We all love a redemption story. We like to look at the successful businessman, flashback twenty years and see how he rose from poverty and emerged into excellence. However, it is hard to see that happy ending if you start the story from the beginning. If you introduce the situation as hopeless, difficult and hard it is impossible to sit contently without guarantee of that happily ever after. I’m certain that Joseph was not even capable of imaging the heights to which he would rise while he was being sold into slavery by those he loved or sitting in jail for years in suffering. That is because it is hard to see through suffering. We want to embrace suffering; we want to indulge in it because it feels good. Perhaps from the perspective of the Potter, God is trying to send us a message during those times. Life will present us with a thousand ways to suffer, but it is in that process that we are made to glorify Christ. It is only in battle that we can find victories. It is only in battle that we build our strength, break down our pride and learn a love for Christ that would not be possible if we were only ever made to sail smooth seas. I must daily keep my eyes on Christ, running the race with patience and persistence and never losing hope. I believe one of Satan’s greatest weapons is coaxing us to stay, running in circles, focusing on suffering when we are to keep our eyes on the finale God has for us; the ultimate redemption story.

Faithfulness

So I have decided as of late to try and really try to embody the fruits of the Spirit. Partly because I picked up a book on living with the Holy Spirit and partly because if I am to do so, I need the fruit of that spirit to show in my life. Today in my nightly devotional the verse read, "So then, let us be looked upon as ministering servants of Christ and stewards of the secret purposes of God. Moreover, it is required [essential] of stewards that a man should be found faithful" (1 Cornithians 4:1-2). The writing outlined three key things: a faithful person knows what God puts on their heart and although they may become weary at times, they do not give up. Secondly, we must be faithful with circumstances until God lets us know we are finished with them and thirdly, whatever God tells us to do, we must do it.

Its funny because I never thought of faithfulness in any other forms other than a) not cheating on your spouse and b) not leaving Christianity. It is interesting to me how God is calling me to be faithful in the situations he has placed me in because currently it is exactly what I am not doing. Lately I have felt a bit lost. Why UBC? Why Earls? Why Vancouver? Why! And, the list goes on and on with situations and places that I am restless in. I know and I am confident that God has wonderful things planned for me in accordance with these platforms that I currently cannot understand. He sees my tomorrow, my five years from now and He knows that the steps I take tomorrow will ultimately lead me closer to the purposes He has foreseen and laid out, even if I cannot yet see them. So even though lately I feel as though I am wandering without purpose, calling out to God for peaks into the crystal ball, He calls me to use the spirit within me to find strength and be faithful. To keep an attentive ear, and without reservation, fear or question, reach out my hand to His and make the steps on the path He is already set before me. For if we are full of faith, there is no more need to question God's flawless design for my tomorrow.

The other day I was sitting in Chapters reading a book by Max Lucado entitled “Fearless”. I flipped to a chapter on “doubting God” because I felt as though in all my protesting towards where God has me right now, I was surely doubting Him. Lucado went on to explain that sometimes God lets things happen to us, or pushes us through situations that at the time are seemingly meaningless yet become infinitely important later on, perhaps even in our new life to come. He painted the picture of a baby in the womb, growing fingers and nails that he or she has no apparent use for, forming lungs that have not yet known what it is to breathe or developing eyes that, although never opened while created, will be witness to beauty indescribable one day. All of these which are perceivably useless at the time become necessary for the life to come. He emphasized that although there are times where we lack the wisdom to see purpose, God knows that it will be inconceivable to live without those experiences one day. They are a part of our formation as children of Christ. Until their purposes are revealed He calls us to be faithful and put our doubts and questioning to rest until we can fully understand His plan and purposes.

Some pictures from the last week with the visitors...

Stanley Park

Ice skating on Robson

Skiing at Whistler

Isn't she lovely?

Friends :)

This past week Tasha and some of our other friends from states have been in Vancouver visiting. Although it is a bit emotionally wearing to see people for a few days and then say goodbye all over again it still has been so nice to be able to reconnect with old friends and spend some time playing tourist in my own city.

On Saturday, Tasha and I met our friends Grady and Holly (along with their little Diego) in Point Roberts and since Grady and Holly just happen to be pilots we had the opportunity to fly with them from Point Roberts to Bellingham to see Kevin and Alyssa. Now, considering that the landing strip in Point Roberts is more like a long stretch of grass and the plane was slightly smaller than what I have taken in the past (not to mention the first step in the take off preparation steps was to "pray") I was a bit skeptical if we would make it alive. However, it

turned out to be an incredible experience so, thank you Holly and Grady!

"I am full now, not empty. I am in Love Himself, not lonely. Strong, not weak. You shall be the same. Come and see. We shall have no need for one another now; we can begin to love truly".

- C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

So I have been thinking recently about switching to this "tumblr" thing which seems to be so popular in the blogging world but then I realize that I could never leave this lovely blog behind.

³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans: 8

Whether it be the vastness of a galaxy of stars in which we are only a small fragment or the beauty of something we know is not of ourselves we are drawn back into the glory of a God much grander than all that is this life. Lost within this world that seeks to confuse us, cloud us with uncertainty and overburden us until we focus so on ourselves that we cannot see a Christ whom redeems all these things. Although we may stumble in the battle, the Lord is near and promises that if we persevere, none of these things can separate us from Him.

On my mind...

Wishing I could go to Costa Rica to visit these two!

Loving the season of Autumn which means colorful leaves and a perfect time to drink Caramel Apple Spice's from Starbucks!

Get to see this beautiful girl in just 2 months!

Missing Schladming... Why do you have to be so far away Austria?