Kindergarten

I think that I'd be the last one to tell you that I would like to teach kindergarten, but after yesterday, needless to say, teaching kindergarten is not that bad. Seriously, who would have thunk it?!

Yesterday and today was type of cementing for me. That regardless of what grade I teach, I still love to do it. Regardless of how obnoxious or rowdy some of the kids can get I really love to do it. After yesterday and today, I thank God for equipping me in this way that I can teach any grade and still love doing it. Not many people can say this, thus, I thank my God for this awesome blessing!

Constant

While talking with a close friend on the weekend who is going through a bit of a rough patch - not sure what future holds and such. I reminded my friend that even though everything is changing around us, God is always our constant - He never changes.

Tonight at PM, I was reminded again through Scripture in Revelation 4:8:

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty

Who was, and is, and is to come."

Some much is changing all around me - some changes taking place over the course of a long period of time, others quickly and without warning. But I am at peace knowing that my God is sovereign and in control and that will never change.

Busy

A lot is happening - but everything is under the control and dominion of God. So, that means everything is going to be just right!

Checklist

3 of 4

- SIN card [check]

- Void cheque [check]

- Criminal Records Check [check]

- Medical Exam

Each time something happens that leads me closer to signing my paperwork, I just give praise by to GOD! He is soooooooooooooooo awesome and it delights me that He has chosen me to be a part of his family.

Throughout this process, all praise, honour, and glory must go back to our Father.

God is SOVEREIGN & AWESOME

The past 7 days has definitely been a testament to God's sovereignty, mercy, and His perfect plan.

As I keep saying to fellow brothers and sisters, nothing I could have done to have all these wonderful things happen to me, seriously NOTHING!!! But God had an awesome plan, he scripted for all these things to happen and to fall into place at the right time.

After my roller coaster of a month in September, God redeemed me and renewed me 100 times over! Our God is good.

Just to share a quote from a friend I was talking to recently about the recent turn of events:

I seriously thought you would keel over with joy, really

like God slayed you over the week

I thought that was really funny - but it is true on many senses. I am on such a high right now, but I pray that God continues to sustain this joy for a long time, for me to remember a few months down the road how His providence was so perfect when things seem to be down again. This past week is such a testimony to His perfect timing and His perfect will for my life.

Romans 8:28 has been coming to my mind this past week (emphasis added):

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God always does things for our own good. This past year and a half was for my own good, to be pruned and stretched in ways that I never though imaginable. And the past seven years has definitely been a journey of ups and downs, but we both love God and he continues to work for our own good.

May all glory, honour, and praise be given back to our Lord!

Timing II

Okay, seriously, God's timing is truly the best and most perfect.

After this weekend, I pray that I continue to trust in His sovereign plan and absolute perfect timing as He has magnificently revealed himself to me this weekend. No one, on heaven or earth, except our loving Father could have scripted a better weekend.

All I can do is offer praise and glory back to Him.

Timing

... is so perfect when designed by God.

It has been a year and a half of patience, trying at times, dark at others, yet, there was and always is a light at the end with God on my side.

It is still going to be a test of patience in the next few weeks, but with God anything and everything is possible!

Prayer is even more key now. Keep praying for me!

Thanks to all for your love and prayers. I love you all!

On the Eve...

... of a very important milestone.

Looking back, I reflect on what I have accomplished, in terms of the standards of man.

However, those do not compare or even have worth to what I have tried to accomplish for Jesus. Have I really done that much? I praise Him for getting me through, thank Him for being so gracious and merciful, and for being there even when I did not acknowledge Him.

My prayer for what is to come, is that I may draw even closer to God, to know and understand his Word evermore, and that I may rely on Him even more through prayer.

Tears

... of joy!

And truly feeling the love of other brothers and sisters.

How blessed am I to have people that care for me so much. I was greeted with two very touching emails tonight after my meeting tonight with PJ. The emails warmed my heart and my eyes started to well again - but this time out of just the love that I felt from reading the words off the screen and listening to the beautiful voice from my speakers.

The TRUTH that they spoke to me through Scripture and song was undeniable. God is in control and may I surrender everything to Him, because He is in charge of my life and everything that I am going through right now is all for Him.

