Kingdom Come

Happy Monday! :)

Here's my challenge for you this week: Find the places where "heaven touches earth". 

No really. Really, really seek those moments, those places, and then stop. Breathe it in and remember that we serve an amazing God.

"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10

A Letter From Tanzania!

Dear Alyssa,

Happyness greets you in the name of the Lord Jesus. Her family and herself are doing well and hopes the same on your side. She adds that she was glad to write this note to you. She thanks you for your nice photo and letter that you sent her. ... She likes to hear that you like math and music. She also likes counting and drawing. She adds that Tanzania is beautiful with the highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, valleys, rivers and national parks with historical sites. She wanted to know if you have ever heard about Mount Kilimanjaro. {I have now! ;)} She adds that the main languages in Tanzania are Kiswahili and English. She is interested to know if you go to school during the time of snow? ... She loves you and prays for you!

I was really stoked. :D 

Today, many kids from EGAT Picha Ya Ndege Student Centre [the centre Happyness attends] are waiting for a sponsor like you on www.compassion.com. Take a look: {warning: they are irresistibly cute!} 

Fatuma

Devota

Naima

Will you pretty please sponsor one of these kids? If you're not American, you can call Compassion and they'll transfer Fatuma, Devota, Happiness or Naima to your country. And if Tanzania isn't calling your name, then take a look at some other kids from other countries. I promise it'll only take a few minutes for one of these precious kids to steal your heart!

Mount Kilimanjaro
Bucket List: Go there! (After meeting Happyness, of course!) :)

The Difference is Jesus.♥

In All Things...

Lately, I've been reading back in my journal to times when I've been totally content with my relationship with God, to times when I've screamed at him, whined at him, asked him to speak to me [When he kinda already was... I just wasn't listening] and asked him "Why?" [As IF my life was so difficult...]. And through all that I look back and see how he shaped me, grew me and moulded me. He's always been preparing my heart and always he was with me, even if I thought he wasn't. I look back and realize he was always there, I just simply wasn't looking, or I was just too impatient to see what he had planned.

Truly, he makes all things work together for our good.

Truly, his love NEVER fails.

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. ... If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:28&31

Daily Bread

The last time I wrote a blog post was 10 whole days ago... I'm so bad. Sorry! :$

Here I was thinking this semester I'd have more time to blog... Seems like as soon as I see blank space in my [imaginary/mental] calendar, I decide to [purposely or accidentally...?] fill it up! :S

Where have I been these past 10 days you ask? Well, there's piano, youth group, band practice, reffing basketball, watching basketball, not to mention school. ;) And, youth retreat, which is always super awesome but ALWAYS gets me ignoring this thing called my blog. ;) I got to play on the band at the retreat, which was so. much. fun! :)

Playing in the band! I'm at the very edge on the left. ;)
Photo Credits: @keithhubley

Anyways, I had a super great reminder on the retreat of my word[s] for 2012.

Shine. Reflect Jesus' light.

In small group, we asked ourselves why it's so hard to shine for Jesus. For me, it's mostly cuz I forget. I get so busy, life gets too fast, I start worrying about anything and everything, and somehow I forget about what's supposedly the most important thing in my life.

And the solution? My second word, Faith. :)

Stop worrying about tomorrow, and that frees up A LOT of brain space for shining.

In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus asks for "daily bread". Just enough, and just for today. Nothing for tomorrow and no extras.

Just enough strength for today, Lord. Just enough patience and just enough energy.

I've been trying this, this week after the retreat, to just pray for enough.

And you know what? It works! When I have faith that I'll have enough for today and tomorrow is it's own problem, I'm SO much better at being a "Child of Light". (Ephesians 5:8-10)

Here's a challenge: Just ask for enough. Don't worry and don't try and live with all the extras. And now that the hard part is over, shine. That part just comes naturally. :)

"Give us today our daily bread."

No Greater Love

I hope you all had a great Easter weekend reflecting and celebrating with family and friends.

I had a pretty chill weekend - hanging with family, almost-family and church-family. :)

We had a great message from Bruxy at church... It really made me think about Jesus' death in a way I'd never thought about it before. I'd try and explain it to you, but it's probably better if you just hear it for yourself.

At the end of the message, I couldn't help but think of this song by Kutless:



God is waiting, with arms open wide, ready to love you. He'd begging you...

"Come back home."

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. ... 'This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:20&24

Ready or Not, it's Monday. ;)

Yeah, I was super scared too. How relieved was I when I clicked on the link and saw this:

Haha, yes... I was fooled. :P

Anyways, Britt Nicole has a new album, Gold, and it's definitely been on repeat on my iPod lately. Ready or Not (ft. Lecrae) might possibly be my favourite track on the album. Two awesome artists on the same song? Yes please. :)

You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16