Muskoka Bound

I'm spending my last night in Richmond Hill and will be moving to Muskoka tomorrow. To paraphase Gordon Lightfoot:

Muskoka Bound
Muskoka Bound
It's good to be Muskoka Bound
Muskoka Bound

My U-Turn

I just started reading a book God Allows U-Turns by Allison Gappa Bottke which is a bunch of stories mainly about people who have made a 180 in their lifes after following God or have strayed from the path and are now back on course. I about to do this with making a fresh start with my own life. I have strayed off course over the last few years from where I should be and from what I should be doing. I'm looking to get back on track and fulfill the mission God has given me in life. In other words I have to stay on track.

Yet Another Poem I Found

I have a case of writer's block today but I found a decent poem to share:


We can walk without fear,full of hope
and courage and strength...waiting for
the endless good which God is always giving
as fast as He can get us to take it in.

George MacDonald

Northward Bound

Had an awesome weekend. I got to see the surrondings of the area I will be moving to. Minus the bugs it is beautiful. I spent part of the weekend at my girlfriend's parents cottage north of the Muskoka region. We celebrated both my girlfriend'd father and my birthday's which was fun. I even got a few presents which I wasn't expecting at all. I got to see the lake which was beautiful and the weather was great.

Unfortunately,I didn't see the sunrise(I slept in) and I can't see the sunset from there but I defintely have to catch both on camera. It makes me all the more look forward to the move and I'm getting closer each day. In the meantime there is still a lot of work to do. I mustn't let the euphoria of the weekend keep me off focus.

Insights From Esther

I just finished reading the book of Esther. It is a unique book in that God isn't mentioned through the book and there are no references to worship or devotion to God. However, you can see God working through the people in the story and that He is in control of human history.

The story is about a Hebrew woman named Eshter who becomes Queen of the Persian Empire after the King named Ahasuerus deposes of his wife Vashti after she disses him. After which he searches the land for a new queen holding a huge party and comes across the attratctive Esther. She hides her Jewish hertigae from the King but is soon forced into action. Her uncle Mordecai who serves in the King's court draws the ire of Haman who is promoted in the King's court as well when Mordecial refuses to bow to him.

As a result Haman plots the extermination of the Hebrew people and builds a gallows reserved to execute the people. Esther and Mordecai get wind of this plot and attempt to intervene. Esther helps save the genocide of her people. She sets up a banquet where Haman is invited. Haman after being unwittingly caught in a comprising position with Eshter is executed on the gallows he build. After this the decree is reversed and Mordecial is given Haman's position in the Kingdom.

This book shows how God sometimes will work through the most unusual circumstances and through the least likely of people to accomplish His will (In the Persian Kingdom through a couple of Hebrew exiles). How He will intervene when His anointed are threatened and punished the wicked. But most importantly how while we don't see in our lifes or don't feel He is there that He is actually working in each of our lifes.

I saw this book as an example of God will work in our lifes in an indirect way and He will not always do ways the way we want but will get us to where he wants us. Also, how He has a use for each of us regardless of our background and where we are in the world if we allow Him to do so. He has a plan for our lives we just have to listen and obey.

Happy Birthday To Me

Today I became a year older 31 to be more exact. As I get older I just hope I'm becoming wiser as well through life experience.I feel older but I still have a long road ahead of me which wil be exciting. Anyways,I'm playing hokey from work and going to spend the day with my girlfriend which should be good. The weather outside looks very nice so it should be a great day.

Peace Over Panic

I think the impending move is strating to sink in as I feel at times that I'm going in about millions directions at once. Not to mention that worry (the old foe) is working in full force tonight as well. I still have a lot packing to do plus I still have to find a job for when I get there. Also, I want everything to go really smoothly.

However I got to spend some quiet time with the Lord and the closer I get to Him the more I feel this is the right decision for me. I just have to put my trust in Him and remember these words of Jesus:
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let
it be afraid. (John14:27)

So Close Yet So Far

The Edmonton Oilers lost last night meaning the Stanley Cup is in Carolina. It is a shame since oilers had an awesome run. Hopefully, the Stanley Cup will go to a Canadian team namely Toronto next season. Anyways,I guess it's back to business as usual.

Go,Oilers,Go

The Edmonton Oilers have a chance to make history tonight. The can become the first Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup in 13 years and be the first team since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs to comeback from a 3-1 series defict to win a Stanley Cup final. I'll admit I have only watched games 1 and 6. But just as it looks like they are done they come right back.
They have an amazing playoff beating Detroit who was heavenly favoured and beating San John as well as Anaheim who are two strong teams. Will they beat the Carolina Hurricanes tonight I hope so but I will defintely be watching. it would be nice to have The Stanley Cup back in Canada for a change.

The Weekend Past

I got to go up north again this weekend to visit my girlfriend and her father. It was a little get together for Father's Day. I helped out her father at the cottage on Saturday help getting the place ready by helping put in the dock and mowing the grass among other things. The view across the lake where the cottage is breath taking. You can basically see for miles around and a good part of the lake. The only drawback were all the bug bites I got which I seem to find more and more of on my body.

The more I see the area the more I'm glad that I will be moving up there even with the bugs and all(I hear you get immune to them after awhile). Besides, they are mostly in the bush and not in town where I will be living. It will be an interesting time between now and the time i move there. But Iwill tell myself no fears, no worries. Until then,I will just stay the course with the help of the Lord.

