music.

Tonight I was lucky enough to attend Bayview Secondary School's spring concert. To start off, I have a story for you. So I totally thought it was at their school, so i arrive at 6:45 as my friend told me to come earlier and the parking lot was completely empty. Scrambled in and found out it was at unionville. I had to drive home, and finally get my dad to drive me there. And i was late. And missed half of my friend's performance. How embarssing.

Anyways, listening to the music, and watching the band, a few things crossed my mind. How music is so universal, and how it brings everyone together. You can take it from the musical point of view, where there are so many different instruments, from the brass, the woodwinds, where you can be even more specific, the tuba, the trumpet, the oboe, the bass clarinet, how things so different, yet come together to make such a beautiful harmonic sound.

From a person point of view, looking at all the students playing, some are athletes, some are the artsy ones, some are the book worms, and some are the true band geeks. They all come from different areas and interests to come together to create music. Music was the one common thing they had together.

Similar to all that, God is what should bring us all together. We are all working towards serving Him, loving Him, and glorifying His Holy Name. God loves everyone, and this love brings all of us together, from different cultures, different places, different races, and different personalities. It isn't exclusive, its for every one out there.

At the same time, this can also relate as with teams. I remember for SNA, i really saw how God pieced us together. Bringing us together as a whole, as a unit. We all had different talents, different spiritual gifts and together we created SNA, a beautiful masterpiece for God's glory.

God has a plan for each and everyone of us, and it may draw surprising things, it may draw things you don't want, but they all have a purpose, a perfect purpose for you. Its up to you whether or not you're willing to let him go and execute that plan for you.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Romans 6:5

nothing to something.

Ever since planning SNA this year for December, the message we were conveying really stuck in my head. The overarching message was that everything is meaningless. Everything fades, from relationships to materialistic things, that all things will fail us and that we are putting our hope in the wrong things. We should put our faith and hope in Lord Jesus Christ because he lives, and he's promised to love us back, unconditionally and eternally. We should put our hope in something worth putting our hope into. Knowing God will never fail and will never fade assures us that this is the right choice.

After thinking that through, i keep thinking, why are we doing this then? Whats the point, of getting these academics, going to university, getting that degree that'll fade, working to have a career, why can't we just give up on this?

I said that during our devotions last night at AGAPE and my counsellor gave me an answer that really got me thinking and really answered my question. He started with a story. Saying that one time on the street a friend said to another, "how can i help this homeless man?", and the friend responded with nothing at the moment, but you can work hard, study hard until you have a position of influence to then help this man.

I think this whole time i've just been thinking about myself. Where does all this take me, how will it benefit me. But from what i got out of it, its completely different. God gave us talents and gifts and passions, for instance, mine is Wildlife Biology, and he's also given us opportunities and privileges, if you can read this, you have internet, and if you're going to university, you are a part of 2% of the richest people in the world. God's granted us education, and its with this, the passion, the opportunities for us to work hard to help others. Not so you can get a good job a good pay a good car and a good house, but to be in a position of influence to help others.

¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Hospitality

Hospitality, the friendly reception and treatment of guest and strangers (Dictionary.com). This is one of the many spiritual gifts God may have granted you with. Do you have this gift? I think that whether or not we have this character or not, we as Christ-followers need to learn to have and practice this trait. Following God's footsteps. He welcomed all sinners, tax payers, prostitutes, strangers, he never excluded anyone. He demonstrated hospitality to the point he gave up his life on the cross, not only for his disciples, his family, his friends, but for those who were against him, those who didnt know him, those who followed him, but even more importantly, those in generations to come.

Are you able to show hospitality to others? When a newcomer walks in, do you make them feel welcomed and accepted? Or do you tend to stay in your comfort zone without your bubble of friends/life? Is this an act of selfishness? "Selfishness will kill what God is trying to do within you." Maybe this newcomer will do something greater in your life for you.

Think about it from their perspective as well. Im sure you've been in their shoes, in a new environment, not knowing anyone. Just wanting to feel accepted, loved, and welcomed. If you know exactly how they feel, why cant you be that person for them?

I challenge you to practice hospitality. Think of others before yourself.

The Means of Grace

Going through the book "You Can Change" by Tim Chester that my pastor gave me, i came across this, "The Means of Grace" and i just wanted to share my thoughts.

