Slowbucks in Calgary

I was happy to see a new Starbucks across from my seminary ... but not until when I get in to get my morning tea. I was stunned when I walked in, there were literally 20 people lining up for the turn to make their order. Oh man, it was soooo slow. There were like 5-7 more people waiting for their coffees and teas. Then, I thought it was just 'that day' that it was so jam packed. Ha ... that is not the case. For the rest of the week, I'd see at least 7-10 people lining up to satisfy their starbucks-craving. This is just crazy ..... they should change the name for this location as SLOWBUCKS!  

Study Trip in Calgary - My 'kindergarden' experience

Worshipped with my home church in Calgary. Met old good friends, saw old young folks and got to know a few newbies. It felt funny to sit in the same Sanctuary preparing heart to worship with this community which supported my 2-yr stay in Calgary, changed my attitudes, opened up my eyes. Grateful to see how God led many new people into this community. May God keep blessing this loving and missional community.

The night before the 1st day of class for a kid could be very anxiety provoking or even restless. I tasted a little of that last night, as today was my 1st day of class back in Calgary since end of 2005. Many thoughts came across my mind as I was sitting in the same room that I had my seminary course back in 2003. I am no longer taking classes with my group of cohorts. Everyone moves on into a different direction in where God calls each of us to be in! I am no longer the same person as when I started the program in 2004, as my love for my Lord is deepened and I experienced more of His unfailing protection in my life. I no longer have the same mindset, as I brought into the program initially. The questions that I brought into the program are no longer important as I have much deeper encounters with the core of my being and in His Love. 

BOY! Meeting up with my cohorts in my class was one of the highlights today. We still feel so close to each other though we are no longer in the same city, though we took different directions with our counselling training. Oh boy ... Angela brought AJ with her. Finally got a chance to meet this adorable good-looking boy boy! He has HUGE round eyes!! We managed to take this picture together while he was starving and shouting for Ang to feel her. hahaha ... OOPS! 

WOHOOO ... conversations with my fellowship counsellor in Calgary have always been inspiring and encouraging. We are pretty like-minded in face of our ministries and callings. Our honest and genuine sharing is nurturing to our hearts and cultivating in our friendships. 

My commitment to the Kingdom

"My commitment to the Kingdom", by Charles Wesley, wrote this prayer ...

Les shared this prayer with the teens and it also became my commitment to my Lord. 

It goes like ...

"Put me to what you will,

put me to doing,

put me to suffering.

Let me to laid aside for you,

Let me have all things,

Let me have nothing,

I freely and heartedly yield all things to your pleasure and of your disposal"

At the time when I thought I needed to make a quick sharp turn on things, God reminds me to keep on yielding for His will in my life. My faith is weak for worries skewed my full surrender in His grace. Lord, I need your wisdom to help me to walk on ...! How much I held in controlling of my own plans and desires... how much reservation I withheld ... I apologized to my Master. My life is ever changed since my very 1st prayer to offer and to surrender myself for the use of my Lord in 1998. My Lord is such a good mentor ... teach me to keep going with your grace and with your passionate calling in my life that is to bring people closer to you through Your words and truth. I will be loyal to the calling you placed in my heart. God simples knows me well from within that he took things away from me which He thinks is unhealthy and placed things into my life which can be of His use. Teach me to yield all things to your pleasure and of your disposal. 

... wholeheartedly I prayed. 

Came back with an new heart ...

This past Christmas was pretty much a working holiday. I just came back from my 1st involvement in speaking in Winter Conference's English teens section. Ran 3 workshops with them ... on relationships, emotions, and young women's self worth(yes, that means it's a no-guy zone). The very reason that I picked those 3 areas to speak in was that I have witnessed how Satan worked in those specific areas to pull us away from God and from the precious and beautiful image that God intended us to embrace in His creation. Getting to speak in front of young eager souls is always a blessing. I remember how it felt when I was speaking in afc's relationship conference last month ... 

Besides the teens, I am very excited to once again work alongside with many dedicated Christian youth workers. Sean is definitely a very inspiring friend to work with and to hang around with (all those hours we tagged along to make our way to Calgary and in the conference). Sean just shines whenever he is with the teens. His life is absolutely a big encourager to my own and ministry. We just had such a good time chatting up during our trips and rides.  God just knows that I need to hear and to see the most!! Les' sermons were very challenging for the teens. I was so happy that he went all the way to tackle some sensitive issues that teens are struggling nowadays. God's spirit was amazing when I saw how our sermon messages and our workshop messages intertwined together. 

Met a few teens whom I worked with in previous conferences ... they have grown so much since I last saw them in the summer ... a little kid is now taller than me! haha ...one morning, he walked up to me and said ... "Lorraine!!!! You remember me?? Guess what?? I am now taller than you now!!" I giggled and said "Goooooood for you! But my height isn't too hard to beat!!" They are just lovable!! I really dont' think teens nowadays are brainless, as many people commented, in fact, they asked very valid questions about life and God. 

After a workshop I gave, a 14-yr-old girl was hanging around and as I chatted with her ... she said that she brought 2 questions to the camp: (1) Who am I in God? (2) Who is God? Her questions totally blew me away right there. I met so many adults, and even Christian adults, who hardly think of these questions. I just had such a good talk with her. God has worked in her heart and we got to touch base throughout the conference and was just amazed in how God used people and His very own words to touch her heart. 

Being able to directly working with lives is very much a blessing!!!!!!!!!!! God is good. 

Thanks to Ken for getting a new replacement memory card for me before my flight to Calgary, but I didn't have much time taking pictures during the conference, as I thought it was a working weekend with young lives and didn't distract that from hanging out outside the hotel. 

Indeed, during quiet moment I spent praying for the conference and teens. I have learnt a new way to set boundaries for my ministry and calling to serve, which I think is most needed in order to march on.