Yesterday my mom got me to wrap all of my little sisters gifts. I feel as though this is tradition because every year my mother gets me to wrap gifts for my sisters. I quite enjoy it because on Christmas morning I know which present is which and look to see their reaction when the open the gift. It's quite fun.
Anyway, as I was wrapping my mom was deciding on which presents were from Santa and which ones were from them. When I was a little kid, Santa was a man that I really liked and looked forward to at Christmas time because this man comes into your house and gives you presents. How can you NOT like this guy! Then when I got older, I found out that the jolly big guy is a fake! I was pretty sadden because I was actually tricked by my parents one year when I got to see this guy for the first time and came to my house. Turns out it was a family friend and yeah, I was a confused kid! haha.
So as my mom gave me instruction on what present was from whom I began thinking, why? Why should Christmas be fake? Why is this world allowing children to believe in someone who is not?! It confuses me because when children finally know the truth about the jolly big man its like a travesty!! THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!!! Like how could that even be possible that Santa is not real? He gave me gifts since I could remember and he is not real??
Think about it! We teach our kids that he is real and it is so huge. We know so much about this man and that he works in the North Pole, he has elves working for him, making toys. We send him letters in hopes that he will bring them to us. In December he is all over the place! In the malls and walking about in schools and other areas to bring joy to those little ones. Everyone is happy and joyful. Christmas is a great time because Santa is going to give us everything!! But how can he?? He's fake??
We get all excited and we are so desperately wanting to see him and wanting to know more about him. As a kid I had all kinds of questions that I wanted to ask him. I would write letters to him and ask a question like, "What do you feed your reindeer? Mom and dad tell me that you feed them carrots! Is that true??" Of course not because Santa is not real!
And so we all are attracted to the fake Christmas, but what about the real Christmas??? Shouldn't we be wanting to know more about the Saviour who was born to die on the cross to take away our sins? Why is it that kids know more about Santa and have so many questions and desire to know him more than Jesus??
Its crazy because should we have a desire to know the real part? Shouldn't we have a desire to seek the real and not the fake? Shouldn't this world come to understand what Christmas is really about?
It's hard to change tradition when everyone is used to doing the same thing every year.
I feel as though as Christians we should do the best we can to get the word out! To tell kids about the realness of Christmas and not the fake. For them to believe in a man who is born to die on this earth to take our sins away. For them to have a desire to know more about Him and to know that He gives everything that we need. For them to know that He loves them so much and is passionate, kind and brings joy!
Sure its fun when Santa comes but as you grow older, he is not real and brings devastation to some children and is never there for you when Jesus is there all the time, He loves you and will never leave you!
I just thought it was sad this Christmas when my little sister knew more about Santa than Jesus. Hard for me to think that in a couple of years she will actually know that Christmas is fake and that Santa will be no more...
Just a thought I would like to share. Some of you may already feel this and think this, some of you may not even had thought of this. I just would like to try and make it my goal that Christmas is not all about Santa. That we should do the best we can to get the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, out into this world and allow people to be curious, have a desire and wanting to know Him more and to follow Him.
Much Love
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world. She took the midnight train going ANY WHERE!!
Yup, well I'm a small town girl but I don't really live in a lonely world... I did take a midnight train but it wasn't going just anywhere, it was going to the middle of no where!! Haha.
All of those who are reading this will now know that I am
home for the holidays. I was able to get 2 weeks off of work to go home for
Christmas. I was so lucky and blessed to be able to go. So I was able to book a
train ticket really cheap (because it was a seat sale, praise God!) and go from
Winnipeg to Hillsport where I will be picked up and have to drive another 1 and
a half home. My train was to leave at 10:30pm and was to embark on a 14 hour
train ride bringing me to Hillsport at 2:30pm the next day. When I arrived,
there was already a half hour delay. I then waited and waited and that half
hour became about a two and a half hour delay.
