Bad news and good luck!

I think I can officially be crowned the Queen of Bad Luck. Right after my vow of getting back to posting on a regular basis, I decided to sit down and do some more work. I clicked on an icon and...nothing. I clicked on the icon again...once again, nothing. Forty eight hours later, after frantically hunting down someone who knew what they were doing, my precious laptop has been saved. Something to do with refragging and reformatting; it was over my head!
Now for the good, or should I say AMAZING, news...I have a job!! Not just any job either- a newspaper job!!!! I am the new Sports Editor for the campus newspaper. My name in print- a dream come true! How great the Lord is! I'll fill in all the details tomorrow; right now I've got to run and start writing up articles before I forget details. I'm on a deadline! That sounds so great to say :)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
- Phillipians 4:13

May the Lord keep you safe this week-end-

*L

"booklet Bible" vs. the real Bible

Well, if I was computer-savy enough to know how, I'd be putting a very long row of sheepish/embarrassed smiley faces for not posting in ages. Friday I was determined to get all my work done so I could relax all week-end, which is why I didn't end up posting. Then I spent the whole week-end doing absolutely nothing. I watched TV, went for a walk, read my Bible...and didn't crack open a textbook once! I don't know what came over me; I just had two incredibly lazy days. My brain really wasn't working too well, so each time I tried to write something to post, everything that I wrote sounded awful. But I'm back, so I'll try to get back to posting on a more consistent basis.

Monday morning I joined my classmates in a flurry of typing and printing as the official teacher's college application package was released. 39 pages- my poor printer had to take a break halfway through printing it! Of course it's all written in tiny print, so reading it is taking hours. It's so frustrating to read because every little detail is crucial. We've all been wandering around with the booklet in our hands, reading frantically every chance we get. One of my classmates remarked today that the booklet will be her Bible for the next two months. Even though we all laughed and agreed, I couldn't help but think in my head that I don't want my booklet to be my Bible. Sure, it's important to me and I know I'll be spending hours flipping through it in the coming months, but what I want my life to depend on is the Lord and his Word. That's the book I want to make sure to read everyday, and that's the book I want to base my life on. Plus, I'm lucky that it's a much more interesting read than paragraphs and paragraphs about admission averages, profiles and deadlines. The real Bible speaks of only one admission requirement: asking the Lord into our hearts. As I stress over my teacher's college deadlines, I can reassure myself by thinking that I've already met the most important requirement!

I've already used this verse before, but I think it applies to today too:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
- Psalms 119:105

Love In Christ;
*L

Letters and guidance

Today I came home from a long day of classes to a very sweet surprise! My birthday card from my grandmother was sitting outside my door. I love getting mail (but not bills!). So much of my communication is done in e-mail now, so getting a letter in the mail is always such a great surprise. Even better was the surprise inside (a cheque way over my usual birthday amount) enough to cover a month’s rent! It may not seem like a huge amount, but for a student it’s an enormous relief. Remember all my job and money worries? This goes a long way in helping! Thank you Nanny and thank you Lord for providing.
Even better though was the letter that my grandmother had enclosed. We’ve always been close, and she’s been a significant influence on my life and my walk with the Lord. I’ve told her all about the problems I’ve been having lately. Here’s a section from the letter:

“…by the time you receive my letter these problems may be straightened out; I hope so! Never mind, I am a strong believer that God allows these disappointments for our good. Think of Joseph who was sold to the Midianete traders and who afterwards could say to his brother ‘You meant it for evil but God meant it for good’. Not only that occasion, but later Joseph was innocently accused of wrongdoing and thrown in jail, however this too worked for his good. So don’t be downhearted or discouraged, things will eventually turn out for the best”.

I really realize how blessed I am to have someone like my grandmother here to guide me. I’m lucky too that the Lord is always here to guide me. The Bible says in the first part of Isaiah 58:11 that “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame”.

