On this beautiful day....

Hey everyone! I don't know what else to start this off with other than, OH MY GOODNESS IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY TODAY!!! God is soooooo good. He is amazing. He is the most complex creator to have ever walked this earth. Making something so beautiful, like the sunshine that I've seen and felt today is insane! Looking out of the window, I feel like I should be outside but that is not possible right now. That brings me to what I want to talk about.

I have always felt that the grades I get in school were due to the fact that I don't work hard enough. That has been going on now for the past few years. More like 10 years. I am tired of all of this. I have been in and out of offices at York today, just getting a bunch of stuff figured out.

First, I went to class at 11:30 so that I could get my attendance mark. I need those marks. Those are the easiest marks you can get. Attendance. Then I went to the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies. Now, I've been super worried that if I don't pass this NATS course then I won't be able to return to York University next year. This is untrue. I went and spoke with an advisor, Ryan, today and he made everything clear for me. All I have to is file a petition to get the F that I received in my English class first year to be removed from my record. He said that all I had to do was fill out the petition form and get a Course Summary evaluation form filled out by the prof and hand it in. After that has all been processed, it'll be as though that course didn't even exist. That is cleared up now.

I'm here right now sitting in the Learning Disability Program office. I have always wondered whether I have a learning disability. So I am here getting screened. It would definitely explain a lot.

That's all I can really write at the moment. I have a lot on my mind and need to go into my appointment soon.

Thanks for reading!
Alison

Look at me now

Wow. If I told you guys the whole story of what has happened in my life over the past few weeks, I would take up so much space. I could write a book! Let's see where I get! There are a couple songs I want you to listen to. Maybe that what is going to make this one long! This will probably be another long read! If you get bored, I'm sorry in advance :)

I've had a little trouble reading God's word. I had a routine before but since I've been back at school. That has gone out the window. I thought that since I wasn't reading that God would not speak to me. Boy, was I ever wrong! He did the exact opposite!!! So I liked this guy and I had given the situation to God at the very beginning when I started to have feelings for this person. I had been hurt in the past I didn't want to be in that position again. This time was going to be different for me and I was sure of it. I wanted to make sure that I was doing the right thing by giving everything to God from the get-go. So I started to like this guy and I needed to talk to someone about it. The person I decided to talk to about it first was Layla. She has been amazing in this situation. There is one thing that she said to me that I will never forget. Something I've heard before, but just never listened to. God's timing is absolutely perfect. I know that I've heard it before but I didn't want to believe it. Layla and I were talking for a while about how God has created someone to be what you need, what He desires for you. This guy started seeing someone and I realized that the work that Jesus had done in my heart was HUGE! I wasn't hurt, upset, crying. Nothing! He (Jesus) had done something in my heart that made me go directly to Him. It's been an amazing journey. I am really enjoying my journeys with God! He has been so good to me.

Psalm 147:1

¹ Praise the LORD.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

This verse came to mind when I thought of all things that I've been through. We should praise Him always, even when life seems to suck really bad :)

Look At Me Now - Kirk Franklin
Persecuted, criticized, been denied and abandoned
Pushed away, given away, some days I couldn’t imagine
Getting harder, getting colder, was hard for me to see
Tired of runnin’, tired of hurtin’, even got tired of me
Tired of cryin’, tired of tryin’ to forget my mistakes
Tired of bein’ in this storm, how much more can I take
Many nights in my life, tell me why
I shed more tears, my eyes would allow
And after all that

Look at me now!
I’m stronger this time around!
Not because I was so good, but somehow
You looked past where I was
And you knew I’d come through cause You loved me
Look at me know!
So many didn’t make it through
That’s why this heart belongs to only You!
How can I complain ‘bout the pain I went through
Cause it grew me
Look at me now!

Had no hope, had no future, even too hard to dream
No one told me, “boy, you can be whatever you want to be”
Then You saved me and You gave me reason to breathe again
Not perfect, ya’ll, but I’m gon’ run ‘til I make it to the end
(It ain’t easy when your life’s filled with wounds that won’t heal)
And you fight through the lies trying to find what’s for real
Everyone wants the prize but they can’t stand the pain
The strength I needed it came that night I cried out Your name
To my people in the struggle, all my soldiers and believers
To my survivors of Rita, Katrina and even FEMA
(All things are working together for our good)

Look at me now!
I’m stronger this time around!
Not because I was so good, but somehow
You looked past where I was
And you knew I’d come through cause You loved me
Look at me know!
So many didn’t make it through
That’s why this heart belongs to only You!
How can I complain ‘bout the pain I went through
Cause it grew me
Look at me now!

