sore feet and dancing shoes

We went to a folk dance last night...I decided to go at the very last minute.

It was worth it, despite the blisters I now have. And the sore feet. Despite the fact that my face was so red it turned purple from being so warm.

Live music. Bagpipes!
Dancing with friends.
Thanks for being my partner Andrea:) Ya'll were great!

I like the way that bagpipes drone.

And they are so bright and cool looking:)

Cowboy boots look fun to dance in when it comes time to stomp. But they look sore. And are apparently hard to walk in if you're not used to it.

abandoned.

abandoned house abandoned barn.

who were they? what happened? how old is it?



come walking with me there sometime.

I tried to upload pictures, but it isn't working.

huzzah...?

really stupid question:

what is that supposed to mean anyway? (especially you Muis people!!)

this verse is key...

in all things pertaining to people. Because there is sin in the world, and God commands us to do this.


look at the elements:

prayer
forgiveness
confession
healing
others
you
and behind it all is GOD


Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
-James 5:16a


I wonder why we sometimes forget that?


Relationships/friendships with people, no matter who they are, are so complex. And God designed it that way.




I've been realizing that in SO many of mine lately. And God cares for you in each one of them...just not necessarily in the way you want.

but the LORD is in His holy temple. let all the earth keep silence before Him.
- Habakkuk 2:20

to the youth in my church.

I am a member...a leader!...of an amazing youth group. Truly.


Sometimes I'm blind to that though. But when you think about all the amazing people in ours, and you hear about other youth groups...



I am sooo blessed!

my favorite things

I like it when you get into bed at night and you hear rain on the window. Just a soft patter...and then you hear a slight rumble in the distance.

It makes me feel happy and cozy inside.

a bit of nonsense.

I like chocolate chips.
I like cookie dough.
I like chocolate chip cookie dough.

I like it before it's baked.
I like them when it just comes out of the oven.


I like them even when they're a week old.



Baking chocolate chips cookies is just a pleasure!

20

happy 20th Cassy!

i think i'm getting a burn.

I've just been sitting in the sun with my pants rolled up and my eyes all squinty, studying. It's wonderful.

I'm feeling a little toasty...yay!

le lac

a lake with ice on it that is slowly melting away from a long winter is so beautiful.

joshua 1:9...again

Have I not commanded you?

Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS.

Do not be terrified;

do not be discouraged,

for

the Lord your God WILL

be WITH YOU

wherever

you go.

this was spoken to Joshua when took over Moses' position and had to take the promised land.

pretty amazing verse!

from nadine.

Ephesians 6 - the spiritual armor

for your information.

I'm just really enjoying Coldplay right now.


I still think it's funny that I like them, because way-back-when, I was really annoyed with the fact that everyone loved them so much. And now look at me, listening to them all the time. Crazy girl.


I also like Jars of Clay's Good Monsters Cd. A lot.

*happy sigh*

spring is finally here.

which means driving with the windows open again!!!!!

hebrews 12 verse 2

Fix your eyes on Jesus.





um, yeah.

arg.

I want an NIV Bible.




not need. just want.

so I don't have to use Biblegateway.com for one anymore:)

Psalm 27 niv

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.

7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.

8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek.

9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.

10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.

12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.

13 I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

SMACK!

up and down like a yo-yo.

up.

down.

up again.


only thing that is stable is God. He never changes, no matter how much I do. Which is a very good thing indeed.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrew 13:8

explanation...

of previous post.


Aaron has arthritis in his legs. On Sunday, he could not even walk because his legs hurt so bad. We had to carry him everywhere. Plus, he has a mono-type virus that is making him always sick (it's not mono though). So, he's sick all the time. And his legs hurt.



Someone that young should not have to suffer like an old man.


Old men have arthritis, not little boys that like to run and jump and play.

doesn't seem like love.

someone that young

should not have to suffer like

an old man

girls night.

a night of

chocolate food talking sharing laughing walking skipping building friendships pictures downtown burlington lights stars adventuring on the pier massages being encouraged having fun


thank you girls: justine, kira, brittni, amy, mieke, cassy, nadine, julia, sarah, candice

<3

my salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.

psalm 62:7

So true. Where would I be without God? In depression, I'm pretty sure.

Instead, I can soar on eagle's wings. He gives me things that I never expected. Things I need.

Conversations.

Friends.

Communion of the saints.

