My Spiritual Suitcase

confused? uncertain? I know I am. I don't know why I'm going through the things i'm going through. Why am i dealing with loneliness, why am i fighting these certain struggles and problems. It might be the same for you. That you're going through certain things may it be a broken family, cutting or other addictions. I know that i myself don't want to be struggling with this. I've struggled with temptations and sins for years now, and its frustrating that i haven't permanently become victorious. But while looking through stuff, deciding on what to talk about today, i decided to talk about Proverbs 16:4. " The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble." Everything we struggle with, everything that happens each day, good or bad, a pain or a celebration, the people we meet, all has a purpose. During Earth Hour tonight, I got to sit down and chat with my parents. But to be honest, it felt more forced. But as time

In french class, we're reading "Le Petit Prince" which explores the life of a curious prince, who travels from planet from planet hoping to make friendships and just explore. He one day lands on asteroid 327 where he meets a drunkard. He learns that the drunkard is going through a cycle, of shame, then he drinks more, then he feels shameful for drinking, and he drinks more, and its a non stop, never ending cycle. We discussed in class about many cycles in our society. Simple things we deal with everyday, we say we dont have time, and then we procrastinate, and then we complain we dont have time, and we continue to procrastinate. We can also take it on a global level with pollution. As the selfish world we are, if we want energy, or if we want anything, we get it. And through the production of this, we produce CO2 and other toxins released into this planet. We want more, we continue to destroy the earth more and more because of what we want. As a person who has been a f

Easter is fast approaching, and we have to take the time to reflect on our Saviour's sacrifice. Christ was beaten, battered, spat on, speared, cussed at, all the horrible, painful things one could ever imagine. He bore all that for us. He took on the sin of the world, the sin of mankind upon his shoulders and on the cross. WE were the ones that nailed him to that cross. He was broken for us. But he made us whole. Without him, our lives have no purpose, because of God he has made me who i am now, with a reason on this earth, with a specific route and plan for my life. He's given me people who i can be accountable with, people who support and love me. To bind us, unifying us, and making us whole. It is through Christ we have come together. Praise God. As Easter comes along, think about who he went through for us, and what he has done for us by doing so. verse of the day: 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when

Coming home today, I realized something which i somewhat made into an analogy, and i just wanted to share it with you all. I've heard many many times people ask, "how does salvation work for those who wont ever hear the gospel?". Personally, i know that God has a plan for each and every one of us, a perfect, almighty plan with a purpose, with a goal, and with reasons. So I think that no matter where you are, everyone will somehow hear the gospel at least once in their life. God sent his Son to die on the cross for everyone, and everyone is a child of God, so he wont leave anyone out. Like a shepard and his sheep, if one strays off, he will go in search of it until they find it. So walking home, on this bright and sunny day, i saw the shadow and the sunlight hitting the walls of the houses, and i thought to myself. Sunlight hits everything. The sun encircles the earth, and everyday we see it rise in the east and set in the west, you watch the shadows move, and eventual

Everyone has their bad days. Today just so happened to be mine. I felt like the day was going to be okay, but as time passed, things just seemed to get worse. Hearing about 10238 summatives to be scheduled in one week, just that mood of not wanting to work grow, slipping into the traps of the Devil. Im so glad that i have support and people checking up on me. Its the greatest feeling. I was able to email one of my great friends who i can put my trust in. Just simply having people to vent to and someone to listen is quite the relief. Endurance. Life was never promised to be an easy breeze. Each and everyday we have to push ourselves forward. Some days may pass easier than others, but life is life. There will be problems, there will be mistakes, there will be flaws, mistakes and struggles, but we must endure. 2 Timothy 4 talks about running this race, this enduring race. It never ends. We are in a constant lifelong battle with the devil. Like it says " 7 I have fought the good

I really loved that song we sang today. It is well with my soul. And I think that i realized something today during the sermon. As Christians, we know that once we believe that we are saved, we have been given salvation and when we are done with our purpose on earth, we will be in heaven, a place without pain, tears or suffering for eternity. I remember during my baptism interview, i was asked the question, "if you were to die now, would you go to heaven or hell?". I remember answering hell, because I knew of the things i've done, and i was never fully sure of the whole forgiveness idea. How do you know if you're really forgiven? What I realized today in the sermon is that I really am truly saved. I have believed. My name is written in the book of life, and salvation is already mine! I will be going to heaven to meet with my Lord and Saviour, my spot is secured and he has made a place for me. As long as I continue to have faith in Him, and live my life as a pleasi

"may the odds be ever in your favor" Happy Hunger Games everyone! I was lucky enough to have been able to go watch the exciting film with my fellow AGAPE friends tonight, and what a movie. There are so many things i can say about it, but there's something else i want to address. This whole process started a month ago (i think) when we booked tickets and reserved an entire row. Everyone was so excited and hyped up for it and there were so many people that wanted to come as well, but we couldnt get all of them to come with because they asked too late. My post today is titled admirable move because two things happened that I've been thinking about a lot lately. First off, this week, I was talking to the friend who booked all the tickets for us, who I am so thankful for and i was asking her if she was excited, and she told me she wasnt going... I was so curious as to why she wasnt going to come with us, and it turns out that she gave her ticket away. I was stunned. Ab

We were heading to the doctor's today after school and we drove all the way down to Scarborough to meet this doctor, and on the way there, looking out the window, i realized that there was much more. So much more. I think because im so used to the community and area I live in, i think thats all there is. Like the story with the frog in the well, it looks up and all it sees is the sky is a small circle, but when he climbs out of the well, he then realizes and sees all the more in the world. Today, i remember when passing a school, seeing all the other kids walking home with their backpacks, i realized that there are more people in this world. By realizing that there's more and more, i started to realize exactly how small we are. I've heard people say this but i've never experienced it or realized it yet, that when they stand next to the ocean, they realize how small they are. Look up. See the ceiling with the little dots or holes? Imagine that a single one of those