This is basically another way of saying spiritual disciplines, how reinforce your faith. The author prefers "The Means of Grace" and here are the seven.

1. The Bible

- the bible reveals our hearts and Christ's glory

- through the bible we can see what Christ has done, his greatness and his power, his miracle and control.

- the bible is able to cut through you and expose your heart, uprooting the source of our sinful desires and thoughts.

- Psalm 119:11 talks about storing God's word in your heart, and with this power, this truth, we can fight against sin and not fall into Satan's traps.

- "Dont read Scripture everyday as a duty to tick off, but savour the truth of God that it reveals. Read it not to be INFORMED, but to be TRANSFORMED and CONFORMED to the likeness of Jesus."

The Bible is the TRUE TRUTH. I think i've said before, a quote there reading Christian books arent a replacement for the bible. With the Word, we know that each word is truth and is right and is God's voice. Indulge and really KNOW IT and it'll change you from the inside out.

2. Prayer

- we have to realize that God is the only one that can truly change us, and when we do, prayer will become more and more important and powerful in our lives

- "prayer will consume sin, or sin will choke prayer" - J.C. Ryle

- we need to learn to immediately look towards the Father in prayer when we are tempted

I think we're all lacking prayer, but that second point really hit me. Its one or the other. There is no inbetween. Dont fall away from God. Prayer is the only telephone line we have with him. Pray to Him, not only in times of need and suffering, but just anytime. May it be a prayer of thanksgiving, cry, or celebration. Pray with others, pray together. Prayer doesnt have to be get down on your knees and pray, it can be a simple thought and a word.

3. Community

- the church is to be a community of change, where there is support, love, and accountability. no judgement or put downs.

- remind each other, watch over each other, walk with each other, pray for each other, serve together, and learn from each other

Accountability is SO important, and that is what the church should be. We must all individually work hard to be good representatives of our Saviour, of Christ, reflecting his love, his mercy, his grace and his life. Support one another in all things and walk through life holding each other.

4. Worship

- "when we worship God, we're minding ourselves that God is bigger and better than anything sin offers."

- "we sing the truth so that it moves, inspires, stirs, encourages, and so transforms us."

- let God "retune" our hearts through worship

Remember that worship isnt only about singing during that sunday service, you can worship him through anything, and we should worship him through everything. Through speech, through actions, and through thoughts. Continue to keep Christ in mind and you will learn to embody and remember his glory, his greatness and his love.

5. Service

- Sin is fundamentally an orientation towards ourselves, therefore when we serve we learn to think of others' needs first.

Service is extremely important. It reminds us that its not about us, its about God and others. It also is a great opportunity to try new things and see what our gift is. There are many ways to service God. It doesn't have to be the forefront and in the spotlight, it can be simple, small, and hidden as well.

6. Suffering

- "often the events of our lives appear to be meaningless and irrelevant. But all the time God is training us in grace and godliness."

Suffering is always questioned, but know that its for a better good, and through it we learn to rely and trust in our Father who knows all, cares for all, and controls all. There is a greater, bigger and better plan ahead, push through it and dont lose faith!

7. Hope

- meditate on the future, eternal life

- remind yourselves that there is better yet to come, greater things that will happen and eternity of happiness that awaits

- "thinking of Christ's return loosens the hold that the world has on us and inspires us to change."

Salvation is a past, present and future thing. Focus on what is eternal, do not dwell on the earthly things, things that dont last and will fail, but think about whats to come, and the end, where a eternity of happiness, without tears, without pain, awaits us.

Spiritual Gifts.

Today started off pretty normal. Just another Sunday passing by.
UNTIL my Sunday school teacher said this one line and repeated it several times.
He said, "God blessed you with ONE gift. Can you believe it?"
The first time he said it, it just went in one ear and out the other. Same for the second. And the third was when it hit me.

God blessed EVERYONE with ONE gift. He took the time to think about who gets what. He didn't just be like "OH kay Beth so you get... THIS and kay done."
NO he didn't! He thought it through with time and effort.

And now you're probably wondering why would he do this ?
Because he cares and he knows you. The reason why we only have one is because he thought it through and placed each gift carefully inside you and i. We can't be 2 gifts at the same time. We can only be one. Why? Because God created us so that we HAVE TO rely on each other. We can build team unity to glorify him.

It just amazed me so much on how God took the time and effort to think this through and give us all one specific gift which was made personally for you and i.