When are you Going to get a Real Job?

I am a missionary.

woah.  Those words are weird for me to say.
I never thought I would be.  I never desired to be a missionary but here I am.

My college takes the missions program to South East Asia every year.  Throughout the year, there's a lot of emphasis on this area of the world.  There's classes that talk about it, and events surrounding it, as well as a million chapel speakers/themes about SEA.  Which is great.  SEA needs Jesus. But so does South America and Africa, and North America. I could have sworn that to be a missionary meant you have to go to South East Asia...   then I thought, you had to leave the country in order to be a missionary, so I honestly had no desire to 'be a missionary' and that's the honest truth.
6 months ago I was sitting in an Earls with a new friend of mine and part way through our chats she said 'so, did you ever think you were going to be a missionary?' to which I replied "PFFT!  I'm not a missionary!! Never desired that, I'm not cut out for missions".  Then realized, I am a missionary.
Yes a local missionary. Crazy. Just like over-seas missionaries, long term or short, have to fundraise for their ministry/wage, I too must complete the task. And what I've been learning is that it's not about asking for money, it's about inviting others to join into what God is already doing.  That comes in many different avenues and obviously financial needs are in there but it's not just about that.

The mind-set I've been encountering lately has been annoying and quite offensive actually.  Whether it's said straight out or not, the question 'when are you going to get a real job' has been coming up when I tell Christian adults who are in ministry, what I do.
"What have you been up to?"
"Oh I work for Youth Unlimited in Millbourne"
"So, are you going to apply at any churches soon?  What's next on your agenda for your career?" 
What?  What is next for me?  I just got here!  Who thinks of quitting their job when they just got there?   Would you ask a missionary that after they've been overseas for two years?
"Hey, cool things seem to be happening over there, when are you going to get a real job?"  or to a young youth pastor,"Wow, your mega church youth group has really been growing! I heard 6 people got baptized last month. Are you going to start looking for a real job soon?"

How does this attitude towards my job helping to build the Kingdom?  There's a million other things you could be saying to me when I tell you about my job.  One of them is "Wow, I hear there's a lot of hurt in that area, how can I be praying for you as you serve there each day?"  That would help build the Kingdom, instead of trying to point out that my job is somehow invalid and to start looking elsewhere now that i've been graduated over a year; whether or not that's what you consciously think, I can hear it.
If you could walk in my shoes for just a day you'd understand why I stay, why this isn't just a substitute job until I 'find something better'.
I love my kids, the ones who are easy to love, the ones who drive me mad, the ones who make me crazy and question everything. The ones with two parents, one parent, no parents.  The ones who are poor, or have been abused; sexually, verbally, emotionally, and spiritually.  The ones who yell at me and sometimes make me feel worthless for the night.  The ones who call me for rides and for advice, hence making me feel like the most important person on the earth.
They all remind me that eternity is coming for us all and the need for Jesus is urgent.  This job isn't for the weak, but in my weakness Jesus is stronger; so I do not fear because He is with me.

So, ask me when I'm going to get a real job and I will tell you, I already have one.  

Blessings
Aliagirl
if you want information on how to support me in my ministry please don't hesitate to email me!
alia@yfced.com

Building a FOUNDATION

A Call to Construction:
Since first applying to Vanguard College in 2011 I have come to realize this:
God uses our stories, gifts, and talents in extraordinary ways if we let Him.
I have realized many things about what I have been called to do in my life
and in my ministry in the past four years.  While God has put a few passions
in my heart that may not actually see the light until I have more experience,
they are just waiting to burst out of me.

I have a passion and desire to work with the youth of my city.  Currently this is Edmonton Alberta.  I've come to realize over the past four years that regardless of the context of my 'job' I just want to have the opportunity to speak into teens lives and to allow them to have the same opportunity that I had by having a mentor at age 16.  The most simple definition I have come up with for my calling is this:  "I want to be a 'Laura' to an 'Alia'.
If there is a need for a teen to have a mentor, someone to guide them, or just to simply hang out with them I want to be there for that.

The more ministry I do the more I notice that social media has been and is shaping the world view and self esteem (or lack of) in our teenage girls.  My deepest desire is to help them realize their worth and potential in Christ and to hold on to the hope that there is more to life than how many 'likes' I get on an instagram photo.