I got on the train about midnight and didn’t actually leave
until 10 after 1 and that’s when the longest journey of life began. I ended up
being stuck with a party of three because the train was packed!! People were
having trouble trying to find a seat and well I ended up in a spot where two
people sit across from you. It was kinda cramped and awkward because I
didn’t even know these people. One guy left and decided to go sleep in the dome
car, which was great but then left me to sit with a couple sitting across from
me. I decided that I wanted to sleep in the dome car but when I left to check
it out, turns out there was a party happening! Definitely wanted to get some
sleep! And so I went back to my seat and reclined my chair with my jacket over
my head and had a rough night sleep. I felt as though I would wake up every
hour and change positions. Oh and did I mention that my headphones broke before
getting on the train allowing me to only hear out of one ear! Haha BRUTAL I
TELL YOU!!
It was about 7am when I couldn’t sleep any more and decided
to go and have breakfast. I have gotten about 4 hours of sleep, which wasn’t so
bad considering my sleeping conditions. And so I went and had breakfast where
this older gentleman came to join me. We started talking and he was saying that
he was coming all the way from Edmonton and going to Toronto to visit family.
He said that his wife went somewhere to visit her sister out of the country and
he was debating on whether or not to spend Christmas alone or to spend
Christmas with family and he chose to take the train to see family. He asked me
about my life and I told him that I was a teacher and I just moved to Manitoba
and am trying to teach in that province. He then asked me why Manitoba and so I
told him my reason why and my heart for what I feel God wants me to do. He was
said “Wow, you have a very caring heart towards people. Are you a Mennonite
because I am one.” I told him no and then after that the conversation just
faded. I got my bill and left feeling encouraged by that man because he was
surprised to see someone trying to make a change in this place.
I then left and spent some time with God which was really
awesome because at this time in my trip we arrived in Ontario and it was soo
good to see the trees! It was a beautiful sight and it made my heart smile. It was a very beautiful day and so I just soaked it all in and
was in awe of our creator!
Later on in the journey, I decided to spend some reading in the dome car and it was quite difficult because I was being distracted by all the beauty and I was tired. I ended up taking a nap and a woman scared me and woke me up leaving me confused on where I was. I started to freak out a little thinking that we passed Hillsport!
I then heard that we were three hours delayed and instead of arriving at 2:30, I arrived at 6 instead. It was really crazy but relaxing. I really enjoyed the ride and would definitely take it again. I know this is a long post on a silly train ride but hey! what can I say? I haven't posted in a while! :)
Much Love!
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Its starting to come together.
So I have some exciting news!! After praying and searching I have finally found a permanent place to live. I will be living in a one bedroom apartment in the town where I am currently living in. I really felt that God wanted me to stay in the Teulon area and so he has blessed me with an apartment here. But here is my story:
When I first arrived I was living in a basement on a cot. It was something temporary because I wanted to search for a place to live. I needed to find my bearings and know what these towns were going to be like. What life was going to be like. I don't know how long I will be staying. It could be a year, five, maybe 9 months... I don't know. Anyway, there was this apartment building that caught interest in me since I first got here but wasn't sure if I should live in there because I didn't have a job, I needed to get things together, and yeah I felt like it was not a good idea to go in there first off.
In September I looked at the place and thought that it was okay but I wanted to see what else was round the area. As days went by I nothing was happening. I couldn't find anything around in the area or if I did it would be too expensive for my budget.
When October came around I was feeling very discouraged and really wanted my own place. Independence was really tickling my bones and I just wasn't satisfied... I then began to pray and asked God to provide me with a permanent place to live by the end of October. I was so desperate and so I was hoping my prayers would be answered and God would provide. By the end of October, nothing really happened. I became a little discouraged but I didn't give up because I knew that God was going to provide.
I was still searching and trying to find options available for me and there was still nothing. I was looking in the paper and trying to hear from other people but there was still nothing. I became discouraged and thought that I will be staying in the basement until when I come back after Christmas.
I then found the number that was given to me from the landlady and I decided to give her a call to see if there were any apartments available. Before I called though I prayed and said to God that if He wants me in those apartments, open the doors. I called the woman and asked her if there were any available and she said yes, there was a man that backed out on her and there is one available! It was such a huge answer to prayer. She said that I am able to move in at the end of the month and I told her that would be amazing.
