I have moved my blog to here: http://hisearthgirl.wordpress.com
I couldn't sleep last night.
This past week I had the privilege of attending our Eastern Canadian Staff training and retreat. I am so glad that our leadership care enough about us to know we need that down time. It was so enjoyable to be able to have those good heart to hearts with other staff, meet and encourage the new staff and just chill over coffee in front of the fire.
i wrote a poem this morning...
two exciting things:
it is always difficult for me on sunday afternoons to know what to do with myself. thankfully i have this evening's concert with the ladies to look forward to. i have to say i really am no good by myself. meaning when i am left by myself it is no good. i don't know how to apply myself, where to go or what to do. having a plan sometimes helps, but sometimes it is useless.
well it is true, i have changed my blog once again and of course that means i need a new post to go with the new look. i found this beautiful skin on blogskins.com which is full of free and fantastic blogskins. it takes a bit of time to slog through them to find what you might like but there is not limit to the choices.
currently this blog is under construction
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I like swing dancing. Lindy Hop specifically.
The services this weekend focused on suffering and trials as we began on our series on James. Some interesting things I learned...
I have been wanting to post for a while and I am not sure how this one will go. It is after 10 pm and though technically that is still early for a single fun girl like myself but this girl also spent all weekend working and so is very tired. But a few things to update you on (you being the one person who reads this blog).
The Ministry Adventures of Terra Leavens It may not include new pens or bookbags but “back to school” does mean a lot of other things. First of all, it means that the battle for the hearts and minds of university students intensifies and I need your prayers. Would you please pray for me, my team, our student leaders and for a great spiritual harvest on our campuses in Personally: - Energy, creativity and wisdom in leading my team & in my planning and the launching of our plans to reach students at Ryerson and York. - New roommates and housing situation - Security of heart, identity and place in my work - Perseverance to work hard and diligently Ryerson: - First year students arrive for Orientation on Monday August 27th, pray Christian students would eagerly seek to get involved with a Christian Club on campus - God would lead us to those who are seeking for Him and we would be faithful to proclaim Christ boldly - Returning C4C students would be personally and passionately committed to reaching Ryerson for Christ - Ryerson would be a sending ground of ethnic students to the world - C4C Students would keep Christ first in their lives and God would protect our leaders as they take greater steps of faith - Frosh Week activities would lead to many first year students getting involved - - We have three new interns! Eunice (one of my girls!), Mike (from UWO) and Irene (working with international students). Pray for the completion of their support. - We are asking God to move powerfully and that we would see 500 new believers in Christ on our campuses across - For the 40+ new staff and interns with Campus for Christ across Thank you for your prayers and support. I am looking forward to the unexpected joy of God’s work this year. I would enjoy hearing from you,
see you soon!!
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1:36 PM.
" Tuesday, February 05, 2008
I leave on Thursday for Edinburgh.
I am so excited. I think it is going to be a bit of sureal experience considering I am moving there in the fall. Every time I walk down the street I am going to be thinking, "I'll be back". I hope I can focus on the task at hand.
I am really thankful for all the amazing staff that are coming with us this time. We are going to have a blast I just know it. And then the Agape Staff are coming up as well. I may even finally get to meet Christy (we have been email, phone friends for almost two years but have never met)! I am really looking forward to this trip. Other amazing highlights include, four girls from Ryerson coming and my sister!!!! (Particularly excited about that).
Now, I need to apologize for not updating this beautiful blog since December. That is just unacceptable. I went on a friends blog yesterday and they hadnt posted since the summer and it got me thinking about all the people who have probably landed on here since December and have been disapointed to find nothing new to speak of. Shameful.
In other news, I am still obsessed with lindy hop. :)
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12:45 PM.
" Sunday, December 09, 2007
We had a speaker named Rich come up from the northeast region (US) to share with us from the Word. Good times. The first night continued on the same theme that God has been trying to speak to my heart about.
Last weekend I attended a prayer retreat with the ladies of my church, Rexdale and during our time there God cut through deep into my heart and spoke to me about my fear of completely trusting Him. It was difficult to admit because I want to trust God but I am afraid. I also was confronted with my lack of trust that compels me to take control of my situations. The nugget that I brought home is from Psalm 78And in their heart they put God to the test by asking for food according to their desire. Then they (Israel) spoke against God; they said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?"