His Word.

and the list goes on and on...

. . . .


There is way too much truth in the fact that if life wasn't hard, if life happened without struggle or trial, we wouldn't see the beauty in life.
Beauty is hard to see sometimes when you're struggling. But if you didn't struggle and wrestle with things everyday, I don't think you'd see beauty. Ever. It wouldn't be important to you. You would be blind to it.

We still want to be reminded

that the pain is worth the thunder.

Jars of Clay

And when we are reminded of that, we see beauty. Beauty in God. In His love. Mercy. Grace. Compassion. Care. Faithfulness.

I don't pretend to know a lot about beauty, but this is one of many aspects of beauty that I think is true.

As hard as it is to say this sometimes, when we don't even know if we believe it, others remind us through God's Word to us, our hearts and souls can still say...

God is good ALL the time!

not needed right now.

being sick for two days or more causes extra stress (no studying)

crazier than I thought.

So in trying to digest it all, I realized that this weekend was crazier than I thought. So many things happened that I'd forgotten about half of it already!

• dessert and information evening for Amy and Monica's Malawi trip. At which I learned a pile of stuff concerning what they'll be doing while they're there. Also where I led singing with Kim, Anton and Ryan
• Had a short and good talk with a friend
  
• Nadine slept over on Thursday night, which caused the no-sleep business to start...and some interesting conversations to spring forth
  
• ROOTS conference where we did a LW evening-ish
• Drove home and back to Rockwood an extra time because I failed to remember to bring my violin for LW...and had a talk with another friend during the drive
  
• Hung out with LW people and friends on Friday night
• Nadine, Justine and Mieke slept over on Friday night, which caused many hours of sleep to be stolen by many hours of talking and laughing
• Worked on Saturday morning and came home to my family insisting that I sleep before going to back to the conference...while my brothers and sisters and Anton created our costumes for the Royal Dinner: nights in 'shining armor' - aka 'news paper'
• Met new people and talked to old ones
  
• Got to know people better
• Met some of Anton's friends
• Used a whole tank of gas
• Participated in the Lord's Supper, which was a refreshing experience
  
• Played in the Lodder's church with Justine and Anton...woot!
• Hung out with the extended Lodder family
• Didn't get enough sleep
• Was encouraged by numerous amazing Bible passages

No wonder I'm so tired.

Easter Weekend/ROOTS Conference

My body is achy. My body is tired.

My brain can't digest all the stuff that happened this weekend.


But I know it was uplifting.

fake.

You know what I realized today? That there are things...lots of things...I wouldn't know about people if there were no such thing as blogs.

That's sad.


Is blogger making our lives more difficult and fake, or is it helping us?

I can't decide.

pride versus humility

Pride tells me that I am the center of my life and that I can make it on my own, that I don't need to confess my sin to God because I don't have much to confess.

Humility tells me that God is the center of my life and that I have mountains of sin that I need to confess to Him, and by doing so I will be able to grow in my faith and be blessed by God.

1 Peter 5:5-7

Blessing from God will not come if we don't humble ourselves and realize that we need to confess our sin before God. If we don't realize that, we have a form of pride taking over our hearts. And then we will not grow in faith. We will shrink in it.

trust.

Romans 15:13

The NKJV says:

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The NIV says:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

: notice these differences :

- believing and trust
- abound and overflow


I once said that believing leads to the act of trusting. Well, according to translators of the Bible, these words mean the same thing.

If you abound in something, say love or joy, it will overflow out of you because you are so filled with it.


And it is by trusting (or believing) that we are able to abound in (or overflow) with hope in God. For everything. In everything. Always.


TRUST. hmm...

Your love, Your mercy, Your light unending!

Here I am humbled by Your majesty

Covered by Your grace so free

Here I am knowing I'm a sinful man

Covered by the blood of the Lamb

- - -

Now I've found the greatest Love of all is mine

Since you laid down Your life

The greatest sacrifice

- - -

Majesty, majesty

Your grace has found me just as I am

Empty handed but alive in Your hands

Majesty, majesty

Forever I am changed by Your love

In the presence of You majesty

- - -

Here I am humbled by the love that You give

Forgiven so that I might forgive

Here I stand knowing that I'm Your desire

Sanctified by glory and fire

- - -

Now I've found the greatest Love of all is mine

Since You laid down Your life

The greatest sacrifice

- - -

Majesty, majesty

Your grace has found me just as I am

Empty handed by alive in Your hands

Majesty, majesty

Forever I am changed by Your love

In the presence of Your majesty

NO PARKING!!!!!

