So Much More Than "Valentine's Day"

Valentine's Day.  The day of love.

For those who are married, engaged, dating, or have their eye on someone special, today is a celebration.  A celebration of the reality that they have someone special in their life that they get to spend the day showing their love and appreciation for.

For those who are single, it is a day that revolves around two realities: completely avoid the day by treating it as any ordinary day, or spend the day focused on Jesus being their love and life partner.

All the above scenarios are true depictions of where the individual is at.  Yet, the reality remains the same...Valentine's Day is a day dedicated to all the couples in the world, and all the single people who desire marriage someday but who have not found 'the one' yet are left feeling isolated and forgotten about.

But, what if we have it all wrong?

What if Valentine's Day could be about more than just a romantic relationship?

What if Valentine's Day could be about LOVE?

Our culture and society views love as an object.  It is viewed as something that can be given, or taken away from at any given notice.  It is something that is accepted when you want it, and pushed away when you don't.  It is something that has lost its value.

What if that is not love?  What if love is so much more?

What if love represented something you do, not something you have?  What if love is something continual?  What if Love is a person?

All this contradicts what our society says about love, but it is exactly what love is.  If you go back into the Greek word for love, you will see that there are three main words for love.  Agape love.  Phileo love.  Eros love.  In English terms they are sacrificial love, brotherly love, and emotional love. And each word has a verb stem, which signifies an action.

From this, I understand that love is to be something we choose to do.  Not something that happens to be given to us.

In addition, the Bible says that God IS love (1 John 4:8).

So, if God is love, and love is something we do, then that changes how we see love, which then changes how we live life.

See, if Valentine's Day is a "day of love," then it ultimately comes down to this.  It is a day celebrating the love that God has for each and every human being.  Without Him, there is not love, because He is love.  And if it is a celebration of the love of God, then it should be expressed by showing the people around us that amazing, wonderful, sacrificial love.  Agape love.

Part of love involves the romantic "emotional" love couples share, but that is not all love is.  Love is all three aspects shown in the Greek words.  Therefore, this Valentine's day my resolve is to not sit back as a single lady wishing that I had a special man in my life to celebrate Eros love with.  That is a desire of my heart, yes, but that's not where God has me right now.  So, since Eros love is not the only type of love, this Valentine's day my resolve is to show my friends, family, and those around me Phileo love.  And, most importantly, this Valentine's day I pray that each and every person, whether single or not, will fully know the Agape love of Christ.  He loves you more than anyone else ever could.  He sacrificed His life because of that love.  His heart is for YOU.  His kind of love is unfailing and never ending, because He IS love and He can never stop being God.

Will you join me in my resolve?  This Valentine's day let's remember that it is so much more than one expression of love...it is about the entirety of LOVE...because His kind of love is reckless for us.

In Every Season

Change.  That is one word I dread.  One word that I fear.  One word that puts butterflies in my stomach.  One word I hate...

Throughout my life I've faced many different types of change, and you'd think that each time I would be able to cope a little better, but in reality the opposite happened.  With each change came a greater dread, a greater fear, a greater anxiety.

The past little while has found a new change thrown my way.  A change I've not really encountered before.  A change that does not change my physical surroundings like all my moves did, but rather it is changing life as I've known it...changing friendships...and leaving me feeling left behind.  

Each and every person goes through these types of changes.  It's life.  I'm not the first person to experience this...but while I know that in my head, my heart is struggling to know how to cope with it.  It's scary.  It's painful.  But, in the midst of the anxiety, in the midst of the confusion, and in the midst of the pain, I'm reminded that God is ALWAYS there.  He's in EVERY season of life.  

He knows about every season I find myself in...nothing surprises Him.  He's right there in the midst of everything, even when I can't see it because of the cloud of worry that is clouding my view.  He's there.  He's never left.  Maybe nothing will ever be the same again.  Maybe I will be left behind in the midst of the chaos.  Or maybe this is just a bump in the journey that will end with a realization that although changes are happening, it doesn't have to result in leaving behind a dear friendship.  Truth is, I don't know what the end of this season will look like, but God does.

Maybe I'm the only person who struggles with change, but I can't help but feel like I'm not.  So, if you are identifying with what I've written, know you are not alone.  Jesus sees the whole story of your life, and He will work everything out for the good of those who love Him, even if we can't see or understand how that will turn out.  

He is in every season.  

Never Once

"Scars and struggles on the way 

But with joy our hearts can say

Yes, our hearts can say.. 

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful 

You are faithful, God, You are faithful"

This song, "Never Once," by One Sonic Society is a great summary of what has been going on in my heart as I begin to reflect on 2014.