Building a Foundation
As many of you know, I have been working part time with an organization called 

Youth For Christ

or in most of Canada,

Youth Unlimited.

This is a non-profit organization that desires to walk along side youth in the community as they explore potential and discover hope.  If you want to look up more info on this amazing parachurch organization check out our website at www.yuedmonton.com

YU is all over the world and we have 4 drop in centres in Edmonton. I have the privilege of working at the FOUNDATION in South East Edmonton in a community called Millbourne.  I began volunteering at the drop in center when it opened at the end of November 2014, and have been officially on part-time staff since January 2015. 

Our drop in times run Monday and Friday 3:30-5:30 and Tuesday 7-9:30 pm.  We have our own space in the basement of Millbourne Community Life Centre (MCLC) that has been custom made to suit our students. We have a games room with a play station and X box; there is a 'tutoring room' with computer access and tutoring available as well as a café, an art room, and a functional recording studio!  Our teens are into music and hip hop/rap so we are able to give them the opportunity to explore their gifts and talents.

We make over 100 contact points a week in this community. Over the year and a half I have absolutely fallen in love with the teens in this community.  They are unique and an absolute blast to hang out with (even when they are being complete punks!)!

The first time I went to the Foundation was for a college class I was in-- we were checking out 'inner city' ministries.  I had just been discussing with a friend the week before about how I didn't understand why God gave me so many different passions that didn't seem to mesh together, or that I could not seem to find in one single ministry.  The day I was introduced to the Foundation, my view of this was completely rocked.  I am now currently working my dream job.  There is opportunities for music and worship, for mentoring, for coffee, hanging out and playing video games, tutoring, speaking opportunities, a place to do Alpha and potential to contextualize any ministry we see a need for in the centre.

God has truly blessed our centre with astounding teens.  The more I get to know them, the more I love them, and the more I cannot wait to see them meet and love Jesus.  They are great kids and I feel so incredibly blessed to get to hang out with them every week!

As my Bachelor of Arts: Youth Ministry graduation has come and gone, I have made the decision to take on a full time position at the Foundation.  Due to being a non-profit organization, I need to raise most of my salary.  This is where you can help minister to these kids too!.  I am in need of partners who believe in the potential and hope for teenagers to come along side me and support me financially as I dive into this new chapter of my life!  There is definitely a 'return' on this investment as you join with me in helping our teens realize their potential to do great things.  I will be writing blogs and sending update letters to keep you up to date with how our ministry is growing and shaping at the Foundation.

On our website you can make a donation. 

It's quite simple.  just click on the link below, 

http://www.edmontonyouthunlimited.com/#!donate/tszcj

Fill out your information (You will receive a tax receipt for your donation[s] in February of the following year).
I LOVE telling stories about our students, and I LOVE coffee.. so in turn, I would LOVE to go to coffee with you, get to know YOU better and share about the students I get to hang out with every week!

This is honestly my dream job.. There is a ton of opportunity for growth here. 

My co-workers and volunteer leaders are amazing.

I am excited to be full time at FOUNDATION but this depends on YOU to partner with me to make this dream come true!  :) 

If you have questions or want to know more about the FOUNDATION

please e-mail me at 

Alia@yfced.com

Yours Truly,
Alia Evashkevich

My Dad was my Father, not God...

First listen to this song,
http://youtu.be/djrY_eFDOwE
The rest of this post will make much more sense.


God the Father,

I never fully understood it

So many people struggle with 

God as a Father.

Usually When I come across someone

who has trouble viewing God as a Father,

It's because they had a crappy dad.

I don't (do) mean to brag,

But.. 

My dad is better than your dad.

He is by no means a perfect human being

or he would be Jesus,

But he is perfect in my eyes.

He gets me.

He loves me.

He prays for me.

He showed me that your past does not

dictate your future.

He showed me that I can do anything I put my mind to.

and  loved me so unconditionally 

especially through times of silence from me.

I put my parents through a great deal of

silence

 and therefore

pain

But they loved me still, they never gave up.

because of hurts by friends growing up and my 

own point of view, I shut down

I shut them out

My parents were not my safe place,

for many years.