There are so many times I know that i've felt lonely, uncared for, and like an outcast. Friends, sure and yes i have friends but only a rare few are the ones i can truly talk to and can call "BFF"s if you will. Its difficult sometimes, dealing with the loneliness, but thinking and looking ahead towards eternity, I've come to realize that God is THE true friend. He's always there for you. You dont need to call him, poke him, text him, just say a prayer and he's listening attentively. I know that sometimes i can completely pour out my heart to him when im going through things. He has this love for you that no one on this earth can ever express. He loves unconditionally, not matter what you're suffering through, no matter how you look, how you speak, or how you dress. He loves each of us because he designed, planned, and created all of us in his image. His love is so great that he died for you. Sacrifice IS love, and his life, the greatest thing anyone ca

Our God is a great God Our God is an awesome God Our God is a BIG God as well. The seven days of creation were definitely one of the first stories we're taught in sunday school. How God made light, the heavens, the earth, the sea and sky, the plants, the animals, and finally humans. He created all this for us and for our use. It took me a while to grasp this fully, but now in grade 12, and learning science, it really opened my mind towards our God as the creator. Biology, Physics and Chemistry, all consist of how things work, how things came to be, and it was through those lessons at school that truly helped me realize how great our God is. What i found was most interesting was being able to see how our God thought of all this. Biology. In our stomachs, we have many gastric acids, with a low pH, making them extremely acidic. These acids are used to help breakdown the food in our bodies, but when they get into our intestines for water and nutrients to be absorbed, shouldnt th

Lamb. The cutest, most purest animal. In its white wool coat, this animal represents our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. But this lamb was killed. The purest of all creatures, white as snow, was taken, beaten, killed and sacrificed, shedding his blood for all the sins of mankind. In the old testament, there would be regular offerings of the lamb, and the best, most healthy/fit animals were the ones to be slaughtered and not eaten as a sacrifice for their sins. But when God sent his Son down from heaven, he, Jesus was the lamb, that perfect sacrifice. Not only was he the PERFECT sacrifice, he was the FINAL sacrifice. When Christ died on the cross, he died for all mankind. Not just the group of people that witnessed it, not only the generation that lived in that year, but for every single person that was there and was to come as well. Including me and you. He was the last, final, perfect sacrifice, granting us forgiveness of our sins, and salvation if we believed and took Christ as o

It was foggy today, and it just got worse and worse throughout the day. On the way back from dinner, we could barely see what was ahead of us. I remember on the way back, I thought that we passed our street, but I was mistaken. Thinking about what to talk about today, i realized that this is exactly what life is like. Its blurry, and our future is unpredictable . You dont know if you a deer will come out from the side, if you're on the oncoming lane, or if you're reaching a dead end. We can only follow the 5m road ahead of us that we can actually see. Many times, we want to have complete control of our lives, where we want to live, the ideal family, the perfect career, but truthfully, there are things that are just out of our control. For instance, university, you dont know where you are going to go, all you can do is do the best you can in school and hope you get into the program you want. Marriage, how do you control meeting the perfect spouse? Its all in God's time. L

1 The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign LORD,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” 4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’” 7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons.

We think, "It's impossible". God says, "All things are possible" (Luke 18:27) We think, "I'm too tired" . God says, "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30) We think, "Nobody really loves me" . God says, "I love you" (John 3:16). We think, "I can't go on" . God says, "My grace is sufficient for you" (II Cor. 12:9). We think, "I can't do it" . God says, "You can do all things through Christ" (Phil. 4:13). We think, "I can't manage" . God says, "I will supply all your needs" (Phil. 4:19). We think, "I'm afraid" . God says, "I have not given you a spirit of fear" (II Timothy 1:17). We think, "I'm worried & frustrated" . God says, "Cast all your cares onto me" (1 Peter 5:7). We think, "I don't know what to do" . God says, "I'll give you wisdom" (II Cor. 1:30). We think,

I've been picked up. Yes the past few days have been dark, and I was slipping up in the quicksand of sin, but i was renewed today. It all sparked from a friend who emailed me, with comfort, encouragement and support. She sent me Psalm 42 which i found extremely comforting, and when i read it in her email, i was moved, i felt something inside of me. I know for a fact that God placed her in my life and he was speaking to me through her. I cannot thank her or my God enough for that. After getting her message, i was moved to dive into his Word and i tried something new. I walked out to the park and spent a good hour in his Word, in worship and in prayer. During that time I went through three chapters of Psalms. Psalm 37 , Psalm 40 and Psalm 42. Going through the passages, i found comfort and peace in it. I couldnt exactly pinpoint what it was, but there were a few verses that stood out to me. Psalm 37:23-24 23 23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every det

"a very personal reflection" Over the break, rotting away, i've gotten to chance to really think about what im going through. I feel like my life is a mess. Not in an obvious way though, but on the inside, a tornado has torn through and everything is everywhere. Doubt has flooded in and negativity radiates in my mind. Things still feel like they're up in the air, im not sure what to make of it, how much of it is true and how much of it is my mind playing tricks on me. Everything's just a big mess. Thinking more each day, today i came to this conclusion. My World vs The World. The World. By saying this, i mean the standards of this world. I guess more towards the academic/future world. Im not trying to boast or anything, just be clear of that. Personally, i havent felt stressed about the entire university thing. I feel very calm, prepared, and im ready for God to guide me wherever he desires. I've always wanted to follow him, but sometimes i can never tel