Scramble // Little Children

It's Sunday morning, 9:45 AM. 


I hear my dad announce that he and my mom are ready for church. I spring up out of my bed hoping it's a dream, but it's not! I have less than 15 minutes to get ready, oh boy oh boy. After the brief scramble to get changed and fix my hair, I make my way downstairs. Upon reaching the kitchen mom gently reminds me that I'm teaching the kids this morning; freeze pane. Teaching the kids, aw crap, I had totally forgotten, and she reminded me earlier in the week too, twice. And so another scramble begins.

 Arriving at church I hurry upstairs debating on whether or not to keep my day job and give up on the kids.... But as I type this, I remember the time where they gave up on me when I was younger, and how that kind of broke my heart. So I can't give up on these kids, I can't be selfish like that. 


Ironically, the lesson for today is about when Jesus encouraged the disciples to let the little children come to Him (Mark 10:13-16). Sadly I'm very much like the disciples right now. So as I take a break from typing this I shall teach the children about Jesus' love for them. 

The Year of the Lord's Favour

Day 4 

Today was.... I don't really know. Neither good nor bad, it wasn't too stressful or really all that fun.  

I just finished reading Isaiah 61; it's entitled the year of the Lord's favour. All of it is really special, it provides us with the reminder that God is righteous, and magnificent. It also encourages those who believe in God that He has a great love for us and wants to bless us and see us progress and prosper for His glory. 

My prayer is that this passage of scripture be taken seriously for me and my church in 2013. God has equipped us to do amazing things in His name, Jesus even tells us so! The year of The Lord's favour; let it be so!

As I type this my family is in the other room singing praises to God, dad on the accordion, mom and Nonna singing. We're so blessed to have the freedom to worship Christ wherever we are in Canada. I think I should go join in, after all, I wouldn't want to rob God of what He rightfully deserves.  

Let everything that has breath, praise The Lord! (Psalm 150:6)
Amanda on December 29, 2012 at 9:23pm

Hold Your Anger

Day 3

It's amazing how the littlest things can get on my nerves, things that don't or eventually won't even matter... But honestly, when I don't meditate on what's caused me to be upset, the anger just fades, and when I think about it again it all seemed sort of pointless. Thankfully I didn't do anything stupid while I was angry that I might regret now...  

 I thank God that His anger only lasts a moment and He remembers we are but dust... Nobody's perfect except God, so I really shouldn't be expecting anyone to fit the role of perfection except God. 

Lord, God, forgive me for my failures, thank you for making me whole though your Son! Continue to mould me and shape me into who You want me to be, I trust You. 

Amanda on December 28, 2012 at 1:45pm & 7:22pm

Already Given

Day 2 

Oh my goodness... So I worked produce today from 8 to 4... So much heavy lifting my back is hurting so bad, especially my tail bone! Well anyway, I ending up taking a two hour nap or so - much needed, and I feel better now (: 

I downloaded the YouVersion bible app today and read John 1:1-18 to my mom and dad. It's a good reminder that us humans need a Saviour, that we aren't kinds of the world (the creator created it all, we have just used what He's created!), and that God is extremely gracious. Extremely seems so small compared to how gracious God really is.  

In verse 16, it says: Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.  

While I was reading it, I honestly paused to taken in what I had just said out loud.... 'Grace in place of grace already given'. Wow.  

In 1 John 4:19 it says that we love because He first loved us... and through faith it is by grace we have been saved (Ephesians 2:9). My understanding is that God, in His unfailing and divine love, has allowed us to receive His grace through our faith in Christ Jesus. And then has graciously given us even more grace. The fact that I'm alive and that I know God has amazing plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11) is because of His grace. I have nothing to fear, God will see me though every good time and every bad (Joshua 1:9), He is with me wherever I am. I can do anything I need to do through Christ who strengthens me. 