So, I've been trying to think of analogy from the Christian life for this sign for a long time, but I haven't had any brilliant thoughts on it yet. I don't know why I have a facination with this sign...weirdness is the only explanation I offer:) Do you have any analogies to share for this lovely sign?

Great is YOUR faithfulness. Lam. 3

Walking with God is truly awesome.

So why can't it always be clear? Why is the journey sometimes really fuzzy and confusing and tiring? And if God is so awesome and walking with Him such a wonder, why is it sometimes not full of joy, when you know it should be? Why are things so hard to learn and take so long to thump their way into our brains?

Maybe one of the things that makes the Christian pilgrimage so incredible, even when we get discouraged and want to give up, is the fact that there is always so much more to learn. So much more to know. And God just keeps telling us that we don't know everything yet.

Mystery upon mystery slowly unfolding before our eyes. Year upon years of blinders being slowly pulled away until one day we will see clearly and fully.

The majesty of our God.

I say with Paul from Romans 11:33,

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom

and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are His judgements

and His ways past finding out!

woah. Habakkuk 2:20 in song form!

God Himself is with us,

Let us now adore Him,

And with awe appear before Him.

God is in His temple,

All within keep silence,

Prostrate lie with deepest reverence.

Him alone, God we own,

Him our God and Savior,

Praise His name forever.

if the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep.

It's crazy how things can pop up out of no-where, when you're least expecting it.

I once read this:

sometimes that's just how hard rain comes down.

I'd say that is pretty accurate sometimes. But I still stand by my previous post, that pray is always worth it. Prayer gives you peace, and the will to move on. To move on in His strength and power.

battle on the inside.

praying is hard work, but it's worth it.

everytime.

habakkuk 2:20

I have no idea why, but I keep having
this verse go through my head at
random times throughout the day.
It's been happening for a few days now.

It would be nice to find out.

And the weird part is that the pastor

quoted it at the opening of the

worship service last night in church.

But the Lord is in His holy temple.

Let all the earth keep silence before Him.

and it still hasn't stopped since it started ten hours ago.

and it's not just coming lazily down. It's coming down with...definate purpose.

. . . . .

some beautiful color before a world of white overcomes us.

Um, where do I put it?

It's up to my waist and the snow banks are caving in on me!

frolicking in the yard:P

a world of white around the corner.

There is something about snow that makes me feel...happy and [insert appropriate word that describes what I can't here].



God, keep the Kentucky group safe as they drive in this storm tonight. Keep them in Your arms.

take a few deep breaths.

take in that fresh air!

I smell spring around the corner. And I am SO looking forward to it. I love snow, but I'm ready for spring warmth and sunshine.

I just went for walk and I realized how out of shape I am. Sitting at my desk all day is bad news. For the body, not the brain:)

What is man that You are mindful of him?

And the son of man that You visit him?

Psalm 8:4

oh the glory that the Lord has made.

me.

a hollow tree. duh:P
a woodpecker!! pretty much made me happy.

hair cut.

I lost about 6 inches of hair today.


It's going to take a while to get used to it. But apparently it needed it because the ends were really dry and wispy, so.....what can you do.




In other news, I had to stay at Cassy's overnight because of the snow/ice/rain/wind storm last night. That was weird. And only because it was too dangerous to drive in such weather with a broken windshield wiper. Thanks for the bed Cassy...second time this week:) I love you.

i like the verse of the day >

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you?

be STRONG and

COURAGEOUS.

Do not be terrified;

do not be discouraged,

for

the Lord your God

WILL

be WITH YOU

wherever

you go.

some observations on friendships:

• friendships are a blessing from God
• you can't have a friendship that works if it's not two-sided (Thanks for pointing that out to me Jacinda.)
• being a true friend takes hard work
• honesty is one key to a good friendship
• friendships are meant to encourage
• being a friend means being there no matter what
• friends share what is on their heart, hurts and joys
• just like there is a winter season, there is a winter in friendships (but spring is around the corner)

stop thinking about yourself!

sometimes you have to realize that even if you don't need someone's friendship anymore, they might still need yours. a lot.

...put others interests before your own....philippians 2

James 5:16a

Confess

your trespasses

to one another,

and
pray

for one another,


that you may be

healed.

an applicable song.