Yes, I’ve seen some hard times
Some bad choices that I’ve made fell back on me
But now it’s time to move on, move on
Can’t let my past hold down my destiny
And even though I don’t always know
Why you allow the night to last so long
But when I see the sunlight
It was only to make me strong

I’m better now! I’m closer now!
I’m thankful now! I’m happy now!
Look at me! Look at me!
I’m stronger now! I’m patient now!
I’m grateful now! I’ll praise you now!
Look at me! Look at me!

Brighter Day - Kirk Franklin
When i close my eyes and think of you
And reminisce on all the things you do
I can't imagine my life without you
It's like paradise, now i
Know that it's real (um)
It's a mystery
For someone to give their life just for me
What you did on calvary
Makes me wanna love you more

[chorus]
I never knew
I could be so happy
I never knew
I'd be so secure
Because of your love
Life has brand new meaning
It's gonna be a brighter day, brighter day

Never thought that i would smile again
I never thought the dark clouds would end
Never thought that i could have a friend
That would keep me never leave me alone
Jesus you're my everything
The only one that makes my heart sing (heart sing)
Now i know what real love means
It's everlasting, lasting

[chrous]

Nothing can compare
To the joy you bring
An everlasting love affair
Jesus my life would never be the same
I found someone who truly cares

[chorus]

Its goin to be a brighter day,brighter day,brigther day
Brighter day, brighter day, brighter day, brighter day
Brighter day, brighter day
Just say

[chorus]

God's Love

This is going to be a really awesome read!!

So over the past few weeks I've been thinking about a LOT of things. I'm going to make a list and I'll explain all them as I go along....

1) Falling in love with Jesus again

So I was on the bus last 2 Wednesdays ago and I had just dropped my nephew off at school. I was really tired and didn't want to do anything that day. I started thinking about the desire I have to get married and share my life with someone here on Earth, then God spoke to me, right there on the bus! It was actually kind of cool/scary. I though that someone on the bus had said it. It was that clear. So I looked around and saw no one who sounded like what I just heard. I remember having that feeling in my stomach. The one that all girls know when they see that someone, they become weak at the knees. I got the butterflies in my stomach, blushing red cheeks, I couldn't stop smiling! I didn't know what had come over me until I got home. I realized that I HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH JESUS...AGAIN! HE said to me that I will get married soon (what is God's idea of soon? I don't know :) but I need to trust him to deliver on that promise. He is showing me what it is like to be loved so that I can share that love when he sends that person into my life. The words to the song are below. Listen to the song and read the words at the same time. This blew me away!

He is jealous for me
Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me.
Oh, how He loves us so
Oh, how He loves us
How He loves us so.

Yeah, He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves.

So we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way

He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves.


2) What is purpose?

Purpose: the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc. (from dictionary.com). I have been thinking about what my purpose is in my life. I still don't fully know, but God is starting to stir something in my heart that I have never felt before. It is really exciting to be taken on this journey. It is also really hard because I believe I'm starting to discover what my holy discontent is. This is going to be a wild ride with God that I don't want to miss!
3) What does God's love look like in my life?

As you can tell, I've been doing a lot of thinking. That is how I do things. I have to think them through before putting them into actions. I can count many things in my life where God has laid his perfect love on me. A few of those things are my best friend Melissa, being able to go back to school, a passion for seeing youth use their gifts to glorify God. There is a lot more that can go in this section but that would take forever to type out.
4) My involvement in ministry

So a couple Sundays ago, I was thinking about what my involvement in ministry looked like. I had been thinking about this for a while (there I go...thinking again :). I am doing too much ministry-wise and need to cut down on my "list". I decided to re-evaluate what was going on in my life and cut out what needed to be cut out. I have a new priority list, and this one is from God this time!

If there is anymore, I'll just write another blog after this one! :) I'm also going to share a song with you. Click on the the title of the blog to see the video attached. That is the video. The words will be in this blog entry.

Thanks for taking the time to read!

Reflection

So this blog entry is going to be somewhat of a long one. I have encountered a lot of the past couple of months with church, school family, work and so on that you will be able to read later on. Through some of it I remember thinking that God was not there for me but that is quite the contrary. God was always there for me as I went through these joys and struggles. I have been reading this book called The One True Thing by Howard Baker. It is probably one of the books that have transformed my life. I am definitely in the middle of a life transformation right now and although some of it is painful I know that God has his best interest for me. I am treading on really uncertain ground, which is really very scary for me, and it is sometimes hard to really focus on what God has planned for me. I’ve been learning the value of Jesus in my life and after I actually evaluated that, I was shocked. There are so many things that have come in the way of Him in my life and I’ve done nothing to turn it around.

