So we just finished our training days, with the AIA soccer camp team this summer, and tomorrow morning we're off to Sudbury for our first camp.
It's exciting, I have no idea how big this summer I will be, but I honestly have this sense of peace about it. The nerves aren't as big as last year, but im as excited to work with so many fantastic people.
Our first camp is up at camp ABK, north of Sudbury, and we'll be there until next Saturday. It's your typical bible camp, we just come in and do a sports program for about 5 hours each day, it's a blast! The ABK staff is awesome, the kids are great, and who needs internet or tv when you've got a 130 foot water slide, a rope swing, a gorgeous lake, and a beach volleyball court. ;)
Anyways, pray for us, the team, as we drive up, and as we begin this journey. Pray for the kids, that they come with open hearts and God uses this ministry!
Thanks Jesus, for this opportunity...
Friday, June 30, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Community...
The past week or so has been a great chance for me to think and recognize some of the people God's put in my life. From a whole day of flying, to working in a back warehouse with nothing to do BUT think, to hanging out with some amazing friends and family, I've really been convicted of how blessed I am, and how much I take that for granted.
One of the biggest ways I've been blessed is through people, from some of the smallest to the biggest ways. God shows Himself through encouragements, hugs, prayers, and just hang out times. I was really convicted when I started compiling a list of the people that came to mind who have blessed me in some way over even just the last year.
There's my family. I wouldn't be anywhere without them all. My parents, and the example they are, and the love they show us kids, and the dedication they have to us kids is something I'm so thankful for, and couldn't do enough to thank them for it. My brothers and sisters, wherever we all end up we always know we're just a call away, or a short email, or a funny story. I have so many role models in even just my family, and am so blessed to be a part of them.
There's the friends. Those who I see every day, or only see every few months. From the one on one conversations, to the group parties, to the beers on the back porch, to the random MSN conversation that turns into a huge encouragement and discipleship time. From the baseball games in the driveway, to the random Tim Horton's runs, to the quick facebook comment, to the hug in the hallway.
There's the youth, pastors, and kids from camps last summer. I couldn't have imagined how close I would get with them over the last year, developing friendships that are as close as family, sharing God-stories, lifting each other up in tough times, and looking forward to what this new summer is going to bring about, reconnecting on that mission field (soccer field :)) and showing Jesus to these kids.
There's the other people who have had a huge impact on my growth, spiritually and socially. From employers who are more friends then anything else, to track coaches who never stop demonstrating humility and giving me encouragement, to the professors who go way out of their way to see how I am doing, to the directors who take time to build into me.
I love sitting and listening to people, and encouraging them. I am really encouraged by that.
But the people who have taken time to build into me, encourage me, and want to know more than just how my day is going,
Thanks.
If we all took time to really acknowledge how many people God has used to impact us, it would be an incredible realization of an endless community.
Thank you, Jesus.
One of the biggest ways I've been blessed is through people, from some of the smallest to the biggest ways. God shows Himself through encouragements, hugs, prayers, and just hang out times. I was really convicted when I started compiling a list of the people that came to mind who have blessed me in some way over even just the last year.
There's my family. I wouldn't be anywhere without them all. My parents, and the example they are, and the love they show us kids, and the dedication they have to us kids is something I'm so thankful for, and couldn't do enough to thank them for it. My brothers and sisters, wherever we all end up we always know we're just a call away, or a short email, or a funny story. I have so many role models in even just my family, and am so blessed to be a part of them.
There's the friends. Those who I see every day, or only see every few months. From the one on one conversations, to the group parties, to the beers on the back porch, to the random MSN conversation that turns into a huge encouragement and discipleship time. From the baseball games in the driveway, to the random Tim Horton's runs, to the quick facebook comment, to the hug in the hallway.
There's the youth, pastors, and kids from camps last summer. I couldn't have imagined how close I would get with them over the last year, developing friendships that are as close as family, sharing God-stories, lifting each other up in tough times, and looking forward to what this new summer is going to bring about, reconnecting on that mission field (soccer field :)) and showing Jesus to these kids.
There's the other people who have had a huge impact on my growth, spiritually and socially. From employers who are more friends then anything else, to track coaches who never stop demonstrating humility and giving me encouragement, to the professors who go way out of their way to see how I am doing, to the directors who take time to build into me.
I love sitting and listening to people, and encouraging them. I am really encouraged by that.
But the people who have taken time to build into me, encourage me, and want to know more than just how my day is going,
Thanks.