Love In Christ;

*L

My two birthdays

When I was younger I used to get so excited for my birthday. I'd have a countdown which started a month beforehand and the night before I'd never be able to sleep. My past few birthdays have been met with a grudging acceptance- I'm getting older. Each year brings more and more responsibilities and expectations. When you turn five or six, the only expectation of you is that you have proper manners and are well-behaved. By fifteen or sixteen, you're expected to be mature enough to drive a car, have your future more or less mapped out (those university application deadlines are looming!), and at eighteen you're officially considered an adult. Saturday was my 21rst birthday, and of course with it came even more changes and responsibilities- 21 is the cut-off age for me to be on my parents' health insurance and now my car insurance changes too. Gone are the carefree days of wearing a party hat and eating cupcakes every September 16th!
I realize how very blessed I am because I'm lucky my birthday is cause for another celebration- the fact that every year my birthday is not just a marker of another year, but also cause for celebration that I actually have 2 birthdays. In church whenever some has a birthday we also sing about how "born again means salvation; how many have you?" in reference to how the day you accepted the Lord in to your heart is also a "birthday". This birthday I can honestly say that when my friends toasted me at dinner, I not only toasted to my 21rst birthday but also to the fact that I have a second birthday, one that guarantees me everlasting and eternal life!

Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you.
- 1 Peter 1:3-4

Have a great week!

*L

You'll be strong because He walks with you

Ever had one of those conversations that leave you shaking your head and wondering what just happened? I had one of those yesterday with my former boss from the club. I was leaving my lab class yesterday with my friend Jaimie and realized my boss was walking about 30 feet in front of us. I really wasn't in the mood to deal with the whole situation of me not coaching anymore, so I told Jaimie I was going to walk around the back of the building and meet her at the front. I know, I know, it sounds crazy, but it was at the end of a long day and I just wanted to go home, not deal with the coaching .... fiasco, for lack of a better word! The plan totally backfired though, because when I went to meet Jaimie at the front, my boss was standing there talking to her! Long story short, he asked me to come back as a supply coach, and of course I said yes because I loved that job. Then, he started to talk about how my assistant from last year (who has replaced me this year) might not be doing a good job and how he plans on being stricter this year, and the new coach might not last the year so I should be prepared to possibly come back. So of course, my immediate reaction is to think "well, if you think you're going to demote him, why not just hire me back now?". It was such a random, confusing conversation!

Last night I continued to pray about everything and I started to think about how no matter how many confusing, frustrating and random conversations we can have during the day, there's always a perfect conversation with our Lord, ready for us at anytime. It reminds me of a song I used to sing in Sunday School:

Have you talked to God above
Told Him that you need a friend to love
Pray in Jesus name believing
That God answers prayer
Have you told Him of your cares and woes
Every tiny little fear He knows
You can know He'll always hear and
He can know your thoughts
On a lofty mountain peak, He's there
In a shadow by the stream, He's there
Anywhere on earth you go
He's been there from the start
Find the answer in His word, it's true
You'll be strong because He walks with you
By His faithfulness He'll change you too
God answers prayer

I haven't sung that in ages; I can't believe I still know the words!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Philippians 4:6

Love In Christ;

*L

Praying and paddling

I'm back from my camping trip! It was...interesting, to say the least! We left Friday morning and just as we got in the water these dark (almost black) clouds appeared in the horizon. About an hour later we were caught in the worst storm I've ever seen. It was raining so hard we couldn't even see ahead of us and had to paddle with our heads down. Since we're up in Northern Ontario, the shore was all rock cliffs and there was nowhere for us to pull the canoes off the water. Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse, it started to hail and lighting came crashing down. We were stuck on the water for about ten more minutes until we could find a spot to pull up. Obviously everyone was really scared and I just paddled and prayed the whole time. It was just as we were getting out of our boats that I noticed another girl in the group (a friend of a friend who was invited to come along) was praying out loud. While we were waiting out the storm I had a nice long talk with her and I'm happy to say I've made a new Christian friend! We found out we actually have a class together this semester, so were going to work on projects together. The rest of the trip wasn't too bad; freezing cold, but nothing that a fire and a few marshmallows couldn't cure!
When I got back from the trip I found out for sure that I'm not coaching this year, so the job hunt continues. I've been praying like mad for something, however it's so great to know the Lord already has my future plans all mapped out!
After four days of canoeing and portaging, I'm exhausted, so it's bed time for Lauren! In closing, the one thing that I stuck out to me over the trip was just how majestic the scenery was. Mallory (the girl I met on the trip) reminded me of this verse:

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, and your right hand will hold me fast.
- Psalms 139:9-10

God bless-

*L

Answered prayers and camping!

