End of the Week...

I want to end the week with another devotional for the day. I have been very blessed in my time spent with God this past week. He has been teaching me and showing me many things that I need to change about myself. I can only hope that as I continue spending time reading His Word that I will change, and that the fruits of the Spirit will become more evident in my life!

The Secret Garden
READ: Proverbs 4:20-27

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. —Proverbs 4:23

The Secret Garden, a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, tells the story of Mary, a young girl who goes to live with her wealthy uncle Archibald on his estate in England. Mary gets to know Dickon, a working-class boy who loves nature. The two children discover a fenced-in garden that Mary’s uncle has locked up because it reminds him of his deceased wife. The garden looks dead because of neglect, but Dickon assures Mary that, with proper tending, it will recover with new life. With the children’s help, “the secret garden” eventually bursts forth with colorful, fragrant blooms.

All of us have a secret garden of the heart. How we tend it will determine what speech and behavior it produces. Proverbs wisely admonishes us: “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). The word keep means “to watch or guard with fidelity.” Guarding what we take into our hearts and monitoring our response will determine what takes root there. As we remove the thorns of resentment, weeds of lust, and roots of bitterness, we can replace them with the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Are you tending the garden of your heart? —Dennis Fisher

Think not alone of outward form;
Its beauty will depart;
But cultivate the Spirit’s fruits
That grow within the heart. —D. De Haan


God wants you to water the seed He’s planted in your heart.

God Bless!

Love, Ash

Beautiful Sunshine...

Such a contrast from yesterday was this wonderful lovely day filled with glorious sunshine! It was so nice to feel the warm glow.

I had my first pilates class ever today! They are offering it here at the school, and so I signed up, hoping that I can learn something new. I just need to get a yoga mat now. We learned about lengthening our muscles, as opposed to bunching them together. I think I'm really going to enjoy it. The instructor is very nice and encouraging. There aren't as many girls taking it as I thought, but that's ok. The small classes are better anyways!

Work was ok tonight. It wasn't too busy, but I had company so that was good.

Last night I went to bed at midnight(which is early for me) and woke up at 8:30 without my alarm clock. It was so cool. I would love to go to bed early again tonight. I have a little class in the morning anyways, so it would be nice to get some sleep.

I realized how distracting the internet is. Actually, this isn't a new concept for me. This too shall pass when I have more important things to do. I pretty much have more important things to do all the time. Maybe I should give up Facebook and MSN like one of my friends is doing for Lent. Who knows. We shall see how good my stamina is! Although it wouldn't be a bad trade off-spending more time with God rather than listlessly looking at new updates on Facebook. How sarcastic was that! God is clearly the better choice. I need to get my priorities straight!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful night.

Love, Ash

A Snow Day...

Blessedly today was a snow day. I am so happy for this, because I really didn't want to go to class today(just one of those days). Last night it snowed like crazy, and me and some of my friends played in the snow and threw snow-balls at people's windows(those on campus, not random neighbours! :D

Today I did some homework and relaxed. It was a pretty good day altogether.

I hope you all had a great day also.

Love, Ash

Beautiful days...

I forgot that I already wrote today, but I just got the urge to write again.

I feel like today was just a good day. It was beautiful weather outside, and I had a great time with friends today, laughing so much. I love to laugh. I think we need to laugh more often! It is such good medicine for the body!

I should go now.

May God bless you all this evening!

Love, Ash

A New Week...

Good morning everyone!

I hope you all had a good week-end. Mine was great :D

This week I really need to pull up my socks and do lots of work. I need to get started on some of my major projects that are due in a month's time.

haha. "Pull up my socks" is a pretty funny saying. Gotta love the English language!

Have a great day!

Love, Ash

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