Love the butterflies...

There has been too much excitement for this girl, and not enough homework time. This week I plan on really cracking down and getting a head start on a major paper that's due at the end of the semester. That would be nice if I could get it done :)

This week-end was amazing. I got to go to Niagara Falls and hang out with Corey, Caitlyn, and Jake; we froze our butts off, rather, thighs, and had a delightful experience at the Rainforest Cafe. Then we went to the Butterfly Conservatory, and came back to my house to watch Third Rock from the Sun, and eat pizza! Today my roommates were all home together, so we sat and chatted and ate homemade popcorn. Plus, it was our first gig in choir this morning, which was incredibly fun. Like I said, too much excitement.

With that said, I won't claim to be Casino Rama with their motto: We deal excitement.

I just really enjoy being with people and hanging out, and being intentional about friendships and investing in the lives of others.

And I am so in love with my Jake. Like, I can't even begin to describe to you. He loves me and respects me in such a godly way, and I am honoured to be his girlfriend.

My heart is so full with love for my God, and for how his wonderful blessings rain down in such an unexpected way. He is amazing, maravilhoso, poderoso, e tao forte!!!!! AMEM!!

Love,

Ashleigh

Hang out Day...

Going out with Corey, Cait, and Jake today to celebrate Cait's birthday :) She doesn't know where we're going, but it will be awesome! Updates later...

Henna hands...

the ink.

People comment, but I don't even notice it anymore.

It's become a part of me.

Worked it's way into my skin, staining it brown in an intricate design.

Scrubbing will do no good.

I just have to wait until it starts to fade away.

Henna tattoos, unfortunately, remind me of sin. It looks pretty. People may notice it, but you may have forgotten about it because it's been there for so long. It digs deep, and it's roots go far. It stains us and taints us, separating us from God. While henna fades away in time, sin will never fade, and if we don't watch out, it can grow into something far out of our control.

The good news is that Jesus can scrub the sin out of our lives. He's already dealt with it once and for all, but we must be patient and work with him as he continues to change us daily. Although we make mistakes, God will be there to pick up the pieces if we let him.

So the henna on my hands, with its dots and swirls, is an encouraging reminder of how Jesus is renewing me day by day into the godly woman I strive to be, as he replaces my sinful nature with the mind of Christ.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in the appearance of a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father"
-Philippians 2:5-11

Feeling blessed while stressed...

How amazing is our God?! He has done so much for us, even more than we might claim to comprehend. Our human minds cannot grasp the full extent of His love for us. I am proud to call myself a Christian, a believer in Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God. And yet it is He alone who claimed me as His child. He gave His life, dying a most painful and humiliating death on a Roman cross, to bear all the burdens of my sins. The most putrefying, wicked, and horrible secrets of my heart and mind He took upon himself. And I have the privilege of serving Him for the rest of my life. No wonder some religions don't understand. I am amazed at how followers of Islam think that it would have been shameful for Allah to send his son to the earth to pay for the wrongs we have done.

That is the beauty and majesty of our God.

He IS POWERFUL GOD. He sent His son because HE IS GOD. And because He deserves to be glorified.

I have so many blessings to be grateful for. Never take life and breath for granted. Never take education for granted. Never take family and friends for granted. And above all, I must NEVER take the message of the Good News for granted, nor keep it a secret.

PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO THE NATIONS!!!

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heat, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

-Deuteronomy 6:4-9

HEAR O READERS: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE!!!!

AMEM E AMEM!!!!

Reflections on Missions Conference 2010...

After two full days of talking with missionaries, sitting in sessions, eating wonderful ethnic food, and drawing henna on people, there is so much to reflect on. We enjoyed a wonderful speaker who focused on God- as the theme was "soli deo gloria"- To God alone the glory. He spoke about many things, but the one that struck me the most was in today's session. He told us of the story of Paul/Saul being stuck with blindness after his encounter with God, and how God called Ananaias to go and touch him so that he would be healed. If Ananaias hadn't responded to God and been obedient, Paul's mission may not have been accomplished. So when God asks us to do something, when he calls us to obedience, what are we going to do? How will we respond?

And the bus stops here...

[This is where I wish I was right now...]