So there you have it folks! God is so amazing and he provides so hugely! I couldn't ask for anything better! He has given me so much and I am super blessed!!
Thanks for those who have been praying and continuing praying for me. I love your support and everything that you have done in my life. I really appreciate everyone of you!
Much love,
Sandra
When I first arrived I was living in a basement on a cot. It was something temporary because I wanted to search for a place to live. I needed to find my bearings and know what these towns were going to be like. What life was going to be like. I don't know how long I will be staying. It could be a year, five, maybe 9 months... I don't know. Anyway, there was this apartment building that caught interest in me since I first got here but wasn't sure if I should live in there because I didn't have a job, I needed to get things together, and yeah I felt like it was not a good idea to go in there first off.
In September I looked at the place and thought that it was okay but I wanted to see what else was round the area. As days went by I nothing was happening. I couldn't find anything around in the area or if I did it would be too expensive for my budget.
When October came around I was feeling very discouraged and really wanted my own place. Independence was really tickling my bones and I just wasn't satisfied... I then began to pray and asked God to provide me with a permanent place to live by the end of October. I was so desperate and so I was hoping my prayers would be answered and God would provide. By the end of October, nothing really happened. I became a little discouraged but I didn't give up because I knew that God was going to provide.
I was still searching and trying to find options available for me and there was still nothing. I was looking in the paper and trying to hear from other people but there was still nothing. I became discouraged and thought that I will be staying in the basement until when I come back after Christmas.
I then found the number that was given to me from the landlady and I decided to give her a call to see if there were any apartments available. Before I called though I prayed and said to God that if He wants me in those apartments, open the doors. I called the woman and asked her if there were any available and she said yes, there was a man that backed out on her and there is one available! It was such a huge answer to prayer. She said that I am able to move in at the end of the month and I told her that would be amazing.
So there you have it folks! God is so amazing and he provides so hugely! I couldn't ask for anything better! He has given me so much and I am super blessed!!
Thanks for those who have been praying and continuing praying for me. I love your support and everything that you have done in my life. I really appreciate everyone of you!
Much love,
Sandra
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Ready to Give Up?
A couple of days ago I was doing my daily reading and this scripture really popped out at me and I thought I should share it with you.
Luke 5:1-7
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish."
"Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again." And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
When reading this, Simon was crazy!! Think about it! Simon and the other fishermen were out ALL NIGHT trying to catch fish and they didn't catch anything! Jesus told Simon to go where it's deeper and let down his nets and the obedience Simon had to go out there is incredible. Just think what would have happened if Simon said no.
Think about it in your life how many times you have tried and tried at something and constantly have been discouraged. You want to give up, you want to quit and when people tell you to keep trying you probably have the attitude of being: PFFFTTT, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! I HAVE TRIED ALL DAY AND YOU WANT ME TO KEEP TRYING???!!!
Simon had that obedience! Simon went out after being out there all night trying and trying. Simon went out again with hope. After being discouraged he went out with hope, still trying and having faith.
It is a huge challenge for me to continue to keep going when you constantly try and nothing seems the way you want it to go, nothing comes through the way you want it to, or even how you expected it to be. But that is life, we try and try and sometimes it just doesn't happen. Sometimes it just doesn't work. But we must not give up very easily. We must continue to go, continue to seek, continue to try and try again. It may be hard at that time but in the end it will be rewarding.
I am inspired by a friend, Li Mei, from Thailand who's motto was "Never Give Up!" I can hear it so clearly when we would be together eating the abundance amount of Thai food on the table. Our plates are full with food and it keeps being added to the plate every time. You eat and eat and feel as though your stomach is going to burst and Li Mei would pile the food on when you just finished two plates and say Never Give Up...
NEVER GIVE UP!! Just like Simon never gave up! Continue to go through your struggles, continue to battle the hardship, continue to seek the light at the end of the tunnel because it will come. Give it to God and walk through it with him! Ask God for help, know that you are not alone and that you can continue on this journey with God by your side.
