Tim and Olive's Blog

growing up with the same group of people at church, the guys and gals have become like extended family to me. things are so comfortable, so easy, always there. while on one hand, that’s really nice, on the other, it’s terribly easy to take them for granted.

over the summer, the guys made a series of “appreciation cards” for the girls where they took a group picture from summer retreat and made up personalized poems for each of the girls. well, today, i finally got mine (only ‘cuz my attendance at fellowship is inconsistent at best). and can i just say, i’ll be keeping this for a long time to come! nine lines of poetry brought so much encouragement to my heart, just as i was getting tired and worn out…

SALT boys: thank you, thank you, thank you. if i could give each of you a hug, i would. so consider these words a verbal hug. :)

today, i was reminded of the wonderful gift of encouragement.

because their poem was just so good, i’m going to share it (hope y’all don’t mind!):
with your voice and a shaker
leading praises for our maker
your godliness inspires.

a page of daily reflections
reveal a heart of passion
your godliness inspires.

bible studies and mission trips
pointing to God’s gracious gift
your godliness inpires.
~ the SALT guys (RHCBC uni fellowship)

CHILDREN

ever notice that in any situation where there are mostly adults, the children will naturally gravitate toward one another? well, it occured to me that when Jesus tells us to welcome the children, it should come naturally to us, since we’re called children of God. and children will easily notice other children. :>

SO?

to celebrate my mom’s birthday today, our family went with some family friends to niagara-on-the-lake for a nice brunch. the waitress was very friendly and after my parents introduced me to her, we started conversing. it struck me as a little odd but one of her first questions to me was whether i had a boyfriend (!). of course, that’s not the first time i’ve been asked that question, but i guess it tests my patience every time i get asked. ‘cuz it reminds me that no, i don’t. and no, i haven’t yet. but i guess i’ve seen myself grow in this respect. ‘cuz even though i hope to get married, i’m satisfied knowing that God knows what’s best for me and that His timing is perfect. i can trust Him with all the details of my life. what an awesome thought.

SCHOOL RULES

just came back from C² for CES weekend. wanted to share something from Mike Woodard, our speaker:

God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life…

DON’T FIGHT – yield to God

DON’T REPEAT CLASSES – be teachable

DON’T RUN IN THE HALLS – be patient with God’s timing

FOLLOW THE RULES – obey God

HMN…

so it seems like hurricane isabel arrived late at york. it was raining so hard this afternoon it was unbelievable. but something cool happened. my friend was heading out when she asked if any of us had an extra umbrella. since i figured she had a longer walk home than i did, i happily lent her mine (complete with reflective bands on it so she wouldn’t get run over by a car). when my turn came to head outside, it was still pouring so my other friend and i decided on going out another door. the oddest thing was that by the time we set foot outside, the rain had disappeared! so i walked home without getting wet.

sometimes, God’s grace shows up in the most unexpected ways.

THE CRAZINESS BEGINS

updates will most likely be more sparse from now on – unless something major happens that’s worth writing about. ;> two months of insanity. one december to rest. and three more months in the studio/theatre. that’s fourth year in a nutshell. :>

anywho, here’s something interesting i received today…

—
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht frist and lsat ltteer is

at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and

you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not

raed ervey lteter by it slef but the wrod as a wlohe.
—

THANKFUL

downs and ups of living in res.

downs: -fire alarm at 2am, right in the middle of my REM sleep…
– no elevator access to our 14 floor building after the fact

ups: i live on the third floor. :D

8:30am history lecture this morning did not find me a happy camper. but my building didn’t burn down and i got a decent night’s sleep. :>

God is good. always.

here’s a good verse to chew on for ya:

WHAT IT’S NOT ABOUT

had a challenging conversation with a friend last night that left me feeling quite inadequate and frustrated. this morning, i brought it to God and i realized that i’d been striving to impress the other person when really, that wasn’t the point. a true friendship cannot be based on anything other than genuineness. so whether the other person sees me as less mature or considers me an equal, i can be at peace because there are no false pretenses.

i never really thought i’d be trying to impress others because i felt i was secure about myself, but i guess this morning God broke my pride again. i need to trust God more and myself less.

CRAZEE!

my classmates think i’m intoxicated and my worship team thinks i’m crazy. but last thursday, as i was sitting outside for my drawing class, trying to find something that inspired my pencil, my eyes settled on a wall covered with ivy. as the wind blew, the leaves rustled up and down in waves. to my tired mind, it appeared to me as if they were laughing! so in a moment of utter heaviness, when all i wanted to do was lie down and sleep, God brought laughter into my world – through ivy, of all things!

EXCERPTS

came across a few gems from Brother Lawrence’s Practicing the Presence of God:

…the end we ought to propose to oursleves is to become, in this life, the most perfect worshippers of God we can possibly be, as we hope to be through all eternity.

…the greater perfection a soul aspires after, the more dependent it is upon Divine grace.

…Hold yourself in prayer before God like a dumb or paralytic beggar at a rich man’s gate: let it be your business to keep your mind in the presence of the LORD.

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