Power, Love & Self-Discipline

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.

                                                                                                                              ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

This is the verse I opened up my Bible to this morning.  My focus was not on the first part of the passage, but more so on the second half.  Some things have been on my mind since the weekend, a little troubling and burdensome, but may I live out a life being empowered by the Holy Spirit, where I claim the power, love even when it is hard to do so, and be self-disciplined in my walk.

Crazies!

I don't know whether it has been the mind-numbing days of EQAO testing, this tedious book review that I have had to do in chunks, the little tasks required for my course, the anticipation of job postings in a few days, or the fact that I have not had any contact with my hunnie for 6 days now, that my mind is making me go crazy the last couple of days.  I was seriously like cabin-fevering it yesterday.  I resorted to uploading pictures onto fb.  And now I'm at that point again tonight.  My mind is just so incredibly bored and needs some stimulation!

Quote of the Night

Disclaimer: While we were playing "Bang!"

After a General Store has been played:

"I'm going to take all these bullets away from you."

BEST GAME EVER! Hahaha!

Thankful

Today in Sunday School, Paul asked us a simple question - or what was supposed to be a simple question. Unfortunately no one person could get the entire question correct.

Then he asked another question, "What have we got to be thankful for at MCAC?" I'm not saying that tons of things jumped into my head right away, but as no one said something for a while, I had time to think. And after letting Kat test out the waters, I shared as well, just what had come into my head. But as the time went on after I shared, instead of really concentrating on the lesson, I kept thinking about this question. And this is what I have come up with, I am thankful for:

• The brethren at MCAC who have taken the time to invest in ME, little me! Yet, they have received me with open arms and have loved me, encouraged me, prayed for me, mentored me, taught me, and so so so much more! I am a changed person because of that, For this I am truly thankful
• The dedicated time of prayer we experience every Wednesday. Knowing that there are brothers and sisters who care so much enough to come out faithfully every week and pray for the church is awesome!
• Zoe. What else can I say? I love these brothers and sisters so much. We have physically grown together, cried together, laughed together, ate together, experienced spiritual growth together and having genuine fellowship with each other. They are truly family.
• The youth and all their energy, helping me to stay young at heart. I am thankful for God allowing me to be a part of their lives, to help them in their growth in this time where they are searching.
• Leaders at MCAC believing in me. Affirming my strengths and rebuking me when needed. Encouraging me when I do not feel that I can do it. Where would I be other wise?
• The entire church. It truly is not us and them, but we all are the church, we are of one body. May I try to be able to give back to the church a portion of what it has already poured out on to me!

I am sure there is much more, but those are just some of the things. Without MCAC, I really don't know where I would be today, so yes, I am thankful.

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.

Listen

Am I listening?

A wise and kind friend encouraged me, in a very up front way yesterday about this aspect of my life.  Am I truly listening...

Love

You know you are loved when... =)

I have received a number of emails, thoughts and prayers in the last few days, which made me feel so much better.  You know how when you seem to be absorbed in yourself, you forget that there is a family out there, God's family, thinking of you and praying for you!  I need to remember that evermore in this crazy time.

Last night was a good night.  Kev and I did Bible Study on Philippians 3:1-14 and we got a chance to pray pray pray together.  It was a awesome time.  God spoke to me about some things that I had not noticed before in the passage.

 ¹²Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

I am not perfect, yet Jesus has taken a hold of me, he has called me his own.  As it says in Hebrews, he chose to call us his family.  I also believe that Satan has implanted in my mind some footholds in my life that I have not been able to let go of from my past.  But after praying last night with Kev, I continue to pray that I have truly left it up to God now.

Continue praying for me in my journey.  I love you all!