Heartwarming

As a counselor, you don't know how much of a difference you make in the lives of the kids unless they really express it.

Yesterday, while talking to some of my girls on Gchat about the watergun fight tonight, showed me a bit of how they feel. It warms my heart and makes me fear for tonight too! =p

G1: just wait until the water gun fite.

me: ahahaha... =p i'm ready ;)

G2: can you get wet, vickster?

me: are you?!

G1: yup

G2: I'm tottaly ready for you :p

G1: can you get wett?

G2: can you? o__o get... wet?

G2: yes! you deserve to be soaked

me: whaaaaaaat?!

G1: haha

me: why? hahaha

G2: because you're awesomee

We'll see how wet I actually get tonight ;p

Whirlwind

The last two weeks have been a whirlwind, full of weddings, rehearsals, meetings, trainings, celebrations, fellowship, games, and to top it off, the last day of school!

Two weddings in the span of a week, pretty brutal, but so awesome to see how God has united these two couples. Being involved in weddings is so fun, yet exhausting, but it is so rewarding and an honour to be a part of your friends' big day! The rehearsal for Erik and Ruth was quick and simple - yet the wedding party still had issues the following day =p The rehearsal dinner was yum in my tummy and the laughs that we had after were great! Man, some of the apps that the iphone has are ridiculous! And God definitely came through with the weather! Both weddings were sandwiched between days that had tons of rain, but on the day of their weddings, it was gorgeous sunshine and sometimes a little to hot for comfort - but who could really complain?! Congratulations to Ruth & Erik Meechem and Jamie & Kevin Kwok!

[sidenote: sitting during the wedding ceremony as a bridesmaid was so great! =)]

Looking back at the last two weeks, I realized how many meetings I actually attended! Mainly for ministry, but also to meet up with my old AT to talk about job stuff. Jobs are slowly being posted, but I'm being selective - I don't know if that is the best move on my part, but I do not feel like I would do well on the interviews if I got one since I do not really want to teach - further I do not think that God is calling me to apply to every job on VIP. I'm still trying to remain patient and not apply to everything I am qualified for. I know that God has a plan for me but much like a lot of people, sometimes it is hard to wait for it to unfold in His timing. Please pray that I continue to hold steadfast to Him and not be wavered by the temptations of this world.

Other meetings in the past week have been to catch up with people - Aban and Jessy to be precise. I love my relationship with these two women of Christ. Even though we have not seen each other for the longest time, we are able just to pick up where we left off the last time we spent time together - talking about everything under the sun! Family, friends, ministry, work and lots lots more! I love these two ladies to pieces and I'm truly thankful that God has placed them in my life to challenge me and inspire me.

Two jam-packed trainings on a Saturday morning was pretty intense. It was the day after the first buddy groups for WWJD fellowship and it was encouraging to go to the meeting and share my experiences of the last month being in youth ministry. From the unexpected thanks from parents, to awesome talks with my girls, to seeing the girls in their own skin, and so much more, it is great to be in those meetings where we hear these praise reports and updates on how God is working! The youth pastor has really engrained it into me how it is so important to share and experience the joys of YM together, just to get through the valleys that we are bound to face during the long haul. After the YMC meeting, I went to the Jr. High camp meeting where I was welcomed in as one of the group. I know that God placed this camp on my heart for a reason - not only are all my girls going - but when I got to the meeting, I would be working with a number of the parents of the WWJD kids. How exciting (and frightful) is this?! There is a reason for everything that happens. It'll be an interesting week indeed.

The last day of school was almost a week ago now. And what a great day it was. I received a card from the kids and a great present (Lindt truffles - my favourite!) from the teacher. It was sad to see them all go and to see the kid that I have been helping go off as well - I can only pray that he gets the support he needs at home and during the next school year.

God has blessed me abundantly the last two weeks, and may I remember this every day, especially in hours of wanting, stupidity, and loathing - how can I ask for more when God has done so much for me. I can only imagine what God has planned for the rest of the summer.

Some prayer requests:

- WWJD camp (I'm organizing, yet I do not have much done yet!)