That is what I do. I don't believe that God is good and actually is able to provide for me. I look at my circumstances, consider them a desert and scoff at God's power. Psalm 78 speaks of God's anger at their sin and His remarkable provision.Therefore the LORD heard and was full of wrath... because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation... [but] behold, He struck the rock so that water gushed out, and streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people? ... He sent them food in abundance... so they ate and were will filled, and their desire He gave to them.
He provided for them. Though they tested Him and did not trust in His salvation His goodness overflowed to them.
This past week at the staff retreat, Rich talked about surrender and God's goodness. This statement rang true: "When we doubt God's goodness we can not surrender." This cut me to the heart as I continue to realize that I deeply doubt God's goodness. I am praying that God would take off the crust from my eyes so I could see God's abundant provision and goodness in my life. It is difficult when you imagine God's goodness only looks one way to see the other ways He demonstrates His care, love and abundance.
Israel tested God saying, "God can not surely prepare a table in the wilderness!" and yet He did! Rocks flowed with water, and the heavens rained down manna and meat. His provision was in abundance and they had all they needed.O God, King of Israel, will you prepare a table in the wilderness for me?
O LORD, God of Jacob
Bless me
Put Your Spirit in me
Give me Life, Salvation, Hope, Obedience
Pour out Your blessings
Open the doors and the windows of heaven
Pour them out on me
Take me into the desert and prepare a banquet for me.
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9:52 PM.
" Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Sneaky sun, slicing silk cloudspulling up mist
cutting quickly grey-blue.
Pushing down light
funnelling beams as you creep
Dancing on wave tops
jewelling cold crests.
Sneaky sun slips softly
retreating, retracting, reappearing.
Penetrating dense and smooth lengths
punching pockets with shafts of light.
Sharp edges knife damp air
illuminating precision
brightening spots of deep.
Sneaky sun,
sharp and soft you spin.
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11:36 PM.
" Monday, November 12, 2007
1. got killer steals at value village today
2. booked my flight to orlando - dec 11
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10:36 AM.
" Monday, November 05, 2007“When I first met you I thought you were lovely, but now…. (dismisive wave of hand)…” - Alasdair's neighbor. I think I like this lady. Just kidding Alasdair!
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3:32 PM.
" Sunday, November 04, 2007
i had a good conversation with a friend yesterday about the energy required to initiate with relationships in general and new friendships specifically. we agreed that for us it is definitely an area where we need to walk with our eyes on Christ, looking to Him in faith to provide for us what we need to engage with people.
tomorrow, like i mentioned before i am going to a three day project director's training. i am really looking forward to it. like they say, sometimes a change is as good as a rest. i am looking forward to planing (love planning), sitting around and talk about scotland (love talking about scotland) and hanging out with fantastically amazing staff (love staff). so yah, i think it will be an awesome time.
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12:02 AM.
" Saturday, November 03, 2007
things have been well with me over the last couple weeks even though my emotions have been up and down for no necessary reason. i am thankful that the large outreaches at york and ryerson came through and God has been using them in people's lives - so that is pretty sweet. it is pretty crazy to think that there are only four more weeks on campus.
i am excited about monday because i am going to a three day project director's training where i get to sit around with sean and nancy cullen and talk about scotland all day long. brilliant.
i started working on my stint application today. still not sure if i am to go or stay but either way i figured i better start working on the paper work.
char came over tonight and we watched 'pan's labrinth' which was bloody, beautifully made, with a blend of history, culture, and fantasy. it is in spanish set in the early years of franco's spain. interesting watch and we determined that the real name of it is "faun's labrinth" so not sure how the english translation got mixed up there.
tomorrow i am helping out with the york social, going to church to watch doxsee rock out and then sunday going with ali, b, char and others to a steve bell concert - should be delightful.
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6:51 PM.
" Tuesday, October 30, 2007
6:51 PM.
"
Mandi Gould and Dan Amores of Toronto demonstrate some Lindy Hop. I learned Lindy from Dan at Alley Cats on Tuesday nights. Mandi also teaches in Toronto (beesknees).
2007 Lindy Hop Champions "23 Skidoo" from Denver, CO
Hogtown Swing Does Balboa - This is Dan's performance group that my lovely friend Kathy is in.