Much of my high school life

was

and still 

is

a secret to them.

I was doing stupid things, 

and knew they wouldn't approve

and  I knew it would hurt them.

mostly because they raised me to be better than 

how I was acting.

so I made a habit of telling them nothing

still,

they prayed for me

and tried their best to be a part 

of my life. 

They showed me unconditional love.

and comforted me in times when I was vulnerable enough to be

comforted.

My dad hugs me every day

every day that I am in his presence

hugs

multiple times a day

and loving words when I am struggling

My dad operates in my love languages

he IS my love languages.

I think without even trying,

He just IS perfection to me.
Because he does his best to be my dad
and that's all I can ask for

_____________________________

When I looked at God, the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)

I saw Holy Spirit -- Helping me, guiding me, being my conscience

I saw Jesus -- My friend, someone I can pray in the name of

Someone who understands everything I am going through because

He walked the Earth -- He understands

And I saw God the Father as, God but not a father

The One who oversees my life, makes sure I'm taken care of

the One Jesus advocates for me to

just God, not a Father,

I couldn't understand how 

God is a Father.

When I was sad, I didn't feel Him comfort me

like my dad would.

I couldn't hear His words of love

whispered in my ear.

I just couldn't understand how 

any Dad could be better than

Avery Evashkevich,

not Even God,

After really experiencing Jesus this year,
(which is in another blog post earlier this year)
everything has changed in my view of God.
I felt God the Father comfort me in a way I've never been before

I have come to realize that God is my Father
I can now finally see how God the Father comforts me,
How God the Father looks after me,
I can finally hear Him whisper in my ear, words of comfort.
I realize now that it doesn't look the same as my dad's comfort

 

Because God is not a physical being.

therefore it's hard to hug someone.

and that's all I was looking for , for many years

But now I see all the different ways 

God the Father

comforts me,

It's amazing.

It's comforting,

My dad is

STILL

the best dad in the world.

Especially since our relationship 

has been rekindled, and the years of silence are over.

My dad is still better than your dad.  ;)

but he is still not perfect, because he is human,

and I am glad for that because

My God, God the Father..

He is perfect,

He is a GOOD GOOD Father,

That's who He is

and I am LOVED my Him,

That's Who I am.

This is Springtime.
Hugs and beans
Alia Evashkevich

There's no REAL explaination

or formula to how I got to the point where I am now,

Just a lot of seeking God the Father 

when it felt like He was silent.

It's like an experience that can't really

be explained with words.. 

i encourage you to seek God,

whatever 'spiritual level' you're at...

OVERSTIMULATED

Tonight was the soft opening of the FOUNDATION.
A Youth Unlimited drop in centre in Millbourne.

If I'm honest

I was scared when I was on my way there. 

Reason being - It's not my niche yet.

Yet,

I'd never been before

and I kept thinking 

what if they don't like me? 

What if I clam up and chill in the corner? and then the staff and other volunteers think i'm a total fail and wonder why i'm even in college for this anyway...

Yeah, I'm an almost graduated Youth Worker...

Why am I thinking these things??

Because anxiety doesn't make sense.

That's why..

So I prayed

What else could I do?

Jesus, please let tonight be amazing for the kids

even if I just watch them enjoy the new space

and even if it's hard to get to know the teens

I just want them to have fun tonight. 

Amen

________________________________________________________________________

I pull up to the community centre,

Before I even get out of the car, 

there is a girl and her brother waiting there for me

to ask me what my name was and if i was a volunteer

Oh the innocence. 

All night, I just kept thinking,

Wow, these kids are honestly not what I expected

I had never met them before.. So I guess I didn't know

WHAT

to expect.. 

They were so kind.. 

some of them rowdy... but they're youngsters,

what can you do.. 

but accepting

even when I let my laugh loose...

I usually wait until a month into the 

relationship

before I let that out... not tonight! 

My mind just kept going back to the girl I first met

so innocent, so kind, so loving, so... childlike.

She was so trusting right off the get-go.

because she knew the PLACE she was, 

was a place that can be trusted. 

I was thrown into thinking...

We become so jaded. 