You are the author of knowledge
You can redeem what's being done
You hold the present and all that's to come
Until Your everlasting kindgom

Lord I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

You are the God of tomorrow
Turning the darkness to dawn
Lifting the hopeless with hope to go on
You are the author of salvation

Lord I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

Oh Lord you are the author
Redeeming what's been done
You hold us in the present
And all that is to come


Lord we don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead us to peace that past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

Newsboys - Lord

more on friendships.

So, I had a little memory-trigger after I talked to some of my friends today. Yay for gchat:) Here's what I remembered.

You know those wonderful old kid tapes you used to listen to 10 times a day, with songs like Behold What Manner of Love, This Little Light of Mine, and other songs based on Bible passages? Well, I remembered one of those songs today. It goes like this:

Make new friends

But keep the old

One is silver

And the other gold

I'm thinking that this has some sort of significance in how we treat this whole problem of new and old friends, more important and those that are beginning to fall by the wayside. Read it one more time.

Make new friends

But keep the old

One is silver

And the other GOLD

Meditate on those words for a minute.

Here is what I'm thinking. New friends are great. A blessing from our heavenly Father for sure. But old ones are just as important. Don't let new friends distract you from the old ones. Also, talk with your old friends about it, if that is possible or applicable. Open up this issue. If you're having a hard time figuring out where you stand and what's going on and how you feel about your friendship fading. If you can't let go of those friendships, talk to them about it if you can and see how they feel. Chances are they feel the same as you, but are afraid to bring it up. Are they ready to move on? Then it's okay. So can you. Do they still want to be close friends like you used to be? Pursue that.

I tried that. And with God's help, I plan on doing the latter. Keeping in mind one word:

priorities.

Just because I see certain friends more than others, I shouldn't let that get in the way of friendships that are harder to pursue on a regular basis. I'm scared that I will fail again though.

That's all for now. Except for one question: does anyone know of a Bible passage that may have inspired this song???

blessed.

Anton and I have been going out for six months now. I can't believe it.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you [all] with joy. Phil 1:3-4

sweet passage.

For You will light my lamp;

the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

For by You I can run against a troop,

by my God I can leap over a wall.

Psalm 18:28-29

Every New Day (FIF)

When I was young, the smallest trick of light,
Could catch my eye,
Then life was new and every new day,
I thought that I could fly.
I believed in what I hoped for,
And I hoped for things unseen,
I had wings and dreams could soar,
I just don't feel like flying anymore.
When the stars threw down their spears,
Watered Heaven with their tears,
Before words were spoken,
Before eternity.

Dear Father, I need you,
Your strength my heart to mend.
I want to fly higher,
Every new day again.

When I was small, the furthest I could reach,
Was not so high,
Then I thought the world was so much smaller,
Feeling that I could fly.
Through distant deeps and skies,
Behind infinity,
Below the face of Heaven,
He stoops to create me.

Dear Father, I need you,
Your strength my heart to mend.
I want to fly higher,
Every new day again.

Man versus himself.
Man versus machine.
Man versus the world.
Mankind versus me.
The struggles go on,
The wisdom I lack,
The burdens keep pilling
Up on my back.
So hard to breathe,
To take the next step.
The mountain is high,
I wait in the depths.
Yearning for grace,
And hoping for peace.

Dear God...
Increase.

Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls once again.
Jesus Christ, light of the world burning bright within our hearts forever.
Freedom means love without condition,
without a beginning or an end.
Here's my heart, let it be forever Your's,
Only You can make every new day seem so new.

Hallelujah.

thinking on it.

And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Romans 16:20


My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:18

friendships.

Life can be so confusing sometimes. Confusing in a weird and discomforting sort of way.

Like relationships/friendships. These confuse me a lot sometimes. And make me feel uncomfortable. Sometimes guilty. And make me wonder how they really work. Be curious about whether other people have the same things happening in their lives as me. Strangely distanced friendships.

There are the friends you used to be really close with and share tons with, and see lots, and you have billion of amazing memories, as well as hurtful and growing memories. And then somehow those relationships faded in a short summer and are only somewhat there. You see them and you have great times. But the closeness is gone. You feel a sort of distance between you.

Then there are the friendships that, no matter how long you don't talk or email or keep in contact with, you can just bounce back to where you left off and keep going. Sharing. Confiding in. Nothing will change those friendships. I am so thankful for these.