Are you going to give up or are you going to try and try again?
Luke 5:1-7
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish."
"Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again." And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
When reading this, Simon was crazy!! Think about it! Simon and the other fishermen were out ALL NIGHT trying to catch fish and they didn't catch anything! Jesus told Simon to go where it's deeper and let down his nets and the obedience Simon had to go out there is incredible. Just think what would have happened if Simon said no.
Think about it in your life how many times you have tried and tried at something and constantly have been discouraged. You want to give up, you want to quit and when people tell you to keep trying you probably have the attitude of being: PFFFTTT, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! I HAVE TRIED ALL DAY AND YOU WANT ME TO KEEP TRYING???!!!
Simon had that obedience! Simon went out after being out there all night trying and trying. Simon went out again with hope. After being discouraged he went out with hope, still trying and having faith.
It is a huge challenge for me to continue to keep going when you constantly try and nothing seems the way you want it to go, nothing comes through the way you want it to, or even how you expected it to be. But that is life, we try and try and sometimes it just doesn't happen. Sometimes it just doesn't work. But we must not give up very easily. We must continue to go, continue to seek, continue to try and try again. It may be hard at that time but in the end it will be rewarding.
I am inspired by a friend, Li Mei, from Thailand who's motto was "Never Give Up!" I can hear it so clearly when we would be together eating the abundance amount of Thai food on the table. Our plates are full with food and it keeps being added to the plate every time. You eat and eat and feel as though your stomach is going to burst and Li Mei would pile the food on when you just finished two plates and say Never Give Up...
NEVER GIVE UP!! Just like Simon never gave up! Continue to go through your struggles, continue to battle the hardship, continue to seek the light at the end of the tunnel because it will come. Give it to God and walk through it with him! Ask God for help, know that you are not alone and that you can continue on this journey with God by your side.
Are you going to give up or are you going to try and try again?
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Coming Alive!
I know that I haven't posted in a while because things have been quite busy. Working at Tim Hortons has been crazy because I have actually been getting a lot of hours than I was expecting. And so with that and also doing ministry it has been a super crazy life for me.
I guess those of you who are reading want to know what is going on in my life and what I have been doing here in Manitoba ministry wise.
Well to start off, we have started a young adults group that focus on social justice through the eyes of God. It is called Influence and it has already begun but is still in the process and is being revamped as we speak. We are hoping that people of our generation are willing to come so that we will be able to change their lives as well. Allowing them to be aware of what is going on around in this world and that Jesus cares about what is happening in this world.
Something that we are hoping to start real soon is a youth drop in where we will be able to transition into a youth group. It is something that I am really looking forward to. Something that I hope will be able to change these young lives because there is nothing else for them to do and what they end up resulting is drinking, partying and drugs. I am unsure of what is going to come to it but I know that great things are going to start happening through this.
One thing that I am also working on the side is developing a children's program that will be able to allow children to come during the week to learn more about God and to just have a lot of fun. I want these children to be a new generation that will rise and stand firm in what they believe in.
There is an amazing opportunity that the church is involved in right now which is called "Operation Come Alive!" This is where we are coming together as a church body and being involved in 21 days of prayer and praying for the church, praying for leadership and praying for 10 new families to come into the church. I feel as though God is working in some of the people in the church and I feel as though He is preparing others for what is to come.
This is going to be an amazing year and am hoping by the end of June 30th, 2013 this church will be filled and will be stable to continue on to the future! It is going to be an amazing year and I know that great things are going to happen.
So, I ask you to pray with me as we pray for the leadership, the church body and for the 10 new families to flood in the church by the end of June 2013. Great things are to come and with God nothing is impossible! Praise God for what He has already done and what is going to come!
I guess those of you who are reading want to know what is going on in my life and what I have been doing here in Manitoba ministry wise.
Well to start off, we have started a young adults group that focus on social justice through the eyes of God. It is called Influence and it has already begun but is still in the process and is being revamped as we speak. We are hoping that people of our generation are willing to come so that we will be able to change their lives as well. Allowing them to be aware of what is going on around in this world and that Jesus cares about what is happening in this world.