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2:24 PM.
" Sunday, October 14, 2007
"Consider it all joy, by brethern, when you encounter various trails..."
The word consider means to think correctly about something. James is not exhorting us to whip us joy despite our trials but rather to have clear thinking about those trials. And how should we be thinking about them? He tells us...
"...knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Trials lead to asking why, but often we recieve no answer to those questions and must trust God. Our faith is put to the test and it produces in us endurance. Now endurance itself is not the end but rather what is needed to gain everything you need in character. It is what is needed to become mature.
Probably most profound for me though was the insight that Sunder gave regarding how to respond while you are in trials and are not recieving the answers you long for. He asked us how do we respond with perserverance rather than bitterness?
"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let his ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
Ask God for the wisdom you need while in trials. What to do, what not to do, how to respond, when to move, leave, stay, push back - ask God for wisdom. God gives 'single-mindedly' (generously) the wisdom we need to perservere under trail. What great news.
If you would like to listen to this talk yourself go to Rexdale Sermons, there is a ton of great stuff on there. This talk was called "Schizophrenic Spirituality".
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10:26 PM.
" Monday, October 01, 2007O Lord,
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how filled up in every crack is my heart with pride.
My face seek its own glory beheld, and my mind to hear its praises sung.
Cast from me these wicked desires to be something. For You alone are all and everything.
You hold all things by the world of Your power and Your breath causes all things to be.
All belongs to You, comes from You and is for You. You alone are independent, true and worthy.
Undo these selfish, might-seeking ways of my heart.
Seat me low that I may see You.
Trasform my motivations, give me the desire to be nothing, so You may be all in all.
****
Make Your work and life and humility most precious to me Jesus.
Make it my greatest treasure and highest aim to see and treasure Your humiliy. O that You would descend.
Praise and Glory and Honor be Yours Jesus, for You are God and yet you made Yourself nothing. You submitted Yourself with obedience and joy to the will of the Father to bring Him glory.
You are Great, there is none like You.
****
The blessed life of Christ imparted
for from heaven, he departed.
Bent down,
made low,
so as to taste and know the sweetess life of the Risen Christ.
His humility too grande to grasp,
given to me, I rest.
Be I but an empty pot.
Fill me Lord and may my heart seek
not to be known or displayed
Only to be filled with Your glory.
Make me like Christ,
never He sought before God or men to be made great or thought much of.
And so He is.
My greatest treasure,
My only life,
You alone are God.
10:18 PM.
"
Like I mentioned this past weekend I worked, it was Summit. Our Campus for Christ fall retreat. Things went really well and it is cool to see first year Ryerson students particularly understanding more fully God's desire to use them to share the gospel on campus. Thanks God!! I was in charge of main sessions for the weekend and thankfully it all came together very smoothly. The band was awesome, speakers were great and Ben and Kolten rocked the MC gig.
This week actually is going to be a bit packed. Tomorrow is our International Day of Prayer as well as my first Discipleship Group for my first year girl's at Ryerson. I need to spend some time praying for this group and preparing for it. I wouldn't say I am particularly ready for it and I know these are the girls I need to invest my life and time into.
Tomorrow night is swing dancing, which I have been faithfully attending this past month. I have been learning Lindy Hop and it has been a blast. I really love it and it is exciting to be learning something new that I have a bit of a nack for. Plus it is just nice to meet new people.
Wednesday night two great things are happening. I am going to dinner and the symphony with Janette, Alison and Charlene for my birthday and then my Mom arrives from Vancouver. Yeah! I am pretty pumped. She is coming to visit for just over a week and think it is going to be a great time.
Thursday is my birthday, but perhaps more about that latter.
The last thing I wanted to post was some prayers I had written at the beginning of September as I was going through a book called "Humility" by Andrew Murray. See above.
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8:18 PM.
" Sunday, August 26, 2007
The most recent photo of our Toronto Staff Team (R-L) Eunice, Steph, Shelly, Terra, Cindy, Janette, Archie, Joe, & Russ. Missing: Mike, Melissa, Rod, & Irene
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4:31 PM.
" Thursday, August 23, 2007
Campus for Christ,
Back to school…
Terra