I should get some sleep now, thanks for reading.
Amanda on December 27, 2012 at 11:50pm

New iPad

Day 1

First full day complete... This is fantastic, I really love this thing! It's super neat, so many things to do, so many games to play... Speaking of games I'm addicted to one called Mega Run, there's a little dinosaur thing and you have to make him jump over other Dino's and get the coins and gems... I think it's quite fun, at least for now. 

Typing this out is much easier than writing my thoughts in a journal, although tangible things can be nostalgic er sentimental...

Anyway, I want to dedicate my iPad to my Heavenly Father, and I think this is the appropriate spot to do so. I bought this iPad for a few reasons, but the first and possibly most important one is that I will be using this iPad for the remainder of my university career for classes and group work and so on. 

Dear God, I thank you so much for allowing me to even own one of these incredible devices, and for providing me with the financial comfort to purchase it. I pray that as the blessed user I will be responsible in using my iPad in a way that is pleasing to You and to effectively assist me in completing my school work. Give me the faith and courage to press on through the remaining year and a half, may I be your light, love, joy and peace wherever I go and to whomever I encounter. You're so faithful and mighty, Your name be praised! In Jesus' name, amen. 

And gooooooooood night (:

Amanda on December 27, 2012 at 12:36am

I said I loved puzzles

1000 pieces of under the sea beauty.
Took 6 days, probably around 14 hours, to complete.  Apparently it's 3D! 

This puzzle's so small!
500 pieces, although 3 were missing...
so I guess it's only 497 pieces =P

Beautiful Venice!
500 pieces, finished it in 2 hours...
Don't worry, I have a life, too.

Self explanatory.

More to come ;)

What's Your Relationship Status?

What's Your Relationship Status? - Casual / Convenient / Committed

Speaker: Michael Wallace
Date: August 17, 2012



James 2:14-20

V.19 -- We want to believe in something that will remain true. Time and time again we cry out to God but time and time again we fall into the pattern of disbelief.

Causal - a person who does something irregularly, lack of consistency.
- You are more like a practical atheist; meaning you believe in God but you live to a practical stand point. You don't allow the teachings to affect you

Convenient - fitting in well with the persons needs, involving little trouble or effort.
- Jesus came to serve, not to be served. It didn't say He came to serve to receive something in return.
- You are the kind of people that care more about their personal gain, rather than the gain for the Kingdom of God.
- You do things to please people, what good is it for?
- You might say you're part of a church.. But you don't give a single dollar, any time or anything..
- Don't abuse God's grace.

Committed - to be bonded or obligated to a particular cause, action or attitude.
- Jesus asked "Would you like to BE my disciple?" Then he said "Alright, you argeed to it. Take up your cross, died to yourself, and follow me." This is a lifestyle.

6.5 billion people in the world, 2 billion have heard The Word... 4.5 billion haven't heard the truth yet, they have no hope, no destiny, no knowledge of the only way that will lead to God.

What holds causal and convenient believers back is doubt.

Jesus came to Thomas, asked for Thomas to follow Him... Thomas willing went - dropped everything and went with Him - he was the bottom of the barrel, he had nothing.
Then after Jesus dies Thomas turned away... Read John 20:25.. It was hard for him to believe in a Messiah who died.. "How is it possible?"

There are some of you who are doubting... I believe that sometimes God allows those doubt to happen in our life so that we can see Him and then go after Him. God will never stop running after you, nothing that can separate from His love.

John 20:26-27 - Stop doubting and believe.
If you're willing to seek, your doubts will be followed by discovery.

Mutemath Tour 2012

I'm going to the Mutemath concert in September with one of my amigos and I'm stoked out of my being! 
These guys are awesome, even though awesome seems like such an insignificant word to express how great they are. If you like alternative rock then you're in for a treat!
Check'em out:
Blood Pressure [Live]
Typical (Video)
Prytania
Backfire (Video) 
And there's plenty more where that came from!

I like puzzles!

Confession: I have this crazy obsession with puzzles. I just love them! 