Sometimes I wonder what the world would be like if everyone took the bus. People would be more relaxed, and time would be less of a worry. I was out for six hours this afternoon, and only went to two places. Granted, it was the travel time between the two cities that cause it to take so long, not to mention having to walk a ways to get to my destination. However, it was a lovely day, full of sunshine and warmth (though not the kind that makes you want to lie out and tan).

I have been pensive today, quiet, and somewhat sullen. I have not had a decent discussion with anyone, except through texts. Well, there was that one girl on the bus who basically asked if crazy people take it all the time-not in so many words, mind you. She was a little frightened of a certain young man who was acting quite strangely, and, in that, she was not alone. I was also rather disturbed by his actions, and was quite grateful once he departed.

What did I learn on the bus today? That all people, of all ages, shapes, and personalities use it from time to time. There was a man who was with his two little girls (which was quite endearing). They kept asking him to make them laugh, and after a while started talking about how they wanted a Venus fly trap. I was quite curious, and couldn't help but smile.

I love watching how people interact with each other. I don't realize how much I observe people until I am in public without anyone else to distract me. I watch how couples interact especially, but try not to observe too much, because then I start to miss Jake. I notice if a guy is helping his girlfriend with something, or if a mother is treating her children with respect and love. Relationships are so important, and we tend to spoil them so much. I often wish I could go back and re-do the way I interacted with my siblings and parents growing up, while at the same time I am happy I have learned something from those times.

I hope everyone has a great week-end. Two more days until Missions Conference starts :)

Love,

Ashleigh

Dichotomies of Service...

I realized today that every week I volunteer to hang out with children for one hour, and yet I also visit an elderly lady of 92 years old for an hour. Not only that, but also I hang out with people my age and slightly older. What a contrast! It is actually quite edifying and holistic, I feel, to be able to spend time with people of all ages. One definitely learns a lot from all age groups, how they think and act, and what they talk about. I am enjoying it immensely :)

I have been gathering music to compile into a CD to play for our missions conference, with music from all over the world. My mind has been exploding with the drone of the Arabic oud, the cadence of African drumming, and the smooth coolness of a Brazilian samba. Praise the Lord for diversity of music :)

Love,

Ashleigh

The Call to Give...

Listening to Pat's testimony in chapel moved me almost to the point of tears. How can I even compare my own struggles with what she had to deal with? Although she must have, in a sense, come to terms with the past, there was still pain in her voice, and thick emotion as she walked us through her journey. Growing up in a poor family, being molested as a young child, having no food- I am not familiar with such things. God has blessed me so much, and I cannot thank him enough. After hearing what she had to say and listening to what she had to say about the Cambridge Food Bank as well as the kinds of people that appeal for help from there, I was moved to want to do more to serve the Lord. Moved to walk where He walked, among the poor and destitute. I volunteer with some organizations already but know my meager two hours a week is not all God is calling me to give.

Love,

Ashleigh

Plug in, spread some light...

Tired eyes and lids of steel

Seem to lend bed quite an appeal.

Yet on this earth I shall not rest

If I am to give God my best.

-AshWin-

Some things to ponder:

Are we, as Christians, spiritually obese? (in the words of Matt Chandler, pastor of the Village church)? Do we fill ourselves up with our own spiritual food and sustenance without giving to others? As I was listening to a sermon of his, I was struck by how many people, including myself, do not volunteer enough. We don't give enough of ourselves to others in service, being the hands and feet of Jesus. I am reminded about how the pastor at my church has made an announcement two weeks in a row about how there is a need for more nursery workers. TWO weeks in a row. This should not be! How can we sit there and hear about the needs in the church, as well as outside of the church, and not do anything about it??

We need to ind a church, and plug in where we can, and if you are doing so, I commend you.

God is in need of our service to further his kingdom!

love,

ashleigh

Prayer for a friend...

I had a whole bunch of things I was going to write about tonight, and even then they seem to be jumbled up in my mind. However, after reading an e-mail update from a friend, I deem this more important than anything else I could write about. Please pray for her, because she is struggling in her faith and may even be trying to live apart from God right now. I don't know too much about how or why at this point, but I do know she needs much prayer. So if you could, try to remember her today and give it all to God! From experience, I know that God works in everything, and He will do His perfect will in her life.

[On a side note, I have had a cold that's been hanging on since Friday, so please pray for me also!]

All glory to Him,

-AshWin-