By the time we are in early adolescence, 

Jaded, weary, and untrusting. 

During adolescence,

jr.high.

we experience the hurt of human beings. 

and we usually never come back from it. 

Life becomes about serving ourselves

and what can we get from other people?

not what can we give?

When we give, we also receive. 

When we are at a place we can trust,

we can also trust the people usually..

Bible College,

Church,

Youth Group.

I trust these PLACES,

I trust the people

(until proven otherwise,

I'm not stupid)

My thoughts are everywhere right now.. 

haven't quite processed everything .

Over stimulated right now

won't sleep for sure. 

I want to get back to a place of giving;

my energy, and my TIME.

 Valuable time. 

Time, 

We can never get it back, 

we can only spend it. 

& the best way to spend it...

With God and With people. 

Love God, Love people.
right?  

Give your heart.

if it breaks

God can fix it. 

Be wise, 

but give your heart away

give your time generously. 

allow people to see YOU

take off your mask 

I want a child-like (not childish) faith.

but I also want a child-like trust in humanity

call me naive, 

but I'm tired of being jaded, 

of using my hurts to keep myself distant. 

I've been on a journey for the past year 

to become a more vulnerable person..

I am becoming that. 

It's amazing

I get to let people see a part of me 

that is everything all at once. 

It's light, and deep dark, 

it's joy and sorrow 

it's laughter and tears. 

I was hurt terribly just after high school

 I thought I'd never recover. 

But I'm a survivor. 

I am vulnerable,

I am Bold.

 G'night, hugs and beans.

disclaimer:  I did not explore many areas in this blog post.. please don't stone me for not talking about how people's hearts break and they never learn... or how not everyone can be trusted and how we need to be careful and have people EARN our trust before we give our heart away... 

WHEN I SAY, 'GIVE YOUR HEART AWAY' I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A BOYFRIEND GIRLFRIEND RELATIONSHIP... THAT'S DIFFERENT... BUT EVERYONE DESERVES TO SEE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE... LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.. 

also.. just a fun video to make you think... 
be the punchline..
I Like Laughter

Flirting is selfish: Please stop using me.

"Flirting with wrong intentions
is so selfish" is what my roommate
always says.  She's got it right..

Because my generation needs to 

GET A GRIP

on this dating thing. 

Here's my advice...

It's biased, because it's my experience.. 

but it's also a lot of others' experience too.
It is also not the Gospel Truth probably but

Here's five tips.. 

Lesson 1: A date is not a marriage proposal

First of all.. how hard is it to ask someone on a date

I get it. you're scared of rejection

but you're gonna miss out on someone 

awesome

and kick yourself for it. 

TAKE THE FREAKING RISK ALREADY

If you see something you like...

ASK FOR IT.

If you don't like coffee get a Big Mac

with her...

Gosh, it's really not hard! 

Going on a date is not

 a marriage proposal..

Let me say this again for the GUYS

Going on a date is not a marriage proposal

Okay.. now let me say it again for the GIRLS

Going on a date is NOT  a marriage proposal.

Honestly people

GO ON DATES!! 

how will you ever know if you

are actually interested in that person 

and want to be in a relationship with them

if your first date is AFTER you are 

Facebook official, or after your first kiss?
by this time you've already committed

 

If you're a guy and you're like 

"hmm. that girl is pretty,

she loves Jesus,

she can read,

these are all things I want in a girl"

THEN ASK HER OUT

honestly.

AND FOR THE LADIES OUT THERE

sometimes, the guy asking you on a date,

or to coffee.. they don't look like much

but they might be amazing.

don't say no to dates. 

these guys are actually getting the guts

to ASK YOU OUT on a date

and if you say no.. you're just ruining it for 

OTHER GIRLS

--

you don't even have to go on a second date

I don't give a hoot about that. 

but at least give him a chance.  

Lesson 2: DON'T FLIRT UNLESS YOU MEAN IT

This one hits home real hard for me

I'm easy going.

I like to laugh

I love jokes

I LOVE making other people laugh.

I love inside jokes 

but know what I love more than this?

When a guy is NOT flirting with me

because he doesn't like me. 

This one is for girls too.

I'm guilty of this.. usually because someone else starts it. 