Here are a few pictures of puzzles I've worked on and completed in the last eight months. Enjoy!

This puzzle glows in the dark! 

It also has more than 2 polar bears in it... it actually has 10 in total! 

Can you find them all?

 
This one, although blurry, is actually considered 3D. The balloons pop out. See to the right, the shell of each balloon was connected by clips, there were number tabs that had to be lined up for the balloon to take proper shape.

750 pieces. 

The Grand Canyon. 500 pieces?

My momma picked this puzzle. It has 550 pieces. 

1000 pieces. Completed in less than 5 days.

To the left and right are Work In Progress pictures.
I did complete this one eventually.
It looked like the picture above.

  

I love this one!
Light houses are one of my favourites!
750 pieces

Sorry it's slanted.
Toronto skyline at twilight.
750 pieces

More to come... 

Descriptive Wallpaper

I stumbled this amazing wallpaper while checking out  this persons blog. So technically... I stole it... but technically... I'm not claiming it to be mine. Just sharing it with whomever stumbles upon this blog.  Feel free to do the same. Click and drag it to a new window to see/read it better.  

The Best Question Ever

Awhile back, maybe two or three years now, my closest friend sent me three pod casts, sermons, by Andy Stanley.  As the title of this entry notes the series is called "The Best Question Ever".  It's honestly amazing, a thought provoking message!  It has encouraged me to re-think my every decision: past, present, and future.  It's challenged me to set standards for myself, to stop living life so close to the edge.  

I encourage you to listen to it, but also to evaluate your own life and the way you've gone about making choices.  Don't take this lightly.  Allow God to change you through this message. 

Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ircNnGrRpCg 

More about Andy Stanely: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Stanley

More about Andy's Ministry: http://northpoint.org

God's richest blessings!

walk it out

(July 6th - Fraser's last friday for awhile)

Philippians 3:12-14

If you wanna finish this race, reach the end goal, you're gonna need:

1) His Presence
- He inhabits in the praises of His people
- We need His presence every waking moment of our life, it's equivalent to needing gas in your car to go somewhere
- Exodus 33:15
- Ask Him daily to be with you and guide you through everything

2) To Recognize that God has a Plan for Your Life
- Jeremiah 29:11
- You might not have all the skills you need, but He's given you the ones you need for this moment.
-- Just step out, and serve.
- Philippians 2:13 - when God is with you, nothing can stop you.

3) People
- Relationship is everything.
- Need to find people who are going to be with you, not only in the good times, but when things get back. People who will encourage you, and call you out on your crap.
- (isolation is a sickness - it blinds all wisdom)

Run Forrest Run

Twitter: @TheCollective__ 
Speaker: Gerry
May 11, 2012 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." --Hebrews 12:1-3

Forrest had braces on his legs, he struggled when he first started running, but then his braces just broke off and he kept running as fast as he could.

1. Drop some weight.

Remove whatever is bringing you down.
If you allow temptation in your life, you will feel weight in your spiritual life. When you run you won't run as fast as you should be.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." --Matthew 11:28

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,  they will walk and not be faint. " --Isaiah 40:30-31

When we run towards God we are asking Him to help us through it. And after that we have to continue to chase after Him, only then will you live life to the fullest.
If you don't deal with it now, you'll have to deal with it later.

2. Cut the triggers off.

If lust is a temptation you struggle with cut off any access to it... If you pull the trigger the bullet will come back to you.
Don't idolize people, things, or anything that isn't God. We need to constantly run after God and nothing else.
Don't step into the ring - the ring is temptation - run away from it, let God fight your battles for you.
Story: Joseph. Read it here: Genesis 37:11-36

"Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."--Galatians 6:7

The reward out ways the cost to do what is right.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." --Philippians 4:19

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."--1 Corinthians 10:13

3. Don't forfeit your race for anyone/anything.

Persevere; keep running. 

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." --1 Corithians 9:24

4. Cross the finish line.

Finish what you started. Grace is empowerment.