This past week was one of craziness. Now because of the kids at home or anything like that, but because Jesus made himself known in my life. I have never him like I have in the past week. For all the empty New Year’s resolutions that I have made in the past, this one trumps them all. 2009 has already been a struggle but also a great joy. I am making decisions for myself that I’ve been meaning to make for a long time. I have decided that drinking alcohol has absolutely no worth. It is something that I do not need and God has made that evident in my life. I am drinking the things that are good for my health. And that brings up another thing. I’ve had a new year’s resolution, a couple years in a row, to lose a certain amount of weight. Those went out the window. This year is my year to become healthy. I went to the doctor today and things are good to him, but to me it’s not as good as I want it to be. I am misusing the body that God has given me. I’ve been misusing it for a long time and I need to stop it. Would you treat a really awesome gift that you got from your best friend like crap? No, you wouldn’t, because it means to much to you. That is how I feel I’ve been treating myself. It is time for me to make some choices. Not only choices about my physical health but for my spiritual and emotional health as well.

It says in Philippians 3:7-9 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” God will take care of the “things” for me. I do not have to worry about them. What I do have to worry about is the condition of my heart. Jesus will take me, whatever condition it is in.

There is a song that I cannot stop listening to, Hosanna by Kirk Franklin and God’s Property. Some of the words are:

The angels bow down at the thought of you
The darkness gives way to the light of you
The price that you pay gives us life brand new
Hosanna forever we worship you

Letting Go

This song was sent to me by Rebecca. It is so powerful. If you have a chance to listen to it, please do. Here are the words.

Behind your disguise
I see in your eyes
Something has left you wounded
I don't have the answers
TO all of your tears
But you're not abandoned here

He knows where you are
He's been there too
When you can't go on
He'll carry you through
When your losing hope
He's still in control
He's never letting go

So the damage is done
You try to move on
Still you're empty handed
But this isn't your home
I want you to know
You don't walk alone

Of your situation
In the face of the unknown
He's right there
Look deep into your heart
For his reflection and
Don't let go please don't let go

I don't have the answers
To all of your tears
But you're not abandoned here

Sick

I'm not feeling very well today. I'm feeling quite sick today. I don't know if I'll be able to be at Roots tonight which really bugs me because I was looking forward to seeing the girls tonight.

Please pray for me.

Thanks.

Rough...but God always brings me through!

I was at an Ignition meeting last night and was amazing at what we did. We didn't plan anything, hardly talked about stuff connected to Ignition itself, or took any minutes. We spent the evening sharing with each other what God is doing in our lives and how we are feeling...truthfully. One thing that we did at our weekend away was tell each other who we really were. Doing that allowed us to become closer with one another and with God. Knowing that everyone in that group knows what I have gone through makes me feel at home, makes me feel comfortable. I am able to cry in front of them and feel okay to do so.

I had a rough night last night. I didn't know how to say what I was feeling but I just opened my mouth and let it all the words pour out...that's all I could do.

Praying for each other and for the Ignition night is something that is so important at times like this and that is exactly what we did. We were able to pray and lay our hands on each other. I don't know why, but the physical act of laying of the hands is really important to me. It makes me like they are there. I felt worthy, loved, cherished....thank you for praying those words over me Layla.

On the way home, Shannon played a song for me by Jason Morant called Hosanna. We sat in my driveway to listen to the rest of the song. You need to listen to this song. It a very powerful song and I can't help but close my eyes and worship to it! You know the drill. Click the title of this entry to listen to this song. It is to clips of Saving Private Ryan. You don't need to watch the video but instead listen to the song with your eyes closed.

Thanks for reading.

Diva

So I was walking along St. Clair West avenue and I saw the greatest store with the most beautiful dresses in it and I want to own it! Guess what it's called? DIVA! The perfect name for a store and it looked so diva too!

I want to buy all the dresses they have! I found my new favourite store!

Today....WOW!

So, I had a job interview today. Now, this job isn't a permanent one which great because I'm not looking to work here for a long time. Get some extra cash for school and Christmas and things like that. I am going to working for a company that is parntered with Google to sell the ad space on the Google research page. It's strictly commission for now, but as a work I might be able to start with a salary as well. The really awesome thing about this job is the manager said that by just working a couple of hours a day, I may some sweet cash. Thank you Lord for providing this opportunity for me.