But I don't stop it. 

If you have no intentions of pursuing someone.

DON'T FLIRT WITH THEM

if you do, you're actually so incredibly 

SELFISH

All these people who flirt and then

turn around and say 

"uh.. wuut?  I don't like you,

I don't wanna date you

where did you get that from

who told you that?"

I GOT IT FROM YOUR FACE

My roommate told me that back in her day,
Everyone just treated each other as normal friends
and if someone started flirting with you, it was because
they like you.
and you didn't have to REALLY wonder if they did
Now-days.
If someone is flirting with you,
you still wonder if they like you,
but they might not..
how will we ever know?

honest.

I could rant this lesson for hours!!

Why would I even WANT to date a guy

who I've watched flirt with other girls

and have no intentions?

It's rude. 

It hurts feelings

and it's intentional -- because you have no intention.

So don't call me crazy when I suddenly

start seeing you in a different light.

It's because you literally uprooted yourself from 

my "Garden of Friends" to

my living room flower pot. 

 you did this. 

Not me. 

I will no longer stand for this behaviour.

just FYI.

I don't deserve this. 

If you are flirting with me. 

you damn well better have the right intentions

because I'm not playing around. 

I'm not 12 anymore. 

And I am currently not afraid to call you out.

So watch it. please and thank you. 

If  you think you might want to date me 

and you are just testing the waters. 

Amen. 

I accept that. 

But if you're doing it just because I'm easy going 

and can make a good laugh.. just Don't

Thanks.. 

Moving on. 

Lesson 3: THE FRIEND ZONE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A DEATH SENTENCE

In my personal opinion. 

I think ' The Friend Zone'

should be like a ...  house

There are a few people I've put on 

house arrest in this friend house...

Because I already dated them

or we are just not interested 

in any way shape or form

.. Like we just DO NOT get along.

Other than that.. people are pretty much free to 

come and go as they please.

Even if we talked about how good of friends we are

and how just friends we are.. 

there's always room for improvement. 

Unless I am related to you by blood, there will

always be a time for you to walk out the front door

you may not be successful at being my boyfriend

but at least you tried. 

I know this will be offensive to some.

but

when people say

"That person is just my best friend

I would never date them.."

uh.  ok. 

you're rude.

If that person is good enough to be your 

BEST FRIEND

then why are they not good enough to be your 

girl/boy friend?

They OBVIOUSLY GET YOU

yes yes, i know sometimes

it doesn't work

I dated a guy in college who 

was honestly my best friend. 

but when we dated we found out 

we just weren't ready

It's more like a maturity thing..

He was an AMAZING guy. 

I literally have no bad things to say 

but we just didn't work out at that time. 

I had a lot of things I was going through.

But at least we tried!!

That's what I'm getting at. 

Had we not dated. We never would have known

and I'm actually convinced 

I would have wondered for the rest of my life .

Stop friend zoning people for life

It's not a freaking death/life sentence

it's more like community service. 

Lesson 4: DON'T GET MARRIED ON THE FIRST DATE...

This sounds odd.. 

but I have witnessed soooo many times

and been a part of it.. 

so often people start dating and their

;honey moon; dating stage consists of

spending literally every second together.

kissing in hall ways. 

being at each others house 

from wee hours in the morning

to wee hours in the morning.

yah. get it?

you're 'going steady'

as my mom would call it 

you're in a dating relationship

you're dating. 

you're NOT married. 

so take a break. 

don't be so serious 

so fast. 

honestly. 

you potentially have the rest 

of your life to spend with this person

you don't have to be with them every second of the day

So hang out with your other friends...
and TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE
yeah. your friends are happy for you but your
friendship with that person is not about your relationship
you're going to lose friends if that's ALL you ever talk about
your relationship is NOT your friendship with others.
Remember that while your other friends are happy for you
they also just want to be your friend... not your diary for all
the amazing things that your boyfriend does-- single ladies
start to feel awful when you do this.

One time I was listening to CISN radio

and they have a segment called 

"is it normal"

one girl called in and said she 

sits on her newly-married husbands lap...

when he uses the bathroom because she 

just wants to spend as much time with him 

as she can get.

WHAT?!??!?!?!

yah. not normal.. I'm still scarred from this.