And then there are the friends that you are closest with now. Who you talk to a lot, share with, miss even if you don't see them for just a short week, go to parties with. The ones that you would label as your "best friends". The ones you share almost everything with.

And of those "categories", there are the ones that you can talk about God with. And the ones that are only fun and laughter and to talk about God would be awkward. And yet both sides are Christians. This always confuses me.

I can easily say with all my heart that I love all of my former and present, "close" and "distant" friends. I do. But it's not the same.


Life changes when you get older. I am reminded of that again and again. As I spend more time on this earth. This year has been a huge flip for me. A strange, yet good, experience. Different "close" friends, a boyfriend, keeping up with two families, keeping up with a growing and vast number of friends/acquaintances.


I experienced it all over again this weekend. Seeing friends I haven't seen in a while and hanging out with them. It's hard to balance. To think about. To keep hanging onto so many special and wonderful people.

Why do friendships have to fade like that? Why does keeping up with so many people have to be so hard? How can you keep friendships that once meant so much to you and hold onto them forever? Why do friendship mysteriously fade? And mysteriously grow and become more important than others? Do you experience this same thing?



"Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them."


True. But hard. And the only way that this is true is because of the Lord's help.





It's hard. I don't know if I like it.

breath taking.

Story: After a 5 minute visit to Cambridge half an hour ago to do some photocopying, I looked in the rearview mirror...

...and saw this:

I quickly dumped my bag on Amy's lap and told her to get the camera out and take pictures! She did...all the way home. (The first picture is compliments of Amy.)

Then when we got to our driveway, we hopped out of the car, I grabbed the camera, turned the flash off and took a bunch more. These are some of them.

Moral of the story: It's a good idea to look in your rearview mirror when you're driving. If you don't, you might miss it ("it" shall be left for you to discover).

sports?

How is it that people think they can make me play sports?




Man. I'm a push-over. I give in too easily.

And people know how to make me feel guilty...


Has someone failed to inform them that I am a musician, not an athlete? My limbs are very important. And not to be stressed or hurt by athletic taxation!

last of kiwanis.

The masterclass was amazing. I have some work to do:)


And I got first place for sight-reading.




I had fun, and learned a lot, but...I'm glad it's over too.

masterclass.

The adjudactor of the senior piano classes selects 8 people every year to have a masterclass with him - which includes a 15 minute lesson with him and watching him give the other 7 short lessons as well.


I was one of them!! Pretty stoked about that.

It's today.

done.

I just finished that crazy big project.

Now I can finally get back to studying that History.





And register for four exams....ahhh!!

Somehow actually registering for them makes is so much more real and scary and stressful.

important to remember I think.

read todays 'verse of the day'. I think it means a lot. Think about it.

He who covers an offense promotes love, but he who repeats the matter separates close friends.
proverbs 17:9

day two.

I received second for my Mozart Sonata in A major. Quite happy with that.


And we witnessed quite the show from one of my competitors...crazy performance! Literally, a performance, not just a competition. I think he thought he was performing in front of a huge crowd.

"check this out" he says.

I've been listening to Mark Mathis for a while now. I like his music. Thanks Anton:)

You should check out http://www.myspace.com/markmathis. Listen to his songs.


And especially his new song, Christian Schools. Also, click on the link for his blog and read the post on that song. He was homeschooled!! (Sorry, I just thought that was cool because so was I. And I also only went to school for the same grades as he did. Just thought that was cool!)

kiwanis.

day one:

first place for my prelude and fugue:)



woot!!!

nice thought.

I wouldn't even be mad if anyone decided they would share some new music with me:)

Please?

my earthly dwelling place most of the time.

THIS is where I sit every day...except on weekends...and study. Things that you will always see on my desk: a glass of water, a bountiful supply of pens and pencils, a Bible, a stack of paper to write quick notes on, a laptop and printer, books and papers either neatly piled up or strewn across the desk, and candles.












Here is the stack of books that my teacher gave me last week to thoroughly analyze. I don't think I knew what it meant to thoroughly analyze a music book until now. These are not just books. They are music books for beginning music students.

Alfred, Bastien, Boris Berlin, Hal Leonard, Celebrate Piano.



I am a third of the way done, five hours later.

new look.

again.

I got bored with the old one:)




Happy Valentine's Day...

the love of a little boy...

