Labour-Day Weekend...
First of all, thanks to those that have left comments on the previous blogs (u know who u are!)... I was greatly encouraged by the support and it makes me realize that there are others in this journey of sanctification... so thank you =)
This past weekend was really great. On Friday, Bonnie, Lawrence, Wendy and I loaded up in Lawrence's Jetta and headed off to Cape Croaker (Native Reserve near Owen Sound). To backtrack a bit... I first went to Cape Croaker when I was in Grade 11 and have been sporadically visiting this reserve ever since (once or twice a year). Anyways, we were going up there to spend some time with Pastor Tony (the new pastor called to start up something in that reserve) and his family. Though the four of us went up later than the rest of the crew (Sam, Sayah, Simon, Karen and Alex), we had some great talks and learned about Pastor Tony and his heart for the Cape Croaker Reserve. Prayer and a humble heart can go a long way... and that's definitely what I saw in Pastor Tony. I was really encouraged by the new work that will happen on the reserve... God never forgets and He continues the work that He first started... It was truly amazing to experience.
As for my personal time, going up north and staying in a cottage (with the Georgian Bay right outside our window!) really relaxed me. I read and slept a lot, which really helped me to have some rest amidst all the "busyness" of city life. Had great talks with Bonnie on the way there and back... what an awesome girl she is (and the best part is that she doesn't even know it!).
The highlight was being able to see Mark and Nora again. I was so grateful to see Nora and just listen with her. I still can't believe Marcy had a baby, but it was beautiful to see how much Nora has been a support to her daughter during this time... I saw a genuine, Christ-like love flowing out of her. Instead of condemning her daughter, she was able to embrace her and extend grace... I learned a lot and was challenged by Nora this weekend.
Monday was really great. I stayed home all day and just lounged around, sleeping, reading, writing, thinking, pondering, praying, watching and chilling... it was a lazy, yet productive day. I wrote out some major prayer requests for this upcoming fall and wrote down some leads into how things may turn out in the near future. Excited, yet nervous at the same time. In Piper's book, Future Grace, it talks about how God works in those who are genuinely humble before Him. 1 Peter 5: 6-7, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." What an awesome passage! We can humble ourselves BY casting our anxieties and worries to Him... (I always love how practical the Bible really is!). As I was reflecting on my summer and my life at large, I realized how much pride I have. It's not that I don't trust God... I guess I don't trust myself... which doesn't really make any sense, because if I really trust God, He will allow me to go by His leading, because I trust Him (I hope this makes some sense). Self-confidence AND Self-Pity are both a form of pride, but in different extremems... We may think that self-pity is humility, but it's actually something else and we need to be aware of both forms of pride creeping up on us... (I struggle with self-pity as you can see...)
I've been wracking my brains out trying to figure out how to receive and accept future grace (which can only happen by believing and having faith!) and frustrated because it hasn't been happening... I guess I needed to first humble myself by casting my anxiety on Him. What a brilliant answer!
No wonder I feel so peaceful...
J
This past weekend was really great. On Friday, Bonnie, Lawrence, Wendy and I loaded up in Lawrence's Jetta and headed off to Cape Croaker (Native Reserve near Owen Sound). To backtrack a bit... I first went to Cape Croaker when I was in Grade 11 and have been sporadically visiting this reserve ever since (once or twice a year). Anyways, we were going up there to spend some time with Pastor Tony (the new pastor called to start up something in that reserve) and his family. Though the four of us went up later than the rest of the crew (Sam, Sayah, Simon, Karen and Alex), we had some great talks and learned about Pastor Tony and his heart for the Cape Croaker Reserve. Prayer and a humble heart can go a long way... and that's definitely what I saw in Pastor Tony. I was really encouraged by the new work that will happen on the reserve... God never forgets and He continues the work that He first started... It was truly amazing to experience.
As for my personal time, going up north and staying in a cottage (with the Georgian Bay right outside our window!) really relaxed me. I read and slept a lot, which really helped me to have some rest amidst all the "busyness" of city life. Had great talks with Bonnie on the way there and back... what an awesome girl she is (and the best part is that she doesn't even know it!).
The highlight was being able to see Mark and Nora again. I was so grateful to see Nora and just listen with her. I still can't believe Marcy had a baby, but it was beautiful to see how much Nora has been a support to her daughter during this time... I saw a genuine, Christ-like love flowing out of her. Instead of condemning her daughter, she was able to embrace her and extend grace... I learned a lot and was challenged by Nora this weekend.
Monday was really great. I stayed home all day and just lounged around, sleeping, reading, writing, thinking, pondering, praying, watching and chilling... it was a lazy, yet productive day. I wrote out some major prayer requests for this upcoming fall and wrote down some leads into how things may turn out in the near future. Excited, yet nervous at the same time. In Piper's book, Future Grace, it talks about how God works in those who are genuinely humble before Him. 1 Peter 5: 6-7, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." What an awesome passage! We can humble ourselves BY casting our anxieties and worries to Him... (I always love how practical the Bible really is!). As I was reflecting on my summer and my life at large, I realized how much pride I have. It's not that I don't trust God... I guess I don't trust myself... which doesn't really make any sense, because if I really trust God, He will allow me to go by His leading, because I trust Him (I hope this makes some sense). Self-confidence AND Self-Pity are both a form of pride, but in different extremems... We may think that self-pity is humility, but it's actually something else and we need to be aware of both forms of pride creeping up on us... (I struggle with self-pity as you can see...)
I've been wracking my brains out trying to figure out how to receive and accept future grace (which can only happen by believing and having faith!) and frustrated because it hasn't been happening... I guess I needed to first humble myself by casting my anxiety on Him. What a brilliant answer!
No wonder I feel so peaceful...
J
posted by Jess at 10:01 a.m.
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