At the beginning of every year I always wonder what God has in store for that year.  There is always anticipation as I think about all the potential an entire year has.  As I began 2014, my thinking was no different, but instead of the year of blessing and 'immeasurably more' that 2013 was, 2014 threw many unexpected curveballs my way.

2014 has been a year where it seems like there has been one valley after another.  Smacking my head on ice at the end of 2013 that lead to ongoing concussion symptoms.  Extended family members dealing with severe health crises.  My grandma unexpectedly admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with cancer.  Instances where "iron sharpens iron" (Proverbs 27:17) felt literal and where friendships were tested deeply.  And finally, the loss of the family dog that, even though I am not an animal lover, hit hard because as my one friend told me, it's been a season of loss in my life...not necessarily literal, but the fear of it has been.

One valley after another.

Yet, looking back on everything this year has brought, honestly, I wouldn't change any of it.  The fear was very real.  The pain and tears cried were immense.  But, sometimes it takes going through the fire to be refined and, by the grace of God, we can come out stronger.

At times, it felt like this year was draining me.  However, a couple weeks ago I came to a place of being in awe of God's faithfulness.  Never once did He leave my side.  Never once did He leave my family's side.  He didn't leave us alone, and He never will!  And, as a tangible expression of His love, He put so many people in my life who have stood by my side through everything this year has brought my way.  He is truly faithful!

Life is not without struggles...we are living in a broken world, and therefore we will be subjected to the effects that sin brings.  BUT, the crazy, amazing thing is that because of Jesus, we never will be alone.  Because of Jesus, no matter comes our way, we will come through and have a powerful testimony of the goodness, faithfulness, and grace of our God.  Because of Jesus!  Without Jesus, all these struggles would've felt hopeless.  BUT, with Jesus there is always hope!  That's what the Christmas season is about.  That's what life is about.  Without Jesus, there is no purpose, BUT with Jesus there is purpose as we walk in intimate relationship with Him.

Be encouraged!  No matter what your year has been like...whether you've been on the mountaintop or in the deepest, darkest, and scariest valley...know that Jesus is ALWAYS with you!  He will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.  Just call out His Name!  You are LOVED!

Open Up, Breathe In, And Let God Do His Thing

"Take a deep breath.  Breathe in.  Breathe out.  Breathe in again.  I am healed!  Really, truly 100% healed!"

Those were the words running around in my head a little over a year ago that brought a giant smile to my face.  God is SOOO good!

Fast forward to Fall 2010.  I had just moved to Saskatchewan from BC.  Only a few short weeks after arriving, I started having trouble breathing.  At first I didn't realize what the cause may be, so I just pushed through it, while struggling with bouts of shortness of breath.  2011 rolled around, and the same thing happened.  I put two and two together and realized it was a result of the harvest season.  Despite the fact that my allergies were slightly worse than the year before, I pushed through again.  And again in 2012.  By 2013, dealing with breathing issues during harvest time had become the norm for me.  But, each year I struggled more and more.  It got to the point where I knew I couldn't push through it anymore and so I would have to give in and go to the doctor for medical intervention...something I had been avoiding as I did not want to be bothered with having an inhaler.

BUT, God is good, and like so many times in my life, when I thought I had reached my breaking point He intervened.

A few months prior I had met a friend who encouraged me to get involved in a community group at my church.  I started getting involved, and as a result I got connected with a small handful of people who I was learning to trust and be real with.  Without that, I would not have been so open and vulnerable to share anything with them.  I'm a reserved type of person who generally keeps everything to myself.  Everything.  But, with the help and encouragement of my newfound friends, I began to slowly open up.  I got to the point where I felt free to start sharing my life with them, and therefore I was able to share about my struggle to simply just breathe.

I'll never forget the day I opened up.  Up until that point only my family knew of my struggle, and there was no way I wanted anyone else to find out.  As I opened up, my friend K prayed for me.  Honestly, it was a simple prayer, not much different from the many prayers my parents had prayed with me over the years.  Yet, despite the fact that I didn't feel something initially, I was touched by her willingness to pray, and through it all God did something incredible.

