If

 I came across a poem I had written a long time ago (in grade 10 if I remember correctly) Reading it reminded me once again, that as a follower of Christ we must die to our old selves - our selfishness & sinful desires and ask God to change us to be like Him. It is a challenge. Following God isn't easy and sometimes our emotions and fears pull us in directions other than living selflessly and entirely to the Lord. Christians can be full of a lot of talk, I won't deny that. But I want my life to be more than words. I want my life to truly be wholeheartedly given to God. Perhaps the poem would have been better titled "When" because God does call us to surrender our will to His and to trust Him when we face struggles that will inevitably come.

If

Could I do all that You've called me to do?

If I face struggles and hardships

Could I accept the fact that You know what you're doing?

If I face a difficult decision

Could I choose what is right over what seems easy?

If Your plans for me are not my own

Would I follow them or fight to get my own way?

If You ask me to step up,  or stand back, or speak up, or fall back on You

Could I do that?

If You ask me to say yes or urge me to say no

Could I say "ok God"?

If You ask me to give my very life

Or suffer immensely

And cling to You at all costs

Could I do that?

Could I honestly do that?

I guess the more appropriate question is

...would I?

Because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

But only if I am willing.

I've heard it said to take up your cross and follow God,

I'm sure I've said it myself before,

But saying things and going through with them

If and when the time comes 

Are sometimes contradictory

Could I follow through with what I say?

...Would I?

Because only if I would

And if I must I do

May I truly say my love for You is genuine.

Make me willing Lord

Make   me    willing

FLOSS!

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Hilary, and she wrote a story that would not drastically change your life. One fantastically sunny afternoon, Hilary was flossing her teeth. The fact that it was a sunny afternoon had no correlation to the fact that Hilary was flossing her teeth; she just figured she'd add a minor description of the weather because that's what one does when they are writing a story. When suddenly, the unthinkable happened (always expect the unexpected in a story such as this): the floss got stuck! *GASP* The lengthy piece was dangling from the roof of her mouth. She yanked and yanked (and what a sight it was!) and pulled the majority of it free, but had to get a second piece of floss to remove the last bits. Thankfully the second piece did not get stuck as well (wouldn't that have been tragic). It was an ironic and counter-productive moment full of laughter and amusement. And now Hilary has to continue writing a paper.
THE END

Killing Prince Charming

Ok, I admit it: I suffer from that same "hopeless-romantic-syndrome" that perhaps some of you reading this do. I swoon over over the end of North and South (have you SEEN the way he looks at her?), which I have been recently introduced to. Or the movie Penelope (which I thought I would dislike but actually thoroughly enjoyed). Or I read books that I just can't put down. Yes, I am a fan of espionage and suspense, but if there is a love story, let's be honest, that's the predominant force gluing me to the page.
All these stories...all this superficial, lovey dovey, whirlwind of affection...generally without serious backbone to it.

Many of us Christian ladies are quick to say they want a young man with the 2 J's (Jesus and a job), but truthfully, while Christ is the main thing and I won't compromise on this, I do have my preferences. Or a young man may say they want someone "hot like Megan Fox" (and I don't mean to group and summarize all men in such a superficial way, I'm just giving an example). Do I think that whoever my guy is and I will be attracted to one another? Yes, but what society pushes as the foundation of attraction is what concerns me.

I think the danger with the way our thoughts are oriented, is that we don't commit because we are searching for the ideal (albeit unattainable). Or we run the opposite risk of clinging to someone and idolizing them in hopes they'll complete us and meet all our needs. Perhaps instead of sending Prince Charming to his grave, we need to refocus our priorities and notions of what love is supposed to look like.

I recently read a book in 24 hours. I was more than an enthusiastic reader - I was positively giddy. But that's precisely why I'm not in a hurry to read the rest of the series. Even Christian books often talk of how beautiful she is, how handsome he is, and though not explicit, the underlying tension is definitely unmistakable. And it's way too easy to get caught up in it and think "Just kiss her already!" when I'm gently urged to "not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." (Song of Sol 8:4) I feel like there is an absence of due honour and respect when I get so wrapped up in such things. And what point is there yearning for a stunnigly and impossbily flawless Prince Charming of my own when nobody on earth could possibly live up to such a standard? (Besides, storybook Prince Charmings are interchangeable and one dimensional. In Shrek, he was arrogant because he thought he had it all together. In Into the Woods, the prince charmed more than one woman)

Do I still like my fairy tales? Sure. Do I want the romantic gestures? You betcha.. Do I want a beautiful relationship some day? Yes.. Can a guy save me and give me ultimate fulfillment? No - but Jesus can! If someone laying down their life for a screw up like me, and consistently showering me with love and grace isn't romantic, then I don't know what is. That is immensely better than any Disney movie.