...for his family.

evidence of which we did partake this evening for Valentine's Day - a beautiful heart shaped chocolate cake, which was schemed up and eagerly anticipated for months.

we could 'taste' the love:)

we love you too Aaron.

cringe.

our piano is really out of tune!

i hope it actually stays in tune this time.

because it's really frustrating when it doesn't.

what if you should say you don't want me in your life?

dedicated to all my dear friends: I love you.

What if there was no lie
Nothing wrong, nothing right
What if there was no time
And no reason, or rhyme
What if you should decide
That you don't want me there by your side
That you don't want me there in your life
What if I got it wrong
And no poem or song
Could put right what I got wrong
Or make you feel I belong

What if you should decide
That you don't want me there by your side
That you don't want me there in your life

Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right
Let's take a breath, jump over the side
Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right
How can you know it, if you don't even try
Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right

Every step that you take
Could be your biggest mistake
It could bend or it could break
That's the risk that you take

What if you should decide
That you don't want me there by your side
That you don't want me there in your life

Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right
Let's take a breath, jump over the side
Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right
How can you know when you don't even try
Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right

Ohhh - Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right,
Let's take a breath, jump over the side.
Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right,
You know that darkness always turns into light.
Ooh-ooh, that's right
What If by Coldplay

Psalm 55

Micah 7:5-7

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

I hope you will remain my friend for a long time. That I won't hurt you. Or you hurt me. That Christ will help us be loyal friends to each other.

hoky dina.

I'm a little freaked out....and feel kinda old.

wow.

update.

they're getting better slowly:D


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notice the new 'verse of the day' feature!!

Clive "Jack" Staples Lewis

C. S. Lewis is probably ranks up there as one of the most popular, and well loved, Christian authors. I think my favorite of his writings are The Chronicles of Narnia, especially The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

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So, my brother has been listening to the Focus on the Family Radio production of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobw over the past few days...right outside my bedroom door. Which makes it very easy for me to multi-task: listen and study at the same time:) I think every time I hear this story, I see more and more of the imagery Lewis used of the story of Christ.


Last night we watched the movie (the "new" one). I think the part that affected me the most this time was when the witch and her evil army meet Aslan at the stone table and mock him, beat him, shave him, tie him up, dance in victory over his scared body, and kill him. If that is anything at all like what it was really like when Jesus was tormented and humiliated by His enemies, that whole section of the Bible makes a lot more sense, and a lot more sorrow, to me than it used to.

I also used to think that Lucy and Susan where the disciples that Jesus took with Him when He went to the Mount of Olives to pray. But I don't think so anymore. I think that they represent the women who were always present, following Jesus, through His death, burial, resurrection. They were always there, weaping and watching. Just like Lucy and Susan. (Read Matthew 27:55-56, 61, 28:1-10.)

It's cool how the stone table is broken, like the curtain in the temple. They both showed the fulfillment of something.

I could go on and on, but...you should read/watch/listen to it again yourself soon. And read the whole story of Jesus humilitation, death, burial, and resurrection along with it. Read and ponder.

psalm 34 verse 8.

oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.

in awe...

I don't know what's going on, but God is doing whatever it is, that's for sure.


It's amazing when you can actually see that He's working and showering His grace all over.

painfully aware of human weakness.

Yes I'm encouraged.



But that does not mean I don't have a source of bitterness as well. This is mine. The sight of a tensor bandage reminds me that I can be spiritually well and physically not at the same time. Happy and sad. Full of joy and full of annoyance. On a high. And a low.

My arms are causing me trouble again. Which basically affects everything I do. Writing, typing, playing piano, playing violin. It's just frustrating that the most important part of my body right now is the least healthy. The part that looks at this picture and says, 'you're my best friend.' My arm. And Guelph Kiwanis is in a week and a half. At which I compete and perform three times.

Arms, get better!

encouraged.

This past weekend we had youth group on Saturday night, and then we had lunch and another Bible study on Sunday.

We addressed UNITY in our group.


And tried a new idea for Bible studies. Instead of using study material, we each read a passage (Romans 14) alone for 20 minutes and then got together in small groups to discuss what we found and read and thought about it.



I'm strongly encouraged by the results so far. And the enthusiastic feedback from people on how much they liked it.

