Thoughts for Today...

Maybe some of you read the devotionals entitled "Our Daily Bread". I want to share with you the devotional for today's date, because it basically describes what God has been trying to teach me lately.

Best In Show?
READ: Matthew 23:1-12

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. —1 Samuel 16:7

About this cover
Dog shows on TV can be entertaining. The dog owners are impeccably dressed and trot along with their pedigreed pooches as they show off their unique canine beauty. The dogs have been trained to stand confidently with chins lifted high, their shiny coats carefully brushed and styled. To me, they all look like winners.

But I wonder sometimes, when their audience is gone, what are these dogs really like? Do they ever relax and let their sleek fur get so matted they’re mistaken for mutts? Does their doggie breath start smelling foul?

More important, what are we really like when nobody’s watching? In Matthew 23:2-7, Jesus rebuked those who were interested in how they looked in public rather than how they were seen by God. He wants us to be obedient, faithful, and committed to Him—even when nobody else sees. The Pharisees focused on the way they were perceived by other people. God’s focus is on what we’re like inside. His desire is for us to look like His Son.

We’re not in a competition with other Christians. God will never ask us to compete for “best in show.” He measures us by the perfect standard of His Son (Eph. 4:13). And in love, He provides the righteousness we need so that we can be blameless before Him (Col. 1:21-23). —Cindy Hess Kasper

Just live your life before your Lord,
It matters not what others do—
Your actions will be weighed by Him
Who metes out judgment just and true. —Roe


Living for God’s approval is better than living for man’s applause.

May God bless your life today!!

Love, Ash

FEBRUARY FIRST!!!

I can't believe it is already February!! It is so incredible to think that it has already been a month since New Years.

Well, the week is almost over, and I have accomplished nothing so far! It was missions conference, so that's understandable. I'm hoping to get lots done today, though.

I want to thank everyone for the wonderful support they've shown to me so far in terms of my upcoming trip! It has been amazing. I am so grateful to you all!

I hope that you all have a wonderful day!

Love, Ash

Missions Conference

This week, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we had our annual missions conference. It was so fun, and very eye-opening to the things that God is doing around the world. Tonight is the international dinner and cake auction. We raise money for those going on missions trips. It is very well attended, and everyone has a lot of fun.

School was cancelled for Tuesday and Wednesday as well, and since most of my classes are on those days, I don't have school!!

As I prepare for my trip, I am starting to get nervous. I'm so excited to be travelling again after almost two years! And to be going to Asia!! It leaves me kind of in shock.

HOpe everyone has a great day!
Love, Ash

Dear Family and Friends:

As some of you may know, I have decided to go on a vision trip to South Asia this coming May. I am going with Wycliffe Bible Translators, and because of the sensitivity of the area I am unable to mention what country I will be traveling to in writing. However, feel free to ask me as I would love to share with you all about it!

In the past I have often wondered about how I would use the gifts God gave me, and how my passion for learning new languages and experiencing other cultures could be used to serve Him. At one point translation came to mind. Now, as this opportunity has come to go and see what it is like first-hand, I cannot help but wonder how God will use this trip to either affirm this idea or reject it.

I am aware that in such a short time span it is not possible to understand or come to grips with all the things we will be experiencing there, but I am willing to get a broader understanding of the world. I have been to places that were quite poor, but I am sure that some of the places and concepts I will see in South Asia will educate me in a way that merely reading about could not suffice. I am excited to see what God is doing in this part of the world!!

As I prepare for this trip, I ask that you would support me in either or both of two ways:

1.) Prayer: Please pray for myself and the team, as we get ready to go. I have a heavy semester in terms of papers and other homework, and I am feeling very distracted. Please pray that as I prepare for the trip that I will feel God’s peace and his presence very real in my life. Please pray that once the team meets one another that we will be able to get along and feel connected to one another.
2.) Financially: Those of you who are students or who cannot give financially, please don’t worry about this! Your prayers are good enough for me! However, if anyone feels led to support me financially, I would be greatly appreciative. I need to raise $3100 in total, and if you need a tax receipt for any amount please get in touch with me.

I appreciate everyone’s support! It’s wonderful to know that I have such amazing friends and family.

I will keep you updated along the way. For now, I am learning to trust God in everything, and know that He will provide the support that I need so that I can serve Him. Thank you for joining in this opportunity!

Love, Ashleigh

If you want to get in touch with me, my e-mail is ashl5570@rogers.com

Beginnning of a New Semester...

Wow.

It has been almost a month to the day since the last time that I wrote a blog. I do need to write more. You get out of practice when you don't write for long periods of time.

I had a module class last week on the Wisdom Books. It went from 9-4 every day. I enjoyed it immensely, and learned so much. I still have projects due on March 17, but the class is over anyways. That definitely frees up my semester with only 4 classes to deal with!!!

My Christmas and New Years' was wonderful, visiting lots of family and friends. It was such a good time at home. My family got the game Sequence for Christmas, and we played it off and on throughout the holidays. I even played with Graham for about 2 hours one day! It was so much fun.

I'm excited to begin the new semester, looking forward to doing better than I did last semester.

May God bless everyone, and I hope you all have a great week!

Love, Ash

It's Only Just Begun...

I decided that this Christmas I was going to do some fun things, and random things, and just enjoy this time of the year. So, I got home yesterday-one of my friends from school dropped me off on her way home, which was a real blessing(I didn't have to buy a bus ticket). It was really nice of her and her Dad!