I know you don't go that far.. 

but sometimes that's what it feels like

there's no personal space

no alone time

no time with God 

because you're too busy being married 

even though you haven't even met his parents yet.
No wonder people don't wanna date...

because they don't want to be married.

Lesson 5: We don't need to or want to know everything about you two. 

I don't care if you update your relationship status on Facebook

but you don't have to update everyone on 

EVERY THING s/he does. 

we don't really care that he bought you 

flowers, a teddy and chocolates

this goes back to my previous blog

we don't care. 

create community and tell someone 

who does.

especially speaking from a single girl 

point of view

you make me feel like crap for being single. 

when you post everything about your relationship 

on social media.. we get jealous. 

yeah. I said it. 

Jealous.
Congratulations

because that's what your intentions are anyway

even if it's subconscious. 

take a picture and send it to your mom, not to Facebook. 

 Thank you. 

I want to be married some day. 

I'm by no means

desperate.

I'm still so young. 

but I'm tired of being that girl that guys are so comfortable with because they have 'friend zoned' me that they think they can just flirt up a storm. That is not what friends do. So be a man.. grow up and treat me proper.  I'm tired of being hurt by guys who flirt and have no intentions of being my future boyfriend.  If you just wanna get to know me. tell me. be honest. if you realize suddenly, ' oh. you're actually not what I'm looking for... be honest.honesty hurts sometimes but it's the best policy. if you don't.. then treat me like you would your sister. unless you're a weirdo who flirts with their sister.. then I just probably don't want to be that close to you anyway... only to evangelize.. lol.  I'd rather know that you're just getting to know me, or you're going on dates with other girls, or you just realized you actually aren't interested.  I'd rather all of those things than be led on and then find out that you didn't even like me to begin with because that hurts a heck of a lot more. 

Sorrynotsorry

for ranting. 

But I'm just tired ..

and feeling Bold.
I'm actually really nice
but I'm tired of thinking of this
and only telling my girl friends
because I'm scared of confrontation.
Here comes the Bold Alia. : )

Hugs and beans.

I fell in love...

hmm. : )
a sigh of happiness..

I'm in love.

deep, passionate, burning

love.

I am in a place right now where;
nothing could shake me.

Nothing can bring me down 

right Now.

I have experienced Jesus'

love so intimately this week

and nothing can take that 

from Me.

My heart has a burning passion

to tell everyone and anyone about

Jesus.

                                                                                                                

As you might know.. 

I have decided that Facebook and I are on a break

It's not you; it's.... wait.

It is you.

Sorry.. I can't blame it all on Facebook

But it makes me do things I don't want to.

All too often I scroll my news feed deciding who

is important enough and funny enough to receive a

"like" .

 As if to play god for a moment and tell you if you 

are worthy of my interest.. 

Other times I'll go knee deep into your 

profile pictures

or..worse,

your tagged pictures. 

I judge you.

yes.

I said it.

I judge you.

And this is why Facebook and I are on a break

not broken up.. just... 

seeing other people

Honest. 

I've begun to tell real life people

about my day, my joys, my struggles,

and the things that make me laugh.... 

For instance.. I was at McDonalds for lunch

on Tuesday... 

Waiting for my food this short and stalky guy 

with a white skullet 

pulled back into a low pony tail

leans over to me and says;

"You kid's got the day off school?

Or is it just lunch time?"

To which I replied...

Pardon?

I don't know why this surprised me so much

cause I've been told numerous times I look 16

He replied with the same question.. 

I then said. 

Uh.. Not sure... I go to College

He says;

"Oh my word...

uh.. 

sorry...

I thought you were 13 or 14.."

Why are you talking to a 13 or 14 year old?

kinda odd, if i say so myself...

But the cool thing about this weird conversation..

I got to tell him about Vanguard, 

and about how i'm going to be a youth worker/pastor

It was cool!

Anywho... back to that other stuff I was talking about. 

Telling real people about my life 

has opened up opportunity to be

in community

crazy.

But I've never felt so happy.

I've got Joy.

I am also medicated for 

Depression and Anxiety

yah. scary words.

Depression Depression Depression. 

