Personal Experience

Everybody has a story. Today I would like to share a bit of mine with you.

Ever since I was a wee little lassy, I would rather be shy and quiet as opposed to the center of attention. When asked a question, I would keep my words to a minimum. Or else I would be content if I could just smile and nod.

I attended Church with my folks regularly, and the highlight of my Sunday afternoon would always be playing Super Nintendo with my siblings in the safety of a bedroom that us kids would take over every time we went to my grandparents' place.

Eventually I began to step out of my comfort zone. I was comfortable being unique and different, even though I was often teased when younger. But that's okay. Personally I think it helped make me who I am today.



After having graduated, I look back and see how much He has already changed me. True, sometimes I am so quiet you can barely tell I exist even when I'm standing right beside you, but I am continuing to learn and grow with every experience God is leading me through.

Recently I've been learning about relationships and keeping God number one in my life.

How often have I cut my devotional time with Him short for some reason or another? Maybe it's so I may go out with friends or to practice a flute song for that Coffee House tomorrow night. Or even to watch TV by myself for half an hour. I'm not trying to say these things are necessarily "bad" to do . . . but I'm just wondering about our priorities.

Are we putting anything above God in our hearts?

While waiting for my ride to pick me up the other day, I heard a man on TV say, "This isn't our top priority, people. It's our only priority."

Need I say more? You can guess what I instantly thought about.


One song that means a lot to me is "Run" by Kutless. If you click on the title below, you should be able to listen to the song. For those of you who can't listen to music on your computer, the lyrics are here for you, too.

Run - Kutless

Why do you run? Why do you hide?
Oh, don't you know I just
just want to be with you?
To be with you.

Looking down
from above
as you watch TV
wondering why
you're ignoring me.
Do you
remember
remember when I came to you
and you loved me?

And I'm waiting for you.
And I'm waiting for you.

Why do you run? Why do you hide?
Oh, don't you know I just
just want to be with you?
To be with you.
Why do you run? Why do you hide?
Oh, don't you know I just
just want to be with you?
To be with you.

What ever happened
to the love
the love you had for me
when you first came to me?
And don't you know
that I died
I died so I could be with you
forever?

And I'm waiting for you.
And I'm waiting for you.

Why do you run? Why do you hide?
Oh, don't you know I just
just want to be with you?
To be with you.
Why do you run? Why do you hide?
Oh, don't you know I just
just want to be with you?
To be with you.

Find a place
of solitude
and I'll speak to you
as you pray to me.
Don't you know
I'm waiting here
waiting for you to read
into my words?

I'm waiting here
missing the time
the times we shared.
Well, just come to me.

So why do you run? Why do you hide?
Oh, don't you know I just
just want to be with you?
To be with you.
Why do you run? Why do you hide?
Oh, don't you know I just
just want to be with you?
To be with you.

To be with you.
Just to be with you.
To be with you.

To be with you.
Just to be with you.
To be with you.

To be with you.

To be with you.


Soon I head out to Briercrest, and a new chapter of my life is going to be written. Granted, there will be challenges and tough times, as well as encouragement and a lot that I will hopefully be learning. But I am grateful that God uses all personal experiences - both the "good" and the "bad" - to teach us something new every single day. Hopefully I will be able to type to you fairly often. If I don't get the chance to, however, I would now like to encourage you to continue seeking after God and His will in all that you do. Have a great day, and God Bless!

The Fingerprints of God

I cannot even come close to fully comprehending how awesome and amazing our Lord God is! My words fail to explain how wonderful His love, mercy, and grace. Yet He is almighty, all-powerful, and sovereign. He is my Creator, my Lover, my Father. He takes me by the hand and leads me step by step. He disciplines me as His child.

He loves me so much that He sent His only Son to die for me!

He cares for the swallows of the air and gives wisdom to those who ask for it. He shows Himself to those who chase after Him. He answers our prayers. Not always with a "yes" or "no," mind you. Sometimes it's a "maybe" or "wait." But He is there. And He is listening.

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go? Who imagined the sun and gives source to it's light, yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night? He painted the stars in the sky. His fingerprints are all over the Earth!

With every breath I take, I praise you God for who you are.

The Treasure of Wisdom

A slip of paper was removed by the one who snapped the fortune cookie in half. Silence hung over the crowded table as a girl wordlessly read what was written. "Learning to shrug is the beginning of wisdom." Curiosity got the best of the others as they saw her faint smile; she shook her head in disbelief and placed the small piece of paper on the table. When asked if her fortune was good, she shrugged.

That girl was me.

Proverbs 9:10 tells us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."


When someone is described as "wise," what's the first thing you think of?

Maybe the image of a man with the "salt-and-pepper" look pops into mind. Maybe you naturally assume, "They must be older than me. Only with age does wisdom come."

Or does it???

What is wisdom, anyway?

The book of James explains that there are two kinds of wisdom. James 3:13-17 says, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

Unspiritual wisdom is of the devil, but wisdom that comes from heaven is of God.

In the book of 2 Chronicles, God told Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." He could have asked for more wealth or power. He could have requested that God smote his enemies. He was given the opportunity to ask for anything he wanted. But what did he ask for? Wisdom and knowledge so that he may govern His people. Solomon received wisdom and knowledge, as well as what he did not ask for - wealth, riches, and honor.

James 1:5 tells us how to gain spiritual wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." I find that verse very encouraging. However, I feel it is important to note that the passage of scripture continues, warning us about checking and challenging our hearts before we ask for the wisdom that He offers. "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."


While reading last night about wisdom, I came across a very interesting passage of scripture. One verse that seems to contradict with all that we're being taught (that we should ask God for spiritual wisdom). Ecclesiastes 1:18 teaches us that
"[W]ith much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief."

If wisdom brings sorrow, and if knowledge brings grief, why would we want to ask for either of these things?

Reverend Norm MacLaren's quote in a book called The Way They Should Go helped me understand what I couldn't make sense of. "Wisdom and knowledge together are of vast value, but wisdom and knowledge directed by our Lord is priceless."

May our hearts be challenged to desire the treasure of wisdom our God offers.

Proverbs 2:1-6

My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to
understanding,
and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the
Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge
and understanding.

Thirsty for the Living Water

Ever feel like you're so thirsty, you absolutely need to have something cool to soothe your burning throat? Maybe it's right after doing some physical activity such as soccer or ultimate frisbee. Maybe it's after you play a musical instrument such as the trombone or the tuba. Or maybe it's because you are exhausted, and the hot sun is beating down on your body. There isn't any shade nearby that you can disappear into. You wish that you were back at home with a nice, tasty iced cap cooling the palm of your hand. Or even water would satisfy your needs.

Living in Canada, we have all we need, don't we? You get thirsty, so you buy a juice box. You get hot, so you go inside and turn on the air conditioning. You get hungry, so you go raid your friend's fridge.

I often find that I'm guilty of taking things for granted. Sometimes it's easy to think I'm not really in need of water when I clearly need it.

I'd rather have juice, anyway.

But I need it.

I need to learn to thirst even more for God, the Living Water.

When David was in the Desert of Judah, Psalm 63 was written. I found the first eight verses of the psalm very cool.

Psalm 63
A psalm of David, When he was in the Desert of Judah.

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my
hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the
richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise
you.

On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the
the night.

Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

As we begin on this adventure together, my prayer is that God would use this blog to encourage and challenge the hearts of both you and I as we seek after Him.