What an interesting day! God really does answer prayer. I went out for dinner last night with some friends and noticed that the restaurant (which is only a 10 minute walk from my house) is hiring. Then, when I went to buy a paper today, I noticed that the convenience store (on the same street I live on!) is hiring as well. Then, after class today, I picked up the student newspaper and noticed that they are hiring too! Three jobs, two within walking distance and one on campus! On Monday I'm going to sit down and apply for all three, so until then I'll be praying like crazy. I'm the most excited about the newspaper one because I'm thinking of going into journalism, so not only would it be a source of income, but an amazing experience as well!
The reason I'm waiting until Monday is because this week-end I'm going camping! It's was a last minute idea by one of my friends, and it should be fun, weather-permitting (it's supposed to rain!). I'm looking forward to camping because it hopefully will be a nice mini-vacation before school gets really busy.

In the past few days I have really seen God at work in my life, answering my prayers, so I have chosen this verse as the verse of the day:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who ask receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
-Matthew 7:7-8

In His Love;

*L

Christians and Pumpkins

I got an e-mail forward today that I'd like to share with everyone!

A woman was asked by a co-worker, "what is it like to be a Christian?". The woman replied, "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, anger, harshness, greed, intolerance, impatience, selfishness, fear, pain, etc., and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see and rejoice. A light containing the Fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control. (Galatians 5:22).

God bless;

*L

Jobs and Jeremiah 29:11

I've alternated between praying and repeating Jeremiah 29:11 to myself all day. After a busy morning of organizing my apartment, I chatted to some people from the club I coached for last year. Apparently lower enrolment has made them considering downsizing, which leaves me with no job. Needless to say, this has been worrying me ever since I found out. I loved my coaching job, so I would be devastated if I didn't have it anymore. Plus, as a student...the income is much needed. I've been praying and praying and trusting in the Lord that this will work out. I know the Lord will watch over me and provide, but I know I'm going to worry until I find out the final decision.
That bad news totally overshadowed the rest of the fun I've been having. It's been really great to see everyone at school again. One more day until school though! My plans for my last day of freedom include...cleaning the bathroom, last minute changes to my class schedule, desperately trying to get ahold of my boss to see if I still have a boss, and (hopefully not) looking for a new job. Exciting day! I'm meeting my friend Val for coffee, so I have that to look forward to!
Sigh- just when I thought I had it all under control, I realize I'm nowhere near organized. "For I know the plans I have for you...."; what a reassurance!!

After lunch today I took some time out of my day to continue my readings, and I found one of my old favourites:

With man, this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
- Matthew 19:26

Love In Christ-

*L

Lost, but now am found

I'm back at school now! I've spent the past few days packing and moving back, so with a computer all packed up and no Internet access, I had no way of posting! I actually really missed it.
Friday was my designated "errand day". Between a trip to Tim Hortons, a haircut, seeing some friends, buying last minute things and having a big dinner with my family, I realized that at some point I'd lost one of my earrings. It wasn't a very valuable one, but I'd had the pair for so long that they had some sentimental value. I'm assuming I lost it when I was getting my hair cut, but so far nothing has turned up. I was sad about losing my earring, but I couldn't help but think of the song Amazing Grace. More specifically, " Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,That saved a wretch like me....I once was lost but now am found,Was blind, but now, I see". Instead of focusing on a lost earring, I should have been focusing and remembering that our Lord will always find us, no matter how lost we are! (I still hope the earring shows up though!).
I usually make "new school year" resolutions, as opposed to New Year's resolutions, and so today when I unpacked my Bible I went through to find some verses to help me out throughout the year and this year's resolutions, and I found this one:

The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness.
- 1 Samuel 26:33

It's been a hectic last few days, so I'm going to get to bed early and rest up for a big day of unpacking and organizing.
It's so reassuring to know that the Lord will always be there, and He will reward our faithfulness!

God bless;

*L