. On her knees.

Lord, if you have to take us out at the knees, do what you have to do for us to spend that time with you.

Like Shawn and Laura, Lord, make me weak in the knees.

AHHHH Summer....Where art thou?

I have had a new and shocking discovery lately: I dislike cold with a deep passion.

This is shocking because I've been born and raised in the True North, the birthplace of hockey and Tim Horton's. I should love frolicking in the snow, and taking in a deep cold breath. I should like ice,....looking at it, seeing it, eating it. But the hard truth is this: I don't even like it in a drink. My water is always room temperature and my iced tea is NEVER iced. Cold wind makes me breathless and cold. Snow makes me wet and cold. Ice after I've slipped and fallen on it (which doesn't happen very often...let's face it, I am still a Canadian girl), makes me sore and cold. Which all makes me incredibly cranky and unpleasent to be around.

I love heat. It feels SO good. I didn't complain once this summer about it being hot because I knew it would be over way too soon. I love the sun, I love daylight, I love green grass, blooming flowers, the buzzing of bees and humming of hummingbirds. And why is it when everyone else in the office is hot, I still have my jacket on? Is the Lord preparing me to migrate south?

Am I living in the wrong place? Should it bother me that the change of two leaves on one tree cause me to what to burst into tears?

No matter what the case, I'm called to be content where the Lord has placed me. Sure the thought of getting snow tires on my car, and having to warm it up in the AM before I get into it makes me cringe, but shouldn't I remember that all things come from the Lord?

Posted on my mirror in my bedroom is Job 37:10. "By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen." I've placed it there so I can be reminded that winter is a beautiful gift that the Lord has given,...even if I'm not very excited about it right now.

So, winter is coming. I need to face the inevitable. Ice and snow....made by the breath of God. A time for God's creation to rest, and tough Canadians to grab their sticks and pucks.

I will eventually give in, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about next spring and planning upcoming trips to Florida.

Life after NYC

One thing I can't say: Life is the same since going to New York City.

It was so big, so loud, so fast, so GREAT.

I know that might be a wierd thing to hear about NYC. It is such a materialistic place, and focus is mostly on self. But I found out quickly that people are the same everywhere. If you are kind to someone, most people will be kind to you. We all want to be happy, to find fufillment in life, to find a reason to keep living. People are people no matter where you are.

And it was in these people that we found the image of Christ. We saw Him in those He created, and because of this were able to love people and be Christ to them.

My team was amazing. I couldn't imagine going with a greater group of people. So willing to serve, so ready to give, so much fun! Because of this trip, I now have friends for life. We became a family, brothers and sisters loving and taking care of each other. We really learned what it means to be one as the Body of Christ.

This trip changed my life. Again, God allowed me to see the world in His perspective. He allowed a city that could be considered as a scary place become my new favorite place. I love this city, and I'm looking forward to my return.

Laura, Adam, Chris, Jonathan, Erin, Ashley, Marissa, Nick, Andrew, Christine, Lisa. What a blessing to serve with you all. When are we going again?

I know, I know...

Haven't written a blog in a long time....it's true!! I'll be on it soon, so keep checking back.(: