12.30.2009

One day until the new year....

God is good. He has been so faithful this past year and I in my own human strength cannot show him the mountain of gratitude that he deserves. I am thankful for the family that I have, and how they listen to me and offer advice where needed, and I am so grateful for the friends that I have made over the years.

God is good.




12.10.2009

Cogitation...

Good advice is given when you least expect it. Especially when it is given by someone whom you least expect to give it. I have been waffling between a couple of critical options for next semester, and stressing and trying to pray about it all. Last night, I felt like I had come to the end of my rope. There is no more hope. Yes, God was there, but I needed him to speak to me more audibly, so that I could hear his directions for my life. This morning I got to work, and my boss was not in her office like usual, but rather in the staff office. Had she been in her office, I may not have opened up or shared with her like I did. When she spoke with me, suddenly it all made sense, and I felt free to choose the option that made the most sense. Now I have so much peace, and I don't feel so stressed. Praise the Lord for timely wisdom!

Love,
Ashleigh

12.06.2009

Indian love

The spices, onion, garlic, tomatoes, chicken, coconut milk are on standby, like sentinels. Music is softly playing in the background, the beat of the drum compelling us to dance. My bangles jingle softly as I reach up to pull the hair back from my face. And then you say, "Let's do it, babe. We own this meal." One hour later, our fingers are covered in delicious rice and curry from eating with our hands, and our bellies are satisfactorily full. Dang, can we cook :) I love how we can dress up in our Indian outfits without inhibition, and how simply eating the food takes you back to Pak'stan. How the time seemed to fly by, and all too soon the night was over. Jake, for making our third Indian date awesome!


12.05.2009

Parties, I love parties :)

This morning before I went to work, I was at home with Hee-Sook, and we were playing tricks on Jake while talking with him on MSN. I thought he would be nonplussed, and wonder who he was talking to, but he figured out pretty quickly who was chatting. It's scary to think how easily it could be pretend to be someone else on the internet.

I worked today, and then went to a surprise birthday party/potluck for one of my friends. It was a lot of fun, and we played games after the meal. I love playing Dutch Blitz, and also played some crokinole (sp?) which I haven't played in the longest time.

I hope you have a great evening.

Ash

12.04.2009

Ah, que dia bom...

I traveled to a Brazilian friend's house today, to practice Portuguese with her. It turned out that another one of her friends was there as well, and I had such a good visit with them. At times the words in my head seemed to be a gallimaufry, and I kept speaking French instead of Portuguese. It was such a good time, and we left and reminisced about how wonderful Brasil is. They told me next time I go, I have to go to the south, because it is very beautiful, apparently. I want to go back so badly.

I am visiting Hee-Sook right now, and am going to sleep over at her house. I hope you have a great evening.

Love,
Ashleigh

12.03.2009

Build up to break down...

Over the past week I have been training my body to get more sleep, and last night, when I only got maybe five hours, it was quite obvious. I woke up with dark rings under my eyes, was late for work, and almost didn't go to Greek class. The outcome? One hundred percent on my Greek homework and a roborant nap this evening. Out of our crazy lives God revives us and completes within us work that we ourselves cannot do without Him.

I have been letting my guard down lately, not watching for the ways evil slips under my armour, through the cracks that I do not allow God to patch up right away. I feel my resistance waning for those secret sins which are my thorn in the flesh. I don't think there has ever been a time where life has been easy for Christians, but God never said it would be. I feel like society wants to pull me down so easily, and I can be so allured by pop culture and the message of sexuality that it exudes. I am disgusted by the perversion that is all around me, and how it is so subtle in it's enchantment. It comes to us packaged with superficial beauty and allurement, yet when opened up reveals the spiritually deadened, evil, and lost souls of all of humanity. I am appalled with the complacency I have towards it and how my spirit becomes numb to the ever growing decay that infiltrates. I am ashamed with how much of it we let in, how much of it we allow ourselves to be exposed to, while at the same time expecting there to be no consequences. It is our souls we are playing with here, my friends, and our holiness that we trade in carelessly like Esau with his birthright. Pop culture and the cares of this world will not feed our souls and will not lead us closer to Christ, but will send us careening down a pathway that leads to destruction.

I have been so enamored with the monastic life, and how monks (and nuns) devote their lives to Christ, throwing off the cares of this world to become closer to God. Of course, even for them it is not easy, but they are constantly encouraged by one another and by our Lord, whom they spend so much time reading about and praying fervently to. "Be in the world, but not of it." I desire so much to read God's word constantly, and sometimes when I am at school, it's all I can do not to run home and open up my Bible and read for hours. But, the reality is that I don't actually run home. I don't actually soak in His Word like I wanted to, because I get so distracted by my computer, by eating, by the internet. My mind doesn't stop and

be still.

There always seems to be endless distractions and lovelier attractions.

On the other hand, I would never want to get so caught up in my own spiritual life that I forget to focus on sharing the Gospel of Christ with others. Yet, for the sake of saving myself from my fleshly desires and throwing all cares behind me, I would gladly pursue Christ and the holiness that he desires to cultivate within me.

19 Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the gall.
20 My soul still remembers
And sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,

“ Therefore I hope in Him!”
25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the LORD.
-Lamentations 3:19-26


Love,
Ashleigh

12.02.2009

Nothing is new...

As I listen to the bath water run in the next room, eager to slip into the hot water steaming up the scent of vanilla bath soap, my toes curl in anticipation of finally being warm again. Like most people I know, it is the outer extremities that become cold the most.

I am grateful for the weather this year. Yes, it may be cold, but there could also have been snow already for two weeks or even a month. Living in Canada and despising snow may seem to be an oxymoron for some, but more and more I am meeting people who simply love the heat, and wait anxiously for the summer to come with the warmth of the sun.

Yet, we are called to be patient, and to be content with each season we have. God has definitely provided us with variety, which I am thankful for; I must learn be his myrmidon with grace and less complaining.
Hope you all have a great day

Love,
Ashleigh

12.01.2009

Angel's Song...

It is December 1st today, only 24 days until Christmas. That doesn't seem like a long time. It really isn't that long of a time. And there are many exams and papers for people to finish up between now and then. Somehow, miraculously (with God's empowering help) we get it all done!

I have been listening to a wonderful song but Chloe Agnew, one of the Celtic Women. It is quite lilting and almost magical sounding.

I am so happy today. I bought a flat iron and blow drier a month ago, and realized after I used it twice that it hurt my hair. I tried taking it back once already, but they wouldn't let me. I tried again today, and they refunded my money to me! Praise the Lord for that! I was praying so hard when I went in there, because the lady was hemming and hawing, and I wasn't sure what she would do. Now I have some extra money for rent this month, and I know God will provide the rest.

It is going to be a lean Christmas on the gifts end from me this year, but really, gifts and materialism isn't what Christmas was meant to be is it?


May God bless you and keep you tonight!

Love,

Ashleigh