As promised, I have a picture of my other fish, Benny, he is a betta as well. I love my fish! Here he is! Isn't he wonderful?

Thanks for reading!

Studying

I'm finding it really hard to stay focused on my studying for school while the strike is on. I'm trying really hard to get things done, but all I can do it procrastinate.

Other than that....I BOUGHT A NEW FISH! It was really exciting. I had one that looked just like about 3 months ago and then the girls I was babysitting killed it by making the water too cold. His name was Rocky. I got another and named it Rocky II. The name fit really well! I love my fish! I'll show you my other one another time!

I have to get back to studying now! Pray that I get this work done please :)

Thanks again for reading!

Things this week

On Thursday, November 6th, I found out that the strike at York had started. I've been at home for the past few days doing some extra studying and pleasure reading. It is so nice to have time to yourself like that, but in a situation like this, it can get a bit tricky! I have a lot of work to do and now I have the time to do it but at the same time, the strike could be harmful to my year at York. If this goes too long then they can tack extra time on at the end of the school year or cut the December break short and I don't want that! I love having a month off in December!

Anyways, other than that, I wrote another song and I'm really excited about this one! I hope you like it!

What Do I have to offer?

(Verse 1)
All my life I’ve been given second chances
Some of those I’ve taken for granted
I feel I’ve taken and I’ve wasted
Everything that I hold dear to my heart
I’ve mistreated

(Pre-chorus)
But now I turn to you and ask these questions,

(Chorus)
What do I have to offer you, my Lord?
Is there something that’s missing?
I need some direction for this life
Cause I don’t know which way to go

(Verse 2)
I’ve lost track of all the times you saved me
And a simple thank just doesn’t seem enough
I’m giving you all I am to you
So take it and use it
Whichever way you need to

My Song

I don't know if I've shared my song with you yet. I wrote this song when I was at the Next> retreat. I didn't know what I was writing it for but I was being nudged to write it at that moment. I started writing and as God started telling the words to write down, I could feel the song starting in my head. My friend Rebecca is helping me to write the actual music part of the song and so far, I've ad goosebumps everytime I've heard it. God has given me words to write down and I can't hold them in any longer. They long to flow out of me because of the amazing power of God that washed over me so many times. Within the past couple of weeks, my feelings have been hurt by something that had happened, but I had to do something in order for this to be resolved. I confronted the problem and God completely healed the situation. I am so thankful for the the way He handled it! Here are the words to my song. I hope you are encouraged! Thanks for reading!

I Wait For You

Chorus
I wait for you
To lift me up in my need
I wait for you
To hold me close to your heart
I wait for you
For your healing power
I wait for you

Verse 1
As I listen to the clock
Ticking louder than before
I wonder where all the time has gone
The time I would sit and wait
Wait to hear your voice

Chorus

Verse 2
When I look back in life
And see where you hand has been
I can hardly believe the times
All the times you showed your glory
I can’t wait to see Your glory again

Chorus

Bridge
From the ends of the earth
I call to you
My heart grows faint
Lead me to the rock
That is higher than I

Chorus
End

Answers

If you think that when you pray and get an answer that is not what you expected, don't get all angry. It is a good thing. I recently just experienced this. When I say recently, I mean on Tuesday evening. Although the outcome is obviously not what I wanted to hear, I still took it and God is helping me through that. The situation was a little tricky and I had asked God for clarity and understanding. I had been praying that for a couple weeks and then as I was sitting down talking to Layla, I realized God had just spoken to me. He tends to use really close friends to prove his point to me. I just don't look close enough to realize it all the time.

I found this one especially hard, but one thing I know is that God has my life planned out and I don't need to worry about what's coming up next because God will equip me with the tools I need to deal with them.

Relationships

I am realizing that when I WANT something, God will take his precious time. Do you know how painful it is to wait?? The key word over the past few weeks has been WAIT. It has come up over and over and over again. At the Next> retreat I wrote a song called I Wait For You. I've been talking to some friends about "someone" and the connection between all of them is the word WAIT. AHHHHHH!!! The song that is linked to this entry is helping me to do just that. Wait. God makes that decision as to when he will bless with that relationship. If I follow hard after Him now, he bless in ways that I have never experienced before. Sometimes I've felt like I'm not being given anything by God because of the attitude I have towards certain things, but this is not true. He has been so faithful to me. He has revealed things to me that make me so excited I just want to fall to my knees in thanks!