I spent time with the fam last night, and then today I woke up around 10:15, and then meandered around the house until my dentist appointment. Ruth-Ann invited me to go to a Christmas dinner with her church(the one I used to go to). I was really happy to go, and mostly because I won't see her for very much longer, as she is going away to Alberta to Bible college. It was a fun night, and after the dinner a bunch of us went to Tim hortons to hang out for a bit, and then I came home. So, it was a great time altogether.

I have so many things planned to do this holiday, and yet with so little time, I don't know how I can accomplish them all. one thing that I know I MUST do is tobagganing at midnight. It should be a blast!!!

Love to all, and don't forget that Jesus is the reason for the season!!!

Love, Ash

One down, four more to go....

I finished my philosophy exam about one hour ago, and feeling very happy that it is all over. I have another exam in two hours, and then I have 3 more after that. I'm coming home on Thursday, and I cannot wait!

One of my brasilian friends sent me this...I hope that you enjoy it!

First Corinthians 13, the Christmas Version:

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,
but do not show love to my family,
I'm just a decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen,
baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
preparing gourmet meals and
arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime,
but do not show love to my family,
I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen,
sing carols in the nursing home
and give all that I have to charity,
but do not show love to my family,
it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes,
attend a myriad of holiday parties,
and sing in the choir's cantata,
but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way,
but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return,
but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never fails.

Video games will break,
pearl necklasces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust,
but giving the gift of love will endure.


May the peace of the Lord be with you and yours.
Have a very blessed Christmas.

---Author Unknown---

Love to you all...
Ash

lots of fun...

Have you ever been squished in a shower with 7 other girls before?

Let me tell you, if you haven't, YOU SHOULD, because it was fun. We were hiding on our group leader last night, and we decided to hide in the shower, since it is so small that that would be the LAST place she would think to look. However, one of the girls laughed too loud, so she found us right away, and said, "As if you girls ALL fit in there!!!"...It was incredibly funny.

Today I had to work, and it is my 4th last shift before the new year.

I don't have anything else to write, but I hope that everyone has a great night!

Love, Ash

Sunday adventures...

I almost didn't go to church this morning-the bus usually leaves at 9:15, and I definitely got out of bed at 9:25AM. However, I raced down the stairs and overheard someone shouting that some more girls were coming and that they had room for me, so I hurriedly shoved some clothes on and raced out the door. I found out then that the bus wasn't coming because of the huge snowstorm we had last night, so one of the guys here who has a huge van took us to church. The roads were awful, but he drove carefully and we arrived safely.

Now it is raining, and if it gets any colder, it is going to be freezing rain. I'm not going to say anything, but I hope that somethings are cancelled tomorrow :).

Last night I went bowling with Katie and the boys, and it was fun. It was glow in the dark bowling!!!! AMAZING! I had such a fun time, and we had pizza and hung out. I loved it.

Well, that's all for today.

I hope everyone is keeping warm and enjoying the snow, because I know that I am, surprisingly enough!!

Love to all...take care
Love, Ash

The first day of December...

As I sit here contemplating on eating a Lindor chocolate that a secret admirer gave to me and my roommates, I realize that it is December 1, 2007. 2007!!!! My goodness...the years go by so fast.

Because it is this the first of December, it means that 25 days until Christmas, and 13 days until I go home, and only 10 days until my first of five exams!

Mmmmm..this Lindor is impressive. It has milk chocolate on the outside, yet is filled with white chocolate. I'm going to try to savour this one for a while. This too is a sign of the season. Lindor chocolate, eggnog, and candy cane ice cream. Christmas lights, yule logs(cake), and mistletoe.

Every Friday night we have a Pizza Pop, which is where a group of us interested in hearing about missions and stories come together to drink pop and eat pizza. Last night the missionary could not come because of the weather, so we watched a documentary film called "Iraq in Fragments". I was kind of apprehensive to watch it because I find documentaries boring at times, but I stayed, and I'm glad I did. It painted a different of Iraq and all that is going on there. I was very moved, as I realized what the people there have to go through. We, here in Canada, have no idea what it is like to suffer in a war-torn country. Most of us, other than those old enough to remember World War II, have no idea what it is like to suffer, not the kind of suffering that those in the middle east and other parts of the world do. And then to think that most of the young people in this Western culture grow up to think that Christmas time is all about getting presents and having time off school. We have so much. Our society has become so materialistic. In the past year I have come to realize that I don't NEED any more STUFF. Even with this in mind, it is still hard for me to get out of the cultural mind-set. Sure I spend my money on things that I don't need. We all do it. But we could try to do it less. It starts in our minds first, a conscious effort to do away with the THINGS. Because we can't take it with us when we die, and it will serve no purpose in our eternity.

Now, I'm not suggesting that some of the things we want are bad, but we need to remember that we can get by with LESS...

Maybe you don't agree with me...that's fine. I've just been very convicted the past month about things like this. I guess it's because I'm a part of the youth culture, and this "Technoculture" is all about the lastest this, the newest that, and it has made me very aware of what we are doing.

So if you don't agree with something I have said, please tell me. If you don't want me to know who you are, comment anonymously. I am interested in your opinions.

Well, my chocolate is gone now, with only the taste of it in my mouth. I was rambling today, and now I must go.

I hope that everyone has a great week-end...take time to enjoy the snow and the sunshine today!

Love, Ash