Today was a fairytale...

"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love". - Mother Teresa

Last night I was up till about 2am talking with an amazing couple that live in the apartment here on campus, he is from Nigeria and she is Norway. There perspective on relationship, love and marriage was refreshing and real. Right now I am in a time of growing, I am discovering who I am, and what I believe about different issues. Often times people give me the answer that if I have peace about it then that`s God, but what is peace. My Nigerian friend said to me, a thief has peace before he steals, does that mean it was from God.

I have been asking many couples what they think about relationships and whether this peace thing is real. And there are some that this was true for them they had a peace, but for others it was not the case. Other couples found that they had to make a decision and trust that God would walk through them. I have had so many fears and am often wanting to know the future especially in relationships but I all to often come to think I need to know what God has in store for me before it happens but sometimes we just have to be faithful to God, to love Him above all else. I know that no matter what I want God's will above anything else, my heart is seeking Him. And He tells us faith is hope and assurance in the things we cant see (Hebrews 11).

So how do you break past the fear and the pain, how do you deal with the uncertainty of the world we live in and get to the certainty of God, how do you get to the place you want to be?

Trust... what that looks like I'm not sure... but I want to find out...

- T.

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step" - Martin Luther King Jr.

A battle of the finest

"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm" - Ephesians 6:10-13

What a week, yes I realize it's only Tuesday, but Monday seemed like enough of a struggle for the whole week. Sometimes it seems that as Christians we are not well enough prepared to fight everyday against Satan. I do not want to denounce or make light of the fact that the battle is already won by Christ, but I want to emphasize that Satan is still fighting. The pat answer that Jesus has already won does not give freedom from the bondage that so many of us face everyday. I was thinking about when WW2 ended and the battle was won and what this meant. There was joy and excitement but this did not mean that struggle was not still ahead for the people and countries involved but that they could begin to rebuild and move forward. Each day we live knowing that the battle is already won but that does not mean living after is easy. Many people had lost loved ones, many soldiers were harmed in the war, buildings were destroyed and all countries involved suffered economic downfalls of some kind.

Everyday we all deal with issues that have been placed upon us by those around us and those that we have placed on ourselves. The lies that say we are not enough, that were stupid, the fear that lives in us that hides the deeper issues, of hurt, of abandonment, of perversion, and many more. For me lately everyday has been a battle fighting against so many fears and hurts that have shaped me. Matthew 12:45-46 tells us that when one spirit is cast out 7 more return. I am in the middle of a time of change in my life, breaking habits and wrong thinking about myself and replacing it with that of God's however this does not mean that Satan will not fight to keep me thinking less of myself and so the attacks persist stronger each time. However the most important thing to remember is that yes the attacks are stronger, but each time God takes over another part in me, it is through Him that I become stronger and am able to persevere through each hard time (James 1).
- T.




My interest in history and the way this poster fit with this post I thought was interesting. The British Government's Ministry of Information put out posters after the outbreak of World War Two all throughout the country to ease public fear. This was the third poster in a serious the only one with the words, 'Keep Calm and Carry On' with the royal crown, the first two were distributed but the third was kept only for extreme crisis (the invasion of Britain by Germany)

Although many of these posters were made, only a few were distributed because the invasion never happened and after the war they were destroyed. Almost 60 years later the poster was found by bookseller when looking through dusty books bought at an auction.

I Have A Voice

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me" - Matthew 25:45

Lately I have been thinking a lot about what it means to make a difference in the world. It is easy to become discouraged when we feel overloaded or feel like our voice could never be heard. But this is a lie, I've been feeling challenged lately to heal from my hurts and to reach out more in small ways to help those in practical ways. Often times we think about the big picture, and the greater impact we want to make but it is through the small things that we can begin to have a greater impact. I want to begin to think more about where I buy things from and who that impacts, and how that impacts the environment and raise the bar more. I want to be more thoughtful about my money and how I spend it. I want to be a fighter for a good cause, in my simple actions of daily purchases.

When looking at Matthew 25, and what Jesus was saying, I can begin to see in my own life how I fail at this and so many times I do not clothe those who need clothing, or feed someone who needed food. And although I may do these things on occasion it has not been lifestyle I have created for myself. I am challenging myself to do better in this, to be better. To take the resources I have and impact with my voice and my actions. I may only be one voice in a million but I am still one voice, I want to serve Christ in the practical ways that He has called me to.

"May I never get to busy in my own affairs that i fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion" - Thomas Jefferson

- T.

Article for The Voice of Emmanuel Bible College (Published in Fall 2010)

Thanksgiving

What is thanksgiving? Traditionally this has been giving thanks to God for the Harvest of that season. According to E.P. Powell, "Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude".

This year I spent thanksgiving weekend with David, Candice and Dan. It was a great weekend, but it was a very emotional weekend. We spent a lot of time relaxing and just hanging out as well as some time at the Brigden fair. For those who do not know this is one of the largest fairs in Lambton County, it has a tractor pull, demolition derby, animal shows, rides and all types of fair fun. We took Candice's niece with us, and saw the animals and took her on the marigold round which made the whole day very memorable. I had frustrating moments, sad moments, and happy ones; all in all the weekend was good.

I realized that although the weekend was frustrating at points and great at other times I did not spend much time meditating on the things I am thankful for. The very reason the weekend exist to remember to be thankful and celebrate what God has done. I want to take a few minutes to express some things I am thankful for, because I have been given so much, by the grace of God alone.

- God's amazing grace - Friends - Family - EBC - the ability to learn and serve - provision -

I hope that we can all remember that we all have something to be thankful for no matter how big or small. "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them" - John F. Kennedy

- T.

I Aint Missin' You

Our fantastic seats












It's October 3, 2010 I can hardly believe how time flies. 1 month down 7 more to go before I graduate, at least that's the plan. I already feel behind, but I'm not really, just having a hard time staying focused. This past Saturday I went to a Toronto Argos game. It was a great time, great seats, and great friends but lately I've been really missing people. I miss my friends that I either don't get to see very often or we are too busy to see each other, which makes things much harder and makes it much harder for me to focus. I want to be focused on where I am at that moment, but when I'm doing work I'm wishing I was with my friends and when I'm with my friends it seems like I always have the next thing to go to but mostly I have been missing God.

Each day I try to spend time journalling, reading my Bible and praying, but I just feel like its never enough. I realized during SLT week that I communicate with God in all the different ways, and but that it's easier for me to praise him in every aspect of my life when I have that journal/prayer time with Him. A friend of mine gave me this analogy for my life. I am the eye of a hurricane, as long as I am grounded in Christ, I am firm and cannot be shaken even in the midst of craziness all around me. Just like the eye of the hurricane is the calmest part. This really helped me understand a piece who I am. I am busy and my life may seem crazy to most, and some days I feel that way too but it only gets out of control when I'm not focused on God first.
- T.













Dave & I on the field after the game