On the topic of relationships, God is really challenging me there. I need to love him fully FIRST, before anyone else. Only then will place someone in my life.

Thanks for reading. Listen to the song linked. Click on the title Relationships to hear it. I hope you are encouraged by it as much as I am.

Following

Over the past few weeks there has been a lot in my life that I've had to do. Take my nephew to school, go to school, do A LOT of homework! I'm really enjoying it, but when you add in the little things like relationships and family and stuff. My emotions have been tugged around but all through that I've been told to "Follow my voice." Now who do you think has told me that? I've really appreciated hearing God's affirmation in my life. It's been wonderful!

Earth's Cry - Alaine

Round and round and back and forth we go
Arguing above the lands of our great fathers gone before
Sewing seeds of deception and all we reap is war
Tearing down our brothers fighting in the name of the lord
While we kill each other

I... I... I... I'm breaking down theses walls
That only divide and separate us
Why can't you hear the earth's cry

One by one we watch them falling down
As we join our hearts in love together turn it all around
Rise above corruption, hate, destruction,
End this fear and greed
Movin forward in a spirit
A spirit of peace and unity

Oh, I... I... I... I'm breaking down these walls
That only divide and separate us
Why can't you hear the Earth's cry

Brothers, sisters realize
Jah has blessed us all with choice
What will you do, what will you choose
If you refuse to live the right
What will be you alibi
On that day when we stand
Before the Most High

I'm breaking down these walls
That only divide and separate
Why can't you hear
Can't you hear
Ohhhhhh
I'm breaking down these walls
These walls that only divide and separate us
Why can't you hear the earth's cry
Earth's crying out
Earth is crying out
Ohhh
Crying out
Yeaaa
Can't you hear
Ohhhhh can't you hear
Earth cry

Some are open....others are closed

Have you ever been handed an opportunity that you were really excited about but God has told you no? I am in that situation right now. About 2 weeks ago, my conductor at York offered a really awesome trip idea to me. She said I would have to audition for it, but she was sure that I would get in. Well, this trip is to Mexico. Beautiful Mexico. I would be singing in a music festival with potential solos being handed out. the piece of music being sung is Handel's Messiah. An amazing work. I originally thought that God was allowing me to use these opportunities, but he has brought a better one up in front of my eyes. When I thought that one trip would be enough, God gives me something else to look at. I have the opportunity to audition for the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. One of the greatest Afrocentric groups in the Canada. I also have the opportunity to join with the Toronto Mass Choir. A lot of praying has to go into this one!

Keep me in mind and pray that I make the right decision.

Lifeline

I have this sinking feeling
Something's weighing me down
I am completely saturated
The waves are crashing closer
My feet already drowned
Doing the thing I said I hated

They've been swimming in the wrong water
Now they're pulling me down
But I am clinging to you, never letting go
'Cos I know that you'll lift me out

[Chorus]
Have your way here
Keep me afloat 'cos I know I'll sink without you
Take this ocean of pain that is mine
Throw me a lifeline

Wake up feeling convicted
I know something's not right
Re-acquaint my knees with the carpet
I have to get this out
'Cos it's obstructing you and I
Dry up the seas that keep us parted

'Cos they've been swimming in the wrong waters
And now they're pulling me down
But I am clinging to you, never letting go
'Cos I know that you are gonna pull me out

[Chorus]

They've been swimming in the wrong waters
And now they're pulling me down
But I am clinging to you, never letting go
'Cos I know, 'cos I know

[Chorus]

Learning is sometimes hard...who knew?

I love the fact that I'm in school but I forgot the amount of work and time management it takes to keep it up. It is only by the will of God that I am doing well right now. God has placed me back in school and he is going to lead through to the end this time. I am so amazing at the path that he has chosen for me to be on. Learning has never come easy to me and the fact that I'm already doing well is God's doing. What an awesome opportunity he has me in. I have just organized myself for school. I put tabs in my binder, clipping certain things together, and it's all coming together right now. I pray that God will bless on my learning path and I can't wait to see where he takes me!

School and Stuff

There is so much that I should be thankful for. I love school! That is one of them! From the second I stepped back onto campus, I knew that I was in the right place. I have had a sense of peace every time I walk into the Student Centre. I love being here and know this is where God wants me to be. He made it possible for me to come back and finish my degree. I'm learning to follow the voice of God and his leading in my life. It was a rough weekend for me in some respect but it was also really good to be freed from a lot of things too!

Thank you God that I am in school and that I have a chance to experience what you have for me!