If we all took time to really acknowledge how many people God has used to impact us, it would be an incredible realization of an endless community.
Thank you, Jesus.
Monday, June 12, 2006
How I See God...
Last night, I had a fantastic conversation with a friend, who felt like she was struggling. I praise God that we could talk and share, and as much as I hope that she was encouraged by it, I feel like I was very blessed by the whole thing. In a nutshell, she felt like she was 'falling away' from God, feeling really disconnected and discouraged because of her lack of prayer and devotions. This isn't the point of the post, but it sets up a good context.
More than once in the last months, I've struggled with the same thing. I think everyone does. Or, maybe more pointedly, I think every faithful Christian does. I'm learning that these 'daily devotions' are often an obstacle and hindrance in an intimate relationship with God. That's a strong statement, sure, and by NO MEANS am I saying don't read the Bible and pray. I guess I just feel like it's gotten to the point where our ideal relationship with God consists of a daily reading and prayer time, and thats about it.
I don't think I'm a very wise person, and I don't have a whole lot of solutions. But talking to my friend last night, I tried to encourage her to look for God in some other areas of life. Of course she should strive to study the Bible, and live out of it. But I think we all need a bigger picture of God. We read and have the head knowledge that God is everywhere, but do we actually look for it?
Renee and I were talking a few weeks ago, and she told me how she sees God in nature and creation. It's pretty easy and convenient out here in BC, with the beauty around us, but she talked of how she can sit in nature and just be in awe.
I think I see God in people. I get so encouraged through other people's faith. I love hearing stories. I wish I could just be a fly on the wall and see how God lives in each and every one of His people. Everyone has a unique story, personality, character, and motivation. I see God in that. I see God in friendships. I see God in family (How could I not when these are two of my nieces praying before lunch)
OK, maybe that was a cheesy attempt to brag about them ;)
I see God in someone smiling. I see God in a hug. I see God in people going out for coffee. I see God in being able to call a friend any time of day or night. I try to see God in all the little things of life I usualy take for granted way too quickly.
Last night, I also told my friend how I try to see God in the struggles of people. I try to see God in a believer who is struggling, because they feel like they need to be doing more. When I told her I see God in her thinking that she is 'falling away', I think it was a huge encouragement. I would be worried if she was content with falling away! The fact she felt the need to talk and look for help tells me that God is working and the Spirit is alive!
Thanks for that, Jesus.
More than once in the last months, I've struggled with the same thing. I think everyone does. Or, maybe more pointedly, I think every faithful Christian does. I'm learning that these 'daily devotions' are often an obstacle and hindrance in an intimate relationship with God. That's a strong statement, sure, and by NO MEANS am I saying don't read the Bible and pray. I guess I just feel like it's gotten to the point where our ideal relationship with God consists of a daily reading and prayer time, and thats about it.
I don't think I'm a very wise person, and I don't have a whole lot of solutions. But talking to my friend last night, I tried to encourage her to look for God in some other areas of life. Of course she should strive to study the Bible, and live out of it. But I think we all need a bigger picture of God. We read and have the head knowledge that God is everywhere, but do we actually look for it?
Renee and I were talking a few weeks ago, and she told me how she sees God in nature and creation. It's pretty easy and convenient out here in BC, with the beauty around us, but she talked of how she can sit in nature and just be in awe.
I think I see God in people. I get so encouraged through other people's faith. I love hearing stories. I wish I could just be a fly on the wall and see how God lives in each and every one of His people. Everyone has a unique story, personality, character, and motivation. I see God in that. I see God in friendships. I see God in family (How could I not when these are two of my nieces praying before lunch)
OK, maybe that was a cheesy attempt to brag about them ;)
I see God in someone smiling. I see God in a hug. I see God in people going out for coffee. I see God in being able to call a friend any time of day or night. I try to see God in all the little things of life I usualy take for granted way too quickly.
Last night, I also told my friend how I try to see God in the struggles of people. I try to see God in a believer who is struggling, because they feel like they need to be doing more. When I told her I see God in her thinking that she is 'falling away', I think it was a huge encouragement. I would be worried if she was content with falling away! The fact she felt the need to talk and look for help tells me that God is working and the Spirit is alive!
Thanks for that, Jesus.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
"You're Worse Than You Think You Are..."
These words hit home last night...