- that I remember to pray for all the WWJD kids

- Jr. High VBS camp

- first youth service

- consistent daily QT and God time

- Kev is starting work in Aug - only God knows what is in store for us after that!

Young at Heart

This post is a little late, considering it is Thursday, but stuff has come up but I really want to share my experiences from the past weekend!

It is so crazy to see where I have come to where I am now; how God is sovereign and his plan is so much better than our plans; how this burden He placed in my heart over 8 months ago has become my passion. It is truly amazing to see my God work!

Saturday evening was the Hillsong United concert. I'll admit, I am not their hugest fan, but I went - not because of obligation as a counselor - but seeing it as an opportunity to serve these kids, to learn more about them, to use it as an opportunity to gain their trust and friendship. Even though I did not get there until 5pm, and everyone was already in the Molson Amplitheatre - their energy throughout the night totally kept me going. I was exhausted from a full day of activities - Zoe, teaching, GO-training - and I had not slept well the night before because the dogs had kept me up. But when Hillsong United came on stage and I saw my kids jumping up and down and praising the Lord, it gave me energy and I was even jumping up and down! It was truly awesome.

[sidebar: there was an unfortunate incident that happened at Ontario Place, but I think as counselors we really learned something about ourselves and about being Jesus to the kids - a negative definitely got turned into a positive after talking with some of the other counselors who went]

Sunday was the fallout of this incident. You know you are deep in the ministry when you have to start speaking to the parents reassuring them of our conduct and that we are taking care of their child. I couldn't totally concentrate on the Sunday School lesson, as a result, but I think I may have psyched myself out about the meeting, or by the grace of God we got through it and everyone was happy, or at least understanding of the situation at the end.

That night, I also had the opportunity to minister to three of my girls at the movie theatres. Even in a short amount of time, I was able to learn so much about them - they opened up so much and I was so excited and happy about that, moreso than the actual movie. Yes, I went to go see the movie with them, but what I got out of it was probably so much more than that. I came home so excited and pumped for youth ministry and I can not wait to see what God does next!

Worthy is the Lamb

My new song of the moment!  Zoe's praise and prayer was so convicting of my heart.  Even though things are great with God at the moment, I have joy and peace with where I am at and where I am heading, God is speaking to me through prayers and Scripture, I felt that God revealed to me that he still longs for so much more out of me.  To pray more, to read the Bible more, to spend more time with him.

I truly felt this when the song, "Worthy is the Lamb" was sung.  It brought me to my knees, tears streaming down my face, humbling me to realize how unworthy I am of his love for me.  I felt so dirty, sinful, shameful, to even think that I should be content with where I am at.  I still fall so incredibly far from his glory.  It hit me like a ton of bricks, that God felt that I was worthy to be saved and redeemed by the blood of the perfect lamb - an atoning sacrifice for my sin.  Even when I feel that everything is going incredibly great, God breaks me again to see the ugliness of my life contrasted with Jesus.  But I am glad that he does, he knows that I can handle it, and it makes me yearn for him so much more!

Thank you for the cross, Lord.

Thank you for the price you paid.

Bearing all my sin and shame, in love you came

And gave Amazing Grace.

Thank you for this love, Lord.

Thank you for the nail-pierced hands.

Wash me in Your cleansing flow, now all I know...

Your forgiveness and embrace.

Worthy is the Lamb

seated on the throne.

We crown You now with many crowns

You reign victorious!

High and lifted up

Jesus, Son of God

The darling of Heaven, crucified...

Worthy is the Lamb.

I think that I was really feeling the shame I had as a sinner, but as I continued to reflect about it throughout the day, I realized that I have to get past the fact that I am a sinner, but to claim victory in what Christ has done for me as well.  He doesn't want me to feel the shame and guilt of sin, but to experience the joys and blessings he pours out on to me every day.  As the day wore on, when God broke me that morning, I knew I was restored by the blood of Jesus.  All I could do was praise him and know that I am worthy in God's eyes.

What's Next?!

So much has happened in the last month up until today that I really can't say anything BUT, MY GOD IS SO FAITHFUL!

Amen.