hope in the One who shows us the Way.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always,
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

-Thomas Merton

"God in his gentle love longs to set us free from the prison we have stumbled into- the loveless prison where we refuse both the offer and the demand of forgiveness. We are like a frightened bird before him, shrinking away lest this demand crush us completely. But when we eventually yield- when he corners us and finally takes us in his hand- we find to our astonishment that he is infinitely gentle and that his only aim is to release us from our prison, to set us free to be the people he made us to be. But when we fly out into the sunshine, how can we not then offer the same gentle gift of freedom, of forgiveness, to those around us? That is the truth of the resurrection, turned into prayer, turned into forgiveness and remission of debts, turned into love. It is constantly surprising, constantly full of hope, constantly coming to us from God’s future to shape us in to the people through whom God can carry out his work in the world." --N.T. Wright Surprised by Hope p.289.

wrapping up

Thanks
#739-951

#744 The thought of snow-shoeing again
#761 The process
#779 Gitxsan art and culture
#796 nice moccasins soft and warm
#807 I am almost done my internship and my graduation lies just on the horizon
#821 A new place to live when I get back and a good friend for a roommate!! YAY!
#837 Being called "Cousin"
#845 A great internship experience and mentor.
#871 Little birds flying in unison
#951 Realizing I need to make some changes.

attitude of gratitude

#688-738

#694 -clean clothes

#695 -reminder that there is no better time than the present moment

#701 -texts from C. A growing friendship

#706 -answered prayers every day.

#710 -being able to laugh at myself (waving at a stranger by accident, thinking its someone I know)

#712 -there are still golden leaves on some trees, and they look like gold confetti when the wind blows them around.

#718 -my brother and sister-in-law, their friendship and an unexpected call from my brother just wanting to chat.

#720 -forgiveness. Psalm 32

#725 -sunlight on my face spilling over my pages while I read in the bakery and then seeing the one snow-covered mountain peak aglow in the setting sun.

#737- L. sensing and experiencing, from darkness into light... Your love drawing him closer.

Thanksgiving 2011

Give Thanks to the LORD, for He is Good....

#641-#687

#641 Belly laughter with C. on Skype

#646 "help yourself to some toffees"

#655 Hot tea on a cold and rainy day

#660 Sunshine and a Fall nip in the air.

#664 Bakeries with fresh cinnamon and coffee

#666 You say: "Do not be afraid, Do not be dismayed. I am with you. Do not fear, I am your God. I will strengthen you and uphold you with my victorious right hand" -Isaiah 44:10

#677 My beautiful friend, M, she is truly a blessing

#673 The Discipleship Journal Bible in a Year reading plan

#674 The garments of praise, for a spirit of heaviness

#679 my little sister's photography

#681 a pretty wooden rosary, gift from J.C.

#687 A family who loves me

His Love endures FOREVER...

The slightest rainbow

His promises endure.

we are called, we are His.

Graces 

#536-#640

#538-the temptation is to hide. I don't want to hide. LORD Your strength. Your Presence. Reminding me it's enough.

#539- it's never too late to make a brand new start.

#544- the gift of tongues.

#546- Esther (the book).
#557- C. asking about You.

#556- B. getting ready to follow you amidst the difficulty.

#566- Protection.

#567- Rivers.

#568- Coffee smells fresh-a coffee shop here in town.

#569- Faith coming from hearing and that by the Word of God. 

#573- A car to drive. I don't have to take a bus or hitch hike.

#585-Encouraging messages and texts.

#592- Learning to listen and abide; Lord draw me ever closer.

#593- Yogurt covered pretzels.

#599- A quiet environment to sleep after night shift.

#602- Harvest Moon.

#603- Crab apples; gifts to pick off a tree with branches bending low and heavy with good fruit.

#604- Crab apple blueberry crisp- not too shabby I must say.

#608- Sara Groves' music

#633- yummy moose meat for the first time.

#624- a gift of yellow wildflowers from a sweet blonde boy.

#627- a ninja headband on an awesome two-year-old.

#628- Seeing Jesus' love made real to kids who have faced rejection many times.