[For additional reading, check out this article: http://www.boundlessline.org/2011/02/killing-prince-charming.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boundlessline%2Fblog+%28Blog%3A+Boundless+Line%29 ]

New Year Contemplations

2011 is here!

New year. Same God.

The same God who so graciously showed me his faithfulness and goodness in 2010 will continue to be faithful and good in the year to come.
The same Lord who taught me and convicted me in the days past will continue to lovingly instruct me in the days ahead.
The same Saviour who forgave me time and time again and taught me of forgiveness in previous moments will continue to do so in moments to come.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

That's the funny thing about time. It passes so quickly, and yet with the Lord "...one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8)

Ever feel like something was a lifetime ago, but it actually just happened, or vice versa? That's how I often feel. Even last night doesn't seem like it just happened.

Last night...
Last night was lovely. The highlight for sure was singing in the new year with fellow Christ-followers. The basement was kind of cold and we were sitting on the cold floor. I didn't know half of these people either - didn't even know their names at the time - but it didn't matter. We were singing to God and it was beautiful and seemed to bring us together in that moment.
It was awesome ending the year in awe of God and starting the next the same way. Shouldn't we desire to do the same in all the days in between?

Now for some thank yous.
Thank you to my friends for opening your homes, your hearts, and for your faith.
Thank you to my family for being the people that you are (P.S. Operation Suprise-Birthday-Party-For-Dad was a success!)
Thank you to my God for every breath you have given me, every blessing you have poured out, every lesson you have taught, and every wound you have healed. I want to spend my life loving You!

I don't know what 2011 holds. Let's find out, shall we?

Quiet Evenings & Happy Hearts

My heart is happy.
I can't pinpoint a precise reason why. Today wasn't particularly exhilirating. I didn't venture outside the house except to go to the bank and go to the bookstore briefly. I did deposit money (which is good) but I didn't buy a book because they didn't have what I was looking for. So it's not as though I have spent the last few hours captivated by another time and place that the pages of a novel often take you to.  I didn't see any friends today. I didn't get thrilling news. But I am content.
Maybe it is the knowledge that God is in control and the peace that comes from knowing Him. I think it's partially because it's nice to have some downtime after holiday busyness. I believe it may be since I realize how blessed I am with the family I have and the moments we share together. We often don't seem to cherish them enough. Today I feel rather sentimental and reflective (although, I am not sure how nostalgic one can get at age 20. Hmmm....)
I love these moments when they come. Sometimes we get lost in the day to day rush, and it's nice to throw up your feet, breathe deeply and sigh relaxed, undisturbed sigh. How grateful I am that I am able to have times like these.

Time-Tested Beauty Tips

a poem by Sam Levenson

 *~*

For attractive lips,
Speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes,
Seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure,
Share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair,
Let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise,
Walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things,
have to be restored, renewed,
revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
Never throw out anybody.

Remember,
If you ever need a helping hand,
you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older,
you will discover
that you have two hands,
one for helping yourself,
the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman
is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure that she carries,
or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman
must be seen from in her eyes,
because that is the doorway to her heart,
the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman
is not in a facial mole,
but true beauty in a woman
is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
the passion that she shows,
And the beauty of a woman
with passing years-only grows!

Sweet Sunday

Happy December, friends!
Boy, there is a lot that has been great the last 2 weeks. Here are some of the awesome things:

~going to the Sting game/teddy bear toss with Dad (see photo above). What an exciting and odd game it turned out to be. (Sting won 6-5 over Niagara if anybody is interested)...the reason the post is a day late is because I wanted to get the photo off my dad's camera =P
~the first December snowfall
~eating my first pomegranate of the season
~Tangled (funny, cute, Disney musical, need I say more?)
~earning money
~having your own place for a week
~making friends with a dog
~putting up the Christmas tree, lights and other various Christmasy Christmas decorations
~finding new Christmas music
~winning a chocolate bar for having happy facial expressions during Nightingale rehearsal (it was a Toblerone...ohhh yum)
~learning how to embed a video into my blog (Julian Smith's pre-blessed food video is now visible in my Oct. 26th post). I was rather excited about this
~playing a game with the family and laughing because we couldn't remember how to play and kept changing the rules. Mass confusion and hysterical laughter soon followed.