Anxiety Anxiety Anxiety.

There. I said it.

It's only because of Jesus that I have joy

For the past two years, it's been Jesus

Even when life gets hard and I'm not happy

Jesus give me Joy

And this week I have had so much

opportunity to walk in the Spirit

I've been able to be where I am

Wherever I am ... I AM ALL THERE

because I don't have to be on Social media

Three times this week I have been asked

by the Holy Spirit to ask someone if 

they want/need prayer. and it has been 

significant.

Doors open for us when we obey.

Mike Love came to my practicum class to

share his testimony of Extreme Dream.

He said this:

"There is a generation waiting on the other

side of your obedience"

Holy Moses. That got me good. 

How can we be obedient if we are so busy?

If we are drowning out God's voice with

Reality TV

Social Media

Games

Music

these things aren't bad Don't get me wrong. 

But we don't always use them for GOOD.

So let's open ourselves up to what God

has in store for us. 

We could be JUST what someone needs

 in times of trouble. 

I wish I could sit down with everyone 

and just tell them about Jesus and how He is

changing

my life right now. 

There are at least 5 things this week that have 

fanned into flame the passion I have

to tell everyone I meet about Jesus.

 

This is to all my Vanguard people... 

I know November is cray

and you have assignments.  but

CHAPEL IS MORE IMPORTANT

(this year.. even the Student Council 

Chapel's are good.. they won't waste your 

time)

you'll never get the opportunity

to be in community like this again

and you'll regret it later if you don't

take advantage now.

.God. is in Chapel.

that should be the reason you go. 

I know you don't consider it a class. 

but 1. It should be. 

2. IT'S GOD'S TIME

so honour HIM, and He'll honour you. 

EVERY CLASS we take,

and EVERY CHAPEL we attend

God is there.

Jesus is there. 

Holy Spirit is there. 

we can learn from every time-block

we are at school. so

Grow up

and go to Chapel. 

Be enriched.

If you didn't go to 

Spiritual Enrichment Days

I feel sorry for you. 

It was enriching and you missed out

because you don't think GOD time

is as important as class time

so you ditched because it's

"just chapel and it isn't worth it"

Get to know others in the school

pray for people.

lay hands.

ask for healing

love one another

because

Christ loves us.

#sorrynotsorryforharshwords

Hugs and Beans

Negativity is ruining my life.

Man, I cannot get over how easy it is to get stuck in the negative mind set

Negativity, Negativity, Negativity

all around us, every day, there is something that is wrong. 

We will not be satisfied. not even if we tried. 

Trying is lying. 

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
There is a never ending news feed full
full of things we do not want to see
or of things we wish we could be.
Why do we always want what we cannot have?
I am so tired of wanting someone else's life
I forget that I have my own-- and I have an amazing life.

A friend from my childhood started sending names of flowers to people

so they can post it on their facebook page.

This is to interrupt the flow of negativity on the newsfeed. 

But how many of us will see these flowers and not give it a second thought

or even a first thought. 

In case you're wondering, here's the flower I was assigned. 

Take a second and just enjoy the beauty of God's creation 

I hate what we are becoming.
I just want to be with the ones I love.
But I am so distracted by people I do not care about on my newsfeed
Oops, did I say that out loud?
I do care for people.. don't get me wrong, but how much better
would our conversations be if I didn't already know everything about you
because I read your facebook page?
 I feel like my grad class doesn't even need a 10 year reunion in a few years
I already know what everyone is doing...
the only one's I don't have on facebook are the ones who deleted me
since I became a Christian -- A sold out Christian that is..

 I am so over social media, and yet.

yet.

 I cannot seem to leave it alone. 

I use it to procrastinate on my assignments. 

then cry when I'm late handing in an assignment.

I cry

Cry

Crazy. 

How many times will I do this to myself?

I looked at a my school marks today --
I couldn't figure out an assignment.
I gave up
I got negative
I didn't hand it in.
Brought my average down 15%..
I cried.
 

Negativity is ruining my life. 

My school,

My friends, 

My passion,

My zeal. 

Here's to positivity -- If you're not going to do your best to be positive,  I don't want to be near you.

sorry not sorry

Thank you very much. 

Hugs and Beans.