Something that we are hoping to start real soon is a youth drop in where we will be able to transition into a youth group. It is something that I am really looking forward to. Something that I hope will be able to change these young lives because there is nothing else for them to do and what they end up resulting is drinking, partying and drugs. I am unsure of what is going to come to it but I know that great things are going to start happening through this.
One thing that I am also working on the side is developing a children's program that will be able to allow children to come during the week to learn more about God and to just have a lot of fun. I want these children to be a new generation that will rise and stand firm in what they believe in.
There is an amazing opportunity that the church is involved in right now which is called "Operation Come Alive!" This is where we are coming together as a church body and being involved in 21 days of prayer and praying for the church, praying for leadership and praying for 10 new families to come into the church. I feel as though God is working in some of the people in the church and I feel as though He is preparing others for what is to come.
This is going to be an amazing year and am hoping by the end of June 30th, 2013 this church will be filled and will be stable to continue on to the future! It is going to be an amazing year and I know that great things are going to happen.
So, I ask you to pray with me as we pray for the leadership, the church body and for the 10 new families to flood in the church by the end of June 2013. Great things are to come and with God nothing is impossible! Praise God for what He has already done and what is going to come!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Never Alone
Isaiah 43:1-2 ~ But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
I was reading this verse last night and it is something that I was really pondering over. When I read it again this is what I think: God called us here to live on this Earth. Our parents haven't called us here, our grandparents didn't call us here and our friends haven't called us here. God has called us here to live on this Earth. He was called us by name and we are children of God!
This makes sense to me because the next verse tells us "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."
Now you will be saying, what the heck are you talking about woman?? Well, when we go through hard times of life, when we feel as though we are stuck or failing God is always by our side no matter what!
Think about it like this, when you were young and you fell and scraped your knee, it was the end of the world!! You were gonna die or get your leg amputated! You will never be able to walk again and life will just be so difficult from now on because of one little stinking scrape on your knee. Now when you scraped your knee, your parents came to the rescue you. To comfort you, to hug you and telling you that everything is going to be alright and that you will be fine. This is a reflection of what God is like in our lives!
When we are in the midst of the storm, sometimes people will not be there to rescue you. Sometimes your family will not be there and sometimes your friends will not be there. It sucks and we feel as though we are doing it all in our own but we have to remember that God IS ALWAYS THERE! He is beside us and near us 24/7 because He loves us so much. He has a love that is unfailing and it never fails.
The thing is to make it our choice. We have choices, lots of them to make and I really hate making them but I feel as though when it is a choice between you and God, you have to give it to Him and trust him and walk together or you control the situation by yourself. It is a huge challenge that I believe all Christian's face and I feel as though the word Christian makes us feel as though we should be perfect and everyone must hide their true selves (but this is going on to a rant).
Anyway, what I am trying to say is that through the storm it is hard for us to remember that God is there with us every step of the way and we must do our best to remember that God is ALWAYS there. He is our Father who picks us up when we fall and scrape our knees. He is there when we cannot see the road because the fog is too thick or when the water is rising higher and higher.
It is easy to say and harder to do but we should not hold on to anything. Don't control it, something that I have been struggling with in my life ~ Trust in God and give it to Him!
I hope this makes sense, and know that if you are struggling like me, you are not alone because I am struggling too... That makes the both of us, ha so you're not alone!
Much Love!
Nothing I hold on to ~ Will Reagan and United Pursuit
I lean not on my own understanding
My life is in the hands of the maker of heaven
I lean not on my own understanding
My life is in the hands of the maker of heaven
I give it all to You God
Trusting that You'll make something beautiful out of me
I give it all to You God
Trusting that You'll make something beautiful out of me
I will climb this mountain
With my hands wide open
There's nothing I hold on to
Thursday, October 4, 2012
The Waiting Challenge
Isaiah 30:18 ~ So the Lord must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help.
Thank you Lord for Your word!
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