How Marvelous

The last few days have been weird. Thursday I was kind of in a weird mood all day, then we got to knee drill and the spirit just came over me in an amazing way. We were singing "Exalted" by Chris tomlin and it was just an amazing moment for me.

Then yesterday, I got locked out of my room...so I went to Crab park and just stood on the beach..ish area and How Marvelous came on my ipod and I started crying...again..I beautiful moment. I was looking and seeing the ocean and the mountains...and like...it was just such a God moment. It was fantastic.

I feel like God is wanting to have a more intimate relationship with me...and im so excited for it!

On a side note...I really just love 614 a lot. I love the community. I just really love it.

Sad-sies

I'm just having a sad day.

I walked passed a man shooting up in his thigh with his pants down

I spent 15 dollars on 4 gluten free groceries

I threw up 5 times after eating one of the gluten free items

I tried to sleep but the mice woke me up cause they were fighting

I just feel sad today

wow

So quite a bit of stuff has happened in the last 5 days. I haven't really felt like blogging cause I dont really know what to say. I've been in the war room (prayer room) 4 times in the last 3 days praying about a whole bunch of stuff, for other people and also for myself, for revelation for myself.

I love 614. I think the community life is beautiful. I love being held accountable to things...and i love living on the dtes. There is so much glory and beauty in the DTES. I love it soooo much!

Thats about all Im gonna say right now.

The lord is working

So, we had recre8 tonight. And first of all...the set up of it was awesome! We did Karaoke for about half an hour of it. But really...thats not best part, surprisingly!

My friend came in and told me she was moving out because her common law partner is in Jail for the 2nd time that I know of for abuse against her. So, she's looking to move out before he gets out of Jail. So i took her up to grace mansions to do the whole application thing, and we're going to try to find a temporary place until she hears from them.

Then, Our friend leighanne came in and she was like and told me she needed to talk to me. She had tears in her eyes. So we went into the classroom and talked and she just started crying so much! And she told us that she felt alone because she didn't have God in her life and she didn't want that to be the case. She doesn't want the devil to have victory in her. She wants to be clean again! Praise the Lord! She's so beautiful, I love her with my whole heart! I want her to be clean so badly! She's coming to camp with us in May...and she got really excited.

Well...I just wanted to say that the Lord is moving in the Downtown Eastside.

LOVE!

Today, in pray the bible, we prayed from Hosea. God totally spoke to me through it! He was talking to me about Love. Real love, not superficial love that we tend to show. But truly loving is something that is not easy to do. It's easy to love those that are easy to love and who love you back. But, we should have the same love for them that we have for those who are "the least of these". The people who do not feel loved should be loved by the church, shouldn't they? The church should love them like we love the other members of the church.

Just what was on my mind!

Change

So much has changed since I left for vancouver! New furniture...new movies...theres an elevator in my corps...which is soo weird! There are new youth leaders, theres just so much change. But I think its good change...especially in relation to my corps. Theres a lot of good sprouting up...some of that good is from these changes, but like...new bibles and an elevator is not going to produce fruit in a church but there is fruit in our corps. I can see it.

There has also been a lot of Change within myself.I didn't think I had changed at all by the time Christmas rolled around and I was really starting to get discouraged, but the last couple weeks has been a time of reflecting back over the last 5 months and oh wow...I have changed so much! I've grown so much in my relationship with the Lord. I've also grown as a person as well. I always used to think that if I was friends with someone who was even a year or so older than me then I was the young one who didnt have anything to offer in the relationship...but that has totally changed in the last little while. I feel as if I can actually offer stuff to relationships. I feel like I can truly help when others are struggling with stuff.

Well...thats me...thats what I've been thinking about lately.

mixed emotions

Ok, so heres the thing. Im home in Calgary right now...and Im having an awesome time. My best friend is here, we hung out with a bunch of camp people yesterday, went to peters drive-in and got a milkshake (of course). But like...I miss 614/the war college sooo much! Like...I keep calling vancouver my home, and i dont know if thats normal or not.

Well, and...my neice is going to the hospital..(pray please!). I found out a little while ago...Im planning to go see them on wednesday, and hopefully that can still happen!

Well, thats whats going on.

Courtney

I have officially fallen in love

I am in love with Vancouver and the Downtown eastside. And...i love being a part of 614 sooo much! Its something I've been thinking about a lot lately. Well...Sally and i went to Crab park yesterday and took some pictures. i thought I'd post them

Count your blessings

Are you ever burdened
With a load of care
Does the cross seem heavy
You are called to bear
Count your many blessings
Every doubt will fly
And you will be singing
As the days go by


Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God has done
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God has done


I was in church yesterday, and we sang count your blessings. We got to the second verse (which is the one I posted) and I was like...blown away.