It wasn't until a few days later when I went on an elliptical.  I had been on it the day before K prayed for me, and I had to go as slow as I possibly could and my lungs still burned.  I didn't want to let my shortness of breath keep me from being active, so I had resolved to go on it no matter how slow I had to go.  So, back on it I went.  I had my music going and was walking along when I suddenly realized that my numbers were way better than a few days prior.  My lungs didn't hurt either.  The next song that came on was "God's Great Dance Floor" by Chris Tomlin, and I began to run faster and faster.  A smile filled my face as I sang, or more like shouted, "I feel alive, I come alive, I am alive on God's great dance floor."  Another song I happened to be listening to says "I have life.  I can breathe.  I am healed.  I am free" (Here's My Heart by David Crowder).  I truly was alive.  There was breath in my lungs.  I could breathe!  I was free!  I could enjoy life without struggling for my next breath, without being afraid of being tied to medication for the rest of my life.  I ran as fast as I could, marvelling in the goodness of God!  He healed me!

Here I am a year after that momentous day, and recently I realized that I've hit the one year mark without any pain or shortness of breath.  I've made it through this years harvest season without a single breathing struggle.  God is good!  SOO good!

Recently, God did another healing miracle in my life, and reflecting on this day has shown me a lot of parallels with my heart both then and now.  I know God heals.  I've known that my entire life, and I've seen too much to not believe.  Yet, like most, sometimes I wonder why I can ask for something in prayer and God doesn't seem to be answering.  Why did my parents and myself pray over and over again for breath to come easily to me, but those prayers didn't seem to be answered?  Why did my parents and myself once again pray for healing for concussion symptoms I had in August, and again they were not answered?  And why did I happen to be prayed for by the same friend both times and I was instantly healed?  God does not show favouritism, so it has nothing to do with me, or my parents, or my friend.

I've come to the realization about the importance of community and about the condition of the heart.  God brings people in our lives for various reasons, and we have to be open to receiving that.  I know I've failed a lot in that area, with August being the a huge eyeopener to the reality that while I may try to build walls to prevent others from coming in or to protect myself from getting hurt, if God has brought someone into my life I better just accept that and not resist.  See, last year when I finally opened myself up and reached a place where I could be vulnerable with others, that's when pride fell and God was able to minister the way He intended to all along...there weren't walls up trying to control how He could work in my life.  I was open.  Again, in August, I had to reach a point of opening up to my friend and break down the walls I was trying to build to prevent me from getting hurt.  It was only when I opened up that once again I gave up control to allow God to use the people in my life to be extensions of His love, healing, and grace to me.  Every single person on the planet has people put in place in their life because God put them there.  That's what community is.  My friend in both of these instances, as well as all the other friends God has brought into my life are there on purpose.  They are not in my life by accident.  God put them there because He knew I needed what they bring to my life.  I have to choose to remain open to that reality, and as a result, God is able to use the giftings that He has given to each one of them to the fullest, and the same is for me in the lives God has put me in.  We all need each other.  To quote another song that has been impacting me lately "Through trouble, rain, or fire let’s reach out to something higher.  Ain’t no life outside each other.  We are not alone...we're not meant to live this life alone" (No Man Is An Island by Tenth Avenue North).   

Immeasurably More

As December is rolling on by and the year is coming to an end, I have been reflecting on all that 2013 has held.

It all started on January 1.  New Years Day.

I was taking part in the Passion 2013 conference via live streaming.  In the first session, Louie Giglio kept bringing up the phrase "immeasurably more" from Ephesians 3:10 which says "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us..."

He continued to expand on the verse, and started talking about people who want to believe that God can do immeasurably more, but are struggling because they aren't seeing it in their life.  He then went on to talk about the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 and how Ezekiel responded to God's question by saying "Sovereign Lord, You alone know."

I started out the year being one of those people who wanted desperately to believe that God would do immeasurably more in my life and in situations I was facing, and I had to blindly trust God and say "You alone know."  And only He knew what He had in store for the year.

Fast forward to May.  Life was at it had always been over the past number of years.  Honestly, I had gotten to the point where I was fed up with certain situations and had stopped believing for specific prayers to be answered.  There was one prayer in particular that I had prayed and been trusting God for since I was in grade 7, but after so many years of praying without an answer, I gave up.

In May, I decided to go a Holy Spirit night at my church, which was the first time I had gone in the 2.5 years of living here.  I don't even know why, but I just felt that I had to be there.  Without knowing it, God was about to do immeasurably more in my life.

That night I met someone who was new to my church.  We became fast friends, and God has used her to minister to my life as her encouragement has brought healing to my heart, and I finally have become more connected in my church and have met some amazing friends in the process!

On January 1, I could have never imagined that in hearing the words "immeasurably more" that it would become the core theme of my year.  But they have.  God has done so much more than I could've ever imagined!  In becoming free, God has brought physical, emotional, and spiritual healing in my life.  I am continuously amazed at how a prayer I had given up on believing for was answered.

If there is one thing I learned this year it is to never underestimate what God wants to do in and through a life.  Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged and give up on something, but God is always there and desires to do so much more...immeasurably more.