One part of the soccer project that is going on here at TWU is called Monday Night Fellowship. On a Monday night, I get to tag along with the projectiles and head out to someone's house for supper and a time of fellowship...(haha, i guess the name kinda explains itself)
After a good meal, we all sat down in the living room with Shayla, and I'm sure I'm not doing justice the spelling of her name. She worked under CCC for 8 or 9 years, in the women in leadership ministry, and was very relational. From the start, it was obvious she was there to share and invest in us, and everything was comfortable.
She spoke on intimacy with God, and what that really means. It is so much more than a church service on a Sunday morning, and daily devotions. We all do those things, or at least try to do those things, and very quickly use them to justify our established personal relationship with God. Really, though, we're fooling ourselves. Do we really understand what it means to be intimate with God???
I could spend alot of time on illustrating everything that was said, but I want to focus on that phrase she used, "You're worse than you even think you are..."
I really believe that one of the biggest hindrances in an intimate relationship with God is how we approach our sin, in a variety of ways:
1) we dont recognize the extent of our sin
2) we minimize the effect and consequence of our sin, either by ignorance and/or arrogance
3) we tell ourselves that sufficient repentance involves a small prayer and "please for give all my sins, amen"
After raising this point, Shayla kinda looked at us all, and said "Think about all the sins you can consciously recognize, and how bad you really are. Well guess what, you're even worse"
Bam.
Just like that, I was humbled. But it's true. I cant begin to comprehend how lost I really am, and I really need to work on acknowledging that fact, and realize that a simple prayer isn't the whole solution. God demands and deserves SO much more! In my life, I struggle with getting down on myself, especially when I let other people down. It sucks, and it hits me extra hard. But hearing this, and relating it to how frustrated I get when I let others down, helped me realize how serious I need to take this! If I get so upset with just peers, should I not be that much more upset when I let God down?
Thankfully, the talk didn't end there. She went on to say, "For every one time you look at your sin, look at the good news of the Gospel 20 times". It's a fragile balance, as we can easily get caught up in either getting depressed about how bad we are, or go the other way and just be the happy-go-lucky-because-Im-already-forgiven Christian. We need to surround ourselves with a community of accountability, to keep us from going too far either way.
Isn't it beautiful how despite the our human limits, Jesus is still that much bigger???
Thank you Jesus
One part of the soccer project that is going on here at TWU is called Monday Night Fellowship. On a Monday night, I get to tag along with the projectiles and head out to someone's house for supper and a time of fellowship...(haha, i guess the name kinda explains itself)
After a good meal, we all sat down in the living room with Shayla, and I'm sure I'm not doing justice the spelling of her name. She worked under CCC for 8 or 9 years, in the women in leadership ministry, and was very relational. From the start, it was obvious she was there to share and invest in us, and everything was comfortable.
She spoke on intimacy with God, and what that really means. It is so much more than a church service on a Sunday morning, and daily devotions. We all do those things, or at least try to do those things, and very quickly use them to justify our established personal relationship with God. Really, though, we're fooling ourselves. Do we really understand what it means to be intimate with God???
I could spend alot of time on illustrating everything that was said, but I want to focus on that phrase she used, "You're worse than you even think you are..."
I really believe that one of the biggest hindrances in an intimate relationship with God is how we approach our sin, in a variety of ways:
1) we dont recognize the extent of our sin
2) we minimize the effect and consequence of our sin, either by ignorance and/or arrogance
3) we tell ourselves that sufficient repentance involves a small prayer and "please for give all my sins, amen"
After raising this point, Shayla kinda looked at us all, and said "Think about all the sins you can consciously recognize, and how bad you really are. Well guess what, you're even worse"
Bam.
Just like that, I was humbled. But it's true. I cant begin to comprehend how lost I really am, and I really need to work on acknowledging that fact, and realize that a simple prayer isn't the whole solution. God demands and deserves SO much more! In my life, I struggle with getting down on myself, especially when I let other people down. It sucks, and it hits me extra hard. But hearing this, and relating it to how frustrated I get when I let others down, helped me realize how serious I need to take this! If I get so upset with just peers, should I not be that much more upset when I let God down?
Thankfully, the talk didn't end there. She went on to say, "For every one time you look at your sin, look at the good news of the Gospel 20 times". It's a fragile balance, as we can easily get caught up in either getting depressed about how bad we are, or go the other way and just be the happy-go-lucky-because-Im-already-forgiven Christian. We need to surround ourselves with a community of accountability, to keep us from going too far either way.
Isn't it beautiful how despite the our human limits, Jesus is still that much bigger???
Thank you Jesus
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