Carrying other peoples burdens is something that I've struggled with for a long time.
I have come to the conclusion that its not a good thing. So over the last year or so I've decided that I can't do it anymore. But thats easy to say, but not easy to do. When my friends/family have struggles, my first instinct is to carry it for them, but see...it doesn't really work. All that causes is me being in pain, as well as them. I can't take the pain away from them. I've really been praying about it the last week or so. And then when we sang that in church yesterday like...I sorta had that feeling of just getting punched in the gut. Im realizing that the best way to help people who are hurting is to talk, pray and just be there.

But, where does "compassion" come in? (Sorry about the contradiction, it just came into my head and utterly confused me). Compassion means "to suffer with". doesn't that mean to experience the same pain? I still think that I shouldn't carry the burdens of others, but how do I have compassion without doing that?

Carried to the table

Wounded and forsaken
I was shattered by the fall
Broken and forgotten
Feeling lost and all alone
Summoned by the King
Into the Master’s courts
Lifted by the Savior
And cradled in His arms

I was carried to the table
Seated where I don’t belong
Carried to the table
Swept away by His love
And I don’t see my brokenness anymore
When I’m seated at the table of the Lord
I’m carried to the table
The table of the Lord

Fighting thoughts of fear
And wondering why He called my name
Am I good enough to share this cup
This world has left me lame
Even in my weakness
The Savior called my name
In His Holy presence
I’m healed and unashamed

You carried me, my God
You carried me

Pick up your cross and follow me.

What does this phrase mean to you? Does it mean to say your a Christian and continue in a worldly fashion like a lot of "Christians" have done? I feel as if theres a lot of crazy perceptions of what this means. Theres no half way there. God doesn't want lukewarm Christians. He wants you to be either Hot or Cold. If your cold, be cold but don't pretend to be hot. If Your hot, thats great but make sure your really Hot. I think Pick up your cross and follow me means to let go of everything you have that may hinder your relationship with God. Even if it means giving up friends, Family, and/or comfort.


Pick up your cross.

If I fall

So Im doing a testimony tomorrow for an open air. And, I was thinking about what to say, then realized that people knowing that God will forgive them, and accept them no matter what, is probably a big thing for a lot of people, not just on the dtes but in life. And I started thinking about the song "If I fall" by amber pacific, and its a really good song. I've attached a video of it.

Word of the week: Unity

So, this week, there has been a huuuuge focus on Unity in the church. The church not only being the church over the world, but the individual churches, and church groups. Like...Unity in youth group, not juust "YA! everyone hanging out" but like..."Everyone hanging out in Christ". And same with our session. Theres been a huge focus on building each other so we can build up the church.

Well...Thats just some stuff.

Courtney

Life is good

I've been back in Vancouver for a week and 2 days. I miss my family, but I have felt so good. I had a day that wasnt too great yesterday, but other than that, its been really good. We've been very encouraging to each other, and since being home we've really worked on holding each other accountable for everything. Its been really good. My heart and soul feel really good also. We went to the Womens Centre on teusday and it was so awesome! The ladies were so welcoming and excited to have new people. We met a girl, named felicia, and she lives in West van, and she hangs out at the womens centre all the time, so i really want to try to build something up with her. She's around our age and she just seems like she needs people in her life.

And, I've had to fix our shower hose 4 times since being home, and it just broke for the 5th time...literally right as I was writing my blog. Haha i feel sorta like Mr. Rooter. i guess its part of the experience..

Well, thats about it.

I miss my sister.

I miss my sister a lot. Leash...when I come home for reading week....we should go on an adventure!

Family times

I've been at home for a week now....and I've got to see a lot of family...and friends that are like family. I have a few pics/vids that I'd show.

Christmas is here!

Its Christmas day! i tried to post twice yesterday and both times failed...so lets try this thing again.

I've been home for like...30 hours. I got home yesterday at 2, came home...SHOWERED!!! then got dressed for church, went to church, found out Im doing a short talk on TWC on sunday, went to my brothers house to see him and his fiance, then went to the house of a couple from our church for a bit, came home and went to bed. Then it was Christmas. Oh me oh my its Christmas. Its exciting! I got an ipod, which is exciting, but really, Im just extremely glad to see my family. and to see some of my friends in a few days. I miss the community in Vancouver though. Well...thats all for now. I will blog a bit later!

1 freakin week!!!

So....its pretty much one week till I go home...a week and a day till Christmas day.

Heres a clip of rudolph...haha ;)

Christmas...2 weeks...

14 days till I fly home....15 days till Christmas!!!

now...a clip...if you think its cheesy cause its full house...well...thats your loss haha.

3 weeks!!

22 days till Christmas! I get to see my family soon!!!!!

I love the movie elf...and because of my love of it...here ya go!!!