2013 turned out to be a year that exceeded any expectations I had for it.  God is so good!  I am blessed, and thankful, for all He has done in my life over this past year, and I look forward to what is in store in 2014.  To Him be the glory!

The Most Important Thing (Part 2)

I've finally had time to sit down to finish part 2 of "The Most Important Thing."  If you haven't read part 1 yet, you can find it here.


While on my holiday, God began to speak to me about some of the questions I've recently had.  For the first time it became so clear to me that one of the reasons why people have chosen to go the way of the world, despite knowing the truth of God's word, is because of a lack of relationship.

As I pondered the concept of relationships, I began to think about earthly relationships and compare them with what God desires of us.

I think most would agree with me that in order to build a solid relationship it is necessary to spend time with one another.  It's in times that you talk, hang out, and enjoy one another's company that you really get to know someone.  In my experience, and I'm sure others can relate, I've found that it is difficult to build or grow a friendship by talking to someone once every few months only for a couple minutes.  In those cases, the relationship maintains an 'acquaintance' classification, and rarely will that relationship form into a strong friendship.

If this is the case with earthly relationships, why do we expect our relationship with God to be any different?  Why do we expect to grow in our walk with Him if all we do is go to church once a week, and that's only when we aren't too busy to go.  We may say the odd prayer before our meals so that we feel as though we did our Christian duty.  Why do we focus so much time and attention on getting to know people around us and rarely spend time getting to know the very One who created us?

This is the revelation I began to see as I was seeking God as to why so many people know about Him, but aren't living for Him.

It's like having an acquaintance.  I may know who someone is, and I might know a few details about their personality or character, but when it comes to their heart, I don't really know them.  God used this analogy to show me that in society today so many people have this type of acquaintance relationship with Him.  So many know about Him, but they don't KNOW Him.

I hope my explanation makes sense.  It was a huge revelation to me when this all started coming together for me.

So, if we want to grow in our walk with God we need to spend time with Him, building our relationship with Him.  We need to spend time in prayer, talking to Him.  We need to take time to read our Bible, learning about His character.  We need to spend time listening for His voice.  We need to spend time with other Christians, being encouraged in love.

As we spend time building our relationship with Jesus, and encouraging others to do the same, I believe God will be faithful and we will see a change in the relational apathy I've seen around me.  As each Christian chooses to grow in their relationship with God, the casualties in the church will decrease.

The most important thing on the earth, which is the very purpose we were created for, is to lift up the name of Jesus and see lives transformed by His saving power.  This will only happen as we have relationship with Jesus and then show others how they can as well.

The Most Important Thing (Part 1)

It has been forever since I have written a blog post.  I've been doing a lot of thinking over the past year, but wasn't sure how to put words to what was going on inside of me.  The time has finally come to attempt to release those thoughts.

A couple weeks ago I was at a grad banquet for the Master's Commission program at my church.  At one point in the program the pastor who overseas the program made a statement that gripped my heart.  He said that people are the only things we will be able to take to heaven with us.  When we die, we won't bring any material things with us.  All our "stuff" will be left behind.  The only thing that has any value and significance for eternity is the soul.  Therefore, the most important thing in the world is not what job we have or how well off we are, but rather it is the souls around us...the lives that we touch.

Over the past few years my heart has become so broken for the lost.  I've always had a missions heart, but circumstances in my life has led to an increase in the brokenness and urgency that my heart has for those who don't have a relationship with Jesus.

I took a small vacation over the past weekend to visit some dear friends, and during my drive I heard a song that I've heard many times before, but a line jumped out to me as I listened to it:  "If not us, who will be like Jesus to the least of these?"

When I think about everything that's been going on inside of me over the past number of months and mix that with the two statements I have heard recently, I realized I can no longer be silent in my pondering...because truly, "if not us, who will be like Jesus to the least of these?"

I have a huge passion for my generation.  As I've gone from my high school days, to working, and now going to university, I have seen so many struggle in their faith.  I've seen the ways of society come in and distract people I love from living out their full identity in Christ, and all along the way my heart has cried out why.  Why are so many walking away from living sold out for Jesus?  What causes people to give in to things that they know in their hearts are not the way to true life?  I've asked all the questions, and struggled with knowing why this is such a problem in our society, and have wondered what I can possibly do to stop it.  It's been a journey that I've been struggling on because my heart aches to see my generation...and especially those I know and love...living 100% for Jesus.  That's my heart's cry.

This post is quickly becoming a novel, so I will write part two about what God spoke to me about the questions I've just written.  Stay tuned!