Youth group was actually encouraging to me this weekend. That's amazing!

post on love.

as I said before, I have been learning a ton about love in the past few months. hopefully this summary makes sense. It is only a small taste of what I have been learning and am being tested on.

based on I Corinthians 13:4-8a



Love is patient. bearing or enduring provoking or annoyance, puts up with things that you don't like in a person.

Love is kind. thoughtful, always puts others before themselves, caring, there when others need a friend or a chat.

Love...does not envy. does not expressly show that they are jealous of someone else, is content with what God has given them.

Love...does not boast. does not parade around and talk about themselves all the time.

Love...is not proud. same as boasting, not full of yourself, but humble in Christ. I think humility and love are very similar, and closely connected.

Love...is not rude. puts others first, thinks about how actions/thoughts/words will affect those around them.

Love...is not self-seeking. forgets about themselves and what they deeply desire and serves others unconditionally.

Love...is not easily angered. even when jealous, or bitter towards someone, you don't show your anger, you keep it inside. Which explains where it says that we should be angry and not sin (Eph 4:26).

Love...keeps no record of wrongs. does not let someone else's rude actions towards them keep them from returning love to that person, but forgives no matter what.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. does not support lies in anyway, but does everything possible to promote truth and destroy evil.

Love...always protects. cares for, treasures, cherishes.

Love...always trusts. believes, relies on, and depends on God, and relays that to those who need to be uplifted in that.

Love...always hopes. has faith in God's plan, encourages when the road is rough.

Love...always perseveres. holds on to the Word and the promises of God, keeps pressing forward.

Love never fails. is everlasting, never ending, contiuous, always pulls through, always present.

Christ in me is love. Christ in you is love. Christ IS love!



No matter what (in other words, no matter who/when/where/why/in whatever situation) it is . . .

LOVE.

That can never be emphasized enough.

for tomorrow.

happy birthday my dear Justine.

I love you. in many ways.

'happy sigh'

Wow.


I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad to be back. I just checked out the blogs I have on my blog roll and I've missed you all soo much!! Well, I've seen all of you, but I haven't been on your blogs in a while, and I missed that part of you all.

I have nothing extra-ordinary to say yet. I have to get into the whole blogger mode again. One thing I'll say is this:

God's been teaching me about TRUE love.

fast over.

After almost one whole month, I am finally back.

Fasting is good, even though it's [insert extreme word here] hard!



Okay, I need to catch up in the blogging world. I'm going to start by checking everyone else's blogs:)

not stopping.

deciding that I get a lot more done without these things previously mentioned, I've decided to continue.

for an undetermined length of time...


maybe I'll come back one day. to blogger and gchat.

but please don't forget that I have email still. And I use it.

news flash.

I'm going on a blog/chat/internet fast.

Starting with one week. Maybe I'll go longer.


Don't let this cut off our friendships though. I have email and phone still:)

church this morning.

On the good and faithful God has set His love;
When they call He sends them blessings from above.
Stand in awe, and sin not, bid your heart be still;
Through the silent watches think upon His will.

Lay upon God’s altar good and loving deeds,
And in all things trust Him to supply your needs.
Anxious and despairing, many walk in night;
But to those that fear Him God will send His light.

In God’s love abiding, I have joy and peace
More than all the wicked, though their wealth increase.
In His care confiding, I will sweetly sleep.
For the Lord, my Savior, will in safety keep.

back to work. back to school.

started work again today.

studying starts on monday again. oh joy.

I will try to fix you.

Crying hurts sometimes.

I hurt. For me. For friends. Crying sucks. But it's good if it makes you feel better.

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On a happier note:

Happy Birthday Anton.

an odd feeling. and a good one.

I wrote the letters 2 0 0 8 for the first time today. Well, for the first time in reference to the year 2008 anyway:) It felt odd. And I started thinking about what this year will bring, particularily in May and June (exams, and turning 20!!!) and I started getting scared and anxious and stressed out.

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This is my new favorite passage.

Isaiah 43:1-7
1 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned . Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you and people for your life.
5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west;
6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth -
7 Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.

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Maybe I should think a bit more what this passage says. That God loves me. And so I shouldn't worry about what this year will bring my way.

beauty. right in my front yard. great start to a new year.

a fresh year.

welcome 2008. with a hug. and a cry. and singing around a fire in the middle of a whole lot of snow. with your friends. fellow Christians. and God. in His beautiful 'up north'. at my second home - campfire.

look outside. at the trees. the snow. the beauty and majesty of God.

Read Psalm 19.
yeah.