Final thought: God is saying to you, "Run _insert your name here_, run! Run to Me! I will give you rest! I will give you strength!" Do it.

We Are Family

These are note that I took from one of my youth pastor's sermons. 
Twitter: @TheCollective__ #TheCrew
March 2012 - Fraser

"³⁴ Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”"
--Matthew 22:34-40

Relationship is everything.

To unlock the purpose you need people.

"⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."--Acts 2:41-47

Love God. Love people. (It's really that simple!)

It was a daily thing - the disciples spent every day together - constant.

Get: Plugged in. Planted.

The wave.. When some people decide to not do the wave, the wave isn't executed at its fullest potential. The church needs to be functioning at its fullest potential to reach out and create waves through our city.

The first problem is when we hang with the wrong crew.

"³³ Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character." --1 Corinthians 15:33

There's a quote: "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future."
It's critical that your spending time with the right people.

"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." --Proverbs 13:20

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
Nor the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
-- Psalm 1

The second problem is when the enemy gets us to THINK WE'RE IN IT ALL BY OURSELVES.

Here's a story:
"He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.
Then the word of God came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?"
"I've been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies," said Elijah. "The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."
Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by."
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, butGod wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.
When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?" Elijah said it again, "I've been working my heart out for God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."
God said, "Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over Israel. Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Anyone who escapes death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu; and anyone who escapes death by Jehu will be killed by Elisha. Meanwhile, I'm preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven't bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven't kissed his image."
--1 Kings 19:9-18

When we run by myself we feel like we're all by ourselves. Instead of (but really we should be) connecting with people that God has placed in our lives...

**Sometimes after the mountain top moments we gotta walk through the valley. But we can't let the low moments cause us pain or grief for a prolonged time. We need to embrace and encourage each other. Turn your alone-ness/loneliness into loneliness with God. Get intimate with Him.

Follow Jesus

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. - Colossians 2:6

• Maybe some of us are stuck tonight - having forgotten how to Follow Jesus

• Follow means to go, or to come after, to go behind in the same direction, to imitate, to copy..

• Christian = little Christ, or Christ follower

• We need to mature in our faith, if we're always looking behind us we'll never [be able to] move forward...

• Fix your eyes on Jesus (He goes before us, He is leading the way) we need to spend more time with Jesus - get our focus on Him

• Matthew 4:18-22
Jesus literally invites us to follow Him!

• Society labels us based on what we do. While Jesus sees us the way we are - He wants our identity to be found in Him.

• Don't settle for the routine - Following Christ will never be a routine, it's an adventure!

• Be willing to let go of whatever you're holding on to. Drop your net and follow Jesus.

• First, you got to get out of your boat to follow Jesus. The cause Jesus is calling you is, guaranteed, greater than what you are currently doing.

• "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future"

•• You have to follow Jesus for yourself, but you can't follow Him by yourself.
The choice is personal; but the walk is relational.

•• Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
The disciples didn't hesitate...

• God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called!






Part 2
Colossians 2:6

"First Steps"
• You can't stand still and follow somebody
• We need to do work in order for anything to get anywhere, like in our relationship with God we have to work towards being more like Him - to move in His direction
• Matthew 3:13-17
• "Follow me" is one of the first commands
• Acts 2:38
• The above verse implies that baptism comes with repent. Baptism is a personal choice to choose to obey God...
• Stop praying for things that God's already told you to do.
• Romans 6:3-4
• Greek word for "baptize" means "to put under"
• When we get baptized we die to those old things, the sin-things, and resurrect into God-things
• Is it possible the reason you're stuck in your relationship with God is because you haven't taken your first step?
• I need to die to those old things, surrender them to God, and never pick them up again because they're dead to me.
• Luke 3:3
• Acts 2:41 Q: Are you part of The Church?
• Matthew 28:19
• We can change the world, the place to start is to #FollowJesus
• It's all about loving people