Another Poem I Found

Here's another poem I came across very recently I think it ties with finding my sweet spot:

Remember that you are a part of a limlitless love
and you will find strength you never imagined

The combination of your faith and God's power
can achieve things beyond your wildest dreams

Allow His love into your soul and let Him guide
you along the path you were always meant
to follow

Trust that things will turn out as they were
meant to be
God has brought you this far, and He will
always be close by your side

by
Jason Blume

A Weird Day or Just A Weird Mood

It was one of those days. Nothing bad happened but I felt like I was in frenzy mode most of the time. After work had I had to run across town to mail a couple of things and then cut my grandmother's lawn. The mower didn't have a good chute so I got grass everywhere. The weird part is I wasn't really overwhemled with stuff it just felt like a had to do a million things at once.
I'm guessing it is anxiety about my possible move.
Needless to say I don't feel like myself but I'm ok now. I just will trust the lord to guide me to where I need to go and draw my strength from Him. There will be a few changes in the next few weeks but mercifully He never changes. I just hope to get back to feeling normal again. In the meantime I will just take it easy tonight and not think about it too much.

The Weekend That Was

I just got back from Muskoka today. I spent the weekend with my girlfriend and her parents. We had a party for her nephew who turned four today. It was nothing fancy as we had a small BBQ with her family and we gave him his gifts which he enjoyed. Apparently, he is into dragons so needless to say that is what we got gifts with dragons or with something to do with dragons.

I also went searching for a place to live as I plan to relocate up north. The first one wasn't very promising (actually it was a bit of a dump) but the second place was nice and I just may move in. Although I need to sleep on it and I still have to find a job when I move up there. But I'm trusting in the Lord for that and I'm sure it will work out. I just need to trust fully in Him.

But overall the weekend was fun and I look forward to going back up there next week. Until then, I have a lot to think about and pray about.

Looking For My Sweet Spot

Just started a new book today The Cure For The Common Life by Max Lucado. The central theme of the book is finding your sweet spot basically your purpose in life. It is not merely finding my place but finding where I fit in as a child of God and what my role is as a believer. As a result I think I have my top goal in life. I read Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren not too long ago and am still looking for my purpose. At least I know where to start and that to look to the Creator.
I still however would like to find it soon as it is easy to read something and get excited about it. But then you fail to put it into practise like I have done many times. Being at a crossroads in life I am more encouraged than ever before to not only find my sweet spot but to live for Him.

The Study Tonight

I got to go to a cell group tonight connected to Summit Community Church. It was held at a couple's place in Aurora. The group consisted of myself and three couples. We shot the breeze for a while and then we got to the study. The topic was based on some questions asked on a survey taken at Summit. The two mention were who do we go to for advice in making life changing decisions and the fact many in the church find reading the Bible uninteresting. I mentioned for the first I go on a case by case basis as it depends on the situation.
Some of the others mentioned a life decision they had to make. All the people in the group had moved to the GTA within the last couple of years and they mentioned who they sought for advice. I felt a bit left out as I've lived at the same address for 28 years. Not to mention I'm currently considering a move to a different region in the provience.
Anyways, enough ranting. The topic got to how we are to listen for God's voice and to use his word as a guide. Many Christians seem to put little stock in his word and what surprises me is how little of the Bible many believers have read. I think that we often approach God with prayer and it often reads like a Dear Santa letter. We don't take the time to hear him and what He has for us. Ultimately, He knows whats best for us and has our best interests in mind. He wants us dependent on him and to study his word not only for guidance but to know him better. Basically, He is not a genie but the Heavenly Father who wants us to have a relationship with him.

A Busy Day er..Yes and No

You do ever have once of those days where you feel like you are going a million directions at once? I had one today and the strange parts there actually wasn't a lot to do. First,it looked like it was going to be a long day at work but as the day progressed it turned out to be pretty average. Then I was supposed to go across to pick up groceries that my Mom bought earlier but it turned out it was taken care of. I got home and had a few things to do like laundry which I'm doing now and to have dinner. I also wanted to check an address of group I'm going to be going to tomorrow and I got Morty the cat chomping at my heels.
Not to choatic but it sure felt like it and I could probably use the extra excitement. Also, I get to see the first game of the Stanley Cup final where hopefully the cup will finally come back to Canada.(Go Oilers) It could be worse and the day is almost over.

Where Did the Weekend Go?

I'm sitting here wondering where the weekend went? I know they all go by so fast but in this case I swear it was one of those you blink you miss it deals. Saturday went by so fast it wasn't even funny. My girlfriend came down again and we got to spend some quality time together. I also picked up a couple interesting books at Treasure House. One of them is God Allow U-Turns by Allison Gappa Bottke which is compliation of stories defintely something to read since I need to make a big U-Turn from where I've been headed for the last couple of years. And the other is
Anioux For Nothing by John MacArthur which deals with my old foe.
Anyways, Monday is around the corner but at least I still got the rest of this day to enjoy. I just hope the weekends will slow down a bit.

A Little Prayer

Here's a nice prayer I found on a website:

Lord, as I stumble through this life help me to create more laughter than tears, dispense more happiness than gloom, spread more cheer than despair.

Never let me grow so big that I will fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.

Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people, make them happy, and make them forget all the unpleasant things in their lives.

And, in my final moment, may I hear You whisper: "When you made my people smile, you made me smile."
Amen.

Author unknown

Surviving The Heat

It has been hot outside for the last few days. However, I managed to survive and last night we got some thunderstorms which broke the heat wave we have been having. As much as I love summer I hope it cools down. I have had problems with allergies and my stomach has had a hard time adjusting to it. This has to be the wackiest weather I have ever seen. From a very mild winter to hot and humid days in May. It remains to be seen what summer will be like. At least today will be closer but the